Cloudflare Web Application Firewall vs Qualys Web Application Firewall
Both Cloudflare Web Application Firewall and Qualys Web Application Firewall are capable WAF solutions. The right choice depends on your specific infrastructure, budget, and feature requirements.
Overview
Cloudflare Web Application 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.
Industry-leading WAF with global CDN integration, offering robust protection against OWASP threats with easy setup and generous free tier.
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 | Cloudflare Web Application Firewall | Qualys Web Application Firewall |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | Per domain / Per feature tier | Subscription, per-asset licensing (product decommissioned) |
| Ease of Use | 4.8/5 | 3.2/5 |
| Value for Money | 4.5/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Support | 4.0/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Platforms | Any web application, WordPress, Shopify, AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes | VMware, Hyper-V, Docker, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform |
| Compliance | SOC 2, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA, FedRAMP | PCI DSS, SOC 2, FedRAMP, ISO 27001 (Qualys platform level) |
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
Qualys Web Application Firewall
Model: Subscription, per-asset licensing (product decommissioned)
Qualys WAF (Decommissioned)
Previously subscription-based
Features Comparison
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall
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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.
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.
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
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: Cloudflare Web Application Firewall or Qualys Web Application Firewall?
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall offers a free tier while Qualys Web Application Firewall 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 Qualys Web Application Firewall?
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall has a higher support rating (4.0/5) 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: Cloudflare Web Application Firewall or Qualys Web Application Firewall?
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall scores higher for ease of use (4.8/5) versus Qualys Web Application Firewall (3.2/5). 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 Qualys Web Application Firewall?
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall offers a free tier while Qualys Web Application Firewall 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 Qualys Web Application Firewall?
Both Cloudflare Web Application Firewall and Qualys Web Application Firewall support AWS deployments. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.