Is Cloudflare WAF or AWS WAF cheaper?

It depends on your traffic volume. Cloudflare uses flat-rate pricing ($20/month for Pro, $200/month for Business), so your cost stays the same regardless of traffic. AWS WAF charges per request ($5/month per web ACL + $1 per million requests), which is cheaper for low-traffic sites but can get expensive at scale. For most mid-traffic sites, Cloudflare offers better value.

Can I use Cloudflare and AWS WAF together?

Yes. Some companies run Cloudflare in front of their AWS infrastructure and keep AWS WAF on their ALB or CloudFront distribution as a second layer. This gives you Cloudflare's CDN and DDoS protection at the edge plus AWS WAF's native integration with your AWS services.

Which is easier to set up, Cloudflare WAF or AWS WAF?

Cloudflare is significantly easier. You change your DNS nameservers and basic WAF protection is active within minutes. AWS WAF requires configuring web ACLs, rule groups, and associating them with AWS resources like CloudFront or ALB. AWS WAF gives you more control, but it takes more time and expertise to get right.

Cloudflare WAF vs AWS WAF: Which Should You Choose in 2024? | Your Guide to Web Application Firewalls

Choosing between Cloudflare WAF and AWS WAF is one of the most common decisions facing security teams today. Both are excellent options, but they serve different use cases and have distinct strengths.

In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

Quick Verdict

Choose Cloudflare WAF if you want an all-in-one solution with CDN, DDoS protection, and easy setup. It's ideal for teams without dedicated security engineers.

Choose AWS WAF if you're already heavily invested in AWS infrastructure and need deep integration with services like CloudFront, ALB, and API Gateway.

Cloudflare Web Application Firewall

Featured

Industry-leading WAF with global CDN integration, offering robust protection against OWASP threats with easy setup and generous free tier.

4.5/5 Free tier available

See Cloudflare WAF Review

Pricing Comparison

One of the biggest differences between these two WAFs is their pricing model:

Cloudflare: Flat monthly fee based on your plan tier ($20-$200/month for Pro/Business)
AWS WAF: Pay-per-use model ($5/month per web ACL + $1/million requests)

For high-traffic sites, AWS WAF can become significantly more expensive. However, for AWS-native applications with moderate traffic, the pay-as-you-go model can be more economical.

AWS Web Application Firewall

Native AWS security service providing scalable WAF protection for applications hosted on AWS infrastructure with pay-per-use pricing.

4.3/5

See AWS WAF Review

Feature Comparison

Both WAFs offer robust protection against common threats, but they approach features differently:

Cloudflare Strengths

Built-in CDN and DDoS protection
Zero-configuration managed rulesets
Browser integrity checks
Bot management included in higher tiers

AWS WAF Strengths

Deep AWS service integration
Highly customizable rules
AWS Marketplace managed rule groups
Integration with AWS Shield Advanced

"The best WAF is the one your team can effectively manage. A sophisticated WAF with poor configuration is worse than a simple WAF properly deployed."

— Security Engineering Best Practices

Ease of Setup

Cloudflare wins hands-down for ease of setup. You can have basic WAF protection running in minutes by simply changing your DNS nameservers. AWS WAF requires more configuration, especially for custom rules.

Cloudflare WAF Documentation

Official documentation for setting up and configuring Cloudflare WAF

Our Recommendation

For most mid-market companies, we recommend Cloudflare WAF as the default choice. The all-in-one package, predictable pricing, and ease of use make it the better option for teams without dedicated security engineering resources.

However, if you're running a complex AWS-native architecture and have the engineering resources to manage it, AWS WAF offers unmatched flexibility and integration.