CrowdSec vs pfSense
CrowdSec
crowdsec.netpfSense
pfsense.orgSide by side
| Figure | CrowdSec | pfSense |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $49/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 8 | 5 |
| Spec score · Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software | 9.3 (#1) | 8.1 (#9) |
| Deployment | Official documentation describes single-host, multi-machine, centralized-log, Kubernetes, container and WAF-only deployments. | The software can run on selected hardware, virtual machines, and cloud instances; the project says it is the software portion of the firewall. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Headquarters | Montrouge, France | Austin, Texas, USA |
| Purpose | The open source CrowdSec Security Stack detects and blocks malicious IPs to safeguard infrastructure and application security. | pfSense is a free, open-source FreeBSD-based firewall and router distribution managed through a web interface. |
| Support | CrowdSec Console Premium lists optional premium service and support for $1K/month. | Netgate Global Support covers installation, deployment, and configuration issues, and is available for self-installed and virtual pfSense software. |
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
pfSense
- pfSense Plus SoftwarePrice not published
- pfSense Community EditionFree
- pfSense Plus CloudPriced on request
- pfSense Plus on third-party hardware$129 a year
- pfSense Plus on Netgate appliances$189, 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.
pfSense
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.