Web security has always been a cat-and-mouse game — but what if an open-source project gave you enterprise-grade protection without the price tag?

Meet SafeLine, the most starred Web Application Firewall (WAF) project on GitHub in 2025. With over 17,000 stars and a fast-growing global community, SafeLine has taken the DevSecOps and homelab world by storm. Whether you're a solo developer or managing a startup's infrastructure, this WAF might just be your new favorite security layer.

What Makes SafeLine Different?

At the core of SafeLine is a unique semantic analysis engine. Unlike traditional WAFs that rely heavily on static signature or regex-based detection, SafeLine understands the context and intent of HTTP requests — meaning it catches more real threats with fewer false positives. In fact, recent user tests show SafeLine reducing false positive rates to as low as 0.07%.

And here's the kicker: this detection engine is identical across all editions, from the free version to the advanced Pro — no watered-down core for free users.

Self-Hosted, No Strings Attached

You can get started with SafeLine in minutes — no registration, no cloud dependency, no credit card. Just a Docker install and you're ready to protect your web apps on your own infrastructure. That makes it a perfect fit for:

• Homelab setups
• Side projects
• Privacy-first developers
• Bootstrapped startups

Not Just Free — Feature-Packed

The Free Edition supports up to 10 applications and includes serious features:

• Built-in identity authentication
• Rate limiting for anti-abuse and brute-force protection
• Anti-bot challenges
• Unlimited custom rules

Looking for more? The Lite Edition expands to 20 apps and adds:

• Geolocation-based blocking
• Real-time notifications
• Threat intelligence feeds

Need More Power? There's Pro.

The Pro Edition removes all application limits and introduces features like:

• High Availability (HA)
• Upstream load balancing
• Rich traffic analytics
• Custom block pages
• Role-based access control

Perfect for businesses scaling fast — or DevOps teams that need full observability and reliability.

Dev-Driven, Fast Iteration

SafeLine ships biweekly updates, driven directly by feedback from its global user community. That means it's always evolving to meet real-world attack patterns — not just sitting still waiting for the next CVE.

Is SafeLine Right for You?

If you're:

• Tired of overpriced WAFs that feel like black boxes
• Building something awesome on a budget
• Looking for a transparent, tweakable security layer

...then you might want to give SafeLine a shot.

Get Started

• GitHub: https://github.com/chaitin/safeline
• Docs: https://docs.waf.chaitin.com
• Website: https://ly.safepoint.cloud/ShZAy9x

SafeLine isn't just another open-source tool — it's a powerful alternative to traditional web security products. And it just might save your app from the next big attack.

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Have you used SafeLine in production or in your lab? Drop a comment below — we'd love to hear your experience.