FortiGate FG-70G vs FG-80F: In-depth Comparison
Introduction
In this side-by-side comparison, we draw directly from the official FortiGate FortiWiFi 70G and 80F series datasheets to show how each appliance balances raw throughput, threat inspection, VPN capacity, and connectivity options for branch and SMB environments.
Hardware & Performance Specifications
| Specification | FG-70G | FG-80F |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall Throughput (1518/512/64 byte UDP) | 10 / 10 / 10 Gbps | 10 / 10 / 7 Gbps |
| IPS Throughput (Enterprise Mix) | 2.5 Gbps | 1.4 Gbps |
| NGFW Throughput (Enterprise Mix) | 1.5 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| Threat Protection Throughput (Enterprise Mix) | 1.3 Gbps | 900 Mbps |
| IPsec VPN Throughput (512 byte) | 7.1 Gbps | 6.5 Gbps |
| SSL VPN Throughput | N/A | 950 Mbps |
| SSL Inspection (IPS, avg. HTTPS) | 1.4 Gbps | 715 Mbps |
| Application Control (HTTP 64K) | 3.6 Gbps | 1.8 Gbps |
| Concurrent Sessions (TCP) | 1.4 Million | 1.5 Million |
| New Sessions/sec (TCP) | 100 000 | 45 000 |
| Interfaces | 2× GE WAN, 6× GE RJ45, 2× FortiLink, 1× USB, 1× Console | Multiple GE RJ45; variants with PoE, DSL, 3G/4G, WiFi, storage |
| Form Factor | Desktop | Desktop |
Key Differences & Deployment Guidance
Performance vs. Inspection
The FG-70G’s SOC-based design yields superior IPS and threat-protection rates (2.5 Gbps and 1.3 Gbps), making it ideal for UTM-heavy branch sites. The FG-80F trades some inspection speed for balanced throughput and lower power, fitting locations where firewall speed and connectivity options matter most.
VPN & Remote Access
Only the FG-80F carries a defined SSL-VPN rating (950 Mbps) with support for up to 200 tunnels, suiting larger remote-user deployments. The FG-70G excels at site-to-site IPsec (7.1 Gbps) but lacks a published SSL-VPN figure.
Connectivity & Expansion
FG-70G includes dedicated FortiLink ports and USB/console interfaces for management and expansion. FG-80F offers a rich variant lineup—with PoE, DSL, 3G/4G, WiFi, and storage options—allowing you to tailor connectivity without extra modules.
Which Should You Choose?
- FG-70G for branches that need maximum IPS/UTM throughput with standard port density.
- FG-80F for sites requiring balanced firewall speed, SSL-VPN capacity, and diverse WAN/WiFi/PoE options.
Conclusion
Both models share FortiOS-driven NGFW, SD-WAN, and Security Fabric integration. Align your choice to your branch’s inspection demands, VPN needs, and network connectivity requirements to maximize security efficacy and total cost of ownership.