Introduction
When I first started looking into Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) for my homelab, I kept running into the same question:
👉 Should I self-host with SafeLine, or just pay for a cloud WAF like Cloudflare or a managed ModSecurity service?
The marketing around cloud WAFs makes them sound “cheap” or even “free” at first glance, but once you factor in real usage (multiple apps, API endpoints, and higher traffic), costs can spiral fast.
So I sat down and did a proper comparison — here’s what I found.
The Cost of Running SafeLine WAF (Self-Hosted)
SafeLine is completely free to self-host for up to 10 applications, which is more than enough for most homelab setups.
The actual “cost” comes down to your own hardware resources:
- One-time setup: Just your time + a VM/container with ~1GB RAM and 5GB storage
- Ongoing cost: Zero, since it runs on your existing server
- Privacy: All logs and traffic stay in your homelab
- Scalability: Protect multiple services with one deployment
For my homelab with 6+ services (blog, Jellyfin, Vaultwarden, APIs, etc.), the marginal cost is basically $0/month.
The Cost of Cloud WAFs
This is where things add up. Let’s break down a few popular options:
Cloudflare (Free & Paid)
- Free tier: Very limited WAF rules, mostly rate limiting
- Pro tier: $20/month per site
- Business tier: $200/month per site
If you run 5–6 apps in your homelab, even the Pro tier becomes $100–120/month.
ModSecurity (Hosted by third parties)
- Base rules are free, but proper OWASP CRS tuning costs time
- Managed ModSecurity services often start at $10–50/month per app
- High false positive rate = extra maintenance cost
Other Commercial WAFs
- Most start at $50–100/month per app
- Pricing is usually per-domain or traffic-based
- Vendor lock-in is a common issue
Cost Comparison Table
| Solution | Monthly Cost (6 apps) | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| SafeLine (self-hosted) | $0 | Full control, no traffic limit, privacy | Requires your own server |
| Cloudflare Pro | $120 | Easy setup, global CDN | Per-site pricing, limited rules |
| Cloudflare Business | $1,200 | Strong protection, SLA | Way too expensive for homelab |
| Managed ModSecurity | $60–300 | Flexible, industry standard | High FP rate, tuning required |
My Takeaway
For homelabbers and indie developers, SafeLine is a no-brainer:
- $0 ongoing cost
- Protects up to 10 apps
- Enterprise-grade detection without the bill shock
Cloud WAFs make sense if you’re running a public-facing SaaS with customers worldwide, where the integrated CDN and SLA are worth paying for.
But for personal projects, homelabs, or even small business apps, SafeLine gives you the same level of protection at literally a fraction of the cost.
Conclusion
Don’t get fooled by the “free” marketing of cloud WAFs — they almost always come with per-site or traffic-based pricing that scales poorly.
If you’re experimenting, learning, or just protecting your own web stack, SafeLine WAF keeps your costs predictable (basically zero) while giving you enterprise-level protection.
💡 My advice:
- Start with SafeLine in self-hosted mode
- Use cloud WAFs only if you truly need global edge protection
What about you?
Have you run the numbers between self-hosted and cloud WAFs? Which trade-off do you value more: cost savings, privacy, or global reach?
👇 Drop your experience in the comments or ping me on Twitter/Reddit — I’d love to hear how others are approaching this decision.
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If you continue to experience issues, feel free to contact SafeLine support for further assistance.
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