Alternatives to pfSense

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

  • OPNsense

    An open-source firewall and routing platform based on FreeBSD that you install on your own hardware.

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hosted

    OPNsense is a fork of pfSense on a current FreeBSD base with regular releases and a public roadmap, managed through a similar web interface.

  • IPFire

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

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hosted

    IPFire switches to a hardened Linux base, which broadens hardware support, with WireGuard, OpenVPN and IPsec out of the box and zone-based segmentation.

  • VyOS

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

    FreemiumOpen sourceSelf-hosted

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

  • OpenWrt

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    OpenWrt runs on supported consumer routers as Linux firmware instead of a dedicated machine, though flashing firmware carries a risk of bricking the router.

  • DD-WRT

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

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hosted

    DD-WRT replaces consumer router firmware to add VPN, QoS and advanced routing, running on supported router models rather than a dedicated firewall box.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.