FortiClient vs Pritunl (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, FortiClient grades higher than Pritunl: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
FortiClient grades higher on ease of use and platforms. Pritunl grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
FortiClient
Fortinet endpoint agent for VPN, ZTNA and endpoint protection
Pritunl
Self-hosted open-source VPN server for OpenVPN and WireGuard
Which one is for you
Pick FortiClient if
- Fits if your company already runs Fortinet gateways and wants a matching client
- Makes sense if you want a free VPN-only client for a single device
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to control a desktop remotely, as it is a VPN and endpoint agent
- Watch out: no prices are published and editions are bought through Fortinet's channels
- Watch out: support, central management and posture assessment aren't in the VPN-only edition
- Tight if you manage many devices, since central management needs a separately deployed EMS
Pick Pritunl if
- Fits if you can run a Linux server and want your own VPN with no per-user fee
- Works for teams that sign in through Okta, Google Workspace or Duo
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you don't want to run a server, as the install page lists Linux distributions only
- Pricey if you need SSO, failover or site-to-site links, which need Enterprise at $70 per host a month
- Watch out: servers coordinate through MongoDB, which you also have to run
- Too light for phones without extra work, as the Pritunl Client covers macOS, Windows and Linux only
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAFortiClientFair | 2.0GPAPritunlFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CPaid editions have no published price and go through Fortinet's buy channels, so value sits at C. The VPN-only edition has no subscription. | CFree only if you host it yourself, which needs a server, so it sits at C. Premium is $10 per host a month and Enterprise $70. |
| Free plan and trial | CVPN-only is listed as a download with no subscription, but support and central management need an Enterprise tier. | BThe Community edition is free for one host with unlimited servers, users and devices, and needs no registration or card. |
| Features | CVPN and ZTNA tunnels, posture checks, web filtering and endpoint protection are listed, but central management needs a separate FortiClient EMS. | COpenVPN and WireGuard clients, a REST API and plugins are listed, but single sign-on, failover and site-to-site links are Enterprise only. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. The client installs easily, but a company setup needs gateways and EMS configured. | DNo store rating on record. You install the server on Linux and run MongoDB, which is a command-line job. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with FortiSASE, FortiClient EMS and FortiGuard. No web client is listed. | CClient apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, with SSO through Okta, Google Workspace and others. Other devices use OpenVPN profiles. |
| Best for | a VPN and endpoint agent for Fortinet setups | a self-run VPN server for companies |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: FortiClient and Pritunl. How we grade
Where they differ
- Pritunl is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- FortiClient also covers reports and malware protection.
At a glance
| FortiClient | Pritunl | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | $10 per host / month |
| Free plan | FortiClient VPN-only is listed as a download with no subscription; support and central management need an Enterprise tier. | Community edition: free for a single host, with unlimited servers, users and devices. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Fortinet | Pritunl, Inc. |
| Price read from | fortinet.com | pritunl.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
FortiClient
- No prices are published; editions are bought through Fortinet's How to Buy channels.
- Support, central management and zero trust posture assessment are not in the VPN-only edition.
- Central management needs a separately deployed FortiClient EMS.
- It is a VPN and endpoint agent, not a tool for controlling a desktop remotely.
Pritunl
- You install and run the server yourself; the install page lists Linux distributions only.
- Single sign-on, failover and site-to-site links need Enterprise at $70 per host per month.
- Servers coordinate through MongoDB, which you also need to run.
- The Pritunl Client is available for macOS, Windows and Linux only; other devices use OpenVPN profiles.
Key features
FortiClient
- VPN and ZTNA tunnels
- The unified agent supports both zero trust application access and VPN-encrypted tunnels for remote workers.
- Endpoint posture checks
- ZTNA Edition includes real-time endpoint posture checks and VPN with continuous assessment.
- Web filtering and CASB
- URL and video filtering through FortiGuard, plus inline and API-based CASB, are part of the ZTNA Edition.
- Endpoint protection
- The EPP/APT Edition adds AI-powered antivirus and malware protection on top of the ZTNA features.
- Central management
- Editions are managed centrally from the FortiClient Endpoint Management Server, with central logging and reporting available.
- Fabric integration
- As a Fabric Agent it reports device information to the Fortinet Security Fabric for visibility and control.
Pritunl
- OpenVPN and WireGuard clients
- The server accepts any OpenVPN client, and the Pritunl Client for macOS, Windows and Linux handles both OpenVPN and WireGuard.
- Site-to-site links
- Pritunl Link joins networks over WireGuard or IPsec, with AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Oracle Cloud and Hetzner named on the homepage.
- Single sign-on
- Enterprise supports SAML, Google, Duo Security and RADIUS; the SSO page also lists Okta and OneLogin.
- Failover and replication
- Servers share state through MongoDB and run as equal peers, so clients move to another node if one fails.
- Device authentication
- TPM and Apple Secure Enclave device authentication is offered, along with TOTP and push two-step sign-in.
- REST API and plugins
- A REST API automates user and server management, and a Python plugin system supports custom authentication.
Plans
FortiClient
VPN-only$0
VPN client without support or central management; the downloads page points to Enterprise tiers for those.
Standalone EditionCustom
Subscription with email support, aimed at small businesses. Sold through Fortinet's How to Buy channels.
ZTNA EditionCustom
Adds zero trust application access, posture checks, web filtering, CASB and management through EMS.
EPP/APT EditionCustom
Everything in ZTNA Edition plus AI-powered antivirus and malware protection.
Pritunl
Community$0
Free for a single host with unlimited VPN servers, users and devices. You host it yourself.
Premium$10
per host / month
Single host. Adds port forwarding, gateway links, Chromebook support, configuration sync and email user keys.
Enterprise$70
per host / month
Everything in Premium plus single sign-on, automatic failover, replicated servers and site-to-site links.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, FortiClient or Pritunl?
As of Nov 13, 2026, FortiClient publishes no starting price, and Pritunl starts at $10 per host / month.
Which has a free plan, FortiClient or Pritunl?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both FortiClient and Pritunl have a free plan.
Which platforms do FortiClient and Pritunl run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only FortiClient lists iOS and Android apps. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.