Top 10 Firewall Software for Desktops in 2021

Firewall software is defined as an application that establishes a barrier between your desktop (or any other endpoint client) and the network to restrict incoming and outgoing data based on security policies. From power users with a sophisticated WFH setup to small, mid-sized, and large businesses with a distributed workforce, desktop users across the spectrum can gain from firewall software in 2021. This article discusses the top 10 firewall software offerings to consider in 2021 and the features that should guide your decision. 

Table of Contents:

• • What Is Firewall Software?
  • Key Must-Have Features for Firewall Software
  • Top 10 Firewall Software Solutions in 2021

What Is Firewall Software?

Firewall software is an application that establishes a barrier between your desktop (or any other endpoint client) and the network to restrict incoming and outgoing data based on security policies. 

Firewall software typically resides on the endpoint client itself, but can also be installed on a standalone hardware appliance, provided it has sufficient computing resources. Recently emerging enterprise firewall software can be installed on the cloud while providing coverage for the entire device landscape. IT managers or the user can configure firewall software to enforce security restrictions based on specific network conditions. 

For example, you can set up the software to block all outgoing data when using a public Wi-Fi network, so you can use the Wi-Fi for download without risking data exposure through spyware. You can also set up application-specific security controls, where some apps are allowed to interact with the public internet, but others (which house valuable/sensitive data) are restricted. 

Interestingly, nearly every desktop operating system comes with a built-in firewall. 

PCs running macOS have a sophisticated application firewall that can be fine-tuned to better manage the connections between your desktop and public internet services. Apple PCs come with prebuilt Code Signing Certificates to verify applications and block unauthorized ones. Similarly, Windows PCs have had an application firewall for decades now, which is turned on by default. Like Apple, Windows uses prebuilt certificates to identify untrusted apps and alerts you to take action. 

But these built-in firewalls lack advanced controls beyond basic functionalities. For example, activate safe browsing experiences or partially restrict network access for a specific app. 

This is where third-party firewall software platforms come in. They allow users and IT managers a greater degree of configurability, ensuring that internet-based risks don’t penetrate a desktop or sensitive data housed on the desktop isn’t exposed. Most firewall software providers go the extra mile, bundling other PC protection and internet safety features into a holistic solution. 

Before we jump into the top 10 firewall software solutions in 2021, let’s look at the features that should be on your list. 

Also Read: Top 10 Linux Firewall Solutions in 2021

Key Must-Have Features for Firewall Software

Firewall software platforms come in all shapes and sizes depending on how many desktops you want to protect and the specific use cases. Here are five must-haves to check for: 

Key Features of Firewall Software

• • Lightweight installation: The software should not be bulky or slow down your PC by constantly consuming system resources for data traffic inspection and vulnerability scanning.
  • Advanced configurations: The software should offer flexible options for configuring as per your usage needs, like setting up different firewall profiles for different family members on a home PC or restricting specific services on an app. 
  • Non-intrusive UX: Whether you are looking for an enterprise solution or an independent installation, frequent intrusions such as popups, multi-level updates, etc., will hold back productivity. Eventually, the user will turn off the firewall due to a frustrating experience, which is counter-intuitive for your security posture. 
  • Windows firewall protection: The first thing most malicious entities do once they have access to a desktop is turn off the Windows’ built-in security mechanisms. Your firewall software should prevent this. 
  • Reports and analytics: The software should offer some degree of data insights on desktop security, whether it is a basic breakdown of flagged or approved activities or real-time monitoring. 
  • Download protection: The software should be able to protect you from malicious downloads, either by raising an alert or by blocking it altogether if its origins are proven to be malicious. 

Apart from this, it is helpful to have bundled-in capabilities so that you can manage your entire desktop security processes from a single platform. While not a must-have, this is an approach that several industry leaders like Avast, Comodo, and McAfee have opted for – to deliver a stronger value proposition. 

Also Read: What Is a Firewall? Definition, Key Components, and Best Practices

Top 10 Firewall Software Solutions in 2021 

Internet-based cyber risks are rising, with web-based attacks growing by 8x times between the first half of 2019 and the same period in 2020. So, even if your desktop comes with a built-in firewall solution, it is a good idea to add dedicated firewall software for extra protection. Here are our top 10 recommendations for firewall platforms in 2021, arranged in alphabetical order. This list includes software-only products that can be used as standalone solutions without deploying a hardware appliance. 

Disclaimer: This listing is based on publicly available information and includes information from vendor websites that sell to mid-to-large enterprises. Readers are advised to conduct their own final research to ensure the best fit for their unique organizational needs.

1. Avast Premium Security

Overview: Avast needs no introduction in the cybersecurity world. The company is known for its surprisingly strong free antivirus and its premium offering packs in an effective desktop firewall software. Avast Premium Security works on both macOS and Windows desktops as well as Android devices. 

Key features: Avast Premium Security has the following core functionalities: 

• • Firewall protection for up to 10 devices 
  • Website scanning for safe browsing 
  • Prevention of unauthorized remote access by hackers 
  • Firewall customization for different networks 
  • Application-specific firewall settings

USP: Avast Premium Security is a complete answer to your network security requirements on a desktop. In addition to a robust firewall, it also offers antivirus, anti-malware, secure VPN, and privacy capabilities for an end-to-end superior browsing experience. 

Editorial comments: For power users relying on their home offices and personal device ecosystems, Avast Premium Security could be your go-to solution. Its application-specific firewall settings give you complete control over app usage while staying compliant with security policies. 

Pricing: Avast Premium Security is differently priced based on location. In the U.S., it costs $49.99 per year to protect up to 10 desktops. 

2. Comodo Internet Security 

Overview: Comodo Internet Security rings business-grade security measures – like zero-trust device access and threat sandboxing – to your desktop. It is a competitively priced firewall software with a host of additional security capabilities, designed for end-to-end protection from internet-based attacks. 

Key features: You can expect the following features with Comodo Internet Security: 

• • Fully configurable firewall with application blacklisting/whitelisting 
  • Memory firewall capabilities to protect against buffer overflow attacks 
  • Enterprise calls data packet filtering 
  • Automatic sandboxing of unknown/suspicious files 
  • Threat heuristics, email security, and spam protection 

USP: Even though it is intended for desktop implementations, Comodo’s firewall software goes the extra mile. Not only is the firewall feature fully configurable, but it also sandboxes threats immediately if at all they are let in. 

Editorial comments: Comodo offers protection from the most common attack tactics prevalent today, including spyware, rootkits, remotely installed bots, malware, and zero-day threats. These, together with its firewall module, make it a one-stop solution for those who need to protect 1-3 desktops. 

Pricing: Comodo Internet Security is available at $29.99 per year for one desktop and at a discounted rate of $39.99 if you buy a three-license bundle. 

3. GlassWire

Overview: Founded in 2014, GlassWire is a relatively young company, but its firewall has become quite popular. It protects up to 10 desktops in a single license and gives you all the necessary tools to manage and secure your network activity. 

Key features: GlassWire’s biggest differentiators include: 

• • Visual network monitoring in real-time 
  • Prebuilt toolbox of network security checks to detect changes in system files, device lists, etc.
  • Discrete alerts that let you snooze updates while working 
  • Customizable firewall profiles for home, public, work, and other networks 
  • Internet privacy protection that visualizes all the online services to which you are sending data

USP: Unlike most other firewall software for desktops, GlassWire does not come with a pre-bundled antivirus. This is a good thing, as it allows the company to focus squarely on firewall capabilities – for instance, evil twin detection in case new Wi-Fi hardware appears nearby with the same network name. 

Editorial comments: GlassWire is an excellent on-device firewall software for small businesses with 10-50 desktops in a single environment. Its network visualization capabilities are truly unique, and you can even monitor remote servers via desktops by installing the company’s server-client. 

Pricing: GlassWire Elite costs $99 per year for up to 10 devices, including unlimited remote connections. 

4. McAfee® Total Protection

Overview: McAfee is another cybersecurity veteran that is globally recognized for its desktop offerings. Its firewall service comes baked into its McAfee® Total Protection suite, protecting home networks from being accessed by unauthorized entities. 

Key features: McAfee® Total Protection brings the following core capabilities: 

• • WebAdvisor that alerts you to suspicious websites, links, and files 
  • PC optimization to reduce bandwidth consumption and extend battery life 
  • Built-on password manager for password storage and generation 
  • Powerful antivirus to protect against malware and other types of attacks 
  • Smart advice for firewall configurations 

USP: As the name suggests, McAfee® Total Protection is a 360-degree cybersecurity software for your desktop. You can securely manage remote connections to your PC, blacklist or whitelist certain apps, and gain up-to-date security event data as available on McAfee’s consolidated website HackerWatch. 

Editorial comments: McAfee® Total Protection may not advertise firewall as central to its value proposition but boasts strong firewall capabilities. You can set up basic automations to respond to security events, or you could simply view a firewall alert and take action. You can even get down to a granular level and customize which security vulnerabilities your firewall should report. 

Pricing: McAfee® Total Protection follows localized pricing, and it will also depend on the reseller you choose. Its pricing starts with $17.99 per year for a 10-device license. 

5. Smoothwall Firewall

Overview: Smoothwall is commonly known for maintaining the SmoothWall opensource project, a Linux-based firewall software. It also has a packaged firewall software solution for organizations that can be deployed in conjunction with its web-filtering tool, Smoothwall Filter. 

Key features: Some of Smoothwall Firewall’s key features include: 

• • 7-layer application control 
  • Stateful data packet inspection 
  • Protection from known and unknown malware at the gateway 
  • Bandwidth usage optimization to prioritize critical apps 
  • Built-in VPN, IPsec, and SSL encryption

USP: Smoothwall combines network bandwidth management, firewall-based protection, and gateway anti-malware to create an end-to-end desktop security solution. The software can also prevent and detect intrusion while integrating with services like Microsoft Active Directory for identity-based access privileges. 

Editorial comments: Smoothwall targets U.K. companies specifically, with localized support and compliance with the country’s specific technology regulations. U.K. companies – particularly educational institutions – would do well to consider Smoothwall Firewall for the many desktop devices in use within their perimeters every day. 

Pricing: Smoothwall Firewall follows custom pricing based on the number of devices you want to cover. 

6. Sophos Home Premium

Overview: Sophos Home Premium is the desktop firewall software from the world-leading cybersecurity provider, Sophos. Besides the firewall, it protects you from malware, privacy invasions, ransomware, virus, and other threats. Sophos Home Premium is powered by AI to detect zero-day attacks accurately. 

Key features: Sophos Home Premium offers the following: 

• • Real-time threat prevention, covering potentially unwanted apps (PUAs) 
  • AI with deep learning to block malware before it can execute 
  • Ability to scan any process that interacts with your data and rolls back data in case of malware attacks 
  • Web controls and suspicious website filtering 
  • Keystroke encryption for stronger password security 

USP: Sophos’ USP is its AI capability. It evaluates all files before they can run on your desktop, adding another layer of protection against risks that might have bypassed your firewall system. 

Editorial comments: Sophos Home Premium is a reliable choice, doubling up for both work and personal device protection. Its AI-based threat management capabilities are among the best in its segment. You could also consider Sophos XG home use firewall, an all-in-one software package that needs to reside in its own hardware shell (with at least 6GB of RAM). 

Pricing: Pricing starts at $42 for the first year of your subscription, but this varies on the basis of your location of purchase. 

7. TinyWall 

Overview: TinyWall is a 100% free firewall software. The company does not follow a Freemium model and isn’t ad-sponsored – but you can donate to TinyWall to aid future development. It is a lightweight firewall software that gets the job done. 

Key features: Some of TinyWall’s core capabilities are: 

• • Zero popup browsing experience, even when you define multiple firewall exceptions 
  • Protection from hundreds of Trojans, worms, viruses, and other online threat variants 
  • Prevents malicious apps from illegitimately altering your Windows firewall settings 
  • Firewalls profiles available like Standard, Block all traffic, Block only outgoing traffic, etc.
  • App restrictions to block interactions with the LAN 

USP: TinyWall is very lightweight and functions as a firewall – and a firewall only. Antivirus software and desktop-based cybersecurity solutions are known for being bulky and resource-intensive, slowing down your system. TinyWall is a great alternative, ensuring that all your essential firewall features are present in a neat package. 

Editorial comments: TinyWall isn’t a replacement for your antivirus, but it is a valuable add-on. It does not install drivers or kernel components to modify your desktop configurations in any way, making the user experience seamless. 

Pricing: As mentioned, TinyWall is a free firewall software, but you can join the company’s Patreon program, which gets you additional member privileges. 

8. Untangle NG Firewall

Overview: Untangle targets independent power users and small businesses, offering various essential cybersecurity products that defend against internet threats. The company has a command center for managing organizational networks, a software-defined router offering, and a comprehensive firewall solution. 

Key features: Untangle NG Firewall enables the following: 

• • Virus blocker, intrusion prevention, and blocking for phishing threats 
  • Web filtering and monitoring
  • Web-based application control and bandwidth optimization 
  • Spam and ad blockers 
  • Multiple VPN alternatives for secure access 

USP: Untangle NG Firewall is easy to use, letting you set up various custom rules for traffic flowing via specific ports. Firewall data can also be consolidated into graphs and reports for later reference. The firewall continuously maps ongoing sessions to give you a quick snapshot of blocked, flagged, and allowed activity. 

Editorial comments: Interestingly, Untangle NG Firewall is built on an open-source foundation and can be downloaded as a free app if you aren’t interested in the entire Untangle platform. As a free firewall software, Untangle NG is quite effective and will ensure that your security policies are adequately enforced – ideal for small-to-mid-sized businesses. 

Pricing: While the firewall is free for use, the complete Untangle NG Firewall solution costs around $25 per month. 

9. ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall

Overview: ZoneAlarm has two solutions: free firewall and pro firewall, but we recommend the latter. ZoneAlarm Firewall brings together Wi-Fi protection for PCs, anti-phishing, and access protection (essentially the whole gamut of internet-based threats) into one solution. 

Key features: ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall has the following core functionalities: 

• • Expert rules that let you set precise business rules for firewall functions 
  • Component level controls to detect malware even if it attaches to a trusted app
  • Advanced settings to classify private zones, public zones, and untrusted networks 
  • URL scanning and safe search on the web
  • Two-way traffic monitoring to address spyware risks 

USP: The most significant USP of ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall is its precise and limited feature set. It gives you optimal coverage for most online threats without occupying a disproportionate amount of system resources. Its advanced access protection features – like raw data access prevention – helps mitigate risks arising from any threat that might have made it through your firewall. 

Editorial comments: ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall is smartly priced and intelligently designed. While there is a free offering, we’d recommend that you stay with the Pro version that’s suited to independent users and small businesses (going up to 200 desktops). 

Pricing: ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall costs $164.94 per year for a 50 PC license. 

10. Zscaler Cloud Firewall

Overview: Zscaler’s firewall software is intended as a direct replacement for traditional, hardware appliance-based network protection. It sits between your enterprise core and your desktop app environment to enable a seamless, secure, online experience for all your endpoint users. 

Key features: Zscaler Cloud Firewall offers several features: 

• • Direct-to-internet security that works without installing any appliances 
  • Context-based security inspection to protect personal desktops and devices 
  • Granular controls to prevent user data from moving out of desktops into a malicious domain 
  • DNS resolution optimization and peering for fast internet and superior cloud app performance 
  • VPN-less user protection on any device

USP: Zscaler Cloud Firewall is a software version of the strength and comprehensiveness that you have come to expect from an enterprise-grade network security solution. It does away with cumbersome hardware but does not compromise on control and performance. 

Editorial comments: As organizations scale from on-premise workstations only to a distributed WFH environment spread across devices, firewall solutions like this one will become increasingly popular. It enforces granular, contextualized policies that are easy to alter and scale. Further, users can be sure of a seamless desktop experience without intrusive warnings or alerts. 

Pricing: Zscaler Cloud Firewall follows custom pricing based on your requirements. 

These products cover nearly every network security use case – from personal use to executives setting up a full-fledged WFH office, from small businesses to distributed enterprises. Here’s how they address your requirements:

	Lightweight installation	Advanced configurations	Non-intrusive UX	Windows firewall protection	Reports and analyticsÂ	Download protection
Avast Premium Security	✓	✓	x	✓	✓	✓
Comodo Internet Security	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
GlassWire	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
McAfee® Total Protection	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Smoothwall Firewall	✓	✓	✓	✓	x	✓
Sophos Home Premium	✓	✓	✓	✓	x	✓
TinyWallÂ	✓	✓	✓	✓	x	✓
Untangle NG Firewall	✓	✓	✓	x	✓	✓
ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall	✓	✓	✓	✓	x	✓
Zscaler Cloud Firewall	x	✓	✓	x	✓	✓

 

As businesses become increasingly digital, it is always advisable to invest in additional security solutions. They augment the built-in capacities of your router and OEM-provided firewalls while dramatically reducing hardware appliance overheads in a business setting. 

Today, nearly every digital activity relies on a network environment, calling for an effective firewall solution to protect data and desktop systems. Firewall software solutions are among the best ways to achieve this. 

Do you have a desktop firewall software in mind that should make it to this list? Comment below or let us know on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We would love to hear from you!