# F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) vs Policy Manager Comparison
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## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager excels in providing **real-time visibility** into network traffic and offers advanced security features like **intrusion prevention**. Users appreciate its ability to integrate seamlessly with existing systems, making it a solid choice for enterprises looking to enhance their network security.
- **Users say** that Policy Manager stands out for its ability to handle the complexities of modern networks, particularly in environments with multiple firewall brands. Reviewers highlight its **risk scoring and context analysis** capabilities, which help identify over-permissioning and potential attack paths, making it a valuable tool for compliance and risk management.
- **According to verified reviews** , F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager has received a lower overall satisfaction score compared to Policy Manager. While it offers robust features, some users have noted challenges with **configuration and setup** , which can impact the initial user experience.
- **Reviewers mention** that Policy Manager's automation of firewall rule management is particularly beneficial for organizations looking to enforce compliance and reduce risk across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Its ability to provide **continuous compliance monitoring** is frequently cited as a key advantage.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that while both products offer quality support, F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager has received slightly higher ratings in this area. Users appreciate the **responsive support** they receive, which can be crucial during critical network security incidents.
- **Users frequently appreciate** the ease of use of Policy Manager, with many noting its intuitive interface and straightforward setup process. This contrasts with F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager, where some users have expressed that the **setup can be more complex** , potentially leading to a steeper learning curve for new users.



| | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 3.9 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 15 | 28 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Enterprise (53.3% of reviews) | Enterprise (40.7% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)

**Not enough data**

### Policy Manager

Pros:
- Ease of Use (1 reviews)
- Easy Access (1 reviews)

Cons:
- Performance Issues (1 reviews)
- Slow Performance (1 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.8 (11 reviews) | 9.3 (24 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.3 (10 reviews) | 9.1 (25 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 7.2 (6 reviews) | 8.9 (20 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | 8.1 (7 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.5 (10 reviews) | 8.7 (21 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | 9.0 (7 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 7.9 (11 reviews) | 9.4 (19 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### Policy Manager

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Zero Trust Networking

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Policy Manager** | 8.4/10 | 9 |

#### Network Management

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Network Segmentation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Network Mapping** | Not enough data | 8.7 (5 reviews) | 
| **Security Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API/Integrations** | Not enough data | 8.1 (6 reviews) | 

#### Security

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Security Automation** | Not enough data | 8.3 (6 reviews) | 
| **Application Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workload Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Identity Management

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Adaptive Access Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Identity Scoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text Generation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Network Security Policy Management (NSPM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Policy Manager** | 9.5/10 | 18 |

#### Network Maintenance

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Policy Optimization** | Not enough data | 9.7 (11 reviews) | 
| **Risk Analysis** | Not enough data | 9.8 (8 reviews) | 
| **Auditing** | Not enough data | 9.7 (10 reviews) | 

#### Network Management

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Network Mapping** | Not enough data | 9.0 (7 reviews) | 
| **Compliance** | Not enough data | 10.0 (10 reviews) | 
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | 7.6 (9 reviews) | 
| **Console** | Not enough data | 9.2 (10 reviews) | 

#### Network Monitoring

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Network Monitoring** | Not enough data | 10.0 (6 reviews) | 
| **Configuration Monitoring** | Not enough data | 9.7 (6 reviews) | 
| **Change Management** | Not enough data | 9.8 (11 reviews) | 

### Cloud Compliance

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Policy Manager** | 8.7/10 | 5 |

#### Security

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Compliance Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anomoly Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Loss Prevention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cloud Gap Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Compliance

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Governance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Governance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Sensitive Data Compliance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Policy Enforcement** | Not enough data | 8.7 (5 reviews) | 
| **Auditing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Cloud Security

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Policy Manager** | N/A | N/A |

#### Cloud Visibility

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Discovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cloud Registry** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cloud Gap Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Security

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data loss Prevention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Auditing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Identity

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **SSO** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Governance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Network Security Policy Management (NSPM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/network-security-policy-management-nspm)


**Unique to Policy Manager (2):** [Zero Trust Networking Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/zero-trust-networking), [Cloud Compliance Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cloud-compliance)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) | Policy Manager | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 13.3% | 29.6% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 33.3% | 29.6% | 
| **Enterprise** | 53.3% | 40.7% | 

### By Industry

#### F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)

- **Computer Networking:** 13.3%
- **Translation and Localization:** 6.7%
- **Retail:** 6.7%
- **Public Relations and Communications:** 6.7%
- **Internet:** 6.7%
- **Insurance:** 6.7%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 6.7%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 6.7%
- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 6.7%
- **Government Administration:** 6.7%
- **Other:** 26.7%

#### Policy Manager

- **Information Technology and Services:** 15.4%
- **Financial Services:** 11.5%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 11.5%
- **Banking:** 11.5%
- **Commercial Real Estate:** 7.7%
- **Security and Investigations:** 3.8%
- **Retail:** 3.8%
- **Oil & Energy:** 3.8%
- **Internet:** 3.8%
- **Human Resources:** 3.8%
- **Other:** 23.1%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)

- [SolarWinds Observability](https://www.g2.com/products/solarwinds-worldwide-llc-solarwinds-observability/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (857 reviews)
- [Check Point Cloud Firewall (formerly CloudGuard Network Security)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-cloud-firewall-formerly-cloudguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (291 reviews)
- [Palo Alto Networks Panorama](https://www.g2.com/products/palo-alto-networks-panorama/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (48 reviews)
- [AlgoSec Horizon](https://www.g2.com/products/algosec-horizon/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (224 reviews)
- [Cisco DNA Center](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-cisco-dna-center/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (52 reviews)
- [Tufin Orchestration Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/tufin-tufin-orchestration-suite/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (98 reviews)
- [Portnox](https://www.g2.com/products/portnox/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (120 reviews)
- [Check Point Infinity Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-infinity-platform/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (117 reviews)
- [VMware NSX](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-nsx/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (80 reviews)
- [Trellix ePolicy Orchestrator](https://www.g2.com/products/trellix-epolicy-orchestrator/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (48 reviews)

### Alternatives to Policy Manager

- [AlgoSec Horizon](https://www.g2.com/products/algosec-horizon/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (224 reviews)
- [Okta](https://www.g2.com/products/okta/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1320 reviews)
- [Wiz](https://www.g2.com/products/wiz-wiz/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (826 reviews)
- [Vanta](https://www.g2.com/products/vanta/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (2637 reviews)
- [SolarWinds Observability](https://www.g2.com/products/solarwinds-worldwide-llc-solarwinds-observability/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (857 reviews)
- [Secureframe](https://www.g2.com/products/secureframe/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (808 reviews)
- [Scytale](https://www.g2.com/products/scytale-g2/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (686 reviews)
- [Cisco Duo](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-duo/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (517 reviews)
- [Sprinto](https://www.g2.com/products/sprinto-inc/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (1671 reviews)
- [Drata](https://www.g2.com/products/drata/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (1331 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM)

No discussions available for this product.

### Policy Manager

No discussions available for this product.

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**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/f5-big-ip-advanced-firewall-manager-afm-vs-firemon-policy-manager)