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Netgate pfSense pros and cons

Vendor: Netgate
4.3 out of 5
Badge Leader

Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Netgate pfSense is praised for its ease of deployment and use, making it accessible even to users without advanced network management experience.
The platform is known for its stability, allowing for reliable and uninterrupted service with minimal maintenance requirements.
The open-source nature and affordability of Netgate pfSense offer great flexibility and a cost-effective solution for network management without compromising functionality.
The VPN features, including OpenVPN and IPsec, are highly valued for enabling secure remote access and connectivity between sites.
Netgate pfSense's extensibility through add-ons and plugins adds significant value, allowing users to enhance functionality as needed.

CONS

Netgate pfSense documentation lacks clarity and comprehensiveness, making it difficult for users to find essential information.
Integration with LDAP, Active Directory, and other systems is inadequate, limiting its ability to show traces and connections of IPs or users effectively.
The platform requires significant administration, and users must possess a high level of Linux troubleshooting expertise for seamless use.
There are limitations in the configuration and functionality of the VPN features, especially in optimizing OpenVPN setups and integrating WireGuard.
Netgate pfSense lacks advanced features like next-generation firewall capabilities and robust real-time threat protection.
 

Netgate pfSense Pros review quotes

it_user485088 - PeerSpot reviewer
Infrastructure Manager at a engineering company with 501-1,000 employees
Jun 14, 2017
Easy to deploy and easy to use.
it_user429552 - PeerSpot reviewer
Works with 51-200 employees
Jun 28, 2017
The ability to create a VPN allows me to monitor branch offices from a central location.
it_user511632 - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner with 51-200 employees
Nov 28, 2017
Routing, load balancing, Traffic Limiter and queues. Since this company relies on an Internet connection, having these features is a must.
Learn what your peers think about Netgate pfSense. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2025.
879,853 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user694707 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Director
Jun 30, 2017
The redundancy and scalability ARE very nice.
it_user221862 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud Engineer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Jul 10, 2017
I use pfSense because it gives me the flexibility to greatly expand basic firewall features.
it_user701439 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Support Engineer
Jul 12, 2017
The "OpenVPN Client Export" package is really helpful in exporting the VPN client software on most popular devices: iOS/Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and a handful of SIP handsets.
LC
Specialist in IT Infrastructure, Networks and Software Quality at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Jan 8, 2018
An incomparable stability is achieved with other firewall systems.
it_user800241 - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO with 11-50 employees
Jan 11, 2018
Improved service performance and availability through redundancy.
it_user803556 - PeerSpot reviewer
Analista Senior at a tech services company
Jan 17, 2018
The gain in performance and security from configuring the VPN connections was significant.
JS
Owner / Principle Engineer at Cogito Innovations
Feb 10, 2018
Its features rival many of the high cost solutions out there.
 

Netgate pfSense Cons review quotes

it_user485088 - PeerSpot reviewer
Infrastructure Manager at a engineering company with 501-1,000 employees
Jun 14, 2017
Perhaps the documentation is not clear and because it is supported in the community there is no basic documentation.
it_user429552 - PeerSpot reviewer
Works with 51-200 employees
Jun 28, 2017
A way to clean squid cache from the GUI.
it_user511632 - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner with 51-200 employees
Nov 28, 2017
Reporting and real-time monitoring, since I'm used to Watchguard's reporting features, it would be nice to have an embedded solution for reporting.
Learn what your peers think about Netgate pfSense. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2025.
879,853 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user694707 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Director
Jun 30, 2017
The GUI could use more “bells and whistles”. It's got plenty of info for a Sysadmin but some people like shiny things.
it_user221862 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud Engineer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Jul 10, 2017
The GUI. There are TONS of plugins for pfSense, as such, if a user wants to add quite a bit of functionality, the GUI will feel a little congested.
it_user701439 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Support Engineer
Jul 12, 2017
Network monitoring and device inventory could use some improvements. I'm using SpiceWorks for this because it never really worked in pfSense.
LC
Specialist in IT Infrastructure, Networks and Software Quality at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Jan 8, 2018
It should integrate with LDAP, Active Directory, etc, to improve the way in which the traces and connections of each IP, or user connected through the firewall, are shown.
it_user800241 - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO with 11-50 employees
Jan 11, 2018
​Improve analysis of logs and dashboards (control panel) with improved alert functionality.
it_user803556 - PeerSpot reviewer
Analista Senior at a tech services company
Jan 17, 2018
My only observation is about the quality of the IPSec logs, which are difficult to interpret and are poor in filters.
JS
Owner / Principle Engineer at Cogito Innovations
Feb 10, 2018
The GUI could use improvements, though it is manageable.