Check Point UTM-1 [EOL] vs Fortinet FortiGate comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Check Point Software Technologies and Fortinet are both solutions in the Firewalls category. Additionally, 84% of Check Point Software Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Fortinet users who would recommend it.

Check Point UTM-1 [EOL]

Read 19 Check Point UTM-1 [EOL] reviews

84% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiGate

Read 594 Fortinet FortiGate reviews

92,243 Views
64,570 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Check Point UTM-1 [EOL]

Fortinet FortiGate

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 29, 2026

Check Point UTM-1 [EOL] and Fortinet FortiGate are in the network security appliance category. Fortinet FortiGate seems to have the upper hand due to its continued product updates and advanced features, making it a superior option to Check Point UTM-1 [EOL], which is no longer supported.

Features: Check Point UTM-1 [EOL] featured a user-friendly management interface, robust firewall protection, and reliable deployment processes. Fortinet FortiGate offers comprehensive threat management, high-speed processing, and customizable security policies. It also excels in advanced threat detection, streamlined deployment processes, and ongoing innovation.

Room for Improvement: Check Point UTM-1 [EOL] could have benefited from ongoing support and feature updates, which would enhance its long-term viability. Fortinet FortiGate, while strong, could improve in areas like pricing competitiveness and simplifying some advanced configurations to increase accessibility for all users.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Check Point UTM-1 [EOL] was known for its reliable deployment and responsive support. Fortinet FortiGate offers streamlined deployment processes and proactive customer service, focusing on effective initial setup and maintenance, thereby enhancing the user experience.

Pricing and ROI: Check Point UTM-1 [EOL] offered attractive pricing but its end-of-life status affects long-term value. Fortinet FortiGate requires a higher initial investment but offers better ROI through its advanced capabilities and active support, appealing to those focused on ongoing security investment.

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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 UTM-1 [EOL]

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Fortinet FortiGate

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

594

Ranking in other categories

Secure Web Gateways (SWG) (2nd), Firewalls (1st), Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) (1st), Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions (2nd), WAN Edge (1st), ZTNA (1st), Unified Threat Management (UTM) (1st)

Q&A Highlights

it_user703035

Works

Oct 04, 2017

Fortinet, Palo Alto or Check Point?

Hi, It's very hard to compare brand name of firewalls and you did not clarify specific models. Normally, an IT is often using a firewall and suggest that brand name. Actually, it will depend on what bundle of service you choose in each brand name of firewall. Of course, Palo Alto - it's worth it. My suggestion is base on your requirement of security and your budget, then read the specs of each brand name and choose whether the firewall is right to your network.

See all answers

Featured Reviews

William Cambronero

Consultant at ITQS

Great firewalls, VPN, and Intrusion prevention capabilities

Some features that could be improved are advanced threat protection, sandboxing, and vulnerability management. Another point is to improve the technical support provided by Check Point UTM-1. Although the company offers different standards, including basic and premium, by mail and by telephone, they present a very large deficiency in the time it takes to comply with the provisions of the SLA. Coordinating a meeting is complicated by the schedules. The documentation should also be improved by having it unified.

Read full review

Vijay Ramani

Practice Head at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

Unified security has protected diverse environments and supports consistent policies everywhere

I would say 8 out of 10 regarding the stability of Fortinet FortiGate. It requires a lot of bug fixing and what I understand, Fortinet is fast enough to provide bug fixes and patches, but usually I suggest Fortinet should do thorough testing of their releases and software releases and once probably they can reduce the frequency of new releases but make it stable. That's what my recommendation is. As far as the core objective of Fortinet FortiGate is concerned, I think they are meeting the targets but I guess for rolling out new features and new updates, they are doing a bit of hurry just to cope with the market dynamics. But possibly, I understand that they are compromising on the quality of the software and stability. So over there they have to improve. Rest of the aspects, I guess they are doing pretty good. We are happy. Regarding my experience with Fortinet FortiGate in comparison to maybe some other vendors such as CyberArk, Fortinet is in the top three and they give a lot of competition to their nearest peers in the market. But I guess Fortinet is really struggling in software-defined LAN, Wi-Fi, and FortiSwitches space. So they have to make their products more affordable in Forti-switching and Forti-WiFi space. They are not able to compete effectively with the nearest competitor HP Enterprise and HP Aruba.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"This is my favorite product that I use, and I think it's one of the best in the world."

"The ability to create a central database for objects (sources, destinations, services, etc.), which can be used in several different policies, and the possibility of browsing all logs (FW, IPs, identity awareness, etc.) from all the gateways from a unique screen are big pluses."

"As a security information analyst, it helps me to see information in a very clear way."

"The major improvement was the ability to have a very good log, as we are able to log all details and troubleshoot when a problem occurs."

"The UTM platform has been the most valuable."

"The most important features are performance and ease of management."

"The filtering was very good."

"Check Point is not cheap when compared to other solutions, but it provides high level security, and as an organization we are fully satisfied with this product."

More Check Point UTM-1 [EOL] pros

"FortiGate SWG has helped our IT security teams to be faster and more responsive."

"We are using this solution to protect our network on every site."

"The management console is pretty simple, so anyone who understands networking can initially deploy the solution."

"It is a good source for firewall protection."

"FortiGate Next Generation Firewall's design is good...I am very impressed with the product's stability."

"It is useful for protecting and segregating the internal networks from the internet. Most of our customers also use the FortiGate client to connect to their offices by using the VPN client, and of course, they usually activate the antivirus, deep inspection, and intrusion prevention services. They are also using it for web filtering and implementing various policies dealing with forwardings, NAT, etc."

"The main reason we chose Fortinet FortiGate was that the price was better than the competition."

"Overall, the pricing of the solution is very good. The product offers good value."

More Fortinet FortiGate pros

Cons

"Customer service is not their strong suite. It takes a lot of time until they fix anything, and it can be better to try and fix the issue without them."

"Technical support was very bad because the supplier who sold it to us, wasn't very supportive, and he wouldn't giving us direct links to the OEM."

"What has been the issue of firewalls is they ask me for policies and content filtering application control and all these features that are now part of Harmony."

"The physical memory is insufficient for installing policies and some other operations."

"The pricing is too high."

"As we don't have a representative of Check Point supplier in our country, this makes it very difficult when we have some issues to resolve."

"Customer service is definitely degrading, according to me."

"Memory and processing power: These devices are strictly for small business applications."

More Check Point UTM-1 [EOL] cons

"I would like to see improvements in the IPS/IDS feature to enhance protection against attacks from attackers, including ransomware protection."

"The visibility of the network can be better. The GUI can be improved for better visibility of the network flow. Other solutions have better GUI in terms of network visibility."

"It should have been scalable, but it is not quite so; there are limitations, and I find it very difficult to give connectivity simultaneously on concurrent connections, so I have to deprive my faculties, my staff, or my students of certain functions."

"Fortinet currently has many products bundled with FortiGate including the basic firewall and load balancer, and I think that that they need to have separate product portfolios for each of these specialized services."

"Another issue is how deduplication services don't work reliably after enabling deduplication on Fortinet."

"The SD-WAN functionality is a bit overly complicated and not fully documented."

"Fortinet FortiGate IPS could improve the VPN. There are times it is slow."

"There are a lot of bugs I have found in the solution and it is difficult to upgrade. These areas need improvement."

More Fortinet FortiGate cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This cost is between 3,000 and 5,000 euros per year, so some other solutions are cheaper and the pricing should be improved."

"The pricing is too high."

"In the Asian economy in which we operate, FortiGate is expensive."

"A year or two years back, its price was competitive and reasonable. That was one of the reasons that people easily switched to Fortinet. Over the last two years, the prices have increased drastically. However, the prices of others have also increased. An advantage is there from the price point but not as much as it was previously."

"Here in Brazil, we're going through difficult economic times and the tax on the dollar is high. All the solutions from minor competitors are growing in the market. The prices have come more competitive."

"In terms of the market, it's not a cheap product, but it's cost-effective."

"The licensing scheme of Fortinet is better than Cisco. It is more logical."

"FortiGate SWG is a cost-effective solution well-suited for organisations of all sizes."

"The price of Fortinet FortiGate when compared to other solutions is high. However, my knowledge of the price is from third parties and I am not sure how accurate it is. I typically work in the technical area of my organization."

"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."

More Fortinet FortiGate pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user216600

Senior Technical Consultant with 51-200 employees

Jan 3, 2016

Sophos UTM vs. Fortinet FortiGate

I have used both Sophos and Fortinet products in production and I have found the Sophos UTM appliances (hardware and virtual) to be a better fit most of the time -- with a few caveats which I will touch on below. In both instances, the transition from TMG will be mostly straightforward. The main…

Read full review

Answers from the Community

it_user703035

Works

Oct 4, 2017

Fortinet, Palo Alto or Check Point?

2 out of 42 answers

it_user125442

Dono at a tech consulting company

Jul 18, 2017

Fortinet

Read full answer

it_user627312

Co-Founder with 51-200 employees

Jul 18, 2017

Hi, It depends on their requirements. Each solution adds a different layer of value.

Read full answer

See all 42 answers

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Construction Company

19%

Marketing Services Firm

15%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

10%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	10
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	6

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	372
Midsize Enterprise	138
Large Enterprise	195

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

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 at large. In my opinion, Fortinet would be the best option and l use Fortinet too...

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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 the firewalls change every 5 to 7 years as stated but you really do need to upg...

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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 good. The most valuable features for me are their web and email filtering. I wou...

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Comparisons

Netgate pfSense vs Check Point UTM-1 [EOL]

Compared 41% of the time

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) vs Check Point UTM-1 [EOL]

Compared 12% of the time

Sophos Cyberoam UTM vs Check Point UTM-1 [EOL]

Compared 11% of the time

Sophos UTM vs Check Point UTM-1 [EOL]

Compared 11% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Check Point UTM-1 [EOL]

Compared 9% of the time

More Check Point UTM-1 [EOL] Competitors

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 14% of the time

Sophos Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 14% of the time

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 6% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 3% of the time

OPNsense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 2% of the time

More Fortinet FortiGate Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Check Point UTM-1 [EOL]

September 2026

Download Check Point UTM-1 [EOL] product report

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate

September 2026

Download Fortinet FortiGate product report

Also Known As

No data available

Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall

Overview

Check Point UTM-1 delivers proven, best-in-class security ideal for use in industrial Ethernet and SCADA environments. Robust performance and central management provide unmatched value in a simple, all-in-one solution.

Check Point Software Technologies

Fortinet FortiGate is a versatile network security tool offering features like VPN, firewall, web filtering, intrusion prevention, and scalability. It is known for its performance and integration with other Fortinet products, making it a preferred choice for robust cybersecurity.

Fortinet FortiGate stands out as a comprehensive cybersecurity solution with strong performance and ease of configuration. It delivers unified threat management, integrating features such as dynamic routing, SD-WAN support, and centralized management. Despite its strengths, improvements in the web interface's stability, pricing structures, and reporting capabilities are needed. Users seek better integration with third-party tools and automation advancements to enhance the experience further. These enhancements, alongside improvements in bandwidth management and the reduction of licensing costs, are points of interest for users looking to capitalize on FortiGate's extensive capabilities.

What are Fortinet FortiGate's key features?

VPN: Ensures secure remote connections.
Firewall: Protects against unauthorized access.
Web Filtering: Blocks malicious sites and content.
Application Control: Manages and controls applications.
Intrusion Prevention: Detects and prevents vulnerabilities.
SSL Inspection: Enhances security by inspecting encrypted traffic.

What benefits should be considered when evaluating Fortinet FortiGate?

Affordability: Offers cost-effective security solutions.
Reliability: Known for consistent and stable performance.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other Fortinet products.
Comprehensive Protection: Provides broad threat protection capabilities.

Fortinet FortiGate is widely implemented across industries as a primary firewall system for securing internet gateways and safeguarding data centers. It supports businesses in achieving SD-WAN integration and enhances cybersecurity by providing essential features like antivirus, web filtering, and application control. Enterprises utilize FortiGate for securing remote connections and ensuring compliance with security standards, making it adaptable for different network sizes and industries.

Fortinet

Sample Customers

AccessIT Group Inc., Accuvant, Cadre Computer Resources Inc., Compuquip Technologies Inc, Dimension Data North America Inc., Forsythe Solutions Group, Gotham Technology Group LLC, GuidePoint Security LLC, Iovations, IPS

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

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