Fortinet FortiManager vs Fortinet FortiOS comparison

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1,456 views|1,032 comparisons
94% willing to recommend
Fortinet Logo
4,261 views|3,667 comparisons
98% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Fortinet FortiManager and Fortinet FortiOS based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Fortinet, Broadcom and others in Network Management Applications.
To learn more, read our detailed Network Management Applications Report (Updated: March 2024).
767,847 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
"Setup, setting policies, and reporting were all very easy. We had no issues whatsoever getting the solution up and running.""It's a scalable product.""The SD-WAN deployment environment, and the SD-WAN templates are particularly useful. Managing the solution is very intuitive. The initial setup of the solution was very straightforward.""It is easy to set up the solution.""I appreciate the ability to connect via SSH through Fortinet FortiManager to the FortiGates I manage. This feature allows me to gather information about the interfaces without having to physically connect to the device. This is a convenient aspect that I find valuable.""The features are good.""The product is easy to use and manage.""The reports feature is excellent."

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"There are a lot of features that we like within the solution. The resources or performance of the firewall is very good. However, the real selling point is the fact that the solution offers so many features, it gives our clients a lot of extras that they can work with. There's a lot on offer.""What I like about this solution, is that it is the only solution that currently offers VPN for clients.""Has a very simple OS and a good price point.""Fortinet has optimized the WAN environment for connecting users to the application.""The user experience is great. The graphical user interface is also good.""The initial setup is straightforward, and it is very customer friendly.""This is a user friendly solution and offers comprehensive integrations.""The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiOS are the ease of use and user-friendly interface."

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Cons
"We have some visibility issues with the reporting.""The dashboard could use some improvement.""Pricing-wise, it could always be less, even though it is less expensive than Palo Alto.""The scalability has room for improvement.""Fortinet FortiManager could improve them by adding more portfolio components.""The CLI could be enhanced.""FortiManager could be more user-friendly.""Areas for improvement in Fortinet FortiManager are scalability and stability."

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"There are some issues with the performance. We also had some issues while updating the firmware.""For monitoring purposes, we don't have any option to monitor the ISP link.""There is no flexibility.""I can only compare it with SonicWall, and it is missing many advanced features that SonicWall has.""The product needs a feature that allows users to create another site on a VPN.""Fortinet FortiOS can improve by limiting the need for the CLI and GUI combination. The more functions they can have on the GUI and less on CLI would be helpful.""There are some features for FortiGate using FortiOS that can only be enabled via a command line. These aren't very advanced features they have been part of FortiOS for quite some time but they still aren't accessible from the graphical user interface. It makes it a little bit harder than it should be for us to manage the solution. That's my main concern with the user interface. Another concern we have is some elements for the user interface, if they're not properly configured, it could lead to hardware and performance degradation.""There is some room for improvement in the support."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Fortinet FortiManager is not expensive at all if you compare it with other vendors like Check Point and Cisco. Fortinet products are the least expensive on the market in the category of firewalls."
  • "The licensing costs depend on how many devices you want to use."
  • "In comparison with other products, the price of FortiManager is reasonable."
  • "Fortinet is a high-end product and the cost is high. They should consider reducing the price, especially for existing customers."
  • "The license model they use depends on the size and is not limited to the users."
  • "This is an affordable solution, and its licensing model is based on the number of devices."
  • "For us, it is a little bit expensive."
  • "For the licensing fee, we paid around 10,000 to 15,000 euros."
  • More Fortinet FortiManager Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The program is expensive."
  • "We pay an annual license fee. It is rather expensive so I would like to perhaps see a drop in price in the future."
  • "Be sure to choose a licensing plan that leaves a little headroom so performance is not an issue."
  • "We pay $100,000. That covers the cost of the hardware that we run the VN's on. That also includes any SGNA costs for the internal support tech."
  • "Pricing depends on implementation and licensing choices and is usually not a practical budget choice for small businesses."
  • "The support contracts are usually about $100 - $200 a device."
  • "The software costs roughly half what the hardware costs. Overall, the product is expensive."
  • "The price of Fortinet FortiOS has been reasonable."
  • More Fortinet FortiOS Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The user interface, along with user-friendly planning features, makes it straightforward to configure desired settings.
    Top Answer:While I find the pricing somewhat higher compared to other options, it remains acceptable for now. I anticipate a growing demand for SD-WAN security in the future, particularly with Fortinet gaining… more »
    Top Answer:Issues arise when customers experience unstable electricity or poor grounding conditions. In such cases, their CPE or other devices on-site may become unreliable, leading to occasional configuration… more »
    Top Answer:In the best tradition of these questions, Feature-wise both are quite similar, but each has things it's better at, it kind of depends what you value most PA is good at app control, web filtering and… more »
    Top Answer:The SSL VPN is fee for use is most attractive.
    Top Answer:The solution is cost effective. I would rate the pricing a five out of ten.
    Ranking
    Views
    1,456
    Comparisons
    1,032
    Reviews
    36
    Average Words per Review
    416
    Rating
    8.0
    15th
    out of 59 in Firewalls
    Views
    4,261
    Comparisons
    3,667
    Reviews
    36
    Average Words per Review
    404
    Rating
    8.3
    Comparisons
    Learn More
    Overview

    Networks are constantly evolving due to threats, organizational growth, or new regulatory/business requirements. Traditional management products focus on mitigating company-wide threats through firewall policies, firmware updates, and keeping content security current. FortiManager offers the features to contain threats as well as providing flexibility to evolve along with your ever-changing network.

    Fortinet FortiOS is a comprehensive security operating system that powers Fortinet's network security solutions. It provides advanced threat protection, network visibility, and centralized management for organizations of all sizes. With its robust features and intuitive interface, FortiOS enables businesses to secure their networks, applications, and data from cyber threats. 

    One of the key features of FortiOS is its advanced threat protection capabilities. It incorporates multiple security technologies, including firewall, antivirus, intrusion prevention system (IPS), and web filtering, to detect and block a wide range of threats. This ensures that organizations are protected against malware, ransomware, and other malicious activities. FortiOS also offers extensive network visibility, allowing organizations to monitor and analyze network traffic in real-time. This visibility enables businesses to identify potential security risks, detect anomalies, and take proactive measures to mitigate threats. 

    Additionally, FortiOS provides detailed reports and analytics, helping organizations gain insights into their network security posture. Centralized management is another crucial aspect of FortiOS. It allows businesses to manage and configure their security policies, devices, and users from a single console. This simplifies the management process and ensures consistent security across the entire network infrastructure. 

    Moreover, FortiOS supports integration with other Fortinet products, enabling seamless security orchestration and automation. FortiOS is designed to be scalable and flexible, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes. It offers a range of deployment options, including physical appliances, virtual machines, and cloud-based solutions. This flexibility allows businesses to choose the deployment model that best fits their requirements and easily scale their security infrastructure as their needs evolve. 

    Sample Customers
    Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
    Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company31%
    Comms Service Provider25%
    Manufacturing Company16%
    Transportation Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company20%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Comms Service Provider7%
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider16%
    Financial Services Firm11%
    Manufacturing Company11%
    Transportation Company8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Comms Service Provider8%
    Government8%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business47%
    Midsize Enterprise26%
    Large Enterprise28%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise55%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business53%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise34%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business26%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise56%
    Buyer's Guide
    Network Management Applications
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Fortinet, Broadcom and others in Network Management Applications. Updated: March 2024.
    767,847 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Fortinet FortiManager is ranked 3rd in Network Management Applications with 59 reviews while Fortinet FortiOS is ranked 15th in Firewalls with 73 reviews. Fortinet FortiManager is rated 8.0, while Fortinet FortiOS is rated 8.4. The top reviewer of Fortinet FortiManager writes "Easy to set up with good integration capabilities but we've had troubles when moving devices". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Fortinet FortiOS writes "Provides effective filtering features, good stability but initial setup is moderately challenging". Fortinet FortiManager is most compared with Fortinet FortiGate Cloud, Cisco DNA Center, Zabbix, AlgoSec and SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager, whereas Fortinet FortiOS is most compared with Fortinet FortiGate, Fortinet FortiWeb, Fortinet FortiGate-VM, Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection and Darktrace.

    We monitor all Network Management Applications 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.