The Best pfSense AlternativesTop Firewalls & VPN Services like pfSense

pfSense is described as 'Free and open source firewall and router that also features unified threat management, load balancing, multi WAN, and more' and is a very popular Firewall in the security & privacy category. There are more than 25 alternatives to pfSense for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Self-Hosted, Web-based, Windows and Mac apps. The best pfSense alternative is OPNsense, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like pfSense are IPFire, MikroTik RouterOS, Sophos UTM and ClearOS.

filter to find the best alternatives

pfSense alternatives are mainly Firewalls, but if you're looking for VPN Services or Operating Systems you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Linux, Free and Open Source. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to pfSense.
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Alternatives list

  1. OPNsense icon

    OPNsense

     65 likes
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    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.

    18 OPNsense alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    OPNsense screenshot 1
     
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    3
    73
    Comments about OPNsense as an Alternative to pfSense
    Zazucki
    Positive
    4

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

    Guest
    Positive
    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
    -3

    OPNSense has the lost features in pfSense.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    pfSense Icon
    OPNsense icon

    • Almost everyone thinks OPNsense is a great pfSense alternative.

    • OPNsense is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to pfSense.

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

    • 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 icon

    IPFire

     19 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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    IPFire screenshot 1
     
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    15

    • Almost everyone thinks IPFire is a great pfSense alternative.

    • IPFire is the most popular Linux alternative to pfSense.

    • IPFire is Free and Open SourcepfSense is Freemium and Open Source
  4. MikroTik RouterOS icon

    MikroTik RouterOS

     32 likes
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    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.

    26 MikroTik RouterOS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    MikroTik RouterOS screenshot 1
     
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    1
    12
    Comments about MikroTik RouterOS as an Alternative to pfSense
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Mainly a router, after all

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    pfSense Icon
    MikroTik RouterOS icon

    • Most users think MikroTik RouterOS is a great pfSense alternative.

    • MikroTik RouterOS is the most popular Web-based alternative to pfSense.

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

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

    Sophos UTM

     16 likes
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    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.

    10 Sophos UTM alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    Sophos UTM screenshot 1
     
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    2
    15
    Comments about Sophos UTM as an Alternative to pfSense
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Not as resource hungry when IPS enabled

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    -1

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    pfSense Icon
    Sophos UTM icon

    • Most users think Sophos UTM is a great pfSense alternative.

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

    ClearOS

     71 likes
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    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.

    27 ClearOS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    ClearOS screenshot 1
     
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    10
  7. NethServer icon

    NethServer

     34 likes
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    NethServer is a CentOS-based Linux distribution for servers. The product's main feature is a modular design which makes it simple to turn the distribution into a mail server and filter, web server, groupware, firewall, web filter, IPS/IDS or VPN server.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • CentOS
    NethServer screenshot 1
     
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    5
    11
    Comments about NethServer as an Alternative to pfSense
    Top Positive Comment
    Aas
    3

    Multi purpose server. Not just firewall.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    6

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    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
    pfSense Icon
    NethServer icon

    • Some users think NethServer is a great pfSense alternative, some don't.

    • NethServer is Free and Open SourcepfSense is Freemium and Open Source
  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...

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Endian Firewall Community screenshot 1
     
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    9
  10. VyOS icon

    VyOS

     12 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

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    VyOS screenshot 1
     
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    12
  11. 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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Control Home
     
  12. 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...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    DynFi Firewall screenshot 1
     
  13. Vilfo OS icon

    Vilfo OS

     Like
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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.

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    User interface
     
  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...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    DHCP
     
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    1
    9
    Comments about IPCop as an Alternative to pfSense
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Low HW needs, easy to use.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    pfSense Icon
    IPCop icon

    • Almost everyone thinks IPCop is a great pfSense alternative.

    • IPCop is Free and Open SourcepfSense is Freemium and Open Source
12 of 29 pfSense alternatives