# Azure Firewall vs Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls Comparison --- ## AI Generated Summary - **G2 reviewers report** that Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls excel in **policy implementation** , with users appreciating its robust feature set and reliability. One user noted, "I like the features of Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls and how well it handles policy implementation," highlighting its effectiveness in managing complex security needs. - **Users say** Azure Firewall stands out for its **ease of configuration** , particularly in a hub and spoke model. Reviewers have mentioned that it is straightforward to set up, making it a favorable choice for teams looking for quick deployment without extensive training. - **According to verified reviews** , Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls has a higher overall satisfaction score, reflecting its strong performance in areas like **support quality** and **feature richness**. Users have praised its "very good support" and the ability to handle a large number of logs, which are essential for troubleshooting. - **Reviewers mention** that Azure Firewall provides excellent **security features** , particularly its Web Application Firewall (WAF), which is noted as "the best thing that happened to Azure Firewall" for preventing threats like SQL injection and cross-site scripting. This makes it a solid choice for organizations prioritizing web application security. - **G2 reviewers highlight** that while both products have similar star ratings, Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls has a significantly larger number of reviews, indicating a more established user base and potentially more reliable feedback. This can be crucial for buyers looking for proven solutions. - **Users report** that Azure Firewall excels in **policy management** and **logging capabilities** , with scores reflecting its effectiveness in these areas. One user noted its ability to "secure our network and block malicious traffic," showcasing its role in protecting company assets effectively. | | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 | | **Total Reviews** | 31 | 170 | | **Largest Market Segment** | Mid-Market (50.0% of reviews) | Mid-Market (47.0% of reviews) | | **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | --- ## Top Pros & Cons ### Azure Firewall Pros: - Security Protection (2 reviews) - Ease of Use (1 reviews) Cons: - High System Requirements (1 reviews) - Slow Performance (1 reviews) ### Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls Pros: - Firewall Efficiency (14 reviews) - Ease of Use (13 reviews) Cons: - Expensive (23 reviews) - Difficult Learning Curve (12 reviews) --- ## Ratings Comparison | Rating | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **Meets Requirements** | 9.1 (23 reviews) | 8.9 (153 reviews) | | **Ease of Use** | 8.7 (24 reviews) | 8.3 (154 reviews) | | **Ease of Setup** | 8.5 (14 reviews) | 8.2 (138 reviews) | | **Ease of Admin** | 8.8 (12 reviews) | 8.4 (107 reviews) | | **Quality of Support** | 8.9 (22 reviews) | 8.2 (145 reviews) | | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 9.2 (11 reviews) | 8.8 (105 reviews) | | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 7.9 (22 reviews) | 9.2 (149 reviews) | --- ## Pricing ### Azure Firewall #### Entry-Level Pricing No pricing available #### Free Trial No information available ### Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls #### Entry-Level Pricing No pricing available #### Free Trial No information available --- ## Features Comparison By Category ### Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS) | Product | Score | Reviews | |---|---|---| | **Azure Firewall** | N/A | N/A | | **Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls** | 8.8/10 | 68 | #### Prevention | Feature | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **Intrusion Prevention** | Not enough data | 9.1 (65 reviews) | | **Firewall** | Not enough data | 9.3 (64 reviews) | | **Encryption** | Not enough data | 8.9 (64 reviews) | | **Security hardening** | Not enough data | 9.0 (64 reviews) | | **Cloud Data Protection** | Not enough data | 8.3 (60 reviews) | #### Detection | Feature | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **Intrusion Detection** | Not enough data | 9.0 (65 reviews) | | **Security Monitoring** | Not enough data | 8.9 (64 reviews) | | **Anti-Malware / Malware Detection** | Not enough data | 8.9 (64 reviews) | #### Administration | Feature | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **Compliance** | Not enough data | 8.8 (62 reviews) | | **Administration Console -** | Not enough data | 8.8 (64 reviews) | | **API / integrations** | Not enough data | 8.6 (59 reviews) | #### Generative AI | Feature | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | 8.2 (20 reviews) | #### Agentic AI - Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS) | Feature | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | 8.9 (6 reviews) | | **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | 8.6 (6 reviews) | ### Firewall Software | Product | Score | Reviews | |---|---|---| | **Azure Firewall** | 8.9/10 | 16 | | **Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls** | 8.3/10 | 113 | #### Administration | Feature | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **Policy Management** | 9.3 (15 reviews) | 8.7 (105 reviews) | | **Logging and Reporting** | 9.1 (15 reviews) | 8.6 (105 reviews) | | **Application Gateway** | 9.3 (14 reviews) | 8.3 (97 reviews) | | **Concurrent Sessions** | 9.2 (14 reviews) | 8.4 (97 reviews) | #### Agentic AI - Firewall Software | Feature | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | 8.0 (10 reviews) | | **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | 7.5 (10 reviews) | #### Functionality | Feature | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **Virtual Private Network (VPN)** | 8.9 (14 reviews) | 8.7 (102 reviews) | | **Antivirus** | 9.2 (13 reviews) | 8.4 (97 reviews) | | **URL Filtering** | 9.1 (13 reviews) | 8.8 (99 reviews) | | **Availability** | 9.2 (14 reviews) | 8.8 (98 reviews) | #### Monitoring | Feature | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **Load Balancing** | 9.4 (15 reviews) | 8.4 (96 reviews) | | **Continuous Analysis** | 8.8 (14 reviews) | 8.6 (97 reviews) | | **Intrusion Prevention** | 8.5 (13 reviews) | 8.8 (101 reviews) | | **Intrusion Detection** | 8.0 (14 reviews) | 8.7 (98 reviews) | #### Generative AI | Feature | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **AI Text Summarization** | 7.8 (9 reviews) | 7.1 (29 reviews) | #### Artificial Intelligence - Firewall | Feature | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **AI Firewall** | Not enough data | 7.4 (17 reviews) | --- ## Categories **Shared Categories (1):** [Firewall Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/firewall-software) **Unique to Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls (1):** [Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/intrusion-detection-and-prevention-systems-idps) --- ## Reviewer Demographics ### By Company Size | Segment | Azure Firewall | Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls | |---|---|---| | **Small-Business** | 23.1% | 18.3% | | **Mid-Market** | 50.0% | 47.0% | | **Enterprise** | 26.9% | 34.8% | ### By Industry #### Azure Firewall - **Information Technology and Services:** 42.3% - **Computer Networking:** 7.7% - **Computer & Network Security:** 7.7% - **Medical Practice:** 3.8% - **Market Research:** 3.8% - **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 3.8% - **Food & Beverages:** 3.8% - **Financial Services:** 3.8% - **Education Management:** 3.8% - **Computer Software:** 3.8% - **Other:** 15.4% #### Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - **Information Technology and Services:** 20.2% - **Computer & Network Security:** 13.5% - **Banking:** 6.7% - **Computer Software:** 6.1% - **Financial Services:** 5.5% - **Education Management:** 3.7% - **Telecommunications:** 3.7% - **Higher Education:** 3.7% - **Airlines/Aviation:** 2.5% - **Consulting:** 2.5% - **Other:** 31.9% --- ## Alternatives ### Alternatives to Azure Firewall - [FortiGate-VM NGFW](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (244 reviews) - [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (326 reviews) - [Zscaler Internet Access](https://www.g2.com/products/zscaler-internet-access/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (258 reviews) - [Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv)](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-secure-firewall-threat-defense-virtual-formerly-ngfwv/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (93 reviews) - [Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW](https://www.g2.com/products/palo-alto-networks-cloud-ngfw/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (141 reviews) - [Cisco Adaptive Security Virtual Appliance (ASAv)](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-adaptive-security-virtual-appliance-asav/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (17 reviews) - [Barracuda CloudGen Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/barracuda-cloudgen-firewall/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (52 reviews) - [Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (592 reviews) - [Check Point Cloud Firewall (formerly CloudGuard Network Security)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-cloud-firewall-formerly-cloudguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (294 reviews) - [WatchGuard Network Security](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (268 reviews) ### Alternatives to Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - [Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv)](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-secure-firewall-threat-defense-virtual-formerly-ngfwv/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (93 reviews) - [Sophos Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sophos-firewall/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (868 reviews) - [Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (592 reviews) - [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (326 reviews) - [WatchGuard Network Security](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (268 reviews) - [FortiGate-VM NGFW](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (244 reviews) - [Zscaler Internet Access](https://www.g2.com/products/zscaler-internet-access/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (258 reviews) - [SonicWall Next Generation Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sonicwall-next-generation-firewall/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (154 reviews) - [Check Point Quantum Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-quantum-intrusion-prevention-system-ips/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (69 reviews) - [Barracuda CloudGen Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/barracuda-cloudgen-firewall/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (52 reviews) --- ## Top Discussions ### Azure Firewall No discussions available for this product. ### Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - Title: [What is Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-palo-alto-networks-next-generation-firewall-used-for) — 1 comment > **Top comment:** "It is an enterprise firewall solution which provides secure connection between two zones with features of firewall, IPS, Antivirus, DDOS protection, SSL..." --- **Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-firewall-vs-palo-alto-networks-next-generation-firewalls)