Kong Gateway WAF vs Sucuri Website Security
Kong Gateway WAF and Sucuri Website Security serve different market segments. Your organization's size, budget, and security requirements will determine which is the better fit.
Note: Kong Gateway WAF and Sucuri Website Security target different market segments. This comparison highlights the trade-offs between solutions designed for different organizational sizes.
Overview
Kong Gateway WAF and Sucuri Website Security 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.
Website security platform specializing in WordPress and CMS protection, combining WAF, malware scanning, and incident response in one affordable package.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Kong Gateway WAF | Sucuri Website Security |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 3.8/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Free Tier | No | No |
| Pricing Model | Tiered (Plus per-gateway + Enterprise custom) | Per site, annual subscription |
| Ease of Use | 3.2/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Value for Money | 3.0/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Support | 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Platforms | Linux (Ubuntu, RHEL, Debian, Amazon Linux, Alpine), Docker, Kubernetes (via Ingress Controller and Operator), AWS, Azure, GCP, ARM64, macOS (dev) | WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, any PHP-based CMS, static sites |
| Compliance | SOC 2 Type II, FIPS 140-2 (Enterprise data planes), supports PCI DSS and HIPAA compliance | PCI DSS scanning, SOC 2 (GoDaddy) |
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
Sucuri Website Security
Model: Per site, annual subscription
Basic Firewall
$9.99/month
Pro Firewall
$19.98/month
Basic Platform
$199.99/year (~$17/mo)
Pro Platform
$299.99/year (~$25/mo)
Features Comparison
Kong Gateway WAF
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Sucuri Website Security
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Virtual Patching
Protect against known vulnerabilities in CMS platforms and plugins without updating code.
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DDoS Protection
Layer 3, 4, and 7 DDoS mitigation to keep your site online during attacks.
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Malware Scanning
Regular scanning for malware, backdoors, and suspicious code changes.
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Unlimited Malware Removal
Professional malware cleanup service with no per-incident fees on Platform plans.
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Blocklist Monitoring
Monitor Google, Norton, McAfee, and other blocklists; automatic removal assistance.
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Security Hardening
Recommendations and assistance for hardening WordPress and other CMS platforms.
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)
Sucuri Website Security
- You need: WordPress sites, small business websites, CMS-based applications, agencies managing multiple client sites
- You're using: WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, any PHP-based CMS, static sites
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 has better support: Kong Gateway WAF or Sucuri Website Security?
Sucuri Website Security has a higher support rating (4.3/5) compared to Kong Gateway WAF (4.2/5). 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 Sucuri Website Security?
Sucuri Website Security scores higher for ease of use (4.7/5) versus Kong Gateway WAF (3.2/5). Sucuri's managed approach simplifies setup for many users. The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.
Which is more cost-effective: Kong Gateway WAF or Sucuri Website Security?
Neither provider offers a completely free tier. Sucuri Website Security 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 Sucuri Website Security?
Kong Gateway WAF explicitly supports AWS while Sucuri Website Security's AWS integration may vary. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.
Which is better for WordPress: Kong Gateway WAF or Sucuri Website Security?
Sucuri Website Security is particularly well-suited for WordPress with specialized features. For WordPress-specific threats like plugin vulnerabilities and brute force attacks, look for providers with WordPress-specific rule sets.