#homelab
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UniFi Dream Machine Pro vs pfSense: Hardware and Cost
How the UniFi Dream Machine Pro compares with a pfSense build on ports, IDS/IPS licensing, VPN protocol support, and long-term cost of ownership.
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Firewalla vs pfSense: Appliance or DIY Firewall?
Firewalla's app-managed appliances against a self-built pfSense box, compared on published throughput, VPN limits, extensibility, and true total cost.
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UniFi vs pfSense Firewall Comparison: Which Fits Your Network?
A UniFi vs pfSense firewall comparison covering setup, IDS/IPS, SSL inspection, VPN performance, and routing, plus who should pick each platform.
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Firewall Hardware Tiers: Celeron vs N100 vs i5 Mini-PCs
How much CPU does a home firewall really need? A tiering of mini-PC silicon, from older Celeron through Intel N100 to i5-class, mapped to throughput.
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HAProxy vs nginx Reverse Proxy for a Home Firewall
Both OPNsense and pfSense can run a reverse proxy on the firewall itself. HAProxy and nginx solve the same homelab problem differently.
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WireGuard vs OpenVPN on Your Firewall
WireGuard has become the homelab default, but OpenVPN is far from dead. A practical comparison of the two VPN protocols as you would run them on a firewall.
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WireGuard on OPNsense vs pfSense in 2026: VPN Comparison
WireGuard is the default homelab VPN, but OPNsense and pfSense handle it differently. A comparison of setup, kernel implementation, and routing behavior.
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OPNsense vs pfSense in 2026: Honest, Side-by-Side Comparison
A documentation-based comparison of OPNsense, pfSense CE and pfSense Plus on UI, packages, IDS/IPS, upgrades, licensing and long-term maintenance.
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Best Homelab Firewall in 2026: OPNsense, pfSense, UniFi, MikroTik
A buyer's guide to picking the right homelab firewall in 2026, comparing OPNsense, pfSense, UniFi, and MikroTik RouterOS with budget tiers and concrete picks.