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NGINX App Protect Reviews

Vendor: F5
4.2 out of 5
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What is NGINX App Protect?

NGINX App Protect application security solution combines the efficacy of advanced F5 web application firewall (WAF) technology with the agility and performance of NGINX Plus. The solution runs natively on NGINX Plus and addresses some of the most difficult challenges facing modern DevOps environments:

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NGINX App Protect is the #3 ranked solution in API Security Solutions, #16 ranked solution in top Web Application Firewalls, and #23 ranked solution in Container Security Solutions. PeerSpot users give NGINX App Protect an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. NGINX App Protect is most commonly compared to Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks: NGINX App Protect vs Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks. NGINX App Protect is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 56% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 15% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
NGINX App Protect
August 2025
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NGINX App Protect mindshare

Product category:
Web Application Firewall (WAF)
As of August 2025, the mindshare of NGINX App Protect in the Web Application Firewall (WAF) category stands at 1.9%, down from 2.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Web Application Firewall (WAF) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
NGINX App Protect1.9%
F5 Advanced WAF10.0%
AWS WAF8.7%
Other79.4%
Web Application Firewall (WAF)

PeerResearch reports based on NGINX App Protect reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryWeb Application Firewall (WAF)Aug 29, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonNGINX App Protect vs F5 Advanced WAFAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonNGINX App Protect vs AWS WAFAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonNGINX App Protect vs Microsoft Azure Application GatewayAug 29, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks4.21.9%98%111 interviewsAdd to research
Checkmarx One3.8N/A87%71 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

NGINX App Protect offers flexible security management, reverse proxy capabilities, and integration across platforms. Users value its simple command-line interface, API connectivity, and robust automation for DevOps. Features include OWASP certification, load balancing, bot and brute force protection, flexible policies, and traffic management. The tool provides comprehensive HTTP session control and auto-learning for application profiling, streamlining backend programming while enhancing security with signature-based detection, DOS protection, and effective bot detection and IP blocking.
  • "I would say that the most valuable feature is the ability to operate in a DevOps environment and to be configured through API and pipeline by the developers themselves."
  • "Overall, I rate NGINX App Protect between eight and nine."
  • "There's a cache, or it works like a proxy, so it can speed up applications."

Room for Improvement

Configuration lacks flexibility, requiring more automation for setting policies and managing rules. High throughput challenges persist. Limited API exposure and slow bug fixes hinder performance. Licensing becomes expensive quickly. User interface and technical support need refinement. Compatibility issues with existing infrastructure are present. Integration with more security features and a clearer roadmap are desired. Documentation is insufficient, making advanced feature exploration difficult. Pricing and understanding of hardware requirements require attention.
  • "It would be better if it were easier to implement and if there was more information from F5 regarding hardware requirements and specifications to deploy the service, to avoid disruptions after implementation."
  • "It doesn't have more advanced features like no false-positive security, which you can configure in Advanced WAF."
  • "The product's price is high, making it an area of concern where improvements are required. The tool's licensing model is also not good."

ROI

Organizations experienced a notable ROI from NGINX App Protect, especially during the transition to remote work due to Covid. The investment in NGINX App Protect provided immediate advantages, enhancing application security and delivering cost-effectiveness. Some companies report being in early testing phases, lacking clear ROI visibility, although they acknowledge benefits like improved network security and integration ease with CICD pipelines. One entity invested $40,000 and anticipates $30,000 in returns within eight months.

Pricing

NGINX App Protect pricing is considered high, with licensing fees reported between $3,000 to $40,000 annually. Its subscription-based model offers flexibility with yearly or multi-year options. While some find the costs reasonable, others note it as expensive compared to alternatives like Imperva. Licensing is annual without additional fees, and pricing varies based on architecture and usage. Customers perceive it similar to top-tier Gartner Magic Quadrant products in cost.
  • "The product's price is high."
  • "NGINX App Protect is expensive."
  • "The price of NGINX App Protect is not much different from the products that fall under the leader category of Gartner Magic Quadrant."

Popular Use Cases

NGINX App Protect is mainly used for securing web applications, including internet banking and published services. It functions as a web application firewall, load balancer, and reverse proxy. Users employ it in container environments such as Kubernetes and OpenShift, in cloud perimeter security, and to protect APIs. It also integrates into deployment pipelines and guards against OWASP threats, with capabilities for automated cases and decentralized applications.

Service and Support

NGINX App Protect's customer service is fast and helpful, though some report delays in response time. Technical support is knowledgeable but sometimes asks unnecessary questions. Users experienced varying quality, with some finding it expensive, lacking technical skills, or requiring issue escalation. Previous experiences with BIG-IP were efficient. Though responsiveness has improved, some prefer alternatives. Many rate support highly, around eight to nine out of ten. Some customers rely on their expertise due to unavailable support.

Deployment

NGINX App Protect's initial setup is generally considered simple, especially for those familiar with similar tasks, but can become challenging due to security certificates and custom configurations. Most organizations faced additional work when dealing with certificates. Basic deployments are quick, but complex setups involving multiple applications or granular security require more time. Experience aids efficiency, while novices may find it more demanding. Deployment times vary from days to months, with automation and preparation easing the process.

Scalability

NGINX App Protect offers scalability with various licensing options, suitable for diverse user counts. While perceived as scalable by many, challenges exist in handling traffic and configuration complexities, especially with deployment lag and lack of centralized options. It supports a wide range of users but may require upgrading hardware for traffic expansion. Users report it to be scalable but note specific limitations related to policy design and application-specific scalability.

Stability

NGINX App Protect exhibits excellent stability. Many users highlight its dependable operation and compare it favorably against other options like Imperva. It can manage substantial traffic, handling up to 70,000 requests per second. Users often rate its stability between eight and eight-point-five out of ten, praising its lightweight and fast performance. Some mention areas for improvement but consistently note its reliability. The application is versatile, running efficiently as a module with Ingress Controller.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our NGINX App Protect Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business7
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise8
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business79
Midsize Enterprise40
Large Enterprise154
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
15%
Computer Software Company
15%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Retailer
7%
Energy/Utilities Company
5%
University
5%
Healthcare Company
5%
Media Company
3%
Insurance Company
3%
Legal Firm
3%
Educational Organization
3%
Performing Arts
3%
Real Estate/Law Firm
3%
Hospitality Company
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Construction Company
1%
Government
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Non Profit
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Outsourcing Company
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%

Compare NGINX App Protect with alternative products

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Learn more about NGINX App Protect

  • Integrating security controls directly into the development automation pipeline
  • Applying and managing security for modern and distributed application environments such as containers and microservices
  • Providing the right level of security controls without impacting release and go-to-market velocity
  • Complying with security and regulatory requirements

NGINX App Protect offers:

  • Expanded security beyond basic signatures to ensure adequate controls
  • F5 app‑security technology for efficacy superior to ModSecurity and other WAFs
  • Confidently run in “blocking” mode in production with proven F5 expertise
  • High‑confidence signatures for extremely low false positives
  • Increases visibility, integrating with third‑party analytics solutions
  • Integrates security and WAF natively into the CI/CD pipeline
  • Deploys as a lightweight software package that is agnostic of underlying infrastructure
  • Facilitates declarative policies for “security as code” and integration with DevOps tools
  • Decreases developer burden and provides feedback loop for quick security remediation
  • Accelerates time to market and reduces costs with DevSecOps‑automated security

NGINX App Protect was previously known as NGINX WAF, NGINX Web Application Firewall.

Related questions

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Which WAF solution would you recommend to cater to 100 to 125 concurrent sessions?
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  • 35
Fortinet vs Sophos? Help choose a NGFW solution that can replace Microsoft TMG.
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Imperva WAF vs. Barracuda: Which One is Better?
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  • 404
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  • 560
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What's right for me? Fortinet or Citrix?

Product Categories

Product Categories
Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Container Security
API Security

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NGINX App Protect Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Project Manager at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees4.5I researched NGINX App Protect and found that its ability to detect bots and block IPs is effective for securing applications, as seen in its deployment for a medical instrument company. For smaller budgets, Cloudflare might be preferable.
IT Architect at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees4.0We are transitioning to a private cloud and needed a flexible alternative to F5 ASM. NGINX App Protect's integration in DevOps and API configurability are valuable, though easier implementation and clearer hardware specs from F5 would improve it.
Senior security architecture at National Payment Corporation Of India4.0I use NGINX App Protect for protection against external threats, including OWASP Top 10. While it provides extensive reporting and customization, it lacks a user interface for updates and configuration changes. Better documentation on deploying gRPC would be beneficial.
Security System Engineer at Ascomp S.A.4.0I found NGINX App Protect valuable for its simple functions ideal for CICD pipelines and automation, though it lacks advanced features like no false-positive security found in Advanced WAF. It enhances network security and integrates easily, despite fewer features.
Chief Information Officer at F.P. eSafe Solutions LTD4.0I find NGINX App Protect to be a robust security solution that's easy to deploy and integrates well into deployment pipelines. Effective communication between security and developer teams is crucial. It offers great value despite needing a better user interface.
Security Data Scientist at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees4.0I evaluated NGINX App Protect by testing its features and comparing it to a Web Application Firewall, focusing on detection effectiveness. However, I faced challenges with upgrading custom rules. Overall, it was used for evaluation rather than direct protection.
Ingeniero at Servicios Eyenet S.A De C.V4.5I utilize NGINX App Protect mainly for customer platforms like e-commerce. Its OWASP certification and quick implementation of strong passwords are impressive, though e-commerce portal improvements are needed. I invested $40,000, expecting a $30,000 return in eight months.
Head Competence Center Agile & Communication at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees3.0No summary available