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F5 WAF for NGINX

Paid#25 of 35 in Web Application Firewall Software

F5 WAF for NGINX: A focused self-hosted WAF for NGINX deployments protecting web apps and APIs. Ranked #25 of 35 in Web Application Firewall Software by our editors (6.9/10); pricing: Pricing on request; best for NGINX deployments needing self-hosted WAF controls.

6.9/10Editor score

Visit F5

F5 WAF for NGINX6.9 Visit F5

At a glance

Editor score
6.9 / 10
Pricing
Pricing on request
Best for
NGINX deployments needing self-hosted WAF controls
Free plan
No
Deployment model
Hybrid
Founded
1996 · Seattle, Washington, USA
Facts checked
20 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- OWASP Top 10 protection with predefined managed attack signatures
- API protection with OpenAPI policies and JSON/XML schema validation
- Works with NGINX Plus, Kubernetes, Docker, and NGINX Ingress Controller
Where it doesn't
- Pricing requires contacting sales
- Focused on NGINX-based, self-hosted deployments
- Available through F5 NGINX enterprise packaging

Our verdict on F5 WAF for NGINX

F5 WAF for NGINX is a software web application firewall for protecting applications and APIs. It is designed for organizations operating NGINX Plus or NGINX Ingress Controller across virtual machines, bare metal, Docker, or Kubernetes environments. Its scope covers both traditional web traffic and API security, with OWASP Top 10 protection, predefined managed attack signatures, bot signature detection and mitigation, and policy-based traffic controls. The product was formerly called NGINX App Protect WAF.

Its security depth is strongest around configurable application and API policies. OpenAPI-based protection, JSON and XML schema validation, HTTP response inspection, and protocol compliance address different parts of the request and response lifecycle. Declarative JSON security policies provide a structured way to define controls, while security logging records requests, violations, and signatures. Configurable request-rate limiting through NGINX adds another traffic-management control. Buyers that need bot protection, managed signatures, API validation, and rate limiting in one NGINX-centered deployment have a focused feature set to evaluate.

Platform fit is a defining consideration. F5 WAF for NGINX integrates with NGINX Plus, NGINX Ingress Controller, Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenAPI, making it suited to teams already operating those components. The published plan is available through F5 NGINX enterprise packaging, and the pricing model requires contacting sales. There is no free plan. Choose it when self-hosted control and NGINX integration matter more than a broad set of deployment options; organizations seeking a less NGINX-focused WAF should consider alternatives.

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F5 WAF for NGINX pricing

Plans Pricing on requestPaid No free plan — trial or paid only. Prices checked 20 Sep 2026.

See plans on docs.nginx.com

All 1 F5 WAF for NGINX plans and prices →

F5 WAF for NGINX fact sheet

Free plan	No
Paid from	Not verified
Deployment model	Hybrid
Managed rule sets	Yes
API protection	Yes
Bot management	Yes
Rate limiting	Yes
Log retention	Not verified
Deployment	Self-hosted
Platforms	Linux
Compliance & security	SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS
Support	Email, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate)
Integrations	5 integrations: NGINX Plus, NGINX Ingress Controller, Docker, Kubernetes, OpenAPI
Pricing	Pricing on request (source)
Website	docs.nginx.com
Facts checked	20 Sep 2026

F5 WAF for NGINX integrations

F5 WAF for NGINX lists 5 integrations on its own site.

NGINX Plus
NGINX Ingress Controller
Docker
Kubernetes
OpenAPI

Alternatives to F5 WAF for NGINX

See all F5 WAF for NGINX alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

F5 WAF for NGINX is listed in our Web Application Firewall Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update