Arista NG Firewall vs pfSense

Arista NG Firewall is network security software for managing and protecting traffic in hybrid deployments. Its software packages list firewall, intrusion prevention, web filtering, VPN, reporting and other apps. Listed VPN options include IPsec VPN, OpenVPN, Tunnel VPN and WireGuard VPN, and SSL Inspector is a featured capability. NG Firewall Complete provides control and visibility into network traffic and events. The free package offers basic security and connectivity, but limits Virus Blocker, Application Control, Spam Blocker and Reports, and does not provide centralized management for policies, alerts, reports or Networks. ETM Dashboard centrally manages network appliances and can deploy hardware appliances remotely. Other listed capabilities include configuration backup, directory integration, application rules, network discovery, policy automation, and wired and wireless access control. NG Firewall Complete is listed at $270 for a 12-month term, with licensed-device choices from 12 through unlimited. Monthly billing is available as a licensed-term option; annual billing advertises 10% savings, and the three-year option advertises 20% savings. A free plan and 30-day trial are listed.

pfSense is a free, open-source firewall and router distribution based on FreeBSD, managed through a web interface. Its firewall uses stateful packet inspection and can block traffic based on policy matches. Routing features include policy-based routing, static routes, and concurrent IPv4 and IPv6 support. Security options include IDS/IPS, Snort packet analysis, Suricata rules, IP block lists, and application detection. It supports IPsec, OpenVPN, and WireGuard for site-to-site and remote-access VPNs. The software can run on selected hardware, virtual machines, and cloud instances, and is available in the Azure and AWS Marketplaces, including their US GovCloud regions. The Community Edition is free and open source. pfSense Plus on third-party hardware starts at $129 a year; on Netgate appliances it starts at $189, paid once, with the software included at no charge with an appliance. The USB installer overwrites the entire hard drive and does not support dual booting.