Link copied to clipboard # Netgate pfSense vs VyOS Comparison - What are their main differences? Share [ Export ](/compare/netgate-pfsense/vyos/export.csv) Netgate pfSenseVyOS[+ Add Product](#) Pricing **Netgate pfSense** Free Trial No pricing available **VyOS** Free Trial **Free** ยท VyOS For Good **Pricing Insights** from reviews Time to Implement **Netgate pfSense** 1 monthFaster Based on 136 responses **VyOS** 2 months Based on 16 responses Return on Investment **Netgate pfSense** 12 months Based on 122 responses **VyOS** 9 months3 months sooner Based on 13 responses Perceived Cost **Netgate pfSense** $$$$$ **VyOS** $$$$$ Average Discount **Netgate pfSense** 7% **VyOS** 40%33% more **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) **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 **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) **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 **Netgate pfSense** 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 **Netgate pfSense** 9.4 9.4261 **VyOS** 8.9 8.950 Ease of Use **Netgate pfSense** 8.5 8.5268 **VyOS** 8.7 8.751 Ease of Setup **Netgate pfSense** 8.7 8.7247 **VyOS** 8.8 8.847 Ease of Admin **Netgate pfSense** 8.8 8.8243 **VyOS** 9.0 9.038 Quality of Support **Netgate pfSense** 9.1 9.1209 **VyOS** 9.0 9.040 Has the product been a good partner in doing business? **Netgate pfSense** 9.2 9.2197 **VyOS** 9.5 9.532 Product Direction (% positive) **Netgate pfSense** 8.6 8.6262 **VyOS** 8.9 8.951 **Features** ratings from reviews Business VPN 8.8 181 8.3 20 Firewall Software 8.3 244 Not enough data Operating System Not enough data 8.5 10 WAN Edge Infrastructure Not enough data 9.0 23 User Insights **Reviewers' Company Size** Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 68.5% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 25.2% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 6.3% Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 68.5% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 25.2% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 6.3% 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** [![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% [![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 ## Netgate pfSense vs VyOS FAQs Generated using AI Last updated: August 15, 2026 ### What is the difference between Netgate pfSense vs VyOS? Netgate pfSense stands out for its higher G2 rating and reviewer-cited ease of use, while VyOS is noted for its open-source flexibility and slightly higher ease of setup score. | [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) | [VyOS](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/reviews) | | --- | --- | | 4.7/5 (326 reviews) | 4.5/5 (56 reviews) | | Small-Business | Small-Business | | 8.7 | 8.9 | | 9.1 | 9.0 | | Ease of Use | Open Source Flexibility | ### How do the pricing models of Netgate pfSense and VyOS compare? VyOS is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its cost-effectiveness and open-source model. - **Netgate pfSense:** Reviewers highlight its affordability and strong feature set for the price, but note that some hardware appliances can be underpowered. - **VyOS:** Reviewers consistently praise VyOS for eliminating proprietary licensing costs and enabling use on commodity hardware, emphasizing its open-source, cost-efficient approach. - **Switching reasons:** Recent reviews cite moving to VyOS to avoid vendor lock-in and reduce hardware and licensing expenses. ### What are the best alternatives to Netgate pfSense and VyOS? The top three alternatives to Netgate pfSense and VyOS are Sophos Firewall, Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs), and CentOS. | 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 | Affordable, open source | Ease of Use | | [VyOS](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/reviews) | 4.5/5 (56 reviews) | Small-Business | Cost-efficient, open source | Open Source Flexibility | | [Sophos Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sophos-firewall/reviews) | 4.7/5 (870 reviews) | Mid-Market | โ€” | Comprehensive Security Features | | [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 | โ€” | Advanced Threat Protection | | [CentOS](https://www.g2.com/products/centos/reviews) | 4.4/5 (425 reviews) | Mid-Market | โ€” | Stability and Flexibility | ### Which Firewall Software features should I prioritize when comparing Netgate pfSense and VyOS? Buyers comparing Netgate pfSense and VyOS should prioritize Ease of Use, Customizability, Security, Documentation, and Integration capabilities. - **Ease of Use:** Netgate pfSense (8.5), VyOS (8.7); VyOS has 9 all-time mentions for ease of use, Netgate pfSense has 3. - **Customizability:** Netgate pfSense (2 all-time mentions), VyOS (3 all-time mentions for customization/personalization). - **Security:** Netgate pfSense (2 all-time mentions), VyOS (4 all-time mentions for stability and security-related themes). - **Documentation:** Netgate pfSense (1 all-time mention), VyOS (6 all-time mentions for insufficient documentation). - **Integration:** Netgate pfSense integrates with Tailscale (3 all-time mentions); VyOS integrates with EVE (17 all-time mentions). ### What are the pros and cons of Netgate pfSense vs VyOS? Netgate pfSense's headline strength is ease of use, while VyOS is most recognized for its open-source flexibility and powerful features. - **Netgate pfSense strengths:** Ease of Use (3 all-time mentions), Customizability (2), Easy Setup (2), Security (2), Features (2), Control, Customer Support, Documentation, Implementation Ease, Management Ease. - **Netgate pfSense trade-offs:** Complex Configuration (2), Difficult Learning Curve (2), Expertise Required, High Resource Usage, Integration Issues, Lack of Guidance, Limited Options. - **VyOS strengths:** Ease of Use (9), Features (7), Open Source (7), Powerful Features (6), Versatility (5), Free/No Cost (4), Hardware Support (4), Stability (4), User-Friendly (4), Cost Efficiency (3), Customization/Personalization (3), Reliability (3). - **VyOS trade-offs:** Insufficient Documentation (6), Lack of Support (6), Learning Curve (4), Command Line (3), Complex Configuration (3), Poor Documentation (3). ### Is Netgate pfSense or VyOS better for small businesses? Netgate pfSense is the stronger fit for small businesses, as both products' largest reviewer segment is Small-Business, but Netgate pfSense has a higher G2 rating and more reviewer-cited strengths in this segment. - **Netgate pfSense:** Small-Business is the largest segment, with reviewers highlighting ease of use, affordability, and robust features for small business needs. - **VyOS:** Small-Business is also the largest segment, with reviewers noting its flexibility and cost efficiency, but also mentioning a steeper learning curve and documentation gaps. ### Which Firewall Software platform has better integrations? VyOS is favored for integrations, with reviewers citing more frequent and diverse integration use cases. - **Netgate pfSense:** Integrates with Tailscale, mentioned in 3 reviews. - **VyOS:** Integrates with EVE, mentioned in 17 reviews. ### How do Netgate pfSense and VyOS compare on customer support? Netgate pfSense and VyOS are rated at parity for Quality of Support, with scores of 9.1 and 9.0 respectively, indicating similar reviewer satisfaction. - **Netgate pfSense:** Reviewers describe support as responsive and knowledgeable, with both community and paid options available. - **VyOS:** Reviewers note helpful support, especially for technical issues, but mention that enterprise-grade support and LTS builds require a subscription. ### Which is easier to implement, Netgate pfSense or VyOS? VyOS and Netgate pfSense score within 0.2 points on Ease of Setup (8.9 vs 8.7), indicating near parity in implementation experience. - **Netgate pfSense:** Reviewers highlight straightforward setup, especially for those with networking experience, but note a learning curve for advanced features. - **VyOS:** Reviewers describe initial setup as easy for basic use cases, with advanced configurations requiring more technical knowledge and reliance on documentation or community resources. ### Which product has better Connectivity? VyOS and Netgate pfSense are both highly rated for Connectivity, with reviewers citing robust VPN, routing, and network management features. - **Netgate pfSense:** Connectivity is frequently praised in reviews, with strong support for VPN, VLAN, DHCP, and multi-WAN; 2 all-time mentions for features and 2 for security. - **VyOS:** Connectivity is a core strength, with reviewers highlighting advanced routing protocols, VPN support, and flexibility across hardware and cloud environments; 7 all-time mentions for features and 6 for powerful features. 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) **VyOS Alternatives** ![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) ![OpenVPN Access Server](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/9ba874f2444831eb6c18655245ec9751/openvpn-access-server.svg "OpenVPN Access Server") [ OpenVPN Access Server ](/products/openvpn-access-server/reviews) ## Netgate pfSense vs VyOS When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found VyOS easier to use, set up, and administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with VyOS overall. - Reviewers felt that Netgate pfSense meets the needs of their business better than VyOS. - 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 VyOS over Netgate pfSense.