m0n0wall vs OPNsense

Struggling to choose between m0n0wall and OPNsense? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

m0n0wall is a Network & Admin solution with tags like firewall, networking, security.

It boasts features such as Stateful packet inspection firewall, Traffic shaping and QoS, Captive portal, VPN capabilities, Web interface for configuration, Plugin architecture for extensibility and pros including Free and open source, Runs on commodity hardware, Regular updates and security patches, Good performance, Extensive documentation and community support.

On the other hand, OPNsense is a Network & Admin product tagged with open-source, firewall, routing, freebsd, packet-filtering, traffic-shaping, vpn, intrusion-detection, intrusion-prevention, centralized-logging, reporting.

Its standout features include Stateful packet filtering firewall, Traffic shaping and QoS, VPN capabilities (IPsec, OpenVPN, L2TP), Intrusion detection and prevention, Centralized logging and reporting, Web interface for configuration and management, Plugin architecture for extensibility, High availability with CARP protocol, Captive portal for guest networks, Traffic analysis and monitoring, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Regular updates and security fixes, Extensive documentation and community support, Highly customizable via plugins, Supports latest network standards and protocols, Performs well even on low-end hardware.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

m0n0wall

m0n0wall

m0n0wall is a free, open source firewall software that can turn old PCs into dedicated firewall appliances. It is based on FreeBSD and provides advanced networking and security features.

Categories:
firewall networking security

M0n0wall Features

  1. Stateful packet inspection firewall
  2. Traffic shaping and QoS
  3. Captive portal
  4. VPN capabilities
  5. Web interface for configuration
  6. Plugin architecture for extensibility

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Free and open source

Runs on commodity hardware

Regular updates and security patches

Good performance

Extensive documentation and community support

Cons

Limited scalability compared to commercial solutions

No official technical support

Requires some technical expertise to setup and manage

Lack of GUI can make configuration challenging for novices


OPNsense

OPNsense

OPNsense is an open source firewall and routing software based on FreeBSD. It features a stateful packet filtering firewall, traffic shaping, VPN capabilities, intrusion detection and prevention, and centralized logging and reporting.

Categories:
open-source firewall routing freebsd packet-filtering traffic-shaping vpn intrusion-detection intrusion-prevention centralized-logging reporting

OPNsense Features

  1. Stateful packet filtering firewall
  2. Traffic shaping and QoS
  3. VPN capabilities (IPsec, OpenVPN, L2TP)
  4. Intrusion detection and prevention
  5. Centralized logging and reporting
  6. Web interface for configuration and management
  7. Plugin architecture for extensibility
  8. High availability with CARP protocol
  9. Captive portal for guest networks
  10. Traffic analysis and monitoring

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Regular updates and security fixes

Extensive documentation and community support

Highly customizable via plugins

Supports latest network standards and protocols

Performs well even on low-end hardware

Cons

Steeper learning curve than commercial solutions

Lacks some features found in proprietary alternatives

Requires more hands-on management than UTM appliances

Plugin quality can vary