Cybersecurity · head to head
CrowdStrike Falcon vs Fortinet FortiGate
CrowdStrike Falcon
Cybersecurity
Stop breaches with AI-native cybersecurity
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Fortinet FortiGate
Cybersecurity
Next-generation firewall with AI-powered threat protection
- From
- $500/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only CrowdStrike Falcon has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: CrowdStrike Falcon falcon Go device limit: capped at 100 devices maximum, forcing mid-market/enterprise customers to upgrade despite lower cost; Fortinet FortiGate security services are sold as separate FortiGuard subscription bundles, so ATP, UTP and ENT determine which protections are actually active
- They diverge on capability: CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus, Fortinet FortiGate covers Next-generation firewall.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 2 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CrowdStrike Falcon and Fortinet FortiGate actually diverge.
| Attribute | CrowdStrike Falcon | Fortinet FortiGate |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $500/year |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Hardware, Virtual, Cloud |
| Founded | 2011 | 2000 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in CrowdStrike Falcon
- Next-gen antivirus
- Endpoint detection and response
- Threat intelligence
- IT hygiene
- USB device control
- Firewall management
- Threat graph
- Real-time response
Only in Fortinet FortiGate
- Next-generation firewall
- Intrusion prevention
- SSL/TLS inspection
- Application control
- Web filtering
- SD-WAN
- Zero-trust network access
- AI-powered threat detection
Both cover
- AWS
- Azure
- Google Cloud
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Endpoint detection and response for enterprise cybersecuritynot Fortinet FortiGate
- Malware prevention and threat huntingnot Fortinet FortiGate
- Managed detection and response (MDR) servicesnot Fortinet FortiGate
Fortinet FortiGate
- Next-generation firewalling at data centre, campus and branch scalenot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Secure SD-WAN across distributed sitesnot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Zero trust network access to internal applicationsnot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Virtual firewalls in AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and Oraclenot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Ruggedised deployments in industrial environmentsnot CrowdStrike Falcon
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Falcon Go device limit: capped at 100 devices maximum, forcing mid-market/enterprise customers to upgrade despite lower cost
- EDR locked behind Enterprise tier: endpoint detection and response available only at $19.99/device/month tier; not available in Pro
- Managed service pricing opaque: Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR requires contacting sales; no pricing range for 24/7 MDR services published
- Annual discount modest: 17-24% savings on annual vs. monthly create minimal incentive to prepay
Fortinet FortiGate
- Security services are sold as separate FortiGuard subscription bundles, so ATP, UTP and ENT determine which protections are actually active
- Throughput is tied to the appliance model, from 500 Mbps on the FortiGate 30G to 520 Gbps on the 7121F, so capacity planning is a hardware purchase
- Pricing is not published and goes through partners
Pricing, plan by plan
CrowdStrike Falcon
Free- Falcon Go$undefined/mo
- Falcon Pro$undefined/mo
- Falcon Enterprise$undefined/mo
- Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR$undefined/mo
Fortinet FortiGate
$500/year- FortiGate Entry$500/year
- Basic firewall
- VPN support
- Threat protection
- FortiGate Enterprise$2500/year
- Advanced threat protection
- SSL inspection
- Application control
- FortiGate Ultimate$10000/year
- All Enterprise features
- Zero-trust access
- AI-powered analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose CrowdStrike Falcon if
- You need next-gen antivirus.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want endpoint detection and response.
Choose Fortinet FortiGate if
- You need next-generation firewall.
- You work on Hardware, Virtual, Cloud.
- You also want intrusion prevention.
Questions people ask
- Is CrowdStrike Falcon or Fortinet FortiGate better?
- Neither clearly leads. CrowdStrike Falcon starts at Free and Fortinet FortiGate at $500/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CrowdStrike Falcon or Fortinet FortiGate?
- CrowdStrike Falcon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CrowdStrike Falcon and $500/year for Fortinet FortiGate.
- Does CrowdStrike Falcon or Fortinet FortiGate run on more platforms?
- CrowdStrike Falcon runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Fortinet FortiGate runs on Hardware, Virtual, Cloud.
- Can I use CrowdStrike Falcon for free?
- Yes. CrowdStrike Falcon has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fortinet FortiGate starts at $500/year.
- What is CrowdStrike Falcon best used for?
- CrowdStrike Falcon is most often used for endpoint detection and response for enterprise cybersecurity, malware prevention and threat hunting, managed detection and response (mdr) services. Of those, endpoint detection and response for enterprise cybersecurity and malware prevention and threat hunting are not what Fortinet FortiGate is typically brought in for.
- What can CrowdStrike Falcon do that Fortinet FortiGate cannot?
- CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus, Endpoint detection and response, Threat intelligence, IT hygiene. Fortinet FortiGate covers Next-generation firewall, Intrusion prevention, SSL/TLS inspection, Application control. Both handle AWS, Azure, Google Cloud.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
CrowdStrike Falcon: How much does CrowdStrike Falcon cost per device?
Falcon Go costs $7.99/device/month ($59.99/year), Falcon Pro costs $14.99/device/month ($99.99/year), and Falcon Enterprise costs $19.99/device/month ($184.99/year).
SourceFortinet FortiGate: What are the FortiGate security bundle options?
Fortinet offers three FortiGuard AI-Powered Security Services bundles: ENT Bundle (ultimate security for networks, web, file, SaaS, data, and devices), UTP Bundle (advanced web and network protection), and ATP Bundle (protection against network intrusions and malware with IPS, antivirus, and application control).
SourceCrowdStrike Falcon: What is the device limit for Falcon Go?
Falcon Go is limited to a maximum of 100 devices. Organizations with more than 100 devices must upgrade to Pro or Enterprise tiers.
SourceFortinet FortiGate: How do I get pricing for FortiGate?
Pricing is not published on the product page. To obtain a quote, you can request a free product demo or connect with a security expert through the contact options on the site.
SourceCrowdStrike Falcon: What is the difference between Falcon Pro and Enterprise?
Falcon Pro ($14.99/device/month) includes firewall management and advanced device control. Falcon Enterprise ($19.99/device/month) adds endpoint detection and response (EDR), threat hunting services, and expert threat intelligence.
SourceFortinet FortiGate: Is there a free trial for FortiGate?
The product page does not mention a free trial. However, Fortinet offers a free product demo that allows you to evaluate the solution before committing to a purchase.
SourceCrowdStrike Falcon: How much does the managed detection and response service cost?
Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR pricing is custom. It provides 24/7 expert-led detection and response with AI acceleration and continuous investigations by expert threat teams. Contact CrowdStrike sales for a quote.
SourceRelated pages
More on CrowdStrike Falcon
More on Fortinet FortiGate
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