Netgate pfSense Reviews

We use this at all of our locations as our edge device, IPSec site-to-site VPN functionality between our offices and our AWS EC2. No matter what is thrown at this, the system handles it like a champ. We have both dedicated hardware and virtualized versions running in our infrastructure. So far we haven't found a reason why we need to spend thousands for an appliance like Cisco ASA when this handles all of our needs.

We're a small business growing rapidly. We recently overhauled the IT infrastructure, and after looking at a number of other competitors, pfSense has been a lifesaver, allowing us to scale up and provide compliance without the need to purchase additional licenses to offer services to our employees.

There are so many packages you can install which extends pfSense's capabilities including consuming from lists such as FireHOL, Pi-Hole, etc. Here are a few packages we use:

• IPSec: pfSense allows for both v1 and v2 IPSec configurations to secure your connections.
• IPS: You can use Snort or Suricata along with Snort packages, even subscribe to commercial packages if you wish. This alone starts making pfSense on par with Cisco.
• Proxy/content filtering: You can install Squid and SquidGuard to act as a proxy and content filter. Yes, it does filter HTTPS, and there's a number of ways you can do it out of the box.

pfSense also reformatted their logs so that they're compliant and standardized. We have our logs shipped to our SIEM and Logstash servers.

While I agree spam filtering is not included or an option with the system, I don't necessarily hold that against the product as there are a number of other services that do it far better than a firewall could. If you use Office 365, Microsoft's implementations are likely to be far superior to what you'll get from a firewall. However, with that said, the one item I wish it included, even if it was a subscription-based service, is the inclusion of an AV and/or threat intelligence. This would elevate the solution well above other alternatives. 

We have not encountered any stability issues and have upgraded to each version over the years. They've really made a rock solid solution.

Extremely high. We tested it on VMs running different configurations from extremely lightweight to overkill. It will run on anything and maintain it's high performance. Obviously the more you give it, the more amazing the solution becomes. 

I had one question, and they got back to me extremely quick. Not only are they knowledgeable about their product, but they're kind and courteous.

Old and outdated infrastructure procured before I joined the company.

Not only was it straightforward, but if you know nothing about firewalls, you can install this. Especially since they recently made their entire guidebook free to use. Not to mention the countless blogs and how to's. Low to intermediate level IT pros should be able to handle this baby.

In-house.

From day one you get a 100% ROI. If all you have is an older server you recently decommissioned, with multiple NICs, I strongly recommend installing this software on it and giving it a shot. Doing that alone will beat out any competitor hands down.

For the cost and what's included, you can't beat it, no way no how. If you're worried about enterprise solutions, the only thing you need to do then is to purchase a support contract, and you have an enterprise solution. You can even purchase hardware from the vendor if you choose.

Cisco, WatchGuard, Sophos, Fortinet, Untangle, Juniper.

I strongly recommend giving pfSense a hard look. I've been in IT for 20+ years, and I've run the gambit on other firewalls. pfSense definitely can hold it's own against any of them. 

In the past, we had different locations in different countries, and in every location, we had the same pfSense firewall. Therefore, the connection between our different locations was good and manageable. However, in the last two years, we have had only one location here in Belgium, thus the performance of the pfSense has been good, and we can manage great with the open ports and the closed ports, but now a firewall has to be a little bit more than just that.

I do not have any big malware in my network, partly because of pfSense. The firewall blocks every malfunctioning malware or virus. Also, the access from outside our network has to be blocked, and I know by experience that our pfSense is very closed. You have to open every port in order to make sure that there can be a connection from outside our network.

1. I can manage it easily by myself.
2. The interaction between the same firewalls is good. We can connect VPNs over the same firewall easily.
3. It is an open source solution. Therefore, the price is good.
4. OPNsense.
5. The performance and functionality are good.

A malware blocker should be included. I do not know if it is included yet. However, until now, we have not experienced a large malware invasion.

There are a few features not included, and when you have to use those features, you have to pay for them.

I know that I should change the current pfSense solution. I should change it because we have only one key port on it. Our internet access also has a key port now, I should have two key ports, one to the LAN and one to the WAN.

Therefore, I want to change it, because it gives us less speed. I could provide the speed, but there are not two key ports on it. Therefore, I now have to choose a new pfSense solution, or I could look at another vendor similar to what we have.

I am satisfied with the stability.

Scalability was less important. When we started, we did not have to scale the pfSense. In the seven years that I have used the pfSense, once I had to renew it because the hardware was broken or was defective. The second one was a little bit faster and had more memory, so I did not have to scale it again. Therefore, the scalability has not been so important to us until now.

We came from OneStart. OneStart was out of data and at end of life. Thus, we had to switch. pfSense was originally proposed to us by the dealer and our external IT help.

The initial setup was straightforward, therefore I wanted to continue using the product.

I did not do it alone. I had help from the dealer. Once installed, I can manage now to change little things. For the initial setup, I was involved with it, but I did not do it myself.

It was straightforward to buy from pfSense.

From Sonic Wall, their price is much higher, because for every feature that you want to add, you have to pay. I can do the same things with pfSense, but everything is included in one price.

We originally evaluated Cisco, WatchGuard, and Barracuda. We chose pfSense because of the price and it was open source software. At the time, our team was called OpenERP (now called Odoo), so open source software was an advantage.

I would recommend it. It is manageable and straightforward. It is not so complex. You have to know the different rules, but you can manage it easily. The performance is good.

We use Netgate pfSense for load balancing. 

The tools' most valuable feature is load balancing. 

Netgate pfSense needs to improve the configuration for a VPN. 

I have been working with the product for three months. 

I rate the product's stability a nine out of ten. 

I rate Netgate pfSense's scalability a seven out of ten. 

I have used online documentation and hence haven't contacted the support yet. 

I rate the tool's deployment a nine out of ten. Its deployment takes only a few hours to complete. 

We did the deployment in-house. 

I use the product's free version. 

I rate the solution a nine out of ten. 

pfSense is used as our firewall and router.

The performance is good.

It is easy to use.

I have been working with this solution for so long now that it has become easy. It is much simpler than other solutions such as Fortinet.

I expect a better interface with more log analysis because I create my own interface.

I have been using pfSense for a long time. Since the beginning.

I have the latest version.

pfSense is a stable product.

pfSense is a scalable solution.

I have not contacted technical support.

Previously, I worked with Fortinet FortiGate, Linux, and OPNsense.

I have tested all that are available on the market and pfSense is more.

The initial setup is easy. 

The first installation took an hour to complete, but the configuration is another part. It's about the complexity of my network because I have provided services from a firm and every company has a different setup.

I was able to complete the installation myself.

I am not aware of the licensing costs.

I would recommend pfSense to others who are interested in using it.

I would rate pfSense an eight out of ten.

At a custom company with several locations.

It has improve my organization through the services that can be added, which makes it highly scalable, from graphic monitoring services to load balancing or captive portal.

It is very difficult to decide one, as they all complement each other, from the DHCP administration to the captive portal. in my case, I would say OpenVPN has helped me to interconnect the company network in a secure and manageable way.

ClamAV AntiVirus can cause some crashes. That service should be improved.

For two years.

I consider it very stable.

It is highly scalable. All services are free.

No, there was no firewall implemented.

The initial setup was simple and fast.

It is an open source firewall.

Yes, OPNsense. It is very similar and better than PfSense.

You should try it.

pfSense allows us to spread the hours of connection and do the filtering on the pfSense site.

The most valuable feature of this solution is its simplicity.

The integration could be improved.

I have been using this solution for more than ten years.

This is a very stable solution.

This solution is scalable.

The initial setup was easy and took about 50 minutes. 

This is a no-cost solution.

I would rate this solution as eight out of ten because it's a central solution.

Our primary use case for this solution is Endpoint Advanced. I have set it up for the firewall and the open VPN connections.

It would be great to add more to security.

I know that pfSense has a lot of features, but I don't know how to configure and enable them. That is why I am looking into my support options. I am looking for better security and performance.

I have been using this solution for almost two years.

pfSense is scalable. Currently, we have almost 30 people using it in our company.

I'm currently struggling with deploying pfSense more extensively. Right now, we are not getting much support on their end. 

My opinion about pfSense's pricing is good. They are open source. 

While it is difficult for me to point to any one specific advantage of the solution in respect of the firewall, I do know that it has many benefits. For one, it is open source. 

The stability could be improved. Whenever there is an update, in spite of developments I may have made, I am required to make certain changes to the coding. 

I have been using pfSense for perhaps two or three years. 

The stability could be better. 

The solution seems to be scalable. 

The solution is easy to set up.

I develop the solution on behalf of my company. 

With my scant knowledge of networking and the firewall I would rate pfSense as an eight out of ten.