shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use F5, Inc. (NGINX)?

Deliver modern applications with NGINX. Explore high-performance load balancing, API gateways, and web server solutions trusted by top global enterprises. - nginx.com

Depends. Buy only if you're a large org running serious multi-cloud traffic with dedicated network and security staff. Small teams and startups should stick to free NGINX open source, Caddy, or a cloud load balancer.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~15 public sources. Caveat: most ratings are employee reviews, not product reviews, and no public pricing evidence was found.

Ratings

  • Value for moneyNo public pricing evidence found
  • Ease of useNo usability evidence found
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

Not disclosed

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed

Best for

  • Enterprises with dedicated NetOps/SecOps teams
  • Multi-cloud app delivery at scale
  • Orgs needing load balancing + WAF in one platform
  • Existing BIG-IP shops standardizing further

Not for

  • Small teams needing a simple web server or reverse proxy
  • Startups without dedicated infrastructure staff
  • Security-sensitive buyers wary after the 2025 breach
  • Teams wanting transparent, published pricing

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Nation-state attackers stole source code (Oct 2025); US agencies warn of targeted hacks on F5 users

high

Critical BIG-IP vulnerabilities face wide exploitation; expect mandatory, frequent patch cycles

medium

~650 layoffs and cut bonuses (2023) may affect staffing and support continuity

Pros and cons

Pros

  • One platform covers load balancing, WAF, API gateway, multi-cloud security
  • BIG-IP Virtual Edition available pay-as-you-go on AWS Marketplace
  • Managed WAF (Silverline) available as a cloud service via AWS
  • Nearly three decades in application delivery
  • Active community, knowledge base, and certification program (DevCentral)

Cons

  • October 2025 nation-state breach stole F5 source code
  • Critical BIG-IP flaws face wide exploitation risk
  • Employee ratings middling: 3.2–3.8/5 across review sites
  • Laid off ~650 employees and cut bonuses
  • US warns hackers are using F5 devices to target victims

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/20/2026 - 15 sources - Red flags: October 2025 nation-state breach with source code stolen, plus actively exploited BIG-IP flaws — patch discipline is essential.

official x4review x5security x2news x4
  • Nation-state breach, source code stolen (Oct 2025), F5 disclosed nation-state hackers stole source code; US agencies warned hackers could use F5 devices and stolen code to target victims.
  • Critical BIG-IP flaw exploitation risk, Cybersecurity press reports wide exploitation risk for critical BIG-IP vulnerabilities following the breach disclosure.
  • Ongoing quarterly security advisories, Regular BIG-IP security notifications indicate a steady stream of required patches.

Key stats

  • Feature depth: 4/5

    Rating

  • Not disclosed

    Starting price

  • 15

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money. No public pricing evidence found
  • Ease of use. No usability evidence found
  • Feature depth: 4/5. BIG-IP called industry standard; broad ADC platform
  • Support quality: 3/5. Knowledge base, DevCentral community, SIRT team exist
  • Security posture: 2/5. Nation-state breach; exploited BIG-IP flaws
  • 3.7/5 Glassdoor rating employee reviews
  • 175+ Employee reviews on Comparably
  • 1996 Founded Seattle, WA
  • NASDAQ: FFIV Public listing traded ~$406/share

Pricing

Not disclosed

Security

Red flags: October 2025 nation-state breach with source code stolen, plus actively exploited BIG-IP flaws — patch discipline is essential.

  • Nation-state breach, source code stolen (Oct 2025)F5 disclosed nation-state hackers stole source code; US agencies warned hackers could use F5 devices and stolen code to target victims.⁵
  • Critical BIG-IP flaw exploitation riskCybersecurity press reports wide exploitation risk for critical BIG-IP vulnerabilities following the breach disclosure.⁷
  • Ongoing quarterly security advisoriesRegular BIG-IP security notifications indicate a steady stream of required patches.

What users say

Product-user reviews are scarce publicly; employee ratings run middling (3.2–3.8/5) and one Reddit user reported recruitment ghosting.

“And F5 inc. They did the same thing to me after”
Reddit, r/recruitinghell

Alternatives

Compare F5, Inc. (NGINX) with each alternative.

  • NGINX Open Source

    Free open-source web server, reverse proxy, and load balancer.

  • Caddy

    Guess: dead-simple web server with automatic HTTPS for small teams.

  • HAProxy

    Guess: proven open-source load balancer for high-traffic sites.

Companies that use it

  • University of Derby15
Full analysis

Based on ~15 public sources. Caveat: most ratings are employee reviews, not product reviews, and no public pricing evidence was found.

Enterprise load balancing/WAF for big orgs with infra staff; small teams can use free NGINX OSS, Caddy, or a cloud LB.

Methodology

Based on ~15 public sources. Caveat: most ratings are employee reviews, not product reviews, and no public pricing evidence was found.

Sources

  1. F5 Reviews — Glassdoorglassdoor.com
    review
  2. F5 Networks Reviews by 100+ Employees — AmbitionBoxambitionbox.com
    review
  3. F5, Inc. Employee Reviews — Comparablycomparably.com
    review
  4. Threat Brief: Nation-State Actor Steals F5 Source Code — Unit 42unit42.paloaltonetworks.com
    security
  5. US warns that hackers using F5 devices to target victims — Reutersreuters.com
    news
  6. US Warns of 'Catastrophic' Hacks After F5 Breach — Bloombergbloomberg.com
    news
  7. Critical flaw in F5 BIG-IP faces wide exploitation risk — Cybersecurity Divecybersecuritydive.com
    news
  8. FAQ on F5 Security Incident — Tenabletenable.com
    security
  9. F5 10-K filing — SECsec.gov
    official
  10. F5 Networks BIG-IP Alternative — RELIANOIDrelianoid.com
    review
  11. F5 Layoffs — Times Nowtimesnownews.com
    news
  12. F5, Inc. — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
    official
  13. F5 — Squad Group profilesquadgroup.com
    official
  14. F5 BIG-IP Virtual Edition — AWS Marketplaceaws.amazon.com
    review
  15. F5 Customer Stories — YouTubeyoutube.com
    official

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