Palo Alto Networks VM-Series
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series: A cloud-ready virtual firewall with core routing protocols, VPNs and high availability. Ranked #8 of 25 in Virtual Routers Software by our editors (8.2/10); pricing: Pricing on request; best for cloud teams needing virtual firewall and basic routing.
At a glance
- Editor score8.2 / 10
- PricingPricing on request
- Best forCloud teams needing virtual firewall and basic routing
- Free planNo
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
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
Our verdict on Palo Alto Networks VM-Series
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 enterprise teams that need security controls alongside basic routing, VPN connectivity, and high availability. The product combines Layer 7 inspection with network segmentation and threat prevention, so it fits environments where traffic protection is central rather than teams seeking a routing-only appliance.
Its routing coverage includes BGP, OSPF, OSPFv3, RIP, and static routes, with IPSec VPN tunnels and active/passive or active/active high-availability configurations. VM-Series can be deployed on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and Alibaba Cloud, as well as platforms such as VMware, KVM, Microsoft Hyper-V, and OpenStack. The vendor also describes automated deployment and dynamic scaling for public cloud use. This breadth makes it a fit for teams operating across cloud and virtualized infrastructure; organizations that need deeper routing functionality should compare it with products centered primarily on virtual routing.
VM-Series is not offered as a general free plan, and the pricing model is contact sales. Palo Alto Networks describes bring-your-own-license and pay-as-you-go options using Software NGFW Credits, rather than a fixed public purchase price. The vendor documents platform-specific trial offers: 15 days for AWS and 30 days for Azure and private clouds. That can support evaluation in those environments, but the trial terms are platform-dependent. Choose VM-Series when firewall inspection and cloud deployment matter as much as routing; look elsewhere if a transparent fixed price or routing depth beyond its security-led feature set is essential.
Your product? Our editors can test Palo Alto Networks VM-Series in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series pricing
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Deployment type | Not verified |
| Routing protocols | BGP, OSPF, OSPFv3, RIP, static routing |
| Max throughput | Not verified |
| VPN support | Yes |
| High availability | Yes |
| Cloud platforms | Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Alibaba Cloud |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 12 integrations: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Alibaba Cloud, VMware … |
| Pricing | Pricing on request |
| Website | paloaltonetworks.com |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series integrations
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series lists 12 integrations on its own site.
- Amazon Web Services
- Microsoft Azure
- Google Cloud Platform
- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
- Alibaba Cloud
- VMware
- KVM
- Microsoft Hyper-V
- OpenStack
- Cisco ACI
- Cisco ENCS
- Cisco CSP
Alternatives to Palo Alto Networks VM-Series
- Arista CloudEOSA cloud-ready virtual router for enterprise WAN, VPN, and multi-cloud routing.9.2
- Juniper vMXJunos-based virtual routing for service providers and enterprises needing MX edge capabilities.9.0
- Nokia Virtualized Service RouterA service-provider-focused virtual router spanning IP/MPLS, broadband, NAT and IPsec functions.8.9
See all Palo Alto Networks VM-Series alternatives →
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs the competition
- Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs Arista CloudEOS
- Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs Juniper vMX
- Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs Nokia Virtualized Service Router
- Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs Huawei NetEngine AR6700V-L Virtual Router
- Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs VyOS
- Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs Juniper vJunos-router
Compare Palo Alto Networks VM-Series with any tool side by side →
Used Palo Alto Networks VM-Series? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Palo Alto Networks VM-Series for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series is listed in our Virtual Routers Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/palo-alto-networks-vm-series/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/palo-alto-networks-vm-series.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
Last updated · How we research and update