# Akamai Prolexic vs AWS Shield: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Akamai Prolexic](https://cybersectools.com/tools/akamai-prolexic) is a commercial [DDoS mitigation](https://cybersectools.com/categories/ddos-mitigation) solution by [Akamai](https://cybersectools.com/companies/akamai). [AWS Shield](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aws-shield) is a commercial [DDoS mitigation](https://cybersectools.com/categories/ddos-mitigation) solution by [Amazon Web Services, Inc](https://cybersectools.com/companies/amazon-web-services-inc). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Akamai Prolexic | AWS Shield |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Commercial |
| Category | DDoS Mitigation | DDoS Mitigation |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Hybrid | Cloud |
| Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| Company | Akamai | Amazon Web Services, Inc. |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Akamai Prolexic | AWS Shield |
|---|---|---|
| DDoS | Yes | Yes |
| Mitigation | Yes | – |
| Traffic Filtering | Yes | – |
| AWS | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Akamai Prolexic**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**AWS Shield**

No features listed.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [Akamai Prolexic](https://cybersectools.com/tools/akamai-prolexic) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options.
- [AWS Shield](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aws-shield) fits if you want a cloud product and you are a startup.

## Akamai Prolexic vs AWS Shield FAQ

Common questions when comparing Akamai Prolexic vs AWS Shield for DDoS mitigation.

### What is the difference between Akamai Prolexic and AWS Shield?

**Akamai Prolexic**: DDoS protection for cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. Built by Akamai.

**AWS Shield**: AWS Shield provides managed DDoS protection for your applications, automatically detecting and mitigating sophisticated network-level DDoS events. Built by Amazon Web Services, Inc.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes Akamai Prolexic and AWS Shield?

**Akamai Prolexic** is made by Akamai. **AWS Shield** is made by Amazon Web Services, Inc. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Akamai Prolexic a good alternative to AWS Shield?

Often, yes. Akamai Prolexic and AWS Shield are both DDoS Mitigation products, and both cover DDoS. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Akamai Prolexic vs SkyCloud Anti-DDoS](https://cybersectools.com/compare/akamai-prolexic-vs-skycloud-anti-ddos)
- [Akamai Prolexic vs Genie Networks GenieATM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/akamai-prolexic-vs-genie-networks-genieatm)
- [Akamai Prolexic vs Blindspot Intelligent Network & Infra Protection](https://cybersectools.com/compare/akamai-prolexic-vs-blindspot-intelligent-network-and-infra-protection)
- [AWS Shield vs SkyCloud Anti-DDoS](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-shield-vs-skycloud-anti-ddos)
- [AWS Shield vs Genie Networks GenieATM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-shield-vs-genie-networks-genieatm)
- [AWS Shield vs Blindspot Intelligent Network & Infra Protection](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-shield-vs-blindspot-intelligent-network-and-infra-protection)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Akamai Prolexic alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/akamai-prolexic)
- [See all AWS Shield alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/aws-shield)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/akamai-prolexic-vs-aws-shield

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/akamai-prolexic.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on Akamai Prolexic and AWS Shield: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md