# Cloudflare API Shield vs Fastly API Security: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Cloudflare API Shield](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cloudflare-api-shield) is a commercial [API security](https://cybersectools.com/categories/api-security) solution by [Cloudflare, Inc](https://cybersectools.com/companies/cloudflare-inc). [Fastly API Security](https://cybersectools.com/tools/fastly-api-security) is a commercial [API security](https://cybersectools.com/categories/api-security) solution by [Fastly](https://cybersectools.com/companies/fastly). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Our take

What our shortlists say about each one.

### [Cloudflare API Shield](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cloudflare-api-shield)

Best for: Cloudflare customers protecting public APIs at the edge

It makes the list because it adds discovery, schema checks and leak scanning on a network you may already use, so there is little new to deploy. Its positive security model only lets through requests that match your schema, which works well if your OpenAPI specs are current. If they are not, or your APIs sit outside Cloudflare, weigh the schema upkeep and rerouting it would take.

From [Best API Security Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-api-security-solutions), Fall 2026.

### [Fastly API Security](https://cybersectools.com/tools/fastly-api-security)

Best for: Fastly customers protecting APIs on the edge

It is on the list because discovery and blocking happen on the Fastly edge where your API traffic already flows, and it sends alerts to Slack, Jira, PagerDuty and Datadog. If your APIs are not behind Fastly, or most of your risk sits in internal and partner APIs, its edge view will see less of it, so weigh that first.

From [Best API Security Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-api-security-solutions), Fall 2026.

Reviewed by [Nika (Nikoloz) Kokhreidze](https://cybersectools.com/about).

Need the answer fast? [Best API Security Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-api-security-solutions) picks Akamai API Security, Salt Security Salt Collect, Cloudflare API Shield and 4 more.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Cloudflare API Shield | Fastly API Security |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Commercial |
| Category | API Security | API Security |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | Cloud |
| Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| Company | Cloudflare, Inc. | Fastly |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Cloudflare API Shield | Fastly API Security |
|---|---|---|
| Web Security | Yes | – |
| Attack Detection | – | Yes |
| Bot Protection | – | Yes |
| WAF | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Cloudflare API Shield**

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

**Fastly API Security**

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

### Integrations

**Cloudflare API Shield**

1 integration listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Fastly API Security**

9 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

## Cloudflare API Shield vs Fastly API Security FAQ

Common questions when comparing Cloudflare API Shield vs Fastly API Security for API security.

### What is the difference between Cloudflare API Shield and Fastly API Security?

**Cloudflare API Shield**: API security platform for discovering, validating, and protecting API endpoints, built by Cloudflare, Inc.

**Fastly API Security**: API security platform for discovery, monitoring, and protection at edge, built by Fastly.

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

### Who makes Cloudflare API Shield and Fastly API Security?

**Cloudflare API Shield** is made by Cloudflare, Inc. **Fastly API Security** is made by Fastly. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Cloudflare API Shield a good alternative to Fastly API Security?

Often, yes. Cloudflare API Shield and Fastly API Security are both API Security products. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Cloudflare API Shield vs Ammune API Discovery](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ammune-api-discovery-vs-cloudflare-api-shield)
- [Cloudflare API Shield vs Indusface AppTrana - API Protection](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cloudflare-api-shield-vs-indusface-apptrana-api-protection)
- [Cloudflare API Shield vs ThreatX Attacker-Centric Behavioral Analytics](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cloudflare-api-shield-vs-threatx-attacker-centric-behavioral-analytics)
- [Fastly API Security vs Ammune API Discovery](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ammune-api-discovery-vs-fastly-api-security)
- [Fastly API Security vs Indusface AppTrana - API Protection](https://cybersectools.com/compare/fastly-api-security-vs-indusface-apptrana-api-protection)
- [Fastly API Security vs ThreatX Attacker-Centric Behavioral Analytics](https://cybersectools.com/compare/fastly-api-security-vs-threatx-attacker-centric-behavioral-analytics)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Cloudflare API Shield alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/cloudflare-api-shield)
- [See all Fastly API Security alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/fastly-api-security)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/cloudflare-api-shield-vs-fastly-api-security

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

More on Cloudflare API Shield and Fastly API Security: 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