Best Web Application Firewall Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Fastly Image Optimizer is ranked #1 of 30 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Gcore WAAP and Wallarm API Security. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Gcore WAAP. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Fastly Image Optimizer at $0.01/mo.
When you’re assessing web application firewall software, the entries include Fastly Image Optimizer, Gcore WAAP and Wallarm API Security. Compare API protection and bot management alongside rate limiting and managed rule sets to see which capabilities are listed. Deployment model and log retention offer further operational points to weigh, while free-plan availability and the paid starting price provide cost context. The entries are ranked best-of options; use the comparison fields to consider how each may fit your application protection needs and existing infrastructure.
30 web application firewall software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Fastly Image Optimizer | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.01/mo | No | — | hybrid | View |
| 2 | Gcore WAAP | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | €25/mo | Yes | — | edge | View |
| 3 |  Wallarm API Security | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 4 | BunkerWeb | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 5 | Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Secret Management | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | cloud | View |
| 6 |  F5 BIG-IP APM | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | hybrid | View |
| 7 | AWS WAF | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | 5 /mo | hybrid | View |
| 8 | Imperva API Security | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | hybrid | View |
| 9 |  Radware Alteon | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | cloud | View |
| 10 | Cloudflare WAF | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $20/mo | Yes | 20 /mo | edge | View |
| 11 | Security Ninja | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 9.92 /mo | hybrid | View |
| 12 | Hide My WP Ghost | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 13 | OWASP Coraza WAF | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 14 | SafeLine | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 10 /mo | — | View |
| 15 |  Wordfence Security | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 16 | Check Point CloudGuard Data Security | 5.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | hybrid | View |
| 17 |  Shield Security | 5.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 18 | BitNinja | 5.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 8 /mo | — | View |
| 19 | F5 WAF for NGINX | 5.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | hybrid | View |
| 20 | Indusface WAS | 5.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $49.92/mo | No | 99 /mo | edge | View |
| 21 | ModSecurity | 5.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 22 |  Tencent Cloud CDN | 5.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | CNY 21/mo | No | — | cloud | View |
| 23 | Alibaba Cloud WAF | 5.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $140/mo | No | 140 /mo | hybrid | View |
| 24 | Tencent Cloud WAF | 5.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | cloud | View |
| 25 | FortiWeb | 5.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | hybrid | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which web application firewall software is ranked first on Inferse?
Fastly Image Optimizer is ranked #1 of 30 with a score of 7.4. Gcore WAAP is second and Wallarm API Security third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Fastly Image Optimizer has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.01/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.