OpenStack Neutron vs F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud

ONOpenStack Neutron8.3Visit F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud7.6Visit

Higher score ON OpenStack Neutron #4 in Cloud Network Management Software 8.3/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 5 features Visit OpenStack

vs

F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud #8 in Cloud Network Management Software 7.6/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 5 features Visit F5

• OpenStack Neutron fits best

  OpenStack cloud network infrastructure

• F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud fits best

  Distributed-cloud WAF and API protection

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	ONOpenStack Neutron 8.3/10 Visit ↗	F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud 7.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.3	7.6
Ranking	#4 in Cloud Network Management Software	#8 in Cloud Network Management Software
Best for	OpenStack cloud network infrastructure	Distributed-cloud WAF and API protection
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Open source	Pricing on request
Free plan	Not checked yet	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Linux	Web
Support	Docs, Community	Email, Phone, Tickets, Docs · 24/7
Integrations	4 integrations	7 integrations
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features OpenStack Neutron 0/5 · F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud 0/5
Multicloud support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
VPN management	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Firewall policy management	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Network monitoring	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Infrastructure as code	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment model	Hybrid	Hybrid
Cloud provider coverage	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Covers networks, routing, NAT, VPN, QoS, and security groups Supports Open vSwitch, OVN, VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, and Geneve Provides APIs for networks, subnets, ports, addresses, and routers	Protects web applications and APIs across hybrid and multicloud environments Combines WAF, bot protection, rate limiting, and AI risk scoring Supports Terraform, public APIs, vesctl, and major monitoring integrations
Cons	Primarily fits OpenStack environments rather than general cloud estates Requires self-hosted infrastructure and OpenStack operational expertise Not positioned as a standalone hosted SaaS network manager	Pricing is handled through F5 account teams or Contact Sales Its focus is application security rather than broad cloud network management Firewall and event log retention is stated as 7 days
Our verdict	OpenStack Neutron provides networking as a service for OpenStack clouds. It is designed for teams managing OpenStack infrastructure through APIs and Linux-based, self-hosted deployments. The service covers networks, subnets, ports, IP… Read the review →	F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud is a SaaS and deployable web application firewall for organizations running applications across public clouds, on-premises environments, customer-edge sites, and F5 global network points of presence. It is… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• OpenStack Neutron — where it wins

  • Covers networks, routing, NAT, VPN, QoS, and security groups
  • Supports Open vSwitch, OVN, VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, and Geneve
  • Provides APIs for networks, subnets, ports, addresses, and routers

  Where it doesn't

  • Primarily fits OpenStack environments rather than general cloud estates
  • Requires self-hosted infrastructure and OpenStack operational expertise
  • Not positioned as a standalone hosted SaaS network manager

• F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud — where it wins

  • Protects web applications and APIs across hybrid and multicloud environments
  • Combines WAF, bot protection, rate limiting, and AI risk scoring
  • Supports Terraform, public APIs, vesctl, and major monitoring integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing is handled through F5 account teams or Contact Sales
  • Its focus is application security rather than broad cloud network management
  • Firewall and event log retention is stated as 7 days

• ONOpenStack Neutron8.3/10 · Open source

  A broad, API-driven network service for teams running OpenStack infrastructure.

  Visit OpenStackFull verdict →
• F5 WAF for Distributed Cloud7.6/10 · Pricing on request

  Focused hybrid-cloud WAF and API protection with automation and monitoring.

  Visit F5Full verdict →