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Fortinet FortiGate-VM Reviews

Vendor: Fortinet
4.2 out of 5
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What is Fortinet FortiGate-VM?

FortiGate Virtual Appliances allow you to mitigate blind spots by implementing critical security controls within your virtual infrastructure. They also allow you to rapidly provision security infrastructure whenever and wherever it is needed. FortiGate virtual appliances feature all of the security and networking services common to traditional hardware-based FortiGate appliances. With the addition of virtual appliances from Fortinet, you can deploy a mix of hardware and virtual appliances, operating together and managed from a common centralized management platform.

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Fortinet FortiGate-VM is the #9 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Fortinet FortiGate-VM an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Fortinet FortiGate-VM is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs Fortinet FortiGate. Fortinet FortiGate-VM is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 41% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 16% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate-VM
October 2025
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Fortinet FortiGate-VM mindshare

As of October 2025, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate-VM in the Firewalls category stands at 1.9%, up from 1.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Firewalls Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Fortinet FortiGate-VM1.9%
Fortinet FortiGate20.4%
OPNsense11.0%
Other66.7%
Firewalls

PeerResearch reports based on Fortinet FortiGate-VM reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryFirewallsOct 17, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersOct 17, 2025Download
ComparisonFortinet FortiGate-VM vs Fortinet FortiGateOct 17, 2025Download
ComparisonFortinet FortiGate-VM vs Netgate pfSenseOct 17, 2025Download
ComparisonFortinet FortiGate-VM vs OPNsenseOct 17, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Fortinet FortiGate4.220.4%92%575 interviewsAdd to research
Netgate pfSense4.310.8%93%217 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

Fortinet FortiGate-VM offers valuable features like ease of use, strong security, and excellent integration with Fortinet products. Users appreciate its VPN capabilities, intuitive interface for deployment, and real-time threat response. The centralized management and extensive security features enhance its reliability. Features like SD-WAN, application filtering, and web filtering are favored by users, providing flexibility, scalability, and effective management. Fortinet's pricing and strong technical support are also highlighted positively.
  • "It's user-friendly and easy to set up, designed with the customer in mind, and works effectively for setting up a VPN connection between both sides and using it for SSL VPN connections for remote users without encountering vulnerabilities."
  • "The best feature of Fortinet FortiGate-VM is the deployment; I applied best practices for deployment with Fortinet FortiGate-VM by the VPN connection into the site, on-premise and cloud or hybrid for segmentation of level of security, the perimeter and inside zone."
  • "Since then, we have been working with Fortinet FortiGate as our primary solution for firewalls."

Room for Improvement

Fortinet FortiGate-VM requires improvements in user interface responsiveness and traffic reporting. Technical support needs enhancement, along with better integration and customization capabilities. Reports are too basic and logging could be clearer. There are also challenges with pricing, security, version stability, and integration with third-party tools. Performance, scalability, and flexibility should be addressed, and updates must be more frequent. Improved cloud management and automated features would further enhance its functionality.
  • "Regarding the effectiveness of Fortinet FortiGate-VM in providing high-level security for high-level customers, we have some visibility issues, so it doesn't seem high level; there's definitely room for enhancement."
  • "Licensing could be easier to understand."
  • "There are areas for improvement because usually, most policies don't change much."

ROI

Users experienced varied outcomes with Fortinet FortiGate-VM's financial returns. Some noted enhanced network stability and increased security as beneficial impacts, while others emphasized the cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency gained over time. Investment recovery and return varied, with some seeing good returns while navigating challenges like device sizing and upgrade costs. Fortinet FortiGate-VM's pricing structure and comprehensive security features contributed positively, although experiences differed widely among users.

Pricing

Fortinet FortiGate-VM pricing varies, typically positioned as a mid-range option with competitive pricing when compared to competitors like Palo Alto and Check Point. While some find the costs affordable, others note potential high upfront prices, especially for smaller businesses. Licensing offers flexibility with options for one to five-year intervals. Overall, it strikes a balance between pricing and features, appealing to both enterprises and medium organizations, though it can be costly for those upgrading from open-source solutions.
  • "For large enterprises, price is not a problem because they need that solution. However, in the Philippine market, many of our clients are still small to medium businesses, so the price can be challenging. The license for Fortinet FortiGate-VM costs 100K to 150K Philippine pesos per year for VM1 or VM2."
  • "I find it quite reasonable."
  • "The tool is neither expensive nor cheap, so it is okay."

Popular Use Cases

Fortinet FortiGate-VM is primarily used for network security and connectivity, including VPN access, IPS, IDS, remote connectivity, SD-WAN, and securing internal and cloud networks. Users benefit from its robust firewall capabilities, intrusion prevention, application control, and ability to segment networks. It supports site-to-site connectivity, managing internet traffic, and offers endpoint protection for diverse industries like financial services, education, and data centers. Users appreciate the flexibility in deploying on-premises or in cloud environments.

Service and Support

Fortinet FortiGate-VM's customer service and support are often responsive and helpful, but experiences vary. Some users praise fast response times and knowledgeable engineers, while others report delays and lack of expertise. Local support quality can be inconsistent across regions. Ratings frequently range from seven to nine out of ten. Users appreciate well-structured documentation and forums, although some recommend improvements in process efficiency and accessibility, particularly comparing them to Cisco's support structure.

Deployment

Fortinet FortiGate-VM is typically straightforward to set up. Many users report ease of deployment if basic networking knowledge is present. A wizard aids in initial configuration, providing step-by-step guidance. Setup duration varies from minutes to weeks depending on complexity, often requiring basic firewall knowledge. Resources from documentation and online trainings effectively support the process. Users find the interface user-friendly, allowing customization based on specific infrastructure requirements. Maintenance generally requires minimal ongoing effort.

Scalability

Fortinet FortiGate-VM exhibits substantial scalability. Most users report effective handling of increased loads, although some experience challenges related to wrong sizing or limitations as a virtual machine. The solution manages significant user growth smoothly and is adaptable to different business needs, with high ratings in scalability. Its ability to accommodate a range of user types and budget considerations makes it versatile, especially for small to enterprise-sized organizations seeking flexible expansion options.

Stability

Opinions on Fortinet FortiGate-VM's stability vary. Some users praise its reliability and performance, noting few issues over years of use. Others report occasional stability challenges, particularly with specific modules or versions. Stability ratings range from six to ten out of ten, often reflecting experiences with updates. While many emphasize its dependable operation, some mention potential improvements. Users mostly agree on its solid performance, although configuration and hardware performance impact stability perceptions.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Fortinet FortiGate-VM Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business61
Midsize Enterprise29
Large Enterprise30
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business305
Midsize Enterprise187
Large Enterprise346
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Government
6%
Media Company
6%
Retailer
4%
Educational Organization
4%
Construction Company
4%
Insurance Company
4%
University
3%
Performing Arts
3%
Healthcare Company
3%
Energy/Utilities Company
3%
Hospitality Company
3%
Non Profit
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Outsourcing Company
2%
Transportation Company
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%
Renewables & Environment Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
International Affairs Institute
1%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
1%
Engineering Company
1%

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Learn more about Fortinet FortiGate-VM

Fortinet FortiGate-VM was previously known as FortiGate Virtual Appliance, FortiGate-VM.

Fortinet FortiGate-VM customers

Security7 Networks, COOPENAE

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Firewalls

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Fortinet FortiGate-VM Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Chief Technology Officer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees4.5As a reseller of Fortinet FortiGate, we find it invaluable for protecting banking companies and edge cloud data centers. Its SD-WAN and networking features are excellent, although support and limited WAF capabilities need improvement. Our ROI has been highly favorable, especially with SD-WAN.
System Engineer at Trends and Technologies, Inc4.5We used Fortinet FortiGate-VM to protect cloud assets, appreciating its Security Fabric and real-time threat response. While setup is straightforward, financial hurdles with licensing and renewals limit full potential in the growing Philippine market.
Chief Technology Officer at GM Modular4.0We use Fortinet FortiGate as a perimeter firewall for its simplicity and effective interface for alerts and monitoring. Although it efficiently blocks threats, we seek more AI-driven proactive alerts. We chose it over Check Point, Palo Alto, and Blue Coat.
Re Manager at a computer software company with 201-500 employees4.5I've used Fortinet FortiGate-VM for two years, primarily for cloud migration and security in low-maturity environments, finding it effective, AI-driven, and adaptable, with improved setup, strong customer support, and better reliability than open-source alternatives.
Senior Escalation Engineer at a tech services company with 201-500 employees3.5I've used Fortinet FortiGate-VM primarily in Azure for several years; it's reliable and similar to hardware appliances, though log readability needs improvement. Its granular security policies outshine SonicWall, but it’s pricier and underused across Fortinet's ecosystem.
Chief Executive Officer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees4.0I use FortiGate VM primarily for securing cloud and in-house databases. Its valuable features include cost-saving on hardware and flexible licensing. While some integrated features now require separate products, Sophos offers an alternative solution.
Senior Network Consultant at Visionet Systems Inc.4.0I use FortiGate VM primarily as a firewall to boost network security, benefiting from its easy deployment and management. While there are VPN and API integration issues, it has reduced our operational costs by fifty to sixty percent.
Pre-Sales Analyst at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees4.5In using Fortinet FortiGate-VM, we focused on cloud migration for our clients during the pandemic. Its integrated platform improved network reliability and reduced troubleshooting time compared to alternatives like SonicWall, providing operational benefits and better network organization.