What should a business firewall (Sonicwall, Fortigate, Meraki) cost?

Firewall pricing includes two parts: the hardware and the annual security license.

Cisco Meraki: Higher upfront cost with a mandatory subscription (typically $400–$1,500/year). If the license expires, the firewall stops passing traffic. Best known for simple, fully cloud-based management.

SonicWall: Moderate hardware cost with bundled multi-year security licensing. If the license expires, the firewall still works — but security services stop. Cloud management may cost extra.

Fortinet (FortiGate): Lower hardware cost with required security bundle for full protection. Core functions continue without a license, but advanced security and long-term log retention require active subscriptions.

Estimated 2026 pricing for small-to-mid environments typically ranges from $1,800 to $6,500+ depending on model and licensing.