5 Best Smart Internet Security Firewalls for Your Home or Business Network (2026)

A hardware firewall sits between your modem and your home network, inspecting every packet of data before it reaches any of your devices. Unlike software firewalls that only protect the individual computer they’re installed on, a hardware firewall shields your entire network — every laptop, smart TV, security camera, and IoT gadget connected to your Wi-Fi. With over 560,000 new malware samples detected daily as of 2026, leaving your network unprotected is an unnecessary risk.

If you searched for “best smart firewall” expecting to find the CUJO, Dojo by BullGuard, or RATtrap — those devices are all discontinued or effectively dead. CUJO AI officially ended support in March 2021. Dojo’s parent company BullGuard was acquired by Norton, and the Dojo hardware no longer functions. RATtrap’s website still exists, but the product hasn’t seen meaningful updates in years and is only available through scattered eBay listings. The smart firewall market has consolidated around a few strong players, and the recommendations below reflect what’s actually available and actively supported in 2026.

At a Glance: Smart Firewall Comparison

Firewall	Price	Max Speed	Best For	Monthly Fee
Firewalla Purple SE	~$219	500 Mbps	Most home users on a budget	None
Firewalla Gold Plus	~$479	2.5 Gbps	Power users and smart homes	None
Firewalla Gold Pro	~$889	10 Gbps	Small businesses and prosumers	None
Ubiquiti UniFi Express	~$149	1 Gbps	DIY networkers who want a full ecosystem	None
Firewalla Orange	~$349	Multi-Gig	Travelers and remote workers	None

Firewalla Purple SE — Best for Most Home Users

Price: ~$219 | Buy on Amazon

The Firewalla Purple SE is the firewall most people should buy. It plugs into your existing router (or replaces it entirely in router mode), and within 10 minutes you have enterprise-grade intrusion detection running on your home network — no networking degree required.

Setup works through the Firewalla mobile app on iOS or Android. You scan a QR code on the device, choose between Simple Mode (bridges with your existing router) or Router Mode (replaces your router), and the app walks you through everything. The entire process genuinely takes less time than setting up a new smart speaker.

What makes the Purple SE stand out at this price point is the depth of its feature set. You get a full intrusion detection and prevention system (IDS/IPS) that monitors traffic patterns in real time, blocking known attack signatures before they reach your devices. The built-in ad blocker works network-wide, meaning every device on your Wi-Fi gets ad-free browsing without installing browser extensions. Parental controls let you set per-device schedules, block content categories, and monitor usage — all from the app.

The VPN capabilities deserve special mention. The Purple SE can act as both a VPN server (so you can securely access your home network from anywhere) and a VPN client (routing your traffic through a third-party VPN provider). You can even assign different VPN policies to different devices — route your streaming box through one country while keeping your work laptop on another.

Key specs: 500 Mbps IDS/IPS throughput, 2 Ethernet ports, no Wi-Fi (connects to your existing router), ARM-based processor, runs Firewalla OS (Linux-based).

Pros:

• No monthly subscription fees — ever
• App is genuinely intuitive for non-technical users
• Doubles as a router if you want to ditch your existing one
• Active development with regular feature updates
• Network-wide ad blocking and parental controls included

Cons:

• 500 Mbps cap means it’s not ideal if you have gigabit internet and want full-speed IDS
• No built-in Wi-Fi (you’ll need a separate access point or existing router)
• The sheer number of features can feel overwhelming at first

Firewalla Gold Plus — Best for Power Users and Smart Homes

Price: ~$479 | Buy on Amazon

If your internet plan delivers more than 500 Mbps, or you have a house full of smart home devices that need network segmentation, the Gold Plus is where you should look. It handles IDS/IPS at up to 2.5 Gbps — fast enough for virtually any residential internet plan available in 2026.

The Gold Plus features four Ethernet ports (2x 2.5 GbE + 2x 1 GbE), which lets you create separate network segments without additional hardware. This is particularly valuable for smart home setups: you can put your IoT devices (cameras, thermostats, smart locks) on an isolated VLAN, keeping them separated from your main computers and phones. If a smart lightbulb gets compromised, it can’t reach your laptop.

VLAN support is a standout feature here. You can create up to 16 network segments, each with its own firewall rules, DNS settings, and internet access policies. The Firewalla app makes creating and managing VLANs straightforward — you pick a name, assign devices, and set rules. It’s not quite drag-and-drop simple, but it’s vastly easier than configuring VLANs through a traditional enterprise firewall.

The Gold Plus also supports Smart Queue Management (SQM), which prioritizes traffic intelligently to reduce buffering and lag. If someone in your house is downloading a large file, SQM ensures your video calls and gaming sessions don’t suffer. This works particularly well on connections under 1 Gbps where bandwidth contention is more noticeable.

Key specs: 2.5 Gbps IDS/IPS throughput, 4 Ethernet ports (2x 2.5 GbE, 2x 1 GbE), no built-in Wi-Fi, supports VLANs, WireGuard and OpenVPN, Docker containers.

Pros:

• 2.5 Gbps throughput handles most residential gigabit plans
• Four Ethernet ports allow proper network segmentation without a switch
• Docker support lets you run additional services (Pi-hole, Home Assistant, etc.)
• Same no-subscription model as the Purple SE
• Excellent for smart home network isolation

Cons:

• $479 is a significant investment for a home networking device
• Still no built-in Wi-Fi — you need separate access points
• Overkill for simple home setups with fewer than 15 devices

Firewalla Gold Pro — Best for Small Businesses and Prosumers

Price: ~$889 | Buy on Amazon

The Gold Pro is Firewalla’s flagship, and it’s built for users who need enterprise-grade security without enterprise-grade complexity. Powered by an Intel N97 processor with 8 GB of RAM and 32 GB of flash storage, this box can handle 10 Gbps firewall throughput — enough for even the fastest fiber connections available today.

The dual 10 GbE ports future-proof this device for years. While 10 Gbps residential internet is still rare in 2026, these ports also provide headroom for high-speed local network transfers and ensure the firewall will never be the bottleneck as ISPs roll out faster plans. The remaining two ports are 2.5 GbE, providing additional connectivity for access points or switches.

For small business use, the Gold Pro supports multiple WAN connections with automatic failover. If your primary internet connection goes down, traffic seamlessly routes through your backup connection. Policy-based routing lets you direct specific types of traffic through specific WAN links — send your VoIP calls through the connection with lower latency while bulk downloads go through the cheaper pipe.

The Gold Pro pairs exceptionally well with Firewalla’s AP7 access point, which adds Wi-Fi 7 to the setup. Together, they create a fully integrated network security system with centralized management through the Firewalla app. The combination handles Zero Trust network segmentation, meaning every device must be explicitly authorized before it can communicate with other devices on the network.

Key specs: Intel N97 CPU, 8 GB RAM, 32 GB flash, 10 Gbps firewall throughput, 4 Ethernet ports (2x 10 GbE, 2x 2.5 GbE), supports multi-WAN failover, WireGuard/OpenVPN, Docker.

Pros:

• 10 GbE ports are genuinely future-proof
• Intel N97 provides enough power for deep packet inspection at full speed
• Multi-WAN failover is essential for business continuity
• Zero Trust architecture when paired with Firewalla AP7
• Still no monthly subscription — even for business features

Cons:

• $889 is a serious investment
• Way more power than a typical home user needs
• Requires separate access points for Wi-Fi (the AP7 adds another $189+)

Ubiquiti UniFi Express — Best Budget Gateway for DIY Networkers

Price: ~$149 | Buy on Amazon

The UniFi Express takes a different approach than Firewalla. Rather than being a standalone security appliance, it’s a compact cloud gateway with a built-in Wi-Fi 6 access point that runs Ubiquiti’s full UniFi Network software. For $149, you get a firewall, router, and Wi-Fi access point in a device smaller than a coffee mug.

The UniFi Express runs the same software as Ubiquiti’s enterprise gear, which means you get a stateful firewall with advanced filtering, threat management, and traffic analytics. The built-in IDS/IPS monitors traffic for known attack patterns and can automatically block suspicious connections. It also supports DPI (deep packet inspection), so you can see exactly what types of traffic are flowing through your network — how much bandwidth Netflix is using versus your work VPN, for example.

Where the UniFi Express really shines is as an entry point into the Ubiquiti ecosystem. It can manage up to 30+ UniFi devices (additional access points, cameras, switches), making it a legitimate starting point for a whole-home or small-office network. If you start with the Express and later need more coverage, you just add another UniFi access point — the Express manages everything centrally.

The trade-off is usability. Ubiquiti’s interface, while powerful, assumes more networking knowledge than Firewalla’s app. Terms like VLAN, firewall rules, and port forwarding aren’t explained — they’re just presented as configuration options. If you’re comfortable with basic networking concepts, this is an extraordinary value. If you’re not, you’ll spend time on YouTube tutorials and the Ubiquiti community forums.

Key specs: Wi-Fi 6 (2×2 on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), 1 GbE WAN port, 1 GbE LAN port, runs UniFi Network 8.x, manages up to 30+ UniFi devices, built-in cloud gateway.

Pros:

• $149 for a firewall, router, AND Wi-Fi access point is exceptional value
• Runs the full UniFi Network stack — same as enterprise gear
• Built-in Wi-Fi 6 means no separate access point needed for small spaces
• Scales into a full UniFi ecosystem as your needs grow
• No monthly fees

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve than Firewalla — not beginner-friendly
• Wi-Fi coverage limited to small apartments or single rooms
• 1 GbE ports limit throughput compared to Firewalla’s 2.5/10 GbE options
• IDS/IPS can slow down connections on lower-powered hardware

Firewalla Orange — Best Portable Firewall for Travelers

Price: ~$349 (pre-order) | Check availability at firewalla.com

The Firewalla Orange is a genuinely new category of product: a pocket-sized hardware firewall with built-in Wi-Fi 7 that you carry with you. When you connect to hotel Wi-Fi, airport networks, or coworking space internet, the Orange creates an instant Zero Trust network perimeter around all your devices. Everything connecting through the Orange is protected by the same IDS/IPS that runs on Firewalla’s home devices.

The use case is straightforward. You plug the Orange into an Ethernet port at your hotel or connect it to the venue’s Wi-Fi, and it creates its own secure Wi-Fi 7 network for your devices. Your laptop, phone, and tablet connect to the Orange instead of the untrusted public network. The Orange handles encryption, threat detection, and VPN routing — all automatically. If you travel frequently for work and connect to dozens of different networks per month, this device addresses a real and often-ignored security gap.

Wi-Fi 7 support is a meaningful inclusion here. The Orange supports dual-band Wi-Fi 7, providing fast and low-latency connections for the devices connecting through it. Multi-gigabit Ethernet ensures it won’t bottleneck faster hotel or office connections.

Key specs: Multi-gigabit Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi 7, portable form factor, full Firewalla OS with IDS/IPS and VPN, Zero Trust network mode.

Pros:

• Only portable hardware firewall with Wi-Fi 7 on the market
• Creates instant secure network on any untrusted connection
• Same Firewalla app and feature set as the home models
• No monthly fees

Cons:

• Currently in pre-order with limited initial inventory (shipping April/May 2026)
• $349 is expensive for a travel accessory
• Not yet available on Amazon — direct purchase only
• Not a replacement for a home firewall setup

Our Recommendation

For most home users: The Firewalla Purple SE at $219 is the clear pick. It delivers professional-grade security without a subscription fee, and the mobile app makes it accessible to anyone who can set up a smart speaker. If your internet speed is under 500 Mbps (which covers the majority of US households), you won’t hit any limitations.

For smart home enthusiasts and power users: The Firewalla Gold Plus at $479 earns its higher price with 2.5 Gbps throughput and VLAN support that properly isolates your IoT devices from your personal computers. If you have more than 20 connected devices, this is where you should start.

For small businesses: The Firewalla Gold Pro at $889 is an investment, but the 10 GbE ports, multi-WAN failover, and Zero Trust capabilities provide security that would cost thousands from traditional enterprise vendors. Pair it with a Firewalla AP7 for a complete business network solution.

For budget-conscious DIY networkers: The Ubiquiti UniFi Express at $149 packs firewall, router, and Wi-Fi 6 into a tiny package. You’ll need some networking knowledge, but the value is unmatched.

For frequent travelers: Watch for the Firewalla Orange — when it ships, it’ll be the first portable firewall worth recommending. If you can’t wait, setting up a VPN through a Firewalla device at home and connecting to it on the road is a solid interim solution.

Whichever device you choose, the most important thing is that you’re protecting your network at the hardware level. Software firewalls and antivirus tools have their place, but a dedicated hardware firewall catches threats before they reach any device on your network — and in 2026, that layer of protection is no longer optional.