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# FortiGate SD-WAN vs VyOS Comparison - What are their main differences?

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FortiGate SD-WANVyOS[+ Add Product](#)

Pricing

**FortiGate SD-WAN**
No pricing available

**VyOS**
Free Trial

**Free** · VyOS For Good

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**FortiGate SD-WAN**
3 months

Based on 12 responses

**VyOS**
2 monthsFaster

Based on 16 responses

Return on Investment

**FortiGate SD-WAN**
17 months

Based on 12 responses

**VyOS**
9 months8 months sooner

Based on 13 responses

Perceived Cost

**FortiGate SD-WAN**
$$$$$

**VyOS**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**FortiGate SD-WAN**
11%

**VyOS**
40%29% more

**Pros & Cons**
from reviews

**FortiGate SD-WAN**
[
Management Ease (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-sd-wan/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2351761&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Affordable Pricing (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-sd-wan/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2391074&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Complex Implementation (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-sd-wan/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2351778&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Expensive (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-sd-wan/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2351784&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**VyOS**
[
Ease of Use (13)
](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1077062&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Features (8)
](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1077310&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Insufficient Documentation (7)
](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1077555&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Lack of Support (7)
](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1076569&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**FortiGate SD-WAN**
Not enough data

**VyOS**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_16497ed5ff1fb7e6d8a84128d4097bb1/eve.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

EVE

](https://www.g2.com/products/eve/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_e4ae003c4d9b2b7615189af32032183d/git.png "Product Avatar Image")

Git

](https://www.g2.com/products/git/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_99cb722fb43074ad0429bafaa469868a/ibm-terraform-formerly-hashicorp-terraform.png "Product Avatar Image")

IBM Terraform (formerly HashiCorp Terraform)

](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-terraform-formerly-hashicorp-terraform/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_6efb793010142d6b5c5fed9887fca3b7/mi-case.png "Product Avatar Image")

Mi-Case

](https://www.g2.com/products/mi-case/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/integrations)

Screenshots

**FortiGate SD-WAN**
No screenshot available

**VyOS**
 ![VyOS screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1313455/image.png)

**Ratings**
from reviews

Meets Requirements

**FortiGate SD-WAN**

8.8

8.840

**VyOS**

8.9

8.950

Ease of Use

**FortiGate SD-WAN**

9.0

9.040

**VyOS**

8.7

8.751

Ease of Setup

**FortiGate SD-WAN**

8.9

8.933

**VyOS**

8.8

8.847

Ease of Admin

**FortiGate SD-WAN**

9.3

9.332

**VyOS**

9.0

9.038

Quality of Support

**FortiGate SD-WAN**

8.8

8.840

**VyOS**

9.0

9.040

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**FortiGate SD-WAN**

8.9

8.932

**VyOS**

9.5

9.532

Product Direction (% positive)

**FortiGate SD-WAN**

10.0

10.040

**VyOS**

8.9

8.951

**Features**
ratings from reviews

WAN Edge Infrastructure

8.7

32

9.0

23

Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP)

9.2

11

Not enough data

Operating System

Not enough data

8.5

10

Business VPN

Not enough data

8.3

20

User Insights

**Reviewers' Company Size**

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
18.2%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
43.2%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
38.6%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
18.2%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
43.2%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
38.6%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
50.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
33.3%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
16.7%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
50.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
33.3%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
16.7%

**Reviewers' Industry**

[![FortiGate SD-WAN](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_802013de1efda091c669b4def8e81ea4/fortigate-sd-wan.jpg "FortiGate SD-WAN")](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-sd-wan/reviews)
FortiGate SD-WAN

Information Technology and Services
31.8%

Computer & Network Security
18.2%

Telecommunications
9.1%

Insurance
6.8%

Hospital & Health Care
6.8%

Other
27.3%

[![VyOS](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/3754360463667a448fedb7474654c51f/vyos.svg "VyOS")](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/reviews)
VyOS

Information Technology and Services
18.5%

Computer & Network Security
16.7%

Telecommunications
9.3%

Computer Software
9.3%

Higher Education
7.4%

Other
38.9%

FAQs

## FortiGate SD-WAN vs VyOS FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 15, 2026

### What is the difference between VyOS vs FortiGate SD-WAN?

FortiGate SD-WAN stands out for its higher G2 rating and stronger support for mid-market organizations, while VyOS is favored for its open-source flexibility and cost efficiency.

| [VyOS](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/reviews) | [FortiGate SD-WAN](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-sd-wan/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.5/5 (56 reviews) | 4.6/5 (57 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Mid-Market |
| 8.9 | 8.9 |
| 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Open Source Flexibility | Centralized Management & Security |

### How do the pricing models of VyOS and FortiGate SD-WAN compare?

VyOS is considered the stronger value by reviewers, with higher satisfaction on price and cost-related dimensions.

- **VyOS:** Reviewers consistently highlight VyOS's cost efficiency, open-source model, and the ability to avoid expensive proprietary licensing and hardware costs.
- **FortiGate SD-WAN:** Recent reviews note that FortiGate SD-WAN can be expensive, with higher licensing and subscription costs, but also mention its cost-effectiveness when integrated with the full Fortinet suite.
- **Switching reasons:** Several reviewers cite VyOS's elimination of vendor lock-in and recurring costs as a primary reason for choosing it over proprietary solutions.

### What are the best alternatives to VyOS and FortiGate SD-WAN?

The top three alternatives to VyOS and FortiGate SD-WAN are Cato SASE Cloud, Netgate pfSense, and CentOS.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [VyOS](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/reviews) | 4.5/5 (56 reviews) | Small-Business | Open-source, cost-efficient | Open Source Flexibility |
| [FortiGate SD-WAN](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-sd-wan/reviews) | 4.6/5 (57 reviews) | Mid-Market | Cost-effective with full suite, but high licensing costs | Centralized Management & Security |
| [Cato SASE Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/cato-networks-cato-sase-cloud/reviews) | 4.5/5 (83 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Cloud-native SASE platform |
| [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) | 4.7/5 (326 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Comprehensive firewall and routing features |
| [CentOS](https://www.g2.com/products/centos/reviews) | 4.4/5 (425 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Stability and reliability for server environments |

### Which Operating System features should I prioritize when comparing VyOS and FortiGate SD-WAN?

Buyers should prioritize cost efficiency, ease of use, support quality, flexibility, and security features when comparing VyOS and FortiGate SD-WAN.

- **Cost Efficiency:** VyOS is frequently cited for cost efficiency (3 all-time mentions), while FortiGate SD-WAN is noted for affordable pricing in recent reviews.
- **Ease of Use:** VyOS (9 all-time mentions) and FortiGate SD-WAN (1 all-time mention) both receive positive feedback, with FortiGate SD-WAN scoring slightly higher (9.0 vs 8.7).
- **Quality of Support:** VyOS scores 9.0, FortiGate SD-WAN scores 8.8, both with strong reviewer sentiment.
- **Flexibility:** VyOS is highlighted for open-source flexibility (7 all-time mentions), while FortiGate SD-WAN is praised for centralized management and deployment flexibility in recent reviews.
- **Security Features:** FortiGate SD-WAN is frequently cited for integrated security and application-aware traffic steering in recent reviews.

### What are the pros and cons of VyOS vs FortiGate SD-WAN?

VyOS's headline strength is open-source flexibility and cost efficiency, while FortiGate SD-WAN excels in centralized management and integrated security.

- **VyOS strengths:** Open source (7 all-time mentions), cost efficiency (3), powerful features (6), versatility (5), hardware support (4), and user-friendly CLI (4).
- **VyOS trade-offs:** Insufficient documentation (6), lack of support (6), learning curve (4), command-line only interface (3), and complex configuration for advanced use cases (3).
- **FortiGate SD-WAN strengths:** Centralized management, integrated security, reliability, scalability, and ease of setup (each cited in recent reviews).
- **FortiGate SD-WAN trade-offs:** Complex implementation (2), higher pricing (1), limited customization (1), and some advanced features requiring higher licenses or FortiOS versions.

### Is VyOS or FortiGate SD-WAN better for small businesses?

VyOS is the better fit for small businesses, supported by its largest segment and reviewer sentiment.

- **VyOS:** Small-Business is the largest segment, with reviewers highlighting its cost efficiency, flexibility, and suitability for small-scale deployments.
- **FortiGate SD-WAN:** Mid-Market is the largest segment, with reviewers noting its strengths in centralized management and security, but also mentioning higher costs and complexity for smaller organizations.

### Which Operating System platform has better integrations?

VyOS and FortiGate SD-WAN are at parity for integrations, with limited reviewer-cited third-party integration data for both.

- **VyOS:** EVE integration is mentioned in recent reviews, with 17 all-time mentions.
- **FortiGate SD-WAN:** No third-party integrations are cited in recent reviews.

### How do VyOS and FortiGate SD-WAN compare on customer support?

VyOS and FortiGate SD-WAN are at near-parity on Quality of Support, with VyOS at 9.0 and FortiGate SD-WAN at 8.8, a difference below the materiality threshold.

- **VyOS:** Reviewers frequently praise VyOS support responsiveness, especially for technical issues and bug fixes, with several citing fast resolution and helpful community support.
- **FortiGate SD-WAN:** Reviewers highlight FortiGate SD-WAN's customer support as responsive and effective, with positive experiences in ticket resolution and technical assistance.

### Which is easier to implement, VyOS or FortiGate SD-WAN?

VyOS and FortiGate SD-WAN are at parity on Ease of Setup, both scoring 8.9, with reviewers noting straightforward implementation for both platforms.

- **VyOS:** Reviewers describe VyOS as easy to install and configure for basic use cases, with a learning curve for advanced configurations due to its CLI-driven approach.
- **FortiGate SD-WAN:** Reviewers report that FortiGate SD-WAN is easy to set up, especially when using the full Fortinet suite, but note that advanced configurations can be complex and may require technical expertise.

### Which product has better Connectivity?

VyOS and FortiGate SD-WAN both deliver strong Connectivity, with reviewers citing robust routing, VPN, and WAN features for each.

- **VyOS:** Connectivity is a recurring theme, with reviewers highlighting its support for BGP, OSPF, VPNs (IPSec, OpenVPN, WireGuard), and reliable WAN routing; 3 all-time mentions for reliability and 4 for hardware support.
- **FortiGate SD-WAN:** Connectivity is frequently cited in recent reviews, with strengths in dynamic WAN routing, application-aware traffic steering, and high availability; reviewers also note its ability to manage multiple WAN links and optimize traffic flow.

Alternatives

**FortiGate SD-WAN Alternatives**

 ![Cato SASE Cloud](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/cdf75df7caeb59d6d89198f41767314b/cato-networks-cato-sase-cloud.svg "Cato SASE Cloud")

[
Cato SASE Cloud
](/products/cato-networks-cato-sase-cloud/reviews)

 ![Check Point SASE](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/64ff8da1b6e6ffabf4336ae2510e8e3e/check-point-sase.svg "Check Point SASE")

[
Check Point SASE
](/products/check-point-sase/reviews)

 ![Cisco Meraki](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_8fce4cdac434b53f25936f9cbf18d3d1/cisco-meraki.jpg "Cisco Meraki")

[
Cisco Meraki
](/products/cisco-meraki/reviews)

 ![Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_897b66f083df6301cb1e3bd3f104aa74/cisco-catalyst-sd-wan.png "Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN")

[
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
](/products/cisco-catalyst-sd-wan/reviews)

**VyOS Alternatives**

 ![Netgate pfSense](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/f4469990cc8ea128d45e4ab41bf45ef3/netgate-pfsense.svg "Netgate pfSense")

[
Netgate pfSense
](/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews)

 ![CentOS](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565579/centos.svg "CentOS")

[
CentOS
](/products/centos/reviews)

 ![Ubuntu](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/4b0cb18835a92aa4bb723c4d488c6400/ubuntu.svg "Ubuntu")

[
Ubuntu
](/products/ubuntu/reviews)

 ![Apple iOS](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565505/apple-ios.svg "Apple iOS")

[
iOS
](/products/apple-ios/reviews)

## FortiGate SD-WAN vs VyOS

When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found FortiGate SD-WAN easier to use, set up, and administer. However, reviewers preferred doing business with VyOS overall.

- Reviewers felt that VyOS meets the needs of their business better than FortiGate SD-WAN.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that VyOS is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of FortiGate SD-WAN over VyOS.