- macOS Firewall — Everyone, as a baseline
- LuLu — A free outbound firewall
- Little Snitch — Full control and the best monitor
- Radio Silence — Blocking a few apps, silently
- Murus — Power users who want macOS's pf firewall with a GUI
How we tested
We compared what each firewall can block (incoming, outgoing, per app, per server), how it asks you, what it costs, and how it shows activity, using each vendor's own documentation, checked on 24 October 2026, and macOS 15 Sequoia for the built-in firewall. We didn't include discontinued tools such as Hands Off!.
LightAtom isn't on this list because it isn't a firewall: it shows connections but doesn't block them. It pairs well with any of these.
macOS Firewall
Best for Everyone, as a baseline
Pros
- Built in and free
- Blocks unwanted incoming connections per app
- Stealth mode hides your Mac from pings
Cons
- Doesn't control outgoing connections at all
- Off by default
LuLu
Best for A free outbound firewall
Pros
- Free and open source
- Alerts on new outgoing connections
- Rules per app or endpoint, block lists
Cons
- Basic monitoring
- Alerts can be frequent at first
Little Snitch
Best for Full control and the best monitor
Pros
- Fine-grained rules and profiles
- Curated blocklists and encrypted DNS
- Excellent network monitor with a map
Cons
- €59
- Lots to learn
Radio Silence
Best for Blocking a few apps, silently
Pros
- $9
- No pop-ups
- Simple per-app blocking with a live connection list
Cons
- Blocks whole apps only
- No profiles or blocklists
Murus
Best for Power users who want macOS's pf firewall with a GUI
Pros
- Graphical front end to the built-in pf packet filter
- Inbound and outbound rules by port and address
Cons
- Network-level rules, not per-app alerts
- Requires understanding of packet filtering
Comparison table
| macOS Firewall | LuLu | Little Snitch | Radio Silence | Murus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (built in) | Free | €59 single license (free demo mode) | $9 | Not listed |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS | macOS | macOS | macOS |
| Blocks connections | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Per-app bytes / live rate | No | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Map view | No | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Open ports view | No | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| DNS / domain names | No | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Open source | No | Yes | No | Not listed | Not listed |
| macOS support | Built into every macOS version (incoming connections only) | macOS 10.15 or later | Not listed | macOS 10.15 or later | Not listed |
| Last checked | 24 Oct 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
Does a Mac need a firewall?
Turn on the built-in one, especially on laptops. An outbound firewall is optional, useful if you want to control what apps send.
Is the built-in Mac firewall enough?
For incoming connections, yes. It doesn't control outgoing traffic; for that, use LuLu, Little Snitch or Radio Silence.
What is the best free firewall for Mac?
The built-in firewall for incoming connections, plus LuLu for outgoing ones. Both are free.
Can I use more than one firewall?
The built-in firewall works alongside any of these. Don't run two outbound firewalls at once.