Netgate pfSense Reviews

Name: Netgate pfSense
Brand: Netgate
Rating: 4.3 (206 reviews)

Vendor: Netgate

4.3 out of 5

206 reviews
94% willing to recommend

12K followers

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What is Netgate pfSense?

pfSense is a powerful and reliable network security appliance primarily used for security purposes such as firewall and VPN or traffic shaping, network management, and web filtering. It is commonly used by small businesses and managed service providers to protect their customers' networks and enable remote access through VPNs.

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Netgate pfSense is the #1 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Netgate pfSense an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Netgate pfSense is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate. Netgate pfSense is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 45% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 15% of all views.

Helped 815,854 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Vincent Hamm

CIO and President at Aim High! Inc.

PfSense gives our customers high security, and it's easy to implement. Most customers are looking for a VPN, so we set up a static IP that makes the VPN easy. The benefits of pfSense are immediate. It has a few features that prevent data loss, such as backups and creating rules. It does packet inspection to ensure large known malware does not get through to the end users. It offers features that help us prevent downtime, but that doesn't apply to our customers. It has failover, so if an internet line were to go bad, you could failover to another line. That doesn't apply to our customers because they can't afford a second internet line.

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Peter Heinicke

Owner at Precision Computer Methods Inc.

The dashboard is pretty good. It lets you control different things. It also has widgets, and you're able to control which sockets are open or not, and you're able to have some open software that allows you to do geofencing. You can restrict the ability to access certain countries. It's been flexible enough for everything that we've needed to do with it. I have a small operation, so we don't have some of the requirements that a larger one would have. Since it's open software, there are typically open modules that you can add. The firewall software also has a menu option that allows you to download different new features. For instance, there's a piece of software called Notes that allows you to make some notes, so you can go into your firewall and look up configuration notes that were written there in the past. There's backup software, so there's another piece of software that allows you to back up the configuration to a file or a PC connected to the firewall. If you have a sufficiently bad power outage, you can lose your configuration. However, it has some features that allow you to track suspicious access to a device. You get a record of intrusion. You still need to interpret it yourself. However, you are alerted to potential hacks. We began to see the value immediately. It made a big made a big difference not to have to pay that annual fee. There was some learning curve involved. I like to learn new things.

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Eloi Chayer

Regional Aftersales Manager at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Its ability to put some plug-ins into the system is helpful. There are a couple of packages that I'm using. Since I'm using it mainly as a firewall and sometimes as a VPN endpoint, it's really great. The flexibility is good. The fact that you can add packages makes the device quite flexible. Also, it's quite overpowered for my needs right now, so that's a good thing. Price-wise, the quality to price is pretty much up there, especially when you consider that you don't have to tinker with anything. With hardware, you don't know where you know, how long it's going to last or anything like that. However, with pfSense, you have guaranteed support with NetGate, and this is great. It's quite easy to configure. It's very intuitive. Maybe that's because I know the interface. There's also tons of of information available online. They have a very good user manual for the software as well. It's very detailed, and it's it's easy to work with. There's a forum where you can ask questions, and people are very friendly. Within a couple of hours, sometimes days, somebody has had the issue that you're having before. So, forum responses are quite quick. It's really easy to work with. There's peace of mind and no downtime. In terms of preventing data loss, any solution is only as good as its weakest point. And since this is at the very edge of my network, of the outside network, I feel I'm pretty prepared and protected from data breaches. That said, at the end of the day, I'm not opening myself up to many things in the outside world. It's blocking pretty well, and I don't feel threatened. If there's data loss, it's going to be from my end users, not from the device itself. It provides us with a single pane of glass management for my household. There's only one device that I use. The main advantage to me right now is that I'm using their reboot environment. It's really easy for me to update, and if some things don't go well, I can go to the previous version and be back up in no time. pfSense is just plug-and-play. Performance-wise, once you install the system, it works even when there's been a couple of software updates. It's probably overpowered for what I need. Performance is very good.

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Netgate pfSense mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Netgate pfSense in the Firewalls category stands at 19.5%, down from 23.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

Users have highlighted the reliability, robust security features, flexibility, ease of customization, and strong performance of Netgate pfSense.

"pfSense is a straightforward, feature-rich firewall."
"The most valuable aspects of pfSense are the stability, hardware compatibility, and low cost."
"The customer support is very good. Setting up the VPN is pretty straightforward and easy."

Room for Improvement

Users have noted that the user interface could be more intuitive and user-friendly. Some users have also mentioned that the setup process can be complex and could benefit from additional guidance. Additionally, some users have experienced issues with stability and performance, particularly when dealing with high traffic volumes.

"One area where Netgate could improve is communication with its user base."
"I want pfSense to add some next-generation firewall features."
"Their UI could have hidden some of the complexity better so that it was easy to understand or more general. They could have given some more clarification on the markings on the outside of the machine."

ROI

Users have reported positive results from implementing Netgate pfSense, stating that it has led to increased security, improved network performance, and cost savings. The return on investment from utilizing Netgate pfSense has been seen as significant and worth the initial investment.

Pricing

The pricing for Netgate pfSense is affordable with no hidden costs. The setup cost is minimal and straightforward. Licensing is clear and flexible with options to suit different needs and budgets.

"The pricing is reasonable."
"pfSense Plus is cost-effective for what we're getting."
"Its price is fair. I buy the Netgate hardware so that I can support pfSense and Netgate and I have somebody designing the next layer of software for me in the future. I like their model. It is a high-value piece of equipment with a great team behind it."

Popular Use Cases

Users primarily leverage Netgate pfSense as a network firewall and routing solution. It is also commonly used for VPN connectivity and traffic monitoring. Many users praise its robust security features and ease of customization to fit their specific network needs. Additionally, users appreciate the software's reliability and stability in helping secure their network infrastructure.

Service and Support

Customers have praised Netgate pfSense for its excellent customer service and support. Users have expressed satisfaction with the quick response times and helpful assistance provided by the support team. Additionally, customers appreciate the extensive knowledge and expertise demonstrated by the support staff in addressing their queries and issues.

Deployment

Most users generally consider the initial setup of pfSense easy and straightforward, with deployment times varying from just 10 minutes to two weeks. Some users emphasize that deployment is quick and can be completed in a few hours by IT professionals, while others mention that the complexity of network configurations can extend the setup time.

Scalability

Many users find Netgate pfSense to be highly flexible and able to easily accommodate changing needs, with several mentioning that it can scale well to fit a variety of environments. Some users have noted that the solution is particularly useful for small to medium-sized businesses seeking an adaptable and expandable networking option.

Stability

Users generally praise the stability of Netgate pfSense, citing its reliability and consistency in providing a secure network solution. Many find that the software is dependable and does not experience frequent crashes or disruptions.

Additionally, users appreciate the consistency and predictability of the solution, noting that it consistently delivers on its promised performance.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Netgate pfSense Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

Government

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

University

Financial Services Firm

Media Company

Retailer

Hospitality Company

Healthcare Company

Construction Company

Insurance Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Legal Firm

Outsourcing Company

Transportation Company

Performing Arts

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Consumer Goods Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Netgate pfSense with alternative products

Learn more about Netgate pfSense

The solution is praised for its stability, user-friendly interface, scalability potential, open-source nature, free cost, easy installation, firewall capabilities, security features, flexibility, and simplicity. Overall, pfSense is a cost-effective solution for enterprises that need a VPN for their employees.

pfSense Key Features

pfSense has many key features and capabilities, including:

Strength and accuracy: pfSense is able to always follow either default or custom rules, making it a stronger firewall than some of its competitors. It also filters traffic separately, whether it’s coming from your internal network of devices or the open internet, allowing you to set different rules and policies for each.
Flexibility: pfSense can work both as a basic firewall and as a complete security system because it gives you the flexibility to integrate additional features as code where necessary.
Open-source: Because it is open-source, not only is pfSense free to use, but community members can contribute to the code to make it a better software.
User-friendly: Usually firewall products are not user-friendly because they often include complex settings, options, and features that require fine-tuning. pfSense’s interface is simple, direct, and easy to use.
WireGuard Support: Instead of building your own VPN using pfSense, or settling for a commercial VPN provider, you can directly integrate WireGuard with the pfSense firewall.
Speed Management and Fault Tolerance: pfSense’s multi-WAN feature allows your system to continue operating in case components fail.
Well-supported: pfSense regularly has security and feature updates. It also has a documentation site and a well-informed and knowledgeable support forum.

Reviews from Real Users

Below is some feedback from PeerSpot Users who are currently using the solution.

Bojan O., CEO at In.sist d.o.o., says, “The classic features, such as content inspection, content protection, and the application-level firewall, are the most important."

Another PeerSpot user, a chef at a media company, explains what he finds most valuable about pfSense: "T he plugins or add-ons are most valuable. Sometimes, they are free of charge, and sometimes, you have to pay for them, but you can purchase or download very valuable plugins or add-ons to perform internal testing of your network and simulate a denial-of-service attack or whichever attack you want to simulate. You can also remote and monitor your network and see where the gap is."

T.O., a VP of Business Development at a tech services company, mentions, "What I found most valuable is the cost of the platform, the flexibility of the platform, and the fact that the ongoing fees are not there as they are with the competitor."

Netgate pfSense customers

Nerds On Site Inc., RKC Development Inc., Expertech, Fisher's Technology, Ncisive, Consulting, CPURX, Vaughn's Computer House Calls, Imeretech LLC, Digital Crisis, Carolina Digital Phone, Technigogo Technology Services, The Simple Solution, SwiftecITInc, Rocky Mountain Tech Team, Free Range Geeks, Alaska Computer Geeks, Lark Information Technology, Renaissance Systems Inc., Cutting Edge Computers, Caretech LLC, GoVanguard, Network Touch Ltd, P.C. Solutions.Net, Vision Voice and Data Systems LLC, Montgomery Technologies, Techforce, Concero Networks, ASONInc, CPS Electronics and Consulting, Darkwire.net LLC, IT Specialists, MBS-Net Inc., VOICE1 LLC, Advantage Networking Inc., Powerhouse Systems, Doxa Multimedia Inc., Pro Computer Service, Virtual IT Services, A&J Computers Inc., Envision IT LLC, CommunicaONE Inc., Bone Computer Inc., Amax Engineering Corporation, QPG Ltd. Co., IT 101 Inc., Perfect Cloud Solutions, Applied Technology Group Inc., The Digital Sun Group LLC, Firespring