Netgate Black Friday Deal

Networking & Firewalls
1

Not sure if anyone knows, but netgate has a black Firday sale going on. I got this in an email.

Our Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale is now live on our website! We’re excited to introduce a limited-time 10% discount on all in-stock Security Gateways.

Just use the code NETGATE2025 at checkout.

2

Surprised I didn’t get this email, might be my work address though. I have an m4250 registered with them.

3

I see they’re doing + upgrade deal on the 15th December too.

4

I just got another email and they are extending the deal. They didn’t say how long though. Use the same promo code.

5

Feeling the heat / pressure, so drumming up revenue..

6

I had a netgate rep email me back in October and was wondering if I was going to renew my subscription on my white box. I basically told them that I will be switching to vyos or UniFi. They wanted more information on why the switch and I told them I don’t want to keep paying a license for pfsense+. Which makes me think they might be hurting for money. I said if they sold me a one time license I’d buy it. But not $130 every year.

UniFi offers quite a bit of functionality these days and works for my environment. Also will seriously consider using vyos. Vyos works for me too, it’s just command line though which isn’t too bad.

1 Like
7

What features in PF are you using that aren’t offered by another free firewall? Just an FYI, OPNsense free just enabled block lists in Unbound, this was previously a feature of the Business license.

8
  1. I like that Uinfi has the cyber security feature and I plan on paying for that. PF does not have that.
  2. Easier management of policy based routing for VPN.
  3. PF can’t do zone based firewall.
  4. PF doesn’t have central management. I know they are working on it but it will have to be licneced. I’m not paying for that. I manage family members firewalls flawlessly.
  5. I plan on investing in other devices in their eco system (NVR and cameras)

To be clear, I don’t mind spending money on a project I believe in and support. I think negate should make money or pfsense would die. I don’t really care for their business model and their devices are pretty expensive compared to the devices that unifi has. I posted about this a while back HERE. I can get a LOT more performance with unifi. I tried OPNsense and it was ok. I tried vyos and it was pretty good. Huge learning curve for vyos if you don’t understand networking. I am involved in the development for VyManager (Vyos Frontend). It is in beta at the moment and not feature complete but it is coming along. GitHub - Community-VyProjects/VyManager at beta

I would have bought a 1 time license for pfsense+, but I am not paying $130 a year for that. A one time purchase was WAY more than they were getting before. But making users spend that every year is too much.

2 Likes
9

I paid for two years with their recent discount, £100 peanuts.

however I still keep looking at UniFi and I like the ZBF concept I have with Sophos XG Home.

Am I bothered if pfsense sinks or swims, tbh no not really

10

I think UniFi is going to catch pfsense one day in features (they are close already). They offer more in certain areas.

Netgate is unfortunately not keeping up in its space. It was really neat 10 years ago. Didn’t have to rely on junk modem/router combo boxes.

UniFi is really hitting the consumer spectrum of business and home users really well. I think netgate will be a distant memory in the next few years. Had some good times with it, but they can’t compete IMO.

1 Like
11

I rec you’ll be right.

Might end up selling the Sophos XG unit that has pfsense + on it.

You can’t deny UniFi still have a way to go though re VPN setups like pfsense etc. However with their development don’t think it’d be long.