# Page 5 | WatchGuard Firebox Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Page 5 - Is WatchGuard Firebox the right Network Security solution for you? Explore 446 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/154706/Unified-Threat-Management/reviews/?page=5 --- WatchGuard Firebox 4.8 (446) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/154706/Unified-Threat-Management/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated December 18th, 2025 # Page 5 - Reviews of WatchGuard Firebox ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 101-125 of 446 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use BP Brett P. IT Manager Machinery Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Watchguard Firebox - great firewall for SMB!" August 13, 2024 5.0 Fantastic firewall for the price. Love the concept of on premise physical device over a cloud device. Great product for our needs. Pros Ease of use. Expandability with additional features and the ability to filter and watch ports and websites. Cons So far no problems with them at all. Just wish we had more time to delve into them further and had more time to train. Alternatives considered [FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall](https://www.capterra.com/p/231835/FortiGate-Next-Generation-Firewalls/)[Sonicwall Network Security Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/219070/Sonicwall-Network-Security-Manager/) Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox Features, speed, ease of use and compatibility with exactly what we needed and had. Review Source HR HENRY R. President Computer Networking Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Watgaurd Review" August 19, 2024 4.0 We've used Watchguard for about 15 years now. Good product over all EOL comes quickly, prices are high and support ok. Pros I like the ease of use, all in one subscription and offline configuration changes. It really is a good product. Cons Technical support has unfortunately gotten worse. They used to be on point you'd call and get an actual tech. Now you get a customer service rep and hopefully get a call back sometime. Alternatives considered [FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall](https://www.capterra.com/p/231835/FortiGate-Next-Generation-Firewalls/) Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox Better support and integration. Easier to get assistance frm many more blog, forums etc. Review Source SP Sean P. CEO Computer Networking Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Watchguard has been a great partner!" August 13, 2024 5.0 Their support has always been great. When we find an issue they're always helpful, even in diagnosing the issue as not being firewall related. Pros Easy to manage, subscription services are fantastic, purchasing is easy and above all we trust them to be secure! Cons Some stuff is not as easy to find depending on what interface you use. I like the desktop app, but some prefer the web gui. I wish the dimensions command server was a little less pricey. Alternatives considered [FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall](https://www.capterra.com/p/231835/FortiGate-Next-Generation-Firewalls/)[Sonicwall Network Security Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/219070/Sonicwall-Network-Security-Manager/) Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox The others are either too expensive or their interface is insanely clumsy. Sonic wall take 4x the amount of time to setup, and fortigate isn't worth the money as their interface is clumsy. Review Source JR Jeff R. IT Lead Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Effective but Could Use UI Improvements" September 5, 2024 5.0 Setting up a cluster and managing policies has been a breeze Pros The option to fully prepare a configuration without changing the current config Cons The software interface sometimes feels outdated or unintuitive Switched from [FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall](https://www.capterra.com/p/231835/FortiGate-Next-Generation-Firewalls/) Wanted to try something else and Watchguard was recommended Review Source FO Frank O. Systems Admin Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 2+ years ### "WatchGurard Review" September 5, 2024 5.0 Overall very positive, many of our clients use Watchguard Pros Ease of use of the GUI, configuration was a breeze Cons I felt that some of the BOVPN's were a little hard to interpret settings etc Alternatives considered [Cisco Meraki](https://www.capterra.com/p/176649/Meraki-Systems-Manager/) Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox Pricing and support were better than the others Review Source ND Nick D. Network Admin Farming Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Simple, does what it needs to." September 12, 2024 4.0 I have to look for settings and figure out wording compared to other systems. Pros It works, does what it is suppose to. Not a lot of graphics, simple text interface. Cons After using: SonicWall, Fortinet, Meraki I found the web interface lacking and a little hard to navigate. Alternatives considered [Opensense](https://www.capterra.com/p/164956/OpenSense/) Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox It was pre-existing, and here when I started. Review Source MD Michael D. Senior IT Network and Security Engineer Banking Used the software for: 2+ years ### "CCCU WG Review" August 13, 2024 5.0 Overall experience has been great. We use them for client access VPNs and they are so much easier to work with than the Ciscos we used before. Pros Very easy to setup and manage. They are also really stable. Cons I don't have any cons with this product, it handles our functionality perfectly. Alternatives considered [Cisco AnyConnect](https://www.capterra.com/p/169495/VPN-and-Endpoint-Security-Clients/) Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox Better price, and much easier to setup and administer Switched from [Cisco AnyConnect](https://www.capterra.com/p/169495/VPN-and-Endpoint-Security-Clients/) Cisco was going EOL, and we wanted a different solution. Review Source CP Chloe P. IT Technician Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "WG Firebox and WSM Review" August 22, 2024 4.0 Pros As a level 1 IT support, the wsm UI is easy to locate stuff and troubleshoot. Cons For WSM, that I have to install updates to open it whenever new update comes up. Sometimes I can't connect when I need to quickly check something while I'm on a phone with customer. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer IT Director Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Feature rich with great customer support" August 13, 2024 5.0 Very happy with the features they provide along with their amazin gcustomer support Pros The feature rich suite of total secruity suite Cons Cannot easily move an interface from a 1gb port to a 10gb port. Review Source DT Drew T. CEO Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Unmatched technology solution" August 19, 2024 5.0 Pros The setup and management of the WatchGuard cloud is so easy! Cons I honestly do not have anything bad to say about WatchGuard. They have been my go to firewall vendor for over 10 years Review Source ED Earl D. IT Director Architecture & Planning Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Firebox features & reliability" November 13, 2023 5.0 EXCELLENT! Once I understood how to set up the boxes, it was easy to maintain the Corporate network. I set up the Firewalls with minimum effort, and added more later to refine the security for the company. I've set up others, and while they are easier, the Fireboxes have all the features you would ever need to protect your environment. Pros The ease of which I can set it up, the VPN reliability, Speed that it works at. It saved us through the Pandemic. We have been using Watchguard products since 2009, and rely on them 100%. They're simply outstanding for what they are. Cons The manual is about 2000 pages and took me about a month to absorb, but once I finished, I know much more than I ever knew about security, and setting up Corporate tunnels and VPN's. Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox I like the features available and how they are implemented. They are very reliable, and easy to set up once you've done on or two. We use them for our Branch offices and 24/7 VPN's. They are very secure and reliable. Switched from [Cisco AnyConnect](https://www.capterra.com/p/169495/VPN-and-Endpoint-Security-Clients/) I liked the features and throughput of the Fireboxes over the competitors. The cost was very reasonable as well, and they seem to last for many years. Review Source KH Kimber H. Systems Engineer and Administrator Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Firebox for everyone!" February 8, 2024 5.0 good, I have been using them since 1999, and Im still not bee driven completely insane by the stress of IT! Pros Red Color is the best feature! Cons Red Color is the worst feature! Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox Watchguard is better and affordable! okay? Switched from [Sonicwall Network Security Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/219070/Sonicwall-Network-Security-Manager/) Brands I have used: Sonicwall, Fortinet, Netgear, Cisco/Linksys, PF Sence, Mikrotik, Ubiquity, Nitix, IP Cop, Zero Shell, and others! But Watchguard is better and more affordable than most NGFWs! Review Source MG Miek G. System Specialist Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "just my 5c" November 15, 2023 4.0 so far 12 Fireboxes deployed, and I love the central console. I have deployed 2 devices with the pre-deployment option and had a few issues, but each and every issue we have had has been swiftly dealt with by WatchGuard support. Pros Ease of deployment, remote live monitoring, Full feature set, cost, Central management, I loved the fact that I did not need to have a training course to figure out the Firebox. Cons I had to be that person, but.... I honestly do not have any gripes. Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox we had an audit done and had to install a Cisco firewall to meet Canadian government standards, we had offered the WatchGuard but due to time constraints they could not test the WatchGuard. after deployment they advised that the WatchGuard met their requirements, the WatchGuard looks better on paper for features and price over the Fortinet and well, no way I am deploying another Cisco. Review Source KI Kir I. It consultant Computer Hardware Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Good business firewall " August 13, 2024 4.0 Good firewall for business use with the most of the features you would need. Pros Site to site vpn feature and overall firewall function Cons Interface and dashboard. Dhcp leases information could be expanded. Alternatives considered [FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall](https://www.capterra.com/p/231835/FortiGate-Next-Generation-Firewalls/) Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox More familiar technology that integrates into the existing infrastructure Review Source OS Omar S. Sys Admin Logistics and Supply Chain Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Watchguard " July 29, 2023 4.0 Watchguard has facilitated all our branches connectivity. We have an improved and clear view of our network traffic and utilization. Pros The firebox is fast and easy to setup, Availability of 2 modes of firewall access: web interface and watchguard system manager application.BO VPN services is stable and is not bandwidth thirsty. Free Watchguard dimension server logs all network traffic for monitor purposes. Cons Support is not always timely and can take several hours to receive response. Alternatives considered [Sonicwall Network Security Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/219070/Sonicwall-Network-Security-Manager/) Review Source LR Luis R. Gerente de Sistemas Telecommunications Used the software for: 2+ years ### "DTK - Utilizacion + de 10 años" March 8, 2024 5.0 El Hardware me ha funcionado bien desde hace ya mas de 15 años, facil de administrar Pros Facilidad de Configurar las politicas, puertos Cons no existe mucha informacion , y tiempo de respuesta y apoyo de soporte para mi es muy lento Alternatives considered [FortiManager](https://www.capterra.com/p/246675/FortiManager/) Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox en ese año que decide comprar Watchguard, fue porque alquien me lo recomendo y tenia una empresa local de soporte Review Source SL Stewart L. Managing Director Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Watchguard Fireboxes, Great for networks who take security seriously.." October 30, 2023 5.0 Like I mentioned, I feel like my experience with Watchguard is pretty vast extending 20 years. It seems to me when we'd use in the early days there were very few options for firewall (and frankly the enterprises they were going into had a completely different security posture then we do today). Now it like there are so many options, but its easy for may to go with Watchguard with such a proven Cybersecurity track record. Pros We love that fireboxes have a very good windows management program, Watchguard System Manager. Some of the beauty of it is believe it or not at its core design and workflow, it has not really changed all that much. But various time a month or there are feature updates. Which have definitely brought a lot of great features over the years. You can still manage via web portal but the program it powerful for administration. Cons Cons? After deploying and more over administering Fireboxes you'll hate working with other Firewalls/Routers. That, being said if you've never used one it may take a bit of commitment and possibly even a Watchguard Support call. But dont worry (especially if you got the Total Security suite) the Support services experts are great and patient. Alternatives considered [Cisco Meraki](https://www.capterra.com/p/176649/Meraki-Systems-Manager/)[FortiAnalyzer](https://www.capterra.com/p/246667/FortiAnalyzer/)[Sonicwall Network Security Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/219070/Sonicwall-Network-Security-Manager/) Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox Franky the history of a reliable product. Actually, back in the day before Dell bought Sonicwall, Dell recommended and was a major seller of Watchguard. Review Source Chris B. IT Manager Real Estate Used the software for: 2+ years ### "I Trust WatchGuard Firefox" November 20, 2023 5.0 After using it for 11 years, I cannot be happier than I am with WatchGuard Firebox. I cannot praise the product enough. Pros Choosing the right model is easy when comparing datasheets. Choosing from simple subscription options with bundled solutions makes the choices easy offering great protection at a fraction of competitors. The built in and easy to setup VPN, along with Site to Site VPN's, and a basket full of security options makes the choice clear. Cons There was a bit of a learning curve in the beginning when I started using Firebox devices in 2012. Taking WatchGuard training and becoming certified helped tremendously with learning how to take full advantage of the fireboxes capabilities. Alternatives considered [FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall](https://www.capterra.com/p/231835/FortiGate-Next-Generation-Firewalls/) Switched from [Sonicwall Network Security Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/219070/Sonicwall-Network-Security-Manager/) When I switched to this current position they had an expired Sonicwall appliance, it was a no brainer to swap it out with a Firebox. Primarily due to my certified expertise with Firebox. Review Source CJ Chris J. IT Administrator Financial Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "An excellent, rich firewall, with lots of options." November 20, 2023 5.0 It has been great overall and I would highly reccomend them. Pros I love the support group that has always been able to walk me through different scenarios and customizations. Cons If I had one gripe with it (them) is that there are so many resources & articles about configuring the box, that it can be hard to know where to start. Firewall administration is pretty heady already, and their knowledgebase doesn't do you any favors - but their human resoureces really compensate for this. Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox it was just reccomend by our vendor as a better product Review Source AW Alexander W. Chairman Insurance Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Good value and competent system" September 12, 2023 5.0 Overall, our experience has been excellent Pros It works like an enterprise system and gives us confidence that our system is secure while operating in a worry free way. With MFA Authpoint as a companion, to the appliance, we cannot think of any better protection other than e-mail training which we also do. Cons We had problems in deploying but once done everything worked fine. Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox We actually tried the Sonicwall and had problems with the installation before returning. Our consultant at the time recommended Firebox. This was many years ago and at the time we also had issues installing the Firebox on our MS Server 2003. But after installation everything has worked well and now we are running it on MS Server 2023 without issues. Also we have had a few audits by our insurers and our ports and MFA (Authpointg) has passed with flying colors. Review Source JL John L. System Administrator Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Affordable and Reliable Security" February 13, 2024 5.0 I've been using WatchGuard firewalls for over 10 years and always had great support for the few issues I have encountered. Pros \- easy to use interface through WebUI, management software, or Cloud management - real time monitoring with several views of different data to help troubleshoot traffic issues - full suite of security features that are set and forget Cons \- log history can be annoying to go through Alternatives considered [Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software](https://www.capterra.com/p/250853/Cisco-Adaptive-Security-Appliance-ASA-Software/)[FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall](https://www.capterra.com/p/231835/FortiGate-Next-Generation-Firewalls/) Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox Familiarity and ease of use. Cisco ASA does not offer all the security features. FortiGate UI was not friendly. Review Source DL David L. Owner Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Why I prefer Watchguard Firebox for my IT customers" November 27, 2023 5.0 Overall, my experience with these machines has been very good. On the rare occasions when I need to make config changes to one of them, I can do it remotely from the comfort of my home. As I stated before, once configured correctly, these boxes just sit there and do their job. And on the rare occasions when something doesn't seem to be working as it should, Watchguard support is there to get things back on track. Pros I have several of these boxes deployed at different customer sites, and despite the fact that I have diverse customers (manufacturing, insurance, trading, etc) with different needs, these machines work well in every one of their environments. What I love about these machines is that they are rock solid; once you get them setup and running, they just do the job day after day. At some of my customer locations, we monitor every packet in and out. I have written Powershell scripts that parse the logs every night and email me a snapshot of what happened, alerting me to anything unusual. Honestly, the most exciting thing that has come from this is that I found what appeared to be a memory leak causing the kernel to glitch, but when I opened a support case on this issue, they already had a fix available for it. We just downloaded the update, applied it, and kept on going. Cons While I understand the planned obsolescence (i.e. - Product reaching end of life), this is what I like least about these units. Replacing one of these units involves administrative time, and going on site to replace the old unit with the new one. On the plus side though, one can easily export the configuration of the old unit and import it into the new one and be up and running in no time. Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox I've chosen Watchguard as the preferred router for my small business customers because I know they are reliable, easy to reconfigure, and a good value for their IT dollars. Also, I have, over the years, opened several cases with support, and they are great; they always find the answer to my problems. Switched from [Sonicwall Network Security Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/219070/Sonicwall-Network-Security-Manager/) I had one customer I picked up that had a Watchguard Firebox, and I was impressed with that little red box. When it came time for other customers to replace router / firewall, we moved them to Watchguard products. Review Source JS Joseph S. Manager Computer Networking Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Watchguard Firewalls" August 17, 2023 5.0 We enjoy our partnership with Watchguard. They helped us achieve Silver partnership and have provided excellent support for any issues that have come up. Pros The firewall vpn is great and ease of use for many of the subscription features. We are able to do content filtering, only allow certain dns servers, create blocked ports and ips easily and are comfortable with the network protection it provides. Cons There are sometimes issues with vpn that cause us to need to remove and recreate a vpn user on the firebox. System manager constantly has to be upgraded to configure the firebox. I would like to see system manager check for updates at launch so we do not have to manually update it. Alternatives considered [Cisco Meraki](https://www.capterra.com/p/176649/Meraki-Systems-Manager/)[Sonicwall Network Security Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/219070/Sonicwall-Network-Security-Manager/) Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox We liked the pricing, ease of use and customer service from this vendor more than the others. Review Source DW Dale W. Director of Managed Services Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "WatchGuard Fireboxes; A router with Great ROI" November 14, 2023 5.0 I love WatchGuard because they are affordable by small business and scalable as they grow. Support is excellent and can be relied on. Pros I like the user interface. It is intuitive and fairly easy to configure by a person who is familiar with Routers and routing principles Cons I am hard pressed to find the area that I don't like here. Hardware is good, price is good for the smaller companies that we normally deal with. As they grow hardware must be upgraded. I think that is the same with all routers. Reason for choosing WatchGuard Firebox I think the ROI is outstanding. Once configured they run without much maintenance or intervention. Switched from [Cisco Duo](https://www.capterra.com/p/228827/Duo-Security/) The Watchguard was less expensive and does the same thing. WatchGuard support. Review Source RB Ray B. I.S. Specialist Medical Practice Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The Watchguard Firebox is a solid performer" April 18, 2023 5.0 We've used Watchguard products for years and they are great firewalls. Pros We push our Watchguard firewall to its absolute limit in our business and we use it for Firewall, VLAN, VPN, DMZ, internet access, home and remote workers and dozens of other things. I imagine we take advantage of almost every capability it has to offer and it never fails to deliver. Absolutely rock solid performance. Cons It would be nice if it had an easily accessible, built-in, searchable log. Troubleshooting a connection or path would be SO MUCH easier if it had that. Review Source Similar Products Featured ## Related categories [Network Security](https://www.capterra.com/network-security-software/)[Firewall](https://www.capterra.com/firewall-software/)