BunkerWeb Open Source WAF vs Tempesta FW

Both BunkerWeb Open Source WAF and Tempesta FW are capable WAF solutions. The right choice depends on your specific infrastructure, budget, and feature requirements.

View BunkerWeb Open Source WAF Review View Tempesta FW Review

Overview

BunkerWeb Open Source WAF and Tempesta FW are both popular web application firewall solutions. This comparison will help you understand the key differences and choose the right one for your needs.

Next-generation open source WAF built on NGINX with ModSecurity integration, offering comprehensive web security with an intuitive web UI and extensive plugin system.

High-performance open-source WAF and web accelerator built directly into the Linux kernel, delivering up to 1.8M requests per second with integrated L3-L7 DDoS protection and automated bot mitigation via WebShield.

Quick Comparison

Feature	BunkerWeb Open Source WAF	Tempesta FW
Overall Rating	4.0/5	4.0/5
Free Tier	Yes	Yes
Pricing Model	Free (Open Source) / Pro Support	Free (open source) + professional services
Ease of Use	3.8/5	2.5/5
Value for Money	4.9/5	4.8/5
Support	3.2/5	3.0/5
Open Source	Yes	Yes
Platforms	Linux, Docker, Docker Swarm, Kubernetes, any NGINX-compatible environment	Linux (kernel-level integration), bare metal, cloud VMs
Compliance	N/A (self-hosted, compliance depends on implementation)	Contact vendor

Pricing Comparison

BunkerWeb Open Source WAF

Model: Free (Open Source) / Pro Support

Free Tier Available

Community Edition

Free

Pro Support

Contact for pricing

View full pricing →

Tempesta FW

Model: Free (open source) + professional services

Free Tier Available

Open Source

Free

Professional Services

Contact for pricing

View full pricing →

Features Comparison

BunkerWeb Open Source WAF

ModSecurity Integration
Built-in ModSecurity WAF with OWASP Core Rule Set for comprehensive protection against web application attacks.
Bot Protection
Block malicious bots with challenge-based verification using cookies, JavaScript tests, captchas, or third-party services.
Rate Limiting & DDoS Protection
Limit connections and requests from clients, automatically ban suspicious activities triggering abnormal HTTP status codes.
IP Reputation
Block known bad IPs using external blacklists and DNSBL integration.
Web UI Management
User-friendly graphical interface for configuration and monitoring without command-line expertise.
Plugin System
Extend functionality with official and community plugins including ClamAV antivirus, Coraza WAF, and notification integrations.

Tempesta FW

Kernel-Level Performance
Built directly into Linux TCP/IP stack, processing up to 1.8M HTTP requests per second - 3x faster than Nginx or HAProxy.
Multi-Layer DDoS Protection
Integrated protection against volumetric and application-layer DDoS attacks with rate limiting, JavaScript challenges, and adaptive QoS.
HTTP Tables
Extends Linux iptables/nftables for application-layer filtering, enabling rules that combine IP addresses with HTTP headers and content.
Intelligent Load Balancing
Machine learning-powered load balancing with persistent sessions, weighted round-robin, and rendezvous hashing strategies.
Web Acceleration
Built-in caching using Tempesta DB, an ultra-fast in-memory database with NUMA-aware distribution and SIMD optimizations.
High-Performance TLS
Tempesta TLS is 40-80% faster than Nginx/OpenSSL with 4x lower latency for TLS handshakes.
Bot Protection (WebShield)
Open-source automated bot protection via WebShield — detects and blocks DDoS bots, scrapers, shopping bots, and booking bots using TLS and HTTP fingerprint analysis on access logs stored in ClickHouse.
Volumetric DDoS Protection
Upcoming open-source volumetric DDoS protection solution, completing a full L3-L7 DDoS and bot mitigation stack when combined with Tempesta FW's application-layer defences and WebShield.
Native XDP Integration
Uses Linux XDP (eXpress Data Path) for early packet dropping, enabling efficient mitigation of volumetric attacks.

Which One Is Right for You?

The best WAF depends on your specific requirements, infrastructure, and team expertise.

BunkerWeb Open Source WAF

You need: Security-conscious organizations wanting data control, DevOps teams comfortable with self-hosting, budget-constrained projects, privacy-focused deployments
You want to start with a free tier
You prefer open-source solutions
You're using: Linux, Docker, Docker Swarm, Kubernetes, any NGINX-compatible environment

Learn more →

Tempesta FW

You need: High-traffic sites requiring maximum performance, organizations with Linux expertise, teams wanting to replace multiple infrastructure components, performance-critical applications
You want to start with a free tier
You prefer open-source solutions
You're using: Linux (kernel-level integration), bare metal, cloud VMs

Learn more →

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: BunkerWeb Open Source WAF or Tempesta FW?

Both BunkerWeb Open Source WAF and Tempesta FW offer free tiers, making them accessible for startups. BunkerWeb Open Source WAF scores higher for ease of use (3.8/5), which is valuable for smaller teams. Consider your immediate security needs and growth plans when choosing.

Which has better support: BunkerWeb Open Source WAF or Tempesta FW?

BunkerWeb Open Source WAF has a higher support rating (3.2/5) compared to Tempesta FW (3.0/5). 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: BunkerWeb Open Source WAF or Tempesta FW?

BunkerWeb Open Source WAF scores higher for ease of use (3.8/5) versus Tempesta FW (2.5/5). The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.

Which is more cost-effective: BunkerWeb Open Source WAF or Tempesta FW?

Both providers offer free tiers, making it easy to start without commitment. BunkerWeb Open Source WAF scores higher for value (4.9/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.