Untangle NG Firewall Reviews

Name: Untangle NG Firewall
Brand: Untangle
Rating: 4.3 (23 reviews)

4.3 out of 5

23 reviews
94% willing to recommend

1,752 followers

What is Untangle NG Firewall?

Untangle NG Firewall is an open-source firewall and gateway security platform that helps keep networks safe while accessing the internet. It offers a free core firewall platform with paid add-ons, and a cloud-based management platform with a variety of deployment options for smaller teams. The solution also has a cloud-based management console for remote management that can either be deployed on premises or as SaaS, and virtualized or cloud-based. It also has flexible deployment options, including third-party hardware, as a virtual machine, or as a turnkey appliance. Untangle NG Firewall is ideal for small IT teams with limited budgets.

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Untangle NG Firewall is the #8 ranked solution in top Unified Threat Management (UTM) solutions and #24 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Untangle NG Firewall an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 23 most recent Untangle NG Firewall reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.2. Untangle NG Firewall is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Untangle NG Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate. Untangle NG Firewall is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 43% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 13% of all views.

Helped 824,053 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Josh Evans

CEO at DragonTech IT Services, Inc

I've heard other people saying that other firewalls have better detection rates, so better security. If they can improve the security of the device, I'm always for that, but at the moment, we've been happy with the service that we're getting out of them. It does have multi-factor authentication in some areas, but I would love to see a more widely implemented version of that on the devices themselves. It could use some improvement for Azure Active Directory Connections. It does exist, and it is available, but it needs work to be able to fully authenticate. I know there are some advanced features that other firewalls have that aren't present in Untangle, but we've never noticed any feature that we need but isn't there. I also know a lot of people have complained about the cost per device because they license by device counts. So, once you get over a certain number of devices, it is not really a cost-effective solution.

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Richard Weiner

President at Digital Information LLC

Usually, our clients switch from SonicWall. The reason for switching is that they are going to have to buy a new appliance because it's so old. It is not going to be supported anymore. There is also the cost difference with Untangle. Untangle is a much better buy for the money than SonicWall. SonicWall is a lot more complicated to use for somebody not familiar with its interface than Untangle. The same is true for WatchGuard. WatchGuard is easier than SonicWall, but it still has a learning curve. Untangle also has a learning curve, but it is the easiest one for somebody who doesn't know.

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RicardoDias

Network and Programming Specialist at Twentytwo Integration

There is room for improvement in the logs. Like with Cisco, I can do almost everything and know almost anything about what's running. Untangle works very much out of the box. It's very user-friendly, but it's not engineer-friendly. So, it's good for a home user. For something fairly easy, but at the same time, with good technology to have at home, because at home, I'm not a millionaire or anything like that. So it's not like I'm worried to get hacked. I didn't want something like a Cisco firewall; it would be a bit overkill to have at home. So that's why I went for Untangle. But it lacks a few features. It's just a tick-box kind of thing. So they have apps and turn on and off the apps. The VPN's configuration is all very ticked. They have a few custom configurations, but it's not that much. It's very good for a home user, but for engineers, people who want a bit more, it doesn't have that facility. So, it lacks a lot of granularity, like in-depth configuration. But that's okay. That's why I chose it, so that's why I like it because of that as well. I pay for the home license because I like to have all the features. If I could have some more granulated configuration on the threat, for instance, and that's in intrusion. And that sort of if I could have a bit more in-depth configuration on it, that would be good.

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Untangle NG Firewall mindshare

Product category:

As of December 2024, the mindshare of Untangle NG Firewall in the Firewalls category stands at 1.2%, down from 1.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Firewalls	Dec 21, 2024	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Dec 21, 2024	Download
Comparison	Untangle NG Firewall vs Netgate pfSense	Dec 21, 2024	Download
Comparison	Untangle NG Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate	Dec 21, 2024	Download
Comparison	Untangle NG Firewall vs OPNsense	Dec 21, 2024	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Fortinet FortiGate	4.2	20.5%	90%	317 interviews Add to research
Netgate pfSense	4.3	18.6%	94%	206 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Untangle NG Firewall's most valuable features include ease of use, integration with Active Directory, and group policies setup. Users highlight strong security with IPS, MAPI, NAT, VPN, antivirus, and content filtering. It supports hardware flexibility, command center management, and zero-touch deployment. Features such as load balancing, endpoint protection management, web, and application filters are also appreciated. The user interface is straightforward, and support is generally good. The firewall is well-priced and reliable, particularly for small businesses.

"The solution's most valuable feature is the content filtering."
"The product helps small and medium enterprises secure their networks from intrusions. It also has features like DNS blocking."
"The initial setup is very easy."

Room for Improvement

Untangle NG Firewall needs improvements in web content filtering, SSL decryption, pricing, availability of hardware, real-time threat protection, on-premises common center facility, session termination, and local support. Users also report issues with endpoint VPN client connectivity, reporting features, logs, hardware memory and storage, IP address assignment, replacement hardware wait times, and mobile application. Additionally, two-factor authentication and licensing count need enhancements, and users desire more granular configuration options.

"The solution's licensing count could be improved."
"The product needs to improve its mobile application."
"There is room for improvement in the logs. Like with Cisco, I can do almost everything and know almost anything about what's running. Untangle works very much out of the box. It's very user-friendly, but it's not engineer-friendly. So, it's good for a home user.For something fairly easy, but at the same time, with good technology to have at home, because at home, I'm not a millionaire or anything like that. So it's not like I'm worried to get hacked. I didn't want something like a Cisco firewall; it would be a bit overkill to have at home. So that's why I went for Untangle. But it lacks a few features. It's just a tick-box kind of thing. So they have apps and turn on and off the apps. The VPN's configuration is all very ticked. They have a few custom configurations, but it's not that much."

ROI

Users report significant savings in time and money with Untangle NG Firewall. It offers outstanding reporting capabilities that expose hidden issues, aiding strategic decisions. Deployment and management require less time compared to other firewalls. Its inclusion in monthly client costs enhances its value. Untangle NG Firewall caters to various business sizes, from one to over 24 employees, effectively protecting clients and stopping threats.

Pricing

Untangle NG Firewall's pricing, setup cost, and licensing have received mixed reviews. Some users find the solution to be fairly priced and worth the money, especially because it is scalable. However, others consider the pricing to be expensive, particularly in certain markets where big companies are scarce. The pricing model is based on the number of users, with license tiers ranging from 12 to unlimited. However, the licensing costs can increase significantly for sites with more than 50 devices, making Untangle less cost-effective compared to competitors. The hardware cost is optional, as users can deploy the software for free on their own hardware or through a virtual machine.

"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing an eight out of ten."
"The tool's pricing is moderate, and licensing costs are yearly."
"For the home use, it's cheap."

Popular Use Cases

They use Untangle NG Firewall primarily for security purposes, including filtering features, intrusion prevention, and detection. Most deployments are on-premises for small to medium-sized businesses, often with VPN connections. Companies also provide it to clients like law offices and unions to secure networks from intrusions and DNS blocking. They resell, implement, and manage it for affordability and ease of use for small offices, offering hardware and monthly services within their network.

Service and Support

Some users have found Untangle NG Firewall to offer excellent, quick, and knowledgeable support, with issues resolved promptly. However, others have experienced challenges such as limited support resources and difficulty in finding technicians who fully understand the system. Remote assistance is available, although some users prefer phone support, which may not be evident. Users who did not need support found the system easy to configure.

Deployment

Users found Untangle NG Firewall's initial setup very straightforward and simple, often taking less than an hour. Deployment can be handled by one person and the command center facilitates easy configuration and maintenance. Templates and policies streamline the process. Even for complex configurations, users noted that it remained manageable. Compared to other firewalls, it is one of the easiest to set up, making it ideal for small and medium companies without specialized IT departments.

Scalability

Many find Untangle NG Firewall scalable, with ease of increasing capacity as needed. Some have scaled from a few users to thousands without issues, while others experience limitations. Users appreciate its flexible deployment for residential to corporate environments. The average user count varies, with some managing a few dozen to several hundred clients.

Stability

Untangle NG Firewall is highly stable. Users report consistent performance with minimal issues. Regular updates enhance reliability. Stability issues in the past were mainly due to hardware incompatibility. Reboots and client errors were rare and mostly resolved with adequate hardware. Users rate the stability between seven and ten out of ten, noting excellent performance and rarely experiencing crashes or performance degradation.

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

Download our Untangle NG Firewall 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

13%

Comms Service Provider

Government

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Healthcare Company

Financial Services Firm

University

Non Profit

Construction Company

Retailer

Energy/Utilities Company

Hospitality Company

Media Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Outsourcing Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Performing Arts

Insurance Company

Legal Firm

Security Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Transportation Company

Logistics Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Compare Untangle NG Firewall with alternative products

Learn more about Untangle NG Firewall

Untangle NG Firewall Features

Untangle NG Firewall has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Intrusion protection
Threat prevention
Virus blocker
Virus scanner
App control
SSL inspection
Bandwidth control
Reporting
Logs
VPN
Web filter
IDS/IPS
Access controls
Location control
Proxy
Active Directory/LDAP connections

Untangle NG Firewall Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing Untangle NG Firewall. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Simplified network security: Untangle NG Firewall has a single, modular, software platform which simplifies security for all networks and ensures every device is adequately protected.

Visibility: The solution provides a browser-based, responsive, and intuitive interface enabling users to gain visibility quickly into the traffic on the network.

Deep analysis and insights: With the solution, users can see a network’s status at a glance on the dashboard, ensure compliance with full event logs, and get notifications of network anomalies or unusual user behavior with alert rules. In addition, users can gain insights in real time from database-driven reports.

Next-generation filtering: Untangle NG Firewall makes it easy to manage every rogue application, encrypted web request, malware distribution point, and drive-by malvertising attempt.

Connectivity and performance: The solution helps your organization maintain visibility and control over remote workers, branch offices, and guest Wi-Fi to keep users connected and data safe regardless of location or level of access.

Policy creation: Users can create policies by user, group, device, and time in order to control access.

Additional apps: Untangle NG Firewall offers additional apps, allowing organizations to create complete configuration backups to protect against network disruptions.

Reviews from Real Users

Untangle NG Firewall is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it is easy to use, has good features, including VPN, reporting, alerting, and filtering, and can be installed on existing hardware.

“It is very easy to use. The user interface is very straightforward. It may not be as fancy as some of the ones I've seen, but it's very straightforward. It's very easy to find what you need, and it's very easy to get things done,” says Josh E., CEO at DragonTech IT Services, Inc.

Barry A., Owner at ThinkEzIT, says, “It has good VPN features, helpful reporting and alerting, built-in content filtering, and excellent support.”

PeerSpot user Victor O., Director at Kisii County Government, explains, “What I like about this product, which is the reason that we continue to use it, is that you can install the software version on your own hardware. In case there is a problem with the hardware, we can just install the firewall in another machine and restore the configuration.”

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Untangle NG Firewall customers

North American Stamping Group, Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey (CPNJ), Brown County Schools, IN, City of Bridgeton, MO, Lancaster County, SC, Vision Charter School, Clay County Sheriff’s Department, NC, Breakwater School, Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, NH, Admiral Farragut Academy, Flow Companies, No Ordinary Hotel, KECdesign,