Check Point Application Control vs WatchGuard Firebox comparison

Check Point Application Control vs. WatchGuard Firebox

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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

Fortinet FortiGate

Featured Reviews

Vasu Gala

Manager, Information Technology Operation/Presales at TechMonarch

A stable solution with an intuitive interface and quick customer service

I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate, WatchGuard, Sophos, and SonicWall. I'm not as comfortable with SonicWall because of their UI and limitations. I prefer Fortinet above all other options. When it comes to configuration, I am confident in my ability to handle various tasks, including creating policies such as firewall rules, web policies, and application policies. Additionally, I can configure VPNs and implement load balancing, among other tasks. Overall, I feel much more comfortable working with Fortinet. Fortinet has made significant improvements by integrating AI with firewalls for threat analysis and prevention. In the past 2-3 years, they have launched FortiSASE and SIEM, and they also provide SOC services. Both Palo Alto and Fortinet FortiGate are excellent. While Fortinet FortiGate comes at higher prices, the functionality and support justify the cost. They promptly resolve firmware issues and inform all support providers about configuration changes.

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Jivesh Sharma

Technical Support Executive at Softcell Technologies Limited

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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Rajesh Makwana

Regional Pre-Sales Engineer at Roundrobin Tech

Efficient bandwidth management and secure network access with a strong firewall

The primary use case of the Firebox mainly revolves around bandwidth management, unnecessary web blocking, application control, and protection against brute force attacks. It is also implemented for load balancing, SD-WAN, and branch-to-branch connectivity from one location to another. We also use…

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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

"The most valuable feature of this solution is the analytics."

"The most valuable features of the solution are SD-WAN, filtering testing applications, web filtering, and the new VPN."

"Layer-3 firewall and routing are the most valuable features."

"The web tutor and automatic rules by schedule are good features."

"The reporting you receive out of this appliance is excellent. You will not need an external management system."

"The product is very stable, easy to troubleshoot, and configure, so it has reduced the time it takes for support."

"Overall security features and performance routing is good."

"The dashboard I have found the most valuable in Fortinet FortiGate."

More Fortinet FortiGate pros

"The best value we have is their actionable reports on user analytics, events, and activity that are extracted from their database."

"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."

"It has many important features that have greatly helped the company and the IT department."

"The overall security of the environment has been greatly improved by the Check Point NGFWs. Before implementing the Check Point solutions, we relied on the Cisco ACLs and Zone-Based firewalls configured on the switches and routers, which in fact a simple stateful firewall, and currently appear to be not an efficient solution for protecting from the advanced threats."

"We can control bandwidth and high-risk application access from our network using application control."

"The ability to be able to do dynamic rate limiting on specific applications has been a valuable feature."

"We can easily switch from a classical firewall to a next-gen firewall using application security."

"The most important characteristic is granularity, which allows our teams to have different security profiles depending on the department to be protected."

More Check Point Application Control pros

"The features that I have found most valuable are the FireWall features. The management side of WatchGuard is quite easy because it supports two ways to manage it - by the web and the other one they call WatchGuard systems manager. I used to be familiar with WSM only, but they improved their GUI in the web browser and now it is much easier to do it within the web browser."

"I recommend Firebox since this device will not let anyone down."

"The main features of the solution are the control of the site-to-site network access and the overall features."

"The most valuable feature of WatchGuard Firebox is its ease of use."

"The most valuable feature, in my opinion, is the dimension logging platform and the network traffic filtering."

"HostWatch makes it so I can see, in real-time, activity in the event that there is something weird happening on the network. This simplifies my job."

"The Firebox offers valuable features such as network security, URL filtering, UTM features, intrusion prevention and detection, and authentication."

"I like that this product has very few issues."

More WatchGuard Firebox pros

Cons

"The WAF is extremely limited."

"In terms of pricing, Fortinet needs to do more to compete effectively."

"Fortinet FortiGate can improve the integration with Active Directory. Additionally, I would like to have a Cloud Controller, such as they do in the Cisco Meraki solution."

"The routing capability on the FortiGate devices has room for improvement."

"The solution needs to improve its integration with cybersecurity."

"FortiGate can only retain logs for 24 hours or 7 days. I'm not sure if it holds them for a longer period, such as for a month."

"The integration with third-party tools may be something that they should work on."

"I often ask for help from the local provider. I haven't found the required efficient help."

More Fortinet FortiGate cons

"Check Point licenses are somewhat expensive."

"It is expensive."

"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."

"Usability needs to be improved."

"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."

"Custom applications for internal applications must be defined frequently."

"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."

"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 software base, the management piece that goes onto a server, is not as user-friendly as I would like. There are three different pieces that you have to manage, so it's a little bit convoluted, in my opinion."

"I think one area for improvement in this solution would be enhancing communication with tools like Active Directory. This would make the tool easier to integrate and effective for users."

"WatchGuard Data Loss Prevention needs to improve its support."

"The UI and web view aren't nice."

"The reporting is a little on the weak side. I would like to see a better reporting set and easier drill-down options."

"The pricing could be improved. It is definitely one of the more expensive products."

"I would like to see more training become available for us."

"There should be more reports available on different subjects."

More WatchGuard Firebox cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Fortinet costs are 25% lower than the high-cost provider. There is an equipment cost and a recurring monthly cost for licenses and technical support."

"Their licensing costs are annual. The UTM feature license along with their support is called FortiCare. We include that as a part of the annual maintenance cost. Palo Alto or Juniper also have an annual subscription charge for UTM. Price, of course, can always be more competitive, but it is not the most expensive product. The price-performance ratio is quite high for FortiGate."

"The pricing of the solution is very competitive."

"If you purchase a one-year subscription with the hardware and then you want to renew for the second year, it is very costly."

"The price of FortiGate is comparable to that of most other firewall solutions and is more affordable than Cisco."

"The Fortinet FortiGate security features cost approximately $1,500 a year. The firewall itself doesn't have a recurring cost. It's the security features on top of that that you pay for."

"The price is high compared to some of the other solutions."

"Price-wise, it's at a good price point for our market."

More Fortinet FortiGate pricing and cost advice

"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."

"It's a bit expensive and it could be cheaper, but it's part of business politics."

"The blade has its cost but you can take advantage of the license package to pay less for it."

"The price of Check Point Application Control is high. The support and ecosystem around the solution are expensive."

"The price is comparable."

"They license it. When we buy it, we buy it with a three-year license. That's the most cost-effective way to do it. So, if you're going to buy it, then buy it with the three-year licensing."

"Their price point worked, which is the reason why we stayed with WatchGuard."

"WatchGuard Firebox is a cheap solution."

"We pay about $3,500 every three years."

"The solution's most valuable feature is its pricing."

"The price is so small that I don't pay attention to it anymore. I think we pay a few thousand dollars for two to three years, so about $100 per month. That's for all of our users. There is an additional cost if we want to go with a deeper licensing model, but we just pay for antivirus, IPS, and main product support."

"It costs me about $800 a year."

More WatchGuard Firebox pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

14%

Performing Arts

11%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Retailer

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

Which is the better NGFW: Fortinet Fortigate or Cisco Firepower?

When you compare these firewalls you can identify them with different features, advantages, practices and usage a...

What is the biggest difference between Sophos XG and FortiGate?

From my experience regarding both the Sophos and FortiGate firewalls, I personally would rather use FortiGate. I know...

What are the biggest technical differences between Sophos UTM and Fortinet FortiGate?

As a solution, Sophos UTM offers a lot of functionality, it scales well, and the stability and performance are quite ...

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.

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 ...

What needs improvement with Check Point Application Control?

Check Point Application Control could be improved, particularly regarding the application categorization accuracy as ...

What is your primary use case for WatchGuard Firebox?

We are providing our services to all WatchGuard customers in the region.

What is your primary use case for WatchGuard Firebox?

We just use it as a secondary WiFi device. We're a small office and we needed to set up a WiFi device for a few of ou...

What is your primary use case for WatchGuard Firebox?

We're a hospital and we use it for developing our incoming and outgoing policies, and we also use it for VPN.

Sophos XG vs Fortinet FortiGate

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SonicWall TZ vs WatchGuard Firebox

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Product Reports

Fortinet FortiGate

Download Fortinet FortiGate product report

Check Point Application Control

Download Check Point Application Control product report

Download WatchGuard Firebox product report

WatchGuard Firebox

July 2025

Also Known As

FortiGate 60b, FortiGate 60c, FortiGate 80c, FortiGate 50b, FortiGate 200b, FortiGate 110c, FortiGate, Fortinet Firewall

No data available

WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response, WatchGuard Application Control, WatchGuard Data Loss Prevention, WatchGuard Gateway AntiVirus, WatchGuard Intrusion Prevention Service

Overview

Fortinet FortiGate offers comprehensive network security and firewall protection across multiple locations. It effectively manages data traffic and secures environments with features like VPN, intrusion prevention, and UTM controls.

Organizations rely on Fortinet FortiGate for its robust integration with advanced security policies, ensuring significant protection for enterprises, cloud environments, and educational sectors. It facilitates network segmentation, application-level security, and authentication management, securing communication within and between locations such as branches and data centers. Its efficient SD-WAN and UTM features enable streamlined data management and enhanced threat protection capabilities. Users appreciate its centralized management, facilitating seamless operations across diverse environments.

What are the key features of Fortinet FortiGate?

VPN Capabilities: Ensure secure remote access for users and seamless site-to-site connections.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Detect and prevent security threats and vulnerabilities.
Advanced Firewall: Offers robust firewalling with application control and web filtering.
SD-WAN: Optimizes application performance and enhances bandwidth management.
SSL VPN: Provides reliable and secure access for remote workers.

What benefits should users expect from Fortinet FortiGate?

High-performance Security: Delivers effective threat mitigation with high availability.
Centralized Management: Simplifies network operations with cloud-based management tools.
Detailed Analytics: Provides comprehensive insights into network activity and security threats.
Load Balancing: Ensures optimal resource distribution and traffic management.

Fortinet FortiGate is crucial in sectors like education, offering robust networks for secure data flow between campuses and facilitating remote learning. In enterprise environments, it allows efficient management of application traffic and security across multiple branches, while in the cloud, it seamlessly integrates with diverse platforms to enhance security infrastructure.

Fortinet

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

WatchGuard Firebox is a high-performance firewall known for its ease of setup, offering robust security with layered protection and centralized management capabilities.

WatchGuard Firebox stands out for its intuitive management and high throughput, addressing security needs with features like VPN, web filtering, and threat detection. Its centralized control and reporting abilities, along with Active Directory integration, make it popular among varied organizations. Its user-friendly interface and ongoing updates enhance usability and reliability. However, there's a call for better cloud-based administration, scalability, and improved integration with third-party vendors.

What are the key features of WatchGuard Firebox?

Ease of Setup: Quick and straightforward installation process.
GUI: User-friendly graphical interface for simplified navigation.
VPN Features: Secure and efficient virtual private network management.
Web Filtering: Advanced filtering for safer browsing experiences.
Threat Detection: Proactive monitoring and detection of cyber threats.

What benefits or ROI should be evaluated?

Centralized Control: Streamlined management from a single point.
High Throughput: Efficient data handling and processing capacity.
Stable Performance: Consistent and reliable operational functionality.
Active Directory Integration: Seamless connection with user directories.
Customer Service: Strong support service for customer inquiries.

WatchGuard Firebox is implemented across industries to secure internet gateways and protect data in multi-site businesses. Its applications span from Unified Threat Management (UTM) and intrusion prevention to compliance support in business environments requiring secure connectivity through VPNs.

WatchGuard

Sample Customers

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, BT Group, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, NTT Communications, Tata Communications, SoftBank, China Mobile, Singtel, Telus, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telkom Indonesia, Telkom South Africa, Telmex, Telia Company, Telkom Kenya

SEB, Luma Arles, Terma, Aerospace, Midwest Rubber

Ellips, Diecutstickers.com, Clarke Energy, NCR, Wrest Park, Homeslice Pizza, Fortessa Tableware Solutions, The Phoenix Residence

Check Point Application Control vs. WatchGuard Firebox