Comparison conclusions:
pfSense offers paid options for additional support and features (pfSense Plus), a wider range of features and a larger community, but might have a steeper learning curve.
OPNsense provides a clean interface and built-in security features, but its community and documentation are smaller
The summary above is based on 40 interviews we conducted with pfSense and OPNsense users. To access the review's full transcripts, download our report.
"The most valuable features of the solution are SD-WAN, filtering testing applications, web filtering, and the new VPN."
"The SD-WAN function is very developed. It has SD-WAN functionality with security features in one device. We can manage from one single console SD-WAN and the security policy."
"The most valuable feature of Fortinet FortiGate is the simple configuration."
"It's super reliable. I don't think I've ever had a reliability issue with it."
"The most valuable feature is the VDOM, which allows the customer to have multiple firewalls in a single campus."
"The most valuable feature is the FortiManager for centralized management."
"The most useful functionality of Fortinet FortiGate is the user interface, multiple engines, and their cloud with the latest integrations. Additionally, the Security Fabric tool is very good."
"All of the features of Fortinet FortiGate are useful and the security protection is good."
"The concurrent users are perfect for us."
"A valuable feature is that the solution is open source."
"We like the fact that the product is open-source. It's free to use. There are no costs associated with it."
"Stability has been excellent. We have experienced no issues; it never fails."
"The solution is fairly scalable when it comes to integrating with other applications and data sets."
"The tools' most valuable feature is load balancing."
"It is a very good solution for enterprises that need a VPN for their employees. It is the best way to provide a remote work facility to employees at a very low cost. Other solutions that I have had in the past were very expensive. Enterprises don't always have that kind of money to invest."
"It is effective. We have not had any problems."
"The most valuable feature is the Dual WAN in OPNSense, which offers advanced capabilities."
"It is a very good solution. I like the dashboard. I can see what is going on and manage it as I like it."
"We have found pretty much all the features of the solution to be valuable."
"The solution has high availability."
"We can open a new VPN connection easily. It's much easier than with Fortinet in our experience."
"The most valuable features of OPNsense are the GUI and frequent updates."
"I feel that its valuable features are that it is simple and free."
"OPNsense is highly stable."
"One of the features that I would like to have is to do with endpoint production, it should be integrated. For example, the firewall gets notified of any kind of forensic event that needs to be done, such as if there is a ransomware attack and how it originated, all those records have to be available from the firewall, which is not."
"Backup can be improved."
"The user interface could be improved to make it less confusing and easier to set up."
"They need to improve their technical support."
"Difficult to add or define, and not that easy to configure and manage."
"The reports are very basic."
"The cloud management and automation capability could be improved."
"It should come integrated or have its own type of network monitor tool in a module. There should just be one package, and you are good to go."
"Perhaps the documentation is not clear and because it is supported in the community there is no basic documentation."
"The security could be improved."
"One concern I have with Netgate pfSense is related to packet filtering. Specifically, issues can arise with certain functionalities like GP, and, at times, there may be bugs."
"My only observation is about the quality of the IPSec logs, which are difficult to interpret and are poor in filters."
"They can improve the dynamic of the input of IPs from outside."
"I would like to see pfSense integrate WireGuard. Currently, pfSense uses OpenVPN, and there's nothing wrong with it, but WireGuard is a lot leaner and meaner."
"Could be simplified for new users."
"Many people have problems setting up the web cache for the web system."
"The interface isn't so friendly user. But we have some technicians here who are quite confident with this tool. OPNSense could maybe add sets of rules so it's simpler to manage different groups with particular needs."
"The user interface could be improved, and the DNS section should be more intuitive."
"The only thing that I would like to see improved is the Insight or the NetFlow analysis part. It would be good to have the possibility to dig down on the Insight platform. Right now, we can easily do only a few analyses. If this page becomes more powerful, it surely will be a well-adopted platform."
"There are issues with stability and reliability."
"While they do have paid options that actually gives better features, for most of the clients, if they tend to take a paid option will instead opt for Fortinet."
"The logging could improve in OPNsense."
"The solution could be more secure."
"I think the most important thing is that it should be easily accessible, but currently, that doesn't seem to be the case. We need a hardware platform that's based on common standards and open computing principles, which would be like a commodity and benefit us greatly."
Netgate pfSense is ranked 1st in Firewalls with 128 reviews while OPNsense is ranked 3rd in Firewalls with 36 reviews. Netgate pfSense is rated 8.6, while OPNsense is rated 8.4. The top reviewer of Netgate pfSense writes "User-friendly, easy to manage the firewall, rule-wise and interface-wise". On the other hand, the top reviewer of OPNsense writes "Robust network security and management offering a user-friendly interface, open-source flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, with challenges regarding initial setup and the absence of official support". Netgate pfSense is most compared with Sophos XG, KerioControl, Sophos UTM, Cisco Secure Firewall and WatchGuard Firebox, whereas OPNsense is most compared with Sophos XG, Untangle NG Firewall, Sophos UTM, IPFire and WatchGuard Firebox. See our Netgate pfSense vs. OPNsense report.
See our list of best Firewalls vendors.
We monitor all Firewalls reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.