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Kong Gateway WAF vs Wallarm API Security Platform

Both Kong Gateway WAF and Wallarm API Security Platform are capable WAF solutions. The right choice depends on your specific infrastructure, budget, and feature requirements.

View Kong Gateway WAF Review View Wallarm API Security Platform Review

Overview

Kong Gateway WAF and Wallarm API Security Platform 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.

API-first security platform combining cloud-native WAF, automated security testing, and advanced API abuse detection with real-time blocking capabilities.

Quick Comparison

Feature Kong Gateway WAF Wallarm API Security Platform
Overall Rating 3.8/5 4.3/5
Free Tier No Yes
Pricing Model Tiered (Plus per-gateway + Enterprise custom) Subscription based on requests
Ease of Use 3.2/5 4.0/5
Value for Money 3.0/5 4.2/5
Support 4.2/5 4.1/5
Platforms Linux (Ubuntu, RHEL, Debian, Amazon Linux, Alpine), Docker, Kubernetes (via Ingress Controller and Operator), AWS, Azure, GCP, ARM64, macOS (dev) AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, eBPF, any cloud environment
Compliance SOC 2 Type II, FIPS 140-2 (Enterprise data planes), supports PCI DSS and HIPAA compliance SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA

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 →

Wallarm API Security Platform

Model: Subscription based on requests

Free Tier Available

Free Tier

$0/month

Pro

Starting $833/month

Enterprise

Custom pricing

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.

Wallarm API Security Platform

  • API Discovery

    Automatically discover and inventory all APIs with visibility into sensitive data flows and business-critical endpoints.

  • API Abuse Prevention

    Patented AI/ML detection for sophisticated API abuse, credential stuffing, and account takeover attacks.

  • Cloud-Native WAAP

    Web application and API protection deployable across any environment with single-day implementation.

  • Security Testing

    Integrated DAST and automated fuzzing to proactively identify vulnerabilities in APIs and applications.

  • API Attack Surface Management

    Agentless discovery of external API hosts, missing WAF coverage, vulnerabilities, and API leaks.

  • Agentic AI Protection

    Specialized protection for AI-powered applications and agentic AI systems.

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 →

Wallarm API Security Platform

  • You need: API-heavy applications, microservices architectures, DevSecOps teams, organizations wanting integrated security testing
  • You want to start with a free tier
  • You're using: AWS, GCP, Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, eBPF, any cloud environment
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 Wallarm API Security Platform?

Wallarm API Security Platform offers a free tier while Kong Gateway WAF does not, making Wallarm API Security Platform more accessible for budget-conscious startups. Wallarm API Security Platform 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: Kong Gateway WAF or Wallarm API Security Platform?

Kong Gateway WAF has a higher support rating (4.2/5) compared to Wallarm API Security Platform (4.1/5). 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 Wallarm API Security Platform?

Wallarm API Security Platform scores higher for ease of use (4.0/5) 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 Wallarm API Security Platform?

Wallarm API Security Platform offers a free tier while Kong Gateway WAF requires a paid plan. Wallarm API Security Platform scores higher for value (4.2/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.

Which works better with AWS: Kong Gateway WAF or Wallarm API Security Platform?

Both Kong Gateway WAF and Wallarm API Security Platform support AWS deployments. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.