💻 Which are the best Firewall Software?

Here are some of the best firewall software: 👍 ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer TotalAV GlassWire Firewall ZoneAlarm Avast Endpoint Firewall McAfee Firewall Azure Firewall

11 Best FREE Firewall Software for Windows (2024 Update)

Firewalls are software programs which are used to improve the security of computers. It protects a private network or LAN from unauthorized access. The purpose of having a firewall installed on your computer, phone, or tablet is to protect against malware threats that exist on the internet or other connected networks.

Following is a handpicked list of Top Free Firewall Software, with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open source(free) and commercial(paid) software. Read more…

Top Pick

ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer

ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer is a firewall management software. It helps you to detect security vulnerabilities in the firewall policies. It provides real-time visibility into network firewall security.

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Best Firewall Software for Windows (Open Source & Paid)

Name	Features	Free Trial	Link
👍 ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer	• Easily get notified about changes made on firewall configuration • User internet activity monitor • Network traffic and bandwidth monitoring	Download for Free	Learn More
TotalAV	• Remote Firewall feature allows remote access to your devices • It offers a secure way to surf the web anonymously and encrypt your internet’s traffic	Download for Free	Learn More
GlassWire Firewall	• You can see your current & past network activity • Detect malware and block badly behaving apps	Download for Free	Learn More
ZoneAlarm	• You can work invisibly. • It guards your personal data.	30-Day Free Trial	Learn More
Avast Endpoint	• Prevent dangerous websites, set templates, and group devices • Most comprehensive reports of threats and malware	30-Day Free Trial	Learn More

#1) ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer

#1 Top Pick

ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer

5.0

Firewall Policy Management

Real-time VPN and Proxy Server Monitoring

User internet activity monitoring

IDS & IPS for Security

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Features:

Manages firewall policy effectively
Ensures that the policy changes are managed
Monitors the VPN and internet activities of users
Continuously monitors and generates various compliance standards reports

Pros

It is PCI DSS and ISO 27001 compliant.
You can diagnose live firewall connections.
It can trigger alerts in real time for bandwidth usage.
Import log files easily to the Firewall analyzer from your local host.

Cons

Setting up advanced features can be challenging.

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Download for Free

#2) TotalAV

TotalAV is one of the best firewall software protecting you from malicious viruses, malware, and dangerous websites. It provides real-time Anti-Malware, Anti-Ransomware, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Adware protection.

TotalAV

4.9

Rapid install speed avoiding interruptions

Real-time antivirus protection

It offers a highly secured Password Vault

Powerful on-demand protection packed into a light solution

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Features:

Remote Firewall feature allows remote access to your devices
It offers a secure way to surf the web anonymously and encrypt your internet’s traffic
Real-time antivirus protection
Let you know if any of your passwords have been leaked in an online data breach.
It offers a highly secured Password Vault
It allows you to block annoying ads, pop-ups & intrusive trackers
Supported platforms: Windows, Mac, Android & iOS.

Pros

It comes with next-gen advanced cloud scanning.
You can quarantine potentially dangerous files.
TotalAV has a one-click login feature.
If you fall victim to identity theft, TotalAV guarantees $1,000,000 insurance.

Cons

Protects only six devices at once.
The safe search may not always function.

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Download for Free

#3) GlassWire Firewall

GlassWire is a free network monitor and security tool using a built-in firewall. This firewall software can see your past and present network activity.

Features:

Offers add-on Internet security to your computer or server by visualizing all past and present networking data
Allows you to block the program in one click
It helps you to keep track of your daily, weekly, or monthly bandwidth usage.
This software provides multiple remote server monitoring

Pros

You can block the connections of applications that do not behave well.
Receive alerts when a new app accesses the network.
It provides network usage statistics with granular data.
You can set up different Firewall profiles for different use cases.

Cons

It may slow down your device sometimes.
The free version doesn’t include a “Ask to Connect” feature.

Link: https://www.glasswire.com/

#4) ZoneAlarm

ZoneAlarm is a free firewall that helps you to protect your computer against cyber attracts. It blocks unwanted programs and network traffic access to the internet.

Features:

You can work invisibly.
It guards your personal data.
Provides a secure browsing experience.
Offers WiFi protection.
It allows you to search safely and give you alerts for dangerous sites.
You can safely download documents from the internet.

Pros

Get real-time antivirus and anti-phishing protection for your computer.
It can reconstruct files, remove threats, and deliver clean content.
Get alerts if someone gains control over the operating system.
It has a 30 days money-back guarantee.

Cons

It is compatible with only MS Windows Defender
You have to uninstall any existing anti-virus to use Zone Alarm.

Link: https://www.zonealarm.com/software/free-firewall

#5) Avast Endpoint Firewall

Avast Endpoint is a firewall protection tool that helps you to find out vulnerabilities in third-party applications. It also makes it easy to deploy patches from the Avast Business to your system.

Features:

Helps you to manage PCs, Macs, and servers from a single place
Schedule tasks in advance to make all devices control at all times
Prevent dangerous websites, set templates, and group devices
Most comprehensive reports of threats and malware
Invite other administrators and set personalized notifications

Pros

It lets you manage multiple devices and add and remove users securely.
All its plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
It uses six layers of protection.
This Firewall allows you to give access control and permissions.

Cons

Patch management is only available for Windows.

Link: https://www.avast.com/business/products/small-business

#6) Mcafee Firewall

Macfree firewalls allow your PC and other devices and closely watch network traffic. It also allows you to capture malicious programs before they reach your computer.

Features:

Prevent various type of viruses, malware, and ransomware from infecting your computer and mobile devices
Helps you to secure our firewall and block hackers from accessing your home network
Helps you to store and manage all your online passwords in a single location
Keep sensitive files private by storing them on your system with 256-bit encryption

Pros

You can manage unlimited devices.
It includes a file shredder feature.
Provides $1 million for identity theft in its advanced plan.
$25,000 is provided for ransomware coverage.

Cons

No lost wallet protection for other plans except for Advanced.
It doesn’t provide identity restoration except for the Advanced plan.

Link: https://www.mcafee.com/

#7) Azure Firewall

Azure Firewall provides network security to protect your network resources. It also offers a feature of threat intelligence-based filtering. It also allows preventing traffic from malicious domains and IP addresses.

Features:

Provides high availability and unrestricted cloud scalability
You can create, enforce and log application and network connectivity policies
Allows source and destination Network Address Translation
Support for hybrid connectivity through deployment behind ExpressRoute Gateways and VPN
Offers integrated with Azure Monitor for logging and analytics

Pros

It inspects traffic in real-time.
Azure has a huge number of certifications that include ISO/IEC, IRS 1075, HIPPA, etc
Once you complete 12 months, you will get over 55 services that are always free
It provides a unified management that can manage security across all virtual networks.

Cons

The price may not always be competitive.
It is not suitable for small businesses.

Link: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/products/azure-firewall/

#8) Norton

Norton AntiVirus Plus is ideal for 1 PC or Mac for offers real-time threat protection against malware, spyware, phishing attacks, and other online threats. The software is designed to provide multiple layers of security for your PC or Mac, including firewall protection.

Norton

Features:

Real-time threat protection
Helps you to generate, store, and manage your passwords, credit or debit card information and other credentials
Helps you to monitor communications between your computer and other computers

Pros

It includes parental control
Norton provides VPN for up to 5 devices.
If Norton expert fails to remove the virus, you get a refund.
It has a video supervision monitor.

Cons

Norton backup cloud feature is available only on Windows
Its safecam features are not available on iOS.

Link: https://in.norton.com/store

#9) AVS Firewall

AVS Firewall is used to protect your computer against hacker attacks. This firewall protection software helps you to secure your PC against malware, filter applications to prevent unauthorized intrusions.

Features:

Protect your PC registry every time any suspicious attempt to change the registry contents takes place.
Switch on the anti-banner feature and block unwanted flash advertisings, banners, and popups.
Offers feature of parent control making a whitelist of URLs and websites that you wants to view and work with
Allows you to create your own personalize firewall rules for each program and application
It will also enable you to view and control the traffic volume.
View alerts when any application tries to connect to the net from your PC.

Pros

It is available in several languages.
AVS Firewall comes with numerous helpful tools.
Get granular visibility into app connection and traffic.
It is highly customizable.

Cons

This application doesn’t offer continuous support for Firewall.
It comes with a heavy footprint.

Link: https://onlinehelp.avs4you.com/avs-firewall/

#10) Comodo Free Firewall

Comodo is one of the best free firewall software that provides the technology solutions that secure and preserve that experience. The tool offers a fast and hassle-free online experience for users.

Features:

Offers fast and hassle-free online experience
Manages traffic on your PC
Helps you to block all types of internet attacks
DDP-based security keeps you informed and make your PCs safe
Secures all connections when you are online
Monitors in/out connections

Pros

It provides a complete history of malware.
Comodo learns your behavior to give personalized protection.
It has a lot of configuration options.
This firewall comes with Deny Protection feature that works with feasible files.

Cons

Its installation can be time-consuming.
It is not easy to navigate and find its features.

Link: https://www.comodo.com/home/internet-security/firewall.php

#11) Evorim

Evoriam is one of the best free firewall software that identifies threats and protects the privacy of your website. It is one of the best firewall for Windows 10 that controls every program on your computer by permit or denies access to the Internet.

Evorim

Features:

Prevent your site invaders from gaining access to your computer
Regulate the access to the network and Internet according to a specific application
If a non-authorize program wants to access the internet, you will receive a notification immediately
Protects against tracking and monitoring of internet users with the help of cookies and other techniques.

Pros

It can block any kind of telemetry data transmission.
Evorim can filter programs, zones, and services.
It is capable of blocking botnets.
This firewall doesn’t collect any of your data.

Cons

It silently blocks apps by default, so it can be a task to permit them manually.

Link: https://www.evorim.com/en/free-firewall

#12) Tinywall

TinyWall is an advanced firewall built into modern Windows systems. The software also prevents malicious programs from modifying the settings of the Windows Firewall.

Features:

Multiple and easy ways to whitelist programs
Offers firewall tampering protection
Easily create exceptions with the auto-learn feature.
Password lockdown of settings
Support for temporary and timed firewall
Hosts file protection
Offers an option to restrict an application to the LAN
Helps you to the recognition of safe software and frauds

Pros

TinyWall has no popups.
It doesn’t have any artificial limitations, upgrades, and ads.
This FireWall includes boot-time filtering.
It uses almost no resources from your computer.

Cons

It is not suitable for networks, servers, and headless machines.

Link: https://tinywall.pados.hu/

#13) Untangle

Untangle NG Firewall simplifies network security with a single, modular, software platform designed according to the need of your organization.

Features:

Simplified management of your dispersed networks from a single pane of glass
It is one of the best free firewall for Windows that allows you to manger your backups, auditing logs, licensing and renewals
Integration with endpoint security partners

Pros

It comes with WireGuard VPN.
You can download reports.
Untangled has bandwidth control capability.
It includes ads and phishing blockers.

Cons

Its dashboard is not customizable enough.
The configurations can be hard to find.

Link: https://www.untangle.com/get-untangle/

How does a Firewall work?

A firewall monitors all the traffic and data that goes in and out of a system. It allows good data and blocks bad data from entering the computer. It uses the following three methods to control the network traffic:

Packet Filtering: which uses pre-determined security rules to create filters and discard the packets which are flagged by the filters.
Proxy Service: which is an application that acts as an intermediary between systems. It creates and runs a process on the firewall that mirrors a service as it runs on the end host.
Stateful Inspection: which is a modern method of firewall scanning. It holds significant attributes of each connection in a database of trusted information. Then it compares the information being transferred to the copy relevant to that transfer held in the database; if the comparison has a positive outcome, the information is allowed; otherwise, it is denied.

Which factors should you consider while selecting Firewall Software?

You should consider the following factors while selecting firewall software:

Security Features
Personalization
Easy to use and setup
Pricing
Support
Compatibility with multiple devices
Support for multiple platforms
Real-time threat protection
Performance

FAQs

A Firewall is a security system designed for the network. A firewall is set on the boundaries of any system or network which monitors and controls network traffic. Firewalls are mostly used to protect the system or network from malware, worms, and viruses. Firewalls can also prevent content filtering and remote access.

Here are some of the best firewall software:

Firewall software provides protection from cyberattacks and secures your computer and network from unnecessary network traffic and malicious software. It also improves the security of your computer and protects your private network from malware threats and unauthorized access.

Firewall software are widely used by IT professionals, small enterprises, large IT firms, businesses, government agencies, individuals, etc.

Best Firewall Software for Windows (Open Source & Paid)

Name	Free Trial	Features	Link
👍 ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer	Download for Free	• Easily get notified about changes made on firewall configuration • User internet activity monitor • Network traffic and bandwidth monitoring	Learn More
TotalAV	Download for Free	• Remote Firewall feature allows remote access to your devices • It offers a secure way to surf the web anonymously and encrypt your internet’s traffic	Learn More
GlassWire Firewall	Download for Free	• You can see your current & past network activity • Detect malware and block badly behaving apps	Learn More
ZoneAlarm	30-Day Free Trial	• You can work invisibly. • It guards your personal data.	Learn More
Avast Endpoint	30-Day Free Trial	• Prevent dangerous websites, set templates, and group devices • Most comprehensive reports of threats and malware	Learn More