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# Netgate pfSense vs Squid Comparison - What are their main differences?

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Netgate pfSenseSquid[+ Add Product](#)

Pricing

**Netgate pfSense**
Free Trial

No pricing available

**Squid**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Netgate pfSense**
1 month

Based on 136 responses

**Squid**
Not enough reviews yet

Return on Investment

**Netgate pfSense**
12 months

Based on 122 responses

**Squid**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**Netgate pfSense**
$$$$$

**Squid**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Netgate pfSense**
7%

**Squid**
Not enough reviews yet

**Pros & Cons**
from reviews

**Netgate pfSense**
[
Ease of Use (3)
](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1484436&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Customizability (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1484584&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Complex Configuration (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1485139&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Difficult Learning Curve (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1484656&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**Squid**
Not enough data

Integrations

**Netgate pfSense**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b3390b4cc3d92e87d570895f7358c003/aws-lambda.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

AWS Lambda

](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-lambda/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_dae0031c2ae3821616be108bd707a35f/sophos-firewall.png "Product Avatar Image")

Sophos Firewall

](https://www.g2.com/products/sophos-firewall/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_ec16874dda71514576a24845df4c8236/tailscale.png "Product Avatar Image")

Tailscale

](https://www.g2.com/products/tailscale/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/integrations)

**Squid**
Not enough data

**Ratings**
from reviews

Meets Requirements

**Netgate pfSense**

9.4

9.4261

**Squid**

8.6

8.612

Ease of Use

**Netgate pfSense**

8.5

8.5268

**Squid**

7.9

7.912

Ease of Setup

**Netgate pfSense**

8.7

8.7247

**Squid**

6.0

6.07

Ease of Admin

**Netgate pfSense**

8.8

8.8243

**Squid**

7.9

7.97

Quality of Support

**Netgate pfSense**

9.1

9.1209

**Squid**

7.3

7.310

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Netgate pfSense**

9.2

9.2197

**Squid**

7.8

7.86

Product Direction (% positive)

**Netgate pfSense**

8.6

8.6262

**Squid**

10.0

10.012

**Features**
ratings from reviews

Firewall Software[Hide 62 FeaturesShow 62 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.3

244

Not enough data

Administration

Policy Management

8.8(won by default)

188

Not enough data

Logging and Reporting

8.3(won by default)

209

Not enough data

Application Gateway

8.4(won by default)

179

Not enough data

Concurrent Sessions

9.0(won by default)

200

Not enough data

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

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

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

9.1(won by default)

218

Not enough data

Antivirus

6.6(won by default)

136

Not enough data

URL Filtering

7.9(won by default)

167

Not enough data

Availability

9.3(won by default)

200

Not enough data

IP Filtering

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Filtering

Not enough data

Not enough data

Monitoring

Load Balancing

8.5(won by default)

163

Not enough data

Continuous Analysis

8.2(won by default)

168

Not enough data

Intrusion Prevention

8.7(won by default)

188

Not enough data

Intrusion Detection

8.4(won by default)

181

Not enough data

Intrusion Detection System

Not enough data

Not enough data

Intrusion Prevention System

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

AI Text Summarization

6.7(won by default)

73

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Artificial Intelligence - Firewall

AI Firewall

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

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[Hide 50 FeaturesShow 50 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.8

181

Not enough data

Usage

Multi-Device Usage

9.2(won by default)

146

Not enough data

Multiple Concurrent Connections

9.5(won by default)

162

Not enough data

Protocol Choices

9.3(won by default)

165

Not enough data

Unlimited Bandwidth

9.4(won by default)

156

Not enough data

No Log Storage

7.9(won by default)

110

Not enough data

Varied Server Locations

8.5(won by default)

113

Not enough data

Unlimited Server Switches

8.5(won by default)

108

Not enough data

Event Logs

Not enough data

Not enough data

Miscellaneous

Live Customer Support

8.1(won by default)

109

Not enough data

Open Source Code

9.3(won by default)

147

Not enough data

Multiple Payment Methods

8.2(won by default)

97

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

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

Show 4 feature categories with incomplete data

Network Security[Hide 40 FeaturesShow 40 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

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

AWS Marketplace[Hide 3 FeaturesShow 3 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Agentic AI - AWS Marketplace

Autonomous Task Execution

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-step Planning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Cross-system Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Application Server[Hide 24 FeaturesShow 24 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Management

Data Redundancy

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data exchange

Not enough data

Not enough data

Server Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version and Profile Support

Not enough data

Not enough data

Web-based frameworks

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Features

Centralized offering

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-time visibility

Not enough data

Not enough data

Security updates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Modernization

Cloud deployment

Not enough data

Not enough data

Microservices development

Not enough data

Not enough data

On-premises support

Not enough data

Not enough data

Modular architecture

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Performance Improvement - Application Server

AI Application Scaling

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Error Prediction

Not enough data

Not enough data

Intelligent Resource Forecasting

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Intrusion Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Anomaly Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Agentic AI - Application Server

Autonomous Task Execution

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-step Planning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Cross-system Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Adaptive Learning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Natural Language Interaction

Not enough data

Not enough data

Proactive Assistance

Not enough data

Not enough data

Decision Making

Not enough data

Not enough data

Web Server Accelerator[Hide 8 FeaturesShow 8 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Performance

Content Delivery Acceleration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Caching and Prefetching

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Compression

Not enough data

Not enough data

Load Balancing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Server Clustering

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Monitoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Security

SSL/TLS Processing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Adminstration Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![Netgate pfSense](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/f4469990cc8ea128d45e4ab41bf45ef3/netgate-pfsense.svg "Netgate pfSense")](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews)

Netgate pfSense

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

68.5%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

25.2%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

6.3%

[![Squid](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_dcc86c6b4313446c98e01c98b1c40d54/squid.jpg "Squid")](https://www.g2.com/products/squid/reviews)

Squid

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

50.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

37.5%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

12.5%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

68.5%

50.0%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

25.2%

37.5%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

6.3%

12.5%

Reviewers' Industry

[![Netgate pfSense](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/f4469990cc8ea128d45e4ab41bf45ef3/netgate-pfsense.svg "Netgate pfSense")](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews)
Netgate pfSense

Information Technology and Services

20.1%

Computer & Network Security

11.0%

Computer Software

6.3%

Telecommunications

4.1%

Computer Networking

3.8%

Other

54.7%

[![Squid](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_dcc86c6b4313446c98e01c98b1c40d54/squid.jpg "Squid")](https://www.g2.com/products/squid/reviews)
Squid

Computer Software

18.8%

Education Management

12.5%

Telecommunications

6.3%

Retail

6.3%

Real Estate

6.3%

Other

50.0%

Alternatives

**Netgate pfSense Alternatives**

 ![Sophos Firewall](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/c3eafd206cf051259b58dcd9712f2d46/sophos-firewall.svg "Sophos Firewall")

[
Sophos Firewall
](/products/sophos-firewall/reviews)

 ![Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/64ff8da1b6e6ffabf4336ae2510e8e3e/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws.svg "Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)")

[
Check Point Next Generation...
](/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews)

 ![FortiGate-VM NGFW](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/fa3376b61f91a50021359e71d1976187/fortigate-vm-ngfw.jpg "FortiGate-VM NGFW")

[
FortiGate-VM NGFW
](/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews)

 ![WatchGuard Network Security](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/95497ce130aa56e5fb27b011c9bcaebc/watchguard-network-security.svg "WatchGuard Network Security")

[
WatchGuard Network Security
](/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews)

**Squid Alternatives**

 ![F5 NGINX](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/62010ad6d5b954f5a6a5bdaf40a5d2b7/f5-nginx.svg "F5 NGINX")

[
Nginx
](/products/f5-nginx/reviews)

 ![Plesk](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/04ee6468b5a15c4adf984a5277afe2ea/plesk.svg "Plesk")

[
Plesk
](/products/plesk/reviews)

 ![Lighttpd](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0a2f22ee82f3cf2fcb1070c3e3726103/lighttpd.png "Lighttpd")

[
Lighttpd
](/products/lighttpd/reviews)

 ![IBM WebSphere](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_5015a6ccbbe12278ba4392c1c0d806be/ibm-websphere.png "IBM WebSphere")

[
IBM WebSphere
](/products/ibm-websphere/reviews)

## Netgate pfSense vs Squid

When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found Netgate pfSense easier to use, set up, and administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with Netgate pfSense overall.

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