Sophos Firewall (XGS) vs StackPath Web Application Firewall

Both Sophos Firewall (XGS) and StackPath Web Application Firewall are capable WAF solutions. The right choice depends on your specific infrastructure, budget, and feature requirements.

View Sophos Firewall (XGS) Review View StackPath Web Application Firewall Review

Overview

Sophos Firewall (XGS) and StackPath 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.

Next-gen firewall (SFOS on XGS appliances) with a built-in reverse-proxy Web Application Firewall via its Web Server Protection module; the active successor to the end-of-life Sophos UTM.

Edge-based WAF that was part of StackPath's CDN and edge computing platform. Discontinued in June 2024 when the company shut down operations.

Quick Comparison

Feature Sophos Firewall (XGS) StackPath Web Application Firewall
Overall Rating 3.8/5 1.0/5
Free Tier Yes No
Pricing Model Appliance plus subscription (varies by appliance and subscription bundle) Per site / Per bandwidth tier (discontinued)
Ease of Use 3.9/5 1.0/5
Value for Money 4.0/5 1.0/5
Support 3.8/5 1.0/5
Platforms XGS Series hardware appliances, virtual (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM), software/Home Edition, and cloud (Firewall in AWS and Azure) Cloud (SaaS, discontinued)
Compliance Common Criteria, FIPS-validated cryptography (model dependent) SOC 2, PCI DSS (historical)

Pricing Comparison

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

Model: Appliance plus subscription (varies by appliance and subscription bundle)

Free Tier Available

Home Edition

Free

Xstream Protection (Commercial)

Custom pricing

View full pricing →

StackPath Web Application Firewall

Model: Per site / Per bandwidth tier (discontinued)

Edge Delivery 200

$27.50/month

Edge Delivery 2000

$275/month

View full pricing →

Features Comparison

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

  • Reverse-Proxy WAF

    Apache-based reverse proxy that protects published web servers against SQL injection, cross-site scripting, directory traversal, and other common web attacks.

  • Form Hardening

    Signs and validates form fields to prevent manipulation of submitted web forms.

  • URL Hardening

    Restricts accessible URLs based on the learned structure of the protected application.

  • Cookie Signing

    Cryptographically signs cookies to detect and block tampering.

  • Reverse-Proxy Authentication

    Adds basic or form-based authentication policies in front of published web servers via WAF rules.

  • Antivirus Scanning

    Scans uploads and traffic to protected web servers for malware as part of Web Server Protection.

StackPath Web Application Firewall

  • Edge WAF

    Application-layer firewall deployed at the edge, filtering traffic before it reached origin servers. Included OWASP Top 10 coverage and custom rule support.

  • DDoS Protection

    Volumetric and application-layer DDoS mitigation integrated with the CDN edge network.

  • Bot Management

    Bot detection and mitigation using behavioral analysis and challenge-based verification.

  • Real-time Analytics

    Dashboard showing traffic patterns, blocked requests, and attack trends across protected sites.

Which One Is Right for You?

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

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

  • You need: Organizations already running Sophos Firewall, businesses wanting WAF and network security in one appliance, home labs and educational users via the free Home Edition
  • You want to start with a free tier
  • You're using: XGS Series hardware appliances, virtual (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM), software/Home Edition, and cloud (Firewall in AWS and Azure)
Learn more →

StackPath Web Application Firewall

  • You need: Historical reference only. StackPath is no longer available.
  • You're using: Cloud (SaaS, discontinued)
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: Sophos Firewall (XGS) or StackPath Web Application Firewall?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) offers a free tier while StackPath Web Application Firewall does not, which may be important for early-stage startups. Sophos Firewall (XGS) scores higher for ease of use (3.9/5), which is valuable for smaller teams. Consider your immediate security needs and growth plans when choosing.

Which has better support: Sophos Firewall (XGS) or StackPath Web Application Firewall?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) has a higher support rating (3.8/5) compared to StackPath Web Application Firewall (1.0/5). 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: Sophos Firewall (XGS) or StackPath Web Application Firewall?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) scores higher for ease of use (3.9/5) versus StackPath Web Application Firewall (1.0/5). The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.

Which is more cost-effective: Sophos Firewall (XGS) or StackPath Web Application Firewall?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) offers a free tier while StackPath Web Application Firewall requires a paid plan. Sophos Firewall (XGS) scores higher for value (4.0/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.

Which works better with AWS: Sophos Firewall (XGS) or StackPath Web Application Firewall?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) explicitly supports AWS while StackPath Web Application Firewall's AWS integration may vary. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.