Coraza Web Application Firewall vs Qualys Web Application Firewall

Coraza Web Application Firewall and Qualys Web Application Firewall 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 Qualys Web Application Firewall Review

Coraza Web Application Firewall and Qualys Web Application Firewall 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 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.

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.

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	Coraza Web Application Firewall	Qualys Web Application Firewall
Overall Rating	4.2/5	3.0/5
Free Tier	Yes	No
Pricing Model	Free and open source (Apache 2.0)	Subscription, per-asset licensing (product decommissioned)
Ease of Use	3.8/5	3.2/5
Value for Money	4.8/5	2.5/5
Support	3.5/5	3.5/5
Open Source	Yes	No
Platforms	Any platform running Go, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, macOS, Windows	VMware, Hyper-V, Docker, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform
Compliance	Supports PCI DSS compliance when configured with OWASP CRS	PCI DSS, SOC 2, FedRAMP, ISO 27001 (Qualys platform level)

Pricing Comparison

Coraza Web Application Firewall

Model: Free and open source (Apache 2.0)

Free Tier Available

Open Source

Free

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Qualys Web Application Firewall

Model: Subscription, per-asset licensing (product decommissioned)

Qualys WAF (Decommissioned)

Previously subscription-based

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.

Qualys Web Application Firewall

WAS Integration
Automatically generate WAF rules from Qualys Web Application Scanning results for one-click virtual patching.
Cloud-Managed Appliance
Virtual appliance deployed locally but managed centrally through the Qualys Cloud Platform.
Custom Security Policies
Flexible policy engine with reusable rules and templates for common platforms and custom applications.
Pre-Built CMS Policies
Out-of-the-box protection policies for WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, SharePoint, and Outlook Web Application.
Security Event Analytics
Detailed dashboards with traffic summaries, threat trends, and drill-down capabilities for incident investigation.
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.

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

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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

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 Qualys Web Application Firewall?

Coraza Web Application Firewall offers a free tier while Qualys Web Application Firewall does not, which may be important for early-stage startups. Coraza Web Application Firewall 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: Coraza Web Application Firewall or Qualys Web Application Firewall?

Qualys Web Application Firewall has a higher support rating (3.5/5) 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 Qualys Web Application Firewall?

Coraza Web Application Firewall scores higher for ease of use (3.8/5) versus Qualys Web Application Firewall (3.2/5). The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.

Which is more cost-effective: Coraza Web Application Firewall or Qualys Web Application Firewall?

Coraza Web Application Firewall offers a free tier while Qualys Web Application Firewall 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 Qualys Web Application Firewall?

Qualys Web Application Firewall 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.