BBQ Firewall vs Coraza Web Application Firewall
BBQ Firewall and Coraza Web Application Firewall take different approaches to web application security. Consider your team's expertise and infrastructure preferences when evaluating these options.
BBQ Firewall and Coraza Web Application Firewall take fundamentally different approaches to web application security. Understanding your infrastructure and team capabilities will help determine which approach fits your needs.
Overview
BBQ Firewall and Coraza Web Application Firewall are both popular web application firewall solutions. This comparison will help you understand the key differences and choose the right one for your needs.
The lightest WordPress firewall plugin. Under 10KB, zero configuration, based on Jeff Starr's battle-tested 7G/8G ruleset. 100,000+ active installs. Free version covers most sites. Pro adds customizable rules and statistics.
OWASP open source WAF written in Go, fully compatible with ModSecurity rules and OWASP Core Rule Set, designed as a modern alternative to ModSecurity with native support for Caddy, Traefik, and HAProxy.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | BBQ Firewall | Coraza Web Application Firewall |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.0/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | Freemium (Free tier + paid licenses with lifetime option) | Free and open source (Apache 2.0) |
| Ease of Use | 5.0/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Value for Money | 4.6/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Support | 3.7/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Open Source | No | Yes |
| Platforms | WordPress (self-hosted) | Any platform running Go, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Compliance | Contact vendor | Supports PCI DSS compliance when configured with OWASP CRS |
Pricing Comparison
BBQ Firewall
Model: Freemium (Free tier + paid licenses with lifetime option)
Free Tier AvailableFree
$0
Pro (1 site, yearly)
$30/year
Pro (1 site, lifetime)
$50 one-time
Pro (3 sites, lifetime)
$100 one-time
Pro (10 sites, lifetime)
$200 one-time
Pro (300 sites, lifetime)
$440 one-time
Coraza Web Application Firewall
Model: Free and open source (Apache 2.0)
Free Tier AvailableOpen Source
Free
Features Comparison
BBQ Firewall
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7G/8G Request Filtering
Regex-based pattern matching against incoming URIs, query strings, user agents, and referrers. Based on over a decade of refinement by Jeff Starr.
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SQL Injection Protection
Blocks common SQL injection patterns including UNION, SELECT, eval(), and base64-encoded payloads.
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Directory Traversal Protection
Catches path traversal attempts, null byte injection, and requests for sensitive system files.
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Bad Bot Blocking
Filters known malicious user agents and referrer spam patterns.
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Request Method Scanning
Checks all HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.) against firewall rules.
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Customizable Patterns
Add, edit, or remove firewall patterns to fine-tune protection for your specific site (Pro feature).
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Block Statistics
Visual bar graphs showing hit counts per pattern to measure firewall effectiveness (Pro feature).
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Email Alerts
Receive notifications when requests are blocked (Pro feature).
Coraza Web Application Firewall
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ModSecurity Compatibility
Full compatibility with ModSecurity SecLang rule language. Existing ModSecurity rules and rule sets work without modification.
-
OWASP CRS Support
Native support for the OWASP Core Rule Set, providing protection against SQL injection, XSS, RCE, and other OWASP Top 10 threats.
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Go Native
Pure Go implementation with no C dependencies. Embeddable as a library, usable as middleware, or deployable as a plugin for modern proxies.
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Proxy Plugins
Official plugins for Caddy (coraza-caddy), Traefik, and HAProxy allow adding WAF protection with minimal configuration.
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Kubernetes Ready
Lightweight enough to run as a sidecar or embedded in ingress controllers. Works with any Go-based K8s tooling.
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Audit Logging
Detailed audit logging of blocked and flagged requests for security analysis and compliance reporting.
Which One Is Right for You?
The best WAF depends on your specific requirements, infrastructure, and team expertise.
BBQ Firewall
- You need: WordPress site owners wanting the absolute lightest firewall with zero overhead. Sites where every millisecond of performance matters. Developers who want a clean, focused security tool without bloat. Agencies managing hundreds of sites on a budget with the lifetime license.
- You want to start with a free tier
- You're using: WordPress (self-hosted)
Coraza Web Application Firewall
- You need: Teams migrating from ModSecurity, Kubernetes environments, Go-based applications, organizations using Caddy or Traefik, developers wanting embeddable WAF
- You want to start with a free tier
- You prefer open-source solutions
- You're using: Any platform running Go, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, macOS, Windows
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 is better for startups: BBQ Firewall or Coraza Web Application Firewall?
Both BBQ Firewall and Coraza Web Application Firewall offer free tiers, making them accessible for startups. BBQ Firewall scores higher for ease of use (5.0/5), which is valuable for smaller teams. Consider your immediate security needs and growth plans when choosing.
Which has better support: BBQ Firewall or Coraza Web Application Firewall?
BBQ Firewall has a higher support rating (3.7/5) compared to Coraza Web Application Firewall (3.5/5). 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: BBQ Firewall or Coraza Web Application Firewall?
BBQ Firewall scores higher for ease of use (5.0/5) versus Coraza Web Application Firewall (3.8/5). The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.
Which is more cost-effective: BBQ Firewall or Coraza Web Application Firewall?
Both providers offer free tiers, making it easy to start without commitment. Coraza Web Application Firewall scores higher for value (4.8/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.
Which is better for WordPress: BBQ Firewall or Coraza Web Application Firewall?
BBQ Firewall explicitly supports WordPress while Coraza Web Application Firewall takes a more platform-agnostic approach. For WordPress-specific threats like plugin vulnerabilities and brute force attacks, look for providers with WordPress-specific rule sets.