Untangle vs. pfSense: Top Firewall Comparison

If you’re in the market for a new firewall and have heard of Untangle, you might wonder how it differs from pfSense. They’re both similar in many ways, but there are also some key differences.

pfSense is an open-source project created by Netgate, and Untangle is proprietary software developed by Untangle. Both offer similar firewall features. Untangle is best overall due partly to its user reviews and industry recognition. pfSense is best for the range of its firewall portfolio and specific use cases. See below how Untange and pfSense compare against each other in the firewall market.

Untangle Vs. PfSense

• Portfolio: pfSense
• Partners: Untangle
• Use cases: pfSense
• User reviews: Untangle
• Industry recognition: Untangle
• Pricing: Untangle
• Overall: Untangle

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Untangle Vs. PfSense: Portfolio

Untangle and pfSense are both highly regarded for their security and reliability. However, their differences are more than just a matter of personal preference; they’re a matter of what you need to do in your day-to-day work.

Untangle is a network management tool designed primarily as an antivirus and anti-malware solution, with additional features, like traffic shaping, load balancing, and content filtering. These features allow you to monitor any number of devices, servers, and applications from one dashboard.

Untangle also includes an application firewall that protects against malware and phishing attacks as well as a VPN server for remote employees. And it offers an extensive library of add-ons to let you customize your experience based on the needs of your business.

pfSense is an open-source firewall and router platform that can be installed on a PC, virtual machine, or dedicated hardware. It serves a similar purpose as Untangle, but it also includes network monitoring tools that can help you track all your devices simultaneously.

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Untangle Vs. PfSense: Partners

Untangle’s partner network mainly acts as a sales channel, while pfSense’s partner network supports the open-source technology, expanding its functionality and integrations.

Untangle has an extensive list of partners, like UNETEK and BWS Technologies, to offer its services through those brands and its website. This can be an advantage, because it allows Untangle to make its services more widely available.

pfSense has partners that offer support for this open-source project, including hardware manufacturers, such as Netgate, which offers hardware appliances running pfSense software. Suppose you don’t want to purchase an appliance but just want to use the software on your existing hardware. In that case, you can buy licenses for support services from companies like Netgate or get support directly from the community via forums or mailing lists.

Untangle Vs. PfSense: Use Cases

Untangle is a good option if you want to set up various configurations and features. You can use it for simple firewalls or complex setups like VPNs and more advanced routing rules. If you just need essential protection, Untangle may be more than you need. However, if you want to get into some of the more advanced options available, Untangle is a good choice.

pfSense is a feature-rich firewall and router that can be configured to meet the needs of nearly any network. It includes a web interface, a command-line interface (CLI), and built-in VPN support.

pfSense can be used to protect your home or small business network, provide a secure connection between two networks — Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol — and handle large enterprise applications. pfSense supports IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, has an integrated packet sniffer for troubleshooting purposes, and allows you to monitor bandwidth usage on your network.

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Untangle Vs. PfSense: User Reviews

To help you decide on the best solution for your needs, here are overall user scores on Untangle and pfSense at several reviews websites. Knowing what users say about the product is important. Untangle has an edge here:

Untangle Vs. PfSense: Industry Recognition

Untangle

• In the 2021 IT World Awards, Untangle received two Gold awards for Network Security Framework and NG Firewall
• In the 2021 Tech Innovator Awards, Untangle was recognized as Network Security SMB Finalist for Network Security Framework
• In the 2021 Biz International 2021 Awards, Untangle won Silver for SMB Product of the Year in the category of Network Security Framework
• In the 2021 Biz North America 2021 Awards, Untangle won Silver in the SMB Service of the Year category for the SD-WAN Router

PfSense

• pfSense is the No. 2 ranked solution in best firewalls at PeerSpot

Untangle Vs. PfSense: Pricing

Untangle and pfSense are both good options for a firewall, but they have different pricing schemes, which can be a determining factor in which to choose. Untangle offers a free trial, and its paid plan starts at $25 per month, while the Netgate appliance that supports pfSense software costs $349 for branch office and small business use cases.

Bottom Line: Untangle Vs. PfSense

We’ve shown you the differences between Untangle and pfSense in various categories above. Both firewall offerings are good choices for your company’s network security needs, but it depends on what you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for a robust firewall with features like traffic shaping, intrusion prevention, application control, and more, then Untangle is a strong choice. If you’re looking for something more straightforward and easier to use without sacrificing power, then pfSense is a solid option.

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