Not sure which Linux firewall is the right one for you? This guide compares UFW vs Firewalld based on ease of use, performance and features to help you properly secure your Linux computer in 2025.

When it comes to securing your system, one of the most crucial tools you will need for your arsenal is a Linux firewall. Firewalls control incoming and outgoing traffic, block malicious connections and give you complete control over your network security.

UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) and Firewalld are two of the most popular Linux firewall solutions. Both the Linux Firewalls perform similar functions, but differ in principle, configuration and usability.

In this UFW vs Firewalld guide, we will breakdown each unit’s features, pros, cons and help you determine which firewall is suitable for your Linux needs in 2025.

Why Do You Need a Linux Firewall?

In our opinion, a Linux firewall is necessary for:

• Blocking unauthorized visitors;
• Blocking brute-force intrusions to your servers;
• Restricting connections to certain ports;
• Block traffic from all but trusted IP’s;
• Improving the overall system security.

Even though Linux is relatively secure in and of itself, a firewall is a must if your system(s) is exposed to the web.

What is UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall)?

UFW is short for Uncomplicated Firewall. It’s an easy-to-use frontend for iptables, intended to make it very easy for beginners to manage their firewalls.

Some of the features of UFW include:

• Default deny incoming, allow outgoing.
• Supports IPv4 and IPv6
• Application profiles for quick rules (e.g. ufw allow OpenSSH)
• Good for desktop and beginner servers
• Simple command line syntax

Example Command:

UFW is part of Ubuntu and other Debian-based distros, making it popular among beginners.

What is Firewalld?

Firewalld is an adaptive firewall management tool for Linux (including Fedora, CentOS and RHEL) configured to create “zones” [trusted, public, home, etc] instead of just rules.

Firewalld key features: 

• Zone-based configuration (trusted, public, home, etc) 
• IPv4 and IPv6 
• firewall-cmd commands 
• Complex rules and persistent/non-persistent options 
• GUI tool available

 Example Command:

Firewalld is preferred by sysadmins who need granular control and dynamic rule changes without restarting the firewall.

UFW vs Firewalld: Ease of Use

• UFW:

• Very straight-forward.
• Great for beginners.
• Commands are understandable by human (allow, deny, status).
• Not as flexible as Firewalld.

• Firewalld:

• More complex, but much more powerful.
• Must understand zones and services.
• Great for enterprise or advanced user.

Winner: UFW for beginner. Firewalld has more features for advanced Linux users.

UFW vs Firewalld: Zones vs Rules

• UFW: Uses simple rules (allow or deny ports or services).
• Firewalld: Works with zones, which can allow different firewall policies based on the network location of the computer.

For example:

• Home zone: Allow SSH.
• Public zone: Deny SSH, allow web traffic.

Winner: Firewalld, as the zones provide more flexible configurations.

UFW vs Firewalld: Performance

UFW and Firewalld are also tools that run on top of iptables/nftables which means they do almost exactly the same things.

• UFW: Light, fast, and minimal overhead
• Firewalld: Heavier because of the zones and dynamic management, but negligible on modern systems

Winner: Tie (the performance difference is negligible).

UFW vs Firewalld: GUI Availability

UFW:

• GUFW (Graphical Uncomplicated Firewall) can be installed and run.
• Just clicking checkboxes to allow/deny ports.

Firewalld:

• Ships with Firewalld GUI by default on Fedora/CentOS.
• More complicated options can be seen.

Winner: Firewalld GUI has more power, GUFW is easier for a beginner.

UFW vs Firewalld: Security

Both provide excellent Linux firewall security. The difference is the flexibility:

• UFW: Best for personal desktops and novice servers.
• Firewalld: Best for enterprise systems, servers, and multi-zone configurations.

 Winner: Firewalld for advanced setups, UFW for personal use.

When to Use UFW vs Firewalld

• Use UFW if:

• You’re a novice.
• You are on Ubuntu/Debian.
• You aren’t going to need anything complex and just need to create allow/deny rules (it’s much easier).

• Use Firewalld if:

• You manage servers.
• You are on Fedora/CentOS/RHEL.
• You need advanced firewall zones.

Commands Cheat Sheet: UFW vs Firewalld

UFW Common Commands:

Firewalld Common Commands:

UFW vs Firewalld: Learning Curve

• UFW: Easy to use if you only want basic firewalling options as the commands include allow, deny, and status. New Linux users will be able to get their Linux firewall configured with not much confusion.
• Firewalld: More complexity as it utilizes zones and services and many more options. This is for you administration people that want more control.

👉 Winner: UFW for novice, Firewalld for advanced users.

UFW vs Firewalld: Default Availability

• UFW is included by default with Ubuntu and most Debian-based distributions, making it most peoples preferred Linux firewall.
• Firewalld comes by default with Fedora, CentOS, and RHEL, making it the standard in enterprise environments.

 Winner: Tie – Depending on the distribution of Linux you are using.

Linux Firewall Command Comparison: UFW vs Firewalld

Features	UWF	Firewalld
Default Status	ufw status	firewall-cmd --state
Enable Firewall	ufw enable	firewall-cmd --enable
Disable Firewall	ufw disable	firewall-cmd --disable
Allow Port	ufw allow 22	firewall-cmd --add-port=22/tcp
Deny Port	ufw deny 23	firewall-cmd --add-port=23/tcp --deny
Allow Service	ufw allow ssh	firewall-cmd --add-service=ssh
Deny Service	ufw deny ftp	firewall-cmd --remove-service=ftp
List Rules	ufw list	firewall-cmd --list-all
Reload Rules	ufw reload	firewall-cmd --reload
Permanent Changes	ufw --force enable	firewall-cmd --permanent

FAQs: Linux Firewall – UFW vs Firewalld

Linux Firewall and UFW vs Firewalld FAQ’s

1.       Which is better UFW or Firewalld?

For basic and novice users, UFW is very easy to use. If you are a more advanced user, Firewalld may work better for you because it offers so many features.

2.       Can you run UFW and Firewalld together?

No, we highly recommend to only use one firewall management tool at a time.

3.       What Linux firewall is installed by default on Ubuntu?

UFW is the default firewall configuration that comes with Ubuntu.

4.       What is the default Linux firewall on Fedora?

Fedora and CentOS uses Firewalld as their standard firewall.

5.       Will Firewalld replace iptables?

Yes, Firewalld is working as an interface to iptables or nftables, on top of using a zone-based method.

6.       What Linux firewall is easier to configure for basic users?

UFW is the easiest tool to use for beginners compared to the more complicated Firewalld tool.

7.       Can UFW and Firewalld be on the same system at the same time?

Running both UFW and Firewalld at the same time is not advisable; you want either of them, but only want to manage your firewall one way.

8.       What firewall does Ubuntu run by default?

UFW is the default firewall that is installed with Ubuntu.

9.       What firewall does CentOS and Fedora run by default?

Firewalld is the default firewall that comes with Fedora and CentOS.

10.     Is Firewalld another option to iptables in Linux?

Yes, Firewalld is a modern front-end for iptables or nftables! This option is even more powerful with zone-based capabilities.

 Choosing between UFW vs Firewalld comes down to your needs!

•        If you are a beginner or an Ubuntu/Debian user → UFW is the best linux firewall.

•        If you are managing enterprise servers or need complex rules → Firewalld is the better linux firewall.

It doesn’t matter which firewall management tool you decide to use, but configuring a Linux firewall is necessary to safeguard your system from unwanted access. In 2025 both UFW and Firewalld are excellent tools—simple yet powerful and dependable in any Linux environment.