MX Linux vs pfSense
MX Linux
mxlinux.orgpfSense
pfsense.orgSide by side
| Figure | MX Linux | pfSense |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 5 |
| Spec score · Operating Systems | 8.1 (#11) | 8.1 (#12) |
| Firewall | Starting with MX Linux 23, the firewall is enabled and set to deny incoming connections; the FAQ notes this may interfere with printer discovery and some applications. | Its firewall uses stateful packet inspection and can block traffic based on policy matches. |
| Intended users | The project describes MX as a midweight desktop operating system designed for stability, performance and efficient desktops. | Netgate identifies home and remote workers, businesses, government, education, and service providers as users of pfSense Plus. |
| Purpose | MX Linux is a family of operating systems built from Debian Stable repositories for elegant, efficient desktops with high stability and solid performance. | pfSense is a free, open-source FreeBSD-based firewall and router distribution managed through a web interface. |
| Support | Support resources include videos, documentation and the MX Linux Forum. | Netgate Global Support covers installation, deployment, and configuration issues, and is available for self-installed and virtual pfSense software. |
Plans
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
MX Linux
MX Linux is a free family of Linux operating systems built from Debian Stable repositories for desktop use focused on efficiency, stability, and performance. The project is a cooperative venture between the antiX and MX Linux communities. Its official editions use Xfce, KDE, or Fluxbox, and graphical MX tools cover tasks such as boot options and repository management. MX Package Installer provides access to popular applications from Debian Stable, MX Test Repo, Debian Backports, and Flatpak; listed compatibility also includes Snap on supported setups and AppImage. MX Updater checks packages, offers upgrade modes, and can schedule unattended upgrades. Live USB and snapshot tools support portable operation and remastering. The Xfce edition comes in standard and Advanced Hardware Support versions; KDE includes Dolphin and KDE Connect. MX automatically receives Debian Stable security updates, and its ISO Signature Verifier checks signed checksums. It can be installed on desktop and laptop computers or run live from removable USB media. Support resources include videos, documentation, a user manual, and a forum.
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.