Fortinet FortiGate
8.0/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.7/5 (~179 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- —
- Deployment
- On-prem
- Best for
- Businesses wanting top performance-per-dollar NGFWs with the broadest model range
Best Firewall (Small Business) · 2026
Fortinet FortiGate vs 
Sophos Firewall (XGS) Fortinet FortiGate vs Sophos Firewall (XGS): on our data-weighted scoring, Sophos Firewall (XGS) edges ahead (8.2 vs 8.0/10). Fortinet FortiGate starts at Custom quote and is best for businesses wanting top performance-per-dollar NGFWs with the broadest model range; Sophos Firewall (XGS) starts at Custom quote and is best for SMBs and MSPs wanting strong NGFW protection with free cloud management and a low TCO. Choose Sophos Firewall (XGS) for the stronger overall track record; consider Fortinet FortiGate if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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Sophos Firewall (XGS)
8.2/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.6/5 (~404 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- 30 days
- Deployment
- On-prem
- Best for
- SMBs and MSPs wanting strong NGFW protection with free cloud management and a low TCO
Strengths at a glance
Six criteria, each scored 0–10 on the same scale from real review data, public pricing and feature coverage. See our methodology →
| Criterion | Fortinet FortiGate | Sophos Firewall (XGS) |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 8.0 | 8.2 |
| User reviews | 9.4 | 9.2 |
| Adoption | 6.0 | 6.9 |
| Affordability | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Ease of trial | 3.0 | 6.0 |
Fortinet FortiGate vs Sophos Firewall (XGS): head-to-head
| Fortinet FortiGate | Sophos Firewall (XGS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Custom quote | Custom quote |
| Pricing model | quote | quote |
| Free trial / tier | — | 30 days |
| Best for | Businesses wanting top performance-per-dollar NGFWs with the broadest model range | SMBs and MSPs wanting strong NGFW protection with free cloud management and a low TCO |
| Deployment | On-prem | On-prem |
| G2 rating | 4.7/5 (179) | 4.6/5 (404) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 8.0 | 8.2 |
Choose Fortinet FortiGate if…
You need businesses wanting top performance-per-dollar ngfws with the broadest model range.
✓ Pros
- Best-in-class performance-per-dollar
- Widest model range (SMB to chassis)
- Mature Security Fabric ecosystem
✕ Cons
- FortiManager/FortiAnalyzer cost extra
- Licensing/bundles are complex
- Quote-only pricing
Choose Sophos Firewall (XGS) if…
You need smbs and msps wanting strong ngfw protection with free cloud management and a low tco.
✓ Pros
- Free Sophos Central management lowers TCO
- Easy to use + deploy
- Strong MSP licensing model
✕ Cons
- Quote-only pricing
- Some models lack built-in reporting
- Performance trails FortiGate at top end
In depth
Pricing: Sophos Firewall (XGS) vs Fortinet FortiGate
Sophos Firewall (XGS) bills on a quote model from Custom quote (30 days trial), while Fortinet FortiGate uses a quote model from Custom quote (no trial). Because the models differ, the cheaper option flips depending on your fleet size — model both at your seat/endpoint count.
Features & deployment
Sophos Firewall (XGS) ships 6 headline capabilities (Xstream NGFW + deep packet inspection, Sophos Central management (free), Synchronized Security with endpoint, IPS + web + app control) and deploys On-prem. Fortinet FortiGate ships 6 (NGFW with FortiOS, FortiGuard threat intelligence, Integrated SD-WAN, IPS + AV + web filtering), deploying On-prem.
Ratings & verdict
Sophos Firewall (XGS) holds 4.6/5 (~404 G2 reviews); Fortinet FortiGate holds 4.7/5 (~179 G2 reviews). On our data-weighted score, Sophos Firewall (XGS) edges ahead (8.2 vs 8.0/10). Pick Fortinet FortiGate instead when businesses wanting top performance-per-dollar ngfws with the broadest model range. See Sophos Firewall (XGS) alternatives or Fortinet FortiGate alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
- Fortinet FortiGate vs Sophos Firewall (XGS): which is better?
- Fortinet FortiGate vs Sophos Firewall (XGS): on our data-weighted scoring, Sophos Firewall (XGS) edges ahead (8.2 vs 8.0/10). Fortinet FortiGate starts at Custom quote and is best for businesses wanting top performance-per-dollar NGFWs with the broadest model range; Sophos Firewall (XGS) starts at Custom quote and is best for SMBs and MSPs wanting strong NGFW protection with free cloud management and a low TCO.
- Is Fortinet FortiGate cheaper than Sophos Firewall (XGS)?
- Fortinet FortiGate starts at Custom quote and Sophos Firewall (XGS) starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: fortinet.com, sophos.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.