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Check Point Application Control vs WatchGuard Application Control comparison

Check Point Software Technologies and WatchGuard are both solutions in the Application Control category. Check Point Software Technologies is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.3, while WatchGuard is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.0. Check Point Software Technologies holds a 6.0% mindshare in AC, compared to WatchGuard’s 2.9% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Check Point Software Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of WatchGuard users who would recommend it.
Check Point Application Con...
Read 41 Check Point Application Control reviews
  • 483 Views
  • 483 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
WatchGuard Application Control
Read 9 WatchGuard Application Control reviews
  • 196 Views
  • 196 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 29, 2025

Check Point Application Control and WatchGuard Application Control are both prominent in managing application traffic and security. Check Point appears to have the upper hand due to its extensive application recognition and more robust features.

Features: Check Point Application Control boasts a comprehensive application database supporting over 8,000 applications with granular control, including features like blocking specific app functionalities while allowing general access. It also provides seamless integration with tools such as SmartConsole and benefits from automatic updates to safeguard against the latest threats. In contrast, WatchGuard Application Control is favored for its zero-trust capability and user-friendly design but does not offer the extensive database and granularity found in Check Point.

Room for Improvement: Check Point users suggest enhancements in pricing structures and categorization, alongside a call for better documentation and integration features. Some users find HTTPS Inspection necessary despite its impact on performance. For WatchGuard, cost is the main focus for improvement, with a desire for more affordable options, as well as a request for a more intuitive user experience and improved reporting capabilities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both Check Point and WatchGuard Application Control offer versatile deployment options across various environments. Check Point receives mixed reviews on customer support—ranging from commendable to requiring faster resolution times. WatchGuard shares similar deployment flexibility. However, its customer support is regarded as competent, though users desire stronger support for upgrades and maintenance.

Pricing and ROI: Check Point is often viewed as expensive despite the sophisticated features justifying the high initial investment, resulting in positive ROI due to enhanced security and productivity. Similarly, WatchGuard is noted as slightly pricey, with its licensing model on user count seen as straightforward. Both solutions contribute to significant ROI by enhancing security measures and optimizing operational efficiency, yet Check Point is documented with more extensive ROI reports attributed to broader functionality.

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To learn more, read our detailed Check Point Application Control vs. WatchGuard Application Control Report (Updated: July 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Check Point Application Control vs. WatchGuard Application Control
July 2025
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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

Check Point Application Con...
Ranking in Application Control
3rd
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
41
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
WatchGuard Application Control
Ranking in Application Control
8th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
9
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Application Control category, the mindshare of Check Point Application Control is 6.0%, down from 7.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of WatchGuard Application Control is 2.9%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Application Control
 

Featured Reviews

Jivesh Sharma - PeerSpot reviewer
Control application access and optimize bandwidth for enhanced productivity
Check Point Application Control can be improved, particularly in policy management. When we add applications in the policy, we currently have the option to select individual applications, but a feature allowing categorization of applications based on types, such as social media applications, would make it easier to add multiple or bulk applications in the policy. This feature would be very valuable if introduced. Feedback from management about how these changes improved productivity and network performance has been positive. Users were spending their time watching videos on YouTube or streaming content, wasting time on Instagram and Facebook while in the office. Managers complained about this, leading to compliance policies being defined to restrict access to these kinds of applications.
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ScottEastman - PeerSpot reviewer
Reliable with good blocking capabilities for enhanced security
We like the blocking capabilities on offer. I like the brand, and I know the product really well, which is what keeps me using it. I have a good knowledge of the solution. It is stable and reliable. The solution can scale well. Technical support has been helpful. We have witnessed an ROI as it has helped with security measures.
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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

"This solution is stable and we have not had any issues."
"The most valuable feature of Check Point Application Control is VPN access and the ability to lock out sites we do not want users to have access. The reporting monitoring software in Check Point Application Control is fantastic. For example, log filtering is beneficial."
"One of the greatest capacities and the benefits it gives us is the ability to control applications based on defining access or denial policies in specific applications, groups, or category profiles."
"Its implementation is simple."
"The most important characteristic is granularity, which allows our teams to have different security profiles depending on the department to be protected."
"It improved the performance outcome for all our verticals due to more automation in system security, which helped in the identification and blockage of malware-affected applications and widgets."
"Check Point enables us to save internet bandwidth. The administration offers good guidance. We don't want the employees to access social networking on work computers because it will distract them from their jobs, so we can block that. It also helps us to implement changes very quickly and to get people to be more focused on the job."
"The ability to be able to do dynamic rate limiting on specific applications has been a valuable feature."
More Check Point Application Control pros
"The most valuable feature of this solution is traffic management."
"It's user-friendly. And if you are using a WatchGuard device and you want to test that side of the software, it's quite easy to get the license to test it."
"Centralization is a crucial feature for me as it allows me to have all sites and customers accessible under a single click, not limited to just one."
"It does the job of what it says it does. We set it to what we want it to block and then it blocks it."
"I found several features valuable in WatchGuard Application Control such as the HTTP Proxy, DNSWatch, VPN, and HTTPS Content Inspection."
"The most valuable feature is the category control."
"The solution is very stable. We've never had any problems with stability. Once a year we do a reboot just as a precaution. The solution never stops running otherwise."
"We have witnessed an ROI as it has helped with security measures."
More WatchGuard Application Control pros
 

Cons

"Custom applications for internal applications must be defined frequently."
"We expect applications to be updated regularly."
"The guides used today are a bit complex, and we need efficient and simple access to them so that any administrative or technical person can solve, analyze, and configure each of the rules and identities seamlessly."
"They are expensive products due to the fact that we have to buy blades for each solution that we want to integrate into our corporate."
"Check Point Application Control needs to ensure that they release up-to-date security patches regularly. It should release better documentation so end-users can use the product without depending on the support team."
"Seeing the capabilities and features that we are using today, we can say that we could expect an additional feature that could allow us to integrate this management and even security with APIs."
"The whitelisting approach should only be on very specific applications. In which only a server should access a certain application and nothing else. If you miss something, you will have to always be investigating why it doesn't have access or why an application is not working."
"If you want to use Application Control over your whole environment you have to license it for all gateways. Otherwise, you can only work with a subset of it. Therefore, pricing can be quite an issue."
More Check Point Application Control cons
"The control software is currently only available for Windows, which can be a little annoying for Linux users."
"What could be improved in WatchGuard Application Control is its price. It could be cheaper. You always want the best price for any solution, but for security products, pricing is usually on the higher side."
"There should be more reports available on different subjects."
"The solution needs to improve the interface. I'm not able to easily find things using it."
"The licensing can be a bit expensive."
"I believe there is room for improvement in policies, with the potential to enhance the margins further."
"They could expand the amount of applications that are on the list, but it's pretty intensive anyway, so it's pretty good."
"There is no message displayed for the user on the desktop informing them that access to a web page has been blocked by Application Control."
More WatchGuard Application Control cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The blade has its cost but you can take advantage of the license package to pay less for it."
"Check Point Application Control is expensive. The tool's licensing costs are yearly."
"I think application control has become a basic feature and it should be enabled automatically, without having to purchase a separate license for it."
"The price of Check Point Application Control is high. The support and ecosystem around the solution are expensive."
"It's a bit expensive and it could be cheaper, but it's part of business politics."
"The licensing model for WatchGuard Application Control is based on the number of users. WatchGuard Application Control also has licensing models with several features."
"Over the years, the costs have increased, especially since I cater to very small businesses."
"Its cost is okay. It is not too expensive, not too low. I would rate it a nine out of ten in terms of pricing."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Construction Company
9%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Check Point Application Control?
It has many important features that have greatly helped the company and the IT department.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Check Point Application Control?
My experience with the pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Check Point Application Control is that the pricing is a bit high, but the features provided justify the cost. The features that Check ...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Check Point Application Control?
Check Point Application Control could be improved, particularly regarding the application categorization accuracy as we often face miscategorization issues. The database should be updated properly ...
See all answers
What do you like most about WatchGuard Application Control?
Centralization is a crucial feature for me as it allows me to have all sites and customers accessible under a single click, not limited to just one.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for WatchGuard Application Control?
Over the years, the costs have increased, especially since I cater to very small businesses. While they comprehend the necessity of investing in network protection, these features have become relat...
See all answers
What needs improvement with WatchGuard Application Control?
I believe there is room for improvement in policies, with the potential to enhance the margins further.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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VMware Carbon Black App Control vs Check Point Application Control
Compared 100% of the time
More Check Point Application Control Competitors
No data available
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Check Point Application Control
July 2025
Check Point Application Control reportDownload Check Point Application Control product report
Buyer's Guide
WatchGuard Application Control
July 2025
WatchGuard Application Control reportDownload WatchGuard Application Control product report
 

Overview



Check Point Application Control provides the industry’s strongest application security and identity control to organizations of all sizes. It enables IT teams to easily create granular policies, based on users or groups, to identify, block or limit usage of thousands of Web applications and widgets.

Learn more about Application control software

Check Point Software Technologies

Organizations of all sizes rely on various applications for daily business operations, but how do you ensure only sanctioned applications are being used on your network? With WatchGuard Application Control, you have the power to limit application usage, and keep unproductive, inappropriate, and dangerous applications off your network.

WatchGuard
 

Sample Customers

SEB, Luma Arles, Terma, Aerospace, Midwest Rubber
Chester School District, Kensington Close Hotel
Buyer's Guide
Check Point Application Control vs. WatchGuard Application Control
July 2025
Free Report: Check Point Application Control vs. WatchGuard Application Control
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