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Azure Web Application Firewall vs F5 Advanced WAF comparison

Microsoft and F5 are both solutions in the Web Application Firewall (WAF) category. Microsoft is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.5, while F5 is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.6. Microsoft holds a 4.4% mindshare in WAF, compared to F5’s 11.1% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 98% of F5 users who would recommend it.
Azure Web Application Firewall
Read 13 Azure Web Application Firewall reviews
  • 3,216 Views
  • 2,177 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
F5 Advanced WAF
Read 69 F5 Advanced WAF reviews
  • 8,211 Views
  • 4,319 Comparison Views
98% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 1, 2025

F5 Advanced WAF and Azure Web Application Firewall are two solutions competing in the category of web application protection. F5 Advanced WAF is often preferred due to its comprehensive features and versatility, particularly in complex environments, while Azure WAF is favored for its cost-effectiveness and integration within Azure's ecosystem.

Features: F5 Advanced WAF provides robust application security through DDoS prevention, AI-driven threat detection, and granular policy customization. Its versatility and integration with load balancers allow for enhanced security management. On the other hand, Azure Web Application Firewall offers ease of use with seamless integration within Azure, providing effective fundamental security capabilities with less complexity.

Room for Improvement: Suggestions for F5 Advanced WAF include improving user-friendliness, legacy protocol support, and pricing structures. User interface enhancements and more responsive technical support are also desired. Azure WAF could improve by expanding its documentation, adding advanced features to match competitors, and offering more cost-effective plans for smaller enterprises.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: F5 Advanced WAF provides flexibility across hybrid and on-premises environments, though its complexity during deployment and variable support levels can be challenging. Azure Web Application Firewall offers easier deployment in cloud settings and benefits from Microsoft's support infrastructure, yet improvements in response time and documentation clarity are necessary.

Pricing and ROI: F5 Advanced WAF is recognized for delivering significant ROI with its comprehensive security features despite high costs. It is justified in security-critical environments. Azure Web Application Firewall's affordable pricing within the Azure ecosystem makes it a practical option for enterprises with existing Azure services. Both solutions offer favorable ROI, yet Azure provides more cost-effective choices for dedicated Azure users.

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To learn more, read our detailed Azure Web Application Firewall vs. F5 Advanced WAF Report (Updated: June 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Azure Web Application Firewall vs. F5 Advanced WAF
June 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.0
Azure WAF cuts costs, eliminates third-party needs, improves ROI, meets security requirements, and offers reliable, favorable protection.
Sentiment score
7.8
F5 Advanced WAF provides high ROI with scalable security, efficient onboarding, regulatory compliance, and strong data protection.
AI-based recommendations save on time and money.
Recently, they have been under serious attack with major exploits, such as Log4j, affecting Fortinet and Palo Alto, and even Cisco and VMware.
For more quotes and insights, download the Azure Web Application Firewall report
Subscription models offer clearer ROI due to a more competitive pricing scheme.
For more quotes and insights, download the F5 Advanced WAF report
Mano Senaratne - PeerSpot reviewerMats Hagberg Olsson - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2641242 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.1
Azure Web Application Firewall support varies; premium plans offer better service, while others find self-reliance sufficient.
Sentiment score
7.1
F5 Advanced WAF support is professional, helpful, but needs quicker responses; higher SLAs offer faster service and better experience.
I hardly use Microsoft's paid subscription or maintenance services, however, whenever I send them a note, they have been responsive.
I am very satisfied with the response from Microsoft dedicated architects if it happens that I have to call for their support.
For more quotes and insights, download the Azure Web Application Firewall report
If there is a bug, the support is usually understanding and resolves issues.
I have interacted with F5's support, and while I have no major complaints, they could improve.
For more quotes and insights, download the F5 Advanced WAF report
Mano Senaratne - PeerSpot reviewerMats Hagberg Olsson - PeerSpot reviewerRoiNahari - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2641242 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.6
Azure Web Application Firewall offers flexible scaling options, dependent on subscription, with high ratings for managing large deployments.
Sentiment score
7.6
F5 Advanced WAF excels in scalability and adaptability, supporting diverse applications, ideal for medium to large enterprises.
Beyond a certain SKU, I can install and use these services.
For more quotes and insights, download the Azure Web Application Firewall report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the F5 Advanced WAF report
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.0
Azure Web Application Firewall is stable and reliable, with rare performance issues, mainly solved by system restart.
Sentiment score
8.5
F5 Advanced WAF is praised for stability and reliability, scoring highly in sectors like banking and telecom.
Very rarely do I see any latency issues.
For more quotes and insights, download the Azure Web Application Firewall report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the F5 Advanced WAF report
 

Room For Improvement

Azure WAF needs improvements in management, deployment simplicity, affordability, IP support, and comprehensive documentation for better user experience.
F5 Advanced WAF needs easier interfaces, better integration, enhanced support, and improved features for user-friendliness and efficiency.
Upgrading the platform regularly is necessary for security, however, frequent updates every six months or year from Azure can be a maintenance overhead.
For more quotes and insights, download the Azure Web Application Firewall report
Deployment training for F5 Advanced WAF is lacking and restricts growth by being inaccessible and costly for partners.
For more quotes and insights, download the F5 Advanced WAF report
 

Setup Cost

Enterprise users find Azure Web Application Firewall cost-effective and straightforward compared to AWS and GCP, especially in Brazil.
F5 Advanced WAF is costly but valued for its advanced features, comprehensive protection, and flexibility in high-stakes environments.
It is even a lower cost compared to AWS and GCP.
Sometimes, when opting for a higher SKU, it's not the WAF itself that's costly but the additional requirements.
For more quotes and insights, download the Azure Web Application Firewall report
Subscription models have competitive pricing, while perpetual licenses involve an upfront higher cost.
The price is affordable and satisfactory.
For more quotes and insights, download the F5 Advanced WAF report
Mats Hagberg Olsson - PeerSpot reviewerMano Senaratne - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2641242 - PeerSpot reviewerRoiNahari - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Valuable Features

Azure Web Application Firewall offers scalable, easy-to-configure protection with flexible pricing, enhancing security against DDoS and unauthorized access.
F5 Advanced WAF offers comprehensive protection with integration, customization, and features like network intelligence, DDoS prevention, and behavior analysis.
With Microsoft, everything is within a single suite, making it easier to configure and plan.
It is almost impossible to access these assets from outside, requiring a very skilled attacker to obtain asset tokens of a customer using Azure.
For more quotes and insights, download the Azure Web Application Firewall report
As a perpetual buyer, I am unaware of support expiration until after the purchase.
It contains the logic of both negative and positive security combined.
For more quotes and insights, download the F5 Advanced WAF report
Mano Senaratne - PeerSpot reviewerMats Hagberg Olsson - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2641242 - PeerSpot reviewerRoiNahari - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Categories and Ranking

Azure Web Application Firewall
Ranking in Web Application Firewall (WAF)
12th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
13
Ranking in other categories
Microsoft Security Suite (20th)
F5 Advanced WAF
Ranking in Web Application Firewall (WAF)
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
69
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Web Application Firewall (WAF) category, the mindshare of Azure Web Application Firewall is 4.4%, down from 4.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of F5 Advanced WAF is 11.1%, up from 10.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Web Application Firewall (WAF)
 

Featured Reviews

Mano Senaratne - PeerSpot reviewer
Comprehensive suite simplifies configuration while frequent updates require management
Mainly, it comes with the complete suite of Microsoft services. I can use it in conjunction with the best options and other features that come with it. Configuration is much easier than using different platforms. For example, if I have hosted the application in AWS and am using the Application Firewall from Azure, there are certain additional steps to follow when configuring them. With Microsoft, everything is within a single suite, making it easier to configure and plan. Azure continually upgrades platforms and sends us messages to upgrade to the next version, simplifying the process. Later, it's much easier if I want to upgrade the software platform, scale it, or move it to a different application host as the whole suite comes together. The return on investment is good. If I am doing applications for clients, I can invoice them for better costs. Most applications that I run and use have a better return on investment.
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Ahmed Moamen - PeerSpot reviewer
Protects applications with versatile authentication features
F5 offers a versatile solution that can be integrated with APM in cases where integration with an external IDB is needed. It is useful for authentication backup if the on-prem directory service is unavailable. Additionally, its WAF functionality is valuable for protecting applications from attacks. It is a versatile and strong solution that's easy to understand and deploy.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Government
7%
Financial Services Firm
16%
Computer Software Company
14%
Government
8%
Comms Service Provider
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Azure Web Application Firewall?
The integration it has with GitHub is great.
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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Web Application Firewall?
The pricing is okay at the moment. Sometimes, when opting for a higher SKU, it's not the WAF itself that's costly but the additional requirements. A higher SKU application hosting platform adds to ...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Azure Web Application Firewall?
While using it, I identified certain areas where it would have been good to have additional features. Right now, I can't recall any specific instances. Seamless integration is good, yet having mult...
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What do you like most about F5 Advanced WAF?
It's a fairly easy-to-use and user-friendly tool. My administrators and team also like its ability to customize the rules per the requirements.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for F5 Advanced WAF?
The price is affordable and satisfactory.
See all answers
What needs improvement with F5 Advanced WAF?
I do not have anything in mind right now that needs improvement. Generally, it works well. If we need any specific feature, we approach F5 directly.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

AWS WAF vs Azure Web Application Firewall Logo
AWS WAF vs Azure Web Application Firewall
Compared 34% of the time
Fortinet FortiWeb vs Azure Web Application Firewall Logo
Fortinet FortiWeb vs Azure Web Application Firewall
Compared 12% of the time
Azure Front Door vs Azure Web Application Firewall Logo
Azure Front Door vs Azure Web Application Firewall
Compared 6% of the time
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall vs Azure Web Application Firewall Logo
Cloudflare Web Application Firewall vs Azure Web Application Firewall
Compared 4% of the time
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Azure Web Application Firewall Logo
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Azure Web Application Firewall
Compared 3% of the time
More Azure Web Application Firewall Competitors
Fortinet FortiWeb vs F5 Advanced WAF Logo
Fortinet FortiWeb vs F5 Advanced WAF
Compared 22% of the time
AWS WAF vs F5 Advanced WAF Logo
AWS WAF vs F5 Advanced WAF
Compared 13% of the time
Microsoft Azure Application Gateway vs F5 Advanced WAF Logo
Microsoft Azure Application Gateway vs F5 Advanced WAF
Compared 12% of the time
Imperva Web Application Firewall vs F5 Advanced WAF Logo
Imperva Web Application Firewall vs F5 Advanced WAF
Compared 6% of the time
Azure Front Door vs F5 Advanced WAF Logo
Azure Front Door vs F5 Advanced WAF
Compared 4% of the time
More F5 Advanced WAF Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Azure Web Application Firewall
June 2025
Azure Web Application Firewall reportDownload Azure Web Application Firewall product report
Buyer's Guide
F5 Advanced WAF
June 2025
F5 Advanced WAF reportDownload F5 Advanced WAF product report
 

Overview

Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) provides centralized protection of your web applications from common exploits and vulnerabilities. Web applications are increasingly targeted by malicious attacks that exploit commonly known vulnerabilities. SQL injection and cross-site scripting are among the most common attacks.

To learn more about our solution, ask questions, and share feedback, join our Microsoft Security, Compliance and Identity Community.

Microsoft

F5 Advanced WAF is a web application security solution for financial and government sectors, e-commerce, and public-facing websites. It offers protection against various attacks, including botnets, web scraping, and foreign entities. The solution can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud and is often used with other security tools. Its most valuable features include DDoS and DNS attack protection, SSL uploading, anomaly detection, and the ability to input custom rules. 

F5 Advanced WAF has helped organizations to expose more services to the public while providing an extra layer of protection, preventing revenue loss, and securing connectivity.

F5
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
MAXIMUS, Vivo, American Systems, Bangladesh Post Office, City Bank
Buyer's Guide
Azure Web Application Firewall vs. F5 Advanced WAF
June 2025
Free Report: Azure Web Application Firewall vs. F5 Advanced WAF
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