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 MikroTik RouterOS, ClearOS, NethServer and IPFire.

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pfSense alternatives are mainly Firewalls but may also be VPN Services or Router Custom Firmware.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of pfSense.
pfSense iconpfSense
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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.

More about pfSense
pfSense alternatives page was last updated Jul 15, 2024
  1. OPNsense icon
     57 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.

    17 OPNsense alternatives
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    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Encrypted VPN
    2.  Two-factor Authentication
    3.  Load balancing
    4.  Geofencing
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Web filter
    OPNsense iconpfSense Icon

    OPNsense VS pfSense

    Is OPNsense a good alternative to pfSense?
     
    Comments about OPNsense as an Alternative to pfSense
     
    Zazucki

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

    Positive commentMar 18, 2022
    4
    Guest

    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.

    Positive commentMay 19, 2017
    1
    Guest

    OPNSense has the lost features in pfSense.

    Positive commentOct 30, 2016
    -3
    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. MikroTik RouterOS icon
     32 likes

    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...

    25 MikroTik RouterOS alternatives
    MikroTik RouterOS screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted

    MikroTik RouterOS Features

    1.  SSH
    2.  Wi-Fi Direct
    3.  User Management
    MikroTik RouterOS iconpfSense Icon

    MikroTik RouterOS VS pfSense

    Is MikroTik RouterOS a good alternative to pfSense?
     
    Comments about MikroTik RouterOS as an Alternative to pfSense
     
    Guest

    Mainly a router, after all

    Negative commentOct 29, 2019
    0
    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
  3. ClearOS icon
     70 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.

    26 ClearOS alternatives
    ClearOS screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    ClearOS Features

    1.  Spam Filter
    2.  Web-Based
    3.  Gateway
    4.  PhpMyAdmin
    ClearOS iconpfSense Icon

    ClearOS VS pfSense

    Is ClearOS a good alternative to pfSense?
     
    • Some users think ClearOS is a great pfSense alternative, some don't.

    • ClearOS is the most popular Linux alternative to pfSense.

    • ClearOS is Free and Open SourcepfSense is Freemium and Open Source
  4. NethServer icon
     34 likes

    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.

    11 NethServer alternatives
    NethServer screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • CentOS

    NethServer Features

    1.  OpenVPN
    2. Microsoft Active Directory icon  Active Directory integration
    3.  Gateway
    4.  Web filter
    5.  Linux-based
    NethServer iconpfSense Icon

    NethServer VS pfSense

    Is NethServer a good alternative to pfSense?
     
    Comments about NethServer as an Alternative to pfSense
     
       
    Aas

    Multi purpose server. Not just firewall.

    Top positive commentOct 15, 2018
    3
    Guest

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

    Top negative commentJun 20, 2019
    6
    Guest

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

    Negative commentMay 3, 2021
    0
    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
  5. IPFire icon
     15 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.

    13 IPFire alternatives
    IPFire screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    IPFire Features

    1.  DHCP Server
    2.  DNS Server
    IPFire iconpfSense Icon

    IPFire VS pfSense

    Is IPFire a good alternative to pfSense?
     
  6. Sophos UTM icon
     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.

    10 Sophos UTM alternatives
    Sophos UTM screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    Sophos UTM iconpfSense Icon

    Sophos UTM VS pfSense

    Is Sophos UTM a good alternative to pfSense?
     
    Comments about Sophos UTM as an Alternative to pfSense
     
    Guest

    Not as resource hungry when IPS enabled

    Positive commentMay 30, 2017
    0
    Guest

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

    Positive commentJul 22, 2017
    -1
    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
  7. Endian Firewall Community icon
     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...

    18 Endian Firewall Community alternatives
    Endian Firewall Community screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free PersonalOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Endian Firewall Community Features

    1.  Email security
    2.  Network activity
    3.  Gateway
    Endian Firewall Community iconpfSense Icon

    Endian Firewall Community VS pfSense

    Is this a good alternative to pfSense?
     
  8. VyOS icon
     11 likes

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

    21 VyOS alternatives
    VyOS screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    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 iconpfSense Icon

    VyOS VS pfSense

    Is VyOS a good alternative to pfSense?
     
  9. ZeroShell icon
     8 likes

    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.

    10 ZeroShell alternatives
    ZeroShell screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted

    ZeroShell Features

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

    ZeroShell VS pfSense

    Is ZeroShell a good alternative to pfSense?
     
9 of 28 pfSense alternatives