Compare software

nftables vs firewalld: catalog facts
nftables	firewalld
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source.
Linux, Command line	Linux, Command line
One tool and rule syntax for IPv4, IPv6, ARP and bridge filtering Part of the mainline Linux kernel	Zones set trust levels per connection or interface Changes apply without restarting the service
Linux only Command-line rule language has a learning curve	Linux only Zone concepts take some learning compared with plain rule lists
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.