FortiGate Virtual Appliances allow you to mitigate blind spots by implementing critical security controls within your virtual infrastructure. They also allow you to rapidly provision security infrastructure whenever and wherever it is needed. FortiGate virtual appliances feature all of the security and networking services common to traditional hardware-based FortiGate appliances. With the addition of virtual appliances from Fortinet, you can deploy a mix of hardware and virtual appliances, operating together and managed from a common centralized management platform.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Fortinet FortiGate-VM | 1.8% |
| Fortinet FortiGate | 20.1% |
| Netgate pfSense | 11.1% |
| Other | 67.0% |
| Type | Title | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Firewalls | Sep 3, 2025 | Download |
| Product | Reviews, tips, and advice from real users | Sep 3, 2025 | Download |
| Comparison | Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs Fortinet FortiGate | Sep 3, 2025 | Download |
| Comparison | Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs Netgate pfSense | Sep 3, 2025 | Download |
| Comparison | Fortinet FortiGate-VM vs OPNsense | Sep 3, 2025 | Download |
| Title | Rating | Mindshare | Recommending | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet FortiGate | 4.2 | 20.1% | 91% | 409 interviewsAdd to research |
| Netgate pfSense | 4.3 | 11.1% | 93% | 217 interviewsAdd to research |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 60 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 27 |
| Large Enterprise | 29 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 331 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 205 |
| Large Enterprise | 412 |
Fortinet FortiGate-VM was previously known as FortiGate Virtual Appliance, FortiGate-VM.
Security7 Networks, COOPENAE
| Author info | Rating | Review Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Technology Officer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees | 4.5 | As a reseller of Fortinet FortiGate, we find it invaluable for protecting banking companies and edge cloud data centers. Its SD-WAN and networking features are excellent, although support and limited WAF capabilities need improvement. Our ROI has been highly favorable, especially with SD-WAN. |
| Chief Technology Officer at GM Modular | 4.0 | We use Fortinet FortiGate as a perimeter firewall for its simplicity and effective interface for alerts and monitoring. Although it efficiently blocks threats, we seek more AI-driven proactive alerts. We chose it over Check Point, Palo Alto, and Blue Coat. |
| System Engineer at Trends and Technologies, Inc | 4.5 | We used Fortinet FortiGate-VM to protect cloud assets, appreciating its Security Fabric and real-time threat response. While setup is straightforward, financial hurdles with licensing and renewals limit full potential in the growing Philippine market. |
| Chief Executive Officer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees | 4.0 | I use FortiGate VM primarily for securing cloud and in-house databases. Its valuable features include cost-saving on hardware and flexible licensing. While some integrated features now require separate products, Sophos offers an alternative solution. |
| Senior Network Consultant at Visionet Systems Inc. | 4.0 | I use FortiGate VM primarily as a firewall to boost network security, benefiting from its easy deployment and management. While there are VPN and API integration issues, it has reduced our operational costs by fifty to sixty percent. |
| Pre-Sales Analyst at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees | 4.5 | In using Fortinet FortiGate-VM, we focused on cloud migration for our clients during the pandemic. Its integrated platform improved network reliability and reduced troubleshooting time compared to alternatives like SonicWall, providing operational benefits and better network organization. |
| IT Security Analyst at a energy/utilities company with 51-200 employees | 4.5 | We use Fortinet FortiGate for its flexibility and centralized management across various sites. It integrates well with FortiAnalyzer, but the documentation needs improvement. After five years with Palo Alto, Fortinet offers a cost-effective alternative for our network needs. |
| IT Security Specialist at a agriculture with 1,001-5,000 employees | 4.5 | Fortinet FortiGate is our primary security tool, effectively managing VPNs and enforcing network security between IT and OT. Its valuable intrusion prevention and web filtering outperform Cisco and Check Point, despite needing better third-party integration for optimal use. |
