OPNsense AlternativesFirewalls and other similar apps like OPNsense

OPNsense is described as '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' and is a popular Firewall in the security & privacy category. There are more than 10 alternatives to OPNsense for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Self-Hosted, Windows, BSD and VirtualBox apps. The best OPNsense alternative is OpenWrt, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like OPNsense are pfSense, MikroTik RouterOS, IPFire and DynFi Firewall.

OPNsense iconOPNsense
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OPNsense includes most of the features available in expensive commercial firewalls, and more in many cases. It brings the...

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OPNsense alternatives page was last updated Jun 2, 2025
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  1. OpenWrt icon

    OpenWrt

     129 likes
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    OpenWrt Project is a Linux operating system targeting embedded devices. Instead of trying to create a single, static firmware, OpenWrt provides a fully writable filesystem with package management. This frees you from the application selection and configuration provided by the...

    22 OpenWrt alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    OpenWrt screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  Support for IPv6
    4.  Built-in Firewall
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Network Tools
    9.  DHCP Server
    10.  Wireless-networking
    11.  DNS over HTTPS

    OpenWrt VS OPNsense

     

    • OpenWrt is the most popular Linux alternative to OPNsense.

    • OpenWrt is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to OPNsense.

    • OpenWrt is Free and Open SourceOPNsense is also Free and Open Source
    • OpenWrt is Privacy focusedOPNsense is not according to our users
  2. pfSense icon

    pfSense

     103 likes
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    pfSense is a free and open source firewall and router that also features unified threat management, load balancing, multi WAN, and more.

    29 pfSense alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • BSD
    pfSense screenshot 1

    pfSense Features

    1.  OpenVPN
    2.  Integrated Virus scanner
    3.  Load balancing
    4.  DHCP Server
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Spam Filter
    7.  LDAP support
    8.  Zabbix monitoring
    9.  RADIUS Services
    10.  Content Filtering

    pfSense VS OPNsense

     
    Comments about pfSense as an Alternative to OPNsense
    Zazucki
    Negative Mar 18, 2022
    2

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

    OPNsense Icon
    pfSense icon

    • Most users think pfSense is a great OPNsense alternative.

    • pfSense is Freemium and Open SourceOPNsense is Free and Open Source
  4. MikroTik RouterOS icon

    MikroTik RouterOS

     32 likes
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    The main product of MikroTik is a Linux-based operating system known as MikroTik RouterOS. Installed on a personal computer or server computer, it turns the computer into a network router, implementing features such as firewall rules, virtual private network (VPN) server and...

    26 MikroTik RouterOS alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • LV flagLatvia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    MikroTik RouterOS screenshot 1

    MikroTik RouterOS Features

    1.  SSH
    2.  Wi-Fi Direct
    3.  User Management

    MikroTik RouterOS VS OPNsense

     

    • MikroTik RouterOS is the most popular Web-based & Self-Hosted alternative to OPNsense.

    • MikroTik RouterOS is the most popular commercial alternative to OPNsense.

    • MikroTik RouterOS is Paid and ProprietaryOPNsense is Free and Open Source
  5. IPFire icon

    IPFire

     17 likes
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    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.

    13 IPFire alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    IPFire screenshot 1

    IPFire Features

    1.  DHCP Server
    2.  DNS Server

    IPFire VS OPNsense

     
  6. DynFi Firewall icon

    DynFi Firewall

     2 likes
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    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...

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    DynFi Firewall screenshot 1

    DynFi Firewall Features

    1.  WireGuard
    2.  OpenVPN
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Centralized Management
    5.  Geofencing
    6.  Encrypted VPN
    7.  Load balancing
    8.  Web filter

    DynFi Firewall VS OPNsense

     
  7. VyOS icon

    VyOS

     11 likes
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    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

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux
    VyOS screenshot 1

    VyOS Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  AES-256 Encryption
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  WireGuard
    5.  OpenVPN
    6.  Built-in VPN
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Network Discovery

    VyOS VS OPNsense

     
  9. Endian Firewall Community icon

    Endian Firewall Community

     20 likes
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    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...

    18 Endian Firewall Community alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Endian Firewall Community screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Email security
    2.  Network activity
    3.  Gateway

    Endian Firewall Community VS OPNsense

     
  10. Vilfo OS icon

    Vilfo OS

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    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.

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • SE flagSweden
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    User interface

    Vilfo OS Features

    1.  WireGuard
    2.  OpenVPN

    Vilfo OS VS OPNsense

     
  11. ZeroShell icon

    ZeroShell

     8 likes
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    Zeroshell is a Linux distribution for servers and embedded devices aimed at providing the main network services a LAN requires. It is available in the form of Live CD or Compact Flash image and you can configure and administer it using your web browser.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    ZeroShell screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    From the Zeroshell website (translated from Italian to English)Disposal of the Zeroshell projectThe project has now reached the end of its life. Zeroshell was born in June 2006 and has over 200,000 installations worldwide. Any security updates will be guaranteed until September 30, 2021. I thank everyone who believed and contributed in various ways to improving the project. The zeroshell.org domain will be divested or sold on September 30, 2021

    ZeroShell Features

    1.  DHCP Server
    2.  DNS Server
    3.  Load balancing

    ZeroShell VS OPNsense

     
  12. Smoothwall icon

    Smoothwall

     13 likes
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    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.

    13 Smoothwall alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Control Home
    Discontinued

    The site says the last release was October 2014.

    Smoothwall Features

    1.  Gateway
    2.  Based on OpenVPN

    Smoothwall VS OPNsense

     
  13. Forefront Threat Management Gateway icon

    Forefront Threat Management Gateway

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    Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway (Forefront TMG), formerly known as Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA Server), is a network security and protection solution for Microsoft Windows, described by Microsoft as "enables businesses by allowing...

    10 Forefront Threat Management Gateway alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Forefront Threat Management Gateway screenshot 1

    Forefront Threat Management Gateway Features

    1.  URL Filtering

    Forefront Threat Management Gateway VS OPNsense

     

    • Forefront Threat Management Gateway is the most popular Windows alternative to OPNsense.

    • Forefront Threat Management Gateway is Paid and ProprietaryOPNsense is Free and Open Source
  14. IPCop icon

    IPCop

     14 likes
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    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...

    12 IPCop alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    DHCP
    Discontinued

    The project seems to be no longer updated. Last version, 2.1.9, released in February 2015, can be still downloaded from the official website.

    IPCop Features

    1.  Gateway

    IPCop VS OPNsense

     
12 of 18 OPNsense alternatives