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Head-to-head · Virtual Routers Software

VyOS vs Palo Alto Networks VM-Series

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score VyOS #5 in Virtual Routers Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit VyOS
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series #8 in Virtual Routers Software 8.2/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit site

VyOS leads on 1 check, Palo Alto Networks VM-Series on 0, and 2 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 scoreVyOS · 8.7/10
  • Free planonly VyOS
  • Most featuresPalo Alto Networks VM-Series · 2 of 2

VyOS scores higher on our rubric for virtual routers software: 8.7 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #8.

VyOS offers free plan; Palo Alto Networks VM-Series doesn't.

VyOS is the better fit for teams automating routing across varied environments. Palo Alto Networks VM-Series is the better fit for cloud teams needing virtual firewall and basic routing.

  • VyOS fits best

    Teams automating routing across varied environments

  • Palo Alto Networks VM-Series fits best

    Cloud teams needing virtual firewall and basic routing

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature VyOS 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Palo Alto Networks VM-Series 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.2
Ranking #5 in Virtual Routers Software #8 in Virtual Routers Software
Best for Teams automating routing across varied environments Cloud teams needing virtual firewall and basic routing
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price — Pricing on request
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Linux Web
Integrations 12 integrations 12 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features VyOS 0/2 · Palo Alto Networks VM-Series 2/2
VPN support Not checked yet ✓ (best)
High availability Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Deployment type Not checked yet Not checked yet
Routing protocols Not checked yet BGP, OSPF, OSPFv3, RIP, static routing
Max throughput Not checked yet Not checked yet
Cloud platforms Not checked yet Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Alibaba Cloud
Our review
Pros
  • Combines routing, firewalling, VPN, and high-availability capabilities.
  • Offers REST and GraphQL APIs plus Shell and Python scripting APIs.
  • Integrates with Ansible, Terraform, cloud-init, and major cloud platforms.
  • 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
Cons
  • Primarily self-hosted software, not a managed remote-access VPN service.
  • Paid subscriptions are needed for supported LTS releases and commercial support.
  • Best-effort support is the stated baseline for Corporate and Global plans.
  • Security-focused rather than a deep standalone routing platform
  • Pricing requires a sales conversation
  • No general free plan
Our verdict

VyOS is an open-source network operating system for organizations deploying virtual or physical routers, firewalls, VPNs, and related network services. It fits teams that want to run those functions on commodity hardware, virtual machines,…

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 →
  1. VyOSVirtual Routers Software 8.7Free plan
  2. Palo Alto Networks VM-SeriesVirtual Routers Software 8.2Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • VyOS — where it wins

    • Combines routing, firewalling, VPN, and high-availability capabilities.
    • Offers REST and GraphQL APIs plus Shell and Python scripting APIs.
    • Integrates with Ansible, Terraform, cloud-init, and major cloud platforms.

    Where it doesn't

    • Primarily self-hosted software, not a managed remote-access VPN service.
    • Paid subscriptions are needed for supported LTS releases and commercial support.
    • Best-effort support is the stated baseline for Corporate and Global plans.

  • 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
  • VyOS8.7/10 · Free plan

    A flexible virtual router for teams automating network services across on-premises and cloud environments.

    Visit VyOSFull 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 →

More comparisons

All virtual routers software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update