Side by side
IPFire vs OPNsense
Both stand on firewall software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
IPFire brings firewalling, VPN, intrusion prevention, and proxy functions together in a free, open-source platform. Its deployment images cover multiple hardware and cloud settings, while SSL inspection is not included.
Visit IPFire
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+2
OPNsense combines firewall, routing, VPN, failover, and intrusion-prevention features in a self-hosted platform. Community Edition is free; Business subscriptions add commercial features and support at listed annual or three-year rates.
Visit OPNsenseThe facts
| IPFire | OPNsense | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web | Android, API, iPhone, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | See the plans | OPNsense Business Edition 1yr subscription: €149 a year |
| Plans published | 6 | 6 |
| Maker | Not published | OPNsense |
| Website | ipfire.org | opnsense.org |
| On firewall software | #2 of 81 | #1 of 81 |
IPFire: what it does well
- Supports IPsec, WireGuard, and OpenVPN.
- Suricata-based intrusion prevention blocks malicious traffic.
- Offers images for x86_64 and aarch64 deployments.
- Monitoring covers bandwidth, connections, and intrusion attempts.
What to know first
- SSL inspection is not supported.
- Optional URL filtering uses URLFilter or SquidGuard.
- Professional support is offered by Lightning Wire Labs.
OPNsense: what it does well
- Firewall supports both IPv4 and IPv6
- Integrates four VPN technologies
- CARP provides failover with state synchronization
- Community Edition is free under a 2-clause BSD license
What to know first
- Installation is limited to x86-64 architecture
- One-year Business subscription costs €149 a year
Alternatives to IPFire Alternatives to OPNsense The whole list