Fortinet FortiGate vs Zscaler Cloud IPS comparison

Fortinet and Zscaler are both solutions in the Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) category. Fortinet is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.5, while Zscaler is ranked #22. Fortinet holds a 16.6% mindshare in ID, compared to Zscaler’s 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Zscaler users who would recommend it.

Fortinet FortiGate

Read 574 Fortinet FortiGate reviews

72,802 Views
6,552 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Zscaler Cloud IPS

Read 5 Zscaler Cloud IPS reviews

521 Views
391 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiGate

Zscaler Cloud IPS

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 16, 2025

Fortinet FortiGate and Zscaler Cloud IPS compete in the network security category. Fortinet FortiGate shows advantages in pricing and support, while Zscaler Cloud IPS leads in advanced features and cloud-centric focus.

Features: Fortinet FortiGate integrates firewall, VPN, and intrusion prevention, offering enterprise-grade security with on-premise hardware and versatile deployment. Zscaler Cloud IPS provides scalable cloud-based security solutions, emphasizes integration with cloud services, and offers real-time threat detection.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Zscaler Cloud IPS features straightforward cloud deployment with reduced hardware dependency and rapid scalability. It supports seamless integration into existing cloud architectures. Fortinet FortiGate requires a more complex setup due to hardware components, with strong support for implementation and optimization.

Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiGate offers predictable pricing with a significant initial hardware investment but potentially higher ROI through long-term stability and support. Zscaler Cloud IPS uses a subscription model with lower upfront costs, justified by its cloud capabilities and scalability.

To learn more, read our detailed Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) Report (Updated: October 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)

October 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiGate

Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)

1st

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

574

Ranking in other categories

Secure Web Gateways (SWG) (2nd), Firewalls (1st), Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions (1st), WAN Edge (1st), ZTNA (2nd), Unified Threat Management (UTM) (1st)

Zscaler Cloud IPS

Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)

22nd

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate is 16.6%, down from 19.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Zscaler Cloud IPS is 1.3%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Fortinet FortiGate	16.6%
Zscaler Cloud IPS	1.3%
Other	82.1%

Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)

Featured Reviews

Vasu Gala

Manager, Information Technology Operation/Presales at TechMonarch

A stable solution with an intuitive interface and quick customer service

I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate, WatchGuard, Sophos, and SonicWall. I'm not as comfortable with SonicWall because of their UI and limitations. I prefer Fortinet above all other options. When it comes to configuration, I am confident in my ability to handle various tasks, including creating policies such as firewall rules, web policies, and application policies. Additionally, I can configure VPNs and implement load balancing, among other tasks. Overall, I feel much more comfortable working with Fortinet. Fortinet has made significant improvements by integrating AI with firewalls for threat analysis and prevention. In the past 2-3 years, they have launched FortiSASE and SIEM, and they also provide SOC services. Both Palo Alto and Fortinet FortiGate are excellent. While Fortinet FortiGate comes at higher prices, the functionality and support justify the cost. They promptly resolve firmware issues and inform all support providers about configuration changes.

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Atdhe Zyhranaj

Network Security Consultant at NSCON Network Services & Consulting GmbH

It allows for a separation between cloud applications and URL filtering

We recently had a significant issue with Zscaler. I think they have too many customers and some of their connection edge nodes went down because there were too many requests. I think they aren't scaling enough to keep up with the demand in some areas. That's one thing they should improve.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The solution has improved my organization significantly, with impactful capabilities such as sandboxing and cloud solutions, such as XDR, MDR, and EDR."

"The features that prevent internet connections, the filtering are the most valuable because we did not have any internet protection before."

"It has improved our organization with control data."

"The SD-WAN function is very developed. It has SD-WAN functionality with security features in one device. We can manage from one single console SD-WAN and the security policy."

"FortiGate firewalls are easy to manage through a user-friendly web interface. They also have advanced features like DDoS and DLP. However, I wouldn't recommend enabling all of these features on one device because it can cause performance issues."

"FortiGate IPS is really easy to use. I don't have any problems with this."

"Fortinet FortiGate is stable; I am told that Fortinet FortiGate is one of the best solutions available, and I believe it."

"It's very similar to a Cisco firewall, yet less expensive."

More Fortinet FortiGate pros

"Cloud IPS integration is seamless, and it uses a Zero Trust model. It also simplifies overall user access management."

"The initial setup is straightforward and easy in comparison with other solutions."

"The initial setup process is easy."

"The best feature is that Zscaler allows for a separation between cloud applications and URL filtering. For example, under the cloud application segment, I can bypass Microsoft Office 365 without the need to add URLs manually. It's one click, so that's handy."

"The product's most valuable feature is complete SSL inspection."

Cons

"I would like Fortinet to add more automation to FortiGate."

"Fortinet currently has many products bundled with FortiGate including the basic firewall and load balancer, and I think that that they need to have separate product portfolios for each of these specialized services."

"In the future, I would like to see improvements made to cloud-based management."

"It needs to improve its ISP load balancing."

"It would be a benefit if Fortinet would release a one-stop solution that is better integrated with other products and an automated emergency response system."

"One drawback of Fortinet FortiGate is that they provide two types of models: one with a hard disk and another without. The model without a hard disk has very low ROM where you can store very few logs, after which you need to upload it to the cloud or purchase a firewall with SSD."

"Its reporting capabilities can be improved. It should have some out-of-the-box reporting capabilities and some degree of customization. The basic reporting that it currently has is not sufficient to create more usable reports. It needs some sort of out-of-the-box reporting. They try to make customers purchase FortiAnalyzer for this kind of reporting, which is an additional cost. Other firewall vendors, such as SonicWall and Sophos, provide this sort of reporting without any additional cost."

"Some features in Fortinet FortiGate need improvement as we discover when calling support that certain actions must be done from the command line."

More Fortinet FortiGate cons

"We encounter issues sharing IP addresses with other companies using the software."

"When it comes to scalability, the IPsec could be improved."

"There is always room for improvement."

"They have given limited free access for a year. Instead, they should increase the file size and give limited free access for around two months. It will allow engineers to evaluate the product."

"We recently had a significant issue with Zscaler. I think they have too many customers and some of their connection edge nodes went down because there were too many requests. I think they aren't scaling enough to keep up with the demand in some areas. That's one thing they should improve."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is quite affordable for our customers. There is a separate cost for IPS, antivirus, web filtering, and other features. They have a great choice of licenses. You can go for the license that you want, which is quite useful."

"This is not a cheap solution but it isn't expensive, either. It's a good solution for the right price."

"We are currently evaluating a Palo Alto solution, and the pricing could be a reason for going for Palo Alto."

"It's very affordable."

"Its pricing is good. It's average or normal as compared to Palo Alto and Check Point firewalls."

"Pricing for Fortinet FortiGate SWG is more suitable for enterprise or large-sized organizations because they are the ones who can afford it versus small and medium-sized organizations."

"The Indian market is different than the European and American markets. When you compare they need to be a bit more aggressive on pricing."

"It is less expensive than a Cisco solution."

More Fortinet FortiGate pricing and cost advice

"The product is not affordable for small and medium enterprises."

"The software has become more expensive at present."

"Zscaler has so far been solely responsible for all the sales we have done with it, so it would be more suited than us to address any issues concerning the pricing."

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Comparison Review

it_user216600

Senior Technical Consultant with 51-200 employees

Jan 3, 2016

Sophos UTM vs. Fortinet FortiGate

I have used both Sophos and Fortinet products in production and I have found the Sophos UTM appliances (hardware and virtual) to be a better fit most of the time -- with a few caveats which I will touch on below. In both instances, the transition from TMG will be mostly straightforward. The main…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

15%

Healthcare Company

11%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	350
Midsize Enterprise	130
Large Enterprise	187

No data available

Questions from the Community

Which is the better NGFW: Fortinet Fortigate or Cisco Firepower?

When you compare these firewalls you can identify them with different features, advantages, practices and usage at large. In my opinion, Fortinet would be the best option and l use Fortinet too...

See all answers

What is the biggest difference between Sophos XG and FortiGate?

From my experience regarding both the Sophos and FortiGate firewalls, I personally would rather use FortiGate. I know the firewalls change every 5 to 7 years as stated but you really do need to upg...

See all answers

What are the biggest technical differences between Sophos UTM and Fortinet FortiGate?

As a solution, Sophos UTM offers a lot of functionality, it scales well, and the stability and performance are quite good. The most valuable features for me are their web and email filtering. I wou...

See all answers

What do you like most about Zscaler Cloud IPS?

The product's most valuable feature is complete SSL inspection.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Zscaler Cloud IPS?

The product is not affordable for small and medium enterprises.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Zscaler Cloud IPS?

They have given limited free access for a year. Instead, they should increase the file size and give limited free access for around two months. It will allow engineers to evaluate the product.

See all answers

Comparisons

Sophos XG vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 17% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 11% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 9% of the time

OPNsense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 4% of the time

Cisco Meraki MX vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 4% of the time

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Claroty Platform vs Zscaler Cloud IPS

Compared 32% of the time

Cisco Sourcefire SNORT vs Zscaler Cloud IPS

Compared 28% of the time

Darktrace vs Zscaler Cloud IPS

Compared 22% of the time

Trend Micro Deep Discovery vs Zscaler Cloud IPS

Compared 18% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate

October 2025

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Buyer's Guide

Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)

October 2025

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Overview

Fortinet FortiGate excels in providing integrated VPN, firewalling, and Unified Threat Management (UTM) with centralized management and high availability. It supports remote access and comprehensive threat protection, making it a preferred choice for securing networks.

Fortinet FortiGate offers a robust security platform with features such as strong intrusion prevention, application control, and web filtering. Its integration with Active Directory and SD-WAN functionality provides scalable solutions for large networks. Users appreciate its ease of use through centralized management interfaces, ensuring robust security with flexible configurations. However, FortiGate could enhance its graphical interface and technical support responsiveness, address firmware bugs and costly licensing, improve logging, integrate better with third-party tools, and strengthen scalability and memory for log storage. Complexity in configuration and the need for intuitive features are noted challenges, and there's a demand for advanced security, zero-trust capabilities, and AI integration.

What are the key features of Fortinet FortiGate?

VPN: Secure remote access and connectivity.
Firewalling: Protects networks from unauthorized access and attacks.
UTM: Offers a comprehensive approach to threat management.
SD-WAN: Optimizes traffic routing for efficient network performance.
Web Filtering: Controls and monitors web access and ensures Internet security.

What benefits or ROI should be considered?

Centralized Management: Simplifies administration and monitoring.
High Availability: Ensures consistent security and network availability.
Scalability: Adapts to the needs of growing networks.
Comprehensive Threat Protection: Provides robust security measures.
Ease of Use: Minimizes the complexity of security management.

Fortinet FortiGate is widely implemented across industries like education, finance, and government. Companies use it for firewall protection, VPN, and SD-WAN capabilities, ensuring secure perimeter and data center security. It facilitates remote access management and traffic routing optimization, offering reliable security and connectivity solutions.

Fortinet

Zscaler Cloud IPS enables you to have all threat and alert data in one place. Full user, file and app context is available. Streaming to a SIEM allows further integration into the SOC ecosystem.

The Zscaler Threat Library allows administrators and SOC personnel to drill down on IPS alerts to perform in-depth analysis of threat data within their installation. Search by vulnerability, category or keyword

For more details: https://www.zscaler.com/produc...

Zscaler

Sample Customers

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, BT Group, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, NTT Communications, Tata Communications, SoftBank, China Mobile, Singtel, Telus, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telkom Indonesia, Telkom South Africa, Telmex, Telia Company, Telkom Kenya

Zenith Live, Azure, Carlsberg Group

Buyer's Guide

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October 2025

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