AWS Web Application Firewall vs Akamai App & API Protector vs Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall
Comparing AWS Web Application Firewall, Akamai App & API Protector and Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall across pricing, features, ease of use, and more. Each WAF has different strengths — the right choice depends on your specific requirements.
View AWS Web Application Firewall Review
View Akamai App & API Protector Review
View Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall Review
Overview
AWS Web Application Firewall, Akamai App & API Protector and Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall are popular web application firewall solutions. This comparison will help you understand the key differences and choose the right one for your needs.
AWS Web Application Firewall: Native AWS security service providing scalable WAF protection for applications hosted on AWS infrastructure with pay-per-use pricing.
Akamai App & API Protector: Enterprise-scale WAF from the CDN pioneer, delivering comprehensive application security with unmatched global infrastructure and advanced threat intelligence.
Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall: Magento-specific WAF with real-time threat protection, zero false positives, and deep Adobe Commerce integration for e-commerce stores.
Quick Comparison
| Feature |
AWS Web Application Firewall
|
Akamai App & API Protector
|
Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Free Tier | No | No | No |
| Pricing Model | Pay-per-use (rules + requests) | Custom enterprise pricing based on traffic and features | Subscription by store revenue tier |
| Ease of Use | 3.5/5 | 3.3/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Value for Money | 4.0/5 | 3.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Support | 4.0/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Platforms | AWS CloudFront, ALB, API Gateway, AppSync, Cognito, App Runner, Verified Access | Any web application (cloud-based reverse proxy) | Magento 2, Adobe Commerce, Adobe Cloud |
| Compliance | SOC 1/2/3, PCI DSS, HIPAA, FedRAMP, ISO 27001 | SOC 2, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, FedRAMP, HIPAA | PCI DSS compatible |
| Best For | AWS-native applications, organizations already invested in AWS ecosystem, variable traffic workloads, multi-account AWS environments | Large enterprises, high-traffic websites, organizations facing sophisticated bot attacks, companies needing managed security services | Magento 2 stores, Adobe Commerce merchants, e-commerce businesses requiring specialized protection |
Pricing Comparison
AWS Web Application Firewall
Model: Pay-per-use (rules + requests)
Small (1 ACL, 10 rules)
$15/month + $0.60/M requests
Medium (2 ACL, 25 rules)
$35/month + $0.60/M requests
Large (5 ACL, 50 rules)
$75/month + $0.60/M requests
Akamai App & API Protector
Model: Custom enterprise pricing based on traffic and features
Standard
Custom pricing
Premium
Custom pricing
Enterprise
Custom pricing
Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall
Model: Subscription by store revenue tier
Secure
Custom pricing
Advanced
Custom pricing
Enterprise
Custom pricing
Features Comparison
AWS Web Application Firewall
-
AWS Managed Rules
Pre-configured rule groups maintained by AWS and AWS Marketplace sellers for common threats.
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Custom Rules
Build your own rules using conditions like IP addresses, HTTP headers, URI strings, and more.
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Rate-Based Rules
Automatically block IPs that exceed defined request thresholds.
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Bot Control
Managed rule group for detecting and managing bot traffic (additional cost).
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Fraud Control
Account takeover prevention and creation fraud detection for login/signup pages.
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Firewall Manager Integration
Centrally configure and manage WAF rules across multiple AWS accounts.
Akamai App & API Protector
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Adaptive Security Engine
Machine learning automatically tunes WAF rules for each application, reducing false positives over time.
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API Discovery & Protection
Automatically discover API endpoints and apply security policies with schema validation.
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Bot Manager
Industry-leading bot management using behavioral analysis, device fingerprinting, and ML detection.
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Account Protector
Detect and prevent credential stuffing, account takeover, and fraud attempts.
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Client Reputation
Leverage Akamai's global threat intelligence to score and act on suspicious client behavior.
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Managed Security Services
Optional 24/7 security monitoring and incident response from Akamai's SOC.
Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall
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Origin-Based Protection
Operates at the application layer as a PHP module, protecting against attacks that bypass CDN-based WAFs.
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Real-Time Threat Detection
Sub-millisecond pattern matching with zero performance impact on store operations.
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Zero False Positives
Blocks only actual attacks using Magento-specific intelligence, not generic criteria.
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Rapid Threat Response
New protection rules deployed within minutes of detecting new attack patterns in the wild.
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Magento-Specific Rules
Deep understanding of Magento architecture enables detection of platform-specific vulnerabilities.
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Hack Protection Guarantee
Conditional guarantee against successful attacks when security requirements are met.
Our Verdict
AWS Web Application Firewall, Akamai App & API Protector and Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall are all capable web application firewalls that can protect your applications from common threats.
Key considerations:
- AWS Web Application Firewall is well-suited for: AWS-native applications, organizations already invested in AWS ecosystem, variable traffic workloads, multi-account AWS environments
- Akamai App & API Protector is well-suited for: Large enterprises, high-traffic websites, organizations facing sophisticated bot attacks, companies needing managed security services
- Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall is well-suited for: Magento 2 stores, Adobe Commerce merchants, e-commerce businesses requiring specialized protection
We recommend evaluating your options with a trial or free tier before committing. Consider your existing infrastructure, team expertise, compliance requirements, and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the cheapest: AWS Web Application Firewall or Akamai App & API Protector or Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall?
None of these providers offer a free tier. Contact each vendor for pricing.
Which WAF is easiest to set up?
Sansec Shield Web Application Firewall has the highest ease of use rating at 4.0/5 in our review.
Which WAF has the highest overall rating?
Akamai App & API Protector leads with an overall rating of 4.5/5.