The FortiClient Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about FortiClient in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
FortiClient
The Insider’s Guide
Fortinet endpoint agent for VPN, ZTNA and endpoint protection
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among remote desktop apps, read from FortiClient’s own pages.
Made by Fortinet · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from FortiClient’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on FortiClient’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 21 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade
FortiClient is Fortinet's endpoint agent. It connects remote workers to the network through VPN or zero trust application access and reports to the Fortinet Security Fabric. It comes in a VPN-only edition and in paid ZTNA, EPP/APT and Standalone editions, with central management through the Endpoint Management Server.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about FortiClient, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The client installs easily, but a company setup needs gateways and EMS configured.
- 1
Best for a VPN and endpoint agent for Fortinet setups
FortiClient is Fortinet's VPN and endpoint agent, with a VPN-only edition that has no subscription.
- 2
There is a free plan
FortiClient VPN-only is listed as a download with no subscription; support and central management need an Enterprise tier.
- 3
It runs on 5 platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 4
VPN and ZTNA tunnels
The unified agent supports both zero trust application access and VPN-encrypted tunnels for remote workers.
- 5
Endpoint posture checks
ZTNA Edition includes real-time endpoint posture checks and VPN with continuous assessment.
- 6
Web filtering and CASB
URL and video filtering through FortiGuard, plus inline and API-based CASB, are part of the ZTNA Edition.
- 7
A 2.2 GPA, above 21 of 85
That is against the other remote desktop apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace FortiClient you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
FortiClient at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Fortinet
- Category
- Remote Desktop
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a VPN and endpoint agent for Fortinet setups
FortiClient is Fortinet's VPN and endpoint agent, with a VPN-only edition that has no subscription. Paid editions have no published price, support and central management aren't in the free edition, and central management needs a separately deployed EMS.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Paid editions have no published price and go through Fortinet's buy channels, so value sits at C. The VPN-only edition has no subscription. |
| Free plan and trial | C | VPN-only is listed as a download with no subscription, but support and central management need an Enterprise tier. |
| Features | C | VPN and ZTNA tunnels, posture checks, web filtering and endpoint protection are listed, but central management needs a separate FortiClient EMS. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. The client installs easily, but a company setup needs gateways and EMS configured. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with FortiSASE, FortiClient EMS and FortiGuard. No web client is listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who FortiClient is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Organizations that already run Fortinet firewalls
- Small teams that only need a supported VPN client
- IT teams that want VPN, posture checks and antivirus in one agent
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
4
plans to choose from
FortiClient has a free plan.
Paid editions have no published price and go through Fortinet's buy channels, so value sits at C.
VPN-only
$0
VPN client without support or central management; the downloads page points to Enterprise tiers for those.
Standalone Edition
Custom
Subscription with email support, aimed at small businesses. Sold through Fortinet's How to Buy channels.
ZTNA Edition
Custom
Adds zero trust application access, posture checks, web filtering, CASB and management through EMS.
EPP/APT Edition
Custom
Everything in ZTNA Edition plus AI-powered antivirus and malware protection.
The free plan
FortiClient VPN-only is listed as a download with no subscription; support and central management need an Enterprise tier.
Read from fortinet.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Fortinet endpoint agent for VPN, ZTNA and endpoint protection. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: reports, vPN, malware protection.
Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with FortiSASE, FortiClient EMS and FortiGuard.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- FortiSASE
- FortiClient EMS
- FortiGuard
FortiClient is made by Fortinet.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
21/85
Other remote desktop apps it is graded above
FortiClient's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 21 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 13.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 28 of 85) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 86 remote desktop apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. FortiClient’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 7 of 85
- CFree plan and trialAbove 19 of 85
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 85
- CEase of useAbove 10 of 85
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 85
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace FortiClient you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 51 of the 85 other remote desktop apps grade higher.
What you could make
- Reports: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. FortiClient’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Ivanti Connect Secure, Zscaler Private Access, Absolute Secure Access and Pritunl
The 4 tools FortiClient is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
Ivanti Connect Secure
Paid
Enterprise SSL VPN gateway for secure remote access.
- FortiClient has a free plan. Ivanti Connect Secure does not.
- Only Ivanti Connect Secure lists a web app.
- FortiClient also covers malware protection.
- 1.8GPA
Zscaler Private Access
Paid
Zero trust access to private apps without a VPN.
- FortiClient has a free plan. Zscaler Private Access does not.
- Only FortiClient lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Zscaler Private Access lists a web app.
- 1.4GPA
Absolute Secure Access
Paid
Zero trust network access and SSE for hybrid workers.
- FortiClient has a free plan. Absolute Secure Access does not.
- Only FortiClient lists macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- FortiClient also covers reports and malware protection.
- 2.0GPA
Pritunl
Free plan · from $10/mo
Self-hosted open-source VPN server for OpenVPN and WireGuard.
- Only FortiClient lists iOS and Android apps.
- Pritunl is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- FortiClient also covers reports and malware protection.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
9
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is FortiClient free?
FortiClient has a free plan. FortiClient VPN-only is listed as a download with no subscription; support and central management need an Enterprise tier.
How much does FortiClient cost?
FortiClient lists 4 plans. VPN-only: $0.
What platforms does FortiClient work on?
FortiClient is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
Is FortiClient open source?
FortiClient is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does FortiClient integrate with?
FortiClient's listing names FortiSASE, FortiClient EMS and FortiGuard.
Who makes FortiClient?
FortiClient is made by Fortinet.
What are the alternatives to FortiClient?
The closest alternatives to FortiClient in our directory are Ivanti Connect Secure, Zscaler Private Access, Absolute Secure Access and Pritunl.
How does FortiClient compare with other remote desktop apps?
FortiClient's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 21 of the 85 other remote desktop apps we grade, and level with 13.
Could I make my own version of FortiClient?
To replace FortiClient you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from FortiClient’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Fortinet's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Fortinet. Prices change, so check fortinet.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- FortiClient, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/forticlient
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "FortiClient: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/forticlient
Know someone choosing between remote desktop apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/forticlient/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded remote desktop apps after FortiClient, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Remote Desktop Insider's GuideEvery one of the 86 remote desktop apps we grade, compared
- Chrome Remote Desktop Insider's GuideGoogle's free remote access to your own computers from a browser3.2 GPA
- DWService Insider's GuideFree browser-based remote access to computers via an agent3.2 GPA
- HopToDesk Insider's GuideFree open-source remote desktop with a paid device dashboard3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what FortiClient’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. FortiClient is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Fortinet. Prices and plans change: check fortinet.com before you buy.