AWS Shield vs Cloudflare One comparison

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Cloudflare are both solutions in the Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection category. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.7, while Cloudflare is ranked #7 with an average rating of 9.0. Amazon Web Services (AWS) holds a 4.4% mindshare in DDOS, compared to Cloudflare’s 4.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Amazon Web Services (AWS) users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Cloudflare users who would recommend it.

AWS Shield

Read 11 AWS Shield reviews

2,059 Views
2,059 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cloudflare One

Read 22 Cloudflare One reviews

10,156 Views
1,523 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

AWS Shield

Cloudflare One

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 4, 2026

Cloudflare One and AWS Shield compete in online security and management solutions. Cloudflare One offers more favorable pricing and support, attracting cost-conscious tech buyers, while AWS Shield stands out with advanced security features, justified by potentially higher costs.

Features: Cloudflare One provides comprehensive network-level security with DDoS protection, secure web gateways, and integrated access controls. AWS Shield offers advanced threat detection and mitigation against DDoS attacks, deeply integrated with AWS services, enhancing security beyond DDoS protection.

Room for Improvement: Cloudflare One can improve by expanding integrations with third-party services, offering more granular security controls, and enhancing real-time analytics. AWS Shield could benefit from simplifying its setup process, improving interoperability with non-AWS environments, and reducing its overall service cost for broader appeal.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cloudflare One facilitates quick integration with existing networks and offers responsive customer service. AWS Shield, while requiring more technical expertise, provides comprehensive support with a focus on specialized security configurations.

Pricing and ROI: Cloudflare One is often more cost-effective due to lower setup costs and favorable ROI from broad service offerings. AWS Shield, although higher in initial cost, offers significant ROI through robust security features and deep AWS integration.

To learn more, read our detailed AWS Shield vs. Cloudflare One Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

AWS Shield vs. Cloudflare One

December 2025

Download the complete report

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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:

Categories and Ranking

AWS Shield

Ranking in Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection

5th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Cloudflare One

Ranking in Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection

7th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Email Security (20th), Secure Web Gateways (SWG) (16th), Data Loss Prevention (DLP) (21st), Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) (11th), Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions (13th), Access Management (11th), Bot Management (3rd), ZTNA as a Service (8th), ZTNA (2nd), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) (10th), Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection category, the mindshare of AWS Shield is 4.4%, down from 6.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cloudflare One is 4.1%, up from 3.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
AWS Shield	4.4%
Cloudflare One	4.1%
Other	91.5%

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection

Featured Reviews

PranavTelang

Lead Architect at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees

Has enabled multi-layered threat mitigation but still lacks deeper visibility for advanced application attacks

AWS Shield has limited coverage as it only protects against common and high-volume network and transport layer attacks, such as SYN floods. It does not provide inherent protection against more sophisticated layer 7 attacks such as HTTP floods. In such cases, integration with WAF is necessary, which results in additional costs for customers. To protect layer 7, layer 4, and layer 3, customers must implement both solutions. The service also has difficulties with static detection thresholds, which may not be sensitive enough to detect smaller application-specific attacks. While AWS Shield is a key security service, AWS should enhance their expert support with 24/7 response for complex attacks, which is currently limited.

Read full review

Cobe Van Coller

Network Architect at IP Dimension

Cloud security has improved remote access and has reduced costs for smaller client sites

I have used Cloudflare One's Identity-Aware Proxy, and it is quite straightforward from what I have seen so far. The app registration on the Azure side integrates fully into Cloudflare, and I am very satisfied with that part because it is easy to set up. The integration of Cloudflare One's Secure Web Gateway and Zero Trust Network Access works without any issues. That part is pretty automatic, and if you complete the rest of the setup, it comes together by itself with no issues from my side. What makes it nice is that we can actually start replacing on-site firewalls at this stage for the smaller clients because it does not matter if they go to a coffee shop or work from home; they are still secured by the same connection. The hops get shorter and you get better latency. We have done testing to see if it is better. One thing that we did notice with our proof of concept with our current client is that they have people connecting from the UK. When they used their previous VPN solution, uploading CAD drawings and other files to the server took a long time. They mentioned that it is much quicker on Cloudflare One's solution. I definitely believe that is part of the improved performance, and I am satisfied with that as well. What is nice about Cloudflare One is that it makes the setup easier and also easier to train technicians to maintain it. Compared to legacy systems, we do not need to get fancy firewalls in place that are costly. That is definitely also a cost-saver with Cloudflare One.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It is quite scalable, and we have not faced any issues with its scalability."

"We have integrated the tool with Active Directory. The most important feature is that it's transparent and doesn't degrade the performance of our solution. Additionally, it's easy to configure, which is crucial for us. It's easy to use and set up and stops attacks on our servers. We haven't encountered any attack problems because the solution stops them in real-time. AWS Shield specifically focuses on defending against denial-of-service attacks, making it a great solution for that type of threat."

"AWS Shield is aligned with the web application firewall (WAF), and they work seamlessly together, primarily working with Elastic Load Balancer, CloudFront, and Route 53 for CDN and DNS services protection."

"The automatic detection and mitigation of DDoS attacks in the product operates in real-time and provides satisfactory results."

"It is integrated with AWS. So, it gives you a good first step."

"AWS Shield offers numerous protection features that are crucial at the application layer, safeguarding users from distributed denial of service attacks, man-in-the-middle assaults, and hacker orchestrations."

"I am impressed with the product's multiple features like security."

"The product has a good mechanism to analyze trends and trigger events."

More AWS Shield pros

"It will take the blow rather than our applications should an attack occur."

"Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform removes the risk of exposing the applications to the public."

"The tool also offers good scalability, and the dashboard, along with real-time analytics, is very good."

"Cloudflare DDoS is better than its competitors for its security, deployment, and scalability."

"It is a stable solution."

"Cloudflare DDoS mitigates DDoS attacks."

"The simplicity of the solution is its valuable features as almost no effort was needed to learn the configurations. It is also one of the cheapest firewalls available in this category."

"The solution has different options that can be used to differentiate DDoS attacks."

More Cloudflare One pros

Cons

"The network has been experiencing frustrating performance issues today, which is not typical for Nigeria."

"We end up having to pay extra for features that AWS adds that we don't need."

"The time taken to detect anomalies must be reduced."

"Perhaps the time required to detect anomalies can be reduced."

"AWS Shield has limited coverage as it only protects against common and high-volume network and transport layer attacks, such as SYN floods."

"AWS Shield Standard requires improvement, particularly regarding its dashboard since it currently provides limited coverage against comprehensive DDoS attacks."

"The product needs to improve its logs and reports to make it read better."

"There is an area for improvement regarding health checks. AWS Shield does not come with its own health check functionality."

More AWS Shield cons

"They don't have a person to provide support for customers using the solution under their free plan."

"Cloudflare DDoS has poor technical support."

"Operating and tuning the product is difficult."

"The pricing is an area that can be improved. Pricing, as far as I recall, was the source of our problems."

"Lacks a VPN feature to provide a secure connection to the data center."

"The response time for support must be reduced."

"Our customers no longer use Cloudflare because its service is subpar."

"The free plan has limitations. For example, I can only set up three rules, and the application firewall is unavailable."

More Cloudflare One cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It depends on your subscription level and the volume that you're spending with AWS. So, it is very relative to the consumption alignment in your subscription level. It is a well-constructed, scalable pricing option, but it is relative to how much you're spending on AWS. Because the more you spend, typically, the more you get off on services like this. I find it to be comparable to other solutions."

"The tool is cheap."

"The tool's pricing is good."

"We pay $3000 per month for the solution."

"The cost depends on traffic each month, so on average, it costs us between US$200 and US$300 per month."

"My company has to make yearly payments towards the licensing costs attached to the solution. There are no hidden charges apart from the licensing costs of the solution."

"The solution is not that expensive."

"The prices are slightly expensive."

"The price tag is no longer $200,000, but rather $300,000 to $400,000. It's twice."

"Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform's pricing is good."

"The pricing is somewhere in the middle. I would rate the pricing a seven out of ten."

"The pricing of the solution is cheap. The licensing cost is also very low. I rate the cost and pricing a three out of ten."

"The solution's pricing lacks transparency."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

12%

Computer Software Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

Insurance Company

Computer Software Company

12%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	7

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	10
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	10

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about AWS Shield?

We have integrated the tool with Active Directory. The most important feature is that it's transparent and doesn't degrade the performance of our solution. Additionally, it's easy to configure, whi...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for AWS Shield?

The pricing structure for AWS Shield is fair, yet it depends on the specific protections chosen. Enabling Shield Advanced on multiple services such as CloudFront, network load balancer, or Route 53...

See all answers

What needs improvement with AWS Shield?

Services always benefit from improvements, including AWS Shield. With respect to the Web Application Firewall, current rule-based setups may not be adequately defined or classified. Enhancement of ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cloudflare Access?

Cloudflare Access has strong integration with Microsoft, among other platforms. However, when it comes to Kaspersky, we have clients who typically encounter challenges. The usual setup involves con...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Cloudflare Access?

Cloudflare Access provides secure access to internal applications for employees, external members of the organization, or third-party providers. It acts similarly to a VPN but uses a different kind...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Cloudflare Access?

Cloudflare Access is one of the best integrations available. While about two hundred vendors offer similar services, Cloudflare's approach as a SASE solution stands out. Clients prefer a single pla...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cloudflare vs AWS Shield

Compared 22% of the time

Azure DDoS Protection vs AWS Shield

Compared 18% of the time

Radware DDoS vs AWS Shield

Compared 10% of the time

Prolexic vs AWS Shield

Compared 6% of the time

Imperva Application Security Platform vs AWS Shield

Compared 5% of the time

More AWS Shield Competitors

Cato SASE Cloud Platform vs Cloudflare One

Compared 5% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Cloudflare One

Compared 3% of the time

FortiSASE vs Cloudflare One

Compared 3% of the time

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform vs Cloudflare One

Compared 3% of the time

Microsoft Entra ID vs Cloudflare One

Compared 2% of the time

More Cloudflare One Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

AWS Shield

January 2026

Download AWS Shield product report

Buyer's Guide

Cloudflare One

January 2026

Download Cloudflare One product report

Also Known As

No data available

Cloudflare Area 1 Email Security, Cloudflare Bot Management, Cloudflare Gateway, Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform, Cloudflare DDoS, Cloudflare SASE & SSE Platform

Overview

AWS Shield is a managed Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection service that safeguards applications running on AWS. AWS Shield provides always-on detection and automatic inline mitigations that minimize application downtime and latency, so there is no need to engage AWS Support to benefit from DDoS protection.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Cloudflare One is a comprehensive platform for security, performance, and connectivity. It provides features like rate limiting, DDoS protection, and application access, tailored to enhance user experience while securing internet access and accelerating communications.

Designed to integrate security measures with ease of use and scalability, Cloudflare One offers a secure web gateway and zero trust network access. These features ensure seamless setup and operation, making connectivity reliable and protected. Users appreciate its integrated console, intuitive interface, and the ability to manage risk effectively. It offers straightforward deployment, improves latency, and boasts cost-effectiveness. While its onboarding process and documentation need enhancement, its value in content delivery and application shielding is notable. Despite challenges in integrating Cloudflare Access with existing VPNs and the need for better automation and support, it remains vital for DNS and infrastructure protection.

What features make Cloudflare One stand out?

Rate Limiting: Controls the traffic rate to prevent abuse.
DDoS Protection: Shields applications from distributed denial-of-service attacks.
Secure Web Gateway: Provides secure internet access with seamless operation.
Zero Trust Network Access: Ensures secure, application-based connectivity without relying on traditional VPNs.
Access for Connectivity: Facilitates access to internal applications securely.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Security: Robust measures for DNS and browsing protection.
Performance: Enhanced site accessibility and communication speed.
Cost-Effectiveness: Offers competitive pricing for its features.
Ease of Deployment: Straightforward and efficient setup process.

In industries like finance, retail, and technology, Cloudflare One is crucial for enabling secure remote access and protecting web applications against dynamic threats. It supports compliance access policies and enhances content delivery, playing a key role in safeguarding digital infrastructure.

Cloudflare

Sample Customers

netflix, dow jones, mapbox, pearson, rovio, youview, moviestar planet, asurion, payplug, hour of code

23andMe

Buyer's Guide

AWS Shield vs. Cloudflare One

December 2025

Free Report: AWS Shield vs. Cloudflare One

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