F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services
F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services: A capable self-hosted ingress controller for teams already running licensed BIG-IP. Ranked #22 of 28 in Kubernetes Ingress Controllers by our editors (7.1/10); pricing: Open source; best for teams already invested in BIG-IP.
At a glance
- Editor score7.1 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forTeams already invested in BIG-IP
- Paid fromFree
- Ingress API modelIngress
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Manages L4/L7 BIG-IP services from orchestration changes
- Supports Kubernetes Ingress, OpenShift Routes, and custom resources
- Adds WAF policies, multi-cluster weights, and TLS options
Where it doesn't
- Requires an active, licensed BIG-IP system
- Deployment and operations remain self-hosted
- Its value is closely tied to the F5 BIG-IP ecosystem
Our verdict on F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services
F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services (CIS) is an open-source controller that connects Kubernetes and OpenShift orchestration APIs with F5 BIG-IP. It watches container environment changes and dynamically configures BIG-IP application objects, including virtual servers and pools. Teams running Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift, or VMware Tanzu can use it for HTTP and HTTPS routing, service load balancing, and ingress management, provided they have an active, licensed BIG-IP system.
Its strongest differentiator is the breadth of BIG-IP integration exposed through Kubernetes-native configuration. CIS supports Kubernetes Ingress resources, OpenShift Routes, and custom resources such as VirtualServer, TransportServer, TLSProfile, and Policy. Helm-chart installation is available for Kubernetes and OpenShift. Existing BIG-IP WAF policies can be attached through Policy or VirtualServer resources, while multi-cluster traffic distribution can use ratios and weights. TLS can rely on BIG-IP SSL profiles or Kubernetes TLS Secrets.
The main trade-off is ecosystem dependence. CIS is not a standalone ingress layer: its deployment and value are tied to F5 BIG-IP, and the operating model remains self-hosted. That makes it a focused choice for organizations standardizing on BIG-IP security, traffic management, and application delivery. Teams without an active licensed BIG-IP system, or those seeking an ingress controller independent of a specific appliance ecosystem, should consider a different product category fit.
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F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services pricing
F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Ingress API model | Ingress |
| TLS automation | Not verified |
| Canary routing | Yes |
| Rate limiting | Not verified |
| Web application firewall | Yes |
| Auth policies | Not verified |
| Deployment model | Self-hosted |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 5 integrations: Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift, VMware Tanzu, F5 BIG-IP, NGINX Ingress Controller |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | clouddocs.f5.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services integrations
F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services lists 5 integrations on its own site.
- Kubernetes
- Red Hat OpenShift
- VMware Tanzu
- F5 BIG-IP
- NGINX Ingress Controller
Alternatives to F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services
- Traefik ProxyA broad self-hosted ingress proxy with discovery, multi-protocol routing, and observability.9.3
- NGINX Ingress ControllerA free, self-hosted controller for routing, TLS, traffic policies, and edge integrations.9.2
- Kong Ingress ControllerA free, extensible choice for Kong-centered Kubernetes API platforms.9.1
See all F5 BIG-IP Container Ingress Services alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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