Open Source pfSense Alternatives

The best open source alternative to pfSense is OPNsense. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to pfSense and 16 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to pfSense are ClearOS, NethServer, IPFire and VyOS.

pfSense alternatives are mainly Firewalls but may also be VPN Services or Operating Systems. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of pfSense.

pfSense

Free • Open Source
Firewall

pfSense is a free, open source customized distribution of FreeBSD tailored for use as a firewall, and...

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pfSense alternatives page was last updated

OPNsense
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Firewall
Self-Hosted
17 OPNsense alternatives
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.
- - OPNsense is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to pfSense.
- - OPNsense is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to pfSense.
Suggest and vote on features
OPNsense Features
1. Two-factor AuthenticationOPNsense supports two-factor authentication (2FA).
2. Privacy focusedOPNsense is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Geofencing
Web filter
Encrypted VPN
Load balancing
Comments about OPNsense as a Alternative to pfSense
Almost everyone thinks OPNsense is a great pfSense alternative.
Zazucki
Read this: https://teklager.se/en/pfsense-vs-opnsense/ Especially the part under "Politics, drama & bad blood between the two projects"
Positive comment •
2

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 comment •
1

Guest
OPNSense has the lost features in pfSense.
Positive comment •
-4
ClearOS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Firewall
Operating System
Mail Server
Linux
29 ClearOS alternatives
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.
- - ClearOS is the most popular Linux alternative to pfSense.
Suggest and vote on features
ClearOS Features
1. Spam FilterClearOS can detect unsolicited, unwanted and virus-infected emails, calls, files, etc.
Web-Based
Gateway
PhpMyAdmin
Opinions about ClearOS as a Alternative to pfSense
Some users think ClearOS is a great pfSense alternative, some don't.
NethServer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Firewall
Mail Server
VPN Service
Linux
Self-Hosted
CentOS
13 NethServer alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
NethServer Features
1. OpenVPNNethServer supports OpenVPN, one of the most secure and reliable VPN protocols.
Active Directory integration
Gateway
Web filter
Linux-based
Comments about NethServer as a Alternative to pfSense
Some users think NethServer is a great pfSense alternative, some don't.
Aas
Multi purpose server. Not just firewall.
Top positive comment •
3

Guest
It's main function (server) does not match pfSense (firewall)
Top negative comment •
7

Guest
pfSense is a firewall and router, NethServer is a Linux server platform for running other types of services
Negative comment •
0

Guest
An orange is not like a piece of cheese
Negative comment •
0

atomicwrites
pfSense is a dedicated firewall but this is a general turnkey server.
Negative comment •
0
IPFire
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Firewall
VPN Service
Operating System
Linux
12 IPFire alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
IPFire Features
DHCP Server
DNS Server
Opinions about IPFire as a Alternative to pfSense
Almost everyone thinks IPFire is a great pfSense alternative.
VyOS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Open Source
Firewall
VPN Service
Operating System
Linux
20 VyOS alternatives
VyOS is a community fork of Vyatta , a Linux-based network operating system that provides software-based network routing, firewall, and VPN functionality.
Suggest and vote on features
VyOS Features
1. Command line interfaceVyOS either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
2. AES-256 EncryptionVyOS has AES-256 Encryption, i.e. very strong security.
3. No TrackingVyOS will not track you or use your personal data.
4. WireGuardVyOS supports the Wireguard protocol for encrypted VPN traffic.
5. OpenVPNVyOS supports OpenVPN, one of the most secure and reliable VPN protocols.
6. Built-in VPNVyOS has a built-in VPN feature that enhances your privacy and allows you to browse the web from anywhere.
7. End-to-End EncryptionVyOS has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
Network Discovery
Opinions about VyOS as a Alternative to pfSense
Almost everyone thinks VyOS is a great pfSense alternative.
Endian Firewall Community
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Open Source
Firewall
VPN Service
Linux
19 Endian Firewall Community alternatives
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...
Suggest and vote on features
Endian Firewall Community Features
Security focused
Email security
Network activity
Gateway
Opinions about Endian Firewall Community as a Alternative to pfSense
Almost everyone thinks Endian Firewall Community is a great pfSense alternative.
ZeroShell
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Firewall
VPN Service
Linux
Self-Hosted
10 ZeroShell alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
ZeroShell Features
DHCP Server
DNS Server
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

Opinions about ZeroShell as a Alternative to pfSense
Almost everyone thinks ZeroShell is a great pfSense alternative.
OpenWISP
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
Self-Hosted
10 OpenWISP alternatives
OpenWISP is a software platform that can be used to implement a complete public wifi service.
Suggest and vote on features
OpenWISP Features
User Management
Mesh network
Add a screenshot
Smoothwall
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Firewall
Linux
16 Smoothwall alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Smoothwall Features
Gateway
Based on OpenVPN
Discontinued
The site says the last release was October 2014.

Opinions about Smoothwall as a Alternative to pfSense
Most users think Smoothwall is a great pfSense alternative.
IPCop
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Firewall
Linux
12 IPCop alternatives
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...
Suggest and vote on features
IPCop Features
Gateway
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.

Comments about IPCop as a Alternative to pfSense
Almost everyone thinks IPCop is a great pfSense alternative.
Guest
Low HW needs, easy to use.
Positive comment •
0
DANOS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Firewall
Self-Hosted
5 DANOS alternatives
DANOS unified network operating system driving innovation across the networking stack. DANOS is based upon Vyatta and uses DPDK so it should be able to forward packets line rate (10G).
DANOS has no features, suggest some!
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BSD Router Project:
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
BSD
Self-Hosted
8 BSD Router Project: alternatives
BSD Router Project (BSDRP) is an embedded free and open source software router distribution based on FreeBSD with FRRouting (Quagga fork) and Bird.
BSD Router Project: has no features, suggest some!
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