Smoothwall Express
Smoothwall Express: A free self-hosted firewall with core filtering, VPN, monitoring, and Snort IDS. Ranked #47 of 76 in Firewall Software by our editors (4.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free basic self-hosted firewalling.
At a glance
- Editor score4.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree basic self-hosted firewalling
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Founded2000
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Stateful inspection with outbound filtering and IP blocking
- Includes VPN, Snort IDS, logging, and traffic statistics
- Web administration with DHCP and DNS proxying
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted installation requires supported 32-bit or 64-bit x86 hardware
- Feature depth and integrations are narrower than broader platforms
- Designed for home and small-office networks rather than wider environments
Our verdict on Smoothwall Express
Smoothwall Express is a free, open-source network firewall for home users and small offices. It runs as a self-hosted installation on 32-bit or 64-bit x86 hardware and includes a security-hardened GNU/Linux operating system with a web-based administration interface. Its core firewall capabilities include stateful packet inspection through Linux iptables and netfilter, outbound traffic filtering, port forwarding, and IP blocking. VPN configuration and connectivity, firewall log viewing, Snort intrusion detection, DHCP, and DNS proxying extend it beyond basic packet filtering.
For visibility and day-to-day administration, Smoothwall Express combines web-based management with traffic statistics, real-time bandwidth graphs, firewall logs, and web-based update installation. These features make it a practical fit for administrators who want one self-hosted system to manage filtering, selected network services, monitoring, and VPN connectivity. The published project details also list standard, flash, developer, and compatibility-focused releases, while Update 13 was released in March 2026.
Its main trade-off is scope. Smoothwall Express covers core firewall and network-management needs, but its feature depth and integrations are narrower. The self-hosted model also places responsibility for installation, compatible hardware, administration, and updates on the operator. Choose it when free open-source firewalling, outbound control, VPN support, Snort IDS, and web administration are the priorities. Consider a broader platform instead when deeper integrations or a wider feature set matter more than a focused, self-hosted deployment.
Your product? Our editors can test Smoothwall Express in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Smoothwall Express pricing
Smoothwall Express fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Outbound control | Not verified |
| Rule direction | Both |
| Connection alerts | Not verified |
| Application rules | Not verified |
| Supported platforms | Linux; 32-bit and 64-bit x86 |
| Central management | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Linux, Web |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | smoothwall.org |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Smoothwall Express
- 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 Smoothwall Express alternatives →
Used Smoothwall Express? 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 Smoothwall Express 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
Smoothwall Express is listed in our Firewall Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/smoothwall-express/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/smoothwall-express.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