AWS Web Application Firewall vs Radware Cloud WAF Service
Both AWS Web Application Firewall and Radware Cloud WAF Service are capable WAF solutions. The right choice depends on your specific infrastructure, budget, and feature requirements.
Overview
AWS WAF and Radware Cloud WAF represent two different philosophies. AWS WAF is a cloud-native building block: pay-per-rule ($5/rule/month), attach it to your ALB, CloudFront, or API Gateway, and write your own rules or subscribe to managed rule groups. Radware is a dedicated security vendor offering a turnkey WAF with behavioral analysis, bot mitigation, and DDoS protection.
The cost model is the biggest difference. AWS WAF can be very cheap for simple use cases ($20-50/month) but costs scale with rule complexity. Radware is a fixed subscription that includes managed security policies and expert tuning.
If you're fully on AWS and comfortable managing WAF rules, AWS WAF is the cost-effective choice. If you want vendor-managed security with sophisticated bot detection, Radware delivers more out of the box.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | AWS Web Application Firewall | Radware Cloud WAF Service |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Free Tier | No | No |
| Pricing Model | Pay-per-use (rules + requests) | OPEX-based subscription |
| Ease of Use | 3.5/5 | 3.6/5 |
| Value for Money | 4.0/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Support | 4.0/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Platforms | AWS CloudFront, ALB, API Gateway, AppSync, Cognito, App Runner, Verified Access | Any web application, AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, on-premises |
| Compliance | SOC 1/2/3, PCI DSS, HIPAA, FedRAMP, ISO 27001 | SOC 2, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA |
Pricing Comparison
AWS Web Application Firewall
Model: Pay-per-use (rules + requests)
Small (1 ACL, 10 rules)
$15/month + $0.60/M requests
Medium (2 ACL, 25 rules)
$35/month + $0.60/M requests
Large (5 ACL, 50 rules)
$75/month + $0.60/M requests
Radware Cloud WAF Service
Model: OPEX-based subscription
Standard
Custom pricing
Advanced
Custom pricing
Premium
Custom pricing
Features Comparison
AWS Web Application Firewall
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AWS Managed Rules
Pre-configured rule groups maintained by AWS and AWS Marketplace sellers for common threats.
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Custom Rules
Build your own rules using conditions like IP addresses, HTTP headers, URI strings, and more.
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Rate-Based Rules
Automatically block IPs that exceed defined request thresholds.
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Bot Control
Managed rule group for detecting and managing bot traffic (additional cost).
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Fraud Control
Account takeover prevention and creation fraud detection for login/signup pages.
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Firewall Manager Integration
Centrally configure and manage WAF rules across multiple AWS accounts.
Radware Cloud WAF Service
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Automatic Policy Generation
Patented technology automatically creates and optimizes security policies for new applications.
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Positive and Negative Security
Combines signature-based detection with positive security model for comprehensive protection.
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Bot Manager
Advanced bot detection using behavioral analysis, device fingerprinting, and CAPTCHA challenges.
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API Protection
Discover and protect APIs with schema validation, rate limiting, and anomaly detection.
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DDoS Protection
Integrated network and application layer DDoS mitigation backed by Radware''s global scrubbing network.
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Geo-Fencing
Block or allow traffic based on geographic location with granular country-level controls.
Which One Is Right for You?
The best WAF depends on your specific requirements, infrastructure, and team expertise.
AWS Web Application Firewall
- You need: AWS-native applications, organizations already invested in AWS ecosystem, variable traffic workloads, multi-account AWS environments
- You're using: AWS CloudFront, ALB, API Gateway, AppSync, Cognito, App Runner, Verified Access
Radware Cloud WAF Service
- You need: Mid-market to enterprise organizations, companies needing integrated WAF and DDoS, hybrid cloud environments, organizations valuing managed services
- You're using: Any web application, AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, on-premises
We recommend evaluating both options with a trial or free tier before committing. Consider your existing infrastructure, team expertise, compliance requirements, and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has better support: AWS Web Application Firewall or Radware Cloud WAF Service?
Radware Cloud WAF Service has a higher support rating (4.6/5) compared to AWS Web Application Firewall (4.0/5). However, support quality can vary based on your plan tier - enterprise customers typically receive more responsive support from both providers. Consider evaluating support during a trial period.
Which is easier to implement: AWS Web Application Firewall or Radware Cloud WAF Service?
Radware Cloud WAF Service scores higher for ease of use (3.6/5) versus AWS Web Application Firewall (3.5/5). The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.
Which is more cost-effective: AWS Web Application Firewall or Radware Cloud WAF Service?
Neither provider offers a completely free tier. AWS Web Application Firewall scores higher for value (4.0/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.
Which works better with AWS: AWS Web Application Firewall or Radware Cloud WAF Service?
AWS Web Application Firewall is AWS's native WAF solution, offering the tightest integration with AWS services like CloudFront, ALB, and API Gateway. Radware Cloud WAF Service can also protect AWS workloads but requires additional configuration. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.
Which is better for enterprise: AWS Web Application Firewall or Radware Cloud WAF Service?
Radware Cloud WAF Service is positioned for enterprise use cases, while AWS Web Application Firewall may be more suited for small to mid-market organizations. Both offer compliance certifications important for enterprise. Enterprise buyers should evaluate SLAs, support options, and integration capabilities.