Fortinet FortiGate vs WatchGuard XTM [EOL] comparison

Fortinet and WatchGuard are both solutions in the Firewalls category. Additionally, 92% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of WatchGuard users who would recommend it.

Fortinet FortiGate

Read 592 Fortinet FortiGate reviews

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59,898 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

WatchGuard XTM [EOL]

Read 34 WatchGuard XTM [EOL] reviews

90% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiGate

WatchGuard XTM [EOL]

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 29, 2026

WatchGuard XTM [EOL] and Fortinet FortiGate are prominent network security solutions competing in the cybersecurity landscape. Fortinet FortiGate often holds the advantage due to its extensive feature set that justifies its higher price point.

Features: WatchGuard XTM [EOL] offers strong firewall functions, flexible VPN options, and detailed analytics, appealing to administrators with its simplicity and effective management interface. It also boasts vigilant intrusion prevention and customizable rule settings. Fortinet FortiGate provides advanced threat protection, scalability, and integrated security services. Its threat detection efficacy and comprehensive service integration provide a substantial edge in feature comparison.

Room for Improvement: For WatchGuard XTM [EOL], a need exists for enhanced scalability, modernized UI for broader functionalities, and expanded threat detection capabilities. Fortinet FortiGate could benefit from simplifying its initial configuration process, offer more competitive pricing structures, and potentially reduce complexity in leveraging its advanced features for less technical users.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: WatchGuard XTM [EOL] is praised for its straightforward deployment and effective customer service, providing value for less experienced administrators. Fortinet FortiGate's deployment can be complex due to its rich features, but its comprehensive technical support is invaluable in overcoming these challenges, ensuring users manage configurations efficiently.

Pricing and ROI: WatchGuard XTM [EOL] is economically attractive with its lower setup costs and good ROI, suitable for budget-sensitive buyers. Although Fortinet FortiGate has a higher upfront cost, its robust feature set and significant long-term security benefits lead to a substantial ROI. The investment in Fortinet FortiGate's superior capabilities often proves justified for long-term requirements.

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May 2026

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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

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

592

Ranking in other categories

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

WatchGuard XTM [EOL]

Average Rating

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Q&A Highlights

Miriam Tover

Service Delivery Manager at PeerSpot

Mar 23, 2020

What Is The Biggest Difference Between Fortinet FortiGate and WatchGuard XTM?

The main difference between Watchguard and Fortinet is the operating system, and how it uses the hardware features. The user interface in Fortinet is cleaner and we can adjust network and security needs in a logical way. Point-of-care only for SSO, certificate usage does not work sometimes, but this issue is handled in new OS releases.

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Featured Reviews

Paul-Drew

IT Consultant at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

Cloud features enhance security measures and simplify network management

I've dealt with many firewalls, such as SonicWalls, UniFi, pfSense, and Cisco. We found SonicWall very confusing for the average network engineer or network administrator. I don't recommend SonicWall due to its hard-to-find auditing process for exploits. Although they have fewer exploits, when they do occur, they're significant. With Fortinet FortiGate, you can access the whole firewall, with no hidden spots. pfSense is great, however, it requires a lot of manual work and has no Cloud Connect or easy management from an MSP's perspective. Palo Alto is another option that's great, but their price point isn't for everyone, especially for medium and small businesses; a $10,000 investment doesn't necessarily fit into most budgets. UniFi is another product we've started to use more alongside Fortinet FortiGate, as they have almost all features without a license, with advanced rules that are relatively inexpensive compared to Fortinet FortiGate's $1,500 a year. Fortinet FortiGate and UniFi are the two firewalls we primarily deal with. My opinion is that UniFi has better integration and oversight of the environments compared to Fortinet FortiGate.

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Generalm4545

General Manager- IT & Automation - Serum at a pharma/biotech company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Protects from attack software and hacking but it doesn't provide the reports in a readable format

In my opinion, image clarity is very important, because I don't get the proper image product on reports. This means that functionality is not there. My engineer does not know how he can replace an order. We attach a log after any kind of keys using a utility instead. For the internet policies that we are implementing, the policy should be based on proper protocols. We use the default policies and there are a number of third-party protocols that appear here. Management with WatchGuard XTM means that out of policy is the problem from our side. In this way, we can not do effective services for people with this one. The policy definition with WatchGuard XTM is not proper for all use case requirements. I've got weekly business reports that I am expecting attachments with from WatchGuard XTM that display data for all kinds of consideration which should be required. Main User Functionality Level Order must adhere to using the admin functionality on the registry, or else our users publish their own name. Maybe these recommendations are irrelevant, but I say that the issue to improve most with WatchGuard XTM is the Main User Function.

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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

"All of the features of Fortinet FortiGate are useful and the security protection is good."

"Fortinet FortiGate has positively impacted my organization, offering ease of management with no network disruptions; it works seamlessly."

"Fortinet FortiGate has positively impacted our organization by providing stronger network security as it's a next-generation firewall, blocking known threats and vulnerabilities in real-time, detecting and controlling thousands of applications, scanning encrypted traffic, and improving VPN and remote access through automated failover and intelligent routing protocols like BGP over IPsec VPN."

"The solution offers very easy usability, the product can scale well, the solution is extremely reliable, the pricing and licensing models are pretty good, and the user interface, both the web and CLI versions, are very good."

"We already have the firewalls, and when I compare Fortinet FortiGate IPS to all the other firewalls, Fortinet is really useful and works very well."

"The most helpful features of FortiGate include its firewall policy, specifically the user-based policy, which I find to be quite beneficial in managing our network security effectively."

"The ease of setting the solution up is a valuable aspect for us."

"Whenever we raise a complaint with FortiGate, their response and resolution times are minimal."

More Fortinet FortiGate pros

"After installing the product, we achieved awareness of our data protection needs and email misuse."

"Lots of enterprise-grade features in SMB firewall Cost-price performance is at its best"

"Monitoring of network activity is included in the box."

"VPN tunnel creation in WSM is very easy to set up BOVPN tunnel between two sites by dragging and playing."

"WatchGuard XTM is fairly basic. We use it as the perimeter firewall. The main point is to protect from attack software and hacking."

"Application Control is fantastic with over 2,500 applications and the granularity that we can either allow people to view but not be able to log on to Facebook; or view it and log onto it if they're in the marketing department, but not play Facebook games. There are all sorts of different options like that. So it's highly granular."

"I would recommend this product, as it is a very flexible one with probably the most intuitive configuration."

"XTM is more effective and friendly to use than our previous solution, and it also provides me with very good VPN tunnel stability."

More WatchGuard XTM [EOL] pros

Cons

"The platform's interface could improve."

"The support costs and licensing are sometimes so expensive."

"I would like to have logs, monitoring, and reporting for a month without extra fees."

"The solution can have more features in a single box that can be multi-applied to integrate everything."

"The license renewal process, annual renewal price, and the web application firewall features should be improved."

"Its pricing can be better."

"FortiManager has not been my favorite. I don't use it and cannot say I really care for FortiManager for managing the firewalls."

"The inability to change passwords when using FortiGate firewall and relying on a local FortiGate database for account creation can be problematic, particularly in non-Active Directory setups."

More Fortinet FortiGate cons

"Using the SSL VPN remote feature is great, but we additionally needed two-factor authentication, and employed a third-party product."

"Expensive Requires client-server application to use some advanced features"

"The setting policies need improvement. It needs an easier way to do static NAT and check on what policy is being used for that specific traffic."

"Syslog (Dimension) is focused on presentation, but needs more focus on utility like SonicWall syslog (GMS/Analyzer)."

"Tech support is sometimes a little bit slow."

"One huge issue with WatchGuard XTM is that I'm not getting reports in a readable format. Readable means, I don't want Excel online. We repeat auditing when we trigger the report or setup calendar. That functionality is what we are looking for from WatchGuard XTM here."

"Licensing should be improved."

"I’m not in favor having to setup security proxy settings instead of just turning them on like you do with the SonicWALL enhanced OS."

More WatchGuard XTM [EOL] cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate the pricing an eight and a half on a scale of one to ten, where one is low, and ten is high."

"FortiGate Next Generation Firewall is a very cheap solution."

"Pricing for this product is comparatively lower than other products. It's an affordable solution, but when expanding the number of users, they'll ask you to replace the model, so that's an added cost."

"They are more expensive than others."

"I'll rate FortiGate's pricing a five out of ten since it is moderately priced."

"Currently, we are paying about $1,500 a month for three sites."

"It is quite affordable for our customers. There is a separate cost for IPS, antivirus, web filtering, and other features. They have a great choice of licenses. You can go for the license that you want, which is quite useful."

"It is a good product from a price perspective versus functionality."

More Fortinet FortiGate pricing and cost advice

"Get at least a maintenance contract for the updates and take a larger WatchGuard than you need. A WatchGuard creates new ways to secure your network."

"It costs less than the SO works and others (like SonicWall, Cisco, and Barracuda) without increasing so much CPU use."

"Like all other manufacturers, there are a lot of features and different pricing. The best is to talk to a representative."

"The licensing and renewal is very expensive."

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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…

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Answers from the Community

Miriam Tover

Service Delivery Manager at PeerSpot

Mar 23, 2020

What Is The Biggest Difference Between Fortinet FortiGate and WatchGuard XTM?

2 out of 17 answers

MichaelZhang

IT Director at Guangdong Technion Institute of Technology

Mar 18, 2019

Hi Nick, Thank you for email. I have no experience of WatchGuard product. Regards, Michael Zhang

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reviewer895482

ICT Officer at a non-profit with 5,001-10,000 employees

Mar 18, 2019

Hi Nick, Sorry, but I can hardly provide relevant comparison between two products as I have never used WatchGuard XTM. As I have no intention to promote certain brand, no matter how satisfied I am with FortiGate - I feel incompetent to advise on this matter. Best regards, Vladimir

Read full answer

See all 17 answers

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

10%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Construction Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Marketing Services Firm

12%

Performing Arts

10%

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	370
Midsize Enterprise	138
Large Enterprise	195

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	24
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	3

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...

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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...

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...

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Comparisons

Sophos Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 16% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 13% of the time

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 5% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 3% of the time

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 3% of the time

More Fortinet FortiGate Competitors

Cisco Secure Firewall vs WatchGuard XTM [EOL]

Compared 20% of the time

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) vs WatchGuard XTM [EOL]

Compared 12% of the time

Sophos UTM vs WatchGuard XTM [EOL]

Compared 12% of the time

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls vs WatchGuard XTM [EOL]

Compared 11% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs WatchGuard XTM [EOL]

Compared 8% of the time

More WatchGuard XTM [EOL] Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate

June 2026

Download Fortinet FortiGate product report

Buyer's Guide

WatchGuard XTM [EOL]

May 2026

Download WatchGuard XTM [EOL] product report

Also Known As

Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall

No data available

Overview

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

Small businesses need big security, too, and the WatchGuard XTM Series firewall/VPN appliances deliver that strong protection, but without the hefty price tag. Enterprise-grade security includes full HTTPS content inspection, VoIP support, and optional security subscriptions like Application Control and Intrusion Prevention Service.

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

AVG, Cyren, Kaspersky Lab, Lastline, NCP engineering, Trend Micro, Websense

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