# Palo Alto Networks NGFW: how AI models rank it, October 2026

IT AI Recommendation Index, October 2026 Edition. Named in 44 judge labels across 1 categories by 14 of 14 models. Page: https://it-ai-index.com/vendors/palo-alto-networks-ngfw/

## Standing by category

| Category | Share | Rank | Negative rate | Labels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Next-generation firewalls | 2% | 3 | 20% | 44 |

## What the models said for it

- "Palo Alto Networks is widely considered the gold standard for enterprise-grade threat prevention and deep application visibility." (Gemini 3.5 Flash, Firewalls)
- "Strongest reputation for advanced threat prevention... deepest security capabilities and strongest premium platform feel." (GPT-5.4 mini, Firewalls)
- "Known for its "Single Pass" architecture... especially strong in security-focused enterprise environments" (Mistral Small, Firewalls)
- "Consider vendors like Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, or Cisco that have proven mid-market solutions" (GLM 4.7 FlashX, Firewalls)

## And against it

- "Palo Alto Networks failed both network and transport-layer categories" (Muse Glimmer 30B, Firewalls)
- "Top-tier app control and Recommended ratings, but cons include high costs ("often most expensive per Mbps"), subscription stacking inflating TCO, and steep learning curve." (Grok 4.20, Firewalls)
- "Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Cisco Secure Firewall/ASA, and Check Point all appear repeatedly in vulnerability lists and active exploitation coverage" (GPT-5.4 mini, Firewalls)
- "draw criticism for steep learning curves, high cost, poor interface design, and performance hits on lower-end hardware" (DeepSeek V4 Flash, Firewalls)

## Movement since September 2026

Floor: 11 points of share, measured on the calibration repeat. A larger change is movement; a smaller one is noise.

- Next-generation firewalls: 2% to 2%, ±0. Inside the floor by 11 points · rank 6 → 3 of 83.

## In its own words

What Palo Alto Networks NGFW's own pages state, read 2026-10-05. Stated by the vendor, not checked by the index.

- Positioning: Best-in-Class Cloud Network Security (https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/cloud-ngfw)
- For: NGFW (Managed by Strata Cloud Manager) (https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/ngfw/networking/network-profiles)
- Price stated: Estimate pricing (https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/cloud-ngfw)
- Free plan or trial: Start free trial (https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/cloud-ngfw)
- Certifications: Palo Alto Networks Certified Next-Generation Firewall Engineer

## Record

- Method: https://it-ai-index.com/methodology/
- Raw judge labels and full responses: https://it-ai-index.com/data/
- License: CC BY 4.0. Cite as IT AI Recommendation Index, October 2026 Edition, it-ai-index.com.