9 Best DDoS Protection Service Providers in 2025

Published

eSecurity Planet content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

DDoS attacks are rising. As a result, organizations are pressured to stay online and operational as these threats increase in frequency and sophistication.

Many are turning to real-time protection services that detect and neutralize attacks before they cause damage to counter the disruption. In this guide, we’ll discuss the top DDoS protection providers, their offerings, and how to choose the right one for your organization—whether you’re in gaming, e-commerce, manufacturing, or energy.

  • Cloudflare: Best overall DDoS protection service provider
  • Radware: Best for tailored, scalable DDoS protection solutions
  • Imperva: Best for instant, high-capacity DDoS mitigation
  • Amazon Web Services: Best for scalable protection on AWS infrastructure
  • GCore: Best for real-time bot protection, edge infrastructure
  • Akamai: Best for defense against application threats
  • Ribbon: Best for advanced DDoS detection and policing
  • Vercara: Best for wide-range defense across infrastructures
  • NetScout: Best for hybrid, adaptable DDoS solutions

Top DDoS Protection Service Providers Comparison

Most of the vendors listed here scored well in the Forrester DDoS Wave. In addition to handling traditional DDoS attacks, they incorporate cloud, mobile and IoT features, as well as these key features and services: 

Traffic HandlingConfigurationScalablePricingG2 rating (out of 5)
CloudflareHighEasyYesFree version available; Pro plan starts at $20/month.4.5
RadwareHighModerately complexYesHourly rates start as low as $1.62/hour; monthly subscriptions start around $638/month4.6
ImpervaHighModerately complexYesPricing available upon contacting Imperva sales.4.4
AWSHighModerately complexYes$3,025 per organization per month.4.1
GCoreModerateModerately complexYesFree tier available; Basic plan starts at $3.9/Mbps4.1
AkamaiHighComplexYesFree trial available; pricing available upon contacting Akamai sales.4.2
RibbonHighComplexYesPricing available upon contacting Ribbon sales.4.2
VercaraModerateComplexYesPricing available upon contacting Vercara sales.N/A
NetscoutHighComplexYesPricing available upon contacting Netscout sales.4.3

Featured Partners: Server Management Software

eSecurity Planet may receive a commission from merchants for referrals from this website

Cloudflare icon.

Cloudflare

Best overall

Cloudflare’s cloud-based DDoS protection system can deal with layer 7 attacks, layer 3 attacks, and layer 4 attacks. Instead of using dedicated anti-DDoS hardware, every machine in its global network participates in DDoS mitigation. Its DDoS protection secures websites, applications, and entire networks while ensuring that the performance of legitimate traffic is not compromised.

  • Provides free website DDoS protection in all application service plans.
  • Offers different versions — Free, Pro ($20/month), Business, and Enterprise — tailored to different website needs.
  • Blocks 76B+ threats daily with a 100 Tbps network, including record-breaking DDoS attacks.
  • Offers unmetered, always-on DDoS protection for HTTP/S traffic, powered by global threat intel.
  • Integrates with Cloudflare WAF, Bot Management, and L3/4 security tools for full-stack defense.
  • Cloudflare Spectrum protects non-web apps (FTP, SSH, VoIP, gaming) with L4 load balancing and traffic acceleration.
  • Supports integration with third-party SIEM tools for centralized security monitoring.
  • Extensive global network.
  • Advanced protection features/tools.
  • Seamless integration with various services.
  • Provides an intuitive dashboard, allowing easy filtering and identification of attack patterns.
  • Offers free tier with basic protection.
  • Heavy reliance on Cloudflare’s infrastructure.
  • Potential pricing complexities for custom plans.
  • Limited support for lower plans.

For more information, read the full Cloudflare review.

Radware icon.

Radware

Best for tailored, scalable DDoS protection solutions

Radware offers DDoS protection across any infrastructure implementation for the public cloud, the enterprise, and specifically for service providers. It secures the data center, private cloud, public cloud, and 5G infrastructure using a solution that is agnostic to the environment and was designed to help service providers protect large-scale networks.

  • On platforms like AWS Marketplace, Radware products are available at hourly rates starting as low as $1.62/hour or monthly subscriptions starting around $638/month.
  • Enterprise-level configurations—particularly those with advanced security features or higher bandwidth—can reach upwards of $16,000 annually, depending on specific needs and scale.

For a custom quotation tailored to your needs, contact the Radware sales team.

  • Wide security coverage with automated zero-day DDoS attack protection.
  • Offers hybrid, always-on, and on-demand cloud DDoS service deployment options.
  • Cloud Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) attack protection that maintains user data confidentiality.
  • Single pane of glass with unified portal and fully managed service by Radware’s Emergency Response Team.
  • Offers web application security for integrated application and network security.
  • Combines always-on detection and mitigation with cloud-based volumetric DDoS attack prevention, scrubbing, and 24/7 cyberattack and DDoS security.
  • Offers tailored solutions for diverse infrastructures.
  • Provides extensive and strong focus on attack prevention and mitigation.
  • Provides a unified portal for monitoring.
  • Can be tailored to customers such as telecom and cloud operators.
  • Configuration and setup might be moderately complex, requiring technical expertise.
  • Pricing might be relatively higher compared to some competitors.
  • Some users report challenges in integrating with existing systems.

For more information, read the full Radware review.

Imperva icon

Imperva

Best for instant, high-capacity DDoS mitigation

Imperva DDoS Protection can deal with any asset with a three-second mitigation time for any attack. Onboarding is said to be easy and fast, while operation is simplified with out-of-the-box policies and self-adaptive tuning capabilities. Imperva Attack Analytics augments visibility and reporting.

This approach provides a holistic view of all attack types and layers, and correlates these to accelerate the investigation process while reducing alert fatigue. Imperva works across various industries, including e-commerce, energy, financial services, gaming, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology.

  • Provides automatic service plans tailored to specific business needs.
  • Custom quotations are available upon contacting Imperva sales.
  • Protects websites, networks, DNS, and individual IPs.
  • Mitigates Layer 3, 4, and 7 attacks.
  • Handles up to 9 Tbps and 65 Mpps of traffic.
  • 24/7 global SOC and support.
  • Single-stack architecture ensures low latency and rapid threat response.
  • All 50 global PoPs run full security stack: DDoS, WAF, API, and bot protection.
  • Real-time threat visibility via Imperva Attack Analytics or SIEM integration.
  • Provides a three-second mitigation service level agreement (SLA) for any DDoS attack, regardless of type, size or duration, without disrupting legitimate traffic.
  • Provides real-time insights through attack analytics.
  • Self-adaptive security policies, self-service configuration, and Terraform and API support.
  • Lack of transparent pricing information.
  • Offers limited customization options.
  • Strict adherence to SLA is needed for optimal performance.

For more information, read the full Imperva review.

Amazon Web Services icon.

Amazon Web Services

Best for scalable protection on AWS infrastructure

AWS Shield is a managed DDoS protection service that safeguards applications running on AWS. It defends against the most common, frequently occurring network and transport layer attacks that target websites or applications. It provides always-on detection and automatic inline mitigations that minimize application downtime and latency.

  • Two tiers: Standard (free for AWS users) and Advanced.
  • Advanced costs $3,025/month per org with a one-year commitment.
  • AWS Shield Standard (free) protects against common Layer 3/4 DDoS attacks.
  • Best used with CloudFront and Route 53 for full infrastructure-level coverage.
  • Shield Advanced protects EC2, ELB, CloudFront, Global Accelerator, and Route 53.
  • Adds advanced detection, larger attack mitigation, real-time visibility, and AWS WAF integration.
  • Includes 24/7 access to the AWS Shield Response Team and DDoS-related cost protection.
  • Offers scalable protection across AWS infrastructure.
  • Provides different tiers for varying levels of defense.
  • Integrates seamlessly with AWS services like WAF.
  • The standard free tier protects against most common attacks.
  • Easy setup and configuration. No need to engage AWS Support to benefit from DDoS protection.
  • Pricing might escalate based on usage and tier.
  • Relies heavily on AWS infrastructure and services.
  • It may have certain limitations compared to specialized solutions.
Gcore icon.

GCore

Best for real-time bot protection, edge infrastructure

GCore provides web application and server-level DDoS protection services with an edge cloud infrastructure. These services can protect against up to three layers of attack, most commonly the network (L3) and transport (L4) layers. It also offers real-time bot protection and a next-generation firewall (NGFW). Interested buyers can also contact GCore to develop custom features suited to their business’s needs.

  • Web DNS protection has three tiers: Free (limited), Pro ($3.9/Mbps), and Enterprise (custom pricing).
  • Server protection plans: Start ($37/mo for L3/L4, 1 Mbps) and Pro ($26/mo for L3–L7, 1 Mbps).
  • Pro and Enterprise plans include request-based fees: $0.20/million after 10M (Pro) and $0.16/million after 1B (Enterprise).
  • The custom tier offers more features; pricing varies by location and requires a sales quote.
  • Real-time bot protection blocks unwanted bot traffic directed toward your website and API.
  • Over 140 PoPs across five continents.
  • Supports HTTP/2, IPv6, and web sockets.
  • Focuses on blocking sessions instead of individual IP addresses.
  • Can provide load balancing options, including round robin, weighted round robin, and IP hash.
  • It can be packaged with other GCore offerings, including an all-in-one streaming platform and global hosting.
  • Offers real-time bot protection and NGFW.
  • Focus on edge cloud infrastructure.
  • Offers bundling options with other GCore services.
  • High traffic handling and filtering capabilities. 
  • Offers free tiers for starting customers.
  • Pricing models might be complex with tiered offerings and minimum commitment rates. 
  • Might have limitations in customization for specific needs.

Akamai icon.

Akamai

Best for defense against application threats

Akamai offers three purpose-built cloud solutions to provide end-to-end DDoS defense for organizations. For the highest quality of DDoS mitigation to protect applications, data centers, and internet-facing infrastructure (public or private), a combination of Prolexic, Edge DNS, and App & API Protector would be recommended.

Effective mitigation techniques are available for all classes of application-layer DDoS/DoS attacks. These include those designed to exhaust resources, exploit vulnerabilities that can cause availability issues (such as buffer overflows), exploit flaws in application business logic, and compromise API infrastructure.

  • Pricing for Akamai Prolexic Routed is available upon direct contact with the sales team
  • Offers a free trial option.
  • Prolexic SOCCs offer fully managed DDoS protection with strong SLAs and global support, blocking attacks across all ports and protocols.
  • Edge DNS ensures nonstop, high-performance DNS resolution at the edge, with DNSSEC support and primary/secondary deployment options.
  • App & API Protector delivers advanced application-layer DDoS defense as part of Akamai’s WAAP suite.
  • Prolexic provides 10+ Tbps of scrubbing capacity with a zero-second mitigation SLA.
  • Includes custom runbooks and tabletop drills to strengthen incident response.
  • Offers instant, high-capacity mitigation against diverse attacks.
  • Provides access to a large network infrastructure for protection.
  • Provides versatile solutions across various layers and infrastructures.
  • Offers 225+ Akamai SOCC frontline responders that act as an extension of a customer’s incident response team to balance automated detection and response with human engagement.
  • Provides real-time threat intelligence to mitigate application-layer security threats like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other web-based attacks.
  • Advanced features may require technical expertise for optimal utilization.
  • Lack of transparent pricing on the website makes it potentially less accessible for smaller businesses.

For more information, read the full Akamai review.

Ribbon icon.

Ribbon

Best for advanced DDoS detection and policing

Ribbon offers a suite of core session border controllers (SBCs) with advanced DDoS detection and mitigation capabilities. It provides DDoS detection and mitigation through configuration and dynamic adaptation at scale, with little to no impact on traffic throughput or packet processing.

  • Custom quotations for Ribbon’s DDoS protection services are available upon contacting its sales team.
  • ACL policing: Allows traffic only from trusted, pre-configured IPs.
  • IP learning: Dynamically trusts peers after receiving valid SIP requests.
  • Media packet policing: Accepts media only if linked to valid SIP/SDP sessions.
  • Media address learning: Learns actual RTP source addresses when they differ from SIP/SDP to police future packets.
  • Priority-aware policing: Rate-limits SIP traffic, prioritizing authenticated sources over unknown ones.
  • Call admission control (CAC): Limits traffic by peer, trunk, or group to control bandwidth.
  • Leverages advanced techniques for detection and policing.
  • Has a flexible configuration-based adaptation for traffic levels.
  • Provides an application-level control for rate limiting.
  • Configuration might require technical expertise.
  • Specific details on certain features might not be openly available.
  • It might be more suitable for specific use cases/ niche markets.
Vercara icon.

Vercara

Best for wide-range defense across infrastructures

Vercara (formerly Neustar) UltraDDoS Protect offers 12+ Tbps of DDoS mitigation and a global dedicated data scrubbing network to help maintain an online presence, reduce the threat of theft, and protect the bottom line. Vercara offers on-premises hardware to stop smaller attacks instantly and the UltraDDos Protect cloud for when attack volume and complexity explode.

  • Pricing for Vercara’s DDoS protection services is available upon direct contact with the sales team.
  • Automation that moves attacks into mitigation quickly.
  • Always-ready options for DNS, BGP, and hybrid configurations.
  • Carrier-class DDoS mitigation that includes a massive network of dedicated scrubbing capacity.
  • OSI layer 3, layer 4, layer 7, and IPv6 capable.
  • Globally positioned scrubbing infrastructure.
  • Harnesses multiple DDoS mitigation vendor technologies, including Arbor, Cisco, Citrix, Juniper, HP, and Vercara.
  • Offers various deployment options for protection.
  • Provides defense across multiple infrastructures.
  • Capable of scaling for different traffic levels.
  • Lack of transparent pricing information.
  • Configuration might require technical expertise.
  • Less information available on detailed features and analytics.
NETSCOUT icon.

Netscout

Best for hybrid, adaptable DDoS solutions

To stop sophisticated DDoS attacks, NetScout offers a portfolio of DDoS attack protection products and services that enable organizations to customize a solution, either hosted in the cloud or on premises.

Hybrid stateless, on-premises, and cloud protection can stop today’s high-volume attacks, which often exceed 600GB/sec, as well as stealthy application-layer attacks against stateful infrastructure devices, such as firewalls, IPSs, and application delivery controllers (ADCs).

  • Pricing for Netscout’s DDoS protection services is available upon direct contact with the sales team.
  • NetScout Arbor Edge Defense (AED) is an on-prem, always-on DDoS solution optimized for low-and-slow application-layer attacks.
  • Deployed between the router and firewall, it uses stateless packet processing to screen traffic.
  • Cloud Signaling redirects traffic to 14 global scrubbing centers for rapid mitigation.
  • Backed by ASERT threat intel, it can block up to 90% of attack traffic before the first packet is fully inspected.
  • Uses automated countermeasures to stop complex network and application-layer attacks.
  • Blocks scanning, brute-force attempts, and known IoCs.
  • Prevents outbound traffic from compromised devices to malicious sites (e.g., attacker C2 servers).
  • Adaptable solutions for different deployment needs.
  • Easily scales and blocks in bulk inbound DDoS attacks and IoCs.
  • Offers hybrid solutions for varied infrastructure.
  • Real-time attack detection and blocking capabilities.
  • Setup and configuration might be complex.
  • Some users report integration challenges with certain systems.
  • Limited transparency on information on certain features.

Key features of DDoS protection services

Choosing the best DDoS protection solution requires a solid understanding of the features that enable an effective defense against cyberattacks. A complete DDoS solution should have these key features for quickly detecting, mitigating, and responding to attacks while maintaining uninterrupted service: 

  • Traffic handling and filtering: Effectively distinguishes genuine traffic from hostile assaults, ensuring continuous access to networks or services while maintaining performance.
  • Real-time DDoS attack mitigation: This technology identifies and stops ongoing DDoS threats as they occur, preventing service outages and limiting potential harm.
  • Anomaly detection: Recognizes unusual patterns in network traffic, detecting possible dangers early and allowing for prompt preventive action.
  • Scalability: Adapts to changing traffic levels, particularly during attack peaks, to provide constant service availability and performance.
  • Integrations: Works in coordination with other security products or platforms to improve overall security by merging defensive mechanisms and exchanging threat intelligence.

In addition to these core features, a reliable DDoS protection solution should include a service-level agreement with guaranteed mitigation time, consistent application uptime, simple onboarding, and integrations with Terraform and APIs. Due to rising VoIP-based DDoS threats, Verifying VoIP defense inclusion is crucial for comprehensive protection.

How to choose the best DDoS protection service for your business

Choosing the best DDoS protection service depends on various factors tailored to the specific needs of a business:

For large businesses

  • Scalability: Look for solutions that can manage large traffic levels and expand with your organization.
  • Comprehensive security: Look for solutions that provide multi-layered security against many attack types and have strong mitigation capabilities.
  • Customization and adaptability: It is critical to have solutions tailored to unique infrastructure and business requirements.

For medium-sized businesses:

  • Cost-efficiency: Choose solutions that balance price and features, delivering critical protection without going overboard.
  • Ease of use: Look for user-friendly interfaces and manageable setups that don’t require a high technical knowledge level.
  • Accessible customer support: Choose providers who offer reliable and accessible customer support through different platforms.

For small businesses:

  • Affordability: Prioritize options that provide good protection while remaining within budgetary restrictions.
  • Simplicity: Look for simple solutions to set up and administer without the need for specialized IT staff.
  • Reliability: Check for consistent service availability and crucial defenses against typical threats.

When picking a DDoS protection solution, it is critical to consider the organization’s unique demands, budget, infrastructure, and development potential. Make informed choices by testing trial versions, speaking with experts, and examining consumer feedback.

How we evaluated the best DDoS protection services

In our evaluation of the best DDoS protection vendors, we adopted a systematic approach leveraging five weighted categories, each comprising crucial DDoS capabilities as subcriteria:

Cost – 20%

This criterion examines free trial availability, price structure clarity, and the flexibility of customisable product packages, which are critical for enterprises attempting to balance security demands with financial constraints.

Core Features – 30%

This criterion examines essential functions such as traffic handling, reporting and analytics, real-time mitigation, anomaly detection, scalability, integrations, and automated response, which form the foundation of a sound DDoS defense system. These key factors jointly determine the solution’s effectiveness in preventing attacks and protecting digital assets.

Non-core Features – 15%

Although not at the forefront, these supplemental features, such as security enhancements, anonymity protection, and customization choices, greatly contribute to a solution’s adaptability and additional security layers.

Customer Support – 10%

The availability and effectiveness of technical help via various channels, such as phone, email, live chat, knowledge base, and self-service support, are critical factors to consider. This criterion assesses support accessibility and responsiveness, vital for quick issue resolution and system maintenance.

Ease of Use and Configuration – 15%

User experience, as represented by UI design, configuration flexibility, and the comprehensiveness of guided setup and onboarding resources, is critical in ensuring seamless deployment, effective utilization, and rapid adaptation of the DDoS protection solution within an organization’s infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

DDoS protection is critical for businesses because it:

  • Reduces the likelihood of an attack and the susceptibility of the enterprise.
  • Prevents business interruptions and website disruptions.
  • Responds and resolves incidents more quickly.
  • Decreases the time it takes to understand a service outage.
  • Allows for the rapid deployment of countermeasures.
  • Protects the brand’s reputation and money.
  • Maintains app availability and performance.
  • Reduces costs of online security.
  • Protects against emerging threats such as ransomware.

One of the most common signs of a DDoS attack is an unexplained spike in web traffic. This can be detected by monitoring your website’s server logs or using a web analytics tool.

If a suspicious traffic surge occurs, these filters prohibit access, indicating the nature of the assault. Filters then leverage strategies such as IP filtering to restrict certain devices or geo-blocking to prevent traffic from a specific location.

Legitimate users may experience limited access due to mass bot denial, potentially limiting their access. Alternatively, rerouting legal traffic to a concealed IP address via DNS update, which may be accomplished by contacting the ISP, provides a temporary solution for minor DDoS attacks.

AI and ML significantly enhance DDoS protection by quickly identifying, analyzing, and mitigating attacks in real time. Advanced algorithms learn typical network behaviors, enabling them to detect and respond to anomalies indicative of a DDoS attack before fully developing.

However, with AI, attackers automate the creation of complex and adaptive attacks. Malicious actors can bypass traditional security measures and challenge even sophisticated defense systems.

Despite these challenges, AI-driven defenses remain highly beneficial. By adapting to new threats, AI-powered solutions can proactively and effectively protect networks, ensuring resilience against evolving DDoS threats.

The three most commonly used tactics are the clean pipe method, content delivery network (CDN) dilution, and TCP/UDP-DDoS proxy.

  • Clean Pipe Method: This technique directs all traffic through a decontamination pipeline, identifying and separating malicious traffic from legitimate traffic. The malicious traffic is then blocked, while the legitimate traffic is allowed to access your website.
  • CDN: A collection of distributed networks that serve content to users. As such, servers closest to a user will provide them with content instead of the original server. The large bandwidth a CDN offers makes it ideal for soaking up DDoS attacks at network (L3) and transport (L4) layers.
  • TCP/UDP Proxy Protection: This tactic functions similarly to CDN dilution but is used instead for services that use transmission control protocol (TCP) or user datagram protocol (UDP). These protocols include email and gaming platforms.

Cloudflare emerges as one of the market’s leading solutions for strong defensive mechanisms against several DDoS assaults, protecting networks from network, transport, and application-level threats.

As acknowledged by industry experts such as Gartner and others, Radware is a pioneer in cybersecurity and application delivery solutions across varied data center settings. It is well known for its DDoS mitigation, web application firewall, and bot detection technologies and consistently wins awards for its comprehensive cybersecurity products. 

Bottom line: Protect your business against DDoS attacks

A DDoS attack might render your servers inoperable. While larger organizations may have specialized IT personnel, smaller businesses face a greater risk from these threats.

DDoS security solutions monitor traffic influxes and restrict traffic flow to avoid overloading servers and limit the damage caused by an attack. Businesses of all sizes can defend their digital infrastructure by investing in DDoS protection services to ensure uninterrupted online services, consequently preserving consumer trust and avoiding possible losses in case of cyberattacks.

Maine Basan Avatar

Subscribe to Cybersecurity Insider

Strengthen your organization’s IT security defenses by keeping abreast of the latest cybersecurity news, solutions, and best practices.

This field is required This field is required

Get the free Cybersecurity newsletter

Strengthen your organization’s IT security defenses with the latest news, solutions, and best practices. Delivered every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday

This field is required This field is required