Netgate Firewall Buying Guide: Features, Performance, and Licensing Explained

When it comes to protecting your business network, a reliable and high-performance firewall is a non-negotiable asset. Netgate, the official provider of pfSense® software, offers a powerful and flexible range of hardware appliances that cater to everything from small offices to enterprise environments. In our Netgate Firewall buying guide, we break down the key features, performance benchmarks, and licensing considerations to help you make the right purchase—whether you’re a network administrator or an IT decision-maker.

1. Why Choose a Netgate Firewall?

Netgate firewalls are known for:

• Open-source flexibility through pfSense® Plus
• Cost-effective hardware without compromising performance
• Comprehensive security features out-of-the-box
• Customisability to suit any network setup

They’re particularly ideal for businesses looking to consolidate networking and security functions into a single, robust solution.

2. Key Features of Netgate Firewalls

1. Powered by pfSense® Plus

Netgate firewalls run on pfSense® Plus, an advanced open-source firewall and router distribution. This provides:

• Deep packet inspection
• VPN support (OpenVPN, IPsec)
• Intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS)
• Traffic shaping and load balancing

2. Built-in VPN Capabilities

Secure remote access is essential in today’s hybrid work environment. Netgate firewalls allow you to establish secure VPN tunnels easily, giving remote workers safe access to internal resources.

3. Flexible Network Configuration

Netgate devices support VLANs, multi-WAN, and dynamic routing protocols, making them suitable for both simple and highly complex network environments.

4. High Availability (HA) Support

For mission-critical infrastructure, models with high availability features ensure zero downtime. Load balancing and automatic failover capabilities make Netgate an ideal choice for business continuity.

3. Performance Considerations

Choosing the right model depends largely on your bandwidth requirements, number of users, and security demands. Here’s a quick breakdown and performances of popular models:

*iPerf3 Basic Traffic (Primarily Data Download)

For the latest models and configurations, browse our Netgate product range.

4. Understanding Netgate Licensing

Netgate firewalls come with pfSense® Plus pre-installed. While there are no ongoing licence fees for most models, there are some important points to note:

• Commercial use requires pfSense Plus, which is included with all Netgate appliances.
• Support subscriptions are optional but recommended for business-critical environments.
• Access to firmware updates and packages is free with official Netgate hardware.

When you purchase through authorised resellers like Telappliant, you can be confident that your device includes a fully licensed and supported version of pfSense® Plus.

5. Netgate Support Options Explained

When selecting a firewall for business-critical environments, reliable vendor support and expert configuration are just as important as performance and features. Netgate offers a range of support tiers, and Telappliant complements this with UK-based consulting services tailored to your business needs.

Included Support: TAC Lite

Every Netgate appliance purchased from an authorised reseller like Telappliant comes with TAC Lite support, which includes:

• Ticket-based assistance via the Netgate portal
• Help with hardware issues and basic configuration
• Package Installation (NOT configuration)
• Troubleshooting and isolation of potential software bugs
• Standard business hours coverage (US timezone)
• Access to pfSense® Plus updates and packages

TAC Lite is well-suited for organisations with in-house IT teams needing occasional vendor support.

Optional Enhanced Support: TAC Pro and Enterprise

For higher uptime requirements or complex deployments, Netgate offers paid support subscriptions:

These are ideal for MSPs, financial services, or any business that cannot afford downtime.

Telappliant Consulting Services

In addition to Netgate’s official support, Telappliant provides UK-based consulting to help you maximise the value of your Netgate firewall:

• Firewall design and sizing advice
• Full pfSense configuration and deployment
• Advanced features setup (e.g. VPNs, VLANs, HA clusters)
• Security policy optimisation and ongoing consultancy

Whether you need help with your first deployment or you’re managing a large multi-site rollout, our technical consultants ensure your firewall is configured securely, efficiently, and tailored to your business.

Community & Self-Support Options

Netgate also maintains a strong open-source community, giving users access to:

• The Netgate Forum
• pfSense documentation and knowledgebase
• Community-led guides and configuration tips

Why Buy with Support from Telappliant?

When you purchase through Telappliant, you receive:

• A fully licensed Netgate device with pfSense® Plus
• Access to both Netgate support tiers and our in-house consultancy
• Peace of mind with expert pre-sales guidance and post-sales support

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right firewall isn’t just about hardware specs—it’s about long-term security, flexibility, and support. Netgate firewalls, powered by pfSense® Plus, offer a compelling mix of enterprise-grade features, open-source customisability, and unbeatable value for UK businesses.

Whether you’re deploying in a small office, a branch network, or a large data centre, there’s a Netgate model designed to meet your performance and compliance needs. And with Telappliant, you get more than just a firewall—you gain access to technical expertise, tailored consulting, and a UK-based team that understands your business challenges.

Browse our range of Netgate firewalls here or if you still have questions, please feel free to contact us and a member of the team will be happy to assist.