Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Fortinet FortiGate

OPNsense is an open source firewall and routing platform used to secure and manage networks. It combines a web-based management interface with a systems backend and API to configure firewalling, routing, and related network services.

Key Features

• Web-based GUI for firewall, routing, and system management
• Built-in API for automation and integrations
• VPN capabilities for secure remote access and site-to-site connectivity
• Captive portal support for guest and managed network access
• Traffic shaping and policy-based controls for bandwidth management
• Extensible platform with additional services typically used at the network edge

Use Cases

• Perimeter firewall and router for a home lab or small business network
• VPN gateway for remote workers or inter-site connectivity
• Guest Wi-Fi access control using a captive portal

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced features and tooling are reserved for the Business Edition

OPNsense is well-suited for users who want a modern, verifiable, and configurable firewall/router stack with a strong web UI and automation-friendly API. It can serve as a central edge device for both homelab and professional network deployments.