Choosing router Operating system pfSense vs OPNSense vs OpenWRT (2024)

FAQs

Should I use pfSense or OPNsense? ›

Our reviewers agree that OPNsense is easy to install and easy to use, while pfSense was less so. One area where pfSense did come out on top was in the free support category. To learn more, read our detailed OPNsense vs. pfSense Report (Updated: January 2023).

pfSense installs with what most security experts would agree is the most secure settings by default. No ports are left open, and most users will see this as a good, secure starting point and, in some cases, will not require many additional changes from a security standpoint.

OPNsense started as a fork of pfSense® and m0n0wall in 2014, with its first official release in January 2015. The project has evolved very quickly while still retaining familiar aspects of both m0n0wall and pfSense. A strong focus on security and code quality drives the development of the project.

Good news, OpenWrt has reasonable security by default. If you are inexperienced in hardening and firewall and web security, there is no need to worry, OpenWrt is hardened by default in a sufficient way, such that non-experienced muggles can use it right away, without being worried.

1GB or more RAM. 8 GB or larger disk drive (SSD, HDD, etc) One or more compatible network interface cards. Bootable USB drive or high capacity optical drive (DVD or BD) for initial installation.

My PFSense box got TOTALLY HACKED. Didn't believe it was possible, as it had snort, and many other security measures discussed in Lawrence. And I mean totally hacked, which led to escalation hack on computer, and now totally worhtless (an Apple Macmini.)

A critical vulnerability has been discovered in a plugin of Netgate's pfSense firewall. The flaw is tracked as CVE-2022-31814 and can expose the affected instances to unauthenticated remote code execution attacks. pfSense is an open-source firewall and router software distribution based on FreeBSD.

Many consulting companies offer solutions based on pfSense® software to their customers.

In addition, pfSense is feature-rich, has a mature platform, is customizable, is flexible by design, and can be used on a small home router as well as run the entire network of a large corporation. pfSense puts you in control of your networking, is regularly updated, and works to promptly patch security issues.

What OS does OPNsense run on? ›

OPNsense is a Open Source Firewall Distribution, which is based on the FreeBSD operating system and its packet filter pf. For use as a firewall, DHCP server, DNS server or VPN, it can be installed both on a physical server and in a virtual machine.

For almost three years, OpenWRT—the open source operating system that powers home routers and other types of embedded systems—has been vulnerable to remote code-execution attacks because updates were delivered over an unencrypted channel and digital signature verifications are easy to bypass, a researcher said.

The Best Custom Router Firmware

Overall, DD-WRT is the best choice for compatibility and features. However, Tomato and OpenWRT are still worth using, especially with easier-to-use interfaces and setup. Whichever one you choose, you're more than likely to see a noticeable improvement over your router's stock firmware.

OpenWrt (from open wireless router) is an open-source project for embedded operating systems based on Linux, primarily used on embedded devices to route network traffic.

Application Detection on pfSense® Software

Thanks to the Snort package and OpenAppID, pfSense® is now application-aware. This layer 7 functionality arrives through an upgraded version of the Snort package for pfSense software.

pfSense is a perfect network security solution that turns your device into a more robust home router. However, it only works on devices that support amd64 architecture; thus, it won't be able to run on a Raspberry Pi device that includes arm64 architecture.

“pfSense is perfect for small-medium businesses (IMO). I also believe it would be a great tool for a home user/IT enthusiast who wants a great high-end firewall solution or someone who just wants to learn, but does not want to buy a bunch of hardware or licenses.”

pfSense also allows for installation of third party open source packages such as Snort or Squid through a built in Package Manager, making it the default choice of many network administrators. pfSense is flexible by design. It can be used on a small home router as well as run the entire network of a large corporation.

This section describes the process of installing pfSense® software to a target drive, such as an SSD or HDD. In a nutshell, this involves booting from the installation memstick or CD/DVD disc and then completing the installer.

The pfSense software is an operating system itself, and you cannot install it on top of another OS. You either reserve an entire physical computer or deploy it as a virtual machine within a physical system such as a server.

Can you use pfSense as a VPN? ›

pfSense® software offers several VPN options: IPsec, OpenVPN, WireGuard and L2TP. This section provides an overview of VPN usage, the pros and cons of each type of VPN, and how to decide which is the best fit for a particular environment.

pfBlockerNG is an excellent Free and Open Source package developed for pfSense® software that provides advertisem*nt blocking and malicious content blocking, as well as geo-blocking capabilities. By installing pfBlockerNG, you can not only block ads but also web tracking, malware and ransomware.

PfSense. Widely regarded as the world's most trustworthy open-source firewall, PfSense is a free-to-use solution for securing your business. Thousands of enterprises rely on this software to securely connect to the cloud and keep business data under wraps.

OPNsense is an easy-to-use open source firewall and routing platform. Based on FreeBSD, OPNsense combines the rich functionality that is otherwise known only from commercial firewalls, with the benefits of open and verifiable sources.

OPNsense is a favorite security solution among reviewers for a number of reasons. Two of those reasons include the user-friendliness of the solution, which makes it easy to use, and its ability to easily scale. For many, a user-friendly solution is essential.

pfsense has many features and advanced capabilities that ensure it always follows either default or custom rules. It also filters traffic separately whether it's coming from your internal network of devices or the open internet, allowing you to set different rules and policies for each.

With all of the enterprise-grade features and security that pfSense® software offers, it's hard to believe that it's a free and open-source solution. In their own words: pfSense® software is a free, open-source customized distribution of FreeBSD tailored for use as a firewall and router.

Current versions of pfSense software are compatible with 64-bit (amd64, x86-64) architecture hardware and Netgate ARM-based firewalls. Alternate hardware architectures such as Raspberry Pi, other Non-Netgate ARM devices, PowerPC, MIPS, SPARC, etc. are not supported.

pfSense® software offers several VPN options: IPsec, OpenVPN, WireGuard and L2TP. This section provides an overview of VPN usage, the pros and cons of each type of VPN, and how to decide which is the best fit for a particular environment.

Overview. The pfSense project is a free network firewall distribution, based on the FreeBSD operating system with a custom kernel and including third party free software packages for additional functionality.