Skip to main content

Top 12 Palo Alto Networks Alternatives & Competitors (2026)

Considering options beyond Palo Alto Networks? Here are the best-ranked cybersecurity alternatives for 2026, independently scored and compared.

Why consider an alternative to Palo Alto Networks?

Palo Alto Networks provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. It scores 91/100 in our Cybersecurity ranking. Still, the best tool depends on your company size, budget, integrations, and support needs — so it's worth comparing Palo Alto Networks against the top alternatives below before deciding.

The best Palo Alto Networks alternatives, ranked

  1. #2

    CrowdStrike

    Elite
    92/100
    Capability92/100
    Ease of use92/100
    Value93/100

    Why it's a Palo Alto Networks alternative: Ranks higher than Palo Alto Networks overall in our Cybersecurity evaluation (92 vs 91/100).

    CrowdStrike provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. Assessed on detection speed, false-positive rate, and compliance certifications.

  2. #3

    Fortinet

    Elite
    91/100
    Capability92/100
    Ease of use87/100
    Value89/100

    Why it's a Palo Alto Networks alternative: A strong, well-ranked alternative to Palo Alto Networks in Cybersecurity.

    Fortinet provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. Assessed on detection speed, false-positive rate, and compliance certifications.

  3. #4

    SentinelOne

    Elite
    90/100
    Capability89/100
    Ease of use89/100
    Value90/100

    Why it's a Palo Alto Networks alternative: A strong, well-ranked alternative to Palo Alto Networks in Cybersecurity.

    SentinelOne provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. Assessed on detection speed, false-positive rate, and compliance certifications.

  4. #5

    Zscaler

    Elite
    90/100
    Capability92/100
    Ease of use88/100
    Value90/100

    Why it's a Palo Alto Networks alternative: A strong, well-ranked alternative to Palo Alto Networks in Cybersecurity.

    Zscaler provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. Assessed on detection speed, false-positive rate, and compliance certifications.

  5. #6

    Okta

    Elite
    89/100
    Capability88/100
    Ease of use87/100
    Value91/100

    Why it's a Palo Alto Networks alternative: A strong, well-ranked alternative to Palo Alto Networks in Cybersecurity.

    Okta provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. Assessed on detection speed, false-positive rate, and compliance certifications.

  6. #7

    Darktrace

    Elite
    88/100
    Capability86/100
    Ease of use83/100
    Value86/100

    Why it's a Palo Alto Networks alternative: A strong, well-ranked alternative to Palo Alto Networks in Cybersecurity.

    Darktrace provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. Assessed on detection speed, false-positive rate, and compliance certifications.

  7. #8

    Rapid7

    Premium
    88/100
    Capability86/100
    Ease of use89/100
    Value87/100

    Why it's a Palo Alto Networks alternative: A strong, well-ranked alternative to Palo Alto Networks in Cybersecurity.

    Rapid7 provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. Assessed on detection speed, false-positive rate, and compliance certifications.

  8. #9

    Tenable

    Premium
    87/100
    Capability86/100
    Ease of use86/100
    Value89/100

    Why it's a Palo Alto Networks alternative: A strong, well-ranked alternative to Palo Alto Networks in Cybersecurity.

    Tenable provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. Assessed on detection speed, false-positive rate, and compliance certifications.

  9. #10

    Qualys

    Premium
    86/100
    Capability84/100
    Ease of use85/100
    Value88/100

    Why it's a Palo Alto Networks alternative: A strong, well-ranked alternative to Palo Alto Networks in Cybersecurity.

    Qualys provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. Assessed on detection speed, false-positive rate, and compliance certifications.

  10. #11

    Check Point

    Premium
    86/100
    Capability86/100
    Ease of use84/100
    Value83/100

    Why it's a Palo Alto Networks alternative: A strong, well-ranked alternative to Palo Alto Networks in Cybersecurity.

    Check Point provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. Assessed on detection speed, false-positive rate, and compliance certifications.

  11. #12

    Sophos

    Premium
    85/100
    Capability83/100
    Ease of use82/100
    Value86/100

    Why it's a Palo Alto Networks alternative: A strong, well-ranked alternative to Palo Alto Networks in Cybersecurity.

    Sophos provides threat detection and protection across the attack surface. Assessed on detection speed, false-positive rate, and compliance certifications.

See the full Cybersecurity ranking →

Palo Alto Networks alternatives — FAQ

What is the best alternative to Palo Alto Networks?

Palo Alto Networks is our top-ranked alternative to Palo Alto Networks, scoring 93/100 in Cybersecurity. Ranks higher than Palo Alto Networks overall in our Cybersecurity evaluation (93 vs 91/100).

Is there a cheaper or free alternative to Palo Alto Networks?

Several alternatives below publish transparent pricing — open each profile to compare costs against Palo Alto Networks.

Why look for an alternative to Palo Alto Networks?

Buyers compare alternatives to Palo Alto Networks to find a better fit for their company size, budget, required integrations, or support model. All 12 options below are independently ranked in Cybersecurity.