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Compare FortiGate-VM and Netgate pfSense

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At a Glance
FortiGate-VM
FortiGate-VM
Star Rating
(32)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (56.7% of reviews)
Information
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about FortiGate-VM
Netgate pfSense
Netgate pfSense
Star Rating
(321)4.8 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (68.8% of reviews)
Information
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Netgate pfSense
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
  • Reviewers mention that Netgate pfSense excels in its open-source nature, allowing for extensive customization and flexibility, which is particularly appealing to tech-savvy users looking for tailored solutions.
  • Users report that FortiGate-VM's antivirus capabilities are significantly stronger, with a score of 9.0 compared to pfSense's 6.5, making it a preferred choice for organizations prioritizing robust security features.
  • G2 users highlight that the policy management feature in FortiGate-VM is rated higher at 9.1, indicating a more user-friendly interface and better overall experience in managing security policies compared to pfSense's 8.7.
  • Reviewers say that both products offer strong VPN functionality, each scoring 9.1, but users on G2 appreciate the seamless integration of FortiGate-VM with other Fortinet products, enhancing overall network security.
  • Users report that while pfSense offers unlimited bandwidth and strong multi-device usage ratings, FortiGate-VM's application gateway feature, rated at 9.0, provides superior performance in managing application traffic.
  • Reviewers mention that the logging and reporting capabilities of pfSense, rated at 8.3, are slightly less comprehensive than FortiGate-VM's 8.1, but users appreciate pfSense's open-source logging options for deeper insights.
Featured Products
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
FortiGate-VM
No pricing available
Netgate pfSense
No pricing available
Free Trial
FortiGate-VM
Free Trial is available
Netgate pfSense
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
9.0
27
9.4
256
Ease of Use
8.7
27
8.5
262
Ease of Setup
8.8
23
8.7
241
Ease of Admin
9.0
23
8.8
239
Quality of Support
8.9
25
9.1
204
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
9.4
22
9.1
193
Product Direction (% positive)
9.1
27
8.6
257
Features by Category
8.8
17
8.3
238
Administration
9.0
17
8.7
183
8.2
17
8.3
206
9.0
17
8.4
176
8.5
17
9.0
197
Agentic AI - Firewall Software
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Functionality
8.9
17
9.1
213
9.1
16
6.5
133
9.0
16
7.9
164
9.2
17
9.3
197
Monitoring
8.5
16
8.5
160
8.4
16
8.2
165
8.8
17
8.7
185
9.0
17
8.4
178
Generative AI
8.3
11
6.7
71
Artificial Intelligence - Firewall
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
8.8
177
Usage
Not enough data
9.1
143
Not enough data
9.5
159
Not enough data
9.3
162
Not enough data
9.4
153
Not enough data
7.9
107
Not enough data
8.5
110
Not enough data
8.5
105
Miscellaneous
Not enough data
8.2
106
Not enough data
9.3
143
Not enough data
8.2
95
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
FortiGate-VM
FortiGate-VM
Netgate pfSense
Netgate pfSense
FortiGate-VM and Netgate pfSense are categorized as Firewall Software
Unique Categories
FortiGate-VM
FortiGate-VM has no unique categories
Netgate pfSense
Netgate pfSense is categorized as Business VPN
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
FortiGate-VM
FortiGate-VM
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
26.7%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
56.7%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
16.7%
Netgate pfSense
Netgate pfSense
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
68.8%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
24.8%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
6.4%
Reviewers' Industry
FortiGate-VM
FortiGate-VM
Information Technology and Services
23.3%
Telecommunications
16.7%
Computer & Network Security
13.3%
Financial Services
10.0%
Computer Software
6.7%
Other
30.0%
Netgate pfSense
Netgate pfSense
Information Technology and Services
20.2%
Computer & Network Security
10.6%
Computer Software
6.1%
Telecommunications
4.2%
Computer Networking
3.8%
Other
55.1%
Most Helpful Reviews
FortiGate-VM
FortiGate-VM
Most Helpful Favorable Review
pinisetty s.
PS
pinisetty s.
Verified User in Information Technology and Services

1. Easy to deploy and configure in the cloud. 2. It has the same features and FortiOS as physical devices. 3. Single license for URL, Application control, and antivirus features. 4. Licensing is not required to use SDWAN features. 5. Good network traffic...

Most Helpful Critical Review
Verified User
G
Verified User in Financial Services

Cant back up the FortiGate VM like any other VM in azure

Netgate pfSense
Netgate pfSense
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Christian H.
CH
Christian H.
Verified User in Higher Education

I have been using pfSense for many years. First on my own hardware and later on netgates hardware. The System is easy enough to use but also gives you the ability to have fine tuned rules. I think because the pfSense Firewall software is open source and...

Most Helpful Critical Review
Brian C.
BC
Brian C.
Verified User in Computer Networking

It bricked itself on a reboot. It is impossible to configure. Devices intermittently had internet access even with only the most basic features enabled.

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FortiGate-VM
FortiGate-VM Alternatives
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Netgate pfSense
Netgate pfSense Alternatives
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WatchGuard Network Security
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FortiGate NGFW
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Discussions
FortiGate-VM
FortiGate-VM Discussions
What is FortiGate-VM used for?
2 comments
Avinash P.
AP
FortiGate-VM is Fortinet's virtual appliance version of the FortiGate firewall, designed for deployment in virtualized environments. It serves as a...Read more
Monty the Mongoose crying
FortiGate-VM has no more discussions with answers
Netgate pfSense
Netgate pfSense Discussions
Can pfSense be used as a router?
10 comments
Sean G.
SG
pfSense is an open-source firewall and router software distribution based on FreeBSD. It supports NAT and different types of interfaces (WAN, LAN, DMZ). It...Read more
What is pfSense used for?
7 comments
Rick B.
RB
pfSense is a a preconfigured operating system and suite of tools for directing traffic between your LAN and the Internet. The community version of pfSense...Read more
Is pfSense still free?
5 comments
JK
Yes, it is. There is a Community Edition and a Plus edition. The Community Edition is free. The Plus edition is free for home lab and comes pre-installed...Read more