Category · 63 tools · 12 comparisons
Network security software
These tools help businesses protect, monitor, and control their networks.
At a glance
- Tools tracked
- 63
- Entry plans
- $0.75–$25,000/mo
- Typical entry plan
- $19.08/mo
- Free plan
- 20 of 63
- Cheapest paid
- IronWiFi, $0.75/mo
- Best value score
- NextDNS, 9/10
Every tool we cover
Price tracker →| Tool | Score | From | Top listed plan | Free plan | Trial | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 NextDNSNextDNS | 8.2 | CA$2.33/mo | CA$23.25/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 NetBirdNetBird | 7.8 | €6/mo | €12/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Cloudflare Zero TrustCloudflare Zero Trust | 7.5 | $7/mo | $7/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 ZeroTierZeroTier | 7.4 | $18/mo | $179/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 LinewizeLinewize | 7.4 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 Control DControl D | 7.4 | $2/mo | $2/mo | No | 14 days | ReviewPricing |
 OPNsense Business EditionOPNsense Business Edition | 7.3 | €11.08/mo* | €12.42/mo | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 CensysCensys | 7.3 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 CrowdSecCrowdSec | 7.2 | $49/mo | $9,000/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 TwingateTwingate | 7.1 | $12/mo* | $15/mo | Yes | 14 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 WatchGuard FireboxWatchGuard Firebox | 7.0 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 Recorded FutureRecorded Future | 7.0 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 IronWiFiIronWiFi | 7.0 | $0.75/mo | $10,000/mo | No | — | Review |
 CleanBrowsingCleanBrowsing | 7.0 | $6.25/mo | $25/mo | Yes | — | Review |
 TodylTodyl | 6.9 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 IllumioIllumio | 6.8 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 ntopngntopng | 6.8 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 ZoomEyeZoomEye | 6.8 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 pfSense PluspfSense Plus | 6.7 | $10.75/mo* | $66.58/mo | Yes | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
| Security Onion ProSecurity Onion Pro | 6.7 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 runZerorunZero | 6.7 | $5,000/mo* | — | Yes | 21 days | ReviewPricing |
 SecurityTrailsSecurityTrails | 6.6 | $500/mo* | $1,500/mo | No | — | Review |
 Check Point Quantum Security GatewaysCheck Point Quantum Security Gateways | 6.5 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 NessusNessus | 6.5 | $399.17/mo | $565.83/mo | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 DNSFilterDNSFilter | 6.5 | $1/mo* | $150/mo | No | 14 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 DomainToolsDomainTools | 6.5 | $82.92/mo* | $82.92/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricing |
 IONIXIONIX | 6.5 | $25,000/mo* | $45,000/mo | No | — | Review |
 Tufin Orchestration SuiteTufin Orchestration Suite | 6.5 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 ContentKeeper Secure Internet GatewayContentKeeper Secure Internet Gateway | 6.5 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 Shodan MonitorShodan Monitor | 6.4 | $69/mo* | $1,099/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Zscaler Zero Trust ExchangeZscaler Zero Trust Exchange | 6.3 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 ExtraHop RevealXExtraHop RevealX | 6.3 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 Portnox CloudPortnox Cloud | 6.3 | Custom* | — | No | 30 days | Review |
 DDoS-GuardDDoS-Guard | 6.3 | $100/mo* | $2,125/mo | No | — | Review |
 Sucuri Website FirewallSucuri Website Firewall | 6.2 | $19.08/mo* | $83.33/mo | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 AviatrixAviatrix | 6.2 | Custom* | — | No | 30 days | ReviewAlternatives |
 SnortSnort | 6.2 | $2.50/mo* | $33.25/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 GreyNoise IntelligenceGreyNoise Intelligence | 6.2 | Free* | — | Yes | Yes | Review |
 Lightspeed FilterLightspeed Filter | 6.2 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 FireMon Security ManagerFireMon Security Manager | 6.1 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 ArmisArmis | 6.0 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 ClarotyClaroty | 6.0 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 Adlumin Security Operations PlatformAdlumin Security Operations Platform | 6.0 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 Sophos FirewallSophos Firewall | 5.9 | Free* | — | Yes | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 BlueCat EdgeBlueCat Edge | 5.8 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewPricing |
 SpiderFoot HXSpiderFoot HX | 5.8 | $62.42/mo* | $199.92/mo | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 iboss Zero Trust SSEiboss Zero Trust SSE | 5.8 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 RedSealRedSeal | 5.8 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 Netskope OneNetskope One | 5.8 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 CorelightCorelight | 5.8 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 Appgate SDPAppgate SDP | 5.8 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 AlgoSecAlgoSec | 5.6 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 Zscaler Cloud IPSZscaler Cloud IPS | 5.5 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 Calico CloudCalico Cloud | 5.5 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 Cato SASE PlatformCato SASE Platform | 5.4 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 Cisco UmbrellaCisco Umbrella | 5.2 | Custom* | — | No | 14 days | ReviewAlternatives |
 Menlo SecurityMenlo Security | 5.2 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 F5 BIG-IPF5 BIG-IP | 5.2 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 OrdrOrdr | 5.2 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 DarktraceDarktrace | 4.0 | Custom* | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 Aruba ClearPass Policy ManagerAruba ClearPass Policy Manager | 4.0 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 BluVectorBluVector | 3.5 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
 LayerX Browser Security PlatformLayerX Browser Security Platform | 1.0 | Custom* | — | No | — | Review |
* Lower confidence: the vendor's pricing page couldn't be read directly or didn't list every price, so the figure was compiled from other public sources and may be incomplete. Check the vendor's page before you buy.
Head-to-head
Netskope OnevsZscaler Zero Trust ExchangeNetskope One vs Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange
Tufin Orchestration SuitevsFireMon Security ManagerTufin Orchestration Suite vs FireMon Security Manager
Control DvsNextDNSControl D vs NextDNS
Shodan MonitorvsCensysShodan Monitor vs Censys
AlgoSecvsTufin Orchestration SuiteAlgoSec vs Tufin Orchestration Suite
Zscaler Zero Trust ExchangevsCisco UmbrellaZscaler Zero Trust Exchange vs Cisco Umbrella
BlueCat EdgevsZscaler Cloud IPSBlueCat Edge vs Zscaler Cloud IPS
BlueCat EdgevsCheck Point Quantum Security GatewaysBlueCat Edge vs Check Point Quantum Security Gateways
Zscaler Cloud IPSvsCheck Point Quantum Security GatewaysZscaler Cloud IPS vs Check Point Quantum Security Gateways
Control DvsDNSFilterControl D vs DNSFilter
CleanBrowsingvsDNSFilterCleanBrowsing vs DNSFilter
pfSense PlusvsSnortpfSense Plus vs Snort
Highest scored
NextDNSNextDNS
Strong-value DNS filtering, provided you can live with occasional breakage and community-level personal support.
NetBirdNetBird
NetBird trades some polish for self-hosting, granular controls and a useful free tier.
Cloudflare Zero TrustCloudflare Zero Trust
A strong low-cost starting point for zero trust, if you can handle the setup and log limits.
Network security software: quick answers
How much does network security software cost?
Paid plans for the 63 network security tools we track start between $0.75 and $25,000 a month, and the typical entry plan is about $19.08 a month. 20 of them have a free plan. Linewize, WatchGuard Firebox, Recorded Future, Todyl, Illumio, Check Point Quantum Security Gateways, Tufin Orchestration Suite, ContentKeeper Secure Internet Gateway, Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange, ExtraHop RevealX, Portnox Cloud, Aviatrix, Lightspeed Filter, FireMon Security Manager, Armis, Claroty, Adlumin Security Operations Platform, BlueCat Edge, iboss Zero Trust SSE, RedSeal, Netskope One, Corelight, Appgate SDP, AlgoSec, Zscaler Cloud IPS, Cato SASE Platform, Cisco Umbrella, Menlo Security, F5 BIG-IP, Ordr, Darktrace, Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager, BluVector and LayerX Browser Security Platform don't publish a starting price. Prices are the vendors' own, checked Nov 7, 2026; most quote the per-month price when billed annually.
Which network security tool is the cheapest?
Which network security tools have a free plan?
NextDNS, NetBird, Cloudflare Zero Trust, ZeroTier, Censys, CrowdSec, Twingate, CleanBrowsing, ntopng, ZoomEye, pfSense Plus, Security Onion Pro, runZero, DomainTools, Shodan Monitor, Snort, GreyNoise Intelligence, Sophos Firewall, SpiderFoot HX and Calico Cloud have a free plan. Control D, DNSFilter, Portnox Cloud, Aviatrix and Cisco Umbrella offer a free trial instead. Free plans are usually capped on usage, seats or features; each review lists the limits.
Which network security tool scores highest in our reviews?
NextDNS scores highest at 8.2/10. Strong-value DNS filtering, provided you can live with occasional breakage and community-level personal support.