Netgate pfSense
Business VPN software
Firewall software
Network security software
Business security software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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What is Netgate pfSense
Netgate pfSense is a firewall and network security platform based on the pfSense software distribution, commonly deployed as an edge firewall, VPN gateway, and router for small to mid-sized organizations and distributed sites. It supports stateful firewalling, NAT, VLANs, multi-WAN, and site-to-site and remote-access VPN configurations. Organizations typically run it on Netgate appliances or on their own x86 hardware/virtual machines, with management performed through a web-based UI and optional add-on packages.
Broad firewall and routing features
pfSense includes stateful firewalling, NAT, policy routing, VLANs, DHCP/DNS services, and multi-WAN capabilities in a single platform. It supports common edge-network patterns such as segmented networks, guest access, and branch connectivity. This breadth makes it suitable for replacing multiple point tools at smaller sites.
Multiple VPN protocol options
pfSense supports IPsec and OpenVPN for site-to-site and remote-access VPN use cases. It provides configuration workflows in the UI and supports certificate-based authentication and common encryption settings. This flexibility helps organizations standardize on one gateway while accommodating different client and interoperability requirements.
Flexible deployment on appliances or VMs
Organizations can deploy pfSense on dedicated Netgate hardware, generic x86 systems, or as a virtual machine in common hypervisors. This enables reuse of existing hardware and supports lab-to-production portability. It also allows different performance profiles by sizing CPU, NICs, and storage to the site’s needs.
Not a cloud-delivered SASE service
pfSense is primarily an edge firewall/VPN gateway that customers operate and maintain. It does not provide a globally distributed cloud access fabric with built-in points of presence for user-to-app access. Organizations seeking cloud-managed private access and policy enforcement for roaming users may need additional services or architecture.
Operational overhead and expertise required
Ongoing operations include patching, backups, certificate lifecycle management, and monitoring of VPN and firewall rules. Complex environments (multi-site IPsec, multi-WAN failover, segmented networks) often require experienced network/security administration. Misconfiguration risk increases as rule sets and VPN topologies grow.
Scaling and HA add complexity
High availability and larger throughput deployments depend on correct hardware sizing, NIC selection, and careful configuration of redundancy and state synchronization. Performance for VPN and advanced inspection features can be constrained by CPU and cryptographic acceleration availability. As requirements expand, organizations may need more specialized routing/security platforms or additional tooling.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| pfSense CE | No charge | Open-source Community Edition; free download for users (pfSense CE). |
| pfSense+ w/ TAC Lite | $129 / year per instance | Commercial pfSense Plus software subscription with TAC Lite support; available for 3rd-party hardware installations. |
| pfSense+ w/ TAC Pro | $399 / year per instance | pfSense Plus subscription bundled with TAC Pro support (faster SLA, additional support channels). |
| pfSense+ w/ TAC Enterprise | $799 / year per instance | pfSense Plus subscription bundled with TAC Enterprise support (highest SLA and enterprise support). |
Usage-based / Cloud Pricing model: Pay-as-you-go (cloud marketplace images on AWS/Azure) Free tier/trial: Free 30-day software trials available for cloud instances. Example costs: pfSense Plus cloud images range from $0.08/hour to $0.40/hour depending on VM size/provider (Netgate lists $0.08/hr as a starting point).
Appliances / Hardware
- Netgate appliances include pfSense Plus at no extra software charge when purchasing appliance hardware. Appliances are sold separately; Netgate lists appliance pricing starting at $189 (one-time hardware purchase).
Seller details
Netgate, Inc.
Austin, Texas, USA
2002
Private
https://www.netgate.com/
https://x.com/netgateusa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/netgate/
