Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›
all judged against firewalls at a similar priceThe Firewalla Gold Plus scores 6.8/10 overall, ahead of the Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway at 5.9/10.
The Firewalla Gold Plus leads on throughput and ports and networking.
The Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway leads on software and features and running costs.
They score the same on security record.
The biggest difference is throughput, where the Firewalla Gold Plus scores 8/10 to the Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway's 4/10.
The Firewalla Gold Plus is for buyers who want a dedicated firewall with four 2.5GbE ports and IDS/IPS. It suits people who are happy to run Firewalla's own Linux-based OS. It is a poor match for anyone who needs built-in Wi-Fi, SFP+ or a low upfront cost.
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The Netgate 2100 is for people who want a supported, fanless pfSense Plus firewall for a small office or home network. It suits those who value low running costs and a no-subscription core over inspection headroom. Buyers planning IPS on a full gigabit line should check the throughput evidence first.
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| Criterion | Weight | Firewalla Gold Plus | Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throughput | 25% | 8/10 | 4/10 |
| Ports and networking | 20% | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Software and features | 20% | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Security record | 20% | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Running costs | 15% | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Overall | 6.8/10 | 5.9/10 |
| Spec | Firewalla Gold Plus | Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall / IPS throughput | 5 Gbit software packet processing | not listed |
| Ports | 4 x 2.5 Gbit RJ45 plus a console port; no SFP+ | One 1 GbE WAN (RJ45/SFP combo) plus four 1 GbE LAN ports, five total |
| Software | Firewalla's own Linux-based OS | pfSense Plus with lifetime upgrades |
| VPN throughput | WireGuard 500 Mbps; OpenVPN 120 Mbps | IPsec VPN, 254 Mbps iPerf3 |
| Processor | Quad-core 64-bit Intel CPU | Marvell Armada 3720 (88F3720) dual-core ARMv8-A Cortex-A53 at 1.2 GHz |
| Memory | 4 GB DDR RAM, 32 GB storage | 4 GB DDR4, not expandable |
| Subscriptions needed | No subscription needed for core features; optional MSP web interface costs $40 per year | No subscription required for core software; TAC Lite included; TAC Professional $399/yr; TAC Enterprise $799/yr |
Skip it if:
Skip it if: