# UniFi Security Gateway vs pfSense (2026): Free Alternative to UniFi Security Gateway

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/vs/unifi-security-gateway-vs-pfsense
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Compare UniFi Security Gateway ($29/mo) vs pfSense ($0/mo open source cm0zfrz5200pu94snwyqzpqx7 alternative to UniFi Security Gateway). Side-by-side breakdown of pricing, self-hosting setup, data storage, and practical trade-offs.

## Side-by-Side Comparison Matrix

| Feature / Metric | UniFi Security Gateway | pfSense |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $29/mo | $0.00 / month |
| 1-Seat Annual Cost | $348/yr | $0.00 / year |
| 5-Person Team Annual Cost | $1,740/yr | $0.00 / year |
| 10-Person Team Annual Cost | $3,480/yr | $0.00 / year |
| License Model | Proprietary Commercial SaaS | cm0zfrz5200pu94snwyqzpqx7 |
| Hosting / Runtime | Vendor Cloud | Self-host |
| Data Ownership | Stored on vendor servers | All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database. |
| GitHub Stars | Closed Source | ★ 5.8k |
| Code Repository | None | https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense |
| The Catch / Trade-off | Recurring subscription cost | Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed UniFi Security Gateway. |

## About pfSense
Comprehensive network security solution for enterprises.

- **Installation**: Clone https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense or deploy with Docker Compose
- **Setup Notes**: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- **Data Storage**: All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- **Supported Platforms**: web, self-hosted, docker to self-host
- **The Catch vs UniFi Security Gateway**: Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed UniFi Security Gateway.

## Cost Savings Breakdown
Switching from UniFi Security Gateway to pfSense eliminates ongoing per-seat subscriptions:
- **Solo / 1-seat**: Save **$348/year**
- **5-person team**: Save **$1,740/year**
- **10-person team**: Save **$3,480/year**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is pfSense a good free alternative to UniFi Security Gateway?
Yes. pfSense is a verified open source (cm0zfrz5200pu94snwyqzpqx7) replacement for UniFi Security Gateway. Comprehensive network security solution for enterprises.

### What is the catch when switching from UniFi Security Gateway to pfSense?
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed UniFi Security Gateway.

## Related

- [All UniFi Security Gateway Alternatives](https://caniforkit.com/unifi-security-gateway)
- [pfSense Full Profile](https://caniforkit.com/fork/pfsense)
- [security Category Hub](https://caniforkit.com/category/security)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)