The solution offers a variety of components, such as:
- Weekly security updates. These updates provide the user with the ability to reach new emerging threats in a timely manner through small increments.
- Two major releases every year. These yearly releases are on a fixed release cycle and provide organizations with the ability to plan ahead of an upcoming upgrade.
- A roadmap of instructions. Each major release provides a guide and a set of clear goals.
A team of professionals developed OPNsense. Other professional and experienced software architects, engineers, and developers are encouraged to join in the development of the solution to make it as successful as possible. OPNsense offers a variety of rich features with each release. Each upgrade is based on FreeBSD for continual, long-term support and utilizes a freshly advanced MVC framework based on Phalcon. OPNsense is committed to helping businesses, school networks, remote offices, hotels, and other markets in keeping their data protected.
OPNsense Core Features
OPNsense continually offers a free, complete, high-end security platform with new releases and features. With each release, OPNsense focuses on providing more unique and better security features in a timely manner. These features include:
- Captive Portal
- Built-in reporting and monitoring tools including RRD Graphs
- Network Flow Monitoring
- Traffic Shaper
- Support for Plugins
- Granular Control Over State Table
- Dynamic DNS
- Two-factor authentication throughout the system
- Netflow Exporter
- Encrypted Configuration Backup to Google Drive
- Forward Caching Proxy (transparent) with Blacklist Support
- Stateful inspection firewall
- DNS Server & DNS Forwarder
- High Availability & Hardware Failover (with configuration synchronization & synchronized state tables)
- DHCP Server and Relay
- Virtual Private Network (site to site & road warrior, IPsec, OpenVPN & legacy PPTP support)
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention
- 802.1Q VLAN support
Reviews from Real Users
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. FiorindoDi A., a system administration specialist at a tech vendor, says, "The graphic user interface is very good and it is user-friendly, which makes the product easy-to-use."
Peerspot reviewers speak of the scalability of the solution. For example, an anonymous cloud and infrastructure manager at a venture capital and private equity firm reviewer notes, "OPNsense is easy to scale when running on the hardware."
FAQs
Ultimately, pfSense offers more flexibility for seasoned users, but OPNsense provides a more polished out-of-box experience.
Is there anything better than pfSense? ›
We have compiled a list of solutions that reviewers voted as the best overall alternatives and competitors to Netgate pfSense, including Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs), Sophos Firewall, WatchGuard Network Security, and FortiGate NGFW.
Is VyOS better than pfSense? ›
When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found VyOS easier to use, set up, and administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with VyOS overall.
Why should I use OPNsense? ›
OPNsense offers weekly security updates with small increments to react on new emerging threats within in a fashionable time. A fixed release cycle of 2 major releases each year offers businesses the opportunity to plan upgrades ahead.
What are the disadvantages of pfSense? ›
Challenging web GUI setup and management: Non-expert users may find it challenging to set up and manage the web GUI, particularly when it comes to assigning WAN and LAN interfaces. Limited API and scripting capabilities: Some reviewers have highlighted the lack of an API for making changes in pfSense.
Do businesses use pfSense? ›
Around the world in 2024, over 2,810 companies have started using pfSense as perimeter-security-and-firewalls tool. Companies using pfSense for perimeter-security-and-firewalls are majorly from United States with 815 customers. 42.94% of pfSense customers are from the United States.
What is the best free alternative to pfSense? ›
OPNsense OPNsense is the best open-source and free firewall alternative to pfSense Software. OPNsense is a user-friendly, open-source, FreeBSD firewall and router. Most of the same capabilities are available in this fork of pfSense Software.
Should I use OpenWRT or pfSense? ›
OpenWRT has the best Wireless support and achieves the highest wireless throughput. No other operating system comes close. You should NOT use pfSense or OPNSense - they don't support 802.11ac and have sub-optimal 802.11n support. See more information about OpenWRT performance here.
Is OPNsense VPN free? ›
Protect your business network and secure your connections using OpenVPN or IPsec. From the stateful inspection firewall to the inline intrusion detection & prevention system everything is included for free.
Is MikroTik better than pfSense? ›
As a final point, MikroTik offers more granular flexibility at the cost of usability, while pfsense offers a smoother yet rough user interface.
Although in theory, virtualizing pfSense is generally considered less secure for instances like server updates to the hypervisor, as well as having your untrusted network directly plugged into your VM platform, by segmenting your network these risks can be greatly reduced.
Can pfSense replace my router? ›
One of the best ways to upgrade your home network is to replace your BT Broadband modem/router with a pfSense router/firewall – a free open source firewall software solution.
Should I switch from pfSense to OPNsense? ›
If you are familiar with the many pfSense core features, you will be pleased to know that OPNsense has a practically identical feature set. One of the main reasons for this is that OPNsense is a fork of pfSense and m0n0wall, so it has retained those familiar aspects since its official release in 2015.
How many cores for OPNsense? ›
We recommend at least dual core (preferable 4 core if you also host database on the firewall) cpu system. Single core cpu score is more important than having lots of cpu cores; for that, a Quad Core i7 PC system is more likely to perform better than a 12-core intel xeon server system.
Does OPNsense run on the arm? ›
pfSense® software runs on a range of platforms, including x86 64 architectures and ARM CPUs. Because pfSense ® software is recognized for being lightweight and efficient, it does not require the most powerful hardware to function well. The hardware requirements for pfSense ® software are determined by your use case.
What is so good about pfSense? ›
You could say: pfSense is more secure because it supports DNS over TLS and, I presume, DNS over HTTPS (DoT/DoH) on the local network. Yes, that is true, but why bother? The local network is secured against interlopers via other means e.g. wired infrastructure, wireless WPA, MAC ACLs, 802.1Q, 802.1X etc.
Is pfSense better than Pihole? ›
Pi-hole stands out for its simplicity and protection for all devices on the network, while pfBlockerNG, integrated with pfSense, offers greater control and customization. The decision will depend on existing infrastructure, preference for simplicity or customization, and available technical expertise.
How powerful is pfSense? ›
pfSense® software has several wonderful capabilities, such as the ability to host a guest Wi-Fi network outside of the main firewall, even utilizing a separate public IP to NAT behind. VPN Router: A VPN is used to increase the security and privacy of private and public networks such as Wi-Fi hotspots and the internet.
