SonicWall Capture Client vs WatchGuard Firebox comparison

SonicWall and WatchGuard are both solutions in the Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) category. SonicWall is ranked #41 with an average rating of 8.0, while WatchGuard is ranked #20 with an average rating of 7.6. Additionally, 100% of SonicWall users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of WatchGuard users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 5, 2025

WatchGuard Firebox and SonicWall Capture Client compete in the advanced security solutions space. While WatchGuard Firebox is preferred for user-friendliness and customer service, SonicWall Capture Client is noted for its advanced threat detection.

Features: WatchGuard Firebox is acclaimed for easy setup, intuitive management, and high throughput performance. It integrates well with Active Directory and provides comprehensive VPN and web filtering capabilities. SonicWall Capture Client excels in threat protection using Capture ATP, scalability, and effective web content filtering, making it a strong choice for advanced security deployment.

Room for Improvement: WatchGuard Firebox users point out its outdated interface, limited third-party integrations, and a need for more flexible policy management. Improvements in reporting, user resources, and interface design are also desired. SonicWall Capture Client faces system performance impacts, high memory usage, and network latency. Users recommend enhancements in user interface, pricing models, and tenant management.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Deployments vary, with WatchGuard Firebox often used on-premises, praised for easy setup but with occasional slow support responses. SonicWall Capture Client is more suited to cloud environments with mixed feedback on support. Both are commended for knowledgeable support teams, though efficiency and response speed are noted areas for improvement.

Pricing and ROI: WatchGuard Firebox offers competitive pricing, especially with bundled Total Security Suite licenses, providing good ROI through network security and productivity. SonicWall Capture Client is seen as cost-effective in licensing, but additional services can raise costs for small businesses. SonicWall's advanced threat detection continues to offer tangible impacts on security investment returns.

To learn more, read our detailed SonicWall Capture Client vs. WatchGuard Firebox Report (Updated: August 2025).

Buyer's Guide

SonicWall Capture Client vs. WatchGuard Firebox

August 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:

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiGate

Featured Reviews

Vasu Gala

Manager, Information Technology Operation/Presales at TechMonarch

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.

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LUIZ FERNANDO MARIANO SILVA

Data Office Protect - DPO at DATATRUSTY TECNOLOGIA

Enables faster updates and provides an easy-to-use user interface

I have an advanced license that includes all features. Though we have the license, we cannot use it completely because it is not enabled in the Microsoft tier. It does not make sense. We do not want to buy it separately because the price is different if we buy separate licenses.

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Rajesh Makwana

Regional Pre-Sales Engineer at Roundrobin Tech

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…

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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

"Fortinet FortiGate is used to prevent security failures. Since implementing the solution, we have seen improvements in security and in the distribution of our network."

"The firewall is pretty good if you understand how to use it. It performs at a very high level, and we are loving it."

"Fortinet FortiGate has a very stable Linux-based operating system that is easy to use."

"Fortinet FortiGate is among the best options in the market."

"Centralized monitoring, policy management, and virtualized appliances allow us to take control over our public and private infrastructure."

"Fortinet FortiGate provides superior protection compared to other firewalls, with high processing capabilities."

"Our project needs to link two sides through the internet. One of these was in Cairo and the other in another city. We used FortiGate as the integrating solution between the two locations, i.e. the Fortinet 30E & 100E."

"The web filtering feature and the intrusion protection system are the most valuable. It is a resilient appliance. I never had an issue with it in terms of any security breaches."

More Fortinet FortiGate pros

"Considering other products, SonicWall Capture Client has two differentiators."

"The initial setup is straightforward."

"The solution serves as a very stable platform."

"SonicWall Capture Client has a serial number to connect to your firewall."

"The product’s interface is easy to use."

"Overall, what I love the most about SonicWall Capture Client is its management console. SonicWall Capture Client also has the intelligence to tell you which computer is online, what OS it uses, etc. I also found the rollback feature and SentinelOne integration valuable in SonicWall Capture Client. Rollback is a powerful feature of the solution because it's similar to locking your endpoint during an attack, so you won't have to pay the hackers, particularly during ransomware attacks. That feature in SonicWall Capture Client allows you to get back your endpoint or make your endpoint right again after an attack. I also like that it isn't complex to remove the engine error from the endpoint because you only have to provide the security key from SonicWall Capture Client, so the process is simple. It's not complex."

"The threat protection feature of SonicWall Capture Client is most valuable."

"The most valuable features of SonicWall Capture Client are CSC (Capture Security Center), RTDMI (Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection), and the deep memory inspection feature."

More SonicWall Capture Client pros

"The most valuable feature is the GUI, especially the real-time bandwidth usage report. Also, its integration with WiFi access points is nice."

"Regarding the reporting, I was in the Dimension server earlier today. It's very powerful. I like it. And the management features are easy to use. I like the fact that I can open up the System Manager client or I can just do it through the web if I'm making a quick change."

"I like their management features a lot. Their System Manager server as well the System Manager software make managing them, and tracking changes, very easy and complete."

"The ports that I have assigned appear to be unattainable to outside 'mal-actors,' unless they have an address registered on the internet that this thing is expecting. That's a layer of security."

"The main reason we went with it was the security protocols. They were more robust on this device."

"WatchGuard Firebox is easy to configure and has a nice user interface."

"WatchGuard is easy to implement and inexpensive. When we get a bulk-off license, we get a very discounted price that is competitive with alternative or competitor solutions."

"The basic functionality is fantastic. It has been performing well. I generated a report on one machine, using that as the deployment machine. When scanning the network, it discovered machines on the network and deployed the same endpoint protection from that one machine I have on my network."

More WatchGuard Firebox pros

Cons

"The UI could be improved."

"One of the features that I would like to have is to do with endpoint production, it should be integrated. For example, the firewall gets notified of any kind of forensic event that needs to be done, such as if there is a ransomware attack and how it originated, all those records have to be available from the firewall, which is not."

"I would rate the technical support of Fortinet FortiGate as a five because it is not as strong as Cisco. Additionally, the turnaround time is very high compared to Cisco."

"Compared to some other products, the DLP is not at par for the moment."

"The performance could be a bit better. Right now, I find it to be lacking. Having good performance is very important for our work."

"In the next release, maybe the documentation on how to use this solution could be improved."

"Improvements for Fortinet FortiGate could be made by making it easier to implement on networks and simpler to add users and accounts that utilize this solution. That's basically the only challenge that I see."

"The way everything is set up could be easier. Currently, people need a lot of experience and knowledge to administer it and to link it to devices."

More Fortinet FortiGate cons

"An area for improvement in SonicWall Capture Client is TenantCloud support. Suppose you want to implement SonicWall Capture Client. You'll have to register it on MySonicWall. Then once your SonicWall Capture Client license expires and you don't want to renew it, you can't delete it from your MySonicWall account, so that's an area for improvement."

"SonicWall Capture Client could be made a little lighter than it currently is in terms of memory consumption."

"The biggest issue with SonicWall Capture Client is network latency."

"Technical support from SonicWall has room for improvement. While their escalation process is understandable, it can be time-consuming as all logs need to be provided multiple times across different service levels."

"XDR cannot be used unless MDR services are purchased with SonicWall."

"It takes technical support too long to resolve an issue."

"SonicWall Capture Client should use less of our PC's memory, as it tends to slow down the performance."

"They should improve their user interface."

More SonicWall Capture Client cons

"It's sometimes not easy to understand and can require specialist assistance."

"There is a slight learning curve."

"There is room for improvement in the threat protection, data packet inspection, and performance of the solution. Generally, it's just a lower-end product. It does the job but doesn't do it very well."

"The solution needs to improve its accessibility."

"There is no message displayed for the user on the desktop informing them that access to a web page has been blocked by Application Control."

"Setup of this solution is complex, it's not plug and play."

"The solution's pricing could be improved."

"I'd like a few extra features, especially around threat severity assessment."

More WatchGuard Firebox cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is comprehensive and clear. You can easily understand what you are purchasing, including which features correspond to each license and maintenance contract. Overall, the information is straightforward. Additionally, compared to other vendors, their prices are competitive."

"The license is too expensive to renew. The license renewal process is also complex."

"Fortinet is competitive price-wise."

"Fortinet FortiGate has different licensing models, depending on what you're going to do. Services included would depend on the license model. Licenses can be renewed annually."

"Each feature costs money, so it is important to study your needs."

"At the time we bought them, I was satisfied with their pricing; I don't know how the new pricing will be."

"When you look at these end security systems and firewalls, these firewalls even five years ago were $50,000 or perhaps $25,000 to implement in some types of customer sites. Now we're talking about tools that are $1,000. In this case, it might have been $500 or something like that."

"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

"You have to pay for the solution, and a lot of customers do not want to pay."

"Here in Indonesia, SonicWall Capture Client costs five hundred thousand rupiahs for every endpoint. If I'm correct, you only have to pay the licensing fee, and there's no additional fee. To me, the pricing for SonicWall Capture Client is four out of five."

"The product is very expensive."

"Its cost is okay. It is not too expensive, not too low. I would rate it a nine out of ten in terms of pricing."

"The solution's most valuable feature is its pricing."

"They license it. When we buy it, we buy it with a three-year license. That's the most cost-effective way to do it. So, if you're going to buy it, then buy it with the three-year licensing."

"We pay about $3,500 every three years."

"It's fair pricing, but it could always be reduced."

"It has a very good price. It is not the most expensive one, and it is also not the cheapest one. It is just spot-on in terms of price."

"The cheapest configuration, for maybe five people, is approximately $500."

"The price is very good."

More WatchGuard Firebox pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

13%

Computer Software Company

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Retailer

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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 a...

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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...

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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 ...

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What do you like most about SonicWall Capture Client?

SonicWall Capture Client's scalability is nice.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SonicWall Capture Client?

SonicWall Capture Client offers a cost-effective solution that's cheaper compared to other vendors like CrowdStrike.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SonicWall Capture Client?

It is not similar to other products. For XDR, users have to use another product. XDR cannot be used unless MDR servic...

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 ou...

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

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Compared 20% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 12% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 11% of the time

Cisco Meraki MX vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 5% of the time

OPNsense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 4% of the time

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Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs SonicWall Capture Client

Compared 20% of the time

SentinelOne Singularity Complete vs SonicWall Capture Client

Compared 19% of the time

CrowdStrike Falcon vs SonicWall Capture Client

Compared 11% of the time

Bitdefender Total Security vs SonicWall Capture Client

Compared 8% of the time

Huntress Managed EDR vs SonicWall Capture Client

Compared 7% of the time

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OPNsense vs WatchGuard Firebox

Compared 6% of the time

SonicWall TZ vs WatchGuard Firebox

Compared 5% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs WatchGuard Firebox

Compared 5% of the time

Sophos XG vs WatchGuard Firebox

Compared 5% of the time

Sophos UTM vs WatchGuard Firebox

Compared 4% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate

August 2025

Download Fortinet FortiGate product report

Buyer's Guide

Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

August 2025

Download SonicWall Capture Client product report

Buyer's Guide

WatchGuard Firebox

July 2025

Download WatchGuard Firebox product report

Also Known As

FortiGate 60b, FortiGate 60c, FortiGate 80c, FortiGate 50b, FortiGate 200b, FortiGate 110c, FortiGate, Fortinet Firewall

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 offers comprehensive network security and firewall protection across multiple locations. It effectively manages data traffic and secures environments with features like VPN, intrusion prevention, and UTM controls.

Organizations rely on Fortinet FortiGate for its robust integration with advanced security policies, ensuring significant protection for enterprises, cloud environments, and educational sectors. It facilitates network segmentation, application-level security, and authentication management, securing communication within and between locations such as branches and data centers. Its efficient SD-WAN and UTM features enable streamlined data management and enhanced threat protection capabilities. Users appreciate its centralized management, facilitating seamless operations across diverse environments.

What are the key features of Fortinet FortiGate?

VPN Capabilities: Ensure secure remote access for users and seamless site-to-site connections.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Detect and prevent security threats and vulnerabilities.
Advanced Firewall: Offers robust firewalling with application control and web filtering.
SD-WAN: Optimizes application performance and enhances bandwidth management.
SSL VPN: Provides reliable and secure access for remote workers.

What benefits should users expect from Fortinet FortiGate?

High-performance Security: Delivers effective threat mitigation with high availability.
Centralized Management: Simplifies network operations with cloud-based management tools.
Detailed Analytics: Provides comprehensive insights into network activity and security threats.
Load Balancing: Ensures optimal resource distribution and traffic management.

Fortinet FortiGate is crucial in sectors like education, offering robust networks for secure data flow between campuses and facilitating remote learning. In enterprise environments, it allows efficient management of application traffic and security across multiple branches, while in the cloud, it seamlessly integrates with diverse platforms to enhance security infrastructure.

Fortinet

SonicWall Capture Client is a unified client platform that delivers multiple endpoint protection capabilities, including next-generation malware protection and application vulnerability intelligence. It leverages cloud sandbox file testing, comprehensive reporting, and enforcement for endpoint protection.

SonicWall

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

Luton College

Ellips, Diecutstickers.com, Clarke Energy, NCR, Wrest Park, Homeslice Pizza, Fortessa Tableware Solutions, The Phoenix Residence

Buyer's Guide

SonicWall Capture Client vs. WatchGuard Firebox

August 2025

Free Report: SonicWall Capture Client vs. WatchGuard Firebox

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