pfSense vs ZeroShell

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

pfSense is a Network & Admin solution with tags like firewall, router, networking, open-source.

It boasts features such as Stateful packet filtering firewall, Network Address Translation (NAT), Virtual Private Network (VPN) capabilities, Traffic shaping and quotas, Captive portal, High availability with CARP, Package system for adding functionality and pros including Free and open source, Wide range of features, Extensible through packages, Runs on commodity hardware, Regular security updates.

On the other hand, ZeroShell is a Network & Admin product tagged with networking, router, firewall, vpn, dhcp, dns.

Its standout features include Routing, Firewall, VPN, Web server, DHCP server, DNS server, Captive portal, and it shines with pros like Open source, Lightweight, Can run on old hardware, Useful for small networks and testing environments.

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.

pfSense

pfSense

pfSense is a free, open source firewall and router platform based on FreeBSD. It has a wide range of features including traffic shaping, captive portal, VPN capabilities, and packages that add functionality.

Categories:
firewall router networking open-source

PfSense Features

  1. Stateful packet filtering firewall
  2. Network Address Translation (NAT)
  3. Virtual Private Network (VPN) capabilities
  4. Traffic shaping and quotas
  5. Captive portal
  6. High availability with CARP
  7. Package system for adding functionality

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Wide range of features

Extensible through packages

Runs on commodity hardware

Regular security updates

Cons

Complex interface for beginners

Requires technical knowledge to setup and manage

Limited official support options


ZeroShell

ZeroShell

ZeroShell is an open source network device with features including routing, firewall, VPN, web server, DHCP server, DNS server, captive portal, and more. It is lightweight and can run on old hardware, making it useful for small networks and testing environments.

Categories:
networking router firewall vpn dhcp dns

ZeroShell Features

  1. Routing
  2. Firewall
  3. VPN
  4. Web server
  5. DHCP server
  6. DNS server
  7. Captive portal

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Open source

Lightweight

Can run on old hardware

Useful for small networks and testing environments

Cons

Limited documentation and community support

Missing some advanced features found in commercial solutions