Untangle NG Firewall vs WatchGuard Firebox
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
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.
WatchGuard Firebox is a line of next-generation firewall (NGFW) products spanning physical appliances, virtual instances, and cloud deployments. The lineup includes tabletop T Series appliances for small businesses and rackmount M Series appliances for enterprises, plus FireboxV for virtualized environments and Firebox Cloud built specifically for AWS and Azure. Its Unified Threat Management services bundle AI-powered antivirus and advanced threat protection with sandboxing. Firebox also provides enterprise-grade VPN for secure remote access and, through FireCloud Gateway integration, zero trust access so remote users and private applications can be reached securely through the same appliance. WatchGuard positions Firebox for small and medium businesses, distributed enterprises with multiple locations, and organizations needing cloud infrastructure security, with flexible modular licensing and pricing available directly from the company.
- 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
- Covers hardware, virtual, and cloud deployment models under one product line
- Bundles antivirus, sandboxing, VPN, and zero trust access in one appliance
- Scales from small tabletop units to enterprise rackmount hardware
- Flexible modular licensing lets customers add services over time
- 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
- No public pricing is listed; requires contacting sales
- Full UTM feature set depends on which licensed security suites are added
- Best value likely requires committing to WatchGuard's appliance ecosystem
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth are self‑hosted next‑gen firewalls with no public pricing; WatchGuard offers a unified appliance line with built‑in AI threat protection, while Untangle provides a modular stack with a cloud dashboard and broader Arista ecosystem.
Key differences
- •WatchGuard bundles hardware, virtual and cloud appliances in one product line; Untangle is purely software‑only.
- •Untangle includes a cloud‑based management dashboard and mobile app; WatchGuard has no cloud UI mentioned.
- •WatchGuard advertises AI‑powered antivirus, sandboxing and zero‑trust VPN out‑of‑the‑box; Untangle requires adding separate security apps.
- •Untangle is now part of Arista’s Cognitive Unified Edge platform, giving access to a larger networking ecosystem.
Pricing & value
Both list price as “Contact for Pricing” with no public cost information.
Ease of use / learning curve
Untangle offers a cloud dashboard and mobile app for remote management, which simplifies administration.
Features & depth
WatchGuard bundles AI‑powered antivirus, sandboxing, VPN and zero‑trust access in each appliance without extra modules.
Integrations & ecosystem
Untangle is now part of Arista’s broader Edge Threat Management platform, giving access to Arista’s networking ecosystem.
Scalability
WatchGuard spans tabletop, rack‑mount, virtual and cloud deployments, covering SMB to enterprise sizes.
Support
No specific support details are provided for either product.
Security & privacy
WatchGuard highlights AI‑driven threat protection and sandboxing; Untangle lists standard UTM capabilities.
Choose Untangle NG Firewall if…
Organizations that prefer modular licensing, cloud management, and integration with Arista networking.
Choose WatchGuard Firebox if…
Enterprises or SMBs wanting an all‑in‑one appliance with built‑in AI threat protection.
Common questions
Is there any publicly listed price for either firewall?
No. Both products require contacting sales or using a configurator for pricing.
Can I manage the firewall remotely via a cloud console?
Untangle provides a cloud‑based dashboard and mobile app; WatchGuard does not mention a cloud UI.
Do I need to add extra licenses for antivirus and sandboxing?
WatchGuard bundles AI‑powered antivirus and sandboxing in its core appliance; Untangle requires adding separate security apps.