AWS WAF vs ModSecurity
A detailed comparison to help you choose between AWS WAF and ModSecurity.
 AWS WAF Amazon WAF integrated with CloudFront and ALB | ModSecurity Open source WAF for Nginx and Apache | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 4.9 (8 reviews)✓ | 4.0 (250 reviews) |
| Pricing model | usage-based | free |
| Starting price | From €5/mo | Free✓ |
| Best for | AWS-invested applications that need WAF tightly integrated with their existing CloudFront or ALB setup | Security engineers who want a free self-hosted WAF they fully control on their Nginx or Apache servers |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | api accessus datacentereu datacenterapac datacenter | free tieropen sourceself hostable |
| Visit AWS WAF → | Visit ModSecurity → | |
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
ModSecurity
Pros
- + Free and open source
- + OWASP Core Rule Set included
- + Runs on any Nginx or Apache server
Cons
- - Complex to tune — many false positives by default
- - Requires WAF expertise
Stay in the loop
Get weekly updates on the best new AI tools, deals, and comparisons.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.