Head-to-head · DDoS Protection Software
Cloudflare DDoS Protection vs Imperva DDoS Protection
Cloudflare DDoS Protection leads on 1 check, Imperva DDoS Protection on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreCloudflare DDoS Protection · 9.4/10
- Free planonly Cloudflare DDoS Protection
- Most featuresCloudflare DDoS Protection · 2 of 2
Cloudflare DDoS Protection scores higher on our rubric for ddos protection software: 9.4 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #5.
Cloudflare DDoS Protection offers free plan; Imperva DDoS Protection doesn't. On mitigation mode, Imperva DDoS Protection gives you Hybrid where Cloudflare DDoS Protection offers Always-on.
Cloudflare DDoS Protection is the better fit for broad protection at a low published price. Imperva DDoS Protection is the better fit for organizations needing cloud DDoS and WAF alignment.
- Cloudflare DDoS Protection fits best
Broad protection at a low published price
- Imperva DDoS Protection fits best
Organizations needing cloud DDoS and WAF alignment
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Side by side
| Feature | Cloudflare DDoS Protection 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | Imperva DDoS Protection 8.9/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 8.9 |
| Ranking | #1 in DDoS Protection Software | #5 in DDoS Protection Software |
| Best for | Broad protection at a low published price | Organizations needing cloud DDoS and WAF alignment |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | $20/mo | — |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs · 24/7 | Email, Phone, Community, Docs |
| Compliance | SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS, SSO/SAML | SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Enterprise |
| Features Cloudflare DDoS Protection 2/2 · Imperva DDoS Protection 1/2 | ||
| Managed mitigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| WAF included | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Attack layers | Both | Both |
| Mitigation mode | Always-on | Hybrid |
| Deployment model | Cloud | Cloud |
| Protection capacity | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Cloudflare DDoS Protection automatically detects and mitigates distributed denial-of-service attacks across network and application layers. It is designed for websites, web applications, TCP/UDP applications, networks, and data centers… Read the review → |
Imperva DDoS Protection is a cloud-based service for organizations defending websites, APIs, network infrastructure, DNS servers, and internet-facing IPs. It covers Layer 3/4 volumetric and protocol attacks alongside Layer 7 application… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Cloudflare DDoS Protection — where it wins
- Covers Layer 3/4 network and Layer 7 HTTP attacks
- Free plan includes unmetered DDoS protection and WAF
- 500 Tbps global network capacity with managed protection options
Where it doesn't
- Advanced TCP and DNS protection uses Magic Transit
- Support options vary by plan
- Proactive false-positive detection starts with the Business plan
Imperva DDoS Protection — where it wins
- Protects both network-layer and application-layer traffic
- Offers automated mitigation, Anycast routing, and 13 Tbps capacity
- Connects with SIEM systems and Imperva cloud WAF
Where it doesn't
- Requires sales contact for pricing
- Deployment options may require GRE or cross-connect configuration
- Web platform only, with no free plan
- Cloudflare DDoS Protection9.4/10 · Free plan
Broad Layer 3/4 and 7 protection with a free plan and low paid entry price.
Visit CloudflareFull verdict → - Imperva DDoS Protection8.9/10 · Pricing on request
Managed Layer 3/4 and Layer 7 protection with always-on or on-demand mitigation.
Visit ImpervaFull verdict →
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- Cloudflare DDoS Protection vs Check Point DDoS Protector
- Akamai Prolexic vs Imperva DDoS Protection
- Fastly DDoS Protection vs Imperva DDoS Protection
All DDoS protection software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update