Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series vs Untangle NG Firewall comparison

Sponsored
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 16, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
7.4
Fortinet FortiGate offers cost-effective security and operational benefits with quick ROI, enhanced features, and ease of management.
Sentiment score
7.5
Palo Alto Networks PA-Series offers comprehensive security management and cost efficiency, with issues only in the PA-800 model.
Sentiment score
8.5
Untangle NG Firewall offers top-tier reporting, seamless integration, and scalability, enhancing security, client services, and ROI for businesses.
Clients are now comfortable and not wasting productive hours on IT support.
We have experienced a positive return on investment by utilizing Fortinet's products.
There's definitely an ROI. Having a centralized way of managing and applying policies across the entire organization always helps.
My ability to monetize it as a gateway security appliance to offer enhanced service offerings allows me to increase our price point.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.0
Fortinet's customer service and support receive mixed reviews, with praise for expertise and criticism for responsiveness and regional variance.
Sentiment score
6.5
Palo Alto Networks PA-Series support is praised for helpfulness and accessibility, though initial response times could improve.
Sentiment score
4.9
Untangle NG Firewall is praised for effective support, but challenged by limited resources and phone support availability issues.
He explained that it required a command line configuration, as it couldn't be done through the graphical user interface.
I would rate their support for FortiGate a nine out of ten.
They offer very accurate solutions.
Initially, it took one or two hours to get a Palo Alto engineer, which is quite slow.
They're able to remotely manage the devices if necessary for support.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.3
Fortinet FortiGate is praised for scalability and integration, but some users face hardware limitations and configuration challenges.
Sentiment score
7.2
Palo Alto Networks PA-Series excels in scalability, handling thousands of connections, suited for large enterprises, often highly rated.
Sentiment score
6.9
Untangle NG Firewall offers high scalability, efficiently supporting diverse user bases from small offices to large corporations.
They scale up really well from smaller models like the FortiGate 40 and 50 to bigger sites with the FortiGate 100 for more throughput - up to enterprise datacenters.
The variation comes in terms of the interfaces and throughputs, but from a security perspective, you get the same benefit, irrespective of whether you have an entry-level unit or an enterprise.
You can choose a cheaper model if you only have 20-30 users, but you will need to spend more money for a FortiGate solution that covers 5,000.
The solution can handle more than ten thousand users in my organization.
Since it can be put on any box, the scalability is fantastic.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Fortinet FortiGate is stable and reliable, with rare issues mostly resolved through updates and improved firmware.
Sentiment score
8.5
Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is stable and reliable, with minor glitches; users favor stable OS versions over new releases.
Sentiment score
8.2
Untangle NG Firewall is stable, with users noting reliability, high ratings, and improvements over time, despite rare hardware issues.
Improper handling of these can lead to a memory surge, a well-known bug that can cause the entire system to freeze.
It is less stable than Palo Alto Networks and Check Point firewalls because there are lots of bugs in the latest firmware.
We have not had any problems with the operating systems or maintenance of subscriptions.
 

Room For Improvement

Fortinet FortiGate faces challenges in integration, user-friendliness, support, and pricing, impacting functionality and customer satisfaction.
Palo Alto Networks PA-Series requires improved security features, user interface, and support to better protect remote work environments.
Untangle NG Firewall requires enhancements in support, management, mobile functionality, hardware, security, pricing, and on-premises deployment.
If I have put 10 GBPS of throughput on a firewall and I enable all of these features available, such as IPS or UTM functionalities, the throughput comes down to 1 GBPS.
By providing an integrated solution, users would have access to all features and functionalities within a single window, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple windows.
Investing in a solution that can accommodate such growth would be more cost-effective than repeatedly purchasing new hardware.
The interface of Palo Alto Networks PA-Series should be made much more user-friendly.
The user interface, training, and general product innovation need improvement.
 

Setup Cost

Fortinet FortiGate offers competitive pricing with high setup costs but lower annual fees, making it ideal for larger enterprises.
Palo Alto Networks PA-Series offers robust features and strong security, though it's priced higher than competitors like Fortinet and Cisco.
Untangle NG Firewall pricing is seen as cost-effective but can become expensive with feature bundling and higher user counts.
Secure SD-WAN is free of charge.
The most expensive part is the renewal of the license subscription.
FortiGate is priced lower than Palo Alto.
The firewall is expensive for every company, but the cost is worth it to ensure maximum security.
The price of Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is expensive.
 

Valuable Features

Fortinet FortiGate offers robust security features, efficient management, and cost-effectiveness, ensuring strong protection and ease of use.
The Palo Alto Networks PA-Series offers stability, strong security features, ease of management, and effective integration capabilities for enhanced utility.
Untangle NG Firewall offers user-friendly, affordable security features ideal for small businesses, including VPN, web filtering, and cloud management.
The firewall, IPS, and VPN functions are the most valuable features.
FortiGate provides solid protection against viruses, malware, and other threats.
Within the same dashboard, you get to see the security profiles, the type of traffic that's passing through, the top applications that are being consumed, etc.
The most effective features of the solution are its Magic Quadrant positioning, making it a leading firewall on perimeter areas and internet edges.
The most valuable feature of Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is that it is highly customizable.
The all-in-one gateway security functions and the ability to install it on generic equipment stand out.
 

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiGate
Sponsored
Ranking in Firewalls
2nd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
327
Ranking in other categories
Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions (1st), WAN Edge (1st)
Palo Alto Networks PA-Series
Ranking in Firewalls
15th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
32
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Untangle NG Firewall
Ranking in Firewalls
26th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
24
Ranking in other categories
Unified Threat Management (UTM) (8th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Firewalls category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate is 21.1%, up from 17.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is 0.5%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Untangle NG Firewall is 1.1%, down from 1.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Firewalls
 

Featured Reviews

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.
Deminda Dilan - PeerSpot reviewer
Good for enterprise-level businesses and offers many features like URL filtering and antivirus capabilities
Palo Alto can improve the web application firewall (WAF) feature at layer 7. Currently, I don't think it's available. If they can improve that, it would be better. We wouldn't need to purchase a separate WAF solution because they already have advanced URL filtering. But I don't think that advanced URL filtering has the same features as a dedicated WAF, like F5 or other solutions. That is an area for improvement. If they can improve the WAF feature, customers won't have to buy a separate WAF solution. They could do it with the same Palo Alto firewall, perhaps through a subscription-based model. So the web application firewall feature has to be improved.
MatthewSmith3 - PeerSpot reviewer
Thorough with all-in-one security functions and good affordability
The all-in-one gateway security functions and the ability to install it on generic equipment stand out. The centralized management console is great. I can template my installations and configurations. My ability to monetize it as a gateway security appliance to offer enhanced service offerings allows me to increase our price point. I provide it as a managed device to many of our clients. I take on the initial costs and charge them a monthly fee. They have threat detection.
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Firewalls solutions are best for your needs.
848,253 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
21%
Computer Software Company
14%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Computer Software Company
17%
Manufacturing Company
13%
University
9%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Computer Software Company
14%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Government
7%
Educational Organization
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

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 a...
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...
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 ...
What do you like most about Palo Alto Networks PA-Series?
The reporting feature and application ID functionality within Palo Alto Networks PA-Series are incredibly valuable to...
What needs improvement with Palo Alto Networks PA-Series?
The interface of Palo Alto Networks PA-Series should be made much more user-friendly.
What do you like most about Untangle NG Firewall?
The product helps small and medium enterprises secure their networks from intrusions. It also has features like DNS b...
What needs improvement with Untangle NG Firewall?
The user interface, training, and general product innovation need improvement. Enhancements could also be made to the...
 

Also Known As

FortiGate 60b, FortiGate 60c, FortiGate 80c, FortiGate 50b, FortiGate 200b, FortiGate 110c, FortiGate, Fortinet Firewall
No data available
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

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
Information Not Available
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,
Find out what your peers are saying about Palo Alto Networks PA-Series vs. Untangle NG Firewall and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
848,253 professionals have used our research since 2012.