# Fastly DDoS Protection vs Gatekeeper: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Fastly DDoS Protection](https://cybersectools.com/tools/fastly-ddos-protection) is a commercial [DDoS mitigation](https://cybersectools.com/categories/ddos-mitigation) solution by [Fastly](https://cybersectools.com/companies/fastly). [Gatekeeper](https://cybersectools.com/tools/gatekeeper) is a free [DDoS mitigation](https://cybersectools.com/categories/ddos-mitigation) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Fastly DDoS Protection | Gatekeeper |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | DDoS Mitigation | DDoS Mitigation |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 1,591 |
| Last commit | – | Nov 2025 |
| Company | Fastly | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Fastly DDoS Protection | Gatekeeper |
|---|---|---|
| DDoS | Yes | Yes |
| Open Source | – | Yes |
| Network Monitoring | – | Yes |
| Attack Detection | – | Yes |
| Traffic Filtering | – | Yes |
| Network Protection | – | Yes |
| Mitigation | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Fastly DDoS Protection**

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

**Gatekeeper**

No features listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [Fastly DDoS Protection](https://cybersectools.com/tools/fastly-ddos-protection) fits if you want a cloud product and you are a small business.
- [Gatekeeper](https://cybersectools.com/tools/gatekeeper) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## Fastly DDoS Protection vs Gatekeeper FAQ

Common questions when comparing Fastly DDoS Protection vs Gatekeeper for DDoS mitigation.

### What is the difference between Fastly DDoS Protection and Gatekeeper?

**Fastly DDoS Protection**: Cloud-based DDoS protection for apps and APIs with automatic mitigation. Built by Fastly.

**Gatekeeper**: An open source DDoS protection system that uses distributed algorithms to defend against multi-vector attacks and scale to handle varying bandwidth requirements for network operators and service providers.

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

### Who makes Fastly DDoS Protection and Gatekeeper?

**Fastly DDoS Protection** is made by Fastly. **Gatekeeper** is open-source with 1,591 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Fastly DDoS Protection a good alternative to Gatekeeper?

Often, yes. Fastly DDoS Protection and Gatekeeper are both DDoS Mitigation products, and both cover DDoS. Key differences: Fastly DDoS Protection is Commercial while Gatekeeper is Free, Gatekeeper is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Fastly DDoS Protection vs SkyCloud Anti-DDoS](https://cybersectools.com/compare/fastly-ddos-protection-vs-skycloud-anti-ddos)
- [Fastly DDoS Protection vs Blindspot Intelligent Network & Infra Protection](https://cybersectools.com/compare/blindspot-intelligent-network-and-infra-protection-vs-fastly-ddos-protection)
- [Fastly DDoS Protection vs Akamai Prolexic](https://cybersectools.com/compare/akamai-prolexic-vs-fastly-ddos-protection)
- [Gatekeeper vs SkyCloud Anti-DDoS](https://cybersectools.com/compare/gatekeeper-vs-skycloud-anti-ddos)
- [Gatekeeper vs Blindspot Intelligent Network & Infra Protection](https://cybersectools.com/compare/blindspot-intelligent-network-and-infra-protection-vs-gatekeeper)
- [Gatekeeper vs Akamai Prolexic](https://cybersectools.com/compare/akamai-prolexic-vs-gatekeeper)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Fastly DDoS Protection alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/fastly-ddos-protection)
- [See all Gatekeeper alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/gatekeeper)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/fastly-ddos-protection-vs-gatekeeper

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More on Fastly DDoS Protection and Gatekeeper: 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