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Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] vs Fortinet FortiGate comparison

Citrix and Fortinet are both solutions in the Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions category. Additionally, 90% of Citrix users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of Fortinet users who would recommend it.
Citrix SD-WAN [EOL]
Read 22 Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] reviews
    90% willing to recommend
    Fortinet FortiGate
    Read 318 Fortinet FortiGate reviews
    • 8,390 Views
    • 6,473 Comparison Views
    90% willing to recommend
     

    Comparison Buyer's Guide

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    Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 29, 2024

    Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] and Fortinet FortiGate compete in the networking and security category. Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] seems to have an edge in connectivity and deployment efficiency, while Fortinet FortiGate stands out in security features and integration.

    Features: Citrix SD-WAN offers robust bandwidth management, load balancing, and zero-touch deployment which enhances connectivity and application reliability, especially for video and voice traffic. These features help reduce internet costs while facilitating communication between branches and data centers. Fortinet FortiGate emphasizes security with features like zero trust access, intrusion prevention systems, and web filtering. Its flexible nature allows for integration with other Fortinet products, providing ease of use and comprehensive security.

    Room for Improvement: Citrix SD-WAN could improve in customization capabilities, licensing costs, and adding zero downtime failover mechanisms. It also faces challenges in system predictions and network security features. Fortinet FortiGate may improve with better integration of endpoint protection, minimizing upgrade bugs, and enhancing cloud integration efficiency. Users also note the need for improved training resources and more intuitive logging/reporting features.

    Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both Citrix SD-WAN and Fortinet FortiGate are recognized for their deployment flexibility across on-premises, public, and hybrid clouds. Citrix SD-WAN, however, receives criticism for support responsiveness, particularly based on skill levels of engineers. Users in Brazil and Ecuador highlight complexities with technical support. Fortinet FortiGate users express a need for quicker and more knowledgeable assistance despite acknowledging straightforward deployment processes facilitated by flexible cloud options.

    Pricing and ROI: Citrix SD-WAN is considered a high-value investment with competitive subscription costs, providing significant ROI, especially when replacing MPLS setups. Fortinet FortiGate's pricing is relatively high, yet competitive and offers various licensing models, delivering ROI within two to five years. FortiGate is notably cheaper than some competitors like Cisco, offering a good value with its range of features and integrations.

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    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

    Citrix SD-WAN [EOL]
    Average Rating
    8.2
    Reviews Sentiment
    7.4
    Number of Reviews
    22
    Ranking in other categories
    No ranking in other categories
    Fortinet FortiGate
    Average Rating
    8.4
    Reviews Sentiment
    7.2
    Number of Reviews
    318
    Ranking in other categories
    Firewalls (2nd), Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions (1st), WAN Edge (1st)
     

    Featured Reviews

    Rohit Ghorpade - PeerSpot reviewer
    A scalable solution for MCN controller but lacks technical supports, upgrades
    There are a few things that can be improved, are domain-based routing and the slowness of virtual parts, and it may be due to the wrong configuration, which we have been unable to find out. Previously, we faced some issues with the slowness part. Apart from that, feature like end gateway level antivirus. We are currently using a NetFlow proxy to establish a virtual position for the NetFlow. Our current environment has many use cases, but we are not using them on the Citrix SD-WAN. When I navigate the NCL part, it involves configuration. I want to highlight this disadvantage. Sometimes, when we push the configuration, it tries to push it to all branch locations. This process takes a lot of time, nearly 30 minutes, to push a single change from the NCL. Overall, I don't think Citrix meets our use cases what we have. This is based on my feedback after using it for the past year and working on this Citrix SD-WAN. However, from my experience, it is the worst solution I have seen. There's no domain-based routing, which is horrible. That's why we are moving to other products. We have checked our use case requirements with Fortinet, Palo Alto, and they meet them. I will consider the PoC or another OEM. There are many things in the area you need to be prompt, like the automation part. If any link or device goes down, alerting notification, etc. We need to perform and highlight so many things to your management. This should be improved.
    Read full review
    EhabAli - PeerSpot reviewer
    Efficient, user-friendly, and affordable
    In the past, NSS Labs was utilized to test files and verify the numbers and datasheets. It would be beneficial to have an organization or testing lab that can verify the numbers in our datasheets since changes are frequently made, which can be inconvenient for review. For instance, when comparing different competitors such as Forcepoint, Palo Alto, and Check Point, the throughput or numbers in the datasheet may be lower than the actual numbers. Conversely, Fortinet typically reports very high numbers, but they cannot be replicated in the real world. Therefore, it would be advantageous for them to partner with a neutral testing organization such as NSS Labs to validate these numbers, thus providing more credibility and comfort to everyone regarding the accuracy of the datasheets. For the migration, everyone has a firewall in use and I am selling Fortinet. Typically, I am replacing another firewall. Previously, there was a tool available to convert configurations from one firewall, such as Palo Alto, to Fortinet, but this tool is no longer free. If it could be made free again, it would be very beneficial. This tool shows a lot of promise and is very good. Making it free would help many companies deliver their products in a more efficient and integrated way. It would also be more valuable to include the tool with the firewall package or license instead of having to pay extra for it. Paying extra puts more pressure on small companies to deliver the firewall and complete the configuration, especially if they have hundreds or thousands of policies. It's very painful to move through these policies line by line. The stability has room for improvement. When it comes to Secure SD-WAN, everything is fine. They are going the right way. SD-WAN is very promising. They can provide the SD-WAN solution separately, but they will not take this approach because even the smallest firewall can support the features, so there is no need to have a separate service or appliance. They are following the right steps, and there is nothing to be improved. Feature-wise, I'm really satisfied with the new release, and the features they have added. For now, it's fine.
    Read full review

    Quotes from Members

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

    Pros

    "The most valuable feature of Citrix SD-WAN is customization. You are able to customize the solution to your needs."
    "The tool is quite cost-effective because it replaces the need for MPLS, which is a bit expensive...Citrix SD-WAN doesn't need much maintenance."
    "It allows us to use additional VPNs, offering more options compared to other VPN solutions."
    "The most valuable feature is security, as it gives me the port bindings that cannot be accomplished using other solutions."
    "The reliability of connectivity is most valuable."
    "They have a zero downtime failover mechanism, where, when there's a link failure or a link weakness, or bad link conditions, they provide the ability to fail back seamlessly."
    "The solution is brilliant, the way it calculates its paths and trails is great."
    "The SD-WAN solution as it is already is quite feature-rich and the upgrade process is very simple."
    More Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] pros
    "The GUI is good."
    "The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiGate are the different types of profiling. It has been the most effective for me. The WAF and the antivirus profile are the most effective in network protection."
    "I like several features that this product has, such as antivirus and internet navigation inspection. It is also simple to use."
    "The initial installation is very straightforward."
    "Fortinet FortiGate is stable. It's used across all the countries, this is the way most multinationals run their system."
    "I'm pretty happy with its reliability. It is also very scalable."
    "The SD-WAN function is very developed. It has SD-WAN functionality with security features in one device. We can manage from one single console SD-WAN and the security policy."
    "The technical support in our region is excellent."
    More Fortinet FortiGate pros
     

    Cons

    "Even though the monitoring is pretty good, there is some room for improvement there."
    "The only improvement for Citrix SD-WAN would be to lower its cost."
    "Given that Citrix SD-WAN solved all our problems by providing us with everything we needed to unify communications with our branches and data centers, I cannot suggest anything further in terms of improvements."
    "The price is the only thing that could be improved. Citrix is not a cheap solution."
    "There are a few things that can be improved, are domain-based routing and the slowness of virtual parts, and it may be due to the wrong configuration, which we have been unable to find out."
    "The solution's licensing model could be improved."
    "The communication around the life cycle would have been really helpful. The main issue we have had is related to the life cycle because some of the things that we are using were discontinued. They were discontinued within a year after we had purchased it, which is a bit painful. If we had known that, we would've made some other decisions."
    "Overall, network security and next-generation firewall features are areas that they can improve on."
    More Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] cons
    "Bandwidth usage in reporting could be improved for Fortinet FortiGate."
    "The solution could be more user friendly."
    "The main aspect of FortiGate that could be improved is load balancing. Our management team does not want to buy another appliance for only load balancing."
    "It would be ideal if they had some sort of GUI interface for troubleshooting and diagnostics."
    "Fortinet needs more memory to save the log files. We need it to save the logs on the hardware and not in the cloud. I know this feature is available in FortiCloud, but if we need this log locally, it is not available."
    "Fortinet FortiGate can improve the integration with Active Directory. Additionally, I would like to have a Cloud Controller, such as they do in the Cisco Meraki solution."
    "Currently, FortiGate is providing SSL VPN. But they're missing some features that are available in Palo Alto's SSL VPN."
    "The debugging and troubleshooting has room for improvement."
    More Fortinet FortiGate cons
     

    Pricing and Cost Advice

    "The price is relatively expensive."
    "It's a little bit on the high side compared to the other products."
    "It depends on the scale. In our case, it would have been better if we had known about the life cycling steps, but otherwise, it is worth the money."
    "I'm not quite sure of the price ranges. Roughly, the hidden devices can scale up to $20K for one appliance. However, the branch CPs are USD $1,000 to $2,500."
    "Citrix SD-WAN is quite an affordable product."
    "I believe that Citrix SD-WAN is a good investment, but I do not have the information to be more specific."
    "It is a bit expensive. A cheaper product would be good, but everybody likes things to be cheaper. We bought the devices up front, and then we pay for the annual support."
    "The price of the subscription should be cheaper."
    More Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] pricing and cost advice
    "It is an inexpensive solution."
    "The license is too expensive to renew. The license renewal process is also complex."
    "The license is yearly. We pay for the top end. It's called 360."
    "The price is fair compared to the other competitors."
    "It's expensive, but compared to the competition it's okay."
    "The Indian market is different than the European and American markets. When you compare they need to be a bit more aggressive on pricing."
    "I would say that all things considered, the pricing is pretty good."
    "Fortinet FortiGate has different licensing models, depending on what you're going to do. Services included would depend on the license model. Licenses can be renewed annually."
    More Fortinet FortiGate pricing and cost advice
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    Comparison Review

    it_user216600 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Jan 3, 2016
    Sophos UTM vs. Fortinet FortiGate
    I have used both Sophos and Fortinet products in production and I have found the Sophos UTM appliances (hardware and virtual) to be a better fit most of the time -- with a few caveats which I will touch on below. In both instances, the transition from TMG will be mostly straightforward. The main…
    Read full review
     

    Top Industries

    By visitors reading reviews
    Computer Software Company
    25%
    Real Estate/Law Firm
    9%
    Financial Services Firm
    8%
    Energy/Utilities Company
    5%
    Educational Organization
    22%
    Computer Software Company
    14%
    Comms Service Provider
    7%
    Manufacturing Company
    6%
     

    Company Size

    By reviewers
    Large Enterprise
    Midsize Enterprise
    Small Business
     

    Questions from the Community

    What do you like most about Citrix SD-WAN?
    It lowered our Internet costs and gave me the flexibility to choose providers based on each location's connectivity.
    See all answers
    What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Citrix SD-WAN?
    It is on the expensive side. I would give it an eight out of ten in terms of costliness. In my region, the approximate cost for the Citrix SD-WAN license is around $150 per user per year. However, ...
    See all answers
    What needs improvement with Citrix SD-WAN?
    The solution's licensing model could be improved. Citrix SD-WAN is a good product from a technical point of view. However, when you compare its licensing with the prices of competitors, you will se...
    See all answers
    Which is the better NGFW: Fortinet Fortigate or Cisco Firepower?
    When you compare these firewalls you can identify them with different features, advantages, practices and usage at large. In my opinion, Fortinet would be the best option and l use Fortinet too...
    See all answers
    What is the biggest difference between Sophos XG and FortiGate?
    From my experience regarding both the Sophos and FortiGate firewalls, I personally would rather use FortiGate. I know the firewalls change every 5 to 7 years as stated but you really do need to upg...
    See all answers
    What are the biggest technical differences between Sophos UTM and Fortinet FortiGate?
    As a solution, Sophos UTM offers a lot of functionality, it scales well, and the stability and performance are quite good. The most valuable features for me are their web and email filtering. I wou...
    See all answers
     

    Comparisons

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    Compared 45% of the time
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    Sophos XG vs Fortinet FortiGate Logo
    Sophos XG vs Fortinet FortiGate
    Compared 22% of the time
    Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate Logo
    Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate
    Compared 13% of the time
    Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate Logo
    Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate
    Compared 11% of the time
    WatchGuard Firebox vs Fortinet FortiGate Logo
    WatchGuard Firebox vs Fortinet FortiGate
    Compared 5% of the time
    SonicWall TZ vs Fortinet FortiGate Logo
    SonicWall TZ vs Fortinet FortiGate
    Compared 5% of the time
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    Product Reports

    Buyer's Guide
    Citrix SD-WAN [EOL]
    March 2025
    Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] reportDownload Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] product report
    Buyer's Guide
    Fortinet FortiGate
    March 2025
    Fortinet FortiGate reportDownload Fortinet FortiGate product report
     

    Also Known As

    Citrix CloudBridge, WOC, NetScaler SD-WAN
    FortiGate 60b, FortiGate 60c, FortiGate 80c, FortiGate 50b, FortiGate 200b, FortiGate 110c, FortiGate, Fortinet Firewall
     

    Overview

    Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] enhances network stability, redundancy, and reliability, supporting connectivity between branches, optimizing internet access, and enabling secure, redundant networks, both on-premises and cloud-based.

    Corporations utilize Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] to improve network performance, minimize downtime, and ensure high availability. Combining communication methods and supporting interbranch internet routing, it assists businesses in transitioning from MPLS, centralizing monitoring, and optimizing bandwidth use. Its functionality includes secure connections, cost reductions, and effective management of internet access. The support for multiple communication methods, application reliability, and ease of implementation make it a valuable tool for modern network management.

    What key features does Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] offer?
    • Security: Enhanced protection to safeguard network data
    • IPv6 layering over IPv4: Ensures compatibility and future-proofing
    • Active-Active bandwidth use: Maximizes bandwidth utilization
    • Zero downtime failover: Maintains continuous operation during failures
    • Zero-touch deployment: Simplifies the installation process
    • Application reliability: Ensures high performance for critical applications
    • Cost-effectiveness: Reduces overall networking expenses
    • Central deployment: Facilitates easy configuration updates and management
    What benefits should users look for in Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] reviews?
    • Enhanced performance: Improved application and connectivity speed
    • Increased reliability: Minimized network downtime and interruptions
    • Centralized monitoring: Streamlined network oversight and control
    • Scalable security: Adaptable protection for evolving network needs
    • Cost savings: Lower operational costs compared to traditional MPLS
    • Flexibility: Ability to handle multiple network functions effectively

    Industries implement Citrix SD-WAN [EOL] to replace costly MPLS setups with more flexible VPN and NetScaler options, benefiting sectors like finance, healthcare, and retail that require robust, secure, and scalable network solutions. Organizations achieve better device management and efficient connectivity across multiple branches, enhancing their operational effectiveness.

    Citrix

    Fortinet FortiGate offers comprehensive network security and firewall protection across multiple locations. It effectively manages data traffic and secures environments with features like VPN, intrusion prevention, and UTM controls.

    Organizations rely on Fortinet FortiGate for its robust integration with advanced security policies, ensuring significant protection for enterprises, cloud environments, and educational sectors. It facilitates network segmentation, application-level security, and authentication management, securing communication within and between locations such as branches and data centers. Its efficient SD-WAN and UTM features enable streamlined data management and enhanced threat protection capabilities. Users appreciate its centralized management, facilitating seamless operations across diverse environments.

    What are the key features of Fortinet FortiGate?

    • VPN Capabilities: Ensure secure remote access for users and seamless site-to-site connections.
    • Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Detect and prevent security threats and vulnerabilities.
    • Advanced Firewall: Offers robust firewalling with application control and web filtering.
    • SD-WAN: Optimizes application performance and enhances bandwidth management.
    • SSL VPN: Provides reliable and secure access for remote workers.

    What benefits should users expect from Fortinet FortiGate?

    • High-performance Security: Delivers effective threat mitigation with high availability.
    • Centralized Management: Simplifies network operations with cloud-based management tools.
    • Detailed Analytics: Provides comprehensive insights into network activity and security threats.
    • Load Balancing: Ensures optimal resource distribution and traffic management.

    Fortinet FortiGate is crucial in sectors like education, offering robust networks for secure data flow between campuses and facilitating remote learning. In enterprise environments, it allows efficient management of application traffic and security across multiple branches, while in the cloud, it seamlessly integrates with diverse platforms to enhance security infrastructure.

    Fortinet
     

    Sample Customers

    AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Cornerstone Home Lending Inc., Dallara, ecVision, Essar, Eurofred, Groupe Promutuel, HMSHost Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Ltd, Royal Caribbean International
    Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, BT Group, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, NTT Communications, Tata Communications, SoftBank, China Mobile, Singtel, Telus, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telkom Indonesia, Telkom South Africa, Telmex, Telia Company, Telkom Kenya
    Buyer's Guide
    Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions
    March 2025
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