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Head-to-head · Business VPN Software

F5 BIG-IP APM vs Cloudflare Access

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score F5 BIG-IP APM #4 in Business VPN Software 8.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit F5
Cloudflare Access #7 in Business VPN Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Cloudflare

F5 BIG-IP APM leads on 0 checks, Cloudflare Access 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 scoreF5 BIG-IP APM · 8.9/10
  • Free planonly Cloudflare Access
  • Most featuresF5 BIG-IP APM · 4 of 4

F5 BIG-IP APM scores higher on our rubric for business vpn software: 8.9 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.

F5 BIG-IP APM is the better fit for enterprises needing hybrid VPN and application access. Cloudflare Access is the better fit for cloud-first teams securing private applications.

  • F5 BIG-IP APM fits best

    Enterprises needing hybrid VPN and application access

  • Cloudflare Access fits best

    Cloud-first teams securing private applications

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Side by side

Feature F5 BIG-IP APM 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Cloudflare Access 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.6
Ranking #4 in Business VPN Software #7 in Business VPN Software
Best for Enterprises needing hybrid VPN and application access Cloud-first teams securing private applications
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Pricing on request —
Free plan Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Phone, Tickets, Docs Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs
Compliance SSO/SAML, 2FA SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS, 2FA
Integrations 10 integrations 11 integrations
Built for Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features F5 BIG-IP APM 4/4 · Cloudflare Access 0/4
SSO / SCIM ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Device posture ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Site-to-site networking ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Audit logs ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Admin control level Advanced Not checked yet
Access model Hybrid Not checked yet
Supported platforms web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Combines SSL, per-application, and site-to-site IPsec VPN access
  • Supports SSO, MFA, federation, and endpoint security checks
  • Connects with Azure AD, Okta, Intune, Splunk, and BIG-IQ
  • Free plan and $7/user/month annual pay-as-you-go tier
  • Supports identity, device posture, and protocol-aware access policies
  • Exports Zero Trust logs to SIEM or storage destinations
Cons
  • Contact-sales purchasing can slow initial budget comparison
  • Broad deployment options may require specialized administration
  • Focused on enterprise access needs rather than simple VPN use
  • Clientless browser access has protocol and hostname limitations
  • Session recording is not included
  • Contract-plan pricing is custom rather than published
Our verdict

F5 BIG-IP APM is an access management proxy for securing application, network, cloud, and API access. It is designed for enterprises that need both traditional VPN connectivity and identity-aware access to specific applications. The…

Read the review →

Cloudflare Access is a cloud-delivered zero trust network access service for employees, contractors, and other users. It applies identity, device posture, and contextual policies to self-hosted, SaaS, private-network, and infrastructure…

Read the review →
  1. F5 BIG-IP APMBusiness VPN Software 8.9Pricing on request
  2. Cloudflare AccessBusiness VPN Software 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • F5 BIG-IP APM — where it wins

    • Combines SSL, per-application, and site-to-site IPsec VPN access
    • Supports SSO, MFA, federation, and endpoint security checks
    • Connects with Azure AD, Okta, Intune, Splunk, and BIG-IQ

    Where it doesn't

    • Contact-sales purchasing can slow initial budget comparison
    • Broad deployment options may require specialized administration
    • Focused on enterprise access needs rather than simple VPN use

  • Cloudflare Access — where it wins

    • Free plan and $7/user/month annual pay-as-you-go tier
    • Supports identity, device posture, and protocol-aware access policies
    • Exports Zero Trust logs to SIEM or storage destinations

    Where it doesn't

    • Clientless browser access has protocol and hostname limitations
    • Session recording is not included
    • Contract-plan pricing is custom rather than published
  • F5 BIG-IP APM8.9/10 · Pricing on request

    Enterprise access control combining VPN connectivity with identity-aware application access.

    Visit F5Full verdict →
  • Cloudflare Access8.6/10 · Free plan

    A cloud-delivered VPN alternative with identity, device, and application-aware controls.

    Visit CloudflareFull verdict →

More comparisons

All business VPN software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update