pfSense: Firewall and router software based on FreeBSD
Official website pfsense.org
Our take
A serious FreeBSD-based firewall and router platform for people building a real network perimeter, not a quick router reflash. The power comes with weight: you typically run it on dedicated hardware or a VM, and the configuration depth assumes networking knowledge. Pick pfSense when you want enterprise-grade firewall control at home or in a small office and you’ll invest the time to learn it. Anyone just wanting better firmware on an existing consumer router will find OpenWrt a more proportionate fit.
GitHub at a glance
pfsense/pfsense
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5,675
+ 11 this week
Last commit
3mo ago
healthy
License
Apache-2.0
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pfSense alternatives
OpenWrt OpenWrt: Embedded operating system based on Linux secure by default
OPNsense OPNsense is a FreeBSD-based open-source firewall and routing platform, forked from pfSense. It provides a web-based interface for stateful firewall rules, VPN (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPsec), traffic shaping, intrusion detection via Suricata, and a plugin system.
LibreCMC LibreCMC: For computers with minimal resources
pfSense license, in plain English
Apache-2.0 Permissive
Permissive like MIT, with an explicit patent grant and a requirement to flag any changes you make.
Permits
- Commercial use
- Modification
- Distribution
- Patent use
- Private use
Requires
- License and copyright notice
- State changes
Does not provide
- Trademark use
- Liability cover
- Warranty
Why it matters: Permissive licensing lets anyone reuse this, including inside closed products. That is freedom to build on, but no guarantee that downstream copies stay open.
Plain-language summary of the project's license, not legal advice. Read the full text for the exact terms.