The G2 on Netgate pfSense

Netgate pfSense Pros and Cons: Top Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users find the ease of use of Netgate pfSense enhances their experience with straightforward installation and management. (5 mentions)

Users find the ease of implementation of Netgate pfSense exceptional, enabling quick setup and user-friendly management. (3 mentions)

Users find the easy setup of Netgate pfSense straightforward, making it simple to implement and manage effectively. (3 mentions)

Users appreciate the user-friendly interface and robust features of Netgate pfSense, enhancing their network management experience. (3 mentions)

Users find implementation incredibly easy, allowing quick setup and smooth integration on virtualized platforms. (3 mentions)

Users value the open-source flexibility and power of Netgate pfSense, appreciating its robust features and community support. (3 mentions)

Users highlight the excellent customer support of Netgate pfSense, enhancing their experience with prompt assistance when needed. (2 mentions)

Users find the difficult learning curve of Netgate pfSense challenging without prior networking knowledge or experience. (3 mentions)

Users find the complex configuration challenging, especially for first-time setup, despite available user guides. (2 mentions)

Users find that expertise is required for effective implementation of Netgate pfSense, making it challenging for beginners. (2 mentions)

Users find the lack of guidance challenging, making it difficult to implement advanced features without prior knowledge. (2 mentions)

Users face challenges with access issues, particularly needing to reset the routing daemon for OSPF or BGP peer problems. (1 mentions)

Users find the lack of essential features in pfSense limits their administrative capabilities and network monitoring opportunities. (1 mentions)

Users find the poor support services of Netgate pfSense problematic, making troubleshooting and upgrades frustrating. (1 mentions)

Top Pros or Advantages of Netgate pfSense

1. Ease of Use

Users find the ease of use of Netgate pfSense enhances their experience with straightforward installation and management.

See 5 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Prazin Bhakta S.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"PfSense Virtualized .."

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

Ease of Use and implementation on any virtualized platform

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

3.5/5

"Is a good option for basic needs"

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

Is easy manage using the web interface. Comes with a good logic and help to solve the basics needs for standard connections

2. Ease of Implementation

Users find the ease of implementation of Netgate pfSense exceptional, enabling quick setup and user-friendly management.

See 3 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Prazin Bhakta S.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"PfSense Virtualized .."

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

Ease of Use and implementation on any virtualized platform

deepak s.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Network admin"

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

Easy to install, Easy to understand, Easy to implement, rules creation and log check process use full and easy tounderstand and reporting pasrt also v

3. Easy Setup

Users find the easy setup of Netgate pfSense straightforward, making it simple to implement and manage effectively.

See 3 mentions

See Related User Reviews

deepak s.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Network admin"

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

Easy to install, Easy to understand, Easy to implement, rules creation and log check process use full and easy tounderstand and reporting pasrt also v

Mohd, R.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"pfsense is one of the appliance that is recommended for stock router replacement"

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

pfsense allow you to build your own router using your CPU that is no longer in use.

4. Features

Users appreciate the user-friendly interface and robust features of Netgate pfSense, enhancing their network management experience.

See 3 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Cho Lin M.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"I use pfSense as Firewall"

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

I like pfsense firewall. Because it is opensource and can get HA feature

deepak s.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Network admin"

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

Easy to install, Easy to understand, Easy to implement, rules creation and log check process use full and easy tounderstand and reporting pasrt also v

5. Implementation Ease

Users find implementation incredibly easy, allowing quick setup and smooth integration on virtualized platforms.

See 3 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Prazin Bhakta S.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"PfSense Virtualized .."

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

Ease of Use and implementation on any virtualized platform

deepak s.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Network admin"

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

Easy to install, Easy to understand, Easy to implement, rules creation and log check process use full and easy tounderstand and reporting pasrt also v

6. Open Source

Users value the open-source flexibility and power of Netgate pfSense, appreciating its robust features and community support.

See 3 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Cho Lin M.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"I use pfSense as Firewall"

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

I like pfsense firewall. Because it is opensource and can get HA feature

Mohd, R.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"pfsense is one of the appliance that is recommended for stock router replacement"

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

pfsense allow you to build your own router using your CPU that is no longer in use.

7. Customer Support

Users highlight the excellent customer support of Netgate pfSense, enhancing their experience with prompt assistance when needed.

See 2 mentions

See Related User Reviews

deepak s.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Network admin"

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

Easy to install, Easy to understand, Easy to implement, rules creation and log check process use full and easy tounderstand and reporting pasrt also v

Shaik B.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"PfSense+ || Netgate ||Supermicro || Product review"

What do you like about Netgate pfSense?

Awesome product I have ever seen in free of cost. Very powerfull opensource Firewall with full bundeled packed. Its very easy to use software and

Top Cons or Disadvantages of Netgate pfSense

1. Difficult Learning Curve

Users find the difficult learning curve of Netgate pfSense challenging without prior networking knowledge or experience.

See 3 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Shaik B.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"PfSense+ || Netgate ||Supermicro || Product review"

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Since this is opensource, If you know the concept then only this product is helpfull or else you will feel very dificylty to impliment itself.

deepak s.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Network admin"

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Backup process may have auto process for tackn and installation. CLI past have some comlications. path and storage auto cleaning process issue and ver

2. Complex Configuration

Users find the complex configuration challenging, especially for first-time setup, despite available user guides.

See 2 mentions

See Related User Reviews

deepak s.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Network admin"

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Backup process may have auto process for tackn and installation. CLI past have some comlications. path and storage auto cleaning process issue and ver

Mohd, R.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"pfsense is one of the appliance that is recommended for stock router replacement"

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

It is a bit hard to configure for the first time. But netgate did provide the user guide for installation/configuration that you can use as reference.

3. Expertise Required

Users find that expertise is required for effective implementation of Netgate pfSense, making it challenging for beginners.

See 2 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Shaik B.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"PfSense+ || Netgate ||Supermicro || Product review"

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Since this is opensource, If you know the concept then only this product is helpfull or else you will feel very dificylty to impliment itself.

deepak s.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Network admin"

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Backup process may have auto process for tackn and installation. CLI past have some comlications. path and storage auto cleaning process issue and ver

4. Lack of Guidance

Users find the lack of guidance challenging, making it difficult to implement advanced features without prior knowledge.

See 2 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Cho Lin M.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"I use pfSense as Firewall"

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

I don't know pfsense advance feature. I want to use more

Shaik B.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"PfSense+ || Netgate ||Supermicro || Product review"

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Since this is opensource, If you know the concept then only this product is helpfull or else you will feel very dificylty to impliment itself.

5. Access Issues

Users face challenges with access issues, particularly needing to reset the routing daemon for OSPF or BGP peer problems.

See 1 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Prazin Bhakta S.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"PfSense Virtualized .."

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Need to reset whole routing daemon when ospf or bgp has peer issue.

6. Lack of Features

Users find the lack of essential features in pfSense limits their administrative capabilities and network monitoring opportunities.

See 1 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Cho Lin M.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"I use pfSense as Firewall"

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

I don't know pfsense advance feature. I want to use more

7. Poor Support Services

Users find the poor support services of Netgate pfSense problematic, making troubleshooting and upgrades frustrating.

See 1 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"pfSense - reliable and user friendly."

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

The CE edition could have better support, although kept up to date, they can improve on security and some integrations.

Top-Rated Alternatives

Sophos Firewall

4.7/5

(559)

Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)

4.5/5

(461)

WatchGuard Network Security

4.7/5

(242)

View All Alternatives

G2 reviews are authentic and verified.

Here's how.

Peter H.

Owner

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4/3/2023

"Why pay annual fees for firewall?"

4.5/5

What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

It is an open source based piece of hardware which is high performance and easy to use. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

There is a fairly steep learning curve before you can use it most effectively. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Gary B.

ERP admin, Oracle Developer, Oracle SQL queries, Data Extract

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

2/26/2024

"One stop shopping for most small to mid sized applications"

5/5

What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

Ease of use, Sense of security, and lots of add-on's to grow into later on. Configuration is relatively easy once you learn what its about and have some hands on experience. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Updates happen about 3x per year and Im not sure if that is enough in todays environment. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Demis v.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

8/14/2023

"Working with PfSense for 7 years"

4.5/5

What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

PfSense has helped me and the companies I've worked with in many ways as general firewall solution as specific requirements. From complex datacenter applications to simple on-premises firewalls at branch offices. It always works and is simply the best bang for the buck. Ready to use PfSense+ appliances have gotten better and better over the years and are my preferred choice over de community edition. Community edition is still a good choice for specific needs or low budget requirements. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

There are no specific functions I dislike, but there is always room for improvement :) I can't really point out anything specific at this point. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Netgate pfSense solving and how is that benefiting you?

I've used PfSense for many different cases. As virtual appliances and ready to use PfSense+ hardware appliances. Specific for a general firewall solution but also as a OpenVPN server with FreeRADIUS as MFA installed or virtual appliance for handling many site-to-site VPN's. It has always met the needs and requirements. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Steven K.

Member Board Of Directors

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

8/9/2023

"Does everything I need it to do"

4.5/5

What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

Easy to install and use. Reliable. I have 4 sites set up for NAT, DHCP, and Site-to-Site IPSec tunnels, and they work great! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Needs Wireguard support integrated as a first-party feature, not an add-on. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Kiba D.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

8/8/2023

"Enterprise Firewall/router/VPN server, and so much more."

4.5/5

What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

1) The software is open-source, so I could learn/play with how it works first. I could then decide if I wanted to move forward in using it.

2) It was easy to use.

3) There was tons of good documentation and even youtube videos on every feature I was interested in.

4) The support is awesome, I got a reply in 30 mins, on a Sunday on a long weekend to a ticket I submitted. The reply was from someone who actually read the ticket! (so rare on a ticket system's first response). The back and forth was precise and knowledgeable, I understood my problem and the solution straight away. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

I've had a version upgrade that remotely fails, so kept working, just didn't upgrade, and needs an onsite visit to manually backup the configs, connected a USB stick with the latest firmware, and a console cable to wipe and install the new version. Not ideal as I have a fair number of remote customers. However, I'm hoping this is a one-off situation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Luca D.

Sistemista

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

2/26/2024

"Ten years of experience in using pfssense, more than forty firewalls administered."

4/5

What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

The software is flexible, working well in KVM-type VMs that I mainly use. With a little practice you can do anything with it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

There are required features that have been lost for years and never implemented, such as a centralized administration console for sets of firewalls. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Jack W.

Sole proprietor

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

10/27/2022

"Simplicity makes small office firewall setup easy"

5/5

What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

It's open source with the very best open-source ethos and practices. A high-quality exhaustive manual makes setup, implementation, modification, and troubleshooting easy. No vendor "we'll get back to you on that" horror story here. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Some of the repository committers are a little superficial when problems are reported. There was a DNS issue with the latest release that the dev team seemed reluctant to admit exists! However, with the usual crowdsourcing efficiency of open source, the user community was able to rub the developers' noses in it, so to speak :) Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Netgate pfSense solving and how is that benefiting you?

pfSense on my Netgate device solved the One Big Eternal Problem of maintaining a small business firewall: HOW MUCH TIME IS THIS THING GONNA TAKE ME!?!?

Answer: very little. Easy setup. Easy maintenance. Easy dashboard reviews of critical factors via the very nice PHP web interace. Easy-to-use command line if I have to drop to command line, Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Trevor Green .

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

8/14/2023

"Solid enterprise solution"

5/5

What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

Simple use for basic needs as well as vast depths to fine tune and secure infastructure. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Reliance on 3rd party utilities (pfBlockerNG for example) Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Shane C.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

2/26/2024

"One of the best"

5/5

What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

Very easy to use. If not, community support is there. Been faithful for the past 7 years Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Don't have any dislike so far. Appliance and software working great! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Esther Cheng of Netgate pfSense

edit

We're thrilled to hear that you've had a positive experience with Netgate pfSense for the past 7 years!

Verified User in Construction

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

2/26/2024

"Incredible support"

5/5

What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

The documentation is incredibly detailed, and easy to follow. Everything just works. Any snags I've run into have been quickly resolved. Setup is super easy, and the capabilites are well beyond what I imagined Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

I have yet to find anything I dislike. The application has been perfect for our environment Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.