Kong Gateway WAF vs ThreatX by A10 Networks
Both Kong Gateway WAF and ThreatX by A10 Networks are capable WAF solutions. The right choice depends on your specific infrastructure, budget, and feature requirements.
Overview
Kong Gateway WAF and ThreatX by A10 Networks 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.
Managed WAAP that combines a next-gen WAF, API protection, bot defense, and Layer 7 DDoS mitigation with behavioral risk scoring and a 24/7 SOC included in the subscription.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Kong Gateway WAF | ThreatX by A10 Networks |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 3.8/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Free Tier | No | No |
| Pricing Model | Tiered (Plus per-gateway + Enterprise custom) | Subscription tiered by monthly HTTP/HTTPS request volume, managed SOC included |
| Ease of Use | 3.2/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Value for Money | 3.0/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Support | 4.2/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Platforms | Linux (Ubuntu, RHEL, Debian, Amazon Linux, Alpine), Docker, Kubernetes (via Ingress Controller and Operator), AWS, Azure, GCP, ARM64, macOS (dev) | AWS, Azure, GCP, Docker, on-premises data centers, virtual private cloud, hybrid environments |
| Compliance | SOC 2 Type II, FIPS 140-2 (Enterprise data planes), supports PCI DSS and HIPAA compliance | SOC 2 Type 2 (Security and Availability), supports PCI DSS Requirement 6.6, GDPR |
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
ThreatX by A10 Networks
Model: Subscription tiered by monthly HTTP/HTTPS request volume, managed SOC included
ThreatX Protect
Custom quote
Enterprise
Contact Sales
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.
ThreatX by A10 Networks
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Hacker Mind Risk Engine
Adaptive risk scoring that tracks entities across sessions and attack vectors, correlating probing behavior over time instead of judging requests one at a time.
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Managed SOC
24/7 analysts included in the subscription who tune policies, hunt threats, apply virtual patches, and hand-validate alerts before they reach your team.
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API Protection
Automatic API cataloging with behavioral analysis and fingerprinting to catch abuse, enumeration, and business logic attacks against north-south API traffic.
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Bot Management
Blocks credential stuffing, scraping, and scalping by profiling the attacker rather than matching a static bot signature list.
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Layer 7 DDoS Defense
Entity and transaction based tracking that absorbs multi-vector application-layer floods without blanket rate limits on real users.
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Sensitive Data Redaction
Automatic redaction of credentials, tokens, card numbers, and SSN patterns in captured traffic, with a 90-day retention policy.
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)
ThreatX by A10 Networks
- You need: Mid-market and enterprise teams without a dedicated appsec function, API-heavy applications, organizations that want managed detection rather than another dashboard to tune
- You're using: AWS, Azure, GCP, Docker, on-premises data centers, virtual private cloud, hybrid environments
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 ThreatX by A10 Networks?
ThreatX by A10 Networks has a higher support rating (4.6/5) 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 ThreatX by A10 Networks?
ThreatX by A10 Networks scores higher for ease of use (4.4/5) 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 ThreatX by A10 Networks?
Neither provider offers a completely free tier. ThreatX by A10 Networks scores higher for value (3.9/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.
Which works better with AWS: Kong Gateway WAF or ThreatX by A10 Networks?
Both Kong Gateway WAF and ThreatX by A10 Networks support AWS deployments. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.
Which is better for enterprise: Kong Gateway WAF or ThreatX by A10 Networks?
Both Kong Gateway WAF and ThreatX by A10 Networks are well-suited for enterprise deployments. Both offer compliance certifications important for enterprise. Enterprise buyers should evaluate SLAs, support options, and integration capabilities.