CrowdSec vs IPFire
CrowdSec
crowdsec.net
IPFire
ipfire.orgSide by side
| Figure | CrowdSec | IPFire |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $49/mo | $91.58/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 8 | 6 |
| Spec score · Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software | 9.3 (#1) | 9.0 (#3) |
| Spec score · Firewall Software | 9.2 (#3) | 9.3 (#2) |
| Deployment | Official documentation describes single-host, multi-machine, centralized-log, Kubernetes, container and WAF-only deployments. | The current download page offers x86_64 and aarch64 ISO and flash images for bare metal, virtual machines, embedded hardware, USB sticks, and SD cards. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Licence | The CrowdSec Security Engine repository is released under the MIT License. | IPFire is free software distributed under GPLv3, while included components must use an approved open-source licence. |
| Notable news | CrowdSec published a September 17, 2026 statement about source-code exposure that occurred in May 2026. | Core Update 203 replaced Unbound with Knot Resolver, added encrypted upstream forwarding and 6GHz Wi-Fi access-point support on July 20, 2026. |
| Rating on G2 | 4.7 out of 5 from 87 reviews. | 5.0 out of 5 from 1 review. |
| Support | CrowdSec Console Premium lists optional premium service and support for $1K/month. | Lightning Wire Labs offers professional support, and the project points users to documentation, community forums, mailing lists, and a bug tracker. |
| What it does | CrowdSec Security Engine analyzes logs and HTTP requests with behavior-based scenarios, then uses remediation components to block malicious activity. | IPFire is a hardened Linux operating system functioning as a stateful firewall, VPN gateway, intrusion-prevention platform and extensible network appliance. |
Plans
CrowdSec
- IP Reputation API$49 a month
- Platinum Blocklists$1,900 a month
- Live Exploit Tracker$2,000 a month
- CommunityFree
- Community Security EngineFree
- IP Reputation API access$49 a month
- Local CTI replication$9,000 a month
- CrowdSec Console PremiumPriced on request
IPFire
- IPFireFree
- IPFire softwareFree
- IPFire Nano Appliance$749, paid once
- IPFire Mini Appliance (US)$979, paid once
- IPFire Standard Support$1,099 a year
- IPFire Enterprise Appliance (US)$4,299, paid once
In their own words
CrowdSec
CrowdSec is an open-source security stack designed to detect and block malicious IP addresses to protect infrastructure and applications. Its Security Engine analyzes logs and requests for harmful behavior, while the Remediation Component blocks IPs identified by that engine across supported platforms. CrowdSec says analysis takes place locally and logs do not leave the user's infrastructure. Its AppSec Component can provide web application firewall protection. The free Community offering includes real-time decision management, audit support, AWS CloudTrail scenarios, CAPI allow lists, and Kubernetes audit acquisition. IP Reputation data includes contextual criteria, activity timelines, autonomous system and IP range reputation, MITRE technique classification, and hourly updates. Listed integrations include Microsoft Sentinel, AWS log sources, WordPress, Cloudflare, Docker, and Kubernetes. The Community Security Engine is free. The IP Reputation API is listed at $49 a month for 5,000 queries; other listed services include blocklists and threat-intelligence options. CrowdSec lists Linux, macOS, and Windows among its platforms, with API, extension, self-hosted, and web options.
IPFire
IPFire is a free, open-source firewall and security platform for networks from home offices to global enterprises. Its Linux Netfilter-based firewall supports network zones, port forwarding, NAT, and stateful packet inspection. VPN options include IPsec, WireGuard, and OpenVPN for site-to-site or remote access. A Suricata-powered intrusion prevention system detects and blocks malicious traffic using updated rule sets. IPFire includes a Squid web proxy with optional URL filtering through URLFilter or SquidGuard, and uses Red, Green, Blue, and Orange zones for roles such as trusted networks, DMZs, and Wi-Fi. Its web interface monitors bandwidth, connections, and intrusion attempts. Proxy authentication can use Microsoft Windows Active Directory, LDAP, or RADIUS. The download page offers x86_64 and aarch64 images for bare metal, virtual machines, embedded hardware, USB sticks, and SD cards; cloud images are available for AWS, Exoscale, and other providers. The project says it releases frequent security updates. Documentation, forums, mailing lists, and a bug tracker are available, and Lightning Wire Labs offers professional support.