Alternatives to OPNsense

An open-source firewall and routing platform based on FreeBSD that you install on your own hardware. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as OPNsense.

  • pfSense

    FreeBSD-based firewall and router distribution with a web interface.

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hosted

    pfSense is the FreeBSD firewall OPNsense was forked from, with a package system for intrusion detection, though its Community Edition trails Netgate appliance releases.

  • IPFire

    A hardened Linux-based firewall distribution with VPN support, network segmentation and a web management console.

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hosted

    IPFire moves to a hardened Linux base with WireGuard, OpenVPN and IPsec built in and DMZ, guest and trusted zones managed from a web console.

  • VyOS

    An open-source network operating system that combines routing, firewall and VPN functions in one platform.

    FreemiumOpen sourceSelf-hosted

    VyOS combines routing, firewall and VPN on bare metal or cloud marketplaces, aimed at network engineers, with LTS builds distributed through a support portal.

  • OpenWrt

    Open-source Linux-based firmware that turns consumer routers into configurable network gateways.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    OpenWrt is Linux-based firmware that runs on supported consumer routers instead of dedicated hardware, with a risk of bricking the device during installation.

  • DD-WRT

    Third-party open-source router firmware that adds VPN, QoS and advanced routing to consumer routers.

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hosted

    DD-WRT is open-source firmware for existing consumer routers adding VPN, QoS and advanced routing, rather than a firewall installed on a dedicated machine.

Also worth comparing

These listings name OPNsense as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • OpenBSD

    A free, security-focused BSD Unix operating system that runs on many hardware platforms.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    OPNsense covers OpenBSD's firewall and router role as a FreeBSD-based appliance with a web interface, rather than a general-purpose operating system.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.