The Best Free pfSense AlternativesTop Firewalls & VPN Services like pfSense

The best free alternative to pfSense is OPNsense, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to pfSense and many of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to pfSense are IPFire, ClearOS, NethServer and Endian Firewall Community.

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Alternatives list

  1. OPNsense icon

    OPNsense

     70 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 types

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    OPNsense screenshot 1
     
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    3
    OPNsense vs pfSense Comments
    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.

    Guest
    Positive
    -3

    OPNSense has the lost features in 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

     20 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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    IPFire screenshot 1
     
  4. ClearOS icon

    ClearOS

     72 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

    Platforms

    • Linux
    ClearOS screenshot 1
     
  5. NethServer icon

    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

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    NethServer screenshot 1
     
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    5
    NethServer vs pfSense Comments
    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)

    Guest
    Negative
    0

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

    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
  7. Endian Firewall Community icon

    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...

    18 Endian Firewall Community alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Endian Firewall Community screenshot 1
     
  8. Smoothwall icon

    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

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Control Home
     
  9. DynFi Firewall icon

    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

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    DynFi Firewall screenshot 1
     
  10. IPCop icon

    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

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    DHCP
     
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    1
    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 vs pfSense Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Low HW needs, easy to use.

    • IPCop is Free and Open SourcepfSense is Freemium and Open Source
  11. Sophos XG Firewall icon

    Sophos XG Firewall

     5 likes

    A modern replacement for Sophos UTM based on Sophos, Cyberoam and Astaro technology combined.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    Sophos XG Firewall screenshot 1
     
  12. Secure Programmable Router icon

    Secure Programmable Router

     4 likes

    A secure, open-source WiFi router that simplifies network management with easy-to-use policies, device isolation, adblock and advanced DNS controls - customizable with plugins for added flexibility.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Docker
    Home Dashboard
     
  13. ZeroShell icon

    ZeroShell

     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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    ZeroShell screenshot 1
     
  14. OpenWISP icon

    OpenWISP

     11 likes

    OpenWISP is a free and open-source platform for efficient IT network deployment, monitoring & management. It allows automation of many aspects of networks: from configuration to monitoring, RADIUS, hotspots, mesh and firmware upgrades, all backed by the reliability of the...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    OpenWISP screenshot 1
     
12 of 24 pfSense alternatives