# Palo Alto Networks NGFW alternatives: what AI models name instead, November 2026

Gane Index, November 2026 Edition. 148 of the 252 answers in the 1 category where Palo Alto Networks NGFW holds a standing named it neither first nor as an alternative; these are the first choices those answers made. Page: https://www.gane.ai/index/it/vendors/palo-alto-networks-ngfw/alternatives

## Named instead, most often (every category and segment added)

- Fortinet FortiGate: 62
- Sophos Firewall: 8
- Check Point Firewall-as-a-Subscription: 5
- WatchGuard Firebox: 5
- Check Point Quantum: 2
- FortiGate 70G: 2

## Next-generation firewalls

**Small business**: 69 of 84 answers did not name Palo Alto Networks NGFW (Palo Alto Networks NGFW is #6 of 9 at 2%).

- Fortinet FortiGate: first choice in 42 of those 69
- Sophos Firewall: first choice in 8 of those 69
- WatchGuard Firebox: first choice in 5 of those 69
- Check Point Harmony SASE: first choice in 1 of those 69
- Firewalla Gold SE: first choice in 1 of those 69
- FortiGate 70G: first choice in 1 of those 69
- Fortinet FortiGate FG-40F: first choice in 1 of those 69
- Fortinet FortiGate appliance: first choice in 1 of those 69

**Mid-market**: 45 of 84 answers did not name Palo Alto Networks NGFW (Palo Alto Networks NGFW is #2 of 9 at 8%).

- Fortinet FortiGate: first choice in 15 of those 45
- pfSense: first choice in 2 of those 45
- Arista NG Firewall: first choice in 1 of those 45
- FortiGate 70G: first choice in 1 of those 45
- Fortinet FortiGate 100F: first choice in 1 of those 45
- Fortinet – FortiGate Series: first choice in 1 of those 45
- OPNsense: first choice in 1 of those 45
- Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall: first choice in 1 of those 45

**Enterprise**: 34 of 84 answers did not name Palo Alto Networks NGFW (Palo Alto Networks NGFW is #1 of 6 at 44%).

- Check Point Firewall-as-a-Subscription: first choice in 5 of those 34
- Fortinet FortiGate: first choice in 5 of those 34
- Check Point Quantum: first choice in 2 of those 34
- Check Point Force / Quantum: first choice in 1 of those 34
- Check Point Force Firewall: first choice in 1 of those 34
- Juniper Networks: first choice in 1 of those 34
- Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls: first choice in 1 of those 34
- Palo Alto Networks' Next-Generation Firewalls: first choice in 1 of those 34

Published under CC BY 4.0. The output is the models' output; nothing here is a recommendation by the index.