GlassWire vs Portmaster
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
GlassWire is a network monitoring and personal firewall application for Windows and Android that visualizes current and past network activity to help users spot malware, bandwidth hogs, and unfamiliar devices on their network. Its firewall includes an ask-to-connect mode that lets users approve or deny individual apps' network access, alongside a network time machine for reviewing historical connections. GlassWire also tracks data usage across devices and can alert users before they exceed set data limits, while its network scanner flags new or unknown devices joining a WiFi network. Over 53 million downloads have been recorded for the Windows and Android apps combined.
Portmaster, made by the Austria-based company Safing, is a free and open-source application firewall for Windows and Linux that gives users visibility into every network connection made by every application on their computer. Rather than just blocking traffic at the network edge, it lets users set per-application rules to allow, block, or restrict specific programs, and can completely isolate an app from the internet if desired. Beyond application-level control, Portmaster blocks ads and trackers system-wide at the DNS level, meaning the protection applies across all applications rather than just a browser. It supports restricting connections by country and blocking specific domains directly. Safing also offers SPN, a separate paid privacy network product, and a Pro tier for Portmaster itself, alongside the free core firewall application.
- Combines network monitoring and firewall in one lightweight app
- Very affordable premium pricing at $2.99/month
- Visual, easy-to-understand traffic graphs
- Available on both Windows and Android
- Free and open source with a transparent, publicly reviewable codebase
- System-wide DNS-level ad and tracker blocking, not limited to a single browser
- Granular per-application network control not found in most consumer firewalls
- Active development with recent updates and an engaged community
- Free tier limits network history to just 24 hours
- Windows and Android only, no Mac or Linux support
- Advanced threat detection features require Premium
- No macOS support currently, only Windows and Linux
- More technical than typical consumer security software, aimed at privacy-focused users
- Optional Pro/SPN pricing (80 EUR/year) is not prominently broken down on the main site
More alternatives & similar tools
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataPortmaster offers open‑source, per‑app firewall and system‑wide ad/tracker blocking on Windows/Linux, while GlassWire provides visual network monitoring with a basic firewall on Windows/Android.
Key differences
- •Portmaster is free and open‑source; GlassWire’s premium features require a paid subscription.
- •Portmaster runs on Windows and Linux; GlassWire runs on Windows and Android, no Linux support.
- •Portmaster focuses on granular per‑application firewall rules and DNS‑level ad blocking; GlassWire emphasizes visual traffic graphs, bandwidth alerts, and threat detection.
Pricing & value
Portmaster is free and open‑source; GlassWire’s full features need a $2.99/month premium plan.
Ease of use / learning curve
GlassWire offers visual graphs and simple ask‑to‑connect firewall, whereas Portmaster is more technical for privacy‑focused users.
Features & depth
Portmaster provides per‑app firewall, DNS‑level ad/tracker blocking, and country‑based restrictions not found in GlassWire.
Integrations & ecosystem
GlassWire includes Wi‑Fi device alerts, ARP spoofing detection, and cross‑device data usage tracking; Portmaster lacks these.
Support
GlassWire offers community and dedicated premium support; Portmaster provides no listed support options.
Choose GlassWire if…
Home or small‑business users on Windows/Android who want easy visual monitoring and basic firewall with optional premium support.
Choose Portmaster if…
Privacy‑focused users on Windows or Linux needing granular firewall control and ad‑blocking without cost.
Common questions
Does either tool work on macOS?
Portmaster: no macOS support; GlassWire: no macOS support.
Is there a free version that includes full features?
Portmaster’s free version includes all listed features; GlassWire’s free tier limits network history to 24 hours and omits advanced threat detection.
Can I block specific domains or countries?
Portmaster can block specific domains and restrict connections by country; GlassWire does not list such capabilities.