After extensive testing, I’ve picked 5 free firewall solutions to protect your system. They offer safety features that help monitor, manage, and protect your network. Plus, they have advanced features like spoofing protection and anti-malware functionality for improved security. While the firewalls I’ve picked are good for basic safety, you should note that a premium antivirus with a built-in firewall is a better choice. For instance, Norton has a highly secure and customizable firewall that works besides its other features to ensure airtight protection. You can even try Norton without risk, as it’s backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee. Try Norton risk-free for 60 days
Quick Guide: 5 Best Free Firewall Software
The Best Free Firewalls for Any Platform and OS (Tested in 2025)
1. ZoneAlarm Free Firewall — Feature-Rich Firewall With Many Tools to Defend Against Intrusions
Key Features: ZoneAlarm is a top-quality free standalone firewall boasting millions of downloads. The free version offers excellent security via various features not available in other free alternatives. Some of the key features in ZoneAlarm include the following:
WiFi protection — defends against threats when connected to an unsafe network. Traffic monitoring — allows easy monitoring of incoming and outgoing traffic. Anti-bot — protects your system against harmful botnet infiltration. Early boot protection — scans for rootkits and dangerous operations on boot.
I especially like that ZoneAlarm is highly customizable. The firewall settings let you customize the settings to ensure your security is configured to your liking. Also, the firewall has a highly intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate and use.
Despite its reliable safety features, you should note that ZoneAlarm’s firewall isn’t nearly as comprehensive as Norton’s. It’s missing advanced features like SSL Strip Attack detection, ARP Spoofing protection, and other tools that ensure airtight protection. You can easily use ZoneAlarm on Windows, as it works on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. The app is simple to install, and you can set it up within minutes after downloading the setup.
2. Comodo Free Firewall — Defends Against Cyber Threats With Unique Protection Tools
Comodo has an excellent free firewall with various unique tools. It monitors incoming and outgoing traffic to detect any malicious activity. Also, I was impressed with how easy it is to navigate the app and use the various firewall functions to secure your device. Comodo’s Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS) is a standout feature that monitors application behavior and detects anything suspicious. Also, the app comes with the following safety features for improved protection:
Kill Switch — lets you instantly stop any process. Virtual Kiosk — offers a safe and isolated environment to test potentially dangerous apps. Rescue Disk — creates a bootable CD or USB to help clean infected devices. Rating Scan — does a cloud-based assessment of your files to determine their trustworthiness.
One major downside to this firewall is that you have to download many of Comodo’s security features separately, which is time-consuming. In contrast, Norton’s firewall comes with all the features built right into it and is fully capable of protecting your system out of the box.
3. GlassWire — Intuitive Visual Network Monitoring Tool
Key Features: GlassWire monitors incoming and outgoing traffic to protect against intrusions. It’s among the most beginner-friendly and intuitive firewall programs I’ve seen. The app provides useful graphs that make it easy to tell what each process is doing. Once you’re in the app, you’ll see 5 tabs that highlight the following details:
Graph — shows a real-time display of active processes and their traffic. Usage — highlights how much data each app is using. Security — displays a GlassWire safety score based on app behavior and traffic consumption. Alerts — provides logs of all network activity on your device. Things — shows the various networks you’ve connected to.
Besides the excellent monitoring features, the app has some useful features to improve safety. GlassWire offers ARP spoofing detection, RDP detection, a suspicious host monitor, and more to enhance security further. Also, the app’s easy-to-use interface lets you block suspicious processes in just a few clicks. Of course, it’s not as feature-rich as Norton, but GlassWire is a solid free firewall tool. You can use it on Windows and Android; it even offers a 7-day-long free trial for the premium version.
4. TinyWall Free Firewall — Lightweight Firewall With No Pop-up Approach
Key Features: TinyWall is a lightweight and highly effective firewall. It works beside Windows’ own firewall to ensure safety, and it has many useful features to ensure protection against cyber threats. Some of the security tools you’ll get with TinyWall include the following:
Firewall tampering protection — blocks unauthorized tampering to firewall settings. Boot-time filtering — stops malicious apps from running at boot. Port scan prevention — prevents attackers from exploiting open ports. Malware protection — defends against malware like trojans, viruses, and worms. Host file protection — stops attackers from modifying your host file to redirect traffic.
I also like that TinyWall is really easy to use. It has a simple interface that lets you quickly find and use all its features. You can also monitor all active processes and quickly scan any of them to check if they’re malicious.
Overall, it’s not the most feature-rich firewall program, but TinyWall is a reliable firewall for Windows devices. Even though you’ll get better safety with a premium alternative like Norton, TinyWall should still keep you safe against most threats.
5. OpenDNS Home — Advanced Firewall Turns Your Computer Into a Security Appliance
Key Features: While it’s not an actual firewall software, OpenDNS Home is a free security solution that can defend against online threats. It’s a DNS service that lets you protect your system against unsafe websites. Also, you can easily set it up on your routers to apply its protection throughout all your devices. OpenDNS Home blocks malicious websites when you try to open them, and it also offers content filtering. You can use the filtering tools to block inappropriate websites like adult or betting websites. Note that OpenDNS Home works best alongside Windows’ built-in firewall. Since it’s not a complete firewall software, you’ll need another firewall to properly monitor incoming and outgoing traffic to help block network intrusions. All things considered, though, OpenDNS Home is a great free solution to improve online safety.
Bonus: Premium Antiviruses That Come With Firewalls to Fully Protect Your Devices in 2025
1. Norton — The Best Overall Antivirus With an Excellent Firewall
Key Features: I’ve tested many security apps, and Norton offers the most robust firewall I’ve ever seen. It’s preconfigured by default to deliver excellent security, but it’s also easy to configure its settings via the intuitive toggles. Since Norton’s firewall delivers such reliable protection, it’s easy to understand why it’s among the best antiviruses available.
Some of the key features available in Norton’s firewall include the following:
ARP and DNS spoofing protection — stops attackers from spoofing a DNS or ARP to intercept your connection. Content Tampering Attack detection — prevents attempts to modify application data. SSL Strip Attack detection — blocks attempts from downgrading your connection from HTTPS to HTTP. SSL man-in-the-middle-attack detection — stops malicious third parties from intercepting your traffic and spying on your activity. Port access detection — defends open ports against unauthorized access.
Besides the excellent firewall, Norton has many other features to improve online security. It has excellent web protection, a built-in VPN, and more for added protection. These features work alongside the firewall to ensure you’re always protected. Norton is available for as low as $$$$€€€€€€€29.997.9324924.9929.9919.9929.9922.7629.9929.9930.47/year, but I suggest getting the $$$$€€€€€€€49.9949911.1649.9934.9929.9934.9945.6429.9929.9930.57 /year Deluxe plan for the best value. This plan includes all the app’s key features and lets you protect up to 5 devices with Norton’s firewall and other tools. I also like that Norton is backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can try it without risk to see if it’s right for you. If you’re unsatisfied, you can contact support and ask for a full refund.
2. Intego — Provides an Innovative Firewall for Macs
Key Features: While its Windows app doesn’t come with a firewall, Intego is a solid choice if you want a reliable premium firewall on macOS devices. It provides the innovative NetBarrier firewall for Macs, which monitors incoming and outgoing traffic to prevent intrusions and keep you safe. Plus, the firewall is pre-configured by default to ensure excellent protection.
I also like that Intego lets you choose which apps can connect to the internet. So, if you spot suspicious behavior, you can simply block that application’s internet access completely. Another helpful tool in Intego’s firewall is that it lets you make different Home, Work, and Public Hotspot profiles. This is a useful feature, as it enables you to loosen the security when you’re connected to a secure home network. However, if you’re using public WiFi outside, you can change to the more secure Public Hotspot profile to block intrusions. Intego also offers excellent web protection to defend against unsafe sites. Plus, Intego’s Contentbarrier lets you filter inappropriate websites in just a few clicks. Note that Intego doesn’t offer a VPN, meaning you must choose another reliable antivirus with a VPN if this is a priority for you. You can get Intego for as low as $19.99/year. However, Integos’ Mac Premium Bundle provides the best value, as it includes all the app’s key features at just 34.99 $/year. Also, you can try Intego without risk for 30-days, as it’s backed by a money-back guarantee. There’s also a 14-day trial that lets you try Intego’s firewall free on Macs.
3. Bitdefender — Feature-Rich App With Effective Firewall
Key Features: Bitdefender provides a top-quality firewall with multiple safety features. I also like that it’s a highly customizable firewall that you can easily configure by navigating through its intuitive interface. Besides being easy to use, Bitdefender’s firewall has lots of features for improved defense against intrusions and cyber threats. Its key features include:
Port scan protection — stops hackers from exploiting open ports on your system. Alert mode — provides alerts whenever apps try to access the internet. Stealth mode — keeps your device hidden from others on your network. Application rules — lets you set connectivity rules that apps should follow. Application rules — lets you set connectivity rules that apps should follow.
Bitdefender also comes with a VPN and web protection. Both these tools work beside the firewall to improve your safety and ensure cyber threats don’t infect your devices. Best of all, Bitdefender’s firewall is available in its free plan, meaning you don’t need a subscription to use it. Note, however, that getting a premium plan does increase overall security. Pricing for Bitdefender starts at just $24.99/year, but I found that its $40.99/year Total Security plan offers the best value. Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. That said, our detailed reviews follow a strict methodology that examines all relevant performance factors to help you arrive at your own informed conclusion.
5 Easy Steps: How to Protect Your Device With a Firewall
The following steps explain how to protect your devices with a top-quality firewall. I’ve used Windows as the base for this guide, but the steps are similar for other platforms.
Quick Comparison Table: 2025’s Best Firewalls
How I Tested & Ranked the Top Free Firewall Software
I used the following criteria to determine the top firewall software to protect your devices:
Automatic firewall protection — I chose software with firewalls that automatically secure home and public networks while working in the background. Advanced firewall customization — I picked firewall tools that let you configure their settings to your liking. Port security — I selected firewalls with port protection features that stop hackers from exploiting open ports. Malware protection — I chose firewalls that protect against malicious files and other cyber threats Ease of use — I chose beginner-friendly firewall programs that you can easily use on most platforms. Available for free — I only picked firewall programs that are free or come with an antivirus offering a free trial or money-back guarantee.
Secure Your Devices Using the Best Firewall in 2025
In conclusion, you need a firewall to protect your devices, especially when connected to public networks. Otherwise, you risk hackers spying on your traffic or infecting your system. For the best Windows protection, you should get Norton. It combines excellent antivirus features with a customizable firewall. Plus, it has a generous 60-day money-back guarantee, which we’ve discussed in our full Norton review. Note that there are multiple top Windows antiviruses with built-in firewalls for improved security. Using one of these will significantly improve your defense against cyber threats. Most firewalls offer basic protection, but the free firewalls I’ve picked above offer excellent safety against network intrusions and cyber threats. They also include features like ARP and DNS spoofing protection to ensure you’re always safe. Note that even the best free firewalls don’t offer perfect safety, so I consider a premium antivirus a much better alternative for protection. These apps provide excellent built-in firewalls and other features like web protection and built-in VPNs for enhanced protection. So, you should get a top antivirus like Norton for comprehensive safety. There’s even a 60-day money-back guarantee that lets you test it risk-free.
Summary — Best Overall Security Suites With Firewalls in 2025
Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. That said, our detailed reviews follow a strict methodology that examines all relevant performance factors to help you arrive at your own informed conclusion.
