Short Answer: OPNsense and pfSense are both open-source firewall solutions derived from FreeBSD. OPNsense prioritizes modern UX and frequent updates, while pfSense emphasizes stability and legacy hardware support. Choose OPNsense for intuitive dashboards and cutting-edge security protocols; opt for pfSense for enterprise-scale deployments and extensive documentation. Neither is universally “better”—selection depends on organizational needs and technical priorities.
What are the Best Mini PCs for Running AutoCAD Efficiently?
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Top 5 Mini PCs in 2025
| Rank | Model | Processor | RAM | Storage | Price | Action |
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| 1 | GEEKOM Mini IT12 (Best Performance) | Intel i5-12450H (8C/12T) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD | $379.00 | Check Price |
| 2 | GMKtec N150 (1TB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD | $191.99 | Check Price |
| 3 | KAMRUI GK3Plus (Budget Pick) | Intel N95 (3.4GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB M.2 SSD | $169.99 | Check Price |
| 4 | ACEMAGICIAN N150 (Cheapest 16GB) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD | $139.99 | Check Price |
| 5 | GMKtec N150 (512GB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe SSD | $168.99 | Check Price |
What Performance Differences Exist Between These Firewalls?
Third-party benchmarks reveal nuanced disparities. pfSense handles 18.4 Gbps throughput on Intel Xeon D-1500 systems using AES-NI acceleration, while OPNsense achieves 17.1 Gbps under identical conditions. However, OPNsense’s Suricata-based IDS consumes 23% less RAM during DDoS mitigation tests. For SMBs with sub-10Gbps connections, the difference is negligible—enterprise environments with custom ASICs may prefer pfSense’s BSD kernel optimizations.
| Metric | OPNsense | pfSense |
|---|---|---|
| Max Throughput | 17.1 Gbps | 18.4 Gbps |
| RAM Usage (DDoS) | 2.3 GB | 3.0 GB |
| NIC Drivers | 53 official | 87 official |
Recent testing with 40GbE network cards shows OPNsense closing the performance gap through optimized driver support. When using Mellanox ConnectX-6 adapters, both solutions achieve within 5% of each other’s throughput. However, pfSense maintains an edge in environments requiring deep packet inspection across 50+ simultaneous VLANs, particularly when using legacy PPPoE configurations.
Which Platform Offers Superior Security Features?
OPNsense introduced WireGuard VPN support 14 months before pfSense’s implementation. Both support IPsec/OpenVPN, but OPNsense’s TLS 1.3 adoption rate outpaces pfSense by 37% according to NetSec Foundation audits. pfSense counters with patented CARP failover protocols and FIPS 140-2 compliance for government contracts. Unique to OPNsense is its CrowdSec integration for crowd-sourced threat intelligence—blocking 19% more zero-day attacks in 2023 lab tests.
| Security Feature | OPNsense | pfSense |
|---|---|---|
| WireGuard Support | Since 2020 | Since 2022 |
| FIPS Compliance | No | Yes |
| Threat Intel Sources | 9 integrated | 5 integrated |
The emergence of quantum-resistant encryption prototypes gives OPNsense another temporary advantage, with experimental Kyber-768 implementations already available in testing branches. Both platforms now offer automated certificate management through Let’s Encrypt, but OPNsense’s ACME client supports DNS-01 challenges for 38 cloud providers compared to pfSense’s 12.
“The OPNsense/pfSense divide mirrors the CentOS/RHEL dynamic. OPNsense’s embrace of Ansible automation and API-first design appeals to cloud-native adopters, while pfSense’s deterministic packet filtering remains unmatched for industrial control systems. Smart organizations now deploy both—using OPNsense for east-west microsegmentation and pfSense as perimeter guardians.”
— Dr. Elena Vrabie, Network Security Architect (ISC² Board Member)
FAQs: OPNsense vs pfSense
- Can both firewalls integrate with Azure AD?
- OPNsense supports native SAML 2.0 integration; pfSense requires paid HAProxy add-on ($299) for Azure AD federation.
- Which platform better supports multi-WAN load balancing?
- pfSense’s gateway groups offer 12 balancing algorithms vs OPNsense’s 8, but OPNsense adds latency-based failover (sub-15ms thresholding).
- Are there hidden costs for enterprise features?
- pfSense charges for ACME implementation and global load balancing. OPNsense monetizes through professional plugins (GeoIP blocking starts at €180/year).