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Kong Gateway WAF vs open-appsec

Kong Gateway WAF and open-appsec take different approaches to web application security. Consider your team's expertise and infrastructure preferences when evaluating these options.

View Kong Gateway WAF Review View open-appsec Review

Kong Gateway WAF and open-appsec take fundamentally different approaches to web application security. Understanding your infrastructure and team capabilities will help determine which approach fits your needs.

Overview

Kong Gateway WAF and open-appsec are both popular web application firewall solutions. This comparison will help you understand the key differences and choose the right one for your needs.

API gateway with built-in WAF plugin for enterprise customers. Kong is the most popular open source API gateway (35K+ GitHub stars, 312M+ downloads) built on NGINX, processing 400B+ API calls daily. The WAF plugin is an Enterprise-only add-on that protects API endpoints at the gateway layer.

Machine learning-based open source WAF that uses contextual AI to detect threats without signatures or rules, with native integration for NGINX, Kong, Envoy, and Kubernetes ingress controllers.

Quick Comparison

Feature Kong Gateway WAF open-appsec
Overall Rating 3.8/5 4.1/5
Free Tier No Yes
Pricing Model Tiered (Plus per-gateway + Enterprise custom) Free open source, managed cloud SaaS available
Ease of Use 3.2/5 4.3/5
Value for Money 3.0/5 4.6/5
Support 4.2/5 3.7/5
Open Source No Yes
Platforms Linux (Ubuntu, RHEL, Debian, Amazon Linux, Alpine), Docker, Kubernetes (via Ingress Controller and Operator), AWS, Azure, GCP, ARM64, macOS (dev) Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, NGINX, Kong Gateway, Envoy
Compliance SOC 2 Type II, FIPS 140-2 (Enterprise data planes), supports PCI DSS and HIPAA compliance Supports OWASP Top 10 and API Top 10 protection

Pricing Comparison

Kong Gateway WAF

Model: Tiered (Plus per-gateway + Enterprise custom)

Kong Gateway OSS

Free

Kong Konnect Plus

From $225/mo

Kong Konnect Enterprise

Custom (annual)

Dedicated Cloud Gateway

$500/mo per control plane + $0.15/GB

View full pricing →

open-appsec

Model: Free open source, managed cloud SaaS available

Free Tier Available

Open Source

Free

SaaS Management

Free tier available, paid plans for higher traffic

View full pricing →

Features Comparison

Kong Gateway WAF

  • Gateway-Embedded WAF

    WAF runs as a plugin inside the Kong Gateway process, inspecting API traffic at the same layer where routing, authentication, and rate limiting occur. No separate WAF appliance or additional proxy hop needed.

  • OWASP Top 10 Protection

    Built-in protection against common web application attacks including SQL injection, cross-site scripting, command injection, and path traversal at the API gateway layer.

  • Plugin Ecosystem

    Over 100 plugins for security, traffic control, authentication, and observability. WAF works alongside bot detection, IP restriction, CORS, ACL, and rate limiting plugins in a configurable execution chain.

  • Third-Party WAF Integrations

    Open plugin architecture supports third-party WAF engines including open-appsec (ML-driven detection) and Wallarm (API security). Teams can choose the WAF engine that fits their threat model.

  • Kubernetes-Native Deployment

    Kong Ingress Controller and Kong Kubernetes Operator provide native Kubernetes integration. WAF policies can be managed declaratively through Kubernetes CRDs alongside gateway configuration.

  • Hybrid Mode

    Cloud-managed control plane with self-hosted data planes. WAF policies are centrally managed and distributed to data planes running in any environment, including air-gapped networks.

  • AI Gateway

    Dedicated AI gateway capabilities including LLM proxy, token-based rate limiting, semantic caching, PII sanitization, prompt guardrails, and MCP server proxy. WAF protects AI endpoints alongside traditional APIs.

  • Declarative Configuration

    Gateway and WAF configuration can be managed as code through declarative YAML/JSON, enabling GitOps workflows and CI/CD pipeline integration for security policy changes.

  • Advanced Rate Limiting

    Enterprise-grade rate limiting with sliding window counters, consumer groups, and cluster-wide synchronization. Works in conjunction with WAF to prevent both application-layer attacks and abuse.

open-appsec

  • ML-Based Detection

    Pre-trained machine learning engine detects threats based on context and intent, not signatures. No rule tuning required.

  • Automatic Learning

    Continuously learns application-specific traffic patterns in production, reducing false positives over time without manual intervention.

  • Native Proxy Integration

    Runs as a module inside NGINX, Kong, or Envoy rather than as a separate proxy, eliminating additional network hops and latency.

  • Kubernetes Ingress

    Functions as a Kubernetes Ingress Controller with built-in WAF, providing security at the ingress layer without sidecars or service mesh.

  • API Protection

    Protects REST APIs against OWASP API Top 10 threats using the same ML engine, with automatic API discovery and schema enforcement.

  • Anti-Bot

    Detects and mitigates automated attacks, credential stuffing, and web scraping using behavioral analysis.

Which One Is Right for You?

The best WAF depends on your specific requirements, infrastructure, and team expertise.

Kong Gateway WAF

  • You need: Organizations already using Kong as their API gateway, Kubernetes-native architectures needing gateway-level WAF, teams wanting unified API management and security in one platform, enterprises with microservices architectures routing all traffic through an API gateway
  • You're using: Linux (Ubuntu, RHEL, Debian, Amazon Linux, Alpine), Docker, Kubernetes (via Ingress Controller and Operator), AWS, Azure, GCP, ARM64, macOS (dev)
Learn more →

open-appsec

  • You need: Kubernetes environments, teams using NGINX or Kong, organizations wanting hands-off WAF protection, cloud-native applications, DevOps teams that do not want to manage WAF rules
  • You want to start with a free tier
  • You prefer open-source solutions
  • You're using: Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, NGINX, Kong Gateway, Envoy
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: Kong Gateway WAF or open-appsec?

open-appsec offers a free tier while Kong Gateway WAF does not, making open-appsec more accessible for budget-conscious startups. open-appsec scores higher for ease of use (4.3/5), which is valuable for smaller teams. Consider your immediate security needs and growth plans when choosing.

Which has better support: Kong Gateway WAF or open-appsec?

Kong Gateway WAF has a higher support rating (4.2/5) compared to open-appsec (3.7/5). 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: Kong Gateway WAF or open-appsec?

open-appsec scores higher for ease of use (4.3/5) versus Kong Gateway WAF (3.2/5). The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.

Which is more cost-effective: Kong Gateway WAF or open-appsec?

open-appsec offers a free tier while Kong Gateway WAF requires a paid plan. open-appsec scores higher for value (4.6/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.

Which works better with AWS: Kong Gateway WAF or open-appsec?

Kong Gateway WAF explicitly supports AWS while open-appsec's AWS integration may vary. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.