Untangle NG Firewall Reviews

Name: Untangle NG Firewall
Brand: Untangle
Rating: 4.3 (24 reviews)

4.3 out of 5

24 reviews
94% willing to recommend

1,751 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 #26 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Untangle NG Firewall an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. 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 14% of all views.

Helped 838,533 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

MatthewSmith3

Service Delivery Manager at CasCom

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.

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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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Untangle NG Firewall mindshare

Product category:

As of February 2025, the mindshare of Untangle NG Firewall in the Firewalls category stands at 1.2%, down from 1.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Firewalls	Feb 20, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Feb 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Untangle NG Firewall vs Netgate pfSense	Feb 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Untangle NG Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate	Feb 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Untangle NG Firewall vs OPNsense	Feb 20, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Fortinet FortiGate	4.2	20.7%	90%	318 interviews Add to research
Netgate pfSense	4.3	16.0%	94%	213 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Untangle NG Firewall offers valuable features like web filtering, application control, VPN setup, and endpoint protection management. Its interface and integration with Active Directory are easy to use. Users benefit from strong detection, content filtering, and spam blocking. Cloud management and centralized control enhance its functionality. The ability to deploy on generic hardware and manage licensing affordably makes it appealing. The features are highly reliable, ensuring security and efficiency, appreciated by users for cost-effectiveness.

"Since it can be put on any box, the scalability is fantastic."
"The all-in-one gateway security functions and the ability to install it on generic equipment stand out."
"The solution's most valuable feature is the content filtering."

Room for Improvement

Untangle NG Firewall needs advancements in online support and the management console. Independent DDNS setup, mobile app availability, and enhanced web content filtering are desired. Improved processing power, hardware availability, and real-time threat protection are needed. Cost-effectiveness is a concern. Users seek advanced configuration options, better logging, and improved VPN reliability. More granulated security features, better reporting, and ease of support access are requested. Improved mobile application and licensing flexibility are also required.

"The user interface, training, and general product innovation need improvement. Enhancements could also be made to their reporting and accessibility."
"The user interface, training, and general product innovation need improvement."
"The solution's licensing count could be improved."

ROI

Untangle NG Firewall increased ROI through exceptional reporting, providing insight into environments quickly and revealing overlooked issues. Time and cost efficiencies were noted in deployment and management. The firewall's scalability suits businesses of varying sizes, offering protection while enabling threat prevention. Users monetized its use as a gateway security appliance to enhance service offerings and adjust pricing. Monthly recurring costs for clients further supported the financial gain achieved with Untangle NG Firewall.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers evaluating Untangle NG Firewall find the solution to be flexible and cost-effective, particularly for SMBs and NGOs. The platform offers both free and paid versions, with annual licensing starting at $350 for basic packages, scaling up with the addition of more modules or devices. Some users find license costs rise quickly when bundling multiple features. Pricing is competitive compared to other solutions like Fortinet or SonicWall, though can become expensive for larger installations exceeding 50 devices.

"The setup cost is about $2000 to $3000 per year."
"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."

Popular Use Cases

Untangle NG Firewall is primarily utilized by companies for internet and email filtering, web filtering, application control, firewall services, and VPN connections. It is favored by SMBs and enterprises for its effective web filtering, intrusion prevention, threat detection, and DNS blocking. The firewall can be deployed on various hardware, making it cost-effective and accessible. Users appreciate its easy VPN setup, SD-WAN capabilities, and affordability with a monthly service fee.

Service and Support

Untangle NG Firewall offers strong technical and customer support, including free 24-hour aid with licenses. Many users find the service excellent, with assistance available remotely. Time zone differences may pose delays, especially for users in Africa. Some mention local technical support's limited proficiency, preferring self-learning. While phone assistance could improve, overall resolution is efficient. Positive feedback highlights knowledgeable, responsive staff, though some rate help as average. A few users note cumbersome experiences or lack licensing for support.

Deployment

Users found Untangle NG Firewall's initial setup to be straightforward and simple. Many highlighted the easy deployment process, often completed within an hour, and requiring minimal maintenance personnel. Templates and web interfaces simplify configuration, and even non-technical individuals manage setup with ease. Technical support is available, but the intuitive interface often suffices. Users appreciate its ability to deploy quickly, remotely adjust settings, and effectively manage multiple devices through the command center.

Scalability

Untangle NG Firewall offers remarkable scalability, accommodating diverse user needs. Users report seamless scaling from small setups to large deployments. The software version is praised for its flexibility, with ease of integration with existing systems. Users also highlight the simplicity of adding resources or features as needed. Despite mixed opinions, the consensus is positive, emphasizing its adaptability for multiple environments. Untangle NG Firewall efficiently addresses the demands of businesses of varying sizes.

Stability

Untangle NG Firewall exhibits high stability according to feedback. Multiple instances have shown consistent performance without crashing, handling extensive usage by up to 800 users effectively. Although initial hardware compatibility issues were noted, adjustments resolved them. The firewall rarely experiences downtime, except for occasional reboots with unclear logs. Stability ratings vary from seven to ten out of ten, indicating strong overall reliability. Instances of isolated user errors do not reflect on the firewall's performance.

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

14%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Government

Healthcare Company

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Financial Services Firm

University

Construction Company

Retailer

Energy/Utilities Company

Non Profit

Hospitality Company

Media Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Insurance Company

Legal Firm

Security Firm

Transportation Company

Pharma/Biotech 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.”

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,