Barracuda Web Security and Filtering vs Fortra's Clearswift Secure Web Gateway comparison

Barracuda Networks and Fortra are both solutions in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category. Barracuda Networks is ranked #28 with an average rating of 6.0, while Fortra is ranked #37. Barracuda Networks holds a 0.8% mindshare in WSG, compared to Fortra’s 0.5% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of Barracuda Networks users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Fortra users who would recommend it.

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Barracuda Web Security and Filtering and Fortra's Clearswift Secure Web Gateway based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Fortinet, Zscaler and others in Secure Web Gateways (SWG).

To learn more, read our detailed Secure Web Gateways (SWG) Report (Updated: February 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

February 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

iboss

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2026, in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category, the mindshare of iboss is 2.5%, up from 1.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Barracuda Web Security and Filtering is 0.8%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortra's Clearswift Secure Web Gateway is 0.5%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Secure Web Gateways (SWG) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
iboss	2.5%
Barracuda Web Security and Filtering	0.8%
Fortra's Clearswift Secure Web Gateway	0.5%
Other	96.2%

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

Featured Reviews

reviewer2701851

Managing Director

Enhances web security with a single pane of glass and flexible deployment

I don't see any need for improvement; one of the really good things about iboss as a company is that they listen to customer feedback. I have suggested enhancements, and they are responsive, making changes for the better, and they do a lot of testing. To improve iboss, although we haven't used it, we considered the VPN solution that comes with the highest tier licensing, which includes DLP and various other add-ons. We prefer using another product which automatically logs you back onto your network when turning on your PC. With iboss, the connection is manual, which doesn't meet our needs. Additionally, sizing can be tricky because, although the initial recommendations may seem adequate, actual usage may require more gateways than anticipated.

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Sam Cheung

Assistant Product Manager at Mentholatum (Asia Pacific) Limited

Efficient email blocking safeguards our communication, though advanced features remain needed

They need to provide a Sandbox to safely examine phishing links within emails without infecting our network. Also, I would like more end-to-end email tracing for a clearer understanding of why an email was blocked or not blocked. The current version is somewhat outdated, and I am looking for advanced features in the premium version.

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Koffi Martial Assouman

Pre-Sales Support Engineer at GTN (Groupe de Technologies et de Negoce)

I would say the solution is stable. We've deployed it here for one year, and for the moment, we've had no issues

I would rate the product as seven out of 10. The product needs maintenance only if something is wrong with the configuration. If so, we are always available to reconfigure or make some adjustments, and the app system numbers are very available. Anytime we need them, they're there for us. The last time I called the engineer in charge of the product, he told me everything was fine apart from the setup. They want to add more ports about a dedicated service that he cannot do for us. I asked him to take a snapshot and send it to me so I can forward it to the system group. The solution can be deployed in companies of any size. One thing I would recommend to anyone contemplating implementing the product would be, don't be put off because Clearswift Secure Web Gateway is not at the top on Gartner. That does not mean it's not a good solution. I think all the solutions are equal. It all depends on how you deploy the solution and where you put it.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Granular setup, which was able to set different levels of filters using the OUs in the AD."

"Content filtering is the most useful feature of iboss."

"The console is cloud-based, which is something I really appreciate."

"iboss is pretty scalable. They provide good support. The case managers you work with to coordinate what you need are pretty good."

"Because of iboss, I did not have to assign web filtering tasks to my techs on a daily basis."

"I would definitely recommend iboss for web filtering purposes to other organizations or individuals."

"Because of iboss, I did not have to assign web filtering tasks to my techs on a daily basis."

"Our primary use case for this product is DLP,"

More iboss pros

"I like that it does a lot of malicious content and is easy to manage. There are a lot of checkboxes, and you can add your own URLs or get it preconfigured."

"The Barracuda solution has improved the way we function by consolidating threat management and network optimization in one standalone appliance."

"The support is fantastic, which is one of the reasons that I love the solution."

"I would recommend this product to others as it has been serving its purpose in our environment and we never had any major issues with it."

"I have found the most valuable the ability to have insight into our web traffic and control its flow."

"The solution is very simple to use and implement."

"The overall performance of the product is great."

"The most valuable features are Barracuda's policies for filtering various websites according to the organization's policies and blocking traffic for any P2P application like torrents."

More Barracuda Web Security and Filtering pros

"With the Clearswift Secure Web Gateway, we have three antivirus engines searching the cloud web for any heuristics, malware, and viruses that may be contained on a URL or in a document attached to your emails or your traffic."

Cons

"Their on-premise hardware's network interface is capped at one gigabit, which is sort of a problem. If you stand a filter up where all traffic flows through that, according to them, in order to go above a gigabit, you have to have multiple devices, which in today's IT seems a little bit silly. They could easily put in an SFP port into their device that could accommodate 10 gigs or at least offer a box."

"To scale up, a new iboss Node Blade Chassis must be purchased."

"The dashboards for local use could be better."

"One thing I would like to see differently with their Zero Trust platform is that some of the AI aspects related to high-risk activities have more false positives."

"If they could implement an extra security layer preventing access to iboss from the open internet, it would be great."

"Sometimes, obviously, there are bugs."

"The reporting feature needs improvement."

"Iboss is growing so fast that it is often hard for them to keep up with the challenges."

More iboss cons

"Barracuda products are cheap."

"If they're not able to help us get their product over to a new platform, that's not very good."

"This solution is substantially more expensive than the competitors out there, including Titan HQ or Limecast."

"The price could be better."

"Considering other tier-one applications, like Next-Generation Firewall, they also have web security in-built within their appliances or applications. Barracuda is still lagging behind in features like that, so they need to update if they want to be in the top spot."

"The solution’s customer support should be improved."

"The AD agent is an issue which my customers and I have encountered. Sometimes it refuses to start and, only as time goes by, does it become apparent that things are not working the way they should."

More Barracuda Web Security and Filtering cons

"Most of our clients want to use a web proxy integrated with other functionalities, like reverse proxies, and if we could add a firewall policy to this process, it would be better."

"if we could add a firewall policy to this process, it would be better."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is probably in line with other solutions, but I do not deal with the financial side."

"We have not priced the solution recently, but they were competitive with other vendors in the past."

"It is expensive compared to one of its competitors."

"The overall pricing for iboss is very competitive and transparent."

"We had the cost of purchasing a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs. However, the following year, the cost of just licensing was similar to what was paid the previous year for a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs."

"It is not expensive, and it is also not cheap. iboss is priced right in the sweet spot for the number of features it offers."

"It is a cost-effective solution."

"The price could be better. Barracuda started adding more features at the end of 2022. There was no price increase if you bought the maintenance package before the end of 2022. If you signed a three-year contract, you are lucky because there won't be a price increase on those features. Their pricing has increased if you wanted to install all of their features. But they are segmenting. You can buy the whole group, or you can get pieces. But it's tedious. The cost is getting higher than it should."

"The pricing and licensing are comparatively reasonable."

"The solution's pricing is neither cheap nor expensive."

"Barracuda products are cheap."

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

11%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Government

10%

Comms Service Provider

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	6

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	10
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	1

No data available

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with iboss?

For zero trust implementation, we encountered complexity issues, especially with a large infrastructure company Exxon...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for iboss?

Previously when I used iboss, we did the POC for iboss for ExxonMobil. Four or five people wanted to move from our ol...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for iboss?

Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing, iboss is not cheap, and that's my only concern. There are cheaper alte...

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What needs improvement with Barracuda Web Security Gateway?

They need to provide a Sandbox to safely examine phishing links within emails without infecting our network. Also, I ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Barracuda Web Security Gateway?

Mainly, I use it for blocking suspicious emails, such as malware or phishing emails, so they don't pass through our e...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Barracuda Web Security Gateway?

Those who want to use Barracuda Web Security and Filtering should look for more up-to-date and advanced functionality...

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

March 2026

Download iboss product report

Buyer's Guide

Barracuda Web Security and Filtering

March 2026

Barracuda Web Security and Filtering report

Download Barracuda Web Security and Filtering product report

Buyer's Guide

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

February 2026

Fortra's Clearswift Secure Web Gateway report

Download Fortra's Clearswift Secure Web Gateway product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

Barracuda Web Security Gateway, Barracuda Web Filter

No data available

Overview

Iboss offers a comprehensive cloud-based security platform valued for its scalability and autonomous features, ensuring robust security with easy deployment and management capabilities.

Renowned for its robust security architecture, Iboss integrates seamlessly within diverse networks, delivering efficient granular filtering and advanced content categorization. Its single pane of glass console provides ease of management, allowing rapid scalability suitable for rapidly deploying environments. Operates in BYOD setups due to inline filtering without device installation. Integration with cloud-based applications enhances user control, and features like SASE, SSL inspection, and ChatGPT risk protection stand as highlights. Despite its strengths, users have pointed out areas for enhancement like direct navigation in reports, SSL decryption, and better cloud integration while having room to improve data loss prevention.

What are the most important features of Iboss?

Scalability: Supports rapid deployment across diverse networks.
SASE: A consolidated approach to secure access.
SSL Inspection: Ensures safe data transmission.
Granular Filtering: Detailed control over accessible content.
Single Pane Management: Unifies control through a centralized console.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

Cost-effectiveness: Offers competitive pricing with robust features.
Autonomous Operation: Reduces management overhead.
Responsive Support: Provides assistance when needed.
Flexible Deployment: Available for both cloud and on-premises environments.

The usage of Iboss spans educational institutions, specifically K-12, to enforce internet policies, protect data, and support remote work environments. It provides web filtering and security frameworks to ensure safe browsing. Its platform-as-a-service model offers flexibility for both cloud-based and on-premises requirements, integrating seamlessly to deliver enhanced security features suitable for various deployment needs including zero trust, CASB, and network security for work-from-home setups.

iboss

Barracuda Web Security Gateway lets organizations benefit from online applications and tools without exposure to web-borne malware and viruses, lost user productivity, and misused bandwidth. As a comprehensive solution for web security and management, it unites award-winning spyware, malware, and virus protection with a powerful policy and reporting engine. Advanced features ensure that organizations adapt to emerging requirements like social-network regulation, remote filtering, and visibility into SSL-encrypted traffic.

Unlimited remote user licenses are included to enforce content and access policies for mobile and desktop devices outside of the corporate network. Barracuda Web Security Gateway is also available as a virtual appliance.

Barracuda Networks

Fortra's Clearswift Secure Web Gateway provides a robust solution for threat prevention and data protection, ensuring secure internet access while maintaining compliance. Companies looking to enhance their web security posture can benefit from its advanced features.

Designed for comprehensive web protection, Fortra's Clearswift Secure Web Gateway combines deep content inspection with adaptive data loss prevention technologies. It effectively mitigates threats through real-time analysis and custom policy implementation, catering to precise security requirements. Integration flexibility allows seamless incorporation into existing IT environments, optimizing security without compromising performance.

What are the key features of Fortra's Clearswift Secure Web Gateway?

Deep Content Inspection: Analyzes web traffic to identify and mitigate sophisticated threats.
Adaptive Data Loss Prevention: Prevents unauthorized data sharing with flexible policy tools.
Granular Policy Control: Offers personalized security management protocols.
Advanced Threat Protection: Shields against malware and phishing with proactive measures.
Seamless Integration: Fits within any IT infrastructure for enhanced protection without performance loss.

What are the benefits and ROI of Fortra's Clearswift Secure Web Gateway?

Enhanced Security: Mitigates advanced threats ensuring robust data protection.
Compliance Support: Helps meet regulatory requirements through adaptive policy management.
Operational Efficiency: Streamlines security processes, reducing IT workload.
Cost-Effectiveness: Offers value through comprehensive threat mitigation.

Fortra's Clearswift Secure Web Gateway is widely implemented across diverse industries such as finance, healthcare, and education. Its ability to seamlessly integrate within industry-specific regulatory environments while providing strong data protection makes it an ideal choice for organizations seeking reliable web security.

Fortra

Sample Customers

More than 4,000 global enterprises trust the iboss Cloud Platform to support their modern workforces, including a large number of Fortune 50 companies.

Citizen Farmers Finance, Osoyoos Credit Union, Supreme Services, Camden County Technical Schools, Frederick County Schools, Pine Belt Mental Healthcare, Paulsboro Public Schools, Dysart Unified School District, St. Michael's Grammar School, Southfield Schools District, Total Threat Protection - Wade Ford, Alain Pinel Realtors, Southfield Public Schools, Major League Baseball (MLB)

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

February 2026

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