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Fortinet FortiGate
Netgate pfSense
Read 306 Fortinet FortiGate reviews
126,666 views|92,626 comparisons
Read 128 Netgate pfSense reviews
148,248 views|126,117 comparisons
Comparison Buyer's Guide
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Executive Summary
Updated on Apr 20, 2022
We performed a comparison between pfSense and Fortinet Fortigate based on our users’ reviews in five categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.
- Ease of Deployment: Fortinet Fortigate users overwhelmingly agree that deployment is easy and the initial setup is straightforward. Some pfSense users say deployment is easy while others say it is rather complex.
- Features: Reviewers of the two solutions say they both have good stability.
Valuable features of Fortinet Fortigate include a good user interface, great templates and good web filtering, application control, and intrusion protection. Users would like to see better monitoring and reporting, and improved performance and speed.
Valuable features of pfSense include flexibility and good documentation. Users express that the interface as well as the ease of use need to be improved.
- Pricing: Fortinet Fortigate users share mixed opinions, with some users expressing they think the pricing is affordable and fair and some users mentioning they think it is on the more expensive side. In contrast, pfSense is open source.
- Service and Support: Fortinet Fortigate users are satisfied with the service and support they receive. Users of pfSense say they are able to rely on community forums and discussions when necessary.
- ROI: Users of both solutions report seeing an ROI.
Comparison Results: Based on the parameters we compared, it seems that pfSense is the more favorable solution because it is open source and also offers great features.
To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiGate vs. Netgate pfSense Report (Updated: March 2024).
Download the complete report
765,506 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Q&A Highlights
Question: What are the differences between Fortinet FortiGate and pfSense?
Answer: Especially with support and updates of the signatures, FortiGate has a more solid base. Being an IPO company, with respect to Pfsense, start as a community project and you can purchase support and even dedicated appliances if you have a budget for FortiGate, or if you are starting Pfsense.Greetings
Read more →
Featured Review
Anonymous User
Firewall Engineer at a marketing services firm
Researched Netgate pfSense but chose Fortinet FortiGate: Scalable solution with a straightforward setup
Glenn Ace Tenorio
Senior Network Engineer at American School of Dubai
Researched Fortinet FortiGate but chose Netgate pfSense: User-friendly, easy to manage the firewall, rule-wise and interface-wise
Netgate pfSense has been utilized to create and manage VPNs within our organization. So we're running pfSense with VPN on one of our private cloud... Read more →
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The solution is extremely reliable."
"The next-gen features, the unified threat management capabilities are something that just about everybody is interested in at this point."
"With FortiClient, you can easily connect when you are home, check out what you want to do, and connect to your network when you are not at work. You can switch on servers and you can check what is wrong."
"One of the nice things about FortiGate is that it can be deployed on the cloud or on-premises. You can actually do both. That's the biggest reason why I stick with this solution as opposed to something like Cisco Meraki. Another nice thing is that I can log directly into a FortiGate or get to it through their FortiCloud access products. They're pretty reliable and consistent.One of the reasons why I started using the product was their single pane of management. I can deploy their line of firewalls in conjunction with their switching and access points, and I can manage the entire network from one interface. I don't have to log into one interface for the firewall, another one for the access points, and another one for the switches. These firewalls have access point controller functionality built right into the system, so I don't even have to purchase additional devices to manage them."
"The inspection and web security features are most valuable."
"Fortinet FortiGate is a scalable solution."
"The solution is very user-friendly."
"The reporting you receive out of this appliance is excellent. You will not need an external management system."
More Fortinet FortiGate Pros →
"The initial setup is not complex."
"Stability has been excellent. We have experienced no issues; it never fails."
"Sophos Intercept X is scalable. Currently, we have almost 30 people using it in our company."
"I have found the most valuable features to be antivirus and malware protection."
"The interface is straightforward and easy to use."
"What I like about pfSense is that it works well and runs on an inexpensive appliance."
"We can run it on any hardware."
"Its scalability is a strong point."
More Netgate pfSense Pros →
Cons
"They need faster serviceability and more security features."
"It needs more available central management."
"I would like to see improvements in the product's application rules."
"Some features of Fortinet FortiGate are actually fee enabled that are inconvenient for deploying in production. Other issues relate to isolation with Cisco products and your server."
"We would like to see an upgrade to the VPN feature, we are using the VPN from outside of our office and there is a limitation to 10 connections, more connections would be suitable."
"Its reporting can be improved. Sometimes, I don't get proper reports."
"I would like to see more advanced developments of a wireless controller in the future."
"When we cluster the two Fortinet FortiGate boxes together we have some issues."
More Fortinet FortiGate Cons →
"It was difficult to configure our web printer through the solution. This process could be easier. Additionally, integration with SD-WAN solution."
"They could improve their commercial stance and be more agile when it comes to the commercial pricing of enterprise deals."
"The GUI. There are TONS of plugins for pfSense, as such, if a user wants to add quite a bit of functionality, the GUI will feel a little congested."
"Many people have problems setting up the web cache for the web system."
"Also, simplifying the rules for the GeoIP. Making it simpler to understand would be an improvement."
"I've never tried it in large environments. All my clients are small businesses with a handful of employees, so I am not sure how it works in large environments. I keep up with recent versions, and there's nothing I'm waiting for, and nothing breaks when I get a new version."
"Web interface could be enhanced and more user friendly."
"The usage reports can be better."
More Netgate pfSense Cons →
Pricing and Cost Advice
More Fortinet FortiGate Pricing and Cost Advice →
More Netgate pfSense Pricing and Cost Advice →
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Comparison Review
Anonymous User
Senior Technical Consultant
Sophos UTM vs. Fortinet FortiGate
I have used both Sophos and Fortinet products in production and I have found the Sophos UTM appliances (hardware and virtual) to be a better fit most of the time -- with a few caveats which I will touch on below. In both instances, the transition from TMG will be mostly straightforward. The main hang-ups will be with the VIP/load balancing and SSL. For some reason that completely escapes me, both of these vendors make getting valid certificates onto their boxes unnecessarily difficult -- the Fortinet appliances more so than the Sophos UTM appliances. At one point a Fortinet engineer had to write an entire manual on how to get an SSL certificate uploaded successfully on the 4.x firmwareSophos: The one feature that is missing (and this makes some amount of sense) from the Sophos appliance is BITS caching for updates. Other than that, Sophos offers a full replacement for TMG on UTM9. The XG platform also offers a replacement for the TMG; however, some of the rumblings about upcoming releases suggests that Sophos is going to give XG the Apple iOS treatment and "streamline" the interface...potentially cutting out/hiding some functionality. On the effectiveness of the NGFW, Sophos is mostly good but has a few issues blocking all pieces of an application. For instance, we had to build custom blocking rules for OpenVPN (the vpn was being used to bypass the content filter) because the default Application Control wasn't effectively blocking the application. Fortinet: If it… Read more →
Answers from the Community
Ml Chouhan
Works at nwr
Question: What are the differences between Fortinet FortiGate and pfSense?
Reseller
Both are very good products, but some features that Sophos mentionedas new, FortiGate has been handling. If you are going to grow with several appliances I recommend Sophos, since the administration can be done from the cloud. With Fortinet, you have to pay a licensing fee.In terms of costs and all the options, they are very similar. Another detail to review is the support, at the beginning with Fortigate, I had enough details, but it is really improving significantly with respect to Sophos.
My comment is based on experience and I do not lean toward any of the brands. To reiterate, they are good types of equipment.
See all 2 answers »
Questions from the Community
Which is the better NGFW: Fortinet Fortigate or Cisco Firepower?
Top Answer:When you compare thesefirewalls you can identify them with different features, advantages,practices and usage at large. Inmy opinion, Fortinet would be the best option and l use Fortinet too.…more »
Read all 3 answers →
What is the biggest difference between Sophos XG and FortiGate?
Top Answer:From my experience regarding both the Sophos and FortiGate firewalls, I personally would rather use FortiGate. I know the firewalls change every 5 to 7 years as stated but you really do need to…more »
Read all 13 answers →
What are the biggest technical differences between Sophos UTM and Fortine...
Top Answer:As a solution, Sophos UTM offers a lot of functionality, it scales well, and the stability and performance are quite good. The most valuable features for me are their web and email filtering. I would…more »
Read all 11 answers →
Help me find the best open source router
Top Answer:You don't really specify what type of routeryou are looking for but if you are talking about a gateway router I recommend PFSense. This software solutions can be installed on youf own hardware or you…more »
How do I choose between Fortinet FortiGate and pfSense?
Top Answer:Fortinet’s Fortigate is a firewall solution we use and are very much satisfied with its performance. We find Fortigate both cost-effective and efficient. One of the features we like most is that…more »
Read all 5 answers →
What is the difference between PfSense and OPNsense?
Top Answer:Two of the most common and well recognized firewalls, PfSense and OPNsense both support site-to-site IPsec VPN and client, Open VPN and client, and PPTP client. Both also have intrusion detection and…more »
Ranking
Views
126,666
Comparisons
92,626
Reviews
64
Average Words per Review
574
Rating
8.4
1st
out of 59 in Firewalls
Views
148,248
Comparisons
126,117
Reviews
14
Average Words per Review
449
Rating
8.6
Comparisons
Sophos XG vs. Fortinet FortiGate
Compared 18% of the time.
Cisco Secure Firewall vs. Fortinet FortiGate
Compared 13% of the time.
Meraki MX vs. Fortinet FortiGate
Compared 7% of the time.
Check Point NGFW vs. Fortinet FortiGate
Compared 5% of the time.
WatchGuard Firebox vs. Fortinet FortiGate
Compared 5% of the time.
More Fortinet FortiGate Competitors →
OPNsense vs. Netgate pfSense
Compared 63% of the time.
Sophos XG vs. Netgate pfSense
Compared 7% of the time.
Sophos UTM vs. Netgate pfSense
Compared 2% of the time.
Cisco Secure Firewall vs. Netgate pfSense
Compared 2% of the time.
KerioControl vs. Netgate pfSense
Compared 2% of the time.
More Netgate pfSense Competitors →
Also Known As
FortiGate 60b, FortiGate 60c, FortiGate 80c, FortiGate 50b, FortiGate 200b, FortiGate 110c, FortiGate
Learn More
Overview
Fortinet FortiGate enhances network security, prevents unauthorized access, and offers robust firewall protection. Valued features include advanced threat protection, reliable performance, and a user-friendly interface. It improves efficiency, streamlines processes, and boosts collaboration, providing valuable insights for informed decision-making and growth.
pfSense is a powerful and reliable network security appliance primarily used for security purposes such as firewall and VPN or traffic shaping, network management, and web filtering. It is commonly used by small businesses and managed service providers to protect their customers' networks and enable remote access through VPNs.
The solution is praised for its stability, user-friendly interface, scalability potential, open-source nature, free cost, easy installation, firewall capabilities, security features, flexibility, and simplicity. Overall, pfSense is a cost-effective solution for enterprises that need a VPN for their employees.
pfSense Key Features
pfSense has many key features and capabilities, including:
- Strength and accuracy: pfSense is able to always follow either default or custom rules, making it a stronger firewall than some of its competitors. It also filters traffic separately, whether it’s coming from your internal network of devices or the open internet, allowing you to set different rules and policies for each.
- Flexibility: pfSense can work both as a basic firewall and as a complete security system because it gives you the flexibility to integrate additional features as code where necessary.
- Open-source: Because it is open-source, not only is pfSense free to use, but community members can contribute to the code to make it a better software.
- User-friendly: Usually firewall products are not user-friendly because they often include complex settings, options, and features that require fine-tuning. pfSense’s interface is simple, direct, and easy to use.
- WireGuard Support: Instead of building your own VPN using pfSense, or settling for a commercial VPN provider, you can directly integrate WireGuard with the pfSense firewall.
- Speed Management and Fault Tolerance: pfSense’s multi-WAN feature allows your system to continue operating in case components fail.
- Well-supported: pfSense regularly has security and feature updates. It also has a documentation site and a well-informed and knowledgeable support forum.
Reviews from Real Users
Below is some feedback from PeerSpot Users who are currently using the solution.
Bojan O., CEO at In.sist d.o.o., says, “The classic features, such as content inspection, content protection, and the application-level firewall, are the most important."
Another PeerSpot user, a chef at a media company, explains what he finds most valuable about pfSense: "The plugins or add-ons are most valuable. Sometimes, they are free of charge, and sometimes, you have to pay for them, but you can purchase or download very valuable plugins or add-ons to perform internal testing of your network and simulate a denial-of-service attack or whichever attack you want to simulate. You can also remote and monitor your network and see where the gap is."
T.O., a VP of Business Development at a tech services company, mentions, "What I found most valuable is the cost of the platform, the flexibility of the platform, and the fact that the ongoing fees are not there as they are with the competitor."
Sample Customers
1. Amazon Web Services2. Microsoft3. IBM4. Cisco5. Dell6. HP7. Oracle8. Verizon9. AT&T10. T-Mobile11. Sprint12. Vodafone13. Orange14. BT Group15. Telstra16. Deutsche Telekom17. Comcast18. Time Warner Cable19. CenturyLink20. NTT Communications21. Tata Communications22. SoftBank23. China Mobile24. Singtel25. Telus26. Rogers Communications27. Bell Canada28. Telkom Indonesia29. Telkom South Africa30. Telmex31. Telia Company32. Telkom Kenya
Nerds On Site Inc., RKC Development Inc., Expertech, Fisher's Technology, Ncisive, Consulting, CPURX, Vaughn's Computer House Calls, Imeretech LLC, Digital Crisis, Carolina Digital Phone, Technigogo Technology Services, The Simple Solution, SwiftecITInc, Rocky Mountain Tech Team, Free Range Geeks, Alaska Computer Geeks, Lark Information Technology, Renaissance Systems Inc., Cutting Edge Computers, Caretech LLC, GoVanguard, Network Touch Ltd, P.C. Solutions.Net, Vision Voice and Data Systems LLC, Montgomery Technologies, Techforce, Concero Networks, ASONInc, CPS Electronics and Consulting, Darkwire.net LLC, IT Specialists, MBS-Net Inc., VOICE1 LLC, Advantage Networking Inc., Powerhouse Systems, Doxa Multimedia Inc., Pro Computer Service, Virtual IT Services, A&J Computers Inc., Envision IT LLC, CommunicaONE Inc., Bone Computer Inc., Amax Engineering Corporation, QPG Ltd. Co., IT 101 Inc., Perfect Cloud Solutions, Applied Technology Group Inc., The Digital Sun Group LLC, Firespring
Top Industries
Comms Service Provider16%
Computer Software Company9%
Financial Services Firm8%
Manufacturing Company7%
Educational Organization20%
Computer Software Company15%
Comms Service Provider8%
Manufacturing Company6%
Manufacturing Company9%
University9%
Marketing Services Firm8%
Comms Service Provider8%
Comms Service Provider14%
Computer Software Company14%
Government8%
Educational Organization6%
Company Size
Small Business48%
Midsize Enterprise23%
Large Enterprise30%
Small Business27%
Midsize Enterprise32%
Large Enterprise41%
Small Business69%
Midsize Enterprise19%
Large Enterprise12%
Small Business33%
Midsize Enterprise18%
Large Enterprise49%
Free Report: Fortinet FortiGate vs. Netgate pfSense
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiGate vs. Netgate pfSense and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
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765,506 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Fortinet FortiGate is ranked 2nd in Firewalls with 306 reviews while Netgate pfSense is ranked 1st in Firewalls with 128 reviews. Fortinet FortiGate is rated 8.4, while Netgate pfSense is rated 8.6. The top reviewer of Fortinet FortiGate writes "It's a reliable solution that's easy to install and cheaper than competitors ". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Netgate pfSense writes "User-friendly, easy to manage the firewall, rule-wise and interface-wise". Fortinet FortiGate is most compared with Sophos XG, Cisco Secure Firewall, Meraki MX, Check Point NGFW and WatchGuard Firebox, whereas Netgate pfSense is most compared with OPNsense, Sophos XG, Sophos UTM, Cisco Secure Firewall and KerioControl. See our Fortinet FortiGate vs. Netgate pfSense report.
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