Netgate pfSense Reviews

Name: Netgate pfSense
Brand: Netgate
Rating: 4.3 (217 reviews)

Vendor: Netgate

4.3 out of 5

217 reviews
93% willing to recommend

11K followers

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What is Netgate pfSense?

Netgate pfSense is widely leveraged by organizations for its comprehensive capabilities in firewalls, VPN servers, and bandwidth management. It suits LAN, WAN, and DMZ networks, offering secure, scalable, and efficient networking solutions.

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Netgate pfSense is the #1 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Netgate pfSense an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Netgate pfSense is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate. Netgate pfSense is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 44% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 16% of all views.

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Featured Netgate pfSense reviews

Vincent Hamm

CIO and President at Aim High! Inc.

We do a lot of managed services and are currently trying to get people off of L2TP VPN. Apparently, we can download a mobile config file from a configured NetGate device, and we're primarily Apple. We've experimented with it on a device that's not a production device, and we can't seem to get the phase one IPSec set correctly so that the Apple config will accept it. We've tried looking at the documentation but haven't found anything. While it's not the highest priority, it is rather frustrating. We'd like to do this, and the feature is right there, but we can't get it configured. We certainly don't want to try it on a production machine because it will break the current VPN. I would like to download the Apple mobile config so that I can tell it to configure my VPN connection to do that. We have some cross-platform things. So there's also a Windows VPN. You can download a script or a PowerShell, put it on a Windows machine, and it can connect to the VPN. It would be nice if I could say I want Mac only, Windows only, or both. I wish it could configure the IPSec phase one and phase two, or at least give me solid instructions on how to configure that. It doesn't supply out-of-the-box visibility to drive decisions. You get 75 log lines, so if you're trying to troubleshoot something, you have to look at one log and then another. It integrates with SysLog systems, but our customers are not at the level where they want to pay for some third-party SysLog system. Usually, we can get things taken care of fairly quickly. I would like to have the ability to control all my devices from one place. With Ubiquiti, you can get a controller that allows you to control all of your Wi-Fi devices, switches, and routers. From one area, you can switch to that customer and see what's happening in their environment. That's not part of pfSense. I understand why it's not because pfSense is open source and community supported. That's something that someone in the community needs to pick up and run with. It's not something the pfSense can easily implement. If they could, that'd be great.

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Jean-Pierre DAREYS

Director, Latin America at Bradmark Technologies, Inc.

I'm not knowledgeable enough to suggest new features. The use has been very straightforward. Whatever questions I've had, I've found videos to help me on YouTube, or I've been able to ask the forums. I've also reached out to technical support and I've received help although there could be more videos or tutorials from Netgate, in addition to third parties who have already implemented it, which is great. I have suffered a lot of problems over time but I don't think the problems are related to the hardware or the software. I am convinced that the problems have been related to hacking during configuration. During the setup process, while experimenting, the device would stop working or the password would suddenly not allow access, requiring re-installation and re-configuration, it was very slow going until I moved to the cloud. The dashboard is a little bit slow and the reporting isn't always current or immediate but acceptable. I'm not sure I can make data-driven decisions due to insufficient volume. I would need enhanced reporting, statistics, playback. I haven't looked at the reports a lot since because you have to access the log files, time is an issue, I use it in a home office environment.

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Jacob Sylvia

Cybersecurity Engineer at a consultancy

I would like to see a better plugin for data analytics. They have some things that you can do, but it's not purpose-built to get data out super easily. That's kind of an advanced feature, and you do have to do some configurations that are a little more advanced than some people might be comfortable with. I would also like some type of fleet management, like a dashboard where I can see multiple pfSense and their statuses. I'd also like that to be self-hosted. I don't necessarily want a cloud version of it. I'd like to host that at a parent site and have the satellite offices push their status there. I have to manage each of the devices individually. There is no interface where I can manage multiple devices. I wouldn't call it single pane of glass management. It does give me a single pane of glass for everything related to the boundary, including VPN intrusion detection, DNS, DHCP, VPN, and firewall rules. But it doesn't have that fleet management piece. I would love to see something like that. The last thing that I would like is not a feature. It's Netgate as an organization. I would like more transparency from them when they make some decisions that sometimes appear to be made in a vacuum. Most recently, the change in licensing and some of those things did not go over well in the community in general. I think some transparency from their organization would be valuable to the community at large.

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Netgate pfSense mindshare

As of May 2025, the mindshare of Netgate pfSense in the Firewalls category stands at 13.3%, down from 22.0% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

PeerResearch reports based on Netgate pfSense reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Firewalls	May 9, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	May 9, 2025	Download
Comparison	Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate	May 9, 2025	Download
Comparison	Netgate pfSense vs OPNsense	May 9, 2025	Download
Comparison	Netgate pfSense vs Sophos XG	May 9, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Fortinet FortiGate	4.2	21.4%	90%	331 interviews Add to research
OPNsense	4.2	11.5%	97%	40 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Netgate pfSense is valued for its high scalability and cost-effectiveness, providing strong open-source flexibility. Users highlight the robust firewall, VPN functionalities, ease of deployment, and detailed customization through a vast range of plugins. The community support is praised for assisting in troubleshooting. Users find the graphical interface user-friendly for managing network security, segmentation, and performance optimization, making it suitable for diverse networking needs without extensive costs.

"I would rate Netgate pfSense a 10 out of 10."
"Netgate pfSense's best features are that it's open source and flexible."
"I would rate pfSense a nine out of ten."

Room for Improvement

Netgate pfSense experiences difficulties with ease of use, particularly for novices, and lacks seamless VPN functionality. Users encounter challenges with network interface cards and experience sluggishness in the interface. Reporting and auditing functionalities need enhancement, and centralized management capabilities are limited. Users face problems with plug-in compatibility during updates. Software and security features like API integration, Layer 7 inspection, and real-time threat management could be more robust. Some express concerns about hardware support and community engagement, and seek improved support options.

"We appreciate the flexibility of the Netgate pfSense solution, but we have waited approximately two years for new updates to the Community Edition. We are now moving to OPNsense."
"We appreciate the flexibility of the Netgate pfSense solution, but we have waited approximately two years for new updates to the Community Edition. We are now moving to OPNsense."
"I purchased a Netgate firewall, an SG-4100, which is a $600 device, intending to make it a solid piece of my home lab and support the project. It died in one and a half years."

ROI

Netgate pfSense provides exceptional value, allowing users to repurpose obsolete hardware for high-cost savings compared to competitors. Organizations report significant cost-effectiveness, praising its stability and minimal maintenance. Many replace costly systems like Cisco and Juniper with it, achieving rapid ROI. Users experience decreased operational expenses, high efficiency in network management, and robust security features without annual fees, offering a favorable ownership cost. Companies achieve significant gains in cost, time, and productivity using Netgate pfSense.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers find Netgate pfSense pricing appealing due to its competitive edge compared to established solutions like Cisco and Fortinet. With options ranging from free community editions to reasonably priced pfSense Plus, businesses appreciate its cost-effectiveness, particularly the low total cost of ownership. Hardware costs can range from small embedded PCs to more pricey appliances. While support plans add to expenses, they’re often considered worthwhile. The setup cost is minimal for those using existing hardware, adding to its value proposition.

"Because the Community edition is free, we only charge for our services to the customers. In Turkey, we cannot demand normal pricing; if we were in Europe or the United States, we might collect more money from customers."
"I am using the free version."
"The licensing model needs improvement, especially for home users. There should be more flexibility to change licenses with hardware changes. The pricing model could be more accessible for home users."

Popular Use Cases

Netgate pfSense is primarily used for firewall protection, VPNs, and traffic management. Businesses and individuals use it to secure networks, manage site-to-site VPNs, perform load balancing, and ensure robust cybersecurity. It's implemented in environments ranging from small offices to large data centers, often replacing more expensive solutions like Cisco. Users appreciate its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and extensive capabilities, including intrusion detection, content filtering, and secure remote access.

Service and Support

Many rely on community forums and documentation for Netgate pfSense assistance, finding it informative and comprehensive. Some pay for official support, rating it highly for responsiveness and expertise. However, some experience long response times, feeling dissatisfied without quicker resolutions. Most users feel community resources suffice without needing official channels, while others appreciate additional insights from paid services. Satisfaction varies widely based on individual interactions and whether paid support is utilized.

Deployment

Users find Netgate pfSense's initial setup mostly straightforward, benefiting from an intuitive user interface and wizards that guide them through the process. A basic understanding of networking is helpful, but extensive resources, including documentation and videos, support novices. Some users face challenges with specific configurations or advanced features, which vary based on experience level. Despite occasional complexities, the setup is generally manageable within a short time frame.

Scalability

Netgate pfSense demonstrates strong adaptability across varied environments. Users find its scalability linked closely to hardware, supporting growth for small to mid-sized networks effectively. High performance is reported from a wide range of configurations, from modest to enterprise levels. While some note hardware constraints at higher demands, most appreciate its capacity to integrate seamlessly with existing networks, ensuring efficient management for various user scales and types, allowing it to fit diverse organizational needs.

Stability

Netgate pfSense is highly stable, praised for its reliability and uptime. Users report no significant issues, attributing any disruptions to hardware failures or environmental factors rather than the software itself. Some mention rare bugs or glitches, especially during updates, but note improvements with newer versions. Despite isolated incidents involving hardware or complex configurations, users consistently rate its stability highly, often citing years of trouble-free use, reaffirming its stability and reliability.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Netgate pfSense Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

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Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Government

Educational Organization

University

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Hospitality Company

Media Company

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Construction Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Non Profit

Insurance Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Outsourcing Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Legal Firm

Performing Arts

Transportation Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Consumer Goods Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Netgate pfSense with alternative products

Learn more about Netgate pfSense

Netgate pfSense stands out in diverse environments with its enterprise-grade features and cost-effective operations compared to competitors like Cisco. Deployed as an edge device, it optimizes routing, ad-blocking, content filtering, and traffic shaping. Users benefit from its versatile configurations, robust firewall protection, VPN functionality, and ISP load balancing. The open-source nature allows for extensive customization, integrating plugins like Snort and pfBlockerNG, and compatibility with third-party tools enhances its utility. The intuitive GUI combined with detailed logging and centralized management fortifies network security.

What features define Netgate pfSense?

Firewall: Provides robust network security through advanced filtering and stateful packet inspections.
VPN: Ensures secure remote access with high-performing VPN capabilities.
Load Balancing: Efficiently distributes traffic across multiple ISPs, ensuring uptime and performance.
Customization: Supports various plugins for enhanced functionality, tailor-made to specific needs.
Scalability: Adapts easily to varying network demands, providing high availability and flexibility.

What benefits should be considered for ROI?

Cost-Effectiveness: Delivers premium features at a fraction of the cost of traditional network appliances.
Flexibility: Offers a customizable solution that integrates well with existing infrastructure.
Community Support: Backed by a strong user community offering insights and troubleshooting resources.
Security: Supports VLAN segmentation, enhancing protection and management of network traffic.

Organizations in industries such as finance, healthcare, and education find Netgate pfSense integral due to its advanced security features and cost benefits. Its scalable architecture and strong VPN support are crucial for industries requiring stringent data protection and reliable remote access. The adaptability of pfSense makes it suitable for dynamic environments seeking comprehensive, secure networking solutions.

Netgate pfSense customers

Nerds On Site Inc., RKC Development Inc., Expertech, Fisher's Technology, Ncisive, Consulting, CPURX, Vaughn's Computer House Calls, Imeretech LLC, Digital Crisis, Carolina Digital Phone, Technigogo Technology Services, The Simple Solution, SwiftecITInc, Rocky Mountain Tech Team, Free Range Geeks, Alaska Computer Geeks, Lark Information Technology, Renaissance Systems Inc., Cutting Edge Computers, Caretech LLC, GoVanguard, Network Touch Ltd, P.C. Solutions.Net, Vision Voice and Data Systems LLC, Montgomery Technologies, Techforce, Concero Networks, ASONInc, CPS Electronics and Consulting, Darkwire.net LLC, IT Specialists, MBS-Net Inc., VOICE1 LLC, Advantage Networking Inc., Powerhouse Systems, Doxa Multimedia Inc., Pro Computer Service, Virtual IT Services, A&J Computers Inc., Envision IT LLC, CommunicaONE Inc., Bone Computer Inc., Amax Engineering Corporation, QPG Ltd. Co., IT 101 Inc., Perfect Cloud Solutions, Applied Technology Group Inc., The Digital Sun Group LLC, Firespring