Sophos Firewall vs Untangle NG Firewall
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Sophos Firewall is a next-generation firewall designed to serve as the central hub of Sophos's broader network security platform, coordinating automated responses with endpoint, email, and workspace protection products. It uses Xstream architecture for accelerated traffic handling, deep packet inspection, and AI-powered zero-day threat detection, all managed through the cloud-based Sophos Central console.
Untangle NG Firewall is a modular next-generation firewall platform that consolidates network security functions like content filtering, intrusion prevention, ransomware protection, and VPN into a single console instead of requiring multiple separate vendor products. Following its acquisition, the product now operates under Arista Networks as part of the Edge Threat Management (ETM) platform, with NG Firewall remaining the core product and a cloud-based ETM Dashboard, including a mobile app, for centralized management. The platform is aimed at organizations that need enterprise-style network security without a large in-house security team, and it is used across education (K-12 and higher ed), government, healthcare, financial services, nonprofits, and hospitality. Special pricing is available for qualifying public institutions, nonprofits, and government organizations, and a free trial and online purchase configurator are offered directly on the site.
- Deep integration with broader Sophos security ecosystem
- Strong price-per-protected-Mbps positioning
- Flexible deployment across physical, cloud, and remote setups
- Advanced features bundled rather than sold separately
- Modular design lets organizations pay only for needed security functions
- Discounted pricing available for education, nonprofit, and government buyers
- Cloud dashboard with mobile app simplifies remote management
- Backed by Arista's networking infrastructure following acquisition
- Pricing not published, requires contacting sales or a partner
- Full value requires buying into the Sophos product ecosystem
- Appliance-based deployment requires more setup than pure SaaS tools
- Public list pricing is not shown; requires going through a configurator or sales
- Brand transition (Untangle to Arista Edge Threat Management) can cause naming confusion
- Best suited to organizations comfortable managing their own modular security stack
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Alternatives to Untangle NG Firewall
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth are self‑hosted next‑gen firewalls, but Sophos bundles more integrated AI/SD‑WAN features while Untangle offers modular pricing and a cloud dashboard.
Key differences
- •Sophos includes built‑in AI threat detection, NDR and SD‑WAN; Untangle requires adding separate apps for those functions.
- •Untangle’s modular app model lets you pay only for needed features; Sophos ships a fixed feature set.
- •Sophos integrates tightly with Sophos Central, Endpoint and Email; Untangle’s integrations are limited and no API is listed.
- •Untangle provides a cloud‑based management dashboard and mobile app; Sophos uses Sophos Central, also cloud‑based but tied to Sophos ecosystem.
Pricing & value
Untangle advertises modular pricing and special discounts for schools/nonprofits, while Sophos only offers contact‑sales pricing.
Ease of use / learning curve
Untangle’s cloud dashboard and mobile app simplify remote management; Sophos requires navigating the broader Sophos Central suite.
Features & depth
Sophos bundles AI‑powered detection, NDR, TLS decryption, SD‑WAN and ZTNA out of the box; Untangle needs separate apps.
Integrations & ecosystem
Sophos integrates with Sophos Endpoint, Email and Central; Untangle lists no API and limited integrations.
Scalability
Sophos targets small to large enterprises with flexible deployment (physical, cloud, remote); Untangle is positioned for SMBs and public sector.
Support
Sophos offers partner and sales‑driven support; Untangle only mentions sales contact, no explicit support options.
Security & privacy
Sophos provides AI threat detection, NDR and zero‑trust access; Untangle’s security capabilities are modular but less detailed.
Choose Sophos Firewall if…
Enterprises or midsize firms already using Sophos products and needing an all‑in‑one, AI‑driven firewall.
Choose Untangle NG Firewall if…
SMBs, schools or nonprofits wanting pay‑as‑you‑go modules and a simple cloud dashboard.
Common questions
Which product has a published pricing model?
Neither lists prices publicly; Untangle mentions modular pricing and discounts, Sophos requires contacting sales.
Do both solutions offer API access for automation?
Sophos provides an API; Untangle does not list API availability.
Can I manage the firewall remotely via a cloud console?
Yes for both: Sophos uses Sophos Central; Untangle offers a cloud dashboard with a mobile app.