Side by side
F5 WAF for NGINX vs Shield Security
Both stand on web application firewall software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial LinuxSelf-hosted
F5 WAF for NGINX combines application and API protection with NGINX-native deployment, signatures, bot controls, and threat feeds. Confirm pricing, supported systems, and route-specific integration limits before choosing it.
Visit F5 WAF for NGINX Free plan Web
Choose Shield Security if you need WordPress protections for a site or client portfolio, with a free option for core hardening and bot protection. Consider the paid plans if you need malware scanning, stronger login options or backups; look elsewhere if you need a CDN.
Visit Shield SecurityThe facts
| F5 WAF for NGINX | Shield Security | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Self-hosted | Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | docs.nginx.com | getshieldsecurity.com |
| On web application firewall software | #18 of 35 | #14 of 35 |
F5 WAF for NGINX: what it does well
- Protects against the OWASP Top 10
- Supports VM, bare-metal, Docker, and Kubernetes deployment
- Bot defense enabled by default
- Provides REST management through NGINX Instance Manager
- Offers managed rules, API protection, and rate limiting
What to know first
- Pricing is available only on request
- No free plan
- Supports a maximum of 127 CPU cores
- Some subrequest-dependent features may not work as expected
Shield Security: what it does well
- Free plan includes core hardening and bot protection.
- WordPress core scanning is listed for all plans.
- Includes firewall request blocking and automatic IP blocking.
- Two-factor authentication, session management and password policies are available.
- Plus and Enterprise/Agencies include clean backup restore points.
What to know first
- AI-powered malware detection and vulnerability scanning require a paid plan.
- Passkeys and hardware keys are paid-plan features.
- Shield states that it is not a CDN.
Alternatives to F5 WAF for NGINX Alternatives to Shield Security The whole list