Fortinet FortiGate Reviews and Pricing

reviewer1451103

Chief Information Officer at a analyst firm with 10,001+ employees

Nov 24, 2020

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A stable and scalable solution but the setup is pretty complex and not easy to implement

Pros and Cons

"Fortinet FortiGate appears to be scalable."

"The setup is pretty complex and not easy to implement."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for our paralegal security, our internet operations, and network zone segmentation.

What needs improvement?

It could be more stable and secure. They can improve the ability to make changes, change requests, and provide more rounded monitoring in terms of security and potential threats.

For how long have I used the solution?

My team has been using Fortinet FortiGate for a few years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate appears to be stable.

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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate appears to be scalable.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We previously used Palo Alto.

How was the initial setup?

The setup is pretty complex and not easy to implement.

What about the implementation team?

Implemented by our in-house team.

What other advice do I have?

I would give Fortinet FortiGate a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

Camilo Benavides

System Administrator at Udenar

Mar 12, 2019

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A complete solution, but it is very expensive compared with other solutions

What is our primary use case?

We use FortiGate for edge protection by avoiding attacks to the servers of the institution, also, by protecting the LAN network.

How has it helped my organization?

Having FortiGate allowed for easy management of the network, protection from threats by having a very intuitive administration console.

What is most valuable?

The most important feature for me apart from the administrator is the UTM module because it protects the equipment of the entity in a very efficient way.

What needs improvement?

FortiGate is a complete solution, but it is very expensive compared with other solutions. Then actually, we are analyzing other solutions.

For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate

April 2025

Free Report: Fortinet FortiGate Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about Fortinet FortiGate. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2025.

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849,190 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Hugo456456

Works at El loco hugo

Aug 19, 2018

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It has improved our organization with control data

Pros and Cons

"It has improved our organization with control data."

"The reports are very basic."

What is our primary use case?

We use it because it is a good device.

How has it helped my organization?

It has improved our organization with control data.

What is most valuable?

The rules.

What needs improvement?

The reports are very basic.

For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

it_user3483

Senior Consultant at Unify Square

Feb 27, 2018

FortiGate security appliances provide UTM security in a single device with a good administrative interface and performance

Pros and Cons

"A strong point of FortiGate is that the graphical interface is complete and easy to use, especially if we think there is a list of operations that we are able to perform inside."

"With FortiGate, the main complaint that I have heard is about the technical support."

We're discussing a family of UTM (Unified Threat Management) appliances. FortiGate is a term which includes a wide range of products, starting with small ones dedicated to small offices, and developing into devices which are able to grant security and networking for large companies. The family includes physical devices and virtual machines, which grant network security on different layers using a single point of control. FortiGate is optimized to avoid bottlenecks or delays while the various controls are performed. High availability is also part of the available features with various solutions to avoid single points of failure.

In the following short list, I will list some interesting points about the FortiGate solution.

1. Administrative Interface

If you are experienced with network security management, you are aware this activity requires interaction with many different software and hardware solutions from disparate vendors. In the aforementioned scenario, it is normal to have frequent updates to apply on the various products and to watch more than one monitoring tool to keep track of security events. The FortiGate solution includes all the controls you could expect using a patchwork of security products in a single device with a single administrative interface. It is your switch, router, firewall, VPN hub, antivirus, anti-spam, proxy, and endpoint security solution all-in-one.

If you define a network object or group for firewalling purposes, it will be available to define antivirus rules or internet browsing policies. There are two administrative interfaces:

Web-based manager (a graphical interface usable through a web browser);
CLI (a command line interface).

A strong point of FortiGate is that the graphical interface is complete and easy to use, especially if we think there is a list of operations that we are able to perform inside.

If you have used appliances or firewalls from other vendors, often you have to use not-so-friendly command lines to obtain the exact result you need. With FortiGate, you will use the CLI seldomly and only for the most “exotic” features.

2. UTM, the Fortinet way

Unified Threat Management may be complex to manage, because you work on different protocols, at different layers and with disparate threats to consider. In FortiGate, you can have three great layers:

Networking services (switching and routing, both static and dynamic);
Network security services (firewalling, secure VPN connection, intrusion detection and endpoint security);
Application security services (spam and virus controls, web filtering, application control and data leak prevention).

As long as you pay (and renew as it expires) the “bundle” license, you have all the aforementioned features available, including the updates for signatures and definitions coming to your appliance directly from Fortinet. You do not have to use all the available controls, but you are able to turn them on and off “On Demand”, so you could start with a simple configuration and add control layers when you feel more comfortable.

3. Virtual Domains

One of the available features include the capability of a FortiGate to support many Virtual Domains (VDOMs). VDOMs enable you to grant access to different companies with different administrators on the same physical unit. Each one will be able to keep their specific configuration with no impact on the others. What you are doing is creating “virtual units”, and keeping on a “root domain” which is used to manage the virtual domains. VDOMs add a lot of flexibility to the solutions that you are able to plan using FortiGate.

4. High Availability and Resiliency

There are four different ways to make a FortiGate unit have high availability. You could use a traditional “cluster” design with two or more units: FortiGate Cluster Protocol (FGCP), a solution with an external load balancer: FortiGate Session Life Support Protocol (FGSP), a Layer 3 resiliency solution like Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), or a Layer 2 solution like Fortinet Redundant UTM Protocol (FRUP). Again, we have a great deal of flexibility to design the best solution for our company’s needs.

5. The Dark Side of the Moon

It would not be fair to review a product omitting the negative points. With FortiGate, the main complaint that I have heard is about the technical support. My personal experience is the same as many people who are not happy with this aspect of the service offered by Fortinet. Often, your problem is diverted to local partners. I have to say that I have had mixed results with them. While some partners are professional, many are not skilled enough and I have had costs that are not equivalent to their quality. This is the same issue with other vendors, but that is not an excuse. As long as Fortinet support sends me to a local reseller or partner, from my point of view, they are taking responsibility for their capabilities.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

reviewer690582COO/CTO at a pharma/biotech company with 11-50 employees

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Aug 3, 2018

I had my data speed compromise confirmed by my paid support subscription.

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it_user454521

Deputy Chief Manager at a newspaper with 5,001-10,000 employees

Jun 26, 2017

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It has given us improved security over the internet. It is easy to use with a single console and unified threat management features.

Pros and Cons

"Unified Threat Management (UTM) features."

"NGN, reporting and controls."

How has it helped my organization?

It has given us improved security over the internet.

What is most valuable?

Ease of use, single console, Unified Threat Management (UTM) features.

What needs improvement?

NGN, reporting and controls.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We had some stability issues but we upgraded.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

There was a hardware limitation, affecting scalability.

How are customer service and technical support?

I would rate the technical support as 8/10.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We had a different solution in the organization arising from different OEMs and this solution was chosen with consideration of requirements and costs.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was simple but the DC was complex.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Go for long term pricing negotiated at the time of purchase.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated Check Point, Cisco ASA.

What other advice do I have?

You should be clear concerning the scope and outcome you are looking for.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

reviewer1197741

Group IT Infrastructure Manager at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Jan 31, 2022

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A scalable and stable solution

Pros and Cons

"Fortinet FortiGate is a stable solution."

"I would like to see improvements with the antivirus and IPS as they are not working properly all the time."

What is our primary use case?

We are a sister company of Fortinet FortiGate. Our organization has more than 3,000 users.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see improvements with the antivirus and IPS as they are not working properly all the time.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Fortinet FortiGate for twelve years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Fortinet FortiGate is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This solution is very scalable.

What other advice do I have?

Prior to choosing Fortinet FortiGate you should make sure you select the right box. Be sure of the capacity and have a capacity plan before installation. I suggest you do a failover and redundant together, compact boxes together.

I would rate this solution an 8 out of 10.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

Anderson Clivati

Specialist of IT Solutions at INTERNEXA

Dec 6, 2020

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Great anti-malware and web filtering features

Pros and Cons

"Good anti-malware and web filtering features."

"The solution could be more evenly structured."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use this solution as a security perimeter and for VPN. We are partners of Fortinet.

What is most valuable?

I like the anti-malware and web filtering features.

What needs improvement?

The solution could be more evenly structured and I'd like to see orchestration in the calls included. The solution currently lacks that feature.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for 12 months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is great.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable.

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support is good. We rely a lot on the documentation which is a good standard.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I previously used Meraki but I prefer Fortinet for its value and software capabilities. It's better than any of the other products in this field.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very easy. Deployment time depends on the complexity of the situation.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We pay an annual license fee - I get a good price on this product.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution an eight out of 10.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner

Truc Ngo

Sales engineer/Technical support engineer at Vietnet

Nov 29, 2020

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Offers SD-WAN functionality with security features in one device

Pros and Cons

"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 central management for the FortiGate Fortinet Firewall needs improvement. They have the manager to do the essential management for both SD-WAN and for the security policy. They should also improve the SD-WAN function."

What is our primary use case?

I deploy SD-WAN and we use it for a next-gen firewall.

What is most valuable?

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. You don't need to buy two separate devices for two functionalities.

You don't need to spend your time on both devices for an SD-WAN and a security firewall device. You only need to manage in one console

What needs improvement?

The central management for the FortiGate Fortinet Firewall needs improvement. They have the manager to do the essential management for both SD-WAN and the security policy. They should also improve the SD-WAN function.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using FortiGate for five years.

How are customer service and technical support?

Their support is good. They are experts.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I think the pricing is fair.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate FortiGate an eight out of ten. They should improve the SD-WAN and central data management center.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Distributor