OPNsense
by OPNsenseOPNsense suits administrators seeking a self-hosted firewall and routing platform with VPN, failover, and intrusion-prevention capabilities.
Free plan Open source AndroidiPhone & iPadWebAPISelf-hosted
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Best Firewall Software 2026
Facts read 27 Sep 2026 – 15 Oct 2026
Firewall software controls network traffic and can provide connection alerts, application rules and outbound controls. This page helps buyers compare those controls with supported platforms and central management.
The standings: top 10
| Name | In a line | Record score | Price from | Try it free | Runs on | Facts read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 OPNsense | OPNsense suits administrators seeking a self-hosted firewall and routing platform with VPN, failover, and intrusion-prevention capabilities. | 8.5 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, API | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 02 IPFire | IPFire is presented for individuals, businesses, and organizations managing networks from home offices to global enterprises. | 8.3 | $1,099 a year | Free plan | Web, Linux, API, Self-hosted | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 03 Google Cloud NGFW | 8.0 | Free plan | Free plan | Web, API | 28 Sep 2026 | |
| 04 ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer | It suits network administrators who need to review firewall traffic and configuration changes across devices from multiple vendors. | 7.7 | $395 a year | Free trial | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 11 Oct 2026 |
| 05 CrowdSec | CrowdSec suits teams seeking to detect or block malicious IP activity across infrastructure and applications. | 7.7 | $49 a month | Free plan | iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows, Mac | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 06 Arista NG Firewall | It suits organizations managing network security and traffic across hybrid deployments. | 7.5 | Free plan | Free plan | Web | 27 Sep 2026 |
| 07 VyOS | 7.5 | Free plan | Free plan | Linux, API, Self-hosted | 9 Oct 2026 | |
| 08 GlassWire | GlassWire may suit people who want to review network activity, receive alerts about unusual changes, or manage app connections. | 7.5 | $2.99 a month, billed yearly | Free plan | Android, Web, Windows | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 09 Comodo Internet Security | Comodo Internet Security may suit Windows users looking for antivirus, firewall, and isolation tools. | 7.2 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows, Browser extension | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 10 Alibaba Cloud Cloud Firewall | 7.1 | $420 a month | Free trial | Web, API | 11 Oct 2026 |
Compare free plans, paid-from pricing and trial options alongside rule direction and platform support. The page has no published ranking basis, so use the listed fields to match a tool to your setup.
02
IPFire
IPFire is presented for individuals, businesses, and organizations managing networks from home offices to global enterprises.
WebLinuxAPI+1 Record8.3 Visit
03
Google Cloud NGFW
WebAPI Record8.0 Visit
04
ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer
It suits network administrators who need to review firewall traffic and configuration changes across devices from multiple vendors.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+4 Record7.7 Visit
05
CrowdSec
CrowdSec suits teams seeking to detect or block malicious IP activity across infrastructure and applications.
iPhone & iPadWebWindows+5 Record7.7 Visit
6
Arista NG Firewall
Web Free plan Record7.5 Visit It suits organizations managing network security and traffic across hybrid deployments.
8
GlassWire
AndroidWebWindows $2.99 a month, billed yearly Record7.5 Visit GlassWire may suit people who want to review network activity, receive alerts about unusual changes, or manage app connections.
9
Comodo Internet Security
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+1 Free plan Record7.2 Visit Comodo Internet Security may suit Windows users looking for antivirus, firewall, and isolation tools.
12
NethSecurity
WebLinuxAPI+1 €150 a year Record6.8 Visit It suits small and medium-sized businesses seeking firewall, threat-protection, traffic-management and VPN functions.
13
Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall
AndroidWindowsMac+3 — Record6.6 Visit It is positioned for large enterprises, campus networks, data centers, offices, branches, remote sites, and stores that need network security and SD-WAN connectivity.
14
SonicWall Network Security Manager
WebAPISelf-hosted Free plan Record6.6 Visit NSM suits security teams managing distributed SonicWall firewall environments, including multiple customer locations.
20
pfSense
WebLinuxSelf-hosted Free plan Record6.2 Visit It may suit home and remote workers, businesses, government, education, or service providers seeking firewall and routing software.
Before you choose
Compare pricing paths
A free plan, a free trial or open-source code can change the cost of trying a firewall. Check the offer and the paid-from figure shown for a tool before planning a deployment.
Paid pricing may be listed as a starting amount or as pricing on request. Treat the displayed model as the starting point for a closer quote.
Check traffic controls
Review whether a firewall provides outbound control, rule direction, connection alerts and application rules. These fields show how the tool handles traffic and notifications.
Match the rule controls to the traffic you need to permit, block or monitor.
Match your platform
Firewall tools on this page run on self-hosted systems, the web, Linux, an API, Windows or macOS. Confirm the platform path that fits your environment before choosing.
A platform label can describe how you manage the firewall rather than where protected traffic runs, so read the tool's details carefully.
Plan central management
Central management can matter when policies and alerts need a shared control point. Compare this field with the way your network is administered.
If you need to read or change code, check the tool's open-source status and licence terms.
Questions
Do firewall tools offer free plans?
A free plan is offered by items on this list. Pricing models also include paid and freemium options.
Can I try firewall software before paying?
A free trial is offered by items on this list. Check the individual listing for its trial terms.
Which platforms can these firewalls run on?
Platforms represented on this list include self-hosted, web, Linux, API, Windows and macOS.
What traffic controls should I compare?
Compare outbound control, rule direction, connection alerts and application rules, along with central management.
Is open-source firewall code available?
Open-source code is offered by items on this list. Check the individual tool's licence before using or changing its code.
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