First, this isn’t an attempt at an unfair shit on Netgate post. I’ve been a pfSense user (and member of their sub) for many, many years. I’ve endured (along with everyone else) their…unique PR strategy. I always told myself the software is good regardless of the company and their penchant for public trouble. I even defended them a couple of years ago when they announced pfSense+.
But, last week’s abrupt announcement about the end of pfSense+'s Home+Lab edition and a requirement to pay $399/yr to continue using + was the final dramatic incident for me. I’m not decided on what I’m doing, but I don’t think it’s pfSense+.
Today, they announced a price reduction to $129/yr. But 35 cents a day to stay on + still seems like a lot to me. Considering the free alternatives (CE & OPNsense), not because it’s unattainable pricing.
I’m curious how the greater pfSense community feels, but I don’t feel confident this post won’t just get taken down in r/pfSense.
For the unfamiliar, here’s the context:
Never, there are to many solid and ‘free’ / low cost alternatives such as opnsense, sophos xg, etc. Between the alternatives and the bullshit from their idiot management / owner I’ll never touch their products / software and push everyone I can away from them.
I think they may have shot themselves in the foot on this one. One of my friends is the lead network engineer at a midsized MSP, and after this fiasco they’ve already committed to never buying another netgate box or pfsense license again, they’re evaluating opnsense and other appliances in the same cost range. They’ve also heard a few other MSP’s they sometimes compete with are exploring alternatives as well. Time will tell how this plays out.