The Best pfSense AlternativesTop Firewalls & VPN Services like pfSense

Alternatives list

1. 

   

   OPNsense

    65 likes

   OPNsense includes most of the features available in expensive commercial firewalls, and more in many cases. It brings the rich feature set of commercial offerings with the benefits of open and verifiable sources.

   19 OPNsense alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application type

   • Firewall

   Origin

   • Netherlands
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Self-Hosted

   

   

   

   +5

   

   More about OPNsense  

   

   Is OPNsense a good alternative to pfSense?

    

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   3comments

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   OPNsense vs pfSense Comments

    

   Zazucki

   Positive comment•Mar 18, 2022

   4

   Read this: https://teklager.se/en/pfsense-vs-opnsense/ Especially the part under "Politics, drama & bad blood between the two projects"

   Guest

   Positive comment•May 19, 2017

   1

   Stability is the in the center of OPNsense distribution. To achieve this goal, only a limited number of plugins are available, but they are well tested and upgraded together with the core.

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   Guest

   Positive comment•Oct 30, 2016

   -3

   OPNSense has the lost features in pfSense.

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   

   

   • OPNsense is Free and Open SourcepfSense is Freemium and Open Source
   • OPNsense is Privacy focused and LightweightpfSense is not according to our users
2. 

   

   IPFire

    19 likes

   IPFire is a server distribution with intended to use as a firewall. It focuses on flexibility, and scales from small to middle sized business networks and home networks.

   14 IPFire alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application types

   • Firewall
   • VPN

   Platforms

   • Linux

   

   More about IPFire  

   

   Is IPFire a good alternative to pfSense?

    
4. 

   

   MikroTik RouterOS

    32 likes

   Linux-based system converts standard PCs into customizable routers, featuring advanced firewall, VPN server and client, bandwidth control, QoS, wireless AP, captive portal, remote management, industry protocol support, automation, and scalable licensing for network needs.

   27 MikroTik RouterOS alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Paid
   • Proprietary

   Application types

   • Router Custom Firmware
   • Firewall

   Origin

   • Latvia
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Online
   • Self-Hosted

   

   More about MikroTik RouterOS  

   

   Is MikroTik RouterOS a good alternative to pfSense?

    

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   1comment

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   MikroTik RouterOS vs pfSense Comments

    

   Guest

   Negative comment•Oct 29, 2019

   0

   Mainly a router, after all

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   

   

   • MikroTik RouterOS is Paid and ProprietarypfSense is Freemium and Open Source
5. 

   

   Sophos UTM

    16 likes

   Sophos UTM integrates complete security software within a single appliance. Choose only the protection you need when you need it. And deploy it on the platform that best fits your business: software, hardware or virtual appliance.

   Cost / License

   • Paid
   • Proprietary

   Application types

   • Firewall
   • Anti-Spam

   Origin

   • United Kingdom

   Platforms

   • Linux
   • Online

   

   

   

   More about Sophos UTM  

   

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   2comments

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   Sophos UTM vs pfSense Comments

    

   Guest

   Positive comment•May 30, 2017

   0

   Not as resource hungry when IPS enabled

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   Guest

   Positive comment•Jul 22, 2017

   -1

   Free for home use.....very complete package.

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   

   

   • Sophos UTM is Paid and ProprietarypfSense is Freemium and Open Source
6. 

   

   ClearOS

    71 likes

   ClearOS is a family of operating systems for the enterprise, small business, and home. There are three editions to choose from depending on your needs and suitable to your abilities. They are: ClearOS Enterprise, ClearOS Home, and ClearOS Core.

   28 ClearOS alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application types

   • Firewall
   • Operating System

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Linux

   

   

   

   More about ClearOS  

   

   Is ClearOS a good alternative to pfSense?

    
7. 

   

   NethServer

    34 likes

   NethServer is an application manager for Linux servers. The product's main feature is the ability to easily and quickly install and manage instances of applications over multiple nodes. It allows users to deploy services, like [Nextcloud](https://alternativeto.

   11 NethServer alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Open Source (GPL-3.0)

   Application types

   • VPN
   • Web Server

   Origin

   • Italy
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Linux
   • Self-Hosted

   

   

   

   +2

   

   More about NethServer  

   

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   5comments

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   NethServer vs pfSense Comments

    

   Top Positive Comment

   Aas

   Oct 15, 2018

   3

   Multi purpose server. Not just firewall.

   Top Negative Comment

   Guest

   Jun 20, 2019

   6

   It's main function (server) does not match pfSense (firewall)

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   Guest

   Negative comment•May 3, 2021

   0

   pfSense is a firewall and router, NethServer is a Linux server platform for running other types of services

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   Show more comments

   3 of 5 comments

   

   

   • NethServer is Freemium and Open SourcepfSense is also Freemium and Open Source
   • NethServer is Privacy focusedpfSense is not according to our users
9. 

   

   Endian Firewall Community

    20 likes

   Endian Firewall Community (EFW) is a "turn-key" linux security distribution that turns every system into a full featured security appliance with Unified Threat Management (UTM) functionality. The software has been designed with "usability in mind" and is very...

   Cost / License

   • Free Personal
   • Open Source

   Application types

   • Firewall
   • VPN

   Origin

   • Italy
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Linux

   

   

   

   More about Endian Firewall Community  

   

   Is this a good alternative to pfSense?

    
10. 

    

    VyOS

     12 likes

    VyOS is a community fork of Vyatta , a Linux-based network operating system that provides software-based network routing, firewall, and VPN functionality.

    23 VyOS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application types

    • Firewall
    • VPN

    Origin

    • United States

    Platforms

    • Linux

    

    More about VyOS  

    

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11. 

    

    Smoothwall

     13 likes

    The SmoothWall Open Source Project was set up to develop and maintain SmoothWall Express - a Free firewall that includes its own security-hardened GNU/Linux operating system and an easy-to-use web interface.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    • Firewall

    Origin

    • United Kingdom

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux

    

    

    

    More about Smoothwall  

    

    Is Smoothwall a good alternative to pfSense?

     
12. 

    

    DynFi Firewall

     2 likes

    DynFi® Firewall is the first French Open Source firewall. The system integrates many filtering features and allows for the first time to manage a large number of your appliances. Available for free, DynFi Firewall has two images (with VGA or Serial return) compatible with...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    • Firewall

    Origin

    • France
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted

    

    

    

    +5

    

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13. 

    

    Vilfo OS

     Like

    Vilfo OS is an easy and powerful software enabling multiple simultaneous connections to VPN servers. It contains firewall, split tunneling, DNS leak protection, VPN killswitch, notifications and much more.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    • Firewall
    • VPN

    Origin

    • Sweden
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted

    

    

    

    More about Vilfo OS  

    

    Is Vilfo OS a good alternative to pfSense?

     
14. 

    

    IPCop

     14 likes

    IPCop Firewall is a Linux firewall distribution geared towards home and SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) users. The IPCop interface is very user-friendly and task-based. IPCop offers the critical functionality of an expensive network appliance using stock, or even obsolete...

    11 IPCop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    • Firewall

    Origin

    • Germany
    • EU

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux

    

    

    

    More about IPCop  

    

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    1comment

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    IPCop vs pfSense Comments

     

    Guest

    Positive comment•Nov 7, 2019

    0

    Low HW needs, easy to use.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.

    

    

    • IPCop is Free and Open SourcepfSense is Freemium and Open Source