FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Security & Privacy

Free and open first

Best Next Generation Firewall Software in 2026

This guide is for people comparing deployment options, platforms and cost before choosing a tool.

  1. 1

    Barracuda Secure SD-WAN

    by Barracuda Secure SD-WAN
    Free trial APILinuxMac+2

    Barracuda Secure SD-WAN links traffic optimization, cloud connectivity, and layered firewall controls.

    6.6 Pricing on request · 14-day trial Visit site
  2. 2

    Google Cloud Secret Manager

    Free plan Web
    6.1 Free plan · paid from $0.03 · 90-day trial Visit site
  3. 3

    Stormshield Management Center

    Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    Choose SMC if your organization needs centralized administration for multi-site networks built around SNS firewalls.

    6.0 Pricing on request Visit site
  4. 4

    Zenarmor

    Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3
    6.0 Free plan · paid from $9.99/mo Visit site
  5. 5

    Cisco Catalyst Center

    Paid APILinuxMac+3
    5.9 Pricing on request Visit site
  6. 6

    Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall

    by Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall
    Paid AndroidAPILinux+3

    Consider Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall if you need its listed intrusion prevention, SSL inspection, policy controls, API access or site-to-site VPN in a hybrid deployment.

    5.9 Pricing on request Visit site
  7. 7

    Sophos Central Firewall Management

    by Sophos Central Firewall Management
    Free trial APISelf-hostedWeb

    Sophos Central Firewall Management combines cloud administration with broad firewall deployment choices and threat-response features.

    5.9 Pricing on request Visit site
  8. 8

    AWS Network Firewall

    Paid APIWeb

    AWS Network Firewall offers traffic inspection and controls integrated with other AWS services, with costs based on endpoint time and processed data.

    5.8 From $0.40 Visit site
  9. 9

    FortiGate

    by FortiGate
    Free trial Self-hosted

    FortiGate combines firewall security, networking, centralized management, and cloud deployment options across hybrid environments.

    5.6 Pricing on request · 30-day trial Visit site
  10. 10

    Juniper Security Director

    by Juniper Security Director
    Paid Self-hostedWeb

    Choose Juniper Security Director if your organization manages Juniper SRX security policies across on-premises and cloud environments and needs centralized policy analysis.

    5.4 Pricing on request Visit site
  11. 11

    Huawei HiSecEngine USG6800G

    Paid Web

    The series combines application control, threat defenses and centralized policy management in an appliance. Buyers will need to request pricing from Huawei.

    5.3 Pricing on request Visit site
  12. 12

    Check Point Cloud Firewall

    Paid Web
    4.5 Pricing on request Visit site
  13. 13

    Check Point Quantum Security Gateway

    Paid
    4.5 Pricing on request Visit site
  14. 14

    Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall

    Paid Web
    4.2 Pricing on request Visit site
  15. 15

    Palo Alto Networks CN-Series

    Paid Linux
    4.1 Pricing on request Visit site
  16. 16

    WatchGuard Firebox

    Paid Web

    Consider WatchGuard Firebox if its intrusion prevention, SSL inspection, and site-to-site VPN capabilities fit your network needs.

    4.0 Pricing on request Visit site
  17. 17

    Versa Next Generation Firewall

    Paid
    3.8 Pricing on request Visit site
  18. 18

    Zyxel SD-WAN

    Paid Web
    3.8 Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Assess whether a trial or free plan meets your requirements, then weigh paid price, throughput and deployment model. If reading or changing code matters, review the licence terms before choosing.

Questions

What features can I compare?

The comparison covers free-plan availability, starting paid price, deployment model, intrusion prevention, application control, VPN support and maximum firewall throughput.

Are free plans available?

Free plans are available from products in this category. Check each plan's terms and capabilities against your requirements before relying on it.

Can I find a free trial?

Free trials are available from products in this category. Trial length and included features can differ, so review the offer before starting.

Which platforms are covered?

The listed platforms are web, self-hosted, Linux, API, macOS and Windows.

How is pricing presented?

Pricing may show a starting amount or say pricing is available on request. Check the current terms for the product you are considering.

More in Security & Privacy