pfSense vs Untangle NG Firewall
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
pfSense is an open-source firewall and router platform built on a hardened FreeBSD base, offering enterprise-grade capabilities like Snort-based intrusion detection and prevention, traffic shaping, native IPv6, and site-to-cloud VPN connectivity. It is free to run as Community Edition software on your own hardware or as a virtual machine. For organizations that want a managed path, developer Netgate sells physical hardware appliances, virtual appliances on AWS and Azure starting around $0.08/hour, and commercial support and training. pfSense is used from small offices to large enterprises for firewalling, routing, and VPN connectivity between sites and clouds.
Untangle NG Firewall is a modular next-generation firewall platform that consolidates network security functions like content filtering, intrusion prevention, ransomware protection, and VPN into a single console instead of requiring multiple separate vendor products. Following its acquisition, the product now operates under Arista Networks as part of the Edge Threat Management (ETM) platform, with NG Firewall remaining the core product and a cloud-based ETM Dashboard, including a mobile app, for centralized management. The platform is aimed at organizations that need enterprise-style network security without a large in-house security team, and it is used across education (K-12 and higher ed), government, healthcare, financial services, nonprofits, and hospitality. Special pricing is available for qualifying public institutions, nonprofits, and government organizations, and a free trial and online purchase configurator are offered directly on the site.
- Free, open-source core with no licensing fee
- Enterprise-grade features (IDS/IPS, HA, VPN)
- Flexible deployment: hardware, VM, or cloud
- Large, active user and support community
- Modular design lets organizations pay only for needed security functions
- Discounted pricing available for education, nonprofit, and government buyers
- Cloud dashboard with mobile app simplifies remote management
- Backed by Arista's networking infrastructure following acquisition
- Requires networking expertise to configure well
- Commercial support and hardware add cost
- Cloud hourly billing can add up for always-on use
- Public list pricing is not shown; requires going through a configurator or sales
- Brand transition (Untangle to Arista Edge Threat Management) can cause naming confusion
- Best suited to organizations comfortable managing their own modular security stack
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to pfSense
View all →Next-generation firewall appliances with real-time deep packet inspection for businesses of all sizes.
Open-source, FreeBSD-based firewall and routing platform with a free core and paid Business Edition.
Next-generation firewall with synchronized security and AI-powered threat detection for SMBs and enterprises.
Next-generation firewall appliances with AI-powered threat protection and zero trust access.
Alternatives to Untangle NG Firewall
View all →Open-source, FreeBSD-based firewall and routing platform with a free core and paid Business Edition.
Next-generation firewall with synchronized security and AI-powered threat detection for SMBs and enterprises.
Next-generation firewall appliances with real-time deep packet inspection for businesses of all sizes.
Unified security gateway with threat prevention and zero‑trust controls
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing datapfSense offers a free, feature‑rich firewall/IDS/VPN platform but needs networking expertise, while Untangle provides a modular, easier‑to‑manage solution with undisclosed pricing.
Key differences
- •Pricing model: pfSense is free/open‑source; Untangle requires a quoted purchase.
- •Ease of deployment: pfSense demands networking skill; Untangle adds a cloud dashboard and mobile app for simpler management.
- •Modularity: Untangle lets you buy only needed security apps; pfSense ships with a full set of features by default.
- •Support options: pfSense offers community forums and paid Netgate support; Untangle’s support details are not specified.
- •Target audience: pfSense suits seasoned network admins; Untangle is aimed at SMBs, schools, and public‑sector groups.
Pricing & value
pfSense is freemium with no licensing fee; Untangle requires contacting sales for pricing.
Ease of use / learning curve
Untangle provides a cloud dashboard and mobile app, reducing configuration complexity versus pfSense's expert‑level setup.
Features & depth
Both deliver firewall, IDS/IPS, VPN and HA; Untangle adds modular content filtering, while pfSense includes traffic shaping.
Integrations & ecosystem
Neither product lists an API; both are self‑hosted appliances.
Support
pfSense lists community forums and commercial Netgate support; Untangle's support options are not detailed.
Security & privacy
pfSense is open‑source, allowing code transparency; Untangle’s codebase and privacy details are not disclosed.
Scalability
Both run as self‑hosted appliances; pfSense also offers cloud VM pricing, while Untangle’s scalability info is not provided.
Choose pfSense if…
Network admins or IT teams needing a free, enterprise‑grade firewall/IDS/VPN and willing to handle complex configuration.
Choose Untangle NG Firewall if…
SMBs, schools, or public‑sector groups preferring modular pay‑per‑function security with easy cloud management.
Common questions
What are the upfront costs for each product?
pfSense core is free; commercial support and hardware cost extra. Untangle requires contacting sales; pricing is not publicly listed.
Which solution is easier for a small IT staff to manage?
Untangle offers a cloud dashboard and mobile app, making routine management simpler than pfSense's expert‑level configuration.
Can I add or remove security functions as my needs change?
Untangle’s modular design lets you purchase only needed apps. pfSense includes all features by default; you cannot license individual modules.