What Should a Firewall Actually Cost? (Home to Small Business, 2026)

A firewall can cost $0 or thousands a year. What you pay for is mostly threat-protection subscriptions and support, not the box. Here's what each tier really costs over 3 years (US list prices, October 2026; check current prices before buying).

Home: $0 to $130

Your ISP router already has a basic firewall (NAT). For more control without subscriptions, a Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Ultra lists at $129 and includes IDS/IPS with no yearly fee.

ISP router: $0   |   UniFi Cloud Gateway Ultra: ~$129, no subscription

Power users and homelabs: about $180 to $420

Run free OPNsense or pfSense CE on a small multi-port PC (budget mini PCs around $180-200, a Protectli Vault around $419), or buy a Firewalla Purple SE ($279) with no required subscription.

Mini PC + OPNsense: ~$180-420   |   Firewalla Purple SE: ~$279

Small office (5-50 people): about $640 to $1,300 the first year

Netgate 2100 MAX with pfSense Plus lists around $639. A FortiGate 40F is about $400-500 for the hardware, but around $990-1,300 with one year of FortiCare + Unified Threat Protection; 3 years bundled lists around $2,007.

Netgate 2100 MAX: ~$639   |   FortiGate 40F + 1 yr UTP: ~$990-1,300

The real cost: subscriptions

Business firewalls need yearly licenses for IPS signatures, web filtering, antivirus and support. Budget for renewals (often a few hundred dollars a year for a small unit) or the security features stop updating.

3-year cost = hardware + 3 x yearly license

How to size it

Pick by the threat-protection (IPS/UTP) throughput on the datasheet, not raw firewall throughput, and make sure it's above your internet speed. Plan to replace every 5-7 years.

Need: threat-protection throughput > your internet speed

Don't overpay

Paying for a license tier whose features you never turn on is the most common waste. Start with what you'll actually configure: IPS, DNS/web filtering, VPN.

FAQ

Do I need a firewall at home?

Your router already provides a basic one. A dedicated firewall is worth it if you run a homelab, want network segmentation for smart devices, or want ad and threat blocking.

Why does a $450 FortiGate cost $1,300?

The price includes a year of FortiGuard threat protection and FortiCare support. Without renewals, the security services stop updating.

Is free pfSense or OPNsense good enough for a business?

Technically yes, but you're your own support. Many small businesses pay for an appliance with support so someone else is accountable.