BBQ Firewall vs Qualys Web Application Firewall
Both BBQ Firewall and Qualys Web Application Firewall are capable WAF solutions. The right choice depends on your specific infrastructure, budget, and feature requirements.
Overview
BBQ Firewall and Qualys 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.
Cloud-managed WAF from Qualys that integrates with their vulnerability scanning platform, enabling one-click virtual patching of discovered vulnerabilities. Note — product was decommissioned September 2024.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | BBQ Firewall | Qualys Web Application Firewall |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.0/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | Freemium (Free tier + paid licenses with lifetime option) | Subscription, per-asset licensing (product decommissioned) |
| Ease of Use | 5.0/5 | 3.2/5 |
| Value for Money | 4.6/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Support | 3.7/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Platforms | WordPress (self-hosted) | VMware, Hyper-V, Docker, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform |
| Compliance | Contact vendor | PCI DSS, SOC 2, FedRAMP, ISO 27001 (Qualys platform level) |
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
Qualys Web Application Firewall
Model: Subscription, per-asset licensing (product decommissioned)
Qualys WAF (Decommissioned)
Previously subscription-based
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).
Qualys Web Application Firewall
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WAS Integration
Automatically generate WAF rules from Qualys Web Application Scanning results for one-click virtual patching.
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Cloud-Managed Appliance
Virtual appliance deployed locally but managed centrally through the Qualys Cloud Platform.
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Custom Security Policies
Flexible policy engine with reusable rules and templates for common platforms and custom applications.
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Pre-Built CMS Policies
Out-of-the-box protection policies for WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, SharePoint, and Outlook Web Application.
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Security Event Analytics
Detailed dashboards with traffic summaries, threat trends, and drill-down capabilities for incident investigation.
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Local Traffic Processing
Application traffic stays within your environment for minimal latency and full data control.
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)
Qualys Web Application Firewall
- You need: Historical reference; previously suited for Qualys platform customers wanting integrated vulnerability management and WAF
- You're using: VMware, Hyper-V, Docker, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform
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 Qualys Web Application Firewall?
BBQ Firewall offers a free tier while Qualys Web Application Firewall does not, which may be important for early-stage 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 Qualys Web Application Firewall?
BBQ Firewall has a higher support rating (3.7/5) compared to Qualys 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 Qualys Web Application Firewall?
BBQ Firewall scores higher for ease of use (5.0/5) versus Qualys Web Application Firewall (3.2/5). The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.
Which is more cost-effective: BBQ Firewall or Qualys Web Application Firewall?
BBQ Firewall offers a free tier while Qualys Web Application Firewall requires a paid plan. BBQ Firewall scores higher for value (4.6/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.
Which works better with AWS: BBQ Firewall or Qualys Web Application Firewall?
Qualys Web Application Firewall explicitly supports AWS while BBQ Firewall's AWS integration may vary. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.