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Fortinet FortiClient vs Trend Micro Smart Protection comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 9, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.0
Fortinet FortiClient boosts efficiency, offers high ROI, enhances security, and saves VPN costs despite implementation concerns.
Sentiment score
4.8
Trend Micro Smart Protection delivers positive ROI, preventing breaches, updating systems, and supporting financial and reputational benefits over time.
The VPN performance has a substantial impact on our remote workforce.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.6
Fortinet FortiClient support is praised for responsiveness but criticized for delays and inefficiencies with complex issues and basic packages.
Sentiment score
5.1
Trend Micro Smart Protection's customer service varies; premium is effective, but standard support often faces delays and availability issues.
They initiate the troubleshooting process quickly and resolve issues in a timely manner.
In 99% of cases, we do not have to do configurations on our own as they are normally handled by their service providers.
They provide very good support, and an issue I had was resolved quickly over the phone.
The agent is very light, and it doesn't cause any issues on the machine.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.3
Fortinet FortiClient is praised for its scalability, handling numerous users efficiently with seamless expansion when managed properly.
Sentiment score
8.0
Trend Micro Smart Protection scales effectively for businesses of all sizes with positive feedback on performance and flexibility.
We normally take into consideration while installing the product that it can scale up to approximately 20%, but not more than that.
I hope Fortinet will start an insider developer program where professionals can provide feedback on new releases to ensure improvements.
We can add more licenses and Fortinet tokens, demonstrating excellent scalability.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Fortinet FortiClient is highly stable and reliable, with occasional issues often due to external factors, receiving high ratings.
Sentiment score
7.7
Trend Micro Smart Protection is stable, reliable, and well-rated, though improved compatibility with major vendors could enhance user experience.
Its stability level is excellent.
I normally get a call within 15-20 minutes after logging a complaint.
The overall stability of Fortinet FortiClient rates at nine out of ten.
 

Room For Improvement

Fortinet FortiClient needs enhancements in management, interface, compatibility, security features, reports, support, and pricing for improved user experience.
Trend Micro Smart Protection needs enhancements in management tools, AI, compatibility, support, pricing, integration, and threat detection features.
FortiClient needs improvement in restricting user information and ensuring more secure customer data to better protect source code and reduce the risk of security breaches.
There are advanced features like Zero Trust that I currently do not use but could be beneficial for security.
Fortinet frequently releases updates without thorough testing.
We've experienced compatibility issues with Windows endpoint protection.
 

Setup Cost

Fortinet FortiClient provides a free VPN version; additional features require affordable licensing, with discounts and bundling options available.
Trend Micro Smart Protection pricing varies widely, seen as competitive yet sometimes more expensive, with extensive licensing terms.
FortiClient is a value-for-money product and is not considered expensive compared to similar products on the market.
Justifying the price to clients can be difficult.
FortiClient is included in a package with the UTM features, so there is no separate cost for it.
However, their pricing is comparable to CrowdStrike.
 

Valuable Features

Fortinet FortiClient offers robust security features, user-friendly interface, and seamless integration, making it valuable for comprehensive endpoint management.
Trend Micro Smart Protection delivers comprehensive security with robust features, low resource usage, scalability, and seamless IT system integration.
The most valuable feature of FortiClient is its high security level.
We appreciate its VPN capabilities and the features that offer extra security functionalities like antivirus and malware scanning.
I strongly recommend this solution, especially for Fortinet customers who use FortiGate or other Fortinet products, as they can easily integrate these features and exchange information seamlessly.
The most effective features of Trend Micro Smart Protection are its antivirus and malware capabilities.
 

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiClient
Ranking in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)
15th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
101
Ranking in other categories
Endpoint Compliance (1st), Enterprise Infrastructure VPN (1st)
Trend Micro Smart Protection
Ranking in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)
36th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
44
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiClient is 1.8%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Trend Micro Smart Protection is 0.8%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Fortinet FortiClient1.8%
Trend Micro Smart Protection0.8%
Other97.4%
Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)
 

Featured Reviews

MuhammadJahangir - PeerSpot reviewer
Users only need to install the VPN and authenticate with their email address
I primarily use remote VPN solutions to connect securely. We have configured both site-to-site VPN and remote VPN, and it is connected to FortiClient Implementing this solution has streamlined time management in our organization. Without SSO, we would need manual configuration for each PC, but…
Amey Darekar - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers centralized security management and flexibility
The improvements required in the product depend on how it is used, meaning it can be used for endpoint security or email and collaboration security. The web gateway is used along with anti-malware, advanced protection, URL filtering, application control, and data protection. I don't have any improvements to suggest in the tool as of now, and not at least for now, as per my security assessment. There are certain concerns with the product's stability, so it is an area where improvements are required.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Government
6%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Performing Arts
11%
Computer Software Company
10%
Government
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business58
Midsize Enterprise23
Large Enterprise24
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business16
Midsize Enterprise14
Large Enterprise16
 

Questions from the Community

How does Fortinet FortiClient compare with Open VPN Access Server?
Fortinet FortiClient is a feature-rich solution that is easy to use and deploy without sacrificing safety and security. It has a very fast connection rate and has a built-in VPN. With this solution...
What's the difference between Fortinet's FortiEDR and FortiClient?
I suggest Fortinet’s FortiEDR over FortiClient for several reasons. For starters, FortiEDR guarantees solid protection because it continually scans servers for emerging vulnerabilities, which gives...
What do you like most about Trend Micro Smart Protection?
The tool offers centralized security management. The tool's deployment is flexible.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Trend Micro Smart Protection?
I find that Trend Micro Smart Protection is affordable; I don't think it can be quite expensive.
What needs improvement with Trend Micro Smart Protection?
Technical support needs to be improved. We had a customer move from Trend Micro because they didn't the support. Both response time and ownership are the problems with support. Trend Micro Smart Pr...
 

Also Known As

FortiClient
Trend Micro Smart Protection Complete
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Blekinge County Council, Bulgarian American Credit Bank, Cancer Research UK, Delacour, Evalueserve, Gulftainer, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital, Mazda Motor Logistics Europe, MEDHOST, Nikigolf, Ochsner Health System, SIAX Computing Solutions, Tegen
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiClient vs. Trend Micro Smart Protection and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.
867,370 professionals have used our research since 2012.