10 Best Free Firewall Software for Windows in 2024

The best software makes it simple and easy to set up a platform to protect your computer, phone, tablet, or IT network. The purpose of having a firewall installed on your is to protect against malware threats that exist on the Internet or other connected networks and control how programs utilize your Internet connection.

Even though Windows has great built-in firewall software, it lacks certain features that other alternative and completely free firewall programs can offer. Here is a unique list of 10 Best Free Firewall Software for Windows in 2024.

10 Best Free Firewall Software for Windows in 2024

Comodo

The first Best Free Firewall software for windows on our list is Comodo. It offers business. Comodo Firewall Protection Tool offers one of the best business grade security against online threats from virus, spyware, malware, trojans and hackers. Additional to the basic functions,it includes a secure browser, sandbox-style virtualization, a Host Intrusion Protection System(HIPS), and more.

Features

• The HIPS will detect suspicious behavior by a program and ask you whether to allow it, block it, or treat the program as an installer.
• Automatic sandboxing of unknown/suspicious files
• Fully configurable firewall with application blacklisting/whitelisting
• has a Rating Scan option to scan all running processes to show how trustworthy they are.

Pros

• Stealths ports to protect against outside attack. 
• Controls which programs can access the network. 
• Memory firewall capabilities to protect against buffer overflow attacks

Cons

• HIPS flags both good and bad programs.
• Automatic sandboxing is disabled by default
• No protection against exploit attacks.

Pricing

• Free
• $29.99/year

Link – https://www.comodo.com/

Glasswire

The second software on our list of Best Free Firewall software for windows is Glasswire. GlassWire is one of the most attractive free firewalls available.it has an easy to use interface that organizes all of its functions very well and has the ability to block programs with a single click. It protects up to 10 desktops in a single license and gives you all the necessary tools to manage and secure your network activity.

Features

• Lock Down mode Mini graph which visualizes real time view of apps using the network and the type of traffic they’re using. 
• Receive alerts when a new app accesses the network.
• Prebuilt toolbox of network security checks to detect changes in system files, device lists, etc.
• It helps you to keep track of your daily, weekly, or monthly bandwidth usage.
• Offers Wi-Fi evil twin detection and Data usage tracking.

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface makes it easy to detect threats to your computer.
• Allows you to block the program in one click
• You can block the connections of applications that do not behave well

Cons

• Limited features compared to some rivals
• The free version doesn’t include an “Ask to Connect” feature.
• It may slow down your device sometimes.

Pricing

• Free
• Premium- $2.99/monthly (varies with number of license)

Link – https://www.glasswire.com/

ZoneAlarm

The third software on our list of Best Free Firewall software for windows is Zonealarm. ZoneAlarm Free Firewall is the basic version of ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall but just without the antivirus portion. But antivirus to the installation if you wish to have a virus scanner alongside this firewall program. It also features a two-way firewall that monitors traffic coming into and going out of your network, makes your PC invisible to hackers, and stops spyware from broadcasting your personal data.

Features

• Multiple security layers
• Component level controls to detect malware even if it attaches to a trusted app
• Adjust the security mode of public and private networks with a slider setting.
• URL scanning and safe search on the web

Pros

• Makes your PC invisible to hackers
• 5Gb of free cloud backup
• Integrates with many other security programs.

Cons

• It is compatible with only MS Windows Defender
• You have to uninstall any existing anti-virus to use Zone Alarm
• Can’t run simultaneous scans

Pricing

• Free
• Pro Antivirus + Firewall- $21.95 / year

• Extreme Security NextGen- $27.95/ year

Link – https://www.zonealarm.com/

Tinywall

The fourth software on our list of Best Free Firewall software for windows is Tinywall. TinyWall is a completely free firewall software as this company does not follow a Freemium model and isn’t ad-sponsored. It isn’t a replacement for your antivirus, but it is a valuable add-on.it is actually designed to be used with Windows’ built-in Defender firewall, so its performance impact is minimal.

Features

• Zero popup browsing experience, even when you define multiple firewall exceptions
• Shows all the active processes that have a connection to the internet, as well as any open ports.
• Prevents malicious apps from illegitimately altering your Windows firewall settings
• Features dedicated LAN controlling options.

Pros

• No annoying pop-up Ads sponsored
• Blocks known locations that harbor viruses and worms

Cons

• Infrequent app updates.
• Might be blocked from downloading by your browser

Pricing

• Free

Link – https://tinywall.pados.hu/

ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer

The fifth software on our list of Best Free Firewall software for Windows is ManageEngine Firewall analyzer. It is an agent less log analytics and management software that helps network administrators to understand how bandwidth is being used in their network. It provides real-time visibility into network firewall security.

Features

• Monitors the firewall logs to identify suspicious network activity
• Provides real-time visibility into the firewall security of your network.
• Monitors the VPN and internet activities of users
• Ensures that the policy changes are managed

Pros

• It can trigger alerts in real time for bandwidth usage.
• Helps auditors with forensic audits of network activities.
• Import log files easily to the Firewall analyzer from your local host.

Cons

• Setting up advanced features can be challenging.
• May flag false alerts.

Pricing

• Free
• Plus- Custom

Link – https://www.manageengine.com/products/firewall/

AVS Firewall

The  sixth software on our list of Best Free Firewall software for windows is AVS Firewall. This free firewall protects your computer from both internal and external connections. It protects your computer from malicious registry changes, pop-up windows, flash banners, and most advertisements.

Features

• Intuitive interface and offers lots of customization options.
• Parent Control, which is a section to only allow access to an explicit list of websites.
• A history of network connections is available,so you can easily browse through and see what connections have been established in the past. 
• Customize the URLs that should be blocked for ads and banners if one isn’t already listed.

Pros

• Free firewall software.
• Ability to control internet traffic even when you have limited access to the internet.

Cons

• Their registry cleaner installs during setup unless you deselect it manually.
• No major updates in a long time.

Pricing

• Free

Link – https://onlinehelp.avs4you.com/avs-firewall/index.aspx

NetDefender

The seventh  software on our list of Best Free Firewall software for windows is NetDefender.The Netdefender free firewall comes with all the basic functions of a firewall and has an extremely simple installation process.It also includes a port scanner so you can quickly see which ports are open on your machine to help realize which of them you may want to close.

Features

• Can scan a single port or range, so as to view their status, and show a list of all apps currently trying to communicate with the outside network.
• Simple and user-friendly interface with no pop-ups
• Protection against spoofing ARF
• Create, edit or delete rules with just a few clicks,which means that you can deny or allow access to a specified IP address.

Pros

• A single click of button blocks all unwanted incoming traffic.
• Straight-forward installation process.

Cons

• Some features can be buggy
• Old-fashioned Interface

Pricing

• Free

Link- https://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/NetDefender.shtml

Peerblock

The eighth software on our list of Best Free Firewall software for windows is PeerBlock. This is because it is one of the softwares that offers the highest levels of security against all types of online and incoming threats. PeerBlock is different from most firewall programs because instead of blocking programs, it blocks whole lists of IP addresses under certain category types for both outgoing and incoming connections.

Features

• Allows the users to create their blocklist
• Even block entire countries and organizations.
• Can make your own list of addresses to block and Some lists are already added during installation.
• Can be updated regularly and automatically without any intervention.

Pros

• Blocks most pop-ups and ads.
• Easy to switch toggle on and off.

Cons

• Allows anyone to snoop and gather data as long as their IP addresses are not banned
• Not being actively developed anymore.

Pricing

• Free

Link- https://www.peerblock.com/

Avast Endpoint Protection

The ninth software on our list of Best Free Firewall software for windows is Avast Endpoint Protection. Avast Endpoint is a firewall protection tool that helps you to find out vulnerabilities in third-party applications.

Features

• Helps you to manage PCs, Macs, and servers from a single place
• Schedule tasks in advance to make all devices control at all times
• Prevent dangerous websites, set templates, and group devices
• Most comprehensive reports of threats and malware
• Invite other administrators and set personalized notifications

Pros

• All its plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• It uses six layers of protection.

Cons

• Patch management is only available for Windows.
• Some advanced settings, policies, and overrides require significant IT expertise to tune properly.

Pricing

• Free trial
• Essential-Rs 1,338/device/year
• Premium-Rs 1,686/device/year
• Ultimate-Rs 2,048/device/ year

Link- https://www.avast.com/business/products/small-business

Untangle

The last software on our list of Best Free Firewall software for windows is Untangle. It is an open-source firewall and it simplifies network security with a single, modular, software platform designed according to the needs of your organization. It offers a free core firewall platform with paid add-ons, and a cloud-based management platform with a variety of deployment options for smaller teams.

Features

• Simplified management of your dispersed networks from a single pane of glass
• It is one of the best free firewall for Windows that allows you to manger your backups, auditing logs, licensing and renewals
• Integration with endpoint security partners

Pros

• It comes with WireGuard VPN.
• You can download reports.

Cons

• Its dashboard is not customizable enough.
• The configurations can be hard to find.

Pricing

• Free
• Starting price -$25/month (excluding set up fee)

Link- https://www.untangle.com/get-untangle/

Which is the Best Free Firewall Software for Windows in 2024?

Comodo’s free antivirus software provides the best protection from malware instances, virus infection, and suspicious hidden files. It is a reliable, cloud-based protection that scans quickly and updates continuously to include the latest malware information from around the globe.

Conclusion

The software in the list have different priorities, some of them are great for features, security, and privacy, the others have an edge on pricing. For optimal protection and prevention from threats, we would recommend you to go for ZoneAlarm, Comodo Firewall, or Glasswire. If you want visibility and control of your applications, then go for Peerblock, or Tinywall. The best firewall options to streamline your security infrastructure include Glasswire and Netdefender.

FAQs – 10 Best Free Firewall Software for Windows in 2024

Are firewalls 100% secure?

Having a firewall does not necessarily protect you from all threats. There are several risks that can still impact your network. Malware is one of the most prevalent.

Are free firewalls safe?

For those with a home network, a free firewall should be enough to protect you from viruses and give you the peace of mind that your system is safe.

Is Microsoft Defender free?

Microsoft Defender Antivirus is free and is included in Windows, always on and always working to protect your PC against malware.