Best Network Firewall Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Sangfor EasyConnect is ranked #1 of 33 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Cato SASE Platform and Zscaler Private Access. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Arista NG Firewall. The lowest first paid tier on this page is AWS Network Firewall at $0.07/mo.
Choosing network firewall software involves balancing traffic capacity, inspection needs, and how a tool will be deployed. Compare firewall throughput and concurrent connections, then consider intrusion prevention and SSL inspection for the security functions you need to evaluate. Site-to-site VPN, deployment model, free plan availability, and paid-from pricing add further points of comparison. Sangfor EasyConnect, Cato SASE Platform, and Zscaler Private Access are among the entries, alongside WatchGuard FireCloud, Firewalla, and Arista NG Firewall. The listed criteria can help you think through the demands of your network and distinguish the capabilities and cost details relevant to your environment.
33 network firewall software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Sangfor EasyConnect iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2 Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 2 Cato SASE Platform iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1
- 3 Zscaler Private Access iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1 Deployment model: cloudIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 4 WatchGuard FireCloud iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0$8.15/mo Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 5 Firewalla iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5 Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: No
- 6 Arista NG Firewall No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$22.50/mo Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 7 NethSecurity No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: Yes
- 8 OPNsense No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 9 pfSense No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: Yes
- 10 IPFire No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: No
- 11 Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Secret Management No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Deployment model: cloud
- 12 Check Point DDoS Protector No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 13 Endian Firewall Community No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 14 Palo Alto Networks Panorama No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5 Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 15 AWS Network Firewall No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4$0.07/mo Deployment model: cloudIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 16 Forcepoint ZTNA No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 17 FortiGate No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 18 Juniper Security Director No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Deployment model: hybrid
- 19 Alibaba Cloud Cloud Firewall No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3$0.36/mo Deployment model: cloudIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 20 Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 21 Stormshield Management Center No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 22 Versa Cloud NGFW No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: cloudIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 23 WatchGuard Firebox No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 24 Tencent Cloud Firewall No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Deployment model: cloudIntrusion prevention: YesSSL inspection: Yes
- 25 TNSR No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Deployment model: hybridIntrusion prevention: Yes
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Intrusion prevention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sangfor EasyConnect | 7.2 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 2 | Cato SASE Platform | 7.1 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Zscaler Private Access | 7.1 | No | — | — | — | cloud | Yes |
| 4 | WatchGuard FireCloud | 7.0 | No | $8.15/mo | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 5 | Firewalla | 6.5 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 6 | Arista NG Firewall | 6.4 | Free plan | $22.50/mo | Yes | 25 /mo | hybrid | Yes |
| 7 | NethSecurity | 6.3 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 8 | OPNsense | 6.3 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 9 | pfSense | 6.3 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 10 | IPFire | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 11 | Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Secret Management | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | cloud | — |
| 12 | Check Point DDoS Protector | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 13 | Endian Firewall Community | 5.6 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 14 | Palo Alto Networks Panorama | 5.5 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 15 | AWS Network Firewall | 5.4 | No | $0.07/mo | No | — | cloud | Yes |
| 16 | Forcepoint ZTNA | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 17 | FortiGate | 5.4 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 18 | Juniper Security Director | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | — |
| 19 | Alibaba Cloud Cloud Firewall | 5.3 | No | $0.36/mo | No | 420 /mo | cloud | Yes |
| 20 | Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall | 5.3 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 21 | Stormshield Management Center | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 22 | Versa Cloud NGFW | 5.3 | No | — | No | — | cloud | Yes |
| 23 | WatchGuard Firebox | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 24 | Tencent Cloud Firewall | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | cloud | Yes |
| 25 | TNSR | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which network firewall software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Sangfor EasyConnect is ranked #1 of 33 with a score of 7.2. Cato SASE Platform is second and Zscaler Private Access third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, AWS Network Firewall has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.07/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation.