Appgate is a company that specializes in multi-cloud security and application delivery solutions, offering automation, security, performance, and insight capabilities to help customers create, secure, and operate adaptive applications. In this article, we will explore the top 10 alternatives to F5, providing you with options to find the best fit for your organization's needs.

1. Twingate

We may be biased, but we’re convinced that Twingate is the best option.

Twingate is on a mission to take the friction and complexity out of cybersecurity. Our ZTNA solution provides secure remote access, offering granular access controls, lightning-fast deployment times, and a seamless experience for both end users and admins. Twingate helps organizations of all sizes move beyond outdated VPNs, introducing a more secure software-defined mesh network suited for both private data and cloud environments. Ideal for the complex needs of technical teams, Twingate is designed to enhance the workflows across IT, DevOps, and Security.

Why choose Twingate for remote access?

Twingate has redefined remote access with its Zero Trust Network Access, offering powerful access controls, rich automation, and lightning-fast speed. Here’s how Twingate excels:

• Powerful peer-to-peer connections: Twingate establishes direct peer-to-peer connections to resources, using NAT traversal and QUIC protocols, ensuring each request is verified for enhanced security.

• Reduced attack surface: It significantly limits exposure and entry points by preventing lateral traffic with granular access control policies and requiring no open, exposed inbound ports on your network.

• Enhanced network monitoring: Twingate enables monitoring and adaptation of granular access policies with comprehensive logging and analytics, plus integrations with major SIEMs.

• Granular access controls: Implement and automate least privilege access to protect corporate resources like SaaS applications and cloud environments and remove unnecessary permissions.

• Universal multi-factor authentication (MFA): Twingate supports various MFA methods, including TOTP, biometric, and security key-based MFA for diverse resources, inclusing SSH, RDP, and legacy applications.

• Compliance made easy: Twingate meets stringent requirements for SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and more, ensuring seamless compliance.

• Automated zero trust journey: Twingate offers native access automation and was created with an API-first design to enable seamless integration across your security and infrastructure stack, including support for IaC providers like Terraform and Pulumi.

• Native Internet Security: With native DNS filtering capabilities and DoH, Twingate extends security beyond your network allowing you to protect your users wherever they may be while only needing a single agent

That’s only just the surface of what Twingate has to offer:

Discover Twingate's game-changing features

• Features: Key features include multi-device usage, unlimited bandwidth, live customer support, and adaptive access control.

• Use cases: Twingate is suitable for businesses seeking secure remote access, network segmentation, data protection, replacement of their VPN, or implementing internet security controls like DNS filtering.

• Price: Twingate offers a free Starter plan, a Teams plan at $5 per user per month, a Business plan at $10 per user per month, and custom pricing for Twingate Enterprise. Yearly billing provides a 15% discount for the Teams and Business plans.

• Reviews: Twingate has an average rating of 4.7/5 on G2.

Twingate is trusted by leading companies such as Webflow, Modern Health, Cameo, and Blend as their go-to security provider.

2. Axis Security

Axis Security offers a Security Service Edge (SSE) platform that securely connects users to business resources, integrating Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), and Digital Experience monitoring into a single cloud-delivered platform.

• Use cases: Axis Security is ideal for organizations looking to implement a zero-trust approach, prioritize high-level security, and securely connect users to business resources regardless of application, device, or location.

• Features: Key features include robust zero-trust security, centralized policy management, graphical interpretation of data and logs, and secure application access. However, it lacks comprehensive user activity logs.

• Price: Axis Security offers four pricing plans: ZTNA Only, Core, Enterprise, and Harmony. Users may request a demo for further details.

• Reviews: Axis Security has an average rating of 4.7/5 on G2.

3. Cloudflare

Cloudflare is a web performance and security company that offers a connectivity cloud to help businesses regain control while connecting and protecting their people, apps, and data.

• Use cases: Cloudflare is ideal for businesses looking to improve web performance, enhance security, and maintain control over their digital assets.

• Features: Key features of Cloudflare include content delivery, DDoS protection, web application firewall, DNS services, and serverless computing. However, some users find the product to be technical and challenging to navigate.

• Price: Cloudflare offers four pricing plans: Free, Pro, Business, and Enterprise. Add-ons are available for performance, security, reliability, and serverless enhancements.

• Reviews: Cloudflare DNS has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on G2.

4. Netskope

Netskope is a global cybersecurity leader that offers an Intelligent Security Service Edge (SSE) platform, helping organizations apply zero trust principles to protect data.

• Use cases: Netskope is ideal for organizations looking to implement a zero trust approach, secure their cloud environments, and protect sensitive data with integrated security services.

• Features: Key features of Netskope include integrated data context, visibility, instance awareness, adaptive policy controls, and complete threat and data protection with sensitive data awareness. However, some users find the implementation complex and requiring expertise.

• Price: Netskope doesn’t have specific pricing plans. However, they offer a demo of their security services.

• Reviews: Netskope has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on G2.

5. Cato Networks

Cato Networks is a cloud-native service that securely and optimally connects all branches, datacenters, people, and clouds using the concept of SASE (Secure Access Service Edge).

• Use cases: Cato Networks is suitable for organizations looking to migrate from MPLS to Secure SD-WAN, secure remote access, secure branch internet access, optimize global connectivity, and secure hybrid-cloud and multi-cloud environments.

• Features: Key features of Cato Networks include converged and cloud-native architecture, global coverage, secure and optimized traffic, and a range of product offerings such as SSE 360, Remote Access, Edge SD-WAN, Global Private Backbone, Multi-Cloud / Hybrid-Cloud, SaaS Optimization, and Cato Management Application.

• Price: Pricing plans for Cato Networks are not available, but they do offer a free trial. For more pricing information, users can request a demo.

• Reviews: Cato SASE Cloud has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on G2.

6. OpenVPN

OpenVPN is a business VPN solution for secure networking, offering two main products: Cloud Connexa and Access Server. Cloud Connexa provides an easy way to connect and secure businesses, while Access Server is a self-hosted solution that offers full control over network security.

• Use cases: OpenVPN is suitable for businesses looking to secure their networks, protect access to SaaS applications, enforce zero trust access, and secure DNS.

• Features: Key features include easy setup, web-scale flexibility, scalability, efficiency, and the ability to shield data at scale for Cloud Connexa, and an easy-to-use Admin Web UI, pre-configured clients for team connectivity, and scalability through clustering for Access Server.

• Price: OpenVPN offers Free, Standard, and Custom pricing plans for Access Server. The Free plan does not have a time limit and does not require a credit card. A promotion is available for the Standard plan, saving $240 with yearly billing.

• Reviews: OpenVPN Access Server has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on G2.

7. Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks is a global cybersecurity leader offering a range of products and services, including the Panorama management platform.

• Use cases: Palo Alto Networks Panorama is suitable for businesses looking to centrally manage multiple site firewalls, monitor network security in real-time, and maintain a uniform policy across their network.

• Features: Key features include centralized management of all Palo Alto Network firewalls, real-time monitoring and reporting capabilities, uniform policy across the network, and streamlined configuration processes.

• Price: Pricing information is not specifically mentioned on the website. Users may contact Palo Alto Networks to learn more about the pricing structure.

• Reviews: Palo Alto Networks Panorama has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on G2.

8. Netgate pfSense

Netgate offers secure networking solutions, including pfSense Plus and TNSR software, which provide firewall, router, and VPN functionalities. These solutions cater to personal users, professional users, and organizations seeking secure and reliable internet connectivity.

• Use cases: Netgate is suitable for those looking to secure their networks, protect access to SaaS applications, enforce zero trust access, and secure DNS.

• Features: Key features include firewall, router, VPN, and attack prevention capabilities, as well as various appliances available for pfSense Plus and TNSR software.

• Price: pfSense Plus software is available on Netgate appliances starting at $189, with cloud options through Amazon and Azure marketplaces ranging from $0.01/hr to $0.40/hr. Migration from a pre-installed pfSense CE image starts at $129/yr.

• Reviews: Netgate pfSense has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on G2.

9. Fortinet

Fortinet is a global cybersecurity leader offering a range of products and services, including network firewalls, secure networking, security operations, and universal SASE.

• Use cases: Fortinet is suitable for businesses looking to secure their networks, protect access to SaaS applications, enforce zero trust access, and secure DNS.

• Features: Key features include network firewalls, secure networking, security operations, universal SASE, and AI-driven technologies such as FortiPoints, FortiOS, FortiCloud, FortiGuard Labs, and OT Security.

• Price: Specific pricing plans for Fortinet Firewalls are not available. Users may contact Fortinet for more information.

• Reviews: Fortinet Firewalls has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on G2.

10. Banyan Security

Banyan Security is a Zero Trust Remote Access solution that provides a simple and scalable way to secure access to company applications and services. Built on a patented Zero Trust architecture, Banyan Security can be deployed in hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

• Use cases: Banyan Security is suitable for businesses looking to replace traditional VPN access, secure access to applications and services, and implement a zero-trust approach to network security.

• Features: Key features include secure network access, user and device management, visibility and compliance, operations and automation, secure access to private resources, SaaS application security, and internet threat protection.

• Price: Banyan Security offers three pricing plans: Team, Enterprise, and Unlimited. You may contact their sales team for pricing details.

• Reviews: Banyan Security has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on G2.