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Home > Cybersecurity > 5 best open-source firewalls

5 best open-source firewalls

Most organizations are relying on open-source firewalls and the community that develops these solutions due to the flexibility they offer.


Erdem Yasar Erdem Yasar
January 20, 2023
5 min read

Firewalls are one of the most important parts of a network security system. In simplest terms, a firewall is a digital wall placed between the internal and external networks. They are very important for protecting a network from a cyber threat. Firewalls both filter inbound and outbound traffic to provide comprehensive protection and decide which requests can pass and which ones get blocked.

Nowadays, most organizations are using open-source firewall solutions, and there is an important reason behind that. The term “open-source” is mostly related to free software, but it is not the main priority for many organizations to prefer open-source solutions. The source code of software distributed under an open-source license can be accessed and changed by the user.

It allows organizations to understand how the software works and more importantly change them to meet their needs, and basically turn them into purpose-built solutions. Thus, open-source firewalls offer features most organizations need and are free and adjustable. Also, open-source projects are developed and maintained by their communities, which almost eliminates the risk of reaching unexpected end-of-life.

Another significant benefit of open-source firewalls is that they can be deployed on any hardware, on virtual platforms, and cloud. Some of them are also coming with pre-configured appliances to make it even easier for organizations.

So let’s take a close look at some of the industry’s most popular open-source firewalls.

Table of Contents

  • Best open-source firewalls
    • pfSense
    • OPNsense
    • IPFire
    • ClearOS
    • Endian Firewall Community
  • FAQs
    • What is a firewall?
    • Why use open-source firewalls?
    • What criteria should I consider when selecting a firewall?
    • What is the difference between pfSense, OPNsense, and IPFire?
    • How do I choose the right firewall for my organization?

Best open-source firewalls

pfSense

pfsense logo

pfSense is an open-source and free version of FreeBSD, designed to be used as a firewall and a router. With its unified threat management, load balancing, and multi-WAN features, it is one of the most popular free open-source firewalls on the market.

Another reason for its popularity is its user-friendly web interface which makes administration much easier for users, especially for new beginners and those who have limited technical knowledge. Its UI can even handle software updates. pfSense can also support most hardware, including old ones and embedded systems. pfSense is updated and patched frequently to protect its users against known threats. pfSense is mostly configured as a DHCP server, DNS server, WiFi access point, and VPN server.

Official pfSense website


OPNsense

opnsense logo

OPNsense, developed by a Netherlands-based company Deciso, is a FreeBSD-based firewall and routing software. The project was started as a fork of pfSense and m0n0wall in 2014 and was initially released in January 2015. It offers most of the features included in commercial firewalls with the benefits of open-source.

OPNsense is also frequently updated to protect its users against the latest emerging threats. The release is based upon FreeBSD for long-term support along with the MVC framework based on Phalcon. It is also powered by Hardened BSD, a FreeBSD fork that focuses on security. Some of the most notable features of OPNsense are forward caching proxy, traffic shaping, intrusion detection, and easy OpenVPN client setup. It supports almost as much hardware as pfSense does.

Official OPNsense website


IPFire

ipfire logo

IPFire is a hardened and open-source Linux distro that focuses on security. It is capable of performing as a router and a firewall. It comes with a standalone firewall system and a web-based management console, which makes it easier for users to configure the firewall.

The IPFire project started as a fork of IPCop and allows users to add server services by installing add-ons. IPFire uses a Stateful Packet Inspection, built on top of the Linux packet filtering framework, Netfilter. Its Intrusion Prevention System analyzes network traffic to detect exploits, leaking data, and any other suspicious activity. It is also one of the easiest solutions to set up to be used as a firewall, proxy server, or VPN gateway. IPFire is known for being a lightweight solution and it is maintained by an online community, including thousands of developers.

Official IPFire website


ClearOS

clearos logo

ClearOS, developed by ClearFoundation, is a Linux distribution. The CentOS-based router OS is a unified threat management solution. With its add-ons referred to as applications, it offers over 120 functions, configurable with its web-based interface.

There are three versions of ClearOS, depending on the users’ needs: ClearOS Enterprise, ClearOS Home, and ClearOS Core. ClearOS’ free and fee-based applications and services are organized into 6 categories: Cloud, Gateway, Server, Networking, System, and Reports. Most popular applications include network and gateway applications such as firewalls, and Content filters along with server applications such as mail, media, and file/print.

Official ClearOS website


Endian Firewall Community

endian firewall community logo

Endian Firewall Community, developed by Endian, is a Linux security distribution. It performs as a gateway, router, and firewall that can act as a proxy for web, email, FTP, SIP, and DNS. The Unified Threat Management solution provides basic email and web security services.

The solution uses its Advanced Content Security backed by CYREN and Bitdefender Anti-malware Engine. Endian Firewall Community mainly focuses on usability and it is one of the most simple to install, use, and maintain solutions. Endian Firewall Community offers additional features, including commercial support, and access to the Endian Network.

Official Endian Firewall Community Website

FAQs

What is a firewall?

A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic, acting as a barrier between your network and the internet.

Why use open-source firewalls?

Open-source firewalls are free to use and can be customized and tailored to meet specific organizational needs, providing more control and flexibility than commercial solutions.

What criteria should I consider when selecting a firewall?

When selecting a firewall, consider factors such as the firewall’s features, ease of use, security, compatibility with existing systems, level of support, and community of users.

What is the difference between pfSense, OPNsense, and IPFire?

All three firewalls offer a wide range of features and are designed to be easy to use and secure. However, each firewall has its own unique set of features that may make it a better fit for your organization’s needs.

How do I choose the right firewall for my organization?

Consider your organization’s needs and requirements when selecting a firewall, and be sure to test and evaluate any firewall before deploying it in a production environment.

See more Cybersecurity News

A comprehensive guide to understanding Cybersecurity: What is Cybersecurity?


Tags: ClearOSEndian Firewall CommunityFirewallIPFireOPNsensepfSense
Erdem Yasar

Erdem Yasar

Erdem Yasar is a news editor at Cloud7. Erdem started his career by writing video game reviews in 2007 for PC World magazine while he was studying computer engineering. In the following years, he focused on software development with various programming languages. After his graduation, he continued to work as an editor for several major tech-related websites and magazines. During the 2010s, Erdem Yasar shifted his focus to cloud computing, hosting, and data centers as they were becoming more popular topics in the tech industry. Erdem Yasar also worked with various industry-leading tech companies as a content creator by writing blog posts and other articles. Prior to his role at Cloud7, Erdem was the managing editor of T3 Magazine.

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