AWS WAF vs Cloudflare WAF
A detailed comparison to help you choose between AWS WAF and Cloudflare WAF.
Quick Verdict
4.9/5
AWS WAF
8 reviews
3.5/5
Cloudflare WAF
249 reviews
AWS WAF is rated higher (4.9 vs 3.5). 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. Cloudflare's Web Application Firewall protects against OWASP Top 10, zero-day vulnerabilities, and DDoS. 300+ global PoPs absorb attacks. Free plan blocks basic threats; Pro adds OWASP managed rules.
 AWS WAF Amazon WAF integrated with CloudFront and ALB | Cloudflare WAF Web Application Firewall protecting millions of sites | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 4.9 (8 reviews)✓ | 3.5 (249 reviews) |
| Pricing model | usage-based | freemium |
| Starting price | From €5/mo | Free tier available✓ |
| Best for | AWS-invested applications that need WAF tightly integrated with their existing CloudFront or ALB setup | Every website — Cloudflare WAF is the standard baseline for web application firewall protection |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | api accessus datacentereu datacenterapac datacenter | free tierddos protectionapi accesseu datacenterus datacenterapac datacenter |
| Visit AWS WAF → | Visit Cloudflare WAF → | |
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
Cloudflare WAF
Pros
- + Free WAF rules on all plans
- + DDoS mitigation up to 142Tbps
- + 300+ PoP global network absorbs attacks
Cons
- - Advanced WAF rules require Pro+ plan
- - Some legitimate traffic can be blocked
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