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Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) vs OPNsense comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 1, 2026

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
7.0
Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) provides value by enhancing security, increasing efficiency, and justifying investment through operational and financial benefits.
Sentiment score
3.0
Numerous users reported substantial financial savings and improved network security with OPNsense compared to alternatives like FortiGate or Sophos.
This is a time-saving measure because we don't need to deploy a cluster or a firewall each time; we just create a virtual system on the management server using the same appliance.
Security Engineer at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees
Not having major security incidents has been far less expensive than dealing with data that could cost us hundreds of thousands or even millions in recovery and downtime.
Network Security Engineer at Connecting Cyber Networks
Incident response time has reduced significantly, and downtime due to network issues has been minimized, leading to an improved return on investment.
Ot Security Network Specialist at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
The network attacks reduced by approximately 60% after using that, even without customizing the custom configuration yet.
Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer at a real estate/law firm with 11-50 employees
For a very little investment, I was able to increase the security of my network.
Administrator at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.2
Check Point Quantum Force support is knowledgeable but varies in efficiency, with advanced support offering priority assistance.
Sentiment score
5.3
OPNsense users mostly find community forums and documentation sufficient, though some express dissatisfaction with official support availability and cost.
If we have an urgent security problem, it would be nice to get a faster response.
Network Security Engineer at Connecting Cyber Networks
The support team we engaged was knowledgeable and well-versed with the application.
Sr. Cyber Security and Solutions Architect at a consultancy with 201-500 employees
We have escalated issues to Check Point technical support multiple times and have received timely and very good responses.
Solution Architect at Techbridge Distribution
Compared to some open-source projects with weak support, OPNsense stands out for having both a strong community and commercial backing options.
ISO 27001 Lead Implementer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
I mainly rely on community support since the solution is open source.
Senior Client Solutions Architect at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
If you say you do not have one, it is finished. This is where the monopoly starts.
Senior Solutions Engineer at a educational organization with 201-500 employees
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Check Point Quantum Force offers scalable architecture for growing demands, with easy expansion and effective workload management, though costs may rise.
Sentiment score
6.8
OPNsense offers scalable and flexible network solutions, effectively supporting mid-sized to enterprise needs with appropriate hardware or virtualization.
If specified correctly, even the smaller boxes offer high session and bandwidth rates, making the solution highly scalable, even up to telco-level requirements.
Solutions Architect at NTT DATA
It is easy to scale up by adding capacity through clustering or upgrading the license, and it effectively handles spikes in remote user connections or increased east-west traffic without noticeable bottlenecks.
Assistant Manager at a computer software company with 201-500 employees
While the performance itself scales well technically, you need to be prepared for the financial side of the growth.
Network Security Engineer at Connecting Cyber Networks
I use Zenarmor, pinning it to one core for packet inspection, and the CPU performance seems very good.
Senior Client Solutions Architect at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
OPNsense's scalability is excellent; I just need to resize my hardware and upgrade the server, and voilà, I am good to go.
Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer at a real estate/law firm with 11-50 employees
In theory, OPNsense can handle small home networks and even large enterprise environments if deployed on sufficiently powerful hardware or virtualized on a clustered system.
ISO 27001 Lead Implementer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.2
Check Point Quantum Force is highly stable with minimal downtime, offering reliable performance and robust security, minor patch issues exist.
Sentiment score
7.3
OPNsense is stable with occasional issues; praised for security and UI, performance varies with hardware and resource availability.
We have not experienced major crashes or unexpected downtime that affected our network security.
Network Security Engineer at Connecting Cyber Networks
While the solution is generally stable, there are complications, such as requiring SmartConsole for deployment and upgrades, which can be time-consuming.
Head of Technology at Techfruits
I have worked with Check Point products for 15 years and haven't found any stability or performance issues.
Solution Architect at Techbridge Distribution
For home and small network use, OPNsense is also reliable, providing enterprise-grade security at no cost.
ISO 27001 Lead Implementer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
The only challenge faced was its inadequacy to manage large voice traffic effectively, even with dedicated hardware.
Senior Network Engineer at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees
At the latest code level, I haven't experienced any crashes.
Senior Client Solutions Architect at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
 

Room For Improvement

Check Point Quantum Force NGFW needs interface improvements, simpler pricing, better support, and enhanced features for ease of use.
OPNsense users face VPN setup issues, inadequate documentation, performance shortfalls, high pricing, and request better usability and features.
AI-driven features would be highly valuable—particularly those that enable bulk operations and efficient handling of large numbers of objects or object groups.
Technical Specialist at Softcell Technologies Limited
One thing that would help in improving Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) is having more flexible dashboards that I can tailor without relying on templates.
system administrator at Orbcom,Lda.
Other products, like FortiGate, are perceived as more intuitive because they are easier to configure from the start.
Solutions Architect at NTT DATA
Enhancing its performance for significant amounts of data traffic would make it closer to a perfect solution.
Senior Network Engineer at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees
It would be beneficial if they could create some videos on how to set it up themselves.
Administrator at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
The documentation should be clearer because I faced some difficulties navigating many options.
ISO 27001 Lead Implementer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
 

Setup Cost

Check Point Quantum Force offers strong security, with higher costs, complex licensing, but great value for mid-to-large enterprises.
OPNsense is a cost-effective, open-source solution for enterprises, reducing expenses compared to FortiGate and Palo Alto alternatives.
In comparison to Fortinet and other products, the pricing may be considered high.
Head of Technology at Techfruits
licensing is very pricey
Network Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Compared to other solutions, the pricing of Check Point NGFW is high.
Solution Architect at Techbridge Distribution
I consider the pricing of OPNsense to be high when compared with other market products.
Senior Network Engineer at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees
OPNsense is free, the licensing and setup was easy.
Administrator at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
 

Valuable Features

Check Point Quantum Force offers advanced cybersecurity features, enhancing network protection, user productivity, and threat management through AI-powered intelligence.
OPNsense provides user-friendly configuration, robust security features, and adaptability, making it ideal for enterprise and IT network management.
The firewall's default behavior of blocking all traffic, including a cleanup rule that blocks everything from external to internal sources, is highly valuable for protecting our network.
Cyber Security Analyst at airtel
The most valuable features in my experience include perimeter firewalling, cloud and mobile security, application control, URL filtering, DLP, threat prevention, intrusion protection, and safeguarding against malware, botnets, and zero-day attacks.
Solutions Architect at NTT DATA
Since implementing it, we have noticed a lot less getting through that maybe other antivirus within firewalls had failed to catch.
Network Administrator at POET, LLC
The most valuable features include the basic firewall functionality and the GeoIP location services.
Senior Network Engineer at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees
I can have a Wi-Fi VLAN and feel secure that the server network or the VM network that I have on a different VLAN are isolated, and they cannot talk to one another, which adds a great level of security.
Administrator at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
It offers enterprise-grade features such as intrusion detection and prevention system, VPN support, traffic shaping, and web filtering, all without license cost.
ISO 27001 Lead Implementer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
 

Categories and Ranking

Check Point Quantum Force (...
Ranking in Firewalls
6th
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
346
Ranking in other categories
Unified Threat Management (UTM) (2nd)
OPNsense
Ranking in Firewalls
7th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
47
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Firewalls category, the mindshare of Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) is 2.9%, up from 2.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OPNsense is 7.9%, down from 11.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Firewalls Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)2.9%
OPNsense7.9%
Other89.2%
Firewalls
 

Featured Reviews

DS
Network Security Engineer at Connecting Cyber Networks
Advanced threat prevention has protected our perimeter and simplifies daily security operations
Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) can be improved in several areas. First, the interface could be a little more intuitive for new users. The Smart Console is powerful, but it has a steep learning curve when you start using it. Some simple functions for common tasks would help. Second, the initial setup and configuration take quite a bit of time and expertise. It would be helpful if there were more guides, wizards, or templates to speed that up. Third, the price model could be more transparent and flexible. The license cost can add up quickly, specifically when you want to add more advanced features. Finally, I would appreciate seeing better integration with some third-party security tools we use. Right now, we have to do a lot of manual work to make everything talk to each other. Overall, these are minor things. The core product is really solid and does what it is supposed to do very well. The documentation could be more comprehensive in some areas. When we run into issues, the documentation does not have clear answers, so we end up contacting support. Speaking of support, the response time could be faster sometimes. We have had cases where we need help with a certain security issue, and it takes longer than we would prefer to get a response. As for features, it would be nice to have more general reporting options so we can customize reports for different teams and stakeholders without having to do manual work afterward. One more thing, better mobile access to the dashboard would be helpful. Sometimes we need to check on security alerts when we are away from the office, and the mobile experience is not as smooth as it could be. Again, these are improvements that would make it even better, not issues with the core product itself.
Moutaz Sheikh Alard - PeerSpot reviewer
ISO 27001 Lead Implementer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
Has helped simulate enterprise security setups and strengthens network segmentation practices
For my capstone, I use OPNsense for my project and its broader benefits for enterprise and cybersecurity context. OPNsense is an open source based firewall and routing platform. It offers enterprise-grade features such as intrusion detection and prevention system, VPN support, traffic shaping, and web filtering, all without license cost. This platform has a modular design, a clean web-based GUI, and frequent updates that prioritize security and usability. It competes with commercial firewalls such as Cisco ASA, FortiGate, and Palo Alto, but stands out because it's community-driven, cost-effective, and transparent. I find OPNsense's feature of acting as a central firewall and gateway most valuable, providing robust point segmentation between the internal network and DMZs in my capstone project, intrusion detection to monitor malicious traffic, VPN services for secure remote access, and logging and monitoring for compliance and auditing. This allows me to simulate a real-world enterprise environment on a smaller scale, demonstrating both security hardening and network efficiency. OPNsense impacts my projects and home network positively because its cost-effectiveness is perfect for lab and enterprise setup without expensive licensing. The flexibility, easy VLAN and DMZ configuration supports different zones such as web servers, mail servers, and log servers. The security-first design for IDS/IPS integration helps me showcase modern defense-in-depth strategies. The user-friendly management through the web GUI makes it possible to manage complex firewall rules clearly, which is critical when documenting and presenting a capstone. Scalability is also an advantage. Although my project is lab-based, OPNsense can scale into production deployments in SMBs and enterprise.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Outsourcing Company
19%
Construction Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Computer Software Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
18%
Computer Software Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Outsourcing Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business164
Midsize Enterprise94
Large Enterprise198
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business32
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise8
 

Questions from the Community

How does Check Point NGFW compare with Fortinet Fortigate?
I have experience on both from Disti and channel experience. Please find below my comments (nothing new as such). -Check Point GUI is a bit complicated, -Application and Web filtering are better t...
Which would you recommend - Azure Firewall or Check Point NGFW?
Azure Firewall is easy to use and provides excellent support. Valuable features include integration into the overall cloud platform, autoscaling, and the ability for users to create virtual IP addr...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Check Point NGFW?
Our experience with pricing for Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) has been mixed. The initial setup costs were fairly significant because we needed to buy the hardware appliances and then pay for th...
What is the difference between PfSense and OPNsense?
Two of the most common and well recognized firewalls, PfSense and OPNsense both support site-to-site IPsec VPN and client, Open VPN and client, and PPTP client. Both also have intrusion detection a...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for OPNsense?
Setup cost is almost zero as one can simulate the whole environment using open source version. Pricing seems fair enough. Open source license allows a beginner to have a complete firewall solution ...
What needs improvement with OPNsense?
When I talk about VPN, I am not completely satisfied with the VPN functions of OPNsense. What I have received so far is that sometimes the VPN route caches for some time and sometimes I want to cha...
 

Also Known As

Check Point NG Firewall, Check Point Next Generation Firewall
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Control Southern, Optimal Media
1. Deciso B.V. 2. iXsystems, Inc.  3. EuroBSDCon  4. Netgate  5. Claranet  6. Voleatech  7. Open Systems AG  8. Securebit AG  9. Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH  10. AVM Computersysteme Vertriebs GmbH  Additional customers include: T-Systems International GmbH, Deutsche Telekom AG, Vodafone GmbH, 1&1 IONOS SE, OVHcloud, Hetzner Online GmbH, Strato AG, PlusServer GmbH, Host Europe GmbH, United Internet AG, 1&1 Versatel Deutschland GmbH, QSC AG, Bechtle AG, Cancom SE, Computacenter AG & Co. oHG, T-Systems Multimedia Solutions GmbH, Atos SE, Capgemini SE, Accenture plc, IBM Corporation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Find out what your peers are saying about Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) vs. OPNsense and other solutions. Updated: August 2026.
908,834 professionals have used our research since 2012.