How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Contrast Security is the purest runtime tool, instrumenting apps from within to observe real attacks and block them in real time.
- Datadog suits teams that already monitor with Datadog, adding runtime security to the same observability platform.
- Imperva, Akamai, F5, Fastly and Cloudflare protect apps at the edge and network layer, blocking attacks before they reach your origin.
- Indusface AppTrana suits teams that want managed WAAP with virtual patching and 24 by 7 expert monitoring included.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Contrast Security | Teams that want true in-app runtime protection | See website | See website |
 Datadog Security | Teams already using Datadog for monitoring | See website | See website |
 Imperva | Enterprises needing layered app, API and data protection | See website | See website |
 Fastly | Teams that want real-time edge control | See website | See website |
 Akamai | Large enterprises needing global WAAP and segmentation | See website | See website |
 F5 | Hybrid multicloud teams securing apps, APIs and AI | See website | Free trial |
 Cloudflare | Teams that want global network security from day one | See website | Yes |
 Indusface AppTrana | Teams that want managed WAAP with virtual patching | See website | See website |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Contrast Security says runtime sees what AI does, and its model is built for how software actually runs: instrumenting your application from within, observing every method, every request and every attack path as it actually happens. The Contrast Graph creates a live map of the application, linking active attacks to specific lines of code in real time, so teams know what is reachable, what is being exploited and what to fix first.
Results cited by Contrast include a 66 percent reduction in CVE triage workload at Backbase and 2 million attacks blocked in a single day for one customer. Unlike scanners that guess at risk, runtime verification shows only exploitable vulnerabilities with a fix attached. For teams that want protection inside the app rather than only at the perimeter, Contrast is the reference tool.
What we like- Invented runtime application security with instrumentation inside the app
- Live Contrast Graph links attacks to specific lines of code
- 0.2 percent false positive rate measured by an enterprise customer
Watch out for- In-app instrumentation requires agent deployment and tuning
- Pricing not shown on the homepage
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Datadog is an AI-powered monitoring and security platform for cloud applications, covering infrastructure, logs, APM, network monitoring and security in one place. Its security story centers on decoding runtime execution, eliminating exposure in dynamic AI environments, and executing detection and response with agentic speed, all tied to the same telemetry developers already use for troubleshooting.
For distributed teams, the advantage is context: a security alert links directly to traces, logs and infrastructure metrics, so responders see the full picture without switching tools. Teams not already on Datadog should weigh the platform commitment, but existing Datadog users get runtime security with the least added friction.
What we like- Unified security and observability on one platform
- Runtime execution decoding for AI environments
- Detection and response with agentic speed
Watch out for- Full value requires Datadog APM and infrastructure adoption
- Pricing is usage-based and can grow quickly
#3
Imperva
Best for: Enterprises needing layered app, API and data protection
Visit imperva.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Imperva provides complete cyber security by protecting data and applications on-premises or in the cloud, consolidating detection, investigation and management under one platform. Its application security covers WAF, API protection, bot management, DDoS mitigation and data protection, with PCI DSS 4.0 compliance support and client-side attack protection.
Imperva earned the top position in the SecureIQLab 2026 Cloud WAAP report, and customer reviews praise its WAF effectiveness, bot detection and API protection with real-time threat detection. For enterprises with complex compliance needs and large application estates, Imperva offers the deepest layered protection in this list.
What we like- Multi-layered security under one platform
- Top position in SecureIQLab 2026 Cloud WAAP report
- Strong bot detection and API protection
Watch out for- Enterprise focus and pricing may exceed small-team budgets
- Product breadth requires planning to deploy well
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Fastly is an edge cloud platform that helps companies deliver fast, secure and reliable digital experiences, combining CDN, security including WAF and DDoS protection, and edge computing so teams control how content and applications are delivered and protected in real time. Its security solutions protect origins from malicious attacks and excessive traffic without hurting customer experience.
Customer stories cite a 95 percent reduction in bot traffic at JetBlue with 35 sites migrated in 3 days, and a 50 percent bandwidth reduction plus 20 percent cloud storage reduction at USA Today Co. For teams that value instant purge, real-time configuration and programmable edge logic, Fastly pairs performance with runtime protection at the edge.
What we like- Edge cloud platform combining CDN, WAF, DDoS protection and bot management
- Instant configuration updates
- Strong customer results on bot reduction
Watch out for- Edge-focused, so in-app runtime visibility is limited compared with Contrast
- Pricing is usage-based
#5
Akamai
Best for: Large enterprises needing global WAAP and segmentation
Visit akamai.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Akamai combines cloud computing, security and content delivery on one of the world's largest edge networks, and IDC MarketScape 2026 named Akamai a Leader in Worldwide WAAP Platforms after evaluating 13 vendors on strategy and capabilities. Its Guardicore segmentation aligns with Anthropic's guidance for securing AI agents through identity-based verification and microsegmentation, containing autonomous agents from deployment.
Akamai recently announced an 11.6 billion dollar multi-year agreement with Anthropic, showing its scale in AI infrastructure. For global enterprises with large traffic volumes, API estates and AI workloads, Akamai offers proven scale and segmentation depth that smaller vendors cannot match.
What we like- Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape 2026 for Worldwide WAAP Platforms
- Guardicore microsegmentation for AI agent containment
- Massive global network
Watch out for- Enterprise scale and pricing may overwhelm small teams
- Homepage extract was brief, so product detail needs the product pages
#6
F5
Best for: Hybrid multicloud teams securing apps, APIs and AI
Visit f5.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
F5 delivers and secures every app across hybrid multicloud environments, with an AI Security Platform recognized by Gartner as one of only two Market Shapers in its inaugural Emerging Market Quadrant for AI Application Security as of September 2026. F5 hardens its own code with frontier AI models while protecting apps, APIs and AI models in the data path, blocking zero-day and emerging AI-driven threats at runtime.
F5 was also named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape Worldwide WAAP Platforms 2026 assessment, with perfect scores in security efficacy and false positive avoidance from SecureIQLab. Buying programs include term subscriptions, a Flex Consumption Plan and perpetual licensing, with free trials for pre-production testing. For enterprises running apps across clouds and on-premises, F5 is a strong platform choice.
What we like- Trusted by more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500
- Leader in IDC MarketScape Worldwide WAAP 2026
- Blocks zero-day and AI-driven threats at runtime
Watch out for- Platform breadth can be complex to deploy
- Enterprise pricing requires sales engagement
#7Cloudflare
Best for: Teams that want global network security from day one4.5/5 on
G2 (803 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit cloudflare.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Cloudflare runs one smart network for workloads and security, close to users and close to data, with security, connectivity and code running in 335 or more cities around the world. DDoS protection, WAF, bot management and Zero Trust controls are built into the network and run on every request from day one, managed from one dashboard and billed as one platform.
Cloudflare powers 45 percent of the Fortune 500 and suits startups and enterprises alike, with a free plan for basic protection. For teams that want runtime enforcement at global scale without deploying agents, Cloudflare offers the fastest path to protection, though it does not provide in-app code-level visibility like Contrast.
What we like- Network in 335 or more cities within 50ms of 95 percent of the world's population
- DDoS protection, WAF, bot management and Zero Trust built in
- Powers 45 percent of the Fortune 500
Watch out for- Runtime protection runs at the network layer, not inside the app
- Advanced features require paid plans
#8
Indusface AppTrana
Best for: Teams that want managed WAAP with virtual patching
Visit indusface.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planSee website
Indusface AppTrana offers autonomous application security for the AI era, with web, API and AI applications continuously discovered, tested and defended. Its SwyftComply AI autonomously virtual-patches open vulnerabilities at the edge, turning a months-long manual patch cycle into a clean compliance report in 72 hours, with zero-days covered within hours of CVE disclosure and validated by experts.
AppTrana protects 6,500 or more customers across 95 or more countries, holds a 4.9 rating on Gartner Peer Insights across 300 or more verified reviews, and runs 100 percent of applications in block mode from day one with 24 by 7 expert monitoring. Every plan includes WAAP, API, DDoS, bot, DAST and managed services at one price. For teams that want a security team running their WAAP, Indusface is the most managed option here.
What we like- Protection live in under 5 minutes from a DNS change
- 100 percent of apps in block mode from day one
- SwyftComply virtual patching with compliance report in 72 hours
Watch out for- Managed-service model suits teams that want experts involved
- Smaller global brand than Akamai or Cloudflare
How we chose
We opened each vendor homepage in October 2026 to confirm it loads and belongs to the product named. Runtime security spans two models: in-app instrumentation (Contrast) and edge or network enforcement (Imperva, Fastly, Akamai, F5, Cloudflare, Indusface), plus observability-linked detection (Datadog). We weighed protection model, deployment effort, AI-era features and managed-service depth.
Start by deciding where protection must run. In-app tools see real execution and code-level risk, while edge tools block attacks before they reach your origin and scale globally. Many teams need both: edge blocking for volume attacks and in-app runtime for exploitable vulnerabilities.
Next, check false positives and block-mode readiness. A tool stuck in detect mode for months protects nothing. Ask vendors how quickly you reach full block mode, how false positives are reviewed, and whether virtual patching covers zero-days before code fixes ship.
Finally, plan for AI-era threats. Prompt injection, jailbreaks, model denial-of-service and denial-of-wallet attacks need API and LLM endpoint coverage, not just web rules. Confirm the tool covers AI endpoints and API schemas, not only HTML pages.
Frequently asked questions
What is runtime application security?
Runtime application security protects applications while they run, either by instrumenting code from within to observe real behavior or by enforcing rules at the edge and network layer as requests arrive. It blocks live attacks rather than only scanning code before deployment.
Is a WAF the same as runtime application security?
Not exactly. A WAF filters traffic at the edge, while true runtime tools such as Contrast instrument the application itself to see execution paths and code-level risk. Many modern platforms combine both models.
Do runtime tools slow down applications?
Well-designed agents and edge controls add minimal latency, but impact varies by deployment. Test in staging with production-like traffic and measure response times before full rollout.
How fast can runtime protection go live?
Edge tools such as Indusface AppTrana claim protection in under 5 minutes from a DNS change, while in-app agents need deployment across services. Managed services shorten both timelines.
Which runtime tool is best for small teams?
Cloudflare's free plan and Datadog's platform approach suit smaller teams, while Indusface's managed WAAP suits teams without dedicated security staff. Contrast suits teams with developer resources to deploy agents.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.contrastsecurity.com
- https://www.datadoghq.com
- https://www.imperva.com
- https://www.fastly.com
- https://www.akamai.com
- https://www.f5.com
- https://www.cloudflare.com
- https://www.indusface.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.