WAF Finder

Choosing the right WAF approach depends on your web server, how you deploy, and what matters most to you. There is no single best WAF for everyone.

This tool asks four quick questions and gives you a tailored recommendation, including links to setup guides, alternative options, and an estimated difficulty level. No signup, no data shared.

Features

Personalized Recommendations

Get a WAF approach matched to your exact web server, deployment model, and priorities.

Setup Guides Included

Every recommendation links directly to relevant WAFplanet guides and external documentation.

Alternative Options

See backup choices with brief rationale so you can compare approaches.

No Signup Required

All logic runs in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere.

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What web server do you use?

Pick the primary web server or reverse proxy in front of your application.

How to Use

Select your web server: Pick the web server or reverse proxy you currently use (Nginx, Apache, Caddy, etc.).
Choose your deployment model: Tell us where your application runs - bare metal, Docker, Kubernetes, serverless, or a managed platform.
Pick your priorities: Select up to 3 things that matter most - easy setup, low cost, compliance, GUI, performance, etc.
Set your experience level: This calibrates the recommendation complexity.
Review your recommendation: Get a tailored WAF approach with setup guides, alternative options, and estimated difficulty.

Methodology

The WAF Finder uses a decision-tree approach based on real-world deployment patterns:

How Recommendations Work

Web server compatibility determines which WAF solutions can integrate natively vs. require a reverse proxy layer
Deployment model filters for containerized vs. bare-metal vs. cloud-native solutions
Priorities weight the recommendation toward ease of use, cost, compliance, or specific features like GUI dashboards
Experience level adjusts complexity - beginners get simpler setups, advanced users get more powerful but complex options

Key Decision Points

Kubernetes deployments always get ingress-level or cloud WAF recommendations
Serverless/edge deployments require cloud WAF (no server to install modules on)
GUI priority surfaces BunkerWeb and SafeLine as they have built-in dashboards
Compliance needs steer toward cloud WAFs with SOC2/PCI certifications
The Caddy+Coraza reverse proxy approach works with any web server and is the most versatile self-hosted option

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this tool biased toward any particular WAF vendor?

No. The WAF Finder recommends approaches (like "Caddy + Coraza reverse proxy" or "cloud WAF"), not specific paid products. When cloud WAFs are recommended, we link to our provider comparison pages so you can evaluate options yourself. The open-source options (Coraza, ModSecurity, BunkerWeb, CrowdSec) are recommended based on technical fit, not commercial relationships.

Why does Caddy+Coraza appear so often as a recommendation?

Caddy+Coraza is the most versatile self-hosted WAF setup available today. It works as a reverse proxy in front of any web server, runs in Docker or bare metal, handles HTTPS automatically, and uses the same OWASP CRS ruleset as ModSecurity. It is the closest thing to a "works everywhere" open-source WAF. That said, for specific scenarios (like native Apache integration or Kubernetes), other approaches may be better fits.

What if I already have a cloud WAF like Cloudflare?

If you already use a cloud WAF, this tool can still help you evaluate whether adding a self-hosted WAF layer makes sense (defense in depth). Many production setups use both a cloud WAF for DDoS/edge protection and a local WAF for application-layer rules. The tool focuses on the self-hosted side of that equation.

How do I know if I need a WAF at all?

If your application accepts user input, processes forms, has an API, or handles any kind of authentication, you need a WAF. Even static sites benefit from bot protection and basic security headers. The question is not whether to use a WAF, but which approach fits your setup. Our ROI calculator can help quantify the business case.