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Networking · head to head

Ivanti vs pfSense

Ivanti logo

Ivanti

Networking

Security, service management, and unified endpoint management

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
pfSense logo

pfSense

Networking

Open source firewall software with a free Community Edition and a separate commercial Plus edition sold by Netgate

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only pfSense has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Ivanti no pricing information published - enterprise custom pricing required; pfSense pfSense CE and pfSense Plus are not simply the same software with a support contract layered on top; Plus is a separately developed edition with its own feature set, and moving between them is a migration, not a toggle
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ivanti and pfSense actually diverge.

Attributes where Ivanti and pfSense differ
AttributeIvantipfSense
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteOpen source Community Edition, free; commercial Plus edition sold separately by Netgate
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebLinux

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Networking).

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 Ivanti

Nothing recorded that pfSense does not also cover.

Only in pfSense

  • Stateful firewall and NAT
  • VPN support
  • Traffic shaping and QoS
  • Package ecosystem
  • CE and Plus editions

What people use each for

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

Ivanti

  • Controlling device compliance and patches for remote workforcesnot pfSense
  • Automating service ticketing and change processes at enterprise scalenot pfSense
  • Enforcing device compliance before network access in regulated industriesnot pfSense
  • Prioritizing vulnerability patches by risk levelnot pfSense
  • Enabling passwordless zero-trust access without VPN infrastructurenot pfSense

pfSense

  • A home user or small business wanting a free, fully-featured firewall on commodity hardware with no licence costnot Ivanti
  • A business wanting an integrated firewall appliance with vendor support, typically buying a Netgate appliance bundled with pfSense Plusnot Ivanti
  • A team wanting to evaluate advanced features like real-time threat intelligence before committing to Netgate hardware or a Plus migrationnot Ivanti
  • An organisation replacing an expensive commercial firewall with an open source alternative while retaining the option to add commercial support laternot Ivanti

Where each one falls short

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

Ivanti

  • no pricing information published - enterprise custom pricing required

pfSense

  • pfSense CE and pfSense Plus are not simply the same software with a support contract layered on top; Plus is a separately developed edition with its own feature set, and moving between them is a migration, not a toggle
  • Running Plus on non-Netgate hardware depends on Netgate's current migration terms, which have changed over time, so a buyer planning to use white-box hardware with Plus should verify current eligibility rather than assume it works as it did previously
  • CE has no official vendor support channel; a business relying on it for production firewalling without a support contract is self-supporting on community forums
  • Some newer features and threat intelligence integrations are Plus-only, so CE users do not get feature parity going forward even though both editions remain under active development
  • Netgate's own appliance pricing and the terms of the CE-to-Plus migration path are not always clearly presented in one place, requiring some digging to understand the real total cost of a Plus deployment on non-Netgate hardware
  • As with any self-managed firewall, security depends on the operator applying updates and correctly configuring rules; there is no managed security operations layer included even in Plus

Pricing, plan by plan

Ivanti

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Ivanti review.

pfSense

Free
  • pfSense CEFree
    • Full firewall and routing functionality
    • No vendor lock-in to hardware
    • Community support
  • pfSense Plus (via Netgate appliance)$undefined/one-time
    • Bundled with Netgate hardware appliances from around $189
    • Threat intelligence feeds
    • Certified support tiers

Which should you pick?

Choose Ivanti if

Nothing in the data separates Ivanti from pfSense on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Ivanti review

Choose pfSense if

  • You need stateful firewall and nat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux.
  • You also want vpn support.
pfSense review

Questions people ask

Is Ivanti or pfSense better?
Neither clearly leads. Ivanti starts at On request and pfSense at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ivanti or pfSense?
pfSense has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Ivanti and Free for pfSense.
Does Ivanti or pfSense run on more platforms?
Ivanti runs on Web. pfSense runs on Linux.
Can I use pfSense for free?
Yes. pfSense has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ivanti starts at On request.
What is Ivanti best used for?
Ivanti is most often used for controlling device compliance and patches for remote workforces, automating service ticketing and change processes at enterprise scale, enforcing device compliance before network access in regulated industries, prioritizing vulnerability patches by risk level. Of those, controlling device compliance and patches for remote workforces and automating service ticketing and change processes at enterprise scale are not what pfSense is typically brought in for.
What can Ivanti do that pfSense cannot?
pfSense covers Stateful firewall and NAT, VPN support, Traffic shaping and QoS, Package ecosystem.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ivanti: How much does Ivanti cost?

Ivanti does not publish pricing on their website. As an enterprise solution, pricing is customized based on organizational needs. Contact Ivanti through their website to request a demo and pricing information.

Source
pfSense: What is the difference between pfSense CE and pfSense Plus?

CE is the free, open source edition installable on any compatible hardware; Plus is a commercial edition from Netgate with additional features and support, typically bundled with Netgate appliances.

pfSense: Can I run pfSense Plus on my own hardware?

It is possible through a migration from a CE installation via Netgate's official channel, but the terms and availability of that path have changed over time and should be confirmed directly with Netgate.

pfSense: Is pfSense CE really free with no catch?

Yes, CE has no licence fee and no hardware lock-in, though it comes with community rather than vendor support.

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