F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) Reviews

Vendor: F5

4.1 out of 5

120 reviews
83% willing to recommend

2,607 followers

What is F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM)?

F5 BIG-IP LTM optimizes the speed and reliability of your apps via both network and application layers. Using real-time protocol and traffic management decisions based on app and server and connection management conditions, and TCP and content offloading, BIG-IP LTM dramatically improves application and infrastructure responsiveness. BIG-IP LTM's architecture includes protocol awareness to control traffic for the most important applications. BIG-IP LTM tracks the dynamic performance levels of servers and delivers SSL performance and visibility for inbound and outbound traffic, to protect the user experience by encrypting everything from the client to the server.

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F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is the #2 ranked solution in top Application Delivery Controllers. PeerSpot users give F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is most commonly compared to Microsoft Azure Application Gateway: F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) vs Microsoft Azure Application Gateway. F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 66% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 17% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM)

March 2025

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Featured F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) reviews

Mahmoud-Yassin

Head of IT Infrastructure and Security Operations at United Arab Bank

LTM's cloud capabilities could be improved. Cloud providers all offer load balancing, but you can't get the same level of security. F5's cloud service is still not on par with its on-prem service. F5 acquired multiple companies a few years ago, but they still haven't integrated those solutions. For example, F5 acquired Shape Security, which had an excellent solution for detecting bots and automated login attacks, but F5 offers the solution in an inflexible way. It is only available as a cloud-based solution. It isn't zone-based. Some companies are restricted from sending financial data outside the country because of GDPR in Europe or other national regulations. Here in the UAE, we can't send host data out.

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Richard Polyak

Sr. Architect at NBC Universal

The advice I would give to others who are looking to implement F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager is this: look at their user knowledge base first to see if the solution truly fits what you need. On a scale of one to 10, I would give F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager a nine.

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Mohammed Abdul Rahman

F5 Consultant at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees

The area for improvement would be analytical capabilities and configurations in LTM. For example, I want to know the end-to-end processes. If the traffic comes to the virtual servers without taking a wide shot, I would like to see the reason for the latency. The analytics should provide insight into latency across various traffic routes and virtual servers. The additional features in the next release should be real-time analytical capabilities.

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F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) mindshare

As of March 2025, the mindshare of F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) in the Application Delivery Controllers (ADC) category stands at 15.7%, down from 15.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Delivery Controllers (ADC)

PeerAnalyst reports based on F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Application Delivery Controllers (ADC)	Mar 4, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Mar 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) vs NetScaler	Mar 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) vs HAProxy	Mar 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) vs Microsoft Azure Application Gateway	Mar 4, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Microsoft Azure Application Gateway	3.6	8.0%	78%	47 interviews Add to research
NetScaler	4.2	15.1%	91%	107 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) excels in load balancing, iRules, SSL offloading and automation. It supports complex environments with features like application security, DDoS protection, and WAF. Its integration with IT systems like Eclipse and .NET, along with its user-friendly interface, adds value. Organizations benefit from high performance, flexibility, and stability. Many appreciate its seamless server addition and advanced traffic management capabilities, enhancing user experiences and application reliability.

"I have never faced any stability issues with F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM)."
"Features such as SSL offloading, various balancing methods, and the ability to work with HTTP, HTTPS, or TCP protocols are beneficial."
"The most valuable features of the solution are in the area of DDoS and WAF."

Room for Improvement

"One improvement could be updating the user interface (UI)."
"The setup is a little bit complex."
"I wouldn't recommend the tool to small companies, considering its high price and the infrastructure needs of small businesses."

ROI

Users experienced varied levels of return on investment from F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM). Some reported significant and immediate benefits, while others noted a low return due to pricing changes, prompting a switch. Positive outcomes were linked to high performance and uptime, especially when applications were moved to the cloud. Several users rated ROI favorably, averaging four to five out of five. Others regarded the investment as worthwhile due to enhanced security and reliability.

Pricing

F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is known for its robust performance and features, though it comes with high pricing compared to competitors like Citrix and Kemp LoadMaster. Licensing is modular, often involving additional costs for specific features. Enterprises highlight the importance of consulting with an F5 expert to ensure the correct purchase. Costs can be reduced through bundled packages or discounts, making it vital to assess company needs and negotiate effectively. Subscription and perpetual licensing options are available.

"The tool is a bit expensive."
"In my view, the cost is somewhat on the higher side. There are discounts available, but I wouldn't say it's overpriced. It's not cheap either, and the value for money is a bit higher from that perspective."
"The solution is more expensive than one of its competitors."

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Computer Software Company

14%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

Energy/Utilities Company

University

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Construction Company

Non Profit

Media Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Legal Firm

Transportation Company

Hospitality Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Logistics Company

Outsourcing Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Performing Arts

Consumer Goods Company

Compare F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) with alternative products

Learn more about F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM)

BIG-IP LTM provides enterprise-class Application Delivery Controller (ADC). You get granular layer 7 control, SSL offloading and acceleration capabilities, and advanced scaling technologies that deliver performance and reliability on-demand. The highly optimized TCP/IP stack combines TCP/IP techniques and improvements in the latest RFCs with extensions to minimize the effect of congestion and packet loss and recovery. Independent testing tools and customer experiences show LTM's TCP stack delivers up to a 2x performance gain for users and a 4x increase in bandwidth efficiency.

F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) was previously known as F5 BIG-IP, BIG-IP LTM, F5 ASM, Viprion, F5 BIG-IP Virtual Edition , Crescendo Networks Application Delivery Controller, BIG IP.