# F5 Advanced WAF: how AI models rank it, September 2026

IT AI Recommendation Index, September 2026 Edition. Named in 4 judge labels across 2 categories by 2 of 12 models. Page: https://it-ai-index.com/vendors/f5-advanced-waf/

## Standing by category

| Category | Share | Rank | Negative rate | Labels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web application firewalls | 0% | 23 | 0% | 3 |
| Next-generation firewalls | 0% | 76 | 100% | 1 |

## What the models said for it

- "Best For: Companies with strict compliance requirements or heavy, complex API traffic." (Qwen 3.7 Flash, WAF)
- "Best for: Complex on-premise networks and DevSecOps." (Qwen 3.7 Flash, WAF)

## And against it

- "Using F5 strictly as a layer 3/4 firewall is generally considered an anti-pattern" (Qwen 3.7 Flash, Firewalls)

## Record

- Method: https://it-ai-index.com/methodology/
- Raw judge labels and full responses: https://it-ai-index.com/data/
- License: CC BY 4.0. Cite as IT AI Recommendation Index, September 2026 Edition, it-ai-index.com.