Cloudflare Web Application Firewall vs Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)
Both Cloudflare Web Application Firewall and Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) are excellent choices. The right pick depends on your specific infrastructure, budget, and feature requirements.
Overview
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall and Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) are both popular web application firewall solutions. This comparison will help you understand the key differences and choose the right one for your needs.
Industry-leading WAF with global CDN integration, offering robust protection against OWASP threats with easy setup and generous free tier.
Developer-friendly WAF using proprietary SmartParse technology, offering low false positives and seamless DevOps integration for modern application security.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Cloudflare Web Application Firewall | Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | Per domain / Per feature tier | Custom pricing based on requests and features |
| Ease of Use | 4.8/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Value for Money | 4.5/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Support | 4.0/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Platforms | Any web application, WordPress, Shopify, AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes | Any web application, AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, Serverless, Nginx, Apache |
| Compliance | SOC 2, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA, FedRAMP | SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR |
Pricing Comparison
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall
Model: Per domain / Per feature tier
Free Tier AvailableFree
$0/month
Pro
$20/month
Business
$200/month
Enterprise
Contact Sales
Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)
Model: Custom pricing based on requests and features
Essential
Custom pricing
Professional
Custom pricing
Premier
Custom pricing
Features Comparison
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall
-
Managed Rulesets
Pre-configured rules from Cloudflare and OWASP that are automatically updated to protect against emerging threats.
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Custom Rules
Create your own firewall rules using Cloudflare's expression language to block, challenge, or allow specific traffic patterns.
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Rate Limiting
Protect against brute force attacks and API abuse by limiting request rates from specific IPs or patterns.
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Bot Management
Advanced bot detection and mitigation using machine learning to distinguish good bots from malicious ones.
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API Shield
Protect API endpoints with schema validation, mutual TLS, and anomaly detection.
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Page Shield
Monitor and control third-party JavaScript to prevent supply chain attacks and data theft.
Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)
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SmartParse Technology
Intelligent parsing technology that understands application context to reduce false positives by 90%+.
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Power Rules
Flexible rule language for creating custom detection and response logic based on any request attribute.
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API Discovery
Automatic discovery and cataloging of API endpoints with security assessment.
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DevOps Integration
Native integrations with CI/CD tools, infrastructure as code support, and developer-friendly APIs.
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Multi-Environment Deployment
Deploy as cloud service, agent, or edge module across diverse infrastructure.
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Real-Time Dashboards
Live visibility into attacks, decisions, and application health without sampling.
Which One Is Right for You?
The best WAF depends on your specific requirements, infrastructure, and team expertise.
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall
- You need: Small to medium websites, WordPress sites, developers wanting easy setup, organizations needing integrated CDN+WAF
- You want to start with a free tier
- You're using: Any web application, WordPress, Shopify, AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes
Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)
- You need: Modern DevOps teams, API-heavy applications, organizations frustrated with false positives, companies needing flexible deployment options
- You're using: Any web application, AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, Serverless, Nginx, Apache
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: Cloudflare Web Application Firewall or Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)?
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall offers a free tier while Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) does not, which may be important for early-stage startups. Cloudflare Web Application Firewall scores higher for ease of use (4.8/5), which is valuable for smaller teams. Consider your immediate security needs and growth plans when choosing.
Which has better support: Cloudflare Web Application Firewall or Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)?
Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) has a higher support rating (4.5/5) compared to Cloudflare 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: Cloudflare Web Application Firewall or Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)?
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall scores higher for ease of use (4.8/5) versus Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) (4.0/5). DNS-based setup makes Cloudflare particularly quick to implement. The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.
Which is more cost-effective: Cloudflare Web Application Firewall or Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)?
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall offers a free tier while Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) requires a paid plan. Cloudflare Web Application Firewall scores higher for value (4.5/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.
Which works better with AWS: Cloudflare Web Application Firewall or Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)?
Both Cloudflare Web Application Firewall and Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) support AWS deployments. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.