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Check Point Application Control vs WatchGuard Application Control comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Check Point Application Con...
Ranking in Application Control
2nd
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
37
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
WatchGuard Application Control
Ranking in Application Control
8th
Average Rating
8.6
Number of Reviews
9
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Application Control category, the mindshare of Check Point Application Control is 5.9%, down from 9.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of WatchGuard Application Control is 4.2%, down from 4.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Application Control
 

Featured Reviews

LuisNeves - PeerSpot reviewer
Useful VPN, high performance, and beneficial report monitoring
There are many aspects we do not like about the solution and there are a lot of alternatives available on the market. Some of the settings are buried deep within the solution making it a challenge to navigate. It would be helpful if it was more intuitive. Additionally, there can be some settings that are in multiple places, this leaves the user not knowing what settings are needed to be modified for the wanted result. I have lost confidence because I do not know if I change a setting or if it is going to have the desired result I intended it to do. I have used other solutions, such as Palo Alto and I did not experience these types of problems. When we apply a change in Check Point Application Control there can be some time for the changes to take effect. The time is too long, and we have experienced approximately five minutes on occasion for modifying some rules or filtering. When there are outside-of-the-network threats, such as DoS attacks, Check Point Application Control should have more integrated ways to deal with the attacks. We should not have to purchase add-ons or secondary solutions or patches. There is some functionality that is not working anymore as it once did, such as HTTP filtering. The complexity of application usage is increasing day by day, and it seems that at some point, we will need to initiate specific projects to tackle the issue of application filtering. Check Point Application Control has been instrumental in addressing this challenge, but with the continued growth in complexity, more advanced features would be necessary to make the solution even more effective.
ScottEastman - PeerSpot reviewer
Reliable with good blocking capabilities for enhanced security
We like the blocking capabilities on offer. I like the brand, and I know the product really well, which is what keeps me using it. I have a good knowledge of the solution. It is stable and reliable. The solution can scale well. Technical support has been helpful. We have witnessed an ROI as it has helped with security measures.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"This solution is stable and we have not had any issues."
"Check Point enables us to save internet bandwidth. The administration offers good guidance. We don't want the employees to access social networking on work computers because it will distract them from their jobs, so we can block that. It also helps us to implement changes very quickly and to get people to be more focused on the job."
"The most valuable feature of Check Point Application Control is VPN access and the ability to lock out sites we do not want users to have access. The reporting monitoring software in Check Point Application Control is fantastic. For example, log filtering is beneficial."
"We can control bandwidth and high-risk application access from our network using application control."
"Among the features that we have used, we like being able to identify the identity of the user who is doing transactions."
"The product offers easy-to-install policies and makes it simple to troubleshoot application-related traffic."
"It has many important features that have greatly helped the company and the IT department."
"The overall security of the environment has been greatly improved by the Check Point NGFWs. Before implementing the Check Point solutions, we relied on the Cisco ACLs and Zone-Based firewalls configured on the switches and routers, which in fact a simple stateful firewall, and currently appear to be not an efficient solution for protecting from the advanced threats."
"Zero-trust and threat-hunting services are most valuable."
"I found several features valuable in WatchGuard Application Control such as the HTTP Proxy, DNSWatch, VPN, and HTTPS Content Inspection."
"The solution is very stable. We've never had any problems with stability. Once a year we do a reboot just as a precaution. The solution never stops running otherwise."
"Centralization is a crucial feature for me as it allows me to have all sites and customers accessible under a single click, not limited to just one."
"The most valuable feature is the category control."
"It's user-friendly. And if you are using a WatchGuard device and you want to test that side of the software, it's quite easy to get the license to test it."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is traffic management."
"We have witnessed an ROI as it has helped with security measures."
 

Cons

"At the moment I don't see the need to add new features. That said, you always have to be one step ahead."
"Something important to mention is the improvement at the support level. It could be more advanced."
"Configuration and deployment are a little bit difficult."
"More and more product specifications should be infused with new incumbent features in the market to stay relevant and concurrent with the organization's needs."
"I would like to have a periodic update of the applications, perhaps based on a predefined calendar."
"I think that the pricing for the Check Point products should be reconsidered - we found it to be quite expensive to purchase and to maintain (the licenses and the support services need to be prolonged regularly), or create some additional bundles of the software blades with significant discounts in addition to the current Next Generation Threat Prevention & SandBlast (NGTX) and Next Generation Threat Prevention (NGTP) offers."
"The blocking characteristics for filtering content currently are not so customizable."
"At this time, Check Point Application control is the best on the market."
"They could expand the amount of applications that are on the list, but it's pretty intensive anyway, so it's pretty good."
"There is no message displayed for the user on the desktop informing them that access to a web page has been blocked by Application Control."
"The solution needs to improve the interface. I'm not able to easily find things using it."
"I believe there is room for improvement in policies, with the potential to enhance the margins further."
"What could be improved in WatchGuard Application Control is its price. It could be cheaper. You always want the best price for any solution, but for security products, pricing is usually on the higher side."
"The time they take to classify an application once they find that it is unknown can be better."
"The licensing can be a bit expensive."
"The control software is currently only available for Windows, which can be a little annoying for Linux users."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I think application control has become a basic feature and it should be enabled automatically, without having to purchase a separate license for it."
"The blade has its cost but you can take advantage of the license package to pay less for it."
"It's a bit expensive and it could be cheaper, but it's part of business politics."
"Check Point Application Control is expensive. The tool's licensing costs are yearly."
"The price of Check Point Application Control is high. The support and ecosystem around the solution are expensive."
"Over the years, the costs have increased, especially since I cater to very small businesses."
"Its cost is okay. It is not too expensive, not too low. I would rate it a nine out of ten in terms of pricing."
"The licensing model for WatchGuard Application Control is based on the number of users. WatchGuard Application Control also has licensing models with several features."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
18%
Computer Software Company
14%
Construction Company
10%
Security Firm
9%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Check Point Application Control?
It has many important features that have greatly helped the company and the IT department.
What needs improvement with Check Point Application Control?
At this time, Check Point Application control is the best on the market.
What do you like most about WatchGuard Application Control?
Centralization is a crucial feature for me as it allows me to have all sites and customers accessible under a single click, not limited to just one.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for WatchGuard Application Control?
Over the years, the costs have increased, especially since I cater to very small businesses. While they comprehend the necessity of investing in network protection, these features have become relat...
What needs improvement with WatchGuard Application Control?
I believe there is room for improvement in policies, with the potential to enhance the margins further.
 

Comparisons

No data available
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

SEB, Luma Arles, Terma, Aerospace, Midwest Rubber
Chester School District, Kensington Close Hotel
Find out what your peers are saying about Check Point Application Control vs. WatchGuard Application Control and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
839,422 professionals have used our research since 2012.