Catch Advisors
SASE

Palo Alto Networks vs Fortinet: Which Security Giant Wins on SASE?

Palo Alto Networks and Fortinet are two of the largest names in enterprise security, and both have extended their portfolios into SASE. Palo Alto leads with a security-first approach anchored by Prisma Access, WildFire, and ZTNA 2.0. Fortinet brings a unified FortiOS operating system that spans on-premises FortiGate appliances and cloud-delivered FortiSASE, with particular strength in SD-WAN and cost efficiency. The decision often comes down to security depth versus operational cost and hardware flexibility.

Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks
VS
Fortinet
Fortinet

Feature Comparison

How Palo Alto Networks and Fortinet stack up across key capabilities.

Threat Prevention

Palo Alto Networks leads
Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks

WildFire sandboxing, Advanced URL Filtering, DNS Security, and Unit 42 threat intelligence. Consistently top-ranked in independent testing for malware detection and zero-day prevention.

Fortinet Fortinet

FortiGuard Labs provides threat intelligence, antivirus, IPS, web filtering, and sandboxing. One of the largest threat research operations globally. Strong efficacy at a lower price point.

SASE Architecture

Even match
Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks

Prisma SASE combines Prisma Access (cloud-delivered security), Prisma SD-WAN, and Autonomous Digital Experience Management (ADEM). Cloud-first approach with multiple integrated components.

Fortinet Fortinet

FortiSASE extends FortiOS from on-premises appliances into the cloud. A single operating system spans hardware and cloud, providing operational consistency but with roots in a hardware-first design.

SD-WAN

Fortinet leads
Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks

Prisma SD-WAN (formerly CloudGenix) offers application-defined routing, sub-second failover, and granular traffic engineering. Capable but not the category leader.

Fortinet Fortinet

FortiGate SD-WAN is widely recognized as a market leader. Application steering, WAN optimization, and self-healing capabilities built into every FortiGate appliance. A core Fortinet strength.

ZTNA

Palo Alto Networks leads
Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks

ZTNA 2.0 delivers continuous trust verification, deep application-level security inspection on all traffic, and support for all apps and protocols. Goes beyond basic ZTNA access control.

Fortinet Fortinet

FortiZTNA provides identity-based access with posture checks. Integrated with FortiClient and FortiGate. Functional but does not match the granularity or continuous verification of Palo Alto's ZTNA 2.0.

Management and Complexity

Even match
Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks

Strata Cloud Manager and Panorama provide centralized management. Highly configurable but complex. Typically requires dedicated security engineers with Palo Alto expertise.

Fortinet Fortinet

FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer deliver centralized management across hardware and cloud. Consistent FortiOS experience simplifies operations for Fortinet-trained teams. Still complex for newcomers.

Hardware vs Cloud

Fortinet leads
Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks

Cloud-first approach with Prisma Access. On-premises options exist (PA-Series firewalls) but SASE is delivered primarily from the cloud. Less emphasis on edge hardware for SASE.

Fortinet Fortinet

Fortinet excels with purpose-built security processors (SPUs) in FortiGate hardware, delivering exceptional throughput at the edge. Strong hybrid model combining on-prem hardware with cloud-delivered services.

Total Cost of Ownership

Fortinet leads
Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks

Premium pricing reflecting best-in-class security. Multiple product SKUs, add-on licenses, and support tiers can drive up total cost. Best suited for organizations with enterprise security budgets.

Fortinet Fortinet

Generally 30-50% lower total cost of ownership than Palo Alto. Competitive hardware pricing, bundled licensing options, and efficient security processors that reduce infrastructure costs.

Pros & Cons

Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks

Strengths

  • Best-in-class threat prevention with WildFire and Advanced URL Filtering
  • ZTNA 2.0 goes beyond basic zero trust with continuous verification
  • Unit 42 threat intelligence is industry-leading
  • Broadest security platform extending well beyond SASE
  • Strong track record in the most regulated and security-sensitive industries

Limitations

  • Significantly higher total cost of ownership than Fortinet
  • SASE platform assembled from multiple acquired products
  • Requires experienced security staff to manage effectively
  • SD-WAN capabilities are strong but do not lead the market

Best For

Large enterprises and organizations in highly regulated industries where security efficacy is the overriding concern. Palo Alto Prisma SASE is ideal for companies with mature security operations teams, dedicated SOC staff, and the budget to invest in a premium platform. If your organization handles sensitive data, faces advanced persistent threats, or requires the deepest possible threat prevention, Palo Alto is the standard.

Fortinet

Fortinet

Strengths

  • Industry-leading SD-WAN with FortiGate appliances
  • Unified FortiOS across on-premises and cloud deployments
  • 30-50% lower total cost of ownership compared to Palo Alto
  • Purpose-built security processors deliver high throughput at the edge
  • Seamless migration path for existing Fortinet customers

Limitations

  • ZTNA implementation is less advanced than Palo Alto's ZTNA 2.0
  • SASE architecture is rooted in hardware rather than cloud-native
  • Perceived as less innovative than Palo Alto in emerging security categories
  • Cloud-delivered capabilities are still maturing compared to on-premises strength

Best For

Organizations that need enterprise-grade security with a strong emphasis on cost efficiency and SD-WAN performance. Fortinet is ideal for companies with existing FortiGate deployments, those that need high-throughput edge security with purpose-built hardware, and IT teams that want a consistent operating system across all locations. It is also the strongest choice for organizations where SD-WAN is as important as security.

Our Verdict

Choose Palo Alto Networks if advanced threat prevention is the top priority and your organization has the budget and staff to operate a premium security platform. Choose Fortinet if you want a unified operating system across on-premises and cloud, industry-leading SD-WAN, and the most cost-effective path to enterprise-grade SASE. Security-obsessed organizations with mature SOC teams lean toward Palo Alto. Cost-conscious enterprises that value hardware performance and operational consistency lean toward Fortinet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fortinet really 30-50% cheaper than Palo Alto?
In many scenarios, yes. Fortinet's purpose-built security processors deliver high performance at lower hardware costs, and their licensing bundles are generally more inclusive. However, the actual savings depend on deployment size, feature requirements, and negotiated pricing. We model the total cost of ownership for both platforms as part of our assessment.
Which platform is better for organizations with both on-premises and cloud needs?
Fortinet has an advantage for hybrid deployments because FortiOS runs consistently across FortiGate hardware and FortiSASE cloud services. Palo Alto offers on-premises firewalls (PA-Series) alongside Prisma Access, but the two experiences are not as unified. If consistent operations across on-prem and cloud is a priority, Fortinet has the edge.
Does Palo Alto's higher cost translate to meaningfully better security?
Palo Alto consistently scores at the top of independent security tests, and WildFire plus Unit 42 represent a significant investment in threat intelligence. For most organizations, both vendors provide excellent protection. The incremental security benefit of Palo Alto matters most for organizations facing advanced threats, nation-state actors, or operating in high-risk industries.
Can Catch Advisors help us decide between Palo Alto and Fortinet?
Absolutely. We evaluate both platforms against your threat landscape, network architecture, budget, and team capabilities. Our vendor-neutral assessment is free, and we handle the negotiation process to ensure you get the best terms regardless of which direction you choose.

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