There is no universal best FortiGate replacement for a small business. Start by identifying what is driving the change, then compare the security functions you need, real-world performance with those functions enabled, management demands, full ownership costs, and the work required to migrate safely.
Start with the reason for switching
“What are the best Fortinet alternatives?” is a common way to frame the search, but it cannot identify a best fit without knowing the business’s needs. A switch may be prompted by recurring costs, administration workload, a missing feature, support concerns, or a network redesign. The available sources do not establish which reason is most common.
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Write down the specific problem the replacement must solve. That becomes the basis for evaluating candidates rather than a broad product ranking.
Compare the functions your network actually needs
Make a checklist of required capabilities before comparing models. Depending on the network, this may include firewall rules, intrusion prevention, web or application controls, VPN access, network segmentation, and reporting. For each candidate, verify which capabilities are included, which require separate licensing, and whether they work with the proposed deployment.
#1 Best Overall
- Compact and Efficient Design: The FortiGate 40F is designed for small to mid-sized businesses and enterprise branch offices, featuring a compact, fanless desktop form factor that ensures quiet operation and minimizes space usage.
- Robust Connectivity Options: Equipped with 5 GE RJ45 ports, including 1 WAN port and 4 internal ports, this model provides essential connectivity and flexibility for various network configurations in a small-scale environment.
- High-Performance Security: Offers up to 1 Gbps IPS throughput and 600 Mbps threat protection throughput, using Fortinet’s purpose-built security processor technology to deliver industry-leading performance and protection for SSL encrypted traffic.
- Advanced Threat Protection: Integrated with Fortinet’s AI-powered FortiGuard Labs, the FortiGate 40F offers comprehensive cybersecurity, identifying and mitigating both known and unknown threats to maintain robust security across your network.
- Simplified Management and Deployment: Features a user-friendly management console that provides comprehensive network automation and visibility, coupled with Zero Touch Integration with Fortinet’s Security Fabric for easy deployment.
Do not assume that a product described as a firewall provides the same scope of protection or administration as your current FortiGate configuration. Check requirements such as remote access, site-to-site VPNs, VLAN policies, and inspection of the traffic your business relies on.
Compare performance on an equal basis
Headline throughput figures are not automatically comparable. A firewall’s performance can vary with the security services enabled, so look for figures that reflect the inspection features you plan to use. Also check WAN speed, expected concurrent users and sessions, interfaces, and room for growth.
Rank #2
- BUSINESS READY - pfSense+ software updates included for product lifetime. Netgate TAC Lite technical support included. One year hardware warranty included.
- COMPLETE - Pre-loaded with pfSense+ software to get up and running fast. Simply unbox it and start customizing for your secure edge networking needs. Free help with setup from our expert Technical Assistance Center (TAC) available 24/7/365.
- POWERFUL - A dual core ARM Cortex-A53 1.2 GHz delivers near gigabit routing of common home iPerf3 traffic and in excess of 650 Mbps of firewall throughput.
- COMPACT - Low power draw, a compact form factor, and silent operation allow it to run unnoticed when placed on a desktop, wall, or rack.
- FLEXIBLE - Three (3) 1 GbE switched (WAN/LAN/OPT) ports allow you to configure three separate 1 GbE switched ports for upto a gigabit of bi-directional traffic.
Fortinet’s small-business product page lists threat-protection throughput of 500 Mbps for FortiGate 30G, 1,100 Mbps for FortiGate 50G, and 1,300 Mbps for FortiGate 70G. These are vendor specifications, not independent comparative test results, and they do not establish how those models compare with alternatives. See Fortinet’s small-business product page for the listed figures.
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No neutral, like-for-like benchmark or current total-cost comparison across small-business firewall alternatives is established by the cited sources. Compare vendor figures only when their definitions and test conditions align; otherwise, treat them as separate specifications rather than a ranking.
Rank #3
- Extensive Connectivity Options: The FortiGate 60F is designed with 10 GE RJ45 ports, including 2 WAN ports, 1 DMZ port, and 7 internal ports, offering broad flexibility and high-density connections for diverse enterprise networking needs.
- Superior Performance for Secure Networks: Features powerful system-on-a-chip acceleration to deliver top-tier security with 1.4 Gbps IPS throughput and 700 Mbps threat protection throughput, ensuring effective defense against advanced threats.
- Enhanced SSL Inspection and SD-WAN Capabilities: Utilizes purpose-built security processor technology to provide the industry's highest SSL inspection performance and robust SD-WAN functionality for secure, high-speed network operations.
- Simple and Effective Management: Comes equipped with a user-friendly management console that supports comprehensive network automation and visibility, alongside Zero Touch Integration with Fortinet's Security Fabric for streamlined deployment.
- Advanced Security Features: Leverages continuous threat intelligence from AI-powered FortiGuard Labs, identifying and mitigating both known and unknown threats, enhancing security across all network traffic, whether encrypted or not.
Choose a management model the team can sustain
Assess who will configure, monitor, patch, and troubleshoot the replacement. Consider whether the business needs remote or multi-site management, what support is included, and how much day-to-day work the available staff can take on.
- Firewalla: The official product guide describes physical devices that can act as a main gateway or bridge an existing router. A mobile phone is required. Gold, Purple, and Purple SE need an additional access point for Wi-Fi, unless an existing router is set to bridge/AP mode. This is a different operational profile from choosing a centrally managed firewall ecosystem. Review the Firewalla product guide for deployment details.
- Sophos Firewall: Sophos documents a migration path from FortiGate and recommends training administrators before the change. Its migration center covers supported migration from FortiGate, SonicWall, and Palo Alto Networks to Sophos Firewall. Read the Sophos migration center.
These are candidates to evaluate, not tested or ranked winners. A vendor-authored page promoting a switch from Fortinet, such as SonicWall’s, is useful for understanding that vendor’s positioning but is not independent comparative evidence.
Rank #4
- SonicWall TZ270W Appliance Only - No Service Subscription (02-SSC-2823) - Combines enterprise-grade firewalling with integrated 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi to deliver secure wired and wireless connectivity in one compact device for small offices and clinics.
- Blocks zero-day threats and ransomware with Capture ATP sandboxing enhanced by RTDMI, plus IPS and anti-malware scanning for layered protection.
- Eliminates the need for separate access points in smaller spaces thanks to built-in high-speed wireless that is simple to deploy and manage.
- Supports VPN, SD-WAN, and TLS 1.3 decryption to secure hybrid cloud access and remote workers while maintaining usability and performance.
- Delivers gigabit performance with up to 750,000 concurrent connections to handle growth in users, devices, and SaaS applications.
Calculate the full cost of ownership
Compare costs over the same term and in the same region. Include the appliance, subscriptions or renewals, support, any required access points or switches, and the labor involved in migration and ongoing administration. A low hardware price does not establish a lower total cost if required services or companion equipment are extra.
Current region-specific totals and support or subscription quotes are not established here, so there is no evidence-based lowest-cost winner. Get quotes for the configuration and support level the business actually needs before deciding.
Plan migration as a network project
Replacing a firewall can affect more than its rules. Before a cutover, record the current configuration and identify the systems and users that depend on it. Sophos specifically recommends administrator training before migration; its guidance is available in the migration center.
- Inventory the existing setup: Document interfaces, VLANs, routes, firewall policies, VPNs, remote access, and dependent services or devices.
- Map required behavior: Identify which users, devices, and applications need access to which network segments and external services. Note exceptions and special rules instead of assuming that existing policies can be copied unchanged.
- Check migration support: Confirm which settings can be migrated and what needs to be configured or validated manually. Sophos documents migration from FortiGate; that is a vendor-supported path, not a guarantee that every configuration will transfer without adjustment.
- Prepare and test the replacement: Validate representative traffic, security controls, VPN connections, and remote access before relying on the new firewall in production.
- Schedule cutover and rollback: Choose a maintenance window, define how to verify essential services, and keep a practical route back to the previous configuration if the new setup fails.
Do not confuse migration tools that move configurations to FortiGate with a path away from it. FortiConverter is Fortinet’s service for migrating third-party firewall configurations to FortiGate; it does not demonstrate an automated migration path from FortiGate to another vendor. See FortiConverter’s product page.
Quick Recap
What to confirm before choosing
- Which concrete problem is the switch intended to solve?
- Do the required security functions come with the appliance, or do they add subscriptions?
- Can the replacement handle the business’s WAN rate and expected traffic with the relevant inspection enabled?
- Are its interfaces, VPN capabilities, segmentation, and management approach suitable for the existing network?
- What will the full cost be for the required hardware, renewals, support, companion equipment, and migration work?
- Who will administer the firewall, and can they get the training and support needed?
- Has the business documented a test plan, cutover window, and rollback route?
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
