# FortiGate-VM NGFW vs Netgate pfSense Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Netgate pfSense excels in **ease of configuration** , with users appreciating its straightforward setup process. One user highlighted how it allows for quick configurations, making it ideal for both teams and clients, while also offering a robust community for support.
- **Users say** that FortiGate-VM NGFW stands out for its **modern user interface** and **strong security features**. Reviewers noted that it simplifies management tasks, especially when dealing with multiple firewalls, making it a preferred choice for those managing complex environments.
- **According to verified reviews** , Netgate pfSense provides a high level of **control and flexibility** without overwhelming users. Many appreciate its ability to handle both basic and advanced networking needs, which is particularly beneficial for small businesses looking for a reliable solution.
- **Reviewers mention** that FortiGate-VM NGFW offers **reliable performance** and is lightweight to manage, which is crucial for organizations facing complex threats. Users have praised its capabilities in handling security without compromising system speed.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that while Netgate pfSense has a strong support system, FortiGate-VM NGFW's **support quality** is slightly lower, with users noting that it could improve in this area. However, FortiGate-VM NGFW still maintains a solid reputation for its overall functionality.
- **Users report** that both products have their strengths, but FortiGate-VM NGFW's **market presence** and recent review activity suggest a more active user base, which may indicate a more dynamic product evolution compared to Netgate pfSense, which has fewer recent reviews.



---
## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between Netgate pfSense vs FortiGate-VM NGFW?

Netgate pfSense stands out for its higher Quality of Support score and small-business focus, while FortiGate-VM NGFW is favored for its ease of use and features in mid-market environments.

| [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) | [FortiGate-VM NGFW](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| G2 Rating (reviews) | 4.7/5 (326 reviews) | 4.6/5 (251 reviews) |
| Largest Segment | Small-Business | Mid-Market |
| Ease of Setup score | 8.7 | 8.8 |
| Quality of Support score | 9.1 | 8.6 |
| Top Reviewer-Cited Strength | Ease of Use (3 all-time mentions) | Ease of Use (12 all-time mentions) |



### How do the pricing models of Netgate pfSense and FortiGate-VM NGFW compare?

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

- **Netgate pfSense:** Reviewers consistently highlight its affordability and strong feature set for the price, with many citing its open-source model as a key value driver.
- **FortiGate-VM NGFW:** In recent reviews, several reviewers note that licensing and feature add-ons can be expensive, and some mention that the cost increases with advanced features.
- **Switching reasons:** Reviewers mention switching to Netgate pfSense for its lower cost and open-source flexibility, while FortiGate-VM NGFW is chosen for advanced enterprise features despite higher pricing.



### What are the best alternatives to Netgate pfSense and FortiGate-VM NGFW?

The top three alternatives to Netgate pfSense and FortiGate-VM NGFW are Sophos Firewall, Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs), and WatchGuard Network Security.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) | 4.7/5 (326 reviews) | Small-Business | Reviewers highlight affordability and open-source value | Ease of Use (3 all-time mentions) |
| [FortiGate-VM NGFW](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews) | 4.6/5 (251 reviews) | Mid-Market | Reviewers note higher costs for advanced features | Ease of Use (12 all-time mentions) |
| [Sophos Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sophos-firewall/reviews) | 4.7/5 (869 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | — |
| [Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews) | 4.5/5 (595 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | — |
| [WatchGuard Network Security](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) | 4.7/5 (268 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | — |



### Which Firewall Software features should I prioritize when comparing Netgate pfSense and FortiGate-VM NGFW?

Buyers comparing Netgate pfSense and FortiGate-VM NGFW should prioritize ease of use, quality of support, integrations, firewall features, and cost/value.

- **Ease of Use:** Netgate pfSense scores 8.5; FortiGate-VM NGFW scores 8.9. FortiGate-VM NGFW has 12 all-time mentions for ease of use, while Netgate pfSense has 3.
- **Quality of Support:** Netgate pfSense scores 9.1; FortiGate-VM NGFW scores 8.6.
- **Integrations:** FortiGate-VM NGFW is frequently cited for integrations with FortiManager (11 all-time mentions) and FortiAnalyzer (9 all-time mentions); Netgate pfSense is cited for Tailscale integration.
- **Firewall Features:** Both products are praised for firewall efficiency, with FortiGate-VM NGFW having 6 all-time mentions for firewall efficiency and Netgate pfSense cited for advanced firewall protection in recent reviews.
- **Cost/Value:** Netgate pfSense is consistently highlighted for affordability and open-source value, while FortiGate-VM NGFW is noted for higher costs with advanced features.



### What are the pros and cons of Netgate pfSense vs FortiGate-VM NGFW?

Netgate pfSense's headline strength is its affordability and customizability, while FortiGate-VM NGFW is recognized for its ease of use and robust feature set.

- **Netgate pfSense strengths:** Affordability and open-source value, ease of use (3 all-time mentions), customizability (2 all-time mentions), easy setup (2 all-time mentions), strong security (2 all-time mentions), and high quality of support.
- **Netgate pfSense trade-offs:** Complex configuration (2 all-time mentions), difficult learning curve (2 all-time mentions), expertise required, high resource usage, and occasional integration issues.
- **FortiGate-VM NGFW strengths:** Ease of use (12 all-time mentions), robust features (10 all-time mentions), strong security (8 all-time mentions), protection (7 all-time mentions), centralized management (4 all-time mentions), and easy integrations (4 all-time mentions).
- **FortiGate-VM NGFW trade-offs:** Difficult learning curve (4 all-time mentions), higher cost for advanced features (4 all-time mentions), update issues (4 all-time mentions), and some reports of poor customer support (3 all-time mentions).



### Is Netgate pfSense or FortiGate-VM NGFW better for small businesses?

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

- **Netgate pfSense:** Small-Business is the largest segment, with reviewers consistently highlighting its affordability, flexibility, and suitability for small business and lab environments.
- **FortiGate-VM NGFW:** Mid-Market is the largest segment, with reviewers noting its strengths in enterprise and hybrid cloud environments, but also mentioning higher costs and complexity for smaller organizations.



### Which Firewall Software platform has better integrations?

FortiGate-VM NGFW is favored by reviewers for integrations, especially within the Fortinet ecosystem.

- **Netgate pfSense:** Reviewers mention integration with Tailscale in recent reviews.
- **FortiGate-VM NGFW:** Integrations with FortiManager (11 all-time mentions) and FortiAnalyzer (9 all-time mentions) are frequently cited, along with strong integration across the Fortinet Security Fabric.



### How do Netgate pfSense and FortiGate-VM NGFW compare on customer support?

Netgate pfSense leads on Quality of Support with a 0.5-point advantage over FortiGate-VM NGFW (9.1 vs 8.6).

- **Netgate pfSense:** Reviewers consistently praise responsive and knowledgeable support, with several citing quick resolution and helpful documentation.
- **FortiGate-VM NGFW:** Reviewers note generally good support but mention occasional delays, complex escalation processes, and some dissatisfaction with support responsiveness.



### Which is easier to implement, Netgate pfSense or FortiGate-VM NGFW?

Netgate pfSense and FortiGate-VM NGFW are at parity on Ease of Setup, with scores of 8.7 and 8.8 respectively.

- **Netgate pfSense:** Reviewers describe straightforward setup, especially for those with networking experience, but note a learning curve for advanced features.
- **FortiGate-VM NGFW:** Reviewers highlight easy deployment in virtual and cloud environments, with some mentioning that initial configuration can be complex for new users but overall setup is efficient.



### Which product has better Firewall?

Both Netgate pfSense and FortiGate-VM NGFW are highly rated for their firewall capabilities, with FortiGate-VM NGFW having more all-time mentions for firewall efficiency.

- **Netgate pfSense:** Meets Requirements score of 9.4, firewall features praised in recent reviews, and cited for advanced firewall protection and custom rules.
- **FortiGate-VM NGFW:** Meets Requirements score of 9.1, 6 all-time mentions for firewall efficiency, and reviewers highlight strong firewall performance, deep inspection, and unified security features.



| | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.6 out of 5 | 4.7 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 296 | 326 | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### FortiGate-VM NGFW

Pros:
- Ease of Use (12 reviews)
- Features (10 reviews)

Cons:
- Difficult Learning Curve (4 reviews)
- Expensive (4 reviews)

### Netgate pfSense

Pros:
- Ease of Use (3 reviews)
- Customizability (2 reviews)

Cons:
- Complex Configuration (2 reviews)
- Difficult Learning Curve (2 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 9.0 (227 reviews) | 9.4 (261 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.9 (232 reviews) | 8.5 (268 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.7 (198 reviews) | 8.7 (247 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 9.0 (181 reviews) | 8.8 (243 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.6 (225 reviews) | 9.1 (209 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.9 (177 reviews) | 9.2 (197 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 9.5 (222 reviews) | 8.6 (262 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### FortiGate-VM NGFW

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Netgate pfSense

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Network Security

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | N/A | N/A |
| **Netgate pfSense** | N/A | N/A |

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Penetration Testing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Trail** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anti Virus** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Scanning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remote Monitoring & Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **VPN** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Behavior Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SSL Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Patch Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Event Logs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anomaly/Malware Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **DNS Leak Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Server Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Network Provisioning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Alerts** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Auditing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Intrusion Detection System** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Visualization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Two-Factor Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Firewalls** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anti Spam** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Threat Response** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Alerts** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Loss Prevention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Single Sign On** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Intrusion Prevention System** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Login** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Unified Threat Management (UTM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | 9.3/10 | 149 |
| **Netgate pfSense** | N/A | N/A |

#### Security - Unified Threat Management

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Antivirus** | 9.3 (103 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Whitelists** | 9.4 (109 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Antispam Filtering** | 9.0 (97 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Content Filtering** | 9.2 (103 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Web Filtering** | 9.6 (110 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Firewall** | 9.8 (120 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Reports & Analytics** | 8.8 (101 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Dashboard** | 9.4 (105 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Data Center Security Solutions

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | 9.4/10 | 98 |
| **Netgate pfSense** | N/A | N/A |

#### Prevention

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Intrusion Prevention** | 9.5 (68 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Firewall** | 9.5 (78 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Encryption** | 9.2 (61 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Security hardening** | 9.3 (60 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Cloud Data Protection** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 

#### Detection

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Intrusion Detection** | 9.3 (62 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Security Monitoring** | 9.5 (61 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Anti-Malware / Malware Detection** | 9.3 (59 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Compliance** | 9.4 (57 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Administration Console -** | 9.5 (64 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **API / integrations** | 9.0 (56 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Firewall Software

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | 9.0/10 | 160 |
| **Netgate pfSense** | 8.3/10 | 244 |

#### Administration

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Policy Management** | 9.2 (120 reviews) | 8.8 (188 reviews) | 
| **Logging and Reporting** | 8.8 (114 reviews) | 8.3 (209 reviews) | 
| **Application Gateway** | 9.2 (93 reviews) | 8.4 (179 reviews) | 
| **Concurrent Sessions** | 9.3 (98 reviews) | 9.0 (200 reviews) | 
| **Uptime Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Web Traffic Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Management** | 10.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Incident Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remote Monitoring & Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Firewall Software

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | 6.3 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI/Machine Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Functionality

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Virtual Private Network (VPN)** | 9.3 (118 reviews) | 9.1 (218 reviews) | 
| **Antivirus** | 9.1 (98 reviews) | 6.6 (136 reviews) | 
| **URL Filtering** | 9.4 (110 reviews) | 7.9 (167 reviews) | 
| **Availability** | 9.6 (104 reviews) | 9.3 (200 reviews) | 
| **IP Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Content Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Monitoring

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Load Balancing** | 9.2 (95 reviews) | 8.5 (163 reviews) | 
| **Continuous Analysis** | 9.0 (99 reviews) | 8.2 (168 reviews) | 
| **Intrusion Prevention** | 9.2 (116 reviews) | 8.7 (188 reviews) | 
| **Intrusion Detection** | 9.3 (101 reviews) | 8.4 (181 reviews) | 
| **Intrusion Detection System** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Intrusion Prevention System** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | 8.2 (20 reviews) | 6.7 (73 reviews) | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Artificial Intelligence - Firewall

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Firewall** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Spam Blocker** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Escalation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Role-Based Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Network Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Visual Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anti Spam** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Hardware Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Summary Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Server Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Two-Factor Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Log Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Location** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SSL Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Behavior Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Event Logs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Scanning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Alerts** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Single Sign On** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Dashboard Creation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Business VPN

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | N/A | N/A |
| **Netgate pfSense** | 8.8/10 | 181 |

#### Usage

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multi-Device Usage** | Not enough data | 9.2 (146 reviews) | 
| **Multiple Concurrent Connections** | Not enough data | 9.5 (162 reviews) | 
| **Protocol Choices** | Not enough data | 9.3 (165 reviews) | 
| **Unlimited Bandwidth** | Not enough data | 9.4 (156 reviews) | 
| **No Log Storage** | Not enough data | 7.9 (110 reviews) | 
| **Varied Server Locations** | Not enough data | 8.5 (113 reviews) | 
| **Unlimited Server Switches** | Not enough data | 8.5 (108 reviews) | 
| **Event Logs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Miscellaneous

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Live Customer Support** | Not enough data | 8.1 (109 reviews) | 
| **Open Source Code** | Not enough data | 9.3 (147 reviews) | 
| **Multiple Payment Methods** | Not enough data | 8.2 (97 reviews) | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Two-Factor Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **DNS Leak Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Web Inspection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Uptime Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Language** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remote Monitoring & Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Auditing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remote Access/Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Kill Switch** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **VPN Tunneling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **No-log VPN** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Encryption** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Firewalls** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Browsing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile Alerts** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anonymous Browsing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Single Sign On** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Login** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anomaly/Malware Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Rules-Based Workflow** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Ad Blocker** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SSL Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **IP Masking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Geo-spoofing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Storage Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Performance Testing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Data Security

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | N/A | N/A |
| **Netgate pfSense** | N/A | N/A |

#### Compliance

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Access Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **At-Risk Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **DLP Configuration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Sensitive Data Compliance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Database Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Deduplication ** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Backup** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API / integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Security 

| Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multi-Factor Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Transport** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Types** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Firewall Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/firewall-software)

**Unique to FortiGate-VM NGFW (2):** [Data Center Security Solutions](https://www.g2.com/categories/data-center-security-solutions), [Unified Threat Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/unified-threat-management-utm)

**Unique to Netgate pfSense (1):** [Business VPN Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-vpn)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Netgate pfSense | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 24.9% | 68.5% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 54.2% | 25.2% | 
| **Enterprise** | 20.9% | 6.3% | 

### By Industry

#### FortiGate-VM NGFW

- **Information Technology and Services:** 22.8%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 13.0%
- **Telecommunications:** 9.1%
- **Financial Services:** 6.7%
- **Computer Software:** 6.3%
- **Computer Networking:** 5.1%
- **Education Management:** 2.4%
- **Construction:** 2.4%
- **Retail:** 2.0%
- **Automotive:** 2.0%
- **Other:** 28.3%

#### Netgate pfSense

- **Information Technology and Services:** 20.1%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 11.0%
- **Computer Software:** 6.3%
- **Telecommunications:** 4.1%
- **Computer Networking:** 3.8%
- **Non-Profit Organization Management:** 3.5%
- **Education Management:** 3.1%
- **Government Administration:** 3.1%
- **Higher Education:** 2.8%
- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 1.9%
- **Other:** 40.3%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to FortiGate-VM NGFW

- [Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (597 reviews)
- [WatchGuard Network Security](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (266 reviews)
- [SonicWall Next Generation Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sonicwall-next-generation-firewall/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (154 reviews)
- [Barracuda CloudGen Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/barracuda-cloudgen-firewall/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (54 reviews)
- [Juniper Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/juniper-firewall/reviews) — 3.9/5 stars (31 reviews)
- [Huawei Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/huawei-firewall/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (15 reviews)
- [KerioControl](https://www.g2.com/products/keriocontrol/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (10 reviews)
- [Sophos Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sophos-firewall/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (873 reviews)
- [Zscaler Internet Access](https://www.g2.com/products/zscaler-internet-access/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (322 reviews)
- [Cisco Meraki](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-meraki/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (220 reviews)

### Alternatives to Netgate pfSense

- [Sophos Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sophos-firewall/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (873 reviews)
- [Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (597 reviews)
- [WatchGuard Network Security](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (266 reviews)
- [Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.g2.com/products/palo-alto-networks-next-generation-firewalls/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (171 reviews)
- [SonicWall Next Generation Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sonicwall-next-generation-firewall/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (154 reviews)
- [Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv)](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-secure-firewall-threat-defense-virtual-formerly-ngfwv/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (93 reviews)
- [CrowdSec](https://www.g2.com/products/crowdsec/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (88 reviews)
- [GlassWire Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/glasswire-firewall/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (50 reviews)
- [Comodo Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/comodo-firewall/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (38 reviews)
- [Arista NG Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/arista-ng-firewall/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (18 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### FortiGate-VM NGFW

- Title: [What is FortiGate-VM used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-fortigate-vm-used-for) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "FortiGate-VM is Fortinet's virtual appliance version of the FortiGate firewall, designed for deployment in virtualized environments. It serves as a..."
- Title: [What is FortiGate NGFW used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-fortigate-ngfw-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "It is a next generation firewall which has capability to do layer 7 insapaction "
- Title: [Is FortiGate and fortinet the same?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-fortigate-and-fortinet-the-same) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Fortinet is the company and FortiGate is their Firewall name :)"
- Title: [What three key additional security features do next generation firewalls provide that legacy firewalls do not?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-three-key-additional-security-features-do-next-generation-firewalls-provide-that-legacy-firewalls-do-not) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "with FortiGate has many Features including SD-WAN, SSL-VPN, Video Filtering, integrated with Sandbox...."

### Netgate pfSense

- Title: [Can pfSense be used as a router?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/can-pfsense-be-used-as-a-router) — 11 comments
  > **Top comment:** "pfSense is an open-source firewall and router software distribution based on FreeBSD. It supports NAT and different types of interfaces (WAN, LAN, DMZ). It..."
- Title: [What is pfSense used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-pfsense-used-for) — 7 comments
  > **Top comment:** "router, firewall, vpn server"
- Title: [Is pfSense still free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-pfsense-still-free) — 5 comments
  > **Top comment:** "yes its available in both free and paid version "
- Title: [What is pfSense software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-pfsense-software) — 4 comments
  > **Top comment:** "It's a firewall/firewall."
- Title: [Is pfSense any good?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-pfsense-any-good) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Yes, it's excellent "

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/fortigate-vm-ngfw-vs-netgate-pfsense)