Akamai vs AWS WAF
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Akamai and AWS WAF.
Quick Verdict
3.5/5
Akamai
375 reviews
4.9/5
AWS WAF
8 reviews
AWS WAF is rated higher (4.9 vs 3.5). Akamai invented the CDN industry in 1998. 340,000+ servers in 130+ countries. Enterprise CDN, edge security, and media delivery at massive scale. Acquired Linode for cloud compute. AWS WAF is Amazon's web application firewall that can be attached to CloudFront, ALB, or API Gateway. Pay per rule ($1/rule/month) and per million requests ($0.60). Integrates with AWS Shield.
 Akamai The original CDN — 340,000 servers globally |  AWS WAF Amazon WAF integrated with CloudFront and ALB | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.5 (375 reviews) | 4.9 (8 reviews)✓ |
| Pricing model | paid | usage-based |
| Starting price | From €500/mo | From €5/mo✓ |
| Best for | Global media companies and enterprises needing the largest and most battle-tested CDN infrastructure | AWS-invested applications that need WAF tightly integrated with their existing CloudFront or ALB setup |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | ddos protectioneu datacenterus datacenterapac datacenter | api accessus datacentereu datacenterapac datacenter |
| Visit Akamai → | Visit AWS WAF → | |
Akamai
Pros
- + 340,000 servers — unmatched global scale
- + Enterprise security and media delivery
- + Includes Linode cloud compute
Cons
- - Enterprise-only pricing — complex procurement
- - Not for individuals or SMBs
AWS WAF
Pros
- + Deep AWS integration
- + Per-rule pricing — cost-effective for simple use
- + Works with CloudFront, ALB, API Gateway
Cons
- - Complex rule management
- - Requires AWS expertise to use effectively
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