NetBird vs WatchGuard FireCloud

NetBird connects users and machines through encrypted peer-to-peer networking based on WireGuard. It is offered as NetBird Cloud or can be self-hosted on an organization’s infrastructure. Its hybrid access model includes centralized controls for grouping, DNS, private nameservers and API-based configuration. Identity features include SSO, MFA, periodic re-authentication and identity-provider MFA settings. Teams can provision users and groups through an identity provider and organize them around teams and infrastructure. Device posture policies can check firewall, antivirus, geography and network location. Integrations include Okta, Microsoft, Google, MDM, EDR and SIEM platforms; logging covers network configuration changes and connection events, with SIEM streaming. NetBird supports Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, tvOS, Docker and routers. Its BSD-3 license permits self-hosting. The free tier covers up to 5 users and 100 machines. Team costs €6/user/mo and Business costs €12/user/mo; billing counts users and machines that connect or log in at least once during the billing period. Team and Business plans offer a free trial.

WatchGuard FireCloud is a managed, cloud-based firewall service designed to protect remote users from internet-based security threats. FireCloud Internet Access provides protected internet access; Total Access also connects users to local company-network resources without a VPN. Content scanning can use Gateway AntiVirus and APT Blocker to address threats including viruses, spyware, malicious applications and data leakage. FireCloud can also block botnets, SQL injections, cross-site scripting and buffer overflows. Application Control uses more than 1,800 signatures to identify and block more than 1,000 applications, including selected behaviors such as file transfer. Identity options include SAML providers such as AuthPoint, Microsoft Entra ID and Okta, along with WatchGuard Cloud Directory. Administrators can set centralized Zero Trust policies using factors such as location, time and user behavior. Total Access can use Virtual Gateways, Server Gateways or Fireboxes for private-resource access. Licensing is per user. The listed Internet Access plan for 1–50 licenses costs $97.75 a year per user license. Total Access has a free 30-day trial for up to 250 users.