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Fortinet FortiGate vs WatchGuard Firebox comparison

Fortinet and WatchGuard are both solutions in the Firewalls category. Fortinet is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.4, while WatchGuard is ranked #13 with an average rating of 7.6. Fortinet holds a 20.7% mindshare in Firewalls, compared to WatchGuard’s 2.8% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of WatchGuard users who would recommend it.
Fortinet FortiGate
Read 574 Fortinet FortiGate reviews
  • 76,928 Views
  • 61,542 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
WatchGuard Firebox
Read 125 WatchGuard Firebox reviews
  • 11,354 Views
  • 8,970 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 16, 2025

Fortinet FortiGate and WatchGuard Firebox are well-regarded network security solutions, each excelling in unique areas. Fortinet FortiGate is more attractive for budget-focused buyers due to its competitive pricing and strong customer support. In contrast, WatchGuard Firebox may warrant its higher cost with advanced features for those prioritizing cutting-edge functionalities.

Features: Fortinet FortiGate delivers extensive threat protection features, high throughput, and advanced visibility tools, ideal for organizations emphasizing robust security combined with performance. WatchGuard Firebox provides powerful access management tools, security automation, and excellent integration capabilities, perfect for tech environments demanding seamless connectivity along with comprehensive security.

Room for Improvement: Fortinet FortiGate may need enhancements in integration capabilities and security automation to keep pace with rapidly evolving tech environments. It might also benefit from refining its access management features. WatchGuard Firebox could improve its pricing structure to capture more budget-conscious clients and might enhance documentation for more straightforward navigation. Additionally, a more intuitive dashboard could boost its usability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fortinet FortiGate is recognized for its straightforward deployment, aligning with its aim to achieve robust security with minimal complexity. Its customer service is well-regarded for its efficiency and expertise. WatchGuard Firebox, while requiring a more detailed setup, is supported by attentive service, emphasizing personalized customer interaction and engagement, gaining an edge in customer service.

Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiGate offers a competitive pricing model, ensuring cost-effective solutions with substantial value, leading to a strong return on investment for price-sensitive buyers. WatchGuard Firebox, although likely higher in initial expense, is anticipated to deliver excellent ROI due to its advanced capabilities and security effectiveness, ideal for businesses ready to invest in comprehensive, high-value security offerings.

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To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiGate vs. WatchGuard Firebox Report (Updated: September 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate vs. WatchGuard Firebox
September 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:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
5.7
Fortinet FortiGate offers cost-effective security with quick deployment, improving efficiency, reducing downtime, and providing a strong return on investment.
Sentiment score
7.4
WatchGuard Firebox enhances efficiency and security, offering cost savings and improved network control, boosting return on investment.
Clients are now comfortable and not wasting productive hours on IT support.
The automation part is giving us a cost benefit and speed; we can react faster.
It's a very useful tool to mitigate and protect your enterprise.
For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the WatchGuard Firebox report
MURALI NIDAMANURI - PeerSpot reviewerBart Homblé - PeerSpot reviewerBernard Samontanes - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.4
Fortinet FortiGate support is mostly praised for responsiveness and knowledge, though inconsistencies exist in complex cases or regions.
Sentiment score
7.2
WatchGuard Firebox support is praised for quick, knowledgeable service, though some delays occur in different time zones.
They offer very accurate solutions.
The quick resolution of issues with Fortinet FortiGate is due to the support of the company and the fact that the equipment is easy to work with.
I would rate the technical support for Fortinet FortiGate a ten out of ten.
For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report
On a scale of one to 10, I would rate the technical support of the WatchGuard Firebox a 10.
The technical support is good.
For more quotes and insights, download the WatchGuard Firebox report
Taimoor Khan - PeerSpot reviewer
AM
AK
reviewer2698002 - PeerSpot reviewer
MN
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.0
Fortinet FortiGate offers scalability and easy integration for diverse environments, catering to businesses from small to large enterprises.
Sentiment score
8.1
WatchGuard Firebox is scalable for various needs, with upgrading options, though choices affect its scalability and performance.
They scale up really well from smaller models like the FortiGate 40 and 50 to bigger sites with the FortiGate 100 for more throughput - up to enterprise datacenters.
The variation comes in terms of the interfaces and throughputs, but from a security perspective, you get the same benefit, irrespective of whether you have an entry-level unit or an enterprise.
We determine sizing based on multiple factors: number of users, available links, traffic types, server count, services in use, and whether services will be published.
For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report
If we're going for more concurrent users, we need to change the entire box.
I find the WatchGuard Firebox scalable, as it's easy to change configurations from this product to another one.
For more quotes and insights, download the WatchGuard Firebox report
IM
reviewer2667480 - PeerSpot reviewer
FS
MN
reviewer2698002 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.5
Fortinet FortiGate is highly stable and reliable, excelling in continuous operation with effective network management, despite occasional update issues.
Sentiment score
8.6
WatchGuard Firebox is highly stable and reliable, with few issues, frequent updates, and high user satisfaction ratings.
We're experiencing 99.999% availability consistently.
I would rate the stability of Fortinet FortiGate a ten out of ten.
Currently, we are experiencing a general outage of one of the main internet service providers of the Dominican Republic, and we have not been impacted in our operations because with SD-WAN, we have another internet service provider and we are working with the second WAN connection without any disruption.
For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the WatchGuard Firebox report
RB
AK
Juan Frias - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Room For Improvement

Users express concern over Fortinet FortiGate's interface stability, functionality, performance issues, and call for improved support and features.
WatchGuard Firebox needs a modern interface, better integration, enhanced features, and competitive pricing to improve user experience and marketability.
Investing in a solution that can accommodate such growth would be more cost-effective than repeatedly purchasing new hardware.
While Fortinet claims to offer a comprehensive network solution, it falls short in addressing computer application issues, particularly server security.
When considering Sophos XG, which we also use, the logging and reporting functionality is notably more efficient.
For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report
The cost for renewal after three years is 75% of the hardware cost, which is a significant problem.
When implementing a rule using a group of IPs, it is not possible to do that directly.
The WatchGuard Firebox has certain features, but the challenge is that we have some clients who don't have a network or are only mobile users, which leads us to think the future is in SASE products, not in the WatchGuard Firebox.
For more quotes and insights, download the WatchGuard Firebox report
Jose Gisbert - PeerSpot reviewerMOHAN SUKUMAR - PeerSpot reviewerTaha Turkestani - PeerSpot reviewer
MN
VM
reviewer2698002 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Setup Cost

Fortinet FortiGate offers high initial costs but competitive pricing, valued features, and flexible licensing compared to competitors.
WatchGuard Firebox offers cost-effective pricing, especially for multi-year plans, with discounts and value for budget-conscious enterprises.
Last year, I renewed the support for three years, which can sometimes be expensive but depends on the security benefits and how it helps us.
It offers cost savings as it is generally cheaper than the competition.
It is about 20% cheaper.
For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report
When we tried to renew the Palo Alto license, the cost was beyond any reasonable range.
It's expensive us here.
I have faced challenges with the WatchGuard Firebox regarding price since we work with customers who use the Stormshield product, which is less expensive and French-made.
For more quotes and insights, download the WatchGuard Firebox report
AK
NP
MithatBulut - PeerSpot reviewer
PS
MN
reviewer2698002 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Valuable Features

Fortinet FortiGate offers robust, affordable security with user-friendly interface, centralized management, and efficient SD-WAN capabilities.
WatchGuard Firebox offers user-friendly setup, robust security, excellent tech support, and scalable performance with comprehensive management features.
In terms of security, we have not experienced any security flaws or loopholes, and it has proven to be quite stable.
FortiGate has helped reduce the risk of cyberattacks that might disrupt our client's production.
These features help reduce our downtime, manage the ISPs, and deploy SLAs for all the website traffic.
For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report
The Firebox offers valuable features such as network security, URL filtering, UTM features, intrusion prevention and detection, and authentication.
Basically, we have received a good return on investment.
I utilize AI within the WatchGuard Firebox, as we use the interconnection with threat syncs, and AI is implemented.
For more quotes and insights, download the WatchGuard Firebox report
MOHAN SUKUMAR - PeerSpot reviewerTaimoor Khan - PeerSpot reviewerSyed Ali Waqas - PeerSpot reviewer
VM
MN
reviewer2698002 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiGate
Ranking in Firewalls
1st
Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
1st
Ranking in Unified Threat Management (UTM)
1st
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
574
Ranking in other categories
Secure Web Gateways (SWG) (2nd), Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions (1st), WAN Edge (1st), ZTNA (2nd)
WatchGuard Firebox
Ranking in Firewalls
13th
Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
4th
Ranking in Unified Threat Management (UTM)
4th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.5
Number of Reviews
125
Ranking in other categories
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) (11th), Anti-Malware Tools (11th), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) (19th), Application Control (7th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Firewalls category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate is 20.7%, up from 18.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of WatchGuard Firebox is 2.8%, up from 2.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Firewalls Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Fortinet FortiGate20.7%
WatchGuard Firebox2.8%
Other76.5%
Firewalls
 

Q&A Highlights

NC
Apr 04, 2022
How does Fortinet FortiGate compare with WatchGuard Firebox?
Looking at the latest reports from Gartner, at least in the SDN part, I think there is no comparison. Fortinet is leading a large part of the network virtualization market and above all it is positioning itself as the option to have value-added services on the base layer of SDN and I mean security features that today, according to the consumption of the branch are more demanded by bringing the secure perimeter to each point of the network, consuming public services and direct navigation is already a fact.
See all answers
 

Featured Reviews

Vasu Gala - PeerSpot reviewer
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.
Read full review
Rajesh Makwana - PeerSpot reviewer
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…
Read full review
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Comparison Review

it_user216600 - PeerSpot reviewer
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

NC
Apr 4, 2022
Apr 4, 2022
How does Fortinet FortiGate compare with WatchGuard Firebox?
In my organization, we use Fortinet’s Fortigate. We find it to be very powerful, cost-efficient, and reliable. The user interface is friendly, and it is easy to create policies and set rules. As an NGFW, you can upgrade the firewall cluster firmware without disturbing the user. The graphic interface is very intuitive. The endpoint and email protection are on point, and you don’t have to worry a...
2 out of 3 answers
FD
Oct 25, 2021
Looking at the latest reports from Gartner, at least in the SDN part, I think there is no comparison. Fortinet is leading a large part of the network virtualization market and above all it is positioning itself as the option to have value-added services on the base layer of SDN and I mean security features that today, according to the consumption of the branch are more demanded by bringing the secure perimeter to each point of the network, consuming public services and direct navigation is already a fact.
Read full answer
LF
Oct 28, 2021
In my organization, we use Fortinet’s Fortigate. We find it to be very powerful, cost-efficient, and reliable. The user interface is friendly, and it is easy to create policies and set rules. As an NGFW, you can upgrade the firewall cluster firmware without disturbing the user. The graphic interface is very intuitive. The endpoint and email protection are on point, and you don’t have to worry about downtime. FortiGate offers malware and spyware protection, with advanced capabilities like proxy-based antivirus. It has advanced network protection features and a powerful intrusion prevention system with anti-spam and web filtering capabilities. For all the capabilities it offers, the price is reasonable. FortiGate has downsides though: the technical support is not great, and there is not a lot of documentation available. It is also kind of hard to configure. We reviewed WatchGuard before choosing FortiGate. WatchGuard offers a comprehensive advanced network security platform with enterprise-grade security. The router is rich in security features like antivirus, APT blocker, and spam blocker. It is simple to use and applicable for various use cases. It offers web filtering, application control, and monitoring. We liked that the GUI interface seemed intuitive and easy to use. It integrates with Active Directory, so it is a good fit for MS enterprise users. You can also schedule backups with ease. WatchGuard is, however, lacking in features for application control and we found the DNS server functionality to be poor. The firewall policies don’t point to a domain, only to IP addresses. While it is excellent that it integrates with Active Directory, the single-sign-on sometimes doesn’t refresh users’ permissions when they log on and off. Conclusion Fortinet Fortigate is undoubtedly a powerful and established next-generation firewall, and with all the features and capabilities, it is a better and more cost-effective solution than WatchGuard. WatchGuard would be better for organizations that use MS products.
Read full answer
See all 3 answers
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Computer Software Company
14%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Retailer
6%
Manufacturing Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business350
Midsize Enterprise129
Large Enterprise187
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business91
Midsize Enterprise25
Large Enterprise15
 

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 at large. In my opinion, Fortinet would be the best option and l use Fortinet too...
See all answers
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...
See all answers
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...
See all answers
What is your primary use case for WatchGuard Firebox?
We are providing our services to all WatchGuard customers in the region.
See all answers
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 our employees.
See all answers
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.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Sophos XG vs Fortinet FortiGate Logo
Sophos XG vs Fortinet FortiGate
Compared 17% of the time
Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate Logo
Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate
Compared 11% of the time
Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate Logo
Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate
Compared 9% of the time
Cisco Meraki MX vs Fortinet FortiGate Logo
Cisco Meraki MX vs Fortinet FortiGate
Compared 4% of the time
OPNsense vs Fortinet FortiGate Logo
OPNsense vs Fortinet FortiGate
Compared 4% of the time
More Fortinet FortiGate Competitors
OPNsense vs WatchGuard Firebox Logo
OPNsense vs WatchGuard Firebox
Compared 7% of the time
SonicWall TZ vs WatchGuard Firebox Logo
SonicWall TZ vs WatchGuard Firebox
Compared 5% of the time
Netgate pfSense vs WatchGuard Firebox Logo
Netgate pfSense vs WatchGuard Firebox
Compared 5% of the time
Sophos XG vs WatchGuard Firebox Logo
Sophos XG vs WatchGuard Firebox
Compared 5% of the time
Sophos XGS vs WatchGuard Firebox Logo
Sophos XGS vs WatchGuard Firebox
Compared 4% of the time
More WatchGuard Firebox Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate
September 2025
Fortinet FortiGate reportDownload Fortinet FortiGate product report
Buyer's Guide
WatchGuard Firebox
August 2025
WatchGuard Firebox reportDownload WatchGuard Firebox product report
 

Also Known As

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 excels in providing integrated VPN, firewalling, and Unified Threat Management (UTM) with centralized management and high availability. It supports remote access and comprehensive threat protection, making it a preferred choice for securing networks.

Fortinet FortiGate offers a robust security platform with features such as strong intrusion prevention, application control, and web filtering. Its integration with Active Directory and SD-WAN functionality provides scalable solutions for large networks. Users appreciate its ease of use through centralized management interfaces, ensuring robust security with flexible configurations. However, FortiGate could enhance its graphical interface and technical support responsiveness, address firmware bugs and costly licensing, improve logging, integrate better with third-party tools, and strengthen scalability and memory for log storage. Complexity in configuration and the need for intuitive features are noted challenges, and there's a demand for advanced security, zero-trust capabilities, and AI integration.

What are the key features of Fortinet FortiGate?
  • VPN: Secure remote access and connectivity.
  • Firewalling: Protects networks from unauthorized access and attacks.
  • UTM: Offers a comprehensive approach to threat management.
  • SD-WAN: Optimizes traffic routing for efficient network performance.
  • Web Filtering: Controls and monitors web access and ensures Internet security.
What benefits or ROI should be considered?
  • Centralized Management: Simplifies administration and monitoring.
  • High Availability: Ensures consistent security and network availability.
  • Scalability: Adapts to the needs of growing networks.
  • Comprehensive Threat Protection: Provides robust security measures.
  • Ease of Use: Minimizes the complexity of security management.

Fortinet FortiGate is widely implemented across industries like education, finance, and government. Companies use it for firewall protection, VPN, and SD-WAN capabilities, ensuring secure perimeter and data center security. It facilitates remote access management and traffic routing optimization, offering reliable security and connectivity solutions.

Fortinet

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
Ellips, Diecutstickers.com, Clarke Energy, NCR, Wrest Park, Homeslice Pizza, Fortessa Tableware Solutions, The Phoenix Residence
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiGate vs. WatchGuard Firebox
September 2025
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