Google Cloud NGFW
Google Cloud NGFW: Google Cloud-native firewall protection with free rule evaluation and usage-priced advanced controls. Ranked #3 of 76 in Firewall Software by our editors (9.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for google Cloud-native firewall protection.
At a glance
- Editor score9.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forGoogle Cloud-native firewall protection
- Free planYes
- Paid from$0.02/GB usage-based
- Outbound controlAdvanced
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Layer 3–7 inspection with inbound and outbound traffic controls
- Hierarchical and global or regional firewall policies
- Threat intelligence, IPS, TLS inspection, and malware sandboxing
Where it doesn't
- Advanced capabilities require Standard or Enterprise tiers
- Usage-based pricing can vary with processed data volume
- Focused on Google Cloud workloads and networks
Our verdict on Google Cloud NGFW
Google Cloud NGFW is a distributed cloud firewall service for organizations securing workloads in Google Cloud. It supports virtual private cloud networks and workloads across projects, folders, and regions, with controls for both ingress and egress traffic. The service combines stateful Layer 3 and Layer 4 inspection with Layer 7 application inspection, centralized policy management, micro-segmentation, and firewall policies that can be global, regional, or hierarchical.
The published plans use a freemium, usage-based model rather than a conventional monthly subscription. Cloud NGFW Essentials provides rules based on IP ranges, ports, and protocols, with no charge for Essentials rule evaluation. Cloud NGFW Standard costs $0.0193 per GiB of data processed and adds FQDN objects, threat intelligence, geolocation objects, and north-south traffic processing. Cloud NGFW Enterprise also costs $0.0193 per GiB of data processed and adds Layer 7 security features, intrusion detection and prevention, URL filtering, TLS inspection, and advanced malware sandboxing. This structure suits teams that want to start with core network rules and pay for more specialized inspection as their requirements expand.
Its strongest fit is a Google Cloud environment that needs policy control across multiple organizational layers and deeper inspection than basic network rules provide. Enterprise features extend the firewall into application filtering, encrypted-traffic inspection, intrusion prevention, and malware analysis, making the product suitable for organizations with varied workload and traffic-control requirements. Teams seeking a firewall centered on Google Cloud networking should consider it; organizations looking for a broadly described platform beyond that environment or a fixed monthly price may prefer an alternative.
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Google Cloud NGFW pricing
All 3 Google Cloud NGFW plans and prices →
Google Cloud NGFW fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $0.02/GB usage-based |
| Outbound control | Advanced |
| Rule direction | Both |
| Connection alerts | Not verified |
| Application rules | Not verified |
| Supported platforms | web, api |
| Central management | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | cloud.google.com |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Google Cloud NGFW
- 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
- OPNsenseA broad, self-hosted firewall platform for teams that need IPS and network control.9.1
See all Google Cloud NGFW alternatives →
Google Cloud NGFW vs the competition
- Google Cloud NGFW vs FortiGate
- Google Cloud NGFW vs Arista NG Firewall
- Google Cloud NGFW vs OPNsense
- Google Cloud NGFW vs Azure Firewall Premium
- Google Cloud NGFW vs AWS Network Firewall
- Google Cloud NGFW vs Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall
Compare Google Cloud NGFW with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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