FortiGate FG-50G vs FG-60F: In-depth Comparison
Introduction
In this comparison, we leverage the official FortiGate FortiWiFi 50G and 60F Series datasheets to highlight how each model balances performance, security and connectivity for branch and SMB deployments. Below you’ll find side-by-side specs drawn directly from Fortinet’s documentation, followed by guidance on which appliance best suits your needs. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Hardware & Performance Specifications
| Specification | FG-50G | FG-60F |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall Throughput (1518/512/64 byte UDP) |
5 / 5 / 4 Gbps | 10 / 10 / 6 Gbps |
| IPS Throughput (Enterprise Mix) |
2.25 Gbps | 1.4 Gbps |
| NGFW Throughput (Enterprise Mix) |
1.25 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| Threat Protection (Enterprise Mix) |
1.1 Gbps | 700 Mbps |
| IPsec VPN Throughput (512 byte) |
4.5 Gbps | 6.5 Gbps |
| SSL VPN Throughput | — | 900 Mbps |
| SSL Inspection (IPS, avg. HTTPS) |
1.3 Gbps | 630 Mbps |
| Application Control (HTTP 64K) |
2.8 Gbps | 1.8 Gbps |
| Concurrent Sessions (TCP) | 720,000 | 700,000 |
| New Sessions/sec (TCP) | 85,000 | 35,000 |
| Interfaces | 5× GE RJ45 (+ USB, Console) | 10× GE RJ45 (incl. WAN, DMZ, FortiLink) |
| Internal Storage | — / 64 GB SSD | 128 GB SSD |
| Max FortiAPs (Total/Tunnel) | 16 / 8 | 64 / 32 |
| Max FortiSwitches | 8 | 24 |
| Virtual Domains (Default/Max) |
5 / 5 | 10 / 10 |
| Form Factor | Desktop | Desktop |
Source: FortiGate FortiWiFi 50G & 60F Series Data Sheets, May 2025
Key Differences & Deployment Guidance
Performance vs. Threat Inspection
• The FG-50G delivers higher IPS and threat-protection rates (2.25 Gbps and 1.1 Gbps) ideal for UTM-heavy branch sites. In contrast, the FG-60F’s raw firewall speed (10 Gbps) and VPN headroom (6.5 Gbps) suit environments with extremely high traffic volumes.
VPN & Remote Access
• Only the FG-60F provides a rated SSL VPN throughput (900 Mbps) and supports up to 200 concurrent SSL VPN users, making it the clear choice for larger remote-worker deployments.
Connectivity & Expansion
The FG-60F’s 10 GE ports (including a dedicated DMZ and FortiLink) plus 128 GB storage support deeper segmentation and richer local analytics.
The FG-50G’s 5-port baseline and variant SKUs (SFP, PoE, DSL, 5G, WiFi) offer flexibility for specialized branch requirements.
Session Handling & Latency
FG-50G supports up to 720,000 sessions and 85,000 new sessions/sec with low latency (2.42 µs).
FG-60F handles 700,000 sessions and 35,000 new sessions/sec with slightly higher latency (3.3 µs), reflecting its focus on throughput over session rate.
Which Should You Choose?
- Choose FG-50G if you need high IPS/threat-protection performance, varied WAN options (DSL/5G/PoE/SFP/WiFi), and UTM-centric security at distributed branch sites.
- Choose FG-60F for maximum firewall throughput, large SSL VPN user pools, extensive port density, and local storage for logging or analytics at growing office locations.
Conclusion
- Both the FG-50G and FG-60F deliver FortiOS-driven NGFW, SD-WAN, and Security Fabric integration. Align your choice with your branch’s security inspection needs, VPN/user counts, and connectivity requirements to maximize both performance and ROI.