Head-to-head · Virtual Routers Software
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security vs Palo Alto Networks VM-Series
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security leads on 0 checks, Palo Alto Networks VM-Series on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreCheck Point CloudGuard Network Security · 8.3/10
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security scores higher on our rubric for virtual routers software: 8.3 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #8.
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is the better fit for cloud teams prioritizing routing plus security controls. Palo Alto Networks VM-Series is the better fit for cloud teams needing virtual firewall and basic routing.
- Check Point CloudGuard Network Security fits best
Cloud teams prioritizing routing plus security controls
- Palo Alto Networks VM-Series fits best
Cloud teams needing virtual firewall and basic routing
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Side by side
| Feature | Check Point CloudGuard Network Security 8.3/10 Visit ↗ | Palo Alto Networks VM-Series 8.2/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.3 | 8.2 |
| Ranking | #7 in Virtual Routers Software | #8 in Virtual Routers Software |
| Best for | Cloud teams prioritizing routing plus security controls | Cloud teams needing virtual firewall and basic routing |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | Pricing on request | Pricing on request |
| Free plan | Not checked yet | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Integrations | 15 integrations | 12 integrations |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise | Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Check Point CloudGuard Network Security 2/2 · Palo Alto Networks VM-Series 2/2 | ||
| VPN support | ✓ | ✓ |
| High availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Deployment type | Virtual machine | Not checked yet |
| Routing protocols | OSPFv2, BGP, RIP, static routes, multicast routes, policy-based routing, PIM-SM, PIM-DM, IGMP v2 and v3 | BGP, OSPF, OSPFv3, RIP, static routing |
| Max throughput | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Cloud platforms | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure | Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Alibaba Cloud |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is a virtual security gateway and cloud firewall for workloads and traffic across public, private and hybrid clouds. It fits mid-market and enterprise teams that need centralized policy management… Read the review → |
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series is a virtualized next-generation firewall for protecting workloads and inspecting traffic across public and private clouds, virtualized data centers, and enterprise branches. It is aimed at mid-market and… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security — where it wins
- Unified firewall policy across AWS, Azure, GCP and OCI
- Threat prevention includes IPS, antivirus, Anti-Bot and malware defenses
- Routing, VPN and high-availability gateways support complex cloud networks
Where it doesn't
- Pricing uses a contact-sales process with PAYG and BYOL licensing
- Routing sits within a broader security stack rather than a routing-first product
- Documented support is provided through the docs channel
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series — where it wins
- Inspects traffic at Layer 7 with inline security controls
- Supports BGP, OSPF, OSPFv3, RIP and static routing
- Runs across major public clouds and virtualization platforms
Where it doesn't
- Security-focused rather than a deep standalone routing platform
- Pricing requires a sales conversation
- No general free plan
- Check Point CloudGuard Network Security8.3/10 · Pricing on request
A cloud firewall and virtual gateway that pairs extensive routing with threat prevention.
Visit Check PointFull verdict → - Palo Alto Networks VM-Series8.2/10 · Pricing on request
A cloud-ready virtual firewall with core routing protocols, VPNs and high availability.
Visit siteFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update


