# OpenSnitch vs Safing Portmaster: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[OpenSnitch](https://cybersectools.com/tools/opensnitch) is a free [next-gen firewalls](https://cybersectools.com/categories/next-generation-firewalls) solution. [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.

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

| | OpenSnitch | Safing Portmaster |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Category | Next-Gen Firewalls | Next-Gen Firewalls |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market | Startup |
| GitHub stars | 12,981 | – |
| Last commit | Mar 2026 | – |
| Company | – | Safing |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | OpenSnitch | Safing Portmaster |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Open Source | – | Yes |
| Windows | – | Yes |
| Network Monitoring | – | Yes |

### Core features

**OpenSnitch**

No features listed.

**Safing Portmaster**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [OpenSnitch](https://cybersectools.com/tools/opensnitch) fits if you are a small business or a mid-market company and you want an open-source product.

## OpenSnitch vs Safing Portmaster FAQ

Common questions when comparing OpenSnitch vs Safing Portmaster for next-gen firewalls.

### What is the difference between OpenSnitch and Safing Portmaster?

**OpenSnitch**: OpenSnitch is a GNU/Linux application firewall with interactive outbound connections filtering and system-wide domain blocking capabilities.

**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 OpenSnitch and Safing Portmaster?

**OpenSnitch** is open-source with 12,981 GitHub stars. **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 OpenSnitch a good alternative to Safing Portmaster?

Often, yes. OpenSnitch and Safing Portmaster are both Next-Gen Firewalls products, and both cover Linux. Key differences: OpenSnitch is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [OpenSnitch vs Endian UTM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/endian-utm-vs-opensnitch)
- [OpenSnitch vs HAProxy Fusion Control Plane](https://cybersectools.com/compare/haproxy-fusion-control-plane-vs-opensnitch)
- [OpenSnitch vs Monitorapp AISVA](https://cybersectools.com/compare/monitorapp-aisva-vs-opensnitch)
- [Safing Portmaster vs Endian UTM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/endian-utm-vs-safing-portmaster)
- [Safing Portmaster vs HAProxy Fusion Control Plane](https://cybersectools.com/compare/haproxy-fusion-control-plane-vs-safing-portmaster)
- [Safing Portmaster vs Monitorapp AISVA](https://cybersectools.com/compare/monitorapp-aisva-vs-safing-portmaster)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all OpenSnitch alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/opensnitch)
- [See all Safing Portmaster alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/safing-portmaster)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/opensnitch-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/opensnitch.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on OpenSnitch 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