F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud vs Fastly Next-Gen WAF

F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud8.9Visit Fastly Next-Gen WAF8.7Visit

Higher score F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud #5 in Web Security Software 8.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 4 features Contact F5

vs

Fastly Next-Gen WAF #7 in Web Security Software 8.7/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Fastly

• F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud fits best

  Mid-market and enterprise teams with hybrid applications

• Fastly Next-Gen WAF fits best

  Mid-market and enterprise teams with distributed apps

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Side by side

Feature	F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud 8.9/10 Visit ↗	Fastly Next-Gen WAF 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.9	8.7
Ranking	#5 in Web Security Software	#7 in Web Security Software
Best for	Mid-market and enterprise teams with hybrid applications	Mid-market and enterprise teams with distributed apps
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	—
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web	Web, Linux
Support	Email, Phone, Tickets, Docs · 24/7	Docs
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud 0/4 · Fastly Next-Gen WAF 0/4
Phishing/malware blocking	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Web app firewall	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
DDoS protection	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Bot protection	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Websites covered	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Managed attack signatures, violations, and threat campaigns API protection, bot controls, and configurable rate limits Cloud or self-hosted deployment with Terraform and API automation	Deploy at the edge, in the cloud, or through an agent Use contextual detection, attack signals, and CVE virtual patches Apply API, bot, and advanced rate-limiting rules
Cons	Pricing requires contacting sales Firewall and event log retention is 7 days Requires F5 Distributed Cloud management for the service	Pricing requires contacting sales Support channels listed are limited to documentation Retention varies by account entitlement and is capped at 30 days
Our verdict	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 aimed at mid-market and enterprise organizations running… Read the review →	Fastly Next-Gen WAF protects web applications, APIs, and microservices from malicious and anomalous traffic. It is aimed at application security and DevOps teams, particularly at mid-market and enterprise organizations that need protection… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud — where it wins

  • Managed attack signatures, violations, and threat campaigns
  • API protection, bot controls, and configurable rate limits
  • Cloud or self-hosted deployment with Terraform and API automation

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • Firewall and event log retention is 7 days
  • Requires F5 Distributed Cloud management for the service

• Fastly Next-Gen WAF — where it wins

  • Deploy at the edge, in the cloud, or through an agent
  • Use contextual detection, attack signals, and CVE virtual patches
  • Apply API, bot, and advanced rate-limiting rules

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • Support channels listed are limited to documentation
  • Retention varies by account entitlement and is capped at 30 days

• F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud8.9/10 · Pricing on request

  Hybrid WAF and API protection with managed signatures, bot controls, and risk scoring.

  Contact F5Full verdict →
• Fastly Next-Gen WAF8.7/10 · Pricing on request

  Flexible deployment and CVE virtual patches, with pricing available through sales.

  Visit FastlyFull verdict →