Greenbone (OpenVAS) vs OPNsense
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Greenbone develops the OpenVAS vulnerability scanning engine, one of the most widely deployed open-source vulnerability management systems, used to discover assets and identify security weaknesses across desktops, servers, network devices, and IoT/industrial equipment before attackers can exploit them. Its enterprise feed grows continuously and includes over 100,000 vulnerability tests, with automated, schedulable scans and severity-based prioritization of findings. Greenbone offers several deployment paths: a free, open-source OpenVAS edition for self-hosting, an entry-level cloud/SaaS option (OpenVAS Basic) aimed at small businesses with a 14-day free trial, and hardware appliances or virtual-machine images for larger, on-premises enterprise deployments with GDPR-compliant data handling.
OPNsense is an open-source firewall and routing platform built on FreeBSD, offering a stateful firewall for IPv4/IPv6, multi-WAN load balancing and failover, and hardware failover via the CARP protocol. It bundles multiple VPN options (IPsec, OpenVPN, WireGuard, Tinc), an intrusion prevention system powered by Suricata, and NetFlow-based traffic reporting, all managed through a web GUI. The core platform is free under a permissive BSD/MIT license and can run on anything from a fanless mini-PC to a rack appliance, including official OVA images for virtualization. A paid Business Edition adds a Web Application Firewall, extended threat-intelligence blocklists, centralized fleet management (OPNcentral), and training/e-book resources for organizations that need vendor-backed support.
- Free, open-source edition available for self-hosting
- Very large and continuously updated vulnerability test library
- Deployment options span free software to enterprise appliances
- On-premises option supports GDPR-sensitive environments
- Fully open source core under a permissive BSD/MIT license
- Bundles IPS, multiple VPN protocols, and multi-WAN failover for free
- Runs on hardware ranging from mini-PCs to rack appliances
- Active development with frequent releases
- Enterprise appliance pricing isn't published and requires contacting sales
- Self-hosted free edition demands more setup and maintenance effort
- Interface and workflow are aimed at security practitioners, not general IT staff
- Requires dedicated hardware or a VM, not a simple desktop install
- Web Application Firewall and OPNcentral fleet management require the paid Business Edition
- Steeper learning curve than consumer router firmware
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Greenbone (OpenVAS)
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataGreenbone offers vulnerability scanning while OPNsense provides firewall and routing; choose Greenbone for security audits, OPNsense for network protection.
Key differences
- •Greenbone focuses on vulnerability assessment; OPNsense focuses on firewall/NAT and VPN routing.
- •Greenbone provides a large, continuously updated test library (100k+ checks); OPNsense bundles IPS and multiple VPN protocols but no vulnerability database.
- •Greenbone can be self‑hosted free or purchased as an appliance; OPNsense is free core with optional paid Business edition for extra features.
- •Greenbone’s UI targets security practitioners; OPNsense’s UI targets IT admins and network engineers.
- •Greenbone offers email/partner support; OPNsense offers community forum and paid Business support.
Pricing & value
Both are freemium; Greenbone free edition self‑hosted, OPNsense free core; enterprise/Business pricing not disclosed.
Ease of use / learning curve
OPNsense’s web UI is geared to IT admins; Greenbone’s interface is aimed at security practitioners and may be more complex.
Features & depth
Greenbone provides extensive vulnerability testing (100k+ checks) and asset discovery; OPNsense provides firewall, IPS, VPN but no scanning.
Integrations & ecosystem
OPNsense lists VPN and IPS integrations; Greenbone lists no key integrations.
Collaboration
Greenbone classifies and prioritizes findings for remediation, supporting team workflows; OPNsense lacks such collaboration features.
Scalability
Greenbone offers appliance, VM, and cloud SaaS options for scaling; OPNsense runs on hardware/VM but no SaaS scaling.
Support
OPNsense offers paid Business support plus community; Greenbone only email/partner support, enterprise pricing undisclosed.
Choose Greenbone (OpenVAS) if…
Security teams needing regular vulnerability scans and asset discovery, willing to manage self‑hosted setup.
Choose OPNsense if…
IT admins or small businesses needing a self‑hosted firewall, VPN, and IPS, preferring open‑source networking stack.
Common questions
Can I use either product for free?
Yes. Greenbone has a free self‑hosted OpenVAS edition; OPNsense’s core firewall is free, with optional paid Business features.
Which tool helps me find and prioritize vulnerabilities?
Greenbone provides a large, continuously updated vulnerability test library and severity‑based prioritization; OPNsense does not offer vulnerability scanning.
Do I need additional hardware for OPNsense?
Yes, OPNsense requires dedicated hardware or a VM; it cannot be installed as a simple desktop application.