Fortinet FortiClient vs SonicWall SMA comparison

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Netgate Logo
62 views|26 comparisons
100% willing to recommend
Fortinet Logo
15,010 views|11,005 comparisons
90% willing to recommend
SonicWall Logo
1,200 views|831 comparisons
90% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Fortinet FortiClient and SonicWall SMA based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Enterprise Infrastructure VPN solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiClient vs. SonicWall SMA Report (Updated: March 2024).
770,292 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The solution has good performance.""It's an ideal gateway solution for small and medium businesses, i.e., around 300 devices can be easily handled."

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"The connection speed is fast. I can connect quickly at any time, and there are never any interruptions to the FortiClient connection. I could easily code into the client's server with that connection, with no lag.""The technical support from Fortinet and local vendors is good.""FortiClient's most valuable features are that it's fast and safe.""Fortinet FortiClient can be used with FortiManager to observe all actions that are happening.""It is a stable solution.""The ability to reroute traffic from the user, connecting you to the internet rather than passing through our network area, is very useful.""The solution is stable, we have not had any issues in the time we have been using it.""The most valuable feature of Fortinet FortiClient is dual authentication and the VPN is secure."

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"The most valuable feature of this solution is they have IT consultants that know SonicWall.""This solution has many options for remote desktop and access.""I think they ask for a fair price.""Blocklisting and allowlisting are the most beneficial features for network security.""What I like best about SonicWall SMA is the relationship between its features and its price, because the solution is both affordable and functional.""I am very satisfied with the technical support.""The solution is reliable and has good overall performance.""The management and the dashboard are the solution's most valuable features."

More SonicWall SMA Pros →

Cons
"There must be a more easy-to-use GUI."

More Netgate TNSR Cons →

"The tool needs to improve its web filtering feature. Its support quality needs improvement. We speak different languages, and this can create misunderstandings.""In terms of improvements, their SSL VPN tunnel can be a lot better. I've seen other products that have got much better VPN features than Fortinet. Some of my colleagues get this error called "License not available." When they get this error, they have to uninstall and reinstall it. This kind of problem is there, and sometimes, we have to open a case with Fortinet to resolve it. Their support is quick, so we are able to resolve and move forward. In terms of new features, when it is connecting, it should check the endpoint and say whether the end client is actually safe enough or whether there is a vulnerability. It should give a pop-up on the client itself. Because I'm on the admin side, I can also see this information in the log. However, if a non-IT user, such as a user from finance, is working on this and there is some problem, he or she would not know about this and would call IT admin to say that this is not working. If the users get a message explaining why and what is happening, it is easy for them to understand.""I don't think FortiClient is bad, but it's very buggy. We ran into some issues with the EMS, which amounted to more than 10 cases last year.""Its stability can be improved. It is not as reliable as I would like it to be. There are times when things don't work quite right. Our biggest pain point is not related to Fortinet FortiClient and the whole scheme of things. It is related to one of the additional services called FortiGuard. They are the arm that does all of the updates to definitions, keeps all the signatures updated, and responds to new threats and whatnot. What we have found is that they react quickly, but sometimes their solutions aren't compatible with all of the components of the Fortinet security suite, specifically around FortiSandbox.""There is lagging in some of the authentication tools to support the newer versions, this is happening because they are not supported.""The solution could add data to the endpoint.""I think that FortiClient can enhance the multifactor authentication.""In the next release, I would like to see an additional layer of security added."

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"The product itself is very good, but Dell needs to work on product visibility in their advertising.""The only thing that they could try to improve is the support for enterprise customers. Normally enterprises and SMBs can create a ticket, but for enterprises, SonicWall SMA needs to provide a global view, and this is what's currently missing. It's not even a question of timing. It's a question of the global vision because currently, it's lacking. They concentrate on the topic, but not on the means and not on the global picture. In most cases, there's something wrong with the integration of SonicWall SMA with other products, so that could also be improved.""SonicWall SMA is difficult to use and it does not provide easy access to different parts of the network.""This is an expensive solution and I think that the price could be improved.""The solution could integrate better with other platforms.""The problem is that when combined with what the client already has, there are two different logins and two different management systems, and these should be consolidated into a single interface.""I'd like to see the product maybe polish keyboards in Bookmark.""The product's technical support services could be improved."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "There is not a license required for this solution but the price should be less expensive."
  • More Netgate TNSR Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Licensing was free up to ten users and after that, it was pretty reasonable."
  • "Anyone can download this product for free, but you have to have a FortiGate gateway that you are connecting to."
  • "An annual license costs about 1.5 to 3,000 US dollars. There are no additional costs."
  • "The price is okay and competitive."
  • "Fortinet requires you to buy a lot of product in order for you to have proper protection."
  • "FortiClient is quite reasonably priced."
  • "The pricing is reasonable."
  • "The pricing is good because you get and end-to-end security solution in one package price."
  • More Fortinet FortiClient Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The cost of the licensing is based on the maximum number of concurrent users, and it costs a lot to add them."
  • "I don't know about the pricing of the SSL-VPN box. I know the SSL-VPN software is free. Global VPN client, by comparison, is licensed for around $150 or something like that. But the SSL-VPN software is free. It is already built-in with the box."
  • "Our licenses are stackable and can be anywhere from five users to a million users."
  • "This solution is priced well and we currently have the maximum number of licenses allowed."
  • "All the costs are included in a bundled license."
  • "The platform has medium pricing."
  • More SonicWall SMA Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:It's an ideal gateway solution for small and medium businesses, i.e., around 300 devices can be easily handled.
    Top Answer:The product is very cost-effective and has no requirement for additional licenses. The setup is not easy. Users need… more »
    Top Answer:THe solution is used as a primary gateway with two lease lines of 450 Mbps total. Around 200 users are under it. There… more »
    Top Answer:Fortinet FortiClient is a feature-rich solution that is easy to use and deploy without sacrificing safety and security… more »
    Top Answer:I suggest Fortinet’s FortiEDR over FortiClient for several reasons. For starters, FortiEDR guarantees solid protection… more »
    Top Answer:Blocklisting and allowlisting are the most beneficial features for network security.
    Top Answer:Enhancing live tracking capabilities could improve the product, particularly in monitoring user activity and request… more »
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    TNSR
    FortiClient
    SonicWall Aventail, SonicWall SMA SSL-VPN, SonicWall Secure Mobile Access
    Learn More
    Overview

    TNSR is an advanced open source-based secure networking software platform with highly-scalable packet processing, manageability, and service expansion capabilities. This video provides a high-level introduction. that address a number of commonly asked new product questions - in just a couple of minutes.

    FortiClient is a fabric agent that delivers endpoint protection, endpoint compliance, and secure access in a single, lightweight, lightweight client, providing visibility, information, and control to your endpoints. In addition, it enables secure, remote connectivity to the security fabric. It also integrates network and endpoint with segmentation and automation. FortiClient enables unified endpoint awareness by sharing endpoint telemetry with the security fabric. It is compatible with third-party EDR (endpoint detection and response and anti-malware solutions.

    The FortiClient fabric agent can:

    • Report on the status of a device, including firmware version and applications running.
    • Send all suspicious files to a fabric sandbox.
    • Enforce USB control, application control, URL filtering, and firmware upgrade policies.
    • Provide application firewall service and malware protection.
    • Enable devices to connect securely to the security fabric over either ZTNA tunnels or VPN (IPsec or SSL), both encrypted. The connection to the security fabric can be either a SASE service or a FortiGate next-generation firewall.

    You can purchase FortiClient with one of three levels of capability:

    Zero Trust security - The ZTNA edition enables both VPN and ZTNA encrypted tunnels, as well as USB device control and URL filtering.
    Endpoint security - The EPP/APT edition adds AI-based NGAV (next-generation antivirus), application firewall, endpoint quarantine, and support for cloud sandbox.
    Cloud-based endpoint security

    Benefits and Features

    • Fabric agent leverages integrations and provides telemetry information to the rest of the Fortinet security fabric.
    • SAAS control and web/content filtering
    • Dynamic access control helps with automation and simplifies compliance.
    • Software inventory management enables visibility as well as management of licenses.
    • Automated response detects and isolates any endpoints that may be compromised.
    • ZTNA delivers better remote access and consistent application access policies
    • Managed endpoint security services remotely assist with setup, configuration, deployment, vulnerability monitoring, and overall monitoring of endpoint security.

    Reviews from Real Users:

    PeerSpot users like that FortiClient is easy to use and integrates well with other solutions. They also appreciate the richness of its features and find it to be inexpensive in comparison to other products that require separate purchases for separate features.

    SonicWall SMA is a unified secure access gateway that enables organizations to provide anytime, anywhere and any device access to mission critical corporate resources. SMA's granular access control policy engine, context aware device authorization, application level VPN and advanced authentication with single sign-on empowers organizations to embrace BYOD and mobility in a hybrid IT environment.
    Sample Customers
    UCLA, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, shopify
    Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
    UnitedStack, Newport City Homes, Faith Lutheran College Redlands, PRIME aerostructures GmbH, Celtic Manor Resort
    Top Industries
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company16%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Government6%
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company23%
    Financial Services Firm15%
    Comms Service Provider15%
    Retailer6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization35%
    Computer Software Company11%
    Comms Service Provider6%
    Government5%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company20%
    Construction Company10%
    Comms Service Provider8%
    Government6%
    Company Size
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business30%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise52%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business52%
    Midsize Enterprise22%
    Large Enterprise26%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise46%
    Large Enterprise32%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business73%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise13%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business42%
    Midsize Enterprise12%
    Large Enterprise45%
    Buyer's Guide
    Fortinet FortiClient vs. SonicWall SMA
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiClient vs. SonicWall SMA and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    770,292 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Fortinet FortiClient is ranked 2nd in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN with 85 reviews while SonicWall SMA is ranked 17th in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN with 14 reviews. Fortinet FortiClient is rated 8.0, while SonicWall SMA is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of Fortinet FortiClient writes "Easy to set up and user-friendly with good support ". On the other hand, the top reviewer of SonicWall SMA writes "It allows us to provide CML-based access to any user, but the reporting could be better". Fortinet FortiClient is most compared with OpenVPN Access Server, Fortinet FortiEDR, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway and Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business, whereas SonicWall SMA is most compared with Cisco SD-WAN, SonicWall Netextender, Peplink SpeedFusion, Ivanti Connect Secure and Check Point Remote Access VPN. See our Fortinet FortiClient vs. SonicWall SMA report.

    See our list of best Enterprise Infrastructure VPN vendors.

    We monitor all Enterprise Infrastructure VPN 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.