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 | WatchGuard Firebox by WatchGuard 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. | WatchGuard Firebox delivers IPS, SD-WAN and gateway antivirus for firewall / NGFW. Explore its Firewall capabilities, deployment choices and top competitors. |
| Product type | Open Source Firewall & Router Software | Next-Generation Firewall Appliance |
| Best for | Cross-industry, SMBs, Homelab, Small Business, IT Admins | Cross-industry, Retail, Branch Offices, Enterprise |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Contact Vendor | Contact Vendor |
| Free trial | Free trial: yes | Free trial: no |
| Deployment | ||
| Deployment options | On-Premise | CloudOn-Premise |
| Deployment details | Software; Open Source; Bare-metal; Bare-metal x86 hardware; Virtual machines | Hardware Appliance; Virtual; Cloud; Physical appliance; Virtual appliance; AWS; Azure |
| Data residency | On-premises; Customer Network | Global; US; EU |
| 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 | Network perimeterBranch officeCloud |
| Compliance | Open Source ComplianceGPL/Apache-style | FIPS 140-2Common CriteriaPCI-DSS |
| Integrations & coverage | ||
| Integrations | FreeBSDOpen-source packagesSyslog | WatchGuard CloudDimensionActive DirectorySyslog |
| Industries | Cross-industrySMBsHomelabSmall BusinessIT Admins | Cross-industryRetailBranch OfficesEnterprise |
| Regions | Global | Global |
| Vendor | ||
| Company | Netgate | WatchGuard |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas, USA | Seattle, Washington, USA |
| Company size | 201-500 | 1,001-5,000 |
| Founded | 2000 | 1996 |
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.WatchGuard Firebox
WatchGuard Firebox delivers IPS, SD-WAN and gateway antivirus for firewall / NGFW. Explore its Firewall capabilities, deployment choices and top competitors.Product type
pfSense CE
Open Source Firewall & Router SoftwareWatchGuard Firebox
Next-Generation Firewall ApplianceBest for
pfSense CE
Cross-industry, SMBs, Homelab, Small Business, IT AdminsWatchGuard Firebox
Cross-industry, Retail, Branch Offices, EnterprisePricing
Pricing model
pfSense CE
Contact VendorWatchGuard Firebox
Contact VendorFree trial
pfSense CE
Free trial: yesWatchGuard Firebox
Free trial: noDeployment
Deployment options
pfSense CE
WatchGuard Firebox
Deployment details
pfSense CE
Software; Open Source; Bare-metal; Bare-metal x86 hardware; Virtual machinesWatchGuard Firebox
Hardware Appliance; Virtual; Cloud; Physical appliance; Virtual appliance; AWS; AzureData residency
pfSense CE
On-premises; Customer NetworkWatchGuard Firebox
Global; US; EUKey features
What it offers
pfSense CE
- Stateful firewall
- OpenVPN/WireGuard
- Suricata/Snort
- DNS resolver
- DHCP server
- CARP HA
- Firewall / NGFW
- Network Security
WatchGuard Firebox
- Stateful packet inspection
- Deep packet inspection
- IPS
- Gateway antivirus
- Application control
- SD-WAN
- Firewall / NGFW
- Network Security
Platform & access
API access
pfSense CE
API access: noWatchGuard Firebox
API access: yesSingle sign-on (SSO)
pfSense CE
SSO: noWatchGuard Firebox
SSO: yesRole-based access (RBAC)
pfSense CE
RBAC: yesWatchGuard Firebox
RBAC: yesMulti-tenant
pfSense CE
Multi-tenant: noWatchGuard Firebox
Multi-tenant: yesMobile app
pfSense CE
Mobile app: noWatchGuard Firebox
Mobile app: noSupported platforms
pfSense CE
WatchGuard Firebox
Compliance
pfSense CE
WatchGuard Firebox
Integrations & coverage
Integrations
pfSense CE
WatchGuard Firebox
Industries
pfSense CE
WatchGuard Firebox
Regions
pfSense CE
WatchGuard Firebox
Vendor
Company
pfSense CE
NetgateWatchGuard Firebox
WatchGuardHeadquarters
pfSense CE
Austin, Texas, USAWatchGuard Firebox
Seattle, Washington, USACompany size
pfSense CE
201-500WatchGuard Firebox
1,001-5,000Founded
pfSense CE
2000WatchGuard Firebox
1996