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Head-to-head · Web Application Firewall Software

AWS WAF vs F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score AWS WAF #2 in Web Application Firewall Software 9.2/10 Paid ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit AWS WAF
F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud #8 in Web Application Firewall Software 8.6/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit F5

AWS WAF leads on 0 checks, F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAWS WAF · 9.2/10

AWS WAF scores higher on our rubric for web application firewall software: 9.2 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.

AWS WAF is the better fit for AWS-native applications needing flexible pricing. F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud is the better fit for organizations wanting flexible F5 hybrid deployment.

  • AWS WAF fits best

    AWS-native applications needing flexible pricing

  • F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud fits best

    Organizations wanting flexible F5 hybrid deployment

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Side by side

Feature AWS WAF 9.2/10 Visit ↗ F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.6
Ranking #2 in Web Application Firewall Software #8 in Web Application Firewall Software
Best for AWS-native applications needing flexible pricing Organizations wanting flexible F5 hybrid deployment
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price $1/unit/mo Pricing on request
Free plan — —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Browser extension Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web Web
Support Docs Email, Phone, Tickets, Docs · 24/7
Integrations 9 integrations 7 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features AWS WAF 4/4 · F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud 4/4
Managed rule sets ✓ ✓
API protection ✓ ✓
Bot management ✓ ✓
Rate limiting ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment model Hybrid Hybrid
Log retention Not checked yet 7 days
Our review
Pros
  • Managed rules cover common web exploits, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting.
  • Supports bot controls, rate limiting, CAPTCHA, and Layer 7 DDoS mitigation.
  • Integrates with CloudFront, API Gateway, ALB, AppSync, and other AWS services.
  • Hybrid coverage across public cloud, on-premises, edge, and F5 network PoPs
  • AI risk scoring, managed signatures, bot protection, and API controls
  • Terraform, public APIs, vesctl, and integrations with major operations tools
Cons
  • No free plan is available.
  • Rules and request processing add usage-based charges.
  • Connected AWS services can incur separate charges.
  • Pricing requires contact with F5 rather than a published product table
  • No free plan is available
  • Firewall and event log retention is stated as seven days
Our verdict

AWS WAF is a managed web application firewall for organizations operating applications on AWS. It monitors HTTP(S) requests sent to protected AWS resources and lets teams allow, block, count, challenge, or rate-limit traffic. Rules can use…

Read the review →

F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud protects web applications and APIs across public clouds, on-premises environments, customer-edge sites, and F5 global network points of presence. It is designed for organizations running distributed, hybrid, or…

Read the review →
  1. AWS WAFWeb Application Firewall Software 9.2Paid
  2. F5 WAF for Distributed CloudWeb Application Firewall Software 8.6Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • AWS WAF — where it wins

    • Managed rules cover common web exploits, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting.
    • Supports bot controls, rate limiting, CAPTCHA, and Layer 7 DDoS mitigation.
    • Integrates with CloudFront, API Gateway, ALB, AppSync, and other AWS services.

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan is available.
    • Rules and request processing add usage-based charges.
    • Connected AWS services can incur separate charges.

  • F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud — where it wins

    • Hybrid coverage across public cloud, on-premises, edge, and F5 network PoPs
    • AI risk scoring, managed signatures, bot protection, and API controls
    • Terraform, public APIs, vesctl, and integrations with major operations tools

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires contact with F5 rather than a published product table
    • No free plan is available
    • Firewall and event log retention is stated as seven days
  • AWS WAF9.2/10 · Paid

    Flexible AWS-native protection with usage-based pricing that requires careful cost planning.

    Visit AWS WAFFull verdict →
  • F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud8.6/10 · Pricing on request

    A flexible hybrid WAF with strong automation, API, bot, and rate-limiting coverage.

    Visit F5Full verdict →

More comparisons

All web application firewall software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update