# FortiGate-VM NGFW vs Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW Comparison --- ## AI Generated Summary - **G2 reviewers report** that FortiGate-VM NGFW excels in **ease of use** , with users appreciating its straightforward setup and modern user interface. One user noted, "It’s easy to appreciate FortiGate‑VM NGFW for its straightforward setup, strong security features, and reliable performance." - **Users say** that Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW provides excellent **visibility and control** over network traffic. Reviewers highlighted its simple dashboard that consolidates a lot of information, making it easier to monitor active applications and users. - **According to verified reviews** , FortiGate-VM NGFW is favored for its **management capabilities** , especially when handling multiple firewalls. Users mentioned, "I much prefer dealing with cluster FW management through them," indicating a preference for its intuitive management features. - **Reviewers mention** that Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW offers strong **threat prevention capabilities** , with users valuing its comprehensive security features. One user stated, "I value the visibility, ease of policy enforcement, and comprehensive threat prevention capabilities," showcasing its effectiveness in protecting networks. - **G2 reviewers report** that FortiGate-VM NGFW has a higher overall satisfaction score, reflecting its **reliable performance** and user-friendly design. Users have noted that it feels "lightweight to manage yet powerful enough to handle complex threats without slowing things down." - **Users say** that while Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW is effective, it sometimes lacks the **intuitive setup** that FortiGate-VM NGFW offers. Some users expressed challenges with configuration, indicating that FortiGate-VM may be a better choice for those prioritizing ease of implementation. | | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Star Rating** | 4.6 out of 5 | 4.3 out of 5 | | **Total Reviews** | 248 | 141 | | **Largest Market Segment** | Mid-Market (57.3% of reviews) | Mid-Market (38.1% of reviews) | | **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | --- ## Top Pros & Cons ### FortiGate-VM NGFW Pros: - Ease of Use (12 reviews) - Features (10 reviews) Cons: - Difficult Learning Curve (4 reviews) - Expensive (4 reviews) ### Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW Pros: - Threat Protection (13 reviews) - Deployment Ease (10 reviews) Cons: - Expensive (14 reviews) - Complex Configuration (8 reviews) --- ## Ratings Comparison | Rating | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Meets Requirements** | 9.1 (193 reviews) | 8.8 (129 reviews) | | **Ease of Use** | 8.9 (196 reviews) | 8.2 (128 reviews) | | **Ease of Setup** | 8.9 (162 reviews) | 8.1 (119 reviews) | | **Ease of Admin** | 9.1 (148 reviews) | 8.2 (86 reviews) | | **Quality of Support** | 8.6 (191 reviews) | 8.3 (117 reviews) | | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 9.1 (144 reviews) | 8.6 (81 reviews) | | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 9.5 (192 reviews) | 9.1 (123 reviews) | --- ## Pricing ### FortiGate-VM NGFW #### Entry-Level Pricing No pricing available #### Free Trial Yes ### Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW #### 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 | | **Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW** | N/A | N/A | #### Additional Functionality | Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **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 | 124 | | **Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW** | N/A | N/A | #### Security - Unified Threat Management | Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Antivirus** | 9.3 (97 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Whitelists** | 9.4 (99 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Antispam Filtering** | 9.0 (90 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Content Filtering** | 9.2 (96 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Web Filtering** | 9.7 (98 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Firewall** | 9.7 (104 reviews) | Not enough data | #### Administration | Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Reports & Analytics** | 8.7 (97 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Dashboard** | 9.4 (99 reviews) | Not enough data | ### Data Center Security Solutions | Product | Score | Reviews | |---|---|---| | **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | 9.4/10 | 77 | | **Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW** | N/A | N/A | #### Prevention | Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Intrusion Prevention** | 9.6 (59 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Firewall** | 9.5 (63 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Encryption** | 9.2 (57 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Security hardening** | 9.4 (56 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Cloud Data Protection** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | #### Detection | Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Intrusion Detection** | 9.4 (59 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Security Monitoring** | 9.4 (54 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Anti-Malware / Malware Detection** | 9.3 (55 reviews) | Not enough data | #### Administration | Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Compliance** | 9.4 (55 reviews) | Not enough data | | **Administration Console -** | 9.4 (59 reviews) | Not enough data | | **API / integrations** | 9.0 (52 reviews) | Not enough data | ### Firewall Software | Product | Score | Reviews | |---|---|---| | **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | 9.0/10 | 131 | | **Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW** | 8.5/10 | 125 | #### Administration | Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Policy Management** | 9.2 (105 reviews) | 8.7 (117 reviews) | | **Logging and Reporting** | 8.9 (104 reviews) | 8.5 (107 reviews) | | **Application Gateway** | 9.2 (93 reviews) | 8.4 (101 reviews) | | **Concurrent Sessions** | 9.3 (99 reviews) | 8.2 (101 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** | Not enough data | 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 | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | 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 | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Virtual Private Network (VPN)** | 9.4 (106 reviews) | 8.6 (102 reviews) | | **Antivirus** | 9.0 (98 reviews) | 8.5 (105 reviews) | | **URL Filtering** | 9.4 (102 reviews) | 8.7 (104 reviews) | | **Availability** | 9.5 (99 reviews) | 8.6 (100 reviews) | | **IP Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | | **Content Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | #### Monitoring | Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Load Balancing** | 9.2 (93 reviews) | 8.2 (99 reviews) | | **Continuous Analysis** | 9.0 (94 reviews) | 8.5 (101 reviews) | | **Intrusion Prevention** | 9.2 (110 reviews) | 8.8 (109 reviews) | | **Intrusion Detection** | 9.3 (99 reviews) | 8.8 (99 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 | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **AI Text Summarization** | 8.2 (20 reviews) | 7.5 (92 reviews) | | **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | #### Artificial Intelligence - Firewall | Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **AI Firewall** | 7.7 (5 reviews) | Feature Not Available | #### Additional Functionality | Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **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 | ### Data Security | Product | Score | Reviews | |---|---|---| | **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | N/A | N/A | | **Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW** | N/A | N/A | #### Compliance | Feature | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **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 | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **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 | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **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) --- ## Reviewer Demographics ### By Company Size | Segment | FortiGate-VM NGFW | Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW | |---|---|---| | **Small-Business** | 20.3% | 28.8% | | **Mid-Market** | 57.3% | 38.1% | | **Enterprise** | 22.5% | 33.1% | ### By Industry #### FortiGate-VM NGFW - **Information Technology and Services:** 22.9% - **Computer & Network Security:** 11.9% - **Telecommunications:** 9.6% - **Financial Services:** 7.3% - **Computer Software:** 6.4% - **Computer Networking:** 4.6% - **Education Management:** 2.8% - **Construction:** 2.3% - **Automotive:** 2.3% - **Retail:** 1.8% - **Other:** 28.0% #### Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW - **Computer & Network Security:** 18.2% - **Information Technology and Services:** 16.7% - **Banking:** 6.8% - **Telecommunications:** 5.3% - **Financial Services:** 5.3% - **Computer Software:** 4.5% - **Internet:** 3.8% - **Consulting:** 3.0% - **Computer Networking:** 3.0% - **Hospital & Health Care:** 3.0% - **Other:** 30.3% --- ## 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 (593 reviews) - [WatchGuard Network Security](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (268 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 (52 reviews) - [Juniper Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/juniper-firewall/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (32 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 (869 reviews) - [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (326 reviews) - [Cisco Meraki](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-meraki/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (217 reviews) ### Alternatives to Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW - [Azure Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-firewall/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (31 reviews) - [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (326 reviews) - [Sophos Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sophos-firewall/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (869 reviews) - [Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (593 reviews) - [ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/threatlocker-zero-trust-platform/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (514 reviews) - [Zscaler Internet Access](https://www.g2.com/products/zscaler-internet-access/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (277 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 (294 reviews) - [WatchGuard Network Security](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (268 reviews) - [SonicWall Next Generation Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sonicwall-next-generation-firewall/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (154 reviews) - [NordLayer](https://www.g2.com/products/nordlayer/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (127 reviews) --- ## Top Discussions ### FortiGate-VM NGFW - Title: [What is FortiGate-VM used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-fortigate-vm-used-for) — 2 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...." ### Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW No discussions available for this product. --- **Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/fortigate-vm-ngfw-vs-palo-alto-networks-cloud-ngfw)