OPNsense vs pfSense
A detailed comparison to help you choose between OPNsense and pfSense.
OPNsense Open-source firewall with modern web UI and plugin system. | pfSense Open-source firewall/router based on FreeBSD. | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 (398 reviews) | 4.7 (268 reviews) |
| Pricing Model | free | free |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Best for users wanting network-level firewall protection | Best for users wanting network-level firewall protection |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | — | — |
OPNsense
Pros
- + Supports IPsec, OpenVPN, and WireGuard
- + Free Community Edition available
- + Open source under 2-Clause BSD license
- + Multi-WAN load balancing and failover support
- + Plugin ecosystem plus API availability
- + Optional Business Edition with conservative updates
Cons
- - Throughput drops with VPN plus IDS/IPS enabled
- - Business Edition license is per installation
- - Requires real networking knowledge to run well
- - No clear general refund window stated publicly
pfSense
Pros
- + Supports OpenVPN and IPsec natively
- + WireGuard available via Package Manager
- + Extensible package ecosystem (pfBlocker-NG, IDS/IPS)
- + Granular firewall policy control over VPN traffic
- + pfSense CE is Apache 2.0 licensed
- + StrongSwan-based IPsec with documented troubleshooting
Cons
- - Not a consumer VPN app or geo-unblocker
- - VPN firewall rules differ by protocol and interface
- - WireGuard support has had past implementation churn
- - pfSense Plus on third-party hardware costs annually
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