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Cybersecurity · head to head

Dahua Technology vs Fortinet FortiGate

Dahua Technology logo

Dahua Technology

Cybersecurity

Large Chinese video platform that US federal buyers and federal contractors cannot lawfully use

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fortinet FortiGate logo

Fortinet FortiGate

Cybersecurity

Next-generation firewall with AI-powered threat protection

From
$500/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Dahua Technology dahua is named under NDAA Section 889 and listed on the FCC Covered List, so the US federal government cannot procure its video surveillance equipment and cannot contract with entities that use it, which disqualifies most organisations with any federal contracting ambition regardless of how good the software is.; 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: Dahua Technology covers DSS Pro V8, Fortinet FortiGate covers Next-generation firewall.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dahua Technology and Fortinet FortiGate actually diverge.

Attributes where Dahua Technology and Fortinet FortiGate differ
AttributeDahua TechnologyFortinet FortiGate
Starting priceOn request$500/year
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Linux, Web, iOS, AndroidHardware, Virtual, Cloud
FoundedUnknown2000

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Dahua Technology

  • DSS Pro V8
  • Distributed architecture
  • DeepXplore
  • Access management
  • Parking Lot application
  • Intelligent Analysis
  • Maintenance Center
  • DMSS mobile app

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

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Dahua Technology

  • A private industrial site outside the United States with no federal or defence supply chain exposurenot Fortinet FortiGate
  • A large-channel-count deployment in a market where Section 889 and the FCC Covered List do not applynot Fortinet FortiGate
  • An existing Dahua estate authorised before February 2023 being maintained rather than expandednot Fortinet FortiGate
  • A buyer who has taken written legal advice confirming no federal contracting exposure now or in futurenot Fortinet FortiGate

Fortinet FortiGate

  • Next-generation firewalling at data centre, campus and branch scalenot Dahua Technology
  • Secure SD-WAN across distributed sitesnot Dahua Technology
  • Zero trust network access to internal applicationsnot Dahua Technology
  • Virtual firewalls in AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and Oraclenot Dahua Technology
  • Ruggedised deployments in industrial environmentsnot Dahua Technology

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Dahua Technology

  • Dahua is named under NDAA Section 889 and listed on the FCC Covered List, so the US federal government cannot procure its video surveillance equipment and cannot contract with entities that use it, which disqualifies most organisations with any federal contracting ambition regardless of how good the software is.
  • Rules adopted by the FCC in late 2025 gave the Commission authority to revoke equipment authorisations already granted, so equipment that is legal to sell today may not be tomorrow and a multi-year rollout carries regulatory risk the vendor cannot indemnify.
  • Sourcing has degraded sharply: new equipment, replacement parts and system expansions are increasingly difficult to obtain through compliant US distribution and major retailers have removed listings, so an installed estate faces a spares problem long before end of life.
  • Any organisation that later wins or bids for federal work, or supplies a federal contractor, must audit and replace Dahua equipment across all its facilities under Section 889(a)(1)(B), turning a cheap installation into an expensive forced rip-out.
  • Beyond procurement law, insurers, auditors and enterprise customers increasingly treat Chinese-manufactured surveillance as a supply chain finding in its own right, so the reputational cost lands even where the legal prohibition does not.

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

Dahua Technology

On request
  • DSS Pro V8$undefined/year
    • Base video licence covering 16 channels, required before adding more
    • Additional video channel licences purchased per channel
    • Access control, video intercom and parking licensed separately

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 Dahua Technology if

  • You need dss pro v8.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want distributed architecture.
Dahua Technology review

Choose Fortinet FortiGate if

  • You need next-generation firewall.
  • You work on Hardware, Virtual, Cloud.
  • You also want intrusion prevention.
Fortinet FortiGate review

Questions people ask

Is Dahua Technology or Fortinet FortiGate better?
Neither clearly leads. Dahua Technology starts at On request and Fortinet FortiGate at $500/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dahua Technology or Fortinet FortiGate?
Dahua Technology starts at On request and Fortinet FortiGate at $500/year.
Does Dahua Technology or Fortinet FortiGate run on more platforms?
Dahua Technology runs on Windows, Linux, Web, iOS, Android. Fortinet FortiGate runs on Hardware, Virtual, Cloud.
What is Dahua Technology best used for?
Dahua Technology is most often used for a private industrial site outside the united states with no federal or defence supply chain exposure, a large-channel-count deployment in a market where section 889 and the fcc covered list do not apply, an existing dahua estate authorised before february 2023 being maintained rather than expanded, a buyer who has taken written legal advice confirming no federal contracting exposure now or in future. Of those, a private industrial site outside the united states with no federal or defence supply chain exposure and a large-channel-count deployment in a market where section 889 and the fcc covered list do not apply are not what Fortinet FortiGate is typically brought in for.
What can Dahua Technology do that Fortinet FortiGate cannot?
Dahua Technology covers DSS Pro V8, Distributed architecture, DeepXplore, Access management. Fortinet FortiGate covers Next-generation firewall, Intrusion prevention, SSL/TLS inspection, Application control.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dahua Technology: Can a US federal agency buy Dahua?

No. Dahua is explicitly named under NDAA Section 889, so federal agencies cannot procure or obtain its video surveillance equipment, including OEM-rebadged versions.

Fortinet 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).

Source
Dahua Technology: Can a private US company use Dahua cameras?

Section 889 does not directly regulate private companies without federal contracts, and existing installations are not required to be removed. But the moment the company bids for federal work or supplies a federal contractor, Section 889(a)(1)(B) makes the installed equipment a problem.

Fortinet 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.

Source
Dahua Technology: Is existing Dahua equipment banned?

No. The prohibition on new authorisations does not apply retroactively to equipment authorised before February 2023, and legacy systems may remain in use. New purchases and expansions are the restricted part.

Fortinet 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.

Source
Dahua Technology: Is Dahua available outside the United States?

Yes, and it remains one of the two largest manufacturers globally, though a number of other countries have introduced their own restrictions on government use.

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