Quick Answer
Last verified:

F5 BIG-IP pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $0 per per year in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: No free tier available
  • Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
  • Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training

F5 BIG-IP offers 3 pricing tiers: Good Bundle, Better Bundle, Best Bundle. The Better Bundle plan is organizations needing dns and firewall features.

Compared to other load balancers software, F5 BIG-IP is positioned at the budget-friendly price point.

Last verified: February 2026 | Sources: 0 pricing pages and reviews

All F5 BIG-IP Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
Good Bundle Contact Contact Basic load balancing needs
Better Bundle Contact Contact Organizations needing DNS and firewall features
Best Bundle Contact Contact Full-featured application delivery and security
View all features by plan

Good Bundle

  • BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM)
  • Software services (optional)

Better Bundle

  • BIG-IP LTM
  • Software services
  • BIG-IP DNS
  • Advanced Firewall Manager
  • Advanced Routing

Best Bundle

  • All Better features
  • Application Security Manager
  • Access Policy Manager
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Hidden Costs to Budget For

Watch for 8 hidden costs
  • Throughput tier upgrades can significantly increase costs
  • Additional module licenses beyond bundle pricing
  • Professional services for setup and configuration typically $5,000-25,000
  • Annual support renewal fees (15-22% of license cost for perpetual licenses)
  • Cloud infrastructure costs for VE deployments (AWS/Azure/GCP)
  • Training and certification costs for administrators
  • Hardware refresh costs for appliance deployments
  • High availability setup requires duplicate licensing
Tip

Ask your F5 BIG-IP sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What's the difference between perpetual and subscription licensing?

Perpetual licenses require a one-time upfront payment plus annual support fees (typically 15-22% of license cost). Subscription licenses are 1-, 2-, or 3-year renewable terms with everything included. Subscriptions offer lower initial costs and predictable annual expenses.

02 How is BIG-IP pricing calculated?

Pricing depends on: deployment type (hardware, VE, or cloud), throughput tier, module bundle (Good/Better/Best), subscription term length, and support level. Virtual editions are typically priced per instance per year, while hardware is based on appliance model and throughput capacity.

03 What's included in the Good, Better, Best bundles?

Good bundles include basic ADC and SSL offloading. Better adds WAF, API protection, and advanced traffic management. Best includes all modules plus advanced security, multi-cloud support, and premium support. Bundles cost less than purchasing modules individually.

04 Can I start with a lower tier and upgrade later?

Yes, you can upgrade from Good to Better or Best bundles, or increase throughput tiers. Upgrades typically involve paying the price difference, though terms vary by contract. Free 30-day trials are available to test before committing.

05 Is F5 BIG-IP suitable for small businesses?

BIG-IP is generally positioned for mid-market to enterprise customers due to its cost and complexity. Smaller companies may find better value with NGINX Plus, HAProxy, or cloud-native solutions unless they have specific enterprise requirements that justify the investment.