Compare products
Put two or three cybersecurity products side by side and see how they differ on deployment, pricing, features, integrations and compliance.
| Product | pfSense CE by Netgate View product | VMware NSX by VMware View product |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| What it is | pfSense CE is an open source firewall & router software from Netgate. Learn how it supports firewall / NGFW, what features stand out and which Firewall tools compete. | Evaluating VMware NSX? See how this Network Security tool handles microsegmentation and distributed IDS/IPS, where it fits best and which alternatives to compare. |
| Product type | Open Source Firewall & Router Software | Software-Defined Networking & Microsegmentation |
| Best for | Cross-industry, SMBs, Homelab, Small Business, IT Admins | Global Enterprise, Banking, Telecom, Healthcare, Defense |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Contact Vendor | Contact Vendor |
| Free trial | Free trial: yes | Free trial: yes |
| Deployment | ||
| Deployment options | On-Premise | Cloud |
| Deployment details | Software; Open Source; Bare-metal; Bare-metal x86 hardware; Virtual machines | Software; Hypervisor-Native; Multi-Cloud; Software; Hypervisor-native; Virtual appliances |
| Data residency | On-premises; Customer Network | On-premises Data Center; Multi-Cloud |
| Key features | ||
| What it offers |
|
|
| Platform & access | ||
| API access | API access: no | API access: yes |
| Single sign-on (SSO) | SSO: no | SSO: yes |
| Role-based access (RBAC) | RBAC: yes | RBAC: yes |
| Multi-tenant | Multi-tenant: no | Multi-tenant: yes |
| Mobile app | Mobile app: no | Mobile app: no |
| Supported platforms | x86 Bare-metalVMware ESXiProxmoxHyper-VKVM | VMware vSphereKVMBare-metal ServersKubernetesAWSAzure |
| Compliance | Open Source ComplianceGPL/Apache-style | Common CriteriaFIPS 140-2SOC 2ISO 27001PCI-DSS |
| Integrations & coverage | ||
| Integrations | FreeBSDOpen-source packagesSyslog | VMware vSphereVMware Cloud FoundationKubernetesSplunkQRadar |
| Industries | Cross-industrySMBsHomelabSmall BusinessIT Admins | Global EnterpriseBankingTelecomHealthcareDefense |
| Regions | Global | GlobalUSEUAPAC |
| Vendor | ||
| Company | Netgate | VMware |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas, USA | Palo Alto, California, USA |
| Company size | 201-500 | 10,001+ |
| Founded | 2000 | 1998 |
Overview
What it is
pfSense CE
pfSense CE is an open source firewall & router software from Netgate. Learn how it supports firewall / NGFW, what features stand out and which Firewall tools compete.VMware NSX
Evaluating VMware NSX? See how this Network Security tool handles microsegmentation and distributed IDS/IPS, where it fits best and which alternatives to compare.Product type
pfSense CE
Open Source Firewall & Router SoftwareVMware NSX
Software-Defined Networking & MicrosegmentationBest for
pfSense CE
Cross-industry, SMBs, Homelab, Small Business, IT AdminsVMware NSX
Global Enterprise, Banking, Telecom, Healthcare, DefensePricing
Pricing model
pfSense CE
Contact VendorVMware NSX
Contact VendorFree trial
pfSense CE
Free trial: yesVMware NSX
Free trial: yesDeployment
Deployment options
pfSense CE
On-Premise
VMware NSX
Cloud
Deployment details
pfSense CE
Software; Open Source; Bare-metal; Bare-metal x86 hardware; Virtual machinesVMware NSX
Software; Hypervisor-Native; Multi-Cloud; Software; Hypervisor-native; Virtual appliancesData residency
pfSense CE
On-premises; Customer NetworkVMware NSX
On-premises Data Center; Multi-CloudKey features
What it offers
pfSense CE
- Stateful firewall
- OpenVPN/WireGuard
- Suricata/Snort
- DNS resolver
- DHCP server
- CARP HA
- Firewall / NGFW
- Network Security
VMware NSX
- Distributed hypervisor firewall
- Microsegmentation
- Virtual routing & switching
- Distributed IDS/IPS
- Container networking
- Network Security
- Firewall / NGFW
- Network Segmentation
Platform & access
API access
pfSense CE
API access: noVMware NSX
API access: yesSingle sign-on (SSO)
pfSense CE
SSO: noVMware NSX
SSO: yesRole-based access (RBAC)
pfSense CE
RBAC: yesVMware NSX
RBAC: yesMulti-tenant
pfSense CE
Multi-tenant: noVMware NSX
Multi-tenant: yesMobile app
pfSense CE
Mobile app: noVMware NSX
Mobile app: noSupported platforms
pfSense CE
x86 Bare-metalVMware ESXiProxmoxHyper-VKVM
VMware NSX
VMware vSphereKVMBare-metal ServersKubernetesAWSAzure
Compliance
pfSense CE
Open Source ComplianceGPL/Apache-style
VMware NSX
Common CriteriaFIPS 140-2SOC 2ISO 27001PCI-DSS
Integrations & coverage
Integrations
pfSense CE
FreeBSDOpen-source packagesSyslog
VMware NSX
VMware vSphereVMware Cloud FoundationKubernetesSplunkQRadar
Industries
pfSense CE
Cross-industrySMBsHomelabSmall BusinessIT Admins
VMware NSX
Global EnterpriseBankingTelecomHealthcareDefense
Regions
pfSense CE
Global
VMware NSX
GlobalUSEUAPAC
Vendor
Company
pfSense CE
NetgateVMware NSX
VMwareHeadquarters
pfSense CE
Austin, Texas, USAVMware NSX
Palo Alto, California, USACompany size
pfSense CE
201-500VMware NSX
10,001+Founded
pfSense CE
2000VMware NSX
1998