Best Network Firewall Software in 2026
Updated
In short: NethSecurity is ranked #1 of 33 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of pfSense and Sangfor EasyConnect. The best-ranked option with a free plan is pfSense. The lowest first paid tier on this page is AWS Network Firewall at $0.07/mo.
Network firewalls control and inspect traffic, with different options to weigh against your network’s deployment and security requirements. Compared on firewall throughput, concurrent connections, deployment model, intrusion prevention, and SSL inspection, the entries also note site-to-site VPN support. Free-plan availability and paid starting prices add cost context. NethSecurity, pfSense, and Sangfor EasyConnect are among the software options to compare. Consider the traffic capacity and inspection features you need, how the firewall will be deployed, and whether connecting sites is part of your requirements; then use the listed criteria to assess fit.
33 network firewall software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
33ranked
6free plans on this page
$0.07/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Network Firewall Software 25 channels on this page · 99 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromDeployment modelIntrusion preventionSSL inspectionSite-to-site VPNFirewall throughputConcurrent connections Spec sheet Score
01 NethSecurity Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionnot statedSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.4
02 pfSense Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionnot statedSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.4
03 Sangfor EasyConnect Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.4
04 WatchGuard FireCloud Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.4
05 Zscaler Private Access Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelcloudIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNnot statedFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.4
06 Cato SASE Platform Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedIntrusion preventionnot statedSSL inspectionnot statedSite-to-site VPNnot statedFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 7.1
07 Arista NG Firewall Free planYesPaid from$25/moDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.0
08 IPFire Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionNoSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
09 OPNsense Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
10 Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Secret Management Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelcloudIntrusion preventionnot statedSSL inspectionnot statedSite-to-site VPNnot statedFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.8
11 Check Point DDoS Protector Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.7
12 Forcepoint ZTNA Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.6
13 Palo Alto Networks Panorama Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.4
14 AWS Network Firewall Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelcloudIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughput100 GbpsConcurrent connectionsnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.2
15 Endian Firewall Community Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.2
16 Juniper Security Director Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionnot statedSSL inspectionnot statedSite-to-site VPNnot statedFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.2
17 FortiGate Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.1
18 Versa Cloud NGFW Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelcloudIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNnot statedFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
19 Firewalla Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionNoSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughput0.5 GbpsConcurrent connectionsnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
20 Tencent Cloud Firewall Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelcloudIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNnot statedFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
21 Alibaba Cloud Cloud Firewall Free planNoPaid from$420/moDeployment modelcloudIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNnot statedFirewall throughput0.03 GbpsConcurrent connectionsnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 5.8
22 Stormshield Management Center Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
23 TNSR Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionnot statedSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
24 WatchGuard Firebox Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridIntrusion preventionYesSSL inspectionYesSite-to-site VPNYesFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
25 Little Snitch Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedIntrusion preventionnot statedSSL inspectionnot statedSite-to-site VPNnot statedFirewall throughputnot statedConcurrent connectionsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.7
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Intrusion prevention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NethSecurity | 7.4 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 2 | pfSense | 7.4 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 3 | Sangfor EasyConnect | 7.4 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 4 | WatchGuard FireCloud | 7.4 | No | $8.15/mo | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 5 | Zscaler Private Access | 7.4 | No | — | — | — | cloud | Yes |
| 6 | Cato SASE Platform | 7.1 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Arista NG Firewall | 7.0 | Free plan | $22.50/mo | Yes | 25 /mo | hybrid | Yes |
| 8 | IPFire | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 9 | OPNsense | 6.8 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 10 | Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Secret Management | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | cloud | — |
| 11 | Check Point DDoS Protector | 6.7 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 12 | Forcepoint ZTNA | 6.6 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 13 | Palo Alto Networks Panorama | 6.4 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 14 | AWS Network Firewall | 6.2 | No | $0.07/mo | No | — | cloud | Yes |
| 15 | Endian Firewall Community | 6.2 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 16 | Juniper Security Director | 6.2 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | — |
| 17 | FortiGate | 6.1 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 18 | Versa Cloud NGFW | 6.0 | No | — | No | — | cloud | Yes |
| 19 | Firewalla | 5.9 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 20 | Tencent Cloud Firewall | 5.9 | No | — | No | — | cloud | Yes |
| 21 | Alibaba Cloud Cloud Firewall | 5.8 | No | $0.36/mo | No | 420 /mo | cloud | Yes |
| 22 | Stormshield Management Center | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 23 | TNSR | 5.8 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 24 | WatchGuard Firebox | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 25 | Little Snitch | 5.7 | No | €59/mo | No | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which network firewall software is ranked first on Specifiction?
NethSecurity is ranked #1 of 33 with a score of 7.4. pfSense is second and Sangfor EasyConnect third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, AWS Network Firewall has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.07/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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