firewalld
firewalld: A capable open-source Linux firewall for administrators who need native network controls. Ranked #23 of 76 in Firewall Software by our editors (6.9/10); pricing: Free plan; best for linux administrators needing native firewall controls.
At a glance
- Editor score6.9 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forLinux administrators needing native firewall controls
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Outbound controlAdvanced
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free and open source with advanced outbound control
- Supports zones, IPv4/IPv6 filtering, NAT, IP sets and rich rules
- Integrates with NetworkManager, containers, fail2ban and Puppet
Where it doesn't
- Linux-only platform coverage
- No centralized management console
- Focused on firewall control rather than broader security features
Our verdict on firewalld
firewalld is a dynamically managed, stateful firewall daemon for Linux. It is designed for administrators who need native control over network traffic through zone-based policies, IPv4 and IPv6 filtering, NAT, Ethernet bridge support and IP sets. Configuration is available through command-line tools, a graphical utility, an applet and a D-Bus API, making it suitable for both direct administration and service or application integration.
The project is free and open source, with runtime and permanent configuration kept separate for controlled policy changes. Its rule system includes rich language rules, logging and actions, while denied-packet logging provides visibility into blocked traffic. Integrations with NetworkManager, libvirt, Podman, Docker, fail2ban and Puppet help it fit Linux hosts, virtualized environments, containers and automated administration. These capabilities make firewalld a practical choice when firewall policy needs to align with the surrounding Linux system rather than sit in a separate management product.
firewalld remains focused on firewall management. It does not provide a centralized management console or broader security features, and its platform coverage is Linux. Administrators who want zone policies, bidirectional rules, APIs and detailed network controls should find the feature scope well matched to that need. Teams seeking a wider security platform, centralized administration across environments or user-facing connection alerts should choose a product built around those requirements instead.
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firewalld pricing
firewalld fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Outbound control | Advanced |
| Rule direction | Both |
| Connection alerts | Not verified |
| Application rules | Not verified |
| Supported platforms | linux |
| Central management | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 6 integrations: NetworkManager, libvirt, Podman, Docker, fail2ban, Puppet |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | firewalld.org |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
firewalld integrations
firewalld lists 6 integrations on its own site.
- NetworkManager
- libvirt
- Podman
- Docker
- fail2ban
- Puppet
Alternatives to firewalld
- FortiGateA broad hybrid firewall platform for organizations that need deep security and network controls.9.4
- Arista NG FirewallA broad firewall platform with a free plan and extensive network controls.9.3
- Google Cloud NGFWGoogle Cloud-native firewall protection with free rule evaluation and usage-priced advanced controls.9.2
See all firewalld alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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