Murus review
Affordable macOS firewall control with bidirectional filtering and custom rules.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Murus is a graphical front end for macOS’s built-in PF packet-filter firewall. It is designed for Mac users who want visual control over inbound and outbound traffic, from less technical users seeking guided configuration to experienced administrators managing custom rulesets. Its feature set covers filtering, logging, port management, bandwidth controls, adaptive firewall functions, NAT, port forwarding, port knocking, and PF runtime monitoring. SSHGuard is listed as an integration, and the product is offered in Lite, Basic, and Pro editions.
Pricing is structured around one-time licenses. Murus Lite is free and includes inbound filtering, inbound logging, an Assistant, ports management, and bandwidth management. Murus Basic costs $10 for a single license and adds inbound and outbound filtering and logging, custom rules, an adaptive firewall, and a realtime PF browser. The five-license Family Pack costs $15. Murus Pro costs $25 for a single license and adds fully customized rulesets, manual custom rules, accounting, NAT and forwarding, and a PF states inspector. Pro bundles cost $40 for a single license or $55 for a five-license Family Pack and include Murus Pro, Vallum, VallumES, Snail, and Adsorb.
The main strength is depth within macOS network controls rather than broad platform coverage. Users can manage both traffic directions, receive notifications for unknown listening services, inspect PF states and runtime rules, and configure NAT and port forwarding. That makes Murus a fit for Mac users who want more control than basic inbound protection provides, especially at a low one-time entry price. It is less suitable for teams that need central management or application rules, or for organizations managing multiple operating systems. Buyers who want a focused graphical interface for macOS PF should consider Murus; those needing broader fleet administration or application-specific controls should look elsewhere.
Murus pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Bidirectional filtering and logging start at a $10 one-time price.
- Custom rules, NAT, port forwarding, and bandwidth management.
- Free Lite tier includes inbound filtering, logging, and port management.
- Where it doesn't
- macOS only, with no support for other listed platforms.
- No application-specific rules are included.
- No central management for administering multiple devices.
Murus fact sheet, pricing and score →
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