We performed a comparison between pfSense and Fortinet Fortigate based on our users’ reviews in five categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.
Comparison Results: Based on the parameters we compared, it seems that pfSense is the more favorable solution because it is open source and also offers great features.
"The features that I have found most valuable are that it is good to use, and most importantly, the pricing. The customer especially likes the discount when they trade up or something like that."
"The stability of the solution is excellent, as it is with other Fortinet products."
"The solution is extremely reliable."
"Its stability is the most valuable."
"Some of the key features of the solution is that it has good reporting, you can receive many details from the connection, for example, clients and website information."
"The secure web gateway module and the application control module are valuable. HA operations are very easy."
"The dashboard I have found the most valuable in Fortinet FortiGate."
"The IPS is good. It protect my network from attackers."
"Great extensibility of the platform."
"Creation of certificates and the facility to administer services are valuable features."
"The scalability is very good, where you can do an HA configuration and then bring in another box, if necessary."
"The "OpenVPN Client Export" package is really helpful in exporting the VPN client software on most popular devices: iOS/Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and a handful of SIP handsets."
"Sophos Intercept X is scalable. Currently, we have almost 30 people using it in our company."
"A very stable product that lasts over time, easy to understand, and administer."
"The solution is fairly scalable when it comes to integrating with other applications and data sets."
"Stability has been excellent. We have experienced no issues; it never fails."
"One area for improvement is the performance on bandwidth demands for smaller devices, as well as better web filtering."
"Its reporting can be improved. Sometimes, I don't get proper reports."
"The support structure needs to be improved because every time we contact them, there is a delay in the response."
"One area for improvement is the performance on the bandwidth demands for smaller devices, as well as better web filtering."
"They sometimes hide some features and if you want to enable them, you have to go in the CLI, enable the feature and configure it through the CLI. Customers, typically, like everything to be done by the GUI."
"I don't like that anything more than very basic reporting is not included."
"The cloud features and integration could be improved."
"The support team for Fortinet FortiGate needs to be more customer friendly."
"A way to clean squid cache from the GUI."
"Netgate pfSense needs to improve the configuration for a VPN."
"The hotspot and the portal feature in this solution are not stable for WiFi access. We use it at least once or twice every day and it crashes. Some modules can be better by improving detection and having new updates. Additionally, we have some issues with clustering and load balancing that could improve."
"The usage reports can be better."
"The solution could be more user-friendly, and the graphical interface needs some work so that someone without an IT background can use the application. I would like the ability to manage the on-premise appliance from the cloud. When I'm not in the office, it would be great to connect to the pfSense server and administer the network remotely."
"Perhaps the documentation is not clear and because it is supported in the community there is no basic documentation."
"pfSense has some limitations in detecting site sessions. We want to control internet usage based on sites and their content, and pfSense doesn't perform this function."
"The VPN feature of the solution could improve by adding better functionality and providing easier configure ability."
Fortinet FortiGate is ranked 2nd in Firewalls with 67 reviews while Netgate pfSense is ranked 1st in Firewalls with 15 reviews. Fortinet FortiGate is rated 8.4, while Netgate pfSense is rated 8.6. The top reviewer of Fortinet FortiGate writes "Efficient, user-friendly, and affordable". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Netgate pfSense writes "Feature-rich, well documented, and there is good support available online". Fortinet FortiGate is most compared with Sophos XG, Cisco Secure Firewall, Meraki MX, Check Point NGFW and WatchGuard Firebox, whereas Netgate pfSense is most compared with OPNsense, Sophos XG, Sophos UTM, Cisco Secure Firewall and KerioControl. See our Fortinet FortiGate vs. Netgate pfSense report.
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Both are very good products, but some features that Sophos mentioned as new, FortiGate has been handling. If you are going to grow with several appliances I recommend Sophos, since the administration can be done from the cloud. With Fortinet, you have to pay a licensing fee. In terms of costs and all the options, they are very similar. Another detail to review is the support, at the beginning with Fortigate, I had enough details, but it is really improving significantly with respect to Sophos.
My comment is based on experience and I do not lean toward any of the brands. To reiterate, they are good types of equipment.