Coraza Web Application Firewall vs Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)

Coraza Web Application Firewall and Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) take different approaches to web application security. Consider your team's expertise and infrastructure preferences when evaluating these options.

View Coraza Web Application Firewall Review View Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) Review

Coraza Web Application Firewall and Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) take fundamentally different approaches to web application security. Understanding your infrastructure and team capabilities will help determine which approach fits your needs.

Overview

Coraza 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.

OWASP open source WAF written in Go, fully compatible with ModSecurity rules and OWASP Core Rule Set, designed as a modern alternative to ModSecurity with native support for Caddy, Traefik, and HAProxy.

Developer-friendly WAF using proprietary SmartParse technology, offering low false positives and seamless DevOps integration for modern application security.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Coraza Web Application Firewall	Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)
Overall Rating	4.2/5	4.5/5
Free Tier	Yes	No
Pricing Model	Free and open source (Apache 2.0)	Custom pricing based on requests and features
Ease of Use	3.8/5	4.0/5
Value for Money	4.8/5	3.8/5
Support	3.5/5	4.5/5
Open Source	Yes	No
Platforms	Any platform running Go, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, macOS, Windows	Any web application, AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, Serverless, Nginx, Apache
Compliance	Supports PCI DSS compliance when configured with OWASP CRS	SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR

Pricing Comparison

Coraza Web Application Firewall

Model: Free and open source (Apache 2.0)

Free Tier Available

Open Source

Free

View full pricing →

Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)

Model: Custom pricing based on requests and features

Essential

Custom pricing

Professional

Custom pricing

Premier

Custom pricing

View full pricing →

Features Comparison

Coraza Web Application Firewall

ModSecurity Compatibility
Full compatibility with ModSecurity SecLang rule language. Existing ModSecurity rules and rule sets work without modification.
OWASP CRS Support
Native support for the OWASP Core Rule Set, providing protection against SQL injection, XSS, RCE, and other OWASP Top 10 threats.
Go Native
Pure Go implementation with no C dependencies. Embeddable as a library, usable as middleware, or deployable as a plugin for modern proxies.
Proxy Plugins
Official plugins for Caddy (coraza-caddy), Traefik, and HAProxy allow adding WAF protection with minimal configuration.
Kubernetes Ready
Lightweight enough to run as a sidecar or embedded in ingress controllers. Works with any Go-based K8s tooling.
Audit Logging
Detailed audit logging of blocked and flagged requests for security analysis and compliance reporting.

Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)

SmartParse Technology
Intelligent parsing technology that understands application context to reduce false positives by 90%+.
Power Rules
Flexible rule language for creating custom detection and response logic based on any request attribute.
API Discovery
Automatic discovery and cataloging of API endpoints with security assessment.
DevOps Integration
Native integrations with CI/CD tools, infrastructure as code support, and developer-friendly APIs.
Multi-Environment Deployment
Deploy as cloud service, agent, or edge module across diverse infrastructure.
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.

Coraza Web Application Firewall

You need: Teams migrating from ModSecurity, Kubernetes environments, Go-based applications, organizations using Caddy or Traefik, developers wanting embeddable WAF
You want to start with a free tier
You prefer open-source solutions
You're using: Any platform running Go, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, macOS, Windows

Learn more →

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

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: Coraza Web Application Firewall or Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)?

Coraza Web Application Firewall offers a free tier while Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) does not, which may be important for early-stage startups. Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) scores higher for ease of use (4.0/5), which is valuable for smaller teams. Consider your immediate security needs and growth plans when choosing.

Which has better support: Coraza 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 Coraza 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: Coraza Web Application Firewall or Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)?

Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) scores higher for ease of use (4.0/5) versus Coraza Web Application Firewall (3.8/5). The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.

Which is more cost-effective: Coraza Web Application Firewall or Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)?

Coraza Web Application Firewall offers a free tier while Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) requires a paid plan. Coraza Web Application Firewall scores higher for value (4.8/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.

Which works better with AWS: Coraza Web Application Firewall or Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences)?

Fastly Next-Gen WAF (Signal Sciences) explicitly supports AWS while Coraza Web Application Firewall's AWS integration may vary. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.