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Firewalla Purple vs Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against firewalls at a similar price

The Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway scores 5.9/10 overall, ahead of the Firewalla Purple at 5.7/10.

The Firewalla Purple leads on throughput.

The Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway leads on ports and networking, software and features and running costs.

They score the same on security record.

Firewalla Purple

Firewalla Purple

5.7/10verdict: good, not the best

Firewalla Purple is for home and small-office users who want an app-managed firewall on a gigabit connection. It suits people who want to avoid a monthly fee and keep power use low. The manufacturer's page says sales are paused, so availability needs checking first.

Typically about £300 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway

Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway

5.9/10verdict: good, not the best

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.

Typically about £436 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightFirewalla PurpleNetgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway
Throughput25%6/104/10
Ports and networking20%4/105/10
Software and features20%6/108/10
Security record20%5/105/10
Running costs15%8/109/10
Overall5.7/105.9/10

Specifications

SpecFirewalla PurpleNetgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway
Firewall / IPS throughput1 Gbps software packet processing (no separate IPS figure published)not listed
Ports2x 1 Gbit Ethernet (LAN, WAN) plus USB-C power portOne 1 GbE WAN (RJ45/SFP combo) plus four 1 GbE LAN ports, five total
SoftwareFirewalla OS, managed through a smartphone apppfSense Plus with lifetime upgrades
VPN throughputWireGuard 500 Mbps; OpenVPN 120 Mbps; one site-to-site connectionIPsec VPN, 254 Mbps iPerf3
Processor6-core 64-bit ARMMarvell Armada 3720 (88F3720) dual-core ARMv8-A Cortex-A53 at 1.2 GHz
Memory2048 MB4 GB DDR4, not expandable
Subscriptions neededNo monthly fee for standard features; paid apps for pro or business users may come laterNo subscription required for core software; TAC Lite included; TAC Professional $399/yr; TAC Enterprise $799/yr

Strengths and weaknesses

Firewalla Purple

  • + No monthly fee for standard features
  • + Owners praise low power use
  • + WireGuard, OpenVPN, VLANs and Geo-IP filtering listed
  • − Gigabit ports only; no 2.5GbE or SFP+
  • − No separate IPS throughput figure published
  • − Manufacturer says sales are paused

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need 2.5GbE or SFP+ ports
  • Anyone who needs a published IPS throughput figure before buying
  • Users who want more than 5 VLANs or several site-to-site VPN connections
Read the full Firewalla Purple review ›

Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway

  • + No subscription needed for core software
  • + Fanless, with an owner report of 6 W
  • + Near line-rate iPerf3 firewall throughput of 964 Mbps
  • − IMIX firewall throughput is only 249 Mbps
  • − IPS throughput is not published
  • − Five 1GbE ports only, no faster options listed

Skip it if:

  • Buyers wanting full gigabit throughput with IPS enabled
  • Anyone who needs 2.5GbE or SFP+ ports
  • Buyers who need more than five 1GbE ports without adding a switch
Read the full Netgate 2100 pfSense+ Security Gateway review ›

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