# Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall vs Safing Portmaster: side-by-side comparison (2026) [Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall](https://cybersectools.com/tools/fortinet-fortigate-ngfw) is a commercial [Next-Gen firewalls](https://cybersectools.com/categories/next-generation-firewalls) solution by [Fortinet](https://cybersectools.com/companies/fortinet). [Safing Portmaster](https://cybersectools.com/tools/safing-portmaster) is a free [Next-Gen firewalls](https://cybersectools.com/categories/next-generation-firewalls) solution by [Safing](https://cybersectools.com/companies/safing). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side. ## Our take What our shortlists say about the one we picked. ### [Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall](https://cybersectools.com/tools/fortinet-fortigate-ngfw) Best for: Companies wanting SD-WAN and ZTNA built into the firewall FortiGate earns its spot by folding SD-WAN and ZTNA into the firewall, so many branches can run on one box per site. That fits mid-market and enterprise networks with lots of offices. If you already run separate SD-WAN or ZTNA products, decide first whether you want to merge them. From [Best Next-Generation Firewall Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-next-generation-firewalls), Fall 2026. Reviewed by [Nika (Nikoloz) Kokhreidze](https://cybersectools.com/about). Need the answer fast? [Best Next-Generation Firewall Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-next-generation-firewalls) picks Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls, Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall, Cisco Secure Firewall and 4 more. ## Side-by-side comparison | | Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall | Safing Portmaster | |---|---|---| | Pricing model | Commercial | Free | | Category | Next-Gen Firewalls | Next-Gen Firewalls | | Verified | No | No | | Deployment type | Hybrid | On-Premises | | Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup | | Company | Fortinet | Safing | | Headquarters | – | – | ### Use cases and capabilities | | Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall | Safing Portmaster | |---|---|---| | Network Protection | Yes | – | | ZTNA | Yes | – | | Linux | – | Yes | | Open Source | – | Yes | | Windows | – | Yes | | Network Monitoring | – | Yes | ### Core features **Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall** 10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them. **Safing Portmaster** 10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them. ### Integrations **Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall** 17 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them. **Safing Portmaster** No integrations listed. ## Which one fits you Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source. - [Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall](https://cybersectools.com/tools/fortinet-fortigate-ngfw) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options and you are a mid-market company or an enterprise. - [Safing Portmaster](https://cybersectools.com/tools/safing-portmaster) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a startup and you need a free product. ## Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall vs Safing Portmaster FAQ Common questions when comparing Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall vs Safing Portmaster for Next-Gen firewalls. ### What is the difference between Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall and Safing Portmaster? **Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall**: Next-generation firewall that protects hybrid networks with built-in SD-WAN and ZTNA, built by Fortinet. **Safing Portmaster**: An open-source application firewall that monitors network traffic with custom rules, built by Safing. The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ. ### Who makes Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall and Safing Portmaster? **Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall** is made by Fortinet. **Safing Portmaster** is made by Safing. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit. ### Is Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall a good alternative to Safing Portmaster? Often, yes. Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall and Safing Portmaster are both Next-Gen Firewalls products. Key differences: Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall is Commercial while Safing Portmaster is Free. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ. ## Related comparisons - [Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall vs Tacitine NGFW](https://cybersectools.com/compare/fortinet-fortigate-ngfw-vs-tacitine-ngfw) - [Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall vs Check Point Quantum Firewalls](https://cybersectools.com/compare/check-point-quantum-ngfw-vs-fortinet-fortigate-ngfw) - [Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall vs Forcepoint Next-Generation Firewall](https://cybersectools.com/compare/forcepoint-ngfw-vs-fortinet-fortigate-ngfw) - [Safing Portmaster vs Tacitine NGFW](https://cybersectools.com/compare/safing-portmaster-vs-tacitine-ngfw) - [Safing Portmaster vs Check Point Quantum Firewalls](https://cybersectools.com/compare/check-point-quantum-ngfw-vs-safing-portmaster) - [Safing Portmaster vs Forcepoint Next-Generation Firewall](https://cybersectools.com/compare/forcepoint-ngfw-vs-safing-portmaster) ## Alternatives to each - [See all Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/fortinet-fortigate-ngfw) - [See all Safing Portmaster alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/safing-portmaster) --- Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/fortinet-fortigate-ngfw-vs-safing-portmaster For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/fortinet-fortigate-ngfw.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md. More on Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall and Safing Portmaster: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md