--- title: Netgate pfSense Reviews meta_title: 'Netgate pfSense Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 326 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how Netgate pfSense works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.7 review_count: 326 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-11-06' parent_category: name: Network Security url: https://www.g2.com/categories/network-security ---

Netgate pfSense Reviews & Product Details

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Value at a Glance

Averages based on real user reviews.

Time to Implement

1 month

Return on Investment

12 months

View More Pricing Information

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User Insights

Average based on 326 real user reviews.

Implementation Time

1 month

Perceived Cost

$$$$$

Netgate pfSense Integrations

(3)
Integration information sourced from real user reviews.

Netgate pfSense Reviews FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: Nov 04, 2026

What is Netgate pfSense, and what problem is it built to solve?

Netgate pfSense is firewall and router software from a technology company focused on network security and performance. It is built to address businesses’ and organizations’ need for secure, reliable networking.

What company sizes and industries is Netgate pfSense the best fit for?

Netgate pfSense shows its strongest fit among small businesses, with mid-market organizations also well represented. Its use spans several industries, with reviewer presence clustering around technology and education-related fields.
  • Company size — Small business: The most represented segment, including teams using it for business networks and client deployments.
  • Company size — Mid-market: Also well represented, including organizations using it across sites and network environments.
  • Industry — Technology and networking: Information technology and services, computer and network security, computer software, and computer networking appear prominently.
  • Industry — Education: Education management, higher education, and primary/secondary education are also represented.

How long does it take to implement Netgate pfSense across a team?

Implementation time varies with the setup, but getting to go-live in under a day is the most common reported experience. Other implementations take longer, especially when the configuration is more involved.
Time to go live Relative frequency
Under 1 day Most common
Under 1 month Also frequently reported
1–3 months Less common
3–6 months or over 12 months Occasionally reported

What customer support options does Netgate pfSense provide, and how do users find the overall support experience?

Support experiences are mixed: users describe knowledgeable, responsive help, while others find responses slow or the support process frustrating. The quality can depend on the issue and the support path involved; community resources and documentation are also part of how users find help.

What is the experience like for teams switching to Netgate pfSense from another tool?

Moving to Netgate pfSense from other firewall, router, and network-management products is often motivated by the need for more control and capability without the same licensing burden. Users describe gaining flexible configuration, broader features, and easier administration, though getting familiar with its approach can take some adjustment. Prior tools named include SonicWall, Cisco and Juniper products, Fortinet, and Ubiquiti systems.

What tools and platforms does Netgate pfSense integrate with, and how do these integrations help users get more value from the product?

Netgate pfSense offers 3 integrations. Users describe using integrations and connected services to extend network access and connect firewall management with other systems.
  • Cloud and developer tools: AWS Lambda
  • Firewall and security: Sophos Firewall
  • Networking and VPN: Tailscale
In practical use, these kinds of connections can complement network and VPN workflows, while reviewers also describe linking pfSense with identity services and cloud environments.

What features or capabilities could make Netgate pfSense even more useful?

Teams would benefit most from easier fleet management, more automation, and smoother administration for complex configurations. The recurring improvement requests include:
  • Centralized management: Manage and synchronize settings across multiple pfSense installations from one place.
  • API and automation support: Make deployments and routine configuration changes easier to automate.
  • Clearer administration and learning tools: Improve navigation, guidance, and explanations for settings and advanced features.
  • Smoother upgrades and recovery: Make updates more predictable and simplify backup, restore, and rollback workflows.

Is Netgate pfSense considered safe and secure for handling data?

Netgate pfSense is used to protect networks through firewall rules, segmentation, VPN access, and intrusion-detection or prevention tools. Users often value the control and visibility it provides, while also emphasizing that secure results depend on careful configuration; missing native multi-factor authentication for administrator access is a concern for some teams.

Netgate pfSense Reviews (326)

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Reviews

Netgate pfSense Reviews (326)

View 1 Video Reviews
4.7
326 reviews

What do users say?

Generated using AI from real user reviews

Pros & Cons

Generated from real user reviews
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PS
Peter S.
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Best and only firewall used for our business and our clients"
5/5
What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

Simplicity yet powerful tools to configure the Firewall. Intuitive. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Sometime the Firmware updates tend to brick the device Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Esther Cheng of Netgate pfSense
Edit edit

We're glad to hear that you find Netgate pfSense to be a powerful and intuitive firewall solution for your business and clients.

Verified User in Farming
AF
Verified User in Farming
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Far superior to the unifi firewall"
5/5
What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

I can easily implement fine grain control and access for multiple vlans. Many plugins available to easily expand capabilities. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Not very accessible via mobile browsers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Esther Cheng of Netgate pfSense
Edit edit

Thank you for sharing your positive experience with our Netgate pfSense, especially regarding the fine grain control and access for multiple vlans.

Verified User in Computer Networking
AC
Verified User in Computer Networking
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
Originally submitted 10/7/2022
"Best network appliance you will ever need"
5/5
What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

Easy to use and big community of users to help you do anything you can think of Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

You need to understand that it's not as any other router you know and there is a Linux operating system below that gui. It helps if you know a bit of Linux Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Information Technology and Services
AI
Verified User in Information Technology and Services
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
Originally submitted 8/10/2023
"Best firewall at low cost."
5/5
What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

Well used packages with input from my peers about how to operate. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Support can be slow. But always gives correct answers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Health, Wellness and Fitness
AH
Verified User in Health, Wellness and Fitness
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Great Hard- and Software and super fast support"
5/5
What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

Easy to use, easy to maintain und no problems at all Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Sometimes the UI seems a little bit old fashioned Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

AB
Adrian B.
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"I have been using pfSense for years as a low cost firewall to protect my business and home networks."
5/5
What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

pfSense is easy to configure with its setup wizard. Now with Tailscale implemented in pfSense Plus, software configuration of a lightweight VPN based on WireGuard is simple. pfBlocker also allows you to stop ads at the firewall! All of this is great for a novice network administrator. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

Occasionally upgrading the software version corrupts the configuration which may require a reinstall and repeat setup. Upgrades require time to test and troubleshoot and one always needs to back up complicated configurations. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Federico G.
FG
Federico G.
Support Engineer, Business Owner
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
Originally submitted 10/27/2022
"A a matter of fact I had recommended many times, We use netgate pfsense as our default solution"
5/5
What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

First of all it's very secure, and then it has all the features that Fortigate or Juniper have. Also, love how good performance it has in virtualized environments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

I think that if deep pack inspection, whether using surica or snort, would have a wizard and per-rule basis configuration would be great, and it would replace FortiGate for instance, Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Damon M.
DM
Damon M.
Technical Sales Specialist
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"pfSense is the center of my home network!"
5/5
What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

pfSense has allowed me to take full control of my home network. I consider myself an advanced user and the software offers all the tools required for me to configure, monitor, and secure my home network. Snort, pfBlockNG, Unbound, and even NTOP. All great tools to take control. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

I wish the hardware of some of the lower-end firewalls was more reliable. I've had a number of failures due to disk corruption and probably trying to get more out of the product than the hardware was designed to handle. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

IV
Iulian V.
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Long time user, steep learning curve but probably the best router/firewall distro out there."
5/5
What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

Complex but caters for a lot of use cases, definitely worth your time if you are concerned about the security of your network. I've been using it since it was monowall :) Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

It really could be more user friendly, not everyone has the time (unless you're a professional) to learn it which is a pity since it really is heads and shoulders above what your typical home/SOHO router can do. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Higher Education
AH
Verified User in Higher Education
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Great product with prompt support"
5/5
What do you like best about Netgate pfSense?

Stable product, running without issues for more than 10 years. The documentation is very good. We recently migrated to an appliance with pfSense+ and needed to contact the product support. They solved the problem in few minutes. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Netgate pfSense?

The only issue we had was the difficulty updating pfSense+ due to a recently installed interface, and that cost us a lot of time trying to find the problem ourselves. This would be unnecessary if there was any warning that this happened when changing hardware. The positive part is that after contacting product support the issue was resolved within minutes. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Questions about Netgate pfSense? Ask real users or explore answers from the community

Get practical answers, real workflows, and honest pros and cons from the G2 community or share your insights.

Carlos Vinicius L.
CL
Carlos Vinicius Lemos Meirelles
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Last activity about 4 years ago

OpenVpn best report's?

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GU
Guest User
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Last activity about 3 years ago

What is pfSense used for?

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Pricing Insights

Averages based on real user reviews.

Time to Implement

1 month

Return on Investment

12 months

Average Discount

7%

View More Pricing Information
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Netgate pfSense Features
Multiple Concurrent Connections
Protocol Choices
Unlimited Bandwidth
Open Source Code
Policy Management
Logging and Reporting
Application Gateway
Load Balancing
Continuous Analysis
Intrusion Prevention
Categories on G2
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