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F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs SonicWall Global VPN Client comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on May 21, 2025

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

F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Man...
Ranking in SSL VPN
5th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
17
Ranking in other categories
Secure Web Gateways (SWG) (17th), Network Access Control (NAC) (7th), Remote Access (10th), Access Management (10th)
SonicWall Global VPN Client
Ranking in SSL VPN
10th
Average Rating
10.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Featured Reviews

Ashish Kumar Rai - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers remote access control, good GUI and easy to configure
I'd suggest improved documentation integration directly within the GUI. Right now, finding comprehensive documentation often requires going to external websites like the community portal. In the APM interface itself, they could add direct hyperlinks to relevant online documentation. This would provide easy access to admin guides and other resources when working within the GUI.
Syed Taha - PeerSpot reviewer
Secure connection has improved work on application servers
I am curious to explore how AI, when integrated with Global VPN, works in detail. I have not faced any issues related to the Global VPN, so I am satisfied. I am not using any services from Google, Oracle, or IBM. Most of the end users are using MS Teams for communication. This is unrelated to the consultation requirements. The overall rating is ten out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The load balancing features are valuable."
"On a scale from one to ten for stability, I would rate F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) a ten."
"The solution is stable and reliable."
"A lot of features are useful to me, including mostly the authentication, SAML, or SSO, with no sign-on."
"We have seen a return on investment from F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager. It provided access at a time when we didn't have it."
"Our organization is small - a college with about 3,500 students. We use F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager to protect our site, especially from the Iranian attacks we faced last year. We restrict access to only inside the country."
"Stickiness is the most valuable feature of the product."
"This is a product that is easy to install and integrate, and it is simple to use."
"It simplifies connecting remote clients to secure networks without extensive configuration."
"This VPN has a secure tunnel created between the end user and the standard machine. This secure connection facilitates the transfer of data without compromising on security or speed."
 

Cons

"F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) does not have a direction for SaaS."
"If I could copy and paste objects instead of picking and configuring them from scratch each time, it would be great."
"The technical support’s response time must be improved."
"F5 BIG-IP APM disconnects when you leave it for long enough, but that is natural for IT solutions to do. That's a little bit frustrating."
"I have had a lot of issues in the past few months with the agents, which was disappointing."
"The main improvement needed for F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is to integrate into the cloud-delivered services from F5."
"Integrating identity providers and single sign-on solutions can simplify user authentication and access control."
"The solution’s GUI looks very old."
"The product's integration process need improvement with certain regional network configurations, especially in locations where ISP practices can affect performance."
"There is always a delay in response when I try to work on the VPN."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate the tool's pricing an eight out of ten."
"The product is very expensive."
"The tool is a little bit expensive."
"Recently, they have simplified the licensing"
"It is a cost-effective product."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
15%
Government
10%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Computer Software Company
10%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)?
In my opinion, the GUI is perfect with the configuration options provided. F5 BIG-IP has given customization options and policy configuration tools in the GUI. It's good and good enough to work.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)?
F5 products are more expensive than other solutions but are valued for their quality and reliability, akin to purchasing a Bentley as opposed to an Audi.
What needs improvement with F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)?
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM ( /categories/application-performance-monitoring-apm-and-observability )) does not have a direction for SaaS. Most solutions focus more on remote access and acc...
What needs improvement with SonicWall Global VPN Client?
I have not evaluated the product yet, so I do not have specific feedback. Currently, it is not a perfect product for me. It depends on the requirements of the architecture.
What is your primary use case for SonicWall Global VPN Client?
I am still working with Sunny Core and using several solutions like SonicWall Firewall with NSM and Net Extender. I am utilizing the Global VPN, which is part of SonicWall, primarily to connect to ...
 

Also Known As

F5 Access Policy Manager
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

City Bank, Ricacorp Properties, Miele, American Systems, Bangladesh Post Office
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs. SonicWall Global VPN Client and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
860,168 professionals have used our research since 2012.