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Compare Netgate pfSense and SonicWall Next Generation Firewall 
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At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (68.7% of reviews)
Mid-Market (61.0% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
No pricing available
Netgate pfSense
Star Rating
(322)4.8 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (68.7% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Netgate pfSenseSonicWall Next Generation Firewall
Star Rating
(151)4.1 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (61.0% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about SonicWall Next Generation FirewallSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- Users report that SonicWall excels in its Firewall capabilities, achieving a high score of 9.2, which reviewers mention provides robust protection against threats. In contrast, Netgate pfSense, while still strong, has a slightly lower score of 9.1 for its Virtual Private Network (VPN) functionality, indicating a more specialized focus on secure connections.
- Reviewers mention that SonicWall's Quality of Support is rated at 8.0, which some users find lacking compared to Netgate pfSense's impressive score of 9.1. Users on G2 highlight that Netgate's support is more responsive and helpful, particularly for small businesses needing quick assistance.
- G2 users note that SonicWall's Ease of Setup is rated at 7.9, which some find cumbersome, while Netgate pfSense shines with a score of 8.8, indicating a more user-friendly installation process that is appreciated by those new to network management.
- Users say that SonicWall's Antivirus feature scores 8.5, but some reviewers express concerns about its effectiveness compared to Netgate pfSense, which has a lower score of 6.5. This suggests that users may find SonicWall's antivirus capabilities more reliable in real-world applications.
- Reviewers mention that SonicWall's Multi-Device Usage is rated at 9.2, which is particularly beneficial for mid-market companies with diverse device needs. In contrast, Netgate pfSense, while still strong, has a slightly lower score, indicating it may not be as versatile for larger device environments.
- Users on G2 report that SonicWall's Product Direction score of 7.1 reflects some uncertainty about future updates and features, while Netgate pfSense's score of 8.6 suggests a more positive outlook on ongoing development and enhancements, which is crucial for long-term investment in software.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Netgate pfSense
No pricing availableSonicWall Next Generation Firewall
No pricing availableFree Trial
Netgate pfSense
Free Trial is available
SonicWall Next Generation Firewall
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
9.4
257
8.8
126
Ease of Use
8.5
264
8.3
127
Ease of Setup
8.8
243
8.0
87
Ease of Admin
8.8
241
8.1
89
Quality of Support
9.1
205
8.0
120
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
9.1
195
8.2
86
Product Direction (% positive)
8.6
258
7.2
123
Features by Category
Security - Unified Threat Management
Not enough data
8.7
43
Not enough data
8.8
43
Not enough data
8.4
39
Not enough data
8.7
43
Not enough data
9.0
43
Not enough data
9.3
43
Administration
Not enough data
7.9
43
Not enough data
8.6
43
Administration
8.7
185
8.5
48
8.3
208
8.1
46
8.4
178
8.5
42
9.0
199
8.6
45
Agentic AI - Firewall Software
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Functionality
9.1
215
9.0
46
6.5
135
8.0
46
7.9
166
9.0
47
9.3
199
8.8
46
Monitoring
8.5
162
8.3
43
8.2
167
8.3
43
8.7
187
8.5
44
8.4
180
8.4
45
Generative AI
6.7
73
8.6
15
Artificial Intelligence - Firewall
Not enough data
Not enough data
Usage
9.2
145
Not enough data
9.5
161
Not enough data
9.3
164
Not enough data
9.4
155
Not enough data
7.9
109
Not enough data
8.5
112
Not enough data
8.5
107
Not enough data
Miscellaneous
8.2
108
Not enough data
9.3
145
Not enough data
8.2
97
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Netgate pfSense and SonicWall Next Generation Firewall are categorized as Firewall Software
Unique Categories
Netgate pfSense is categorized as Business VPN
SonicWall Next Generation Firewall is categorized as Unified Threat Management (UTM)
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Netgate pfSense
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
SonicWall Next Generation Firewall
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Information Technology and Services
20.4%
Computer & Network Security
10.5%
Computer Software
6.1%
Telecommunications
4.1%
Computer Networking
3.8%
Other
55.1%
Information Technology and Services
21.8%
Computer & Network Security
7.0%
Internet
4.2%
Pharmaceuticals
3.5%
Marketing and Advertising
3.5%
Other
59.9%
Alternatives
Discussions
Can pfSense be used as a router?
11 Comments
SG
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...Read more
What is pfSense used for?
7 Comments
RB
pfSense is a a preconfigured operating system and suite of tools for directing traffic between your LAN and the Internet.
The community version of pfSense...Read more
Is pfSense still free?
5 Comments
JK
Yes, it is. There is a Community Edition and a Plus edition. The Community Edition is free. The Plus edition is free for home lab and comes pre-installed...Read more
What is the part number of a license that includes anti-ransomware
1 Comment
AB
Hello Patricia- There is no part number. When you are going to get the Sonicwall Appliance you need to add a license for GAV . Usually it comes with 1, 2 and...Read more
What is SonicWall used for?
1 Comment
TA
With the help of SonicWall firewalls, you can see and manage and monitor every program running on your network. this extra control improves compliance and...Read more
What is SonicWall used for?
1 Comment
GS
Sonicwall has a wide range of products like Network firewalls, switches, and access points.
But Mostly SonicWALL is well known for its Firewall...Read more
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