List of the Top 15 Firewall Software for Linux in 2025

Heimdal® Endpoint Detection and Response is our exclusive multi-faceted service that offers exceptional capabilities for prevention, threat hunting, and remediation. This service integrates the most cutting-edge threat-hunting technologies available, including Heimdal Next-Gen Antivirus, Heimdal Privileged Access Management, Heimdal Application Control, Heimdal Ransomware Encryption Protection, Heimdal Patch & Asset Management, and Heimdal Threat Prevention. With six modules functioning together harmoniously under a single platform and agent, Heimdal Endpoint Detection and Response provides comprehensive cybersecurity layers necessary for safeguarding your organization against both familiar and unfamiliar online and internal threats. Our advanced product enables rapid and precise responses to complex malware, ensuring that your digital assets are protected while also maintaining your organization's reputation. By consolidating these capabilities, we deliver an efficient solution that addresses the evolving challenges of cybersecurity effectively.

To effectively combat ransomware, IT professionals must implement strategies that go beyond merely monitoring for threats. ThreatLocker offers a solution by minimizing attack surfaces through policy-driven endpoint security, shifting the focus from just blocking recognized threats to preventing anything that isn’t expressly permitted. By incorporating features like Ringfencing and other robust controls, organizations can bolster their Zero Trust framework and effectively thwart attacks that exploit existing resources. Explore the comprehensive suite of ThreatLocker’s Zero Trust endpoint security solutions, which includes Allowlisting, Ringfencing, Elevation Control, Storage Control, Network Access Control, Unified Audit, ThreatLocker Ops, Community, Configuration Manager, and Health Center, to enhance your cybersecurity posture today. This proactive approach not only safeguards your network but also empowers your team to maintain greater control over security protocols.

Kamatera offers robust cloud firewall solutions designed to safeguard cloud servers and private networks from cyber threats. Our team of cloud security professionals is adept at configuring firewalls and continuously monitoring server activities in real-time. By thoroughly analyzing and filtering data packets, we effectively identify their source, destination, and content, ensuring that only verified and authorized packets gain access to your servers. Our cloud firewalls provide a comprehensive, all-in-one security solution, compatible with a variety of virtual appliances to ensure extensive protection. Additionally, Kamatera's cloud firewalls can serve as a hardware-based VPN server, managing all network traffic and negating the need for separate VPN services. With their flexibility and limitless scalability, our cybersecurity offerings cater to individuals, small to medium-sized businesses, and large enterprises alike. One cloud firewall is capable of securing your entire cloud infrastructure, making it an ideal choice for various organizational needs.

Imunify360 offers comprehensive security solutions tailored for web-hosting servers. Beyond merely functioning as antivirus software and a web application firewall, Imunify360 integrates an Intrusion Prevention and Detection system along with a specialized web application firewall, real-time antivirus protection, and patch management features into a cohesive security package. This innovative suite is designed to be fully automated, providing users with an intuitive dashboard that presents all relevant statistics clearly. In addition, Imunify360 continuously updates its protective measures to adapt to emerging threats, ensuring that web-hosting environments remain secure at all times.

NextDNS provides extensive protection against a variety of security threats by efficiently blocking ads and trackers on websites and apps, all while ensuring a safe and monitored internet experience for children across all devices and networks. You have the ability to evaluate your security requirements and personalize your protection by enabling more than ten distinct safety features. By integrating trustworthy threat intelligence feeds that encompass millions of malicious domains and are continually updated, you can significantly fortify your defense strategies. Our system surpasses conventional tracking methods by analyzing DNS queries and responses in real time, which facilitates the rapid detection and prevention of harmful activities. Since there is often a narrow timeframe of just hours between the registration of a domain and its potential use in an attack, our sophisticated threat intelligence framework is specifically designed to identify harmful domains more effectively than conventional security measures. Furthermore, by utilizing the most popular ad and tracker blocklists that feature millions of constantly updated domains, you can successfully eliminate ads and trackers from both websites and applications, including the most advanced ones. In summary, NextDNS equips users with the necessary tools to create a customized and safer browsing environment that meets their individual security needs, thereby enhancing overall online experience.

A multilayered endpoint security system that employs behavior-based analysis provides powerful protection against both known and new threats. It ensures thorough real-time monitoring of your entire software ecosystem, no matter where it is located. Designed specifically for small to medium-sized businesses, the FortiClient endpoint protection service is offered through the cloud. This integrated endpoint protection platform features automated next-generation threat defense, allowing for visibility and control over your software and hardware assets within the larger security infrastructure. It facilitates the detection and correction of vulnerable or compromised systems across your attack surface, enhancing overall safety. As a vital part of the Fortinet Security Fabric, FortiClient links endpoints to improve the early detection and prevention of complex threats. Security incidents, such as zero-day malware attacks, botnet discoveries, and identified vulnerabilities, are relayed in real time. By adopting this all-encompassing strategy, the solution not only protects your assets but also simplifies the management of security protocols, ensuring a more secure operational environment. Furthermore, this proactive approach enables organizations to stay ahead of potential threats, fostering a culture of resilience against cyber risks.

IPFire is a robust and secure Open Source firewall operating on the Linux platform. It is designed with a user-friendly interface, offering outstanding performance in various settings and flexibility that accommodates a diverse user base. Focusing on security as its primary goal, IPFire is built to protect against online threats while also ensuring that your network is shielded from potential breaches. The firewall features a powerful engine along with an integrated intrusion prevention system, both of which collaborate effectively to defend your network against cyber attacks and denial-of-service incidents. Created as free software through the efforts of a collaborative community, IPFire enjoys the confidence of hundreds of thousands of users around the world. Its main objective is to deliver maximum security while allowing for straightforward configuration to set up a firewall that efficiently prevents unauthorized access. IPFire's default configuration organizes the network into separate zones, such as LAN and DMZ, each equipped with specific security policies that facilitate effective risk management and enable tailored configurations to meet unique needs. This intentional architecture significantly boosts the overall security of any network utilizing IPFire, providing peace of mind to its users.

Our Linux virtual machines streamline cloud infrastructure while offering a comprehensive suite of tools designed to facilitate faster and more efficient development, deployment, and scaling of modern applications. Linode is committed to ensuring that virtual computing is a catalyst for cloud innovation, emphasizing the need for it to be accessible, affordable, and user-friendly. With our infrastructure-as-a-service platform available across 11 global markets from strategically located data centers, we leverage our Next Generation Network, advanced APIs, extensive services, and a rich repository of educational materials to support users. By combining Linode's products, services, and knowledgeable staff, developers and businesses are empowered to create, deploy, and scale applications in the cloud with greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness, ultimately driving forward their technological aspirations. Additionally, our focus on continuous improvement ensures that users have access to the latest advancements in cloud technology.

The pfSense initiative offers a cost-free network firewall solution, built upon the FreeBSD operating system and featuring a tailored kernel. Additionally, it encompasses various third-party open-source software packages. Thanks to its package management system, pfSense can deliver functionalities that rival or exceed those of standard commercial firewalls, all without any imposed restrictions. As a result, it has supplanted numerous leading commercial firewalls in installations worldwide, such as those from Check Point, Cisco PIX, Cisco ASA, and Juniper, demonstrating its growing popularity and reliability in the cybersecurity landscape. This shift reflects the increasing trust users place in open-source solutions for their network security needs.

Fortinet emerges as a key global player in the cybersecurity sector, notable for its comprehensive and integrated approach to safeguarding digital infrastructures, devices, and applications. Founded in 2000, the organization provides a wide range of products and services, including firewalls, endpoint protection, intrusion prevention systems, and secure access solutions. A cornerstone of its offerings is the Fortinet Security Fabric, a unified platform that seamlessly combines various security tools to enhance visibility, automation, and provide real-time threat intelligence across the entire network. Renowned for its dependability among businesses, government agencies, and service providers worldwide, Fortinet prioritizes innovation, scalability, and performance, thereby reinforcing its defenses against the constantly shifting landscape of cyber threats. In addition to its protective capabilities, Fortinet’s dedication to enabling digital transformation and ensuring business continuity highlights its essential role within the cybersecurity landscape, positioning itself as a trusted partner for organizations striving to navigate modern security challenges effectively. With a focus on proactive measures and cutting-edge solutions, Fortinet continues to adapt and evolve to meet the demands of an increasingly complex digital world.

Conventional packet filters are slowly losing relevance as the trend shifts towards Next-Generation Firewalls, even among open-source solutions. Among these, OPNsense emerges as a prominent choice, offering features such as intrusion detection, application management, web filtering, and antivirus protection. Every network, regardless of scale, faces threats; even devices in domestic settings, like smartwatches and washing machines, are vulnerable and require strong security protocols. Firewalls are essential components of a holistic security approach, providing protection against both traditional and novel threats. To ensure a firewall's effectiveness, it is crucial to have a thorough understanding of its features, make sure it is user-friendly, and position it strategically within the network. OPNsense meets these vital criteria through various functionalities, making it a formidable solution. This book is designed to be an essential resource for those interested in grasping, installing, and configuring an OPNsense firewall efficiently. By delving into the complexities of OPNsense, users can significantly enhance their digital security posture. Additionally, the insights provided will empower individuals to navigate the evolving landscape of cybersecurity with confidence.

Data represents the most crucial asset for any organization, making its protection paramount. Embracing a zero-trust philosophy is essential for network security, as it necessitates skepticism towards all users, whether they are external or internal. The landscape of network security is increasingly challenging due to the merging of network boundaries and the steady rise of numerous endpoints. Additionally, the sophistication of cyberattacks has escalated with the introduction of machine learning and automated methods. To safeguard their information in both hybrid cloud and on-premises settings, companies are transitioning towards cloud solutions that do not introduce extra costs or complexities. A significant advancement in achieving secure environments lies in the integration of micro-segmentation alongside real-time network governance. By selecting the appropriate software solutions, organizations can enhance their security posture through effective automation and data management. Furthermore, ditno is a cybersecurity management platform that provides a zero-trust network framework, facilitating enhanced security while streamlining processes. This approach not only fortifies defenses but also promotes a culture of vigilance within the organization.

Open-source software combined with a universal router plays a crucial role in making network access more equitable for all. VyOS aims to transform the way individuals connect to networks, empowering them to create the solutions they envision without facing constraints, limitations, or exorbitant costs. We assert that access to the internet is as vital for human progress as essential resources like food, water, air, and healthcare. Founded by engineers with a passion for innovation, VyOS stands as an open-source company dedicated to facilitating unrestricted network access without financial barriers. Our mission is realized through VyOS, leveraging our open-source software and virtual platforms to provide robust solutions. We offer features such as stateful firewalls, zone-based firewalls, and various types of NAT, including one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many configurations. Moreover, our commitment extends to transparency, allowing users to engage in auditing, create customized images, and contribute to the development, with full access to the entire codebase and build toolchain available to all. This collaborative approach not only enhances security but also fosters a community of innovation and shared knowledge.

CrowdSec is a collaborative and open-source intrusion prevention system that not only analyzes behavioral patterns but also effectively responds to attacks while sharing valuable intelligence within its community. With a larger presence than cybercriminals, it empowers users to develop personalized intrusion detection systems by employing behavioral scenarios to detect potential threats. Users can take advantage of a crowdsourced and curated cyber threat intelligence platform to enhance their security measures. Additionally, you can specify the types of remediation actions you want to implement and utilize the community's IP blocklist to automate your protective strategies. CrowdSec is versatile and can be deployed on various platforms, including containers, virtual machines, bare metal servers, or even directly through our API. By working together, our cybersecurity community is actively dismantling the anonymity of cybercriminals, which is a significant advantage we hold. Contributing to this effort is easy, as you can share IP addresses that have caused you trouble to help build and maintain an effective IP blocklist for everyone’s benefit. Notably, CrowdSec's capability to process extensive logs is remarkably efficient, outperforming Fail2ban by a factor of 60, which makes it an indispensable tool in the fight against cyber threats. Through collective effort and shared intelligence, we can create a safer digital environment for all users.

AP Lens serves as a Sandbox browser that enhances network security through DNS Whitelisting, effectively thwarting attacks before they infiltrate your systems. What advantages does AP Lens provide? Web Filtering: Offers a versatile and intuitive way to block unwanted content. Anti-Phishing: Eliminates the risk of similar-looking domains with complete accuracy. Ransomware Defense: Shields your network from cybercriminals while ensuring business applications remain unaffected. Secure Remote Work: Implements VPN technology to uphold internet usage policies. AP Lens Augmented Whitelist: A solution to eliminate 0-Day Attacks. Compliance: Adheres to the regulatory standards required by cybersecurity insurance policies. One-Click Installation: Eliminates the hassle of user setup or updates on their computers. No Maintenance: Prevents malware and phishing threats without the need for continuous oversight. With over two decades of collective expertise in cybersecurity, cloud security, and information protection, our team has successfully served various sectors, including both private and public domains, ensuring robust protection for all clients.