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NGINX App Protect Reviews

Vendor: F5
4.1 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 #7 ranked solution in API Security Solutions, #15 ranked solution in top Web Application Firewalls, and #27 ranked solution in Container Security Solutions. PeerSpot users give NGINX App Protect an average rating of 8.2 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 52% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 13% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
NGINX App Protect
January 2026
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NGINX App Protect mindshare

Product category:
Web Application Firewall (WAF)
As of February 2026, the mindshare of NGINX App Protect in the Web Application Firewall (WAF) category stands at 2.1%, up from 1.7% 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 Protect2.1%
Fortinet FortiWeb7.8%
Imperva Application Security Platform7.8%
Other82.3%
Web Application Firewall (WAF)

PeerResearch reports based on NGINX App Protect reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryWeb Application Firewall (WAF)Feb 8, 2026Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersFeb 8, 2026Download
ComparisonNGINX App Protect vs Fortinet FortiWebFeb 8, 2026Download
ComparisonNGINX App Protect vs F5 Advanced WAFFeb 8, 2026Download
ComparisonNGINX App Protect vs Imperva Application Security PlatformFeb 8, 2026Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks4.22.0%98%113 interviewsAdd to research
Checkmarx One3.9N/A88%81 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers
Last updated Feb 8, 2026

Valuable Features

NGINX App Protect offers security headers, proxy capabilities, load balancing, and firewall services. Its features include automation, container-based deployment, HTTP session control, reverse proxy, open source, auto-learning profiles, bot and threat protection, strong password enforcement, OWASP certification, and DevOps integration. Its API connectivity and traffic management are noteworthy. Users appreciate its easy setup, robust performance, flexible policies, and command-line interface. The tool enhances security management and aligns well with security and development teams.
  • "NGINX App Protect has positively impacted my organization by adding an additional layer of security on top of my infrastructure layer, which I consider quite helpful."
  • "NGINX App Protect is a good product and performs very well even when it is under stress."
  • "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."

Room for Improvement

NGINX App Protect could improve in areas such as user interface clarity, automation of policies, flexibility in configuration, and support across network layers. Its high price and licensing model require attention. Enhancements in throughput, security features like virus scanning, and API integration are desired. Existing technical issues include compatibility during upgrades and difficulties with custom rule updates. Improved documentation, especially for advanced features and deployment guidance, is also needed.
  • "I think NGINX App Protect could be improved by having it come out of the box with NGINX."
  • "The GUI and web GUI configuration could be improved to be easier to manage and use."
  • "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."

ROI

Organizations experienced a favorable ROI from NGINX App Protect, especially during the shift to remote work. Some noted immediate results due to its timely deployment during the pandemic. Several found it cost-effective and praised its security enhancements. One reported spending $40,000 with an anticipated $30,000 return in eight months, benefiting from time savings. Others highlighted improved network security posture. However, a few indicated early testing phases with no current visibility on cost savings.

Pricing

Enterprise evaluations of NGINX App Protect indicate pricing can vary significantly, with annual licensing costs typically around $25,000 to $40,000, depending on architecture choices and usage levels. Though some find it expensive, others consider it reasonable based on instance-based operation. Subscription options include monthly, annual, three-year, and five-year plans, without extra costs. Compared to competitors like Imperva, NGINX App Protect is seen as competitively priced and often cheaper than other Advanced WAFs.
  • "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 primarily used for web application protection, security enhancement, and scalability. Companies utilize it for web application firewalls, load balancing, and securing public APIs. It guards against vulnerabilities, enables perimeter cloud security, and integrates with deployment pipelines. Organizations choose it for its capacity to support Kubernetes and OpenShift environments, facilitate private cloud migration, and serve as a reverse proxy. They appreciate its automation capabilities and compliance with security standards like OWASP Top 10.

Service and Support

NGINX App Protect's customer service and support is generally good with responsive communication. Some users indicate improvements in technical support and appreciate the knowledgeable assistance, though response times can vary. There are instances where support is less helpful, and some find the service costly. Users in specific regions have no direct access, relying on personal expertise. Service experiences vary, with some cases requiring escalation for resolution, but many find it reliable and beneficial.

Deployment

NGINX App Protect's initial setup varies in complexity. Many find it straightforward and quick, especially with automation and experience. However, challenges arise with security certificates and ConfigMap creation. Organizations dealing with multiple applications or lacking experience may face longer deployments. While some users deploy in a day, others take weeks or months. Additional configuration and policy creation can be time-consuming, especially without tools for automation, making it necessary to manipulate settings manually.

Scalability

NGINX App Protect is noted for its scalability, though opinions differ. Some find it highly scalable, while others face challenges due to traffic limits and time-consuming configurations. Licensing flexibility supports varied requirements. Organizations report scalability across internal and external users, though specific use cases remain unaddressed. Deployment speed is a concern. Despite some limited scalability feedback, it remains popular among diverse IT environments and user bases, with institutions planning increased usage.

Stability

NGINX App Protect exhibits exceptional stability, consistently operating effectively. Many users rate its stability highly, often eight out of ten, praising its capacity to handle significant pressure, such as processing 60,000 to 70,000 requests per second. It is preferred over alternatives like Imperva due to its efficient performance. Users appreciate its lightweight and fast nature, although improvements like HTML5 availability are suggested. It integrates well as an additional module with VSM code ported successfully.
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 Business8
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise9
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business78
Midsize Enterprise29
Large Enterprise118
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Comms Service Provider
10%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Retailer
6%
Healthcare Company
5%
University
4%
Marketing Services Firm
4%
Transportation Company
4%
Performing Arts
3%
Real Estate/Law Firm
3%
Insurance Company
3%
Media Company
3%
Energy/Utilities Company
3%
Educational Organization
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Outsourcing Company
2%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
2%
Construction Company
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Government
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%
Non Profit
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.

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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.
Dev Ops Engineer at adesso AG3.5I've used NGINX App Protect for years as a stable, affordable, and effective proxy and web application firewall, though its GUI could improve; overall, it's easy to manage and performs well under stress in Kubernetes environments.
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.
Tech Lead at a tech vendor with 51-200 employees4.0I've used NGINX App Protect for over two years to secure Kubernetes applications, especially against Layer 7 DDoS attacks, and found it stable, scalable, and effective, though I'd prefer it bundled by default with NGINX.
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.
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.