Cisco AnyConnect vs Netgate pfSense
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Business VPNs. Last verified June 9, 2026.
The short answer
Cisco AnyConnect ranks higher on Top 11 (#7 vs #10) for IT teams securing remote access. A legacy enterprise VPN standard, best for companies already using Cisco hardware.
At a glance
| Cisco AnyConnect | Netgate pfSense | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #7 / The 11 Best Business VPNs | #10 / The 11 Best Business VPNs |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 7.9 | 7.3 |
| Best for | The enterprise standard for Cisco shops | Flexible open-source-based VPN solution |
| Pricing | $$$ (Quote-based, requires hardware) | $ (Software is free, requires hardware/cloud instance) |
| HQ | San Jose, USA | Austin, USA |
| Founded | 1984 | 2012 |
Cisco AnyConnect
A legacy enterprise VPN standard, best for companies already using Cisco hardware.
www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/anyconnect-secure-mobility-client/index.htmlNetgate pfSense
A powerful, customizable option for technical teams comfortable with open-source software.
www.netgate.com/pfsense-plus-softwareMethodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.