Fastly DDoS Protection
Fastly DDoS Protection: Usage-priced protection for network and application-layer DDoS attacks. Ranked #3 of 36 in DDoS Protection Software by our editors (9.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for usage-based web and API protection.
At a glance
- Editor score9.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forUsage-based web and API protection
- Free planYes
- Paid from$0.01/unit/mo
- Attack layersBoth
- Founded2011
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Covers both network-layer and application-layer attacks
- Near-real-time mitigation with continuous anomaly detection
- Zero-attack-fee billing for mitigated attack spikes
Where it doesn't
- WAF protection is not included
- The free tier does not specify a request allowance
- Pricing is based on monthly request volume
Our verdict on Fastly DDoS Protection
Fastly DDoS Protection is a cloud-based service for detecting and mitigating distributed denial-of-service attacks against applications, APIs, and infrastructure. It is designed for teams protecting web and API traffic across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid architectures through edge deployment. Always-on protection combines traffic analysis, adaptive mitigation rules, automatic network-layer attack absorption, and application-layer attack blocking.
Pricing uses a free tier and monthly usage bands rather than conventional named plans. The paid tiers start at $1 per 10,000 requests for 500,000–10 million requests, then decrease to $0.50 for 10–50 million, $0.30 for 50–100 million, $0.16 for 100–500 million, $0.10 for 500 million–3 billion, $0.042 for 3–15 billion, and $0.015 beyond 15 billion requests. Each paid tier lists DDoS Protection, while the free tier also includes DDoS Protection. This structure suits organizations that want costs to track request volume and provides lower per-request pricing at higher usage levels.
Its strongest technical focus is coordinated mitigation across multiple attack layers. Continuous anomaly detection, mitigation in seconds, synchronized handling of multiple attacks, and visibility into DDoS events and rules support an always-on operating model. Zero-attack-fee billing for mitigated attack spikes also separates attack traffic from ordinary usage costs. Fastly DDoS Protection is a sensible choice for web and API teams seeking usage-based, edge-delivered coverage across network and application layers. Organizations specifically seeking an included web application firewall should consider a product with WAF functionality, since WAF is not included here.
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Fastly DDoS Protection pricing
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Fastly DDoS Protection fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $0.01/unit/mo |
| Attack layers | Both |
| Mitigation mode | Always-on |
| Deployment model | Cloud |
| Protection capacity | Not verified |
| Managed mitigation | Not verified |
| WAF included | No |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | fastly.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Fastly DDoS Protection
- Cloudflare DDoS ProtectionBroad Layer 3/4 and 7 protection with a free plan and low paid entry price.9.4
- Akamai ProlexicA managed, hybrid DDoS defense service for enterprises with complex network protection needs.9.2
- AWS ShieldA layered AWS-native option with free baseline coverage and a $3,000 Advanced tier.9.0
See all Fastly DDoS Protection alternatives →
Fastly DDoS Protection vs the competition
- Fastly DDoS Protection vs Cloudflare DDoS Protection
- Fastly DDoS Protection vs Akamai Prolexic
- Fastly DDoS Protection vs AWS Shield
- Fastly DDoS Protection vs Imperva DDoS Protection
- Fastly DDoS Protection vs Radware Cloud DDoS Protection
- Fastly DDoS Protection vs A10 Thunder TPS
Compare Fastly DDoS Protection with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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