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WAF shortlist

Best Free WAF

A pragmatic list of free or free-start WAF options for developers, labs, and teams starting WAF evaluation.

Selection criteria

  • Free path
  • Deployability
  • Documentation
  • Upgrade clarity

Who this helps

Developers and small teams looking for free-start WAF options before committing budget.

1

Free-start self-hosted WAF

SafeLine

Easy to frame for hands-on Docker-based evaluation.

2

Free WAF engine

ModSecurity

A classic free option when users can manage rules and connectors.

3

Free rule set

OWASP Core Rule Set

Not a standalone product, but central to many free WAF stacks.

Ranking note

Shortlists are not universal rankings.

Free refers to a usable no-cost starting path, not zero operating cost. Hosting, upgrades, tuning, logs, staff time, and commercial feature boundaries still belong in the decision.

Related research

Validate the Best Free WAF shortlist

SafeLine WAF ReviewIndependent review and readiness score.ModSecurity ReviewIndependent review and readiness score.SafeLine WAF Docker Install GuideDeployment workflow and validation steps.ModSecurity with NGINX and OWASP CRS Setup GuideDeployment workflow and validation steps.Coraza Caddy Docker Setup and CRS Validation GuideDeployment workflow and validation steps.SafeLine vs CorazaCompare shortlist candidates side by side.SafeLine vs ModSecurityCompare shortlist candidates side by side.SafeLine vs Cloudflare WAFCompare shortlist candidates side by side.

Sources