Best VMware vDefend Distributed Firewall Alternatives in 2026
Taken from Microsegmentation Software, where VMware vDefend Distributed Firewall is listed too, in the same order.
- 1 7.8 Club score
Antrea
Antrea is an open-source networking and security project for Kubernetes workloads.
- Free plan
- Open source
- Windows · Linux · API · Self-hosted
- 2
7.6 Club scoreColorTokens Xshield
ColorTokens Xshield is an enterprise microsegmentation platform that creates micro-perimeters around network assets to limit malware and ransomware from spreading…
- Free trial
- Windows · macOS · Linux · Web
- 3
7.5 Club scoreZscaler Private Access
Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) provides zero trust access to private applications, workloads and operational technology from users' devices and locations.
- Windows · macOS · Linux · Web
- 4 7.3 Club score
OVN-Kubernetes
OVN-Kubernetes is a free, open-source networking solution and CNI-conformant plugin for Kubernetes, built on OVN and Open vSwitch.
- Free plan
- Windows · Linux · API · Self-hosted
- 5
7.3 Club scoreAkamai Guardicore Segmentation
Akamai Guardicore Segmentation uses microsegmentation to limit lateral movement, contain breaches, and support Zero Trust strategies.
- Free trial
- Windows · Linux · Web · API
- 6
7.2 Club scoreCalico Open Source
Calico Open Source provides networking, network security, and observability for Kubernetes environments across multi-cloud, hybrid-cloud, and on-premises deployments.
- Free plan
- Windows · Linux · Self-hosted
- 7 7.2 Club score
Hopr
Hopr provides Zero Trust access control for workloads and APIs using Cloud Native Automated Moving Target Defense.
- Free plan
- Linux · Self-hosted
- 8
7.1 Club scoreIllumio Segmentation
Illumio Segmentation is paid software for organizations managing workloads across cloud environments, on-premises data centers, and endpoints.
- Windows · Linux · Web · API
- 9
7.0 Club scoreIstio
Istio is a free, open-source service mesh for securing, connecting, and monitoring distributed applications with few or no service-code changes.
- Free plan
- macOS · Linux · Self-hosted
- 10
6.8 Club scoreCilium
Cilium is free, open-source software for providing, securing, and observing network connectivity between workloads using eBPF.
- Free plan
- Linux · Self-hosted
- 11
6.7 Club scoreElisity Microsegmentation
Elisity Microsegmentation is an agentless platform for controlling movement across enterprise networks.
- Web · API · Self-hosted
- 12
6.7 Club scoreCalico Enterprise
Calico Enterprise is Tigera’s self-managed platform for network security and observability in Kubernetes clusters.
- Windows · Linux · Web · Self-hosted
- 13 6.7 Club score
Kube-router
Kube-router is a free, open-source networking solution for Kubernetes clusters on Linux or self-hosted infrastructure.
- Free plan
- Linux · Self-hosted
- 14
6.5 Club scoreTetrate Service Bridge
Tetrate Service Bridge is a service mesh and control plane for connecting, monitoring, and securing microservices across Kubernetes and traditional compute clusters.
- Web · API · Self-hosted
- 15 6.5 Club score
Zentera CoIP Access Platform
Zentera CoIP Access Platform is paid enterprise software for Zero Trust onboarding and application access control.
- Windows · macOS · Linux · API
- 16 6.4 Club score
Xage Critical Asset Protection
Xage Critical Asset Protection is paid security software for operational technology, data centers, cloud, IoT, and infrastructure assets.
- Web · Self-hosted
- 17
6.2 Club scoreAviatrix Zero Trust for Workloads
Aviatrix Zero Trust for Workloads applies runtime zero-trust controls to virtual machines, containers, and serverless workloads.
- Web
- 18
6.1 Club scoreZero Networks Segment
Zero Networks Segment is a hybrid network-security platform for enterprises.
- Web · API
- 19
6.0 Club scoreIsovalent Enterprise for Cilium
Isovalent Enterprise for Cilium combines Cilium, Hubble, and Tetragon in a hardened distribution built and supported by Cilium’s creators.
- Linux · Self-hosted
- 20
6.0 Club scoreCyninges TITAN
Cyninges TITAN combines agentless microsegmentation with privileged-access brokering for organizations protecting critical systems.