Table of Contents
The best Linux firewalls make managing firewall security on Linux computers and IT networks simple and easy. A firewall is a security programme for a network that controls how connections come in and go out based on many rules that are set. Simply put, it is a wall between your computer and the rest of the network.
You might think that having a firewall is a good idea, and you’d be right. But none of the Linux versions come with a firewall. To be more exact, they come with firewalls that don’t work. This article is about the best firewalls for Linux in 2023. We would also explain the whole idea behind these security solutions and tell you everything you should know about them.
Best Linux Firewalls
IPFire

IPFire is a stateful firewall distribution that runs on Linux and is built on top of Netfilter. It started out as a branch of the IPCop project, but it has since been rewritten using Linux From Scratch as a model. IPFire can run on many different kinds of hardware, including ARM devices like the Raspberry Pi.
IPFire is easier to use than some of its competitors because it is so simple. During the installation process, you can set up your network so that it has different color-coded security segments. Overall, it is one of the best Linux Firewalls that you can download here.
Features
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Can run on minimal hardware
- Various options for deployment
Cons
- Less online support and documentation
OPNsense

OPNSense is a combination of two open source projects that have been around for a long time: pfSense and m0n0wall. Instead of Linux, OPNsense is powered by HardenedBSD, which is a version of FreeBSD that was made with security in mind.
The firewall distro is made to be a firewall and routing platform. It can be used to filter traffic, show a captive portal, shape traffic, find and stop intrusions, set up a Virtual Private Network, and do a lot more. Every week, the firewall distribution comes with security updates.
Features
Pros
- Feature-rich
- Based on HardenedBSD
- Regular security updates
Cons
- Interface isn’t user-friendly
Shorewall

Shorewall is a firewall interface that uses the Netfilter framework to watch and filter network traffic. It’s free to use and has an open source. Shorewall doesn’t need dedicated hardware or virtualized containers to work, unlike the other firewall solutions.
You can just download the software package, install it, and use it. Even though Shorewall is a very simple piece of software, don’t underestimate what it can do. It is very flexible and can quickly adapt to network environments that change quickly.
Features
Pros
- Simple configuarion with text files
- Can run on your PC or a dedicated box
- Works by setting up different zones
Cons
- No graphical interface
pfSense

pfSense is an open-source firewall platform that is based on FreeBSD. It is also the project that OPNsense was made from. Because of this, pfSense and OPNsense have a lot in common when it comes to how they work. You can use pfSense as a router, DHCP server, or DNS server.
It has advanced network security and can find intrusions. It is easy to set up and can be used in many different ways. Also, the web control centre is easy to get to and makes it easy to manage the pfSense system and get a full picture of how secure the network perimeter is.
Features
Pros
- Clean interface
- Chock full of features
- Well documented
Cons
- Complicated configuration
firewalld

On Linux, firewalld is the front end for nftables. It is the firewall that comes with Red Hat and other distributions that use Red Hat. It’s a bit easier to set up than using iptables or nftables directly. It mostly sets up everything into different “zones,” just like Shorewall does. It can set up complex rules that would be much harder to set up manually in nftables.
Features
Pros
- Organizes rules into different zones
Cons
- No graphical interface
Gufw Firewall

UFW, which stands for “Uncomplicated Firewall,” is a firewall that comes pre-built with all Ubuntu versions of Linux. Gufw is an improvement to the Graphical User Interface (GUI) that makes it easier to set up UFW to meet your needs.
You can download Gufw Firewall as a standalone tool for any Linux distribution. Linux is popular among developers, but it also has a large number of users who are not developers. Gufw Firewall is made for this type of user by making sure there is a no-code user interface and a simple way to manage configurations.
Features
Pros
- it has very good protection.
- Very simple way to configure the firewall!
Cons
- Interface isn’t user-friendly
Smoothwall Express

Smoothwall Express is a free, open-source firewall for Linux that comes with its own secure operating system (OS). You could use it instead of EFW because it needs to live in a virtualized shell or hardware environment. Smoothwall also has a corporate solution that is fine-tuned for education, public sector, and business use cases.
Even though Smoothwall Express is a free Linux firewall solution, it is based on the same research and new ideas that go into its commercial solution, which is used by resellers all over the world. This ensures that you get reliable functionality and continuous updates for your Linux environment.
Features
Pros
- Anti-Virus
- Audit, Analysis and Compliance
- Breach Detection
- Content Filtering
- Data Destruction
Cons
- Small Business Network
Vuurmuur

Vuurmuur is a free and open-source firewall programme that works like UFW and Shorewall. It uses the Linux kernel’s built-in firewalling tools, such as iptables and Netfilter, to manage the network’s edge. It has a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes it easy to set up the firewall.
Vuurmuur is somewhere in the middle of being simple and having a lot of features. Its graphical user interface (GUI) makes it easy for anyone to use, and since it can be fully scripted, it’s easy to put your automation scripts to use.
Features
Pros
- Easy to setup in with NAT.
- Secure default policy.
- Entirely manageble through ssh and from the console.
- Scriptable for integration with other tools.
Cons
- Complicated configuration
FAQs
Which firewall is best for Linux?
- IPFire
- OPNsense
- pfSense
- ClearOS
- OpenWRT
Should you use a firewall in Linux?
Most people who use Linux on their desktops don’t need firewalls. You only need a firewall if you’re running some kind of server programme on your computer. This could be a server for a website, email, games, etc.
What is better than pfSense?
The user interface of OPNsense is nicer, and it seems to add new features faster than pfSense. Since pfSense has been around longer, it has a bigger community and more online documentation.
Why Linux is more secure than Windows?
Malware like viruses, worms, etc. rarely get into Linux systems. This makes Linux a very safe OS. We will never run into a situation as a normal user where Antivirus software is sold for Linux. This means that Linux is naturally safe, and there are a lot of reasons for this.