WAFPlanet

Cloudflare Web Application Firewall vs Invicti

Cloudflare Web Application Firewall and Invicti take different approaches to web application security. Consider your team's expertise and infrastructure preferences when evaluating these options.

Cloudflare Web Application Firewall and Invicti take fundamentally different approaches to web application security. Understanding your infrastructure and team capabilities will help determine which approach fits your needs.

Overview

Cloudflare Web Application Firewall and Invicti 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.

Application security testing platform offering DAST and IAST scanning. Formerly Netsparker. Products include Invicti (enterprise DAST) and Acunetix (SMB DAST). Not a WAF, but a vulnerability scanner that finds the vulnerabilities WAFs protect against. OWASP Gold sponsor. Proof-based scanning reduces false positives. Custom enterprise pricing.

Quick Comparison

Feature Cloudflare Web Application Firewall Invicti
Overall Rating 4.5/5 3.8/5
Free Tier Yes No
Pricing Model Per domain / Per feature tier Custom (enterprise, annual contract)
Ease of Use 4.8/5 3.5/5
Value for Money 4.5/5 3.3/5
Support 4.0/5 4.0/5
Platforms Any web application, WordPress, Shopify, AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes Scans any web application accessible via HTTP/HTTPS. Supports REST APIs, GraphQL, SOAP, single-page applications (React, Angular, Vue), and traditional server-rendered applications. On-premises scanner available for internal applications.
Compliance SOC 2, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA, FedRAMP SOC 2 Type 2, helps with PCI DSS, HIPAA, ISO 27001, GDPR compliance scanning

Pricing Comparison

Cloudflare Web Application Firewall

Model: Per domain / Per feature tier

Free Tier Available

Free

$0/month

Pro

$20/month

Business

$200/month

Enterprise

Contact Sales

View full pricing →

Invicti

Model: Custom (enterprise, annual contract)

Acunetix (SMB)

Custom (starts ~$4,500/year)

Invicti (Enterprise)

Custom (annual contract)

View full 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.

  • Custom Rules

    Create your own firewall rules using Cloudflare's expression language to block, challenge, or allow specific traffic patterns.

  • Rate Limiting

    Protect against brute force attacks and API abuse by limiting request rates from specific IPs or patterns.

  • Bot Management

    Advanced bot detection and mitigation using machine learning to distinguish good bots from malicious ones.

  • API Shield

    Protect API endpoints with schema validation, mutual TLS, and anomaly detection.

  • Page Shield

    Monitor and control third-party JavaScript to prevent supply chain attacks and data theft.

Invicti

  • Proof-Based Scanning

    When a vulnerability is found, Invicti attempts to safely exploit it and provides concrete proof. For SQL injection, it extracts actual data. For file inclusion, it reads a specific file. This eliminates the false positive problem that plagues most security scanners.

  • DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing)

    Tests running web applications by sending crafted HTTP requests and analyzing responses. Finds SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, file inclusion, authentication flaws, and other OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities in production or staging environments.

  • IAST (Interactive Application Security Testing)

    Instruments the application at runtime to provide deeper vulnerability detection. Combines external scanning with internal application visibility. Finds vulnerabilities that pure DAST scanning might miss, such as insecure deserialization or business logic flaws.

  • API Security Testing

    Scans REST APIs, GraphQL endpoints, and SOAP services. Imports API definitions (OpenAPI/Swagger, WSDL, GraphQL schemas) and tests all endpoints for vulnerabilities. Critical for modern applications where APIs are the primary attack surface.

  • CI/CD Pipeline Integration

    Integrates with Jenkins, Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and other CI/CD platforms. Automatically scans applications as part of the deployment pipeline. Fails builds if critical vulnerabilities are found.

  • WAF Rule Export

    Exports discovered vulnerabilities as WAF rules that can be imported into WAF products. Creates targeted virtual patches for specific vulnerabilities found during scanning. Bridges the gap between vulnerability discovery and runtime mitigation.

  • Compliance Reporting

    Generates compliance reports mapped to PCI DSS, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and OWASP Top 10 requirements. Useful for demonstrating due diligence during audits and regulatory reviews.

  • Single-Page Application Support

    Full support for scanning modern JavaScript applications built with React, Angular, or Vue. Invicti executes JavaScript, interacts with dynamic page elements, and discovers application states that traditional crawlers miss.

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
Learn more →

Invicti

  • You need: Enterprise security teams evaluating WAF effectiveness against actual application vulnerabilities. DevSecOps teams wanting automated vulnerability scanning in CI/CD pipelines. Organizations needing compliance scanning for PCI DSS, HIPAA, or ISO 27001. Security consultants performing application security assessments.
  • You're using: Scans any web application accessible via HTTP/HTTPS. Supports REST APIs, GraphQL, SOAP, single-page applications (React, Angular, Vue), and traditional server-rendered applications. On-premises scanner available for internal applications.
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: Cloudflare Web Application Firewall or Invicti?

Cloudflare Web Application Firewall offers a free tier while Invicti 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 Invicti?

Invicti has a higher support rating (4.0/5) 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 Invicti?

Cloudflare Web Application Firewall scores higher for ease of use (4.8/5) versus Invicti (3.5/5). 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 Invicti?

Cloudflare Web Application Firewall offers a free tier while Invicti 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 Invicti?

Cloudflare Web Application Firewall explicitly supports AWS while Invicti's AWS integration may vary. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.