Top firewall apps for Mac in 2025: Protect your Mac like a pro

Cybercrime in 2025 isn’t just noise in the headlines – it’s a storm that keeps getting louder. This year, 76% of companies faced ransomware attacks in 2025. If big firms with million-dollar security budgets are at risk, what about your Mac at home or work?

Here, a firewall is your safety traffic light, red for suspicious traffic, green for shady stuff. With the right firewall, you stay in control of what leaves and enters your Mac.

In this guide, I’ll help you compare the best firewall apps for Mac. From lightweight tools to pro-grade setups, you’ll see their features, pros & cons, so you know exactly which firewall fits your style, whether you want maximum control or set-it-and-forget-it protection.

Why you need a firewall on a Mac

Your Mac talks more than you think. Every app, update, or background service is trying to connect somewhere. Some of those connections are harmless, others – not so much. I don’t want to exaggerate, but firewall off is a threatening sign for a Mac. Without a firewall:

• You don’t really know what’s leaving or entering your Mac.
• Hackers can exploit open ports to infiltrate your system.
• Sensitive information can leak over unsecured connections.
• Your Mac can be used as a gateway for attacks on other devices.
• Background processes may be communicating with suspicious servers.
• Rogue apps can send data to unknown destinations.
• Network-based attacks like port scanning or DoS are harder to stop.
• Spyware and adware can transmit data without alerts.
• Malicious bots could leverage your Mac within botnets.
• Any weak or misconfigured app is a potential network hole.
• Malware can slip in, stealing info in the background.

A firewall steps in as your filter. It watches the traffic, blocks strangers, and makes sure only trusted apps and safe data get through. That’s not paranoia, it’s prevention. Practice shows that 64% of organizations using firewalls cut down their attack surface. And it works not only for them, it works for your Mac too.

And it’s not just businesses. At home or on the go, a firewall shields your Mac from hidden background connections, protects your privacy, and even helps you save data when traveling. It’s the lock on your digital front door – quiet, reliable, and always on guard.

However, a macOS firewall isn’t a panacea – it covers only the basics. Still, it’s better to set up an in-built firewall than nothing. But to get full visibility and stronger control, you’ll need a dedicated firewall app for Mac. This is why I picked the best ones to give a clear picture and help you take the firewall that matches your needs.

How I compared options

There are dozens of firewall apps out there, but not all of them are worth your time. To make this list, I set clear rules for myself. I wanted tools that real Mac users, like you and me, could actually rely on. No clunky software, no outdated junk.

My goal was to provide a transparent view of each tool, as much as possible, so that it would not be a mystery box for you after installation. I checked all the firewall software on a MacBook Pro M3 with Tahoe 26.

Here’s what I looked at:

• Level of control. Does the app give you just basic blocking, or can you dive deep and manage every connection?
• Ease of use. Can you install it, open it, and actually use it without a manual the size of a phone book?
• Features that matter. Does it just flip traffic on/off, can it monitor, log, block malicious sites, phishing, or do extra stuff like traffic history, DNS encryption?
• Price vs. value. Some apps are free, others cost more than dinner for two. I compared what you actually get for the money.
• Reputation and updates. I made sure the tools are trustworthy, regularly maintained, and not abandoned by their developers.

Comparison table: Top firewalls for macOS

	Little Snitch	DNS Firewall (KeepSolid)	LuLu	Vallum	Radio Silence
Type	Application-level	DNS-level	Application-level	Application-level	Application-level
Price	€59 one-time	$9.99 yearly	$0	$15 one-time	$9 one-time
Trial	Yes	Yes	Free	Yes	Yes
Real-time monitoring
Instant block/ allow apps
Data usage stats (per app & system-wide)
Minimal pop-ups
Outbound filtering		Limited (DNS requests only)	Limited
DNS encryption
Curated blocklists (ads, malware)
Advanced custom rules			Limited
Core Focus	Full visibility + rules	DNS filtering, stops threats early	Easy real-time monitoring	Flexible rules + inbound filtering	Silent blocking

Little Snitch

	Price: €59 one-time (demo available)
	Compatibility: Little Snitch v. 6.3 is compatible with macOS 14.0 or newer

Little Snitch is the heavyweight of Mac firewalls. It doesn’t just block, it shows you a lot. Outgoing connections, server locations, ports, protocols, and even a real-time global map of who your Mac is talking to. For detail lovers, it’s pure candy.

The workflow is flexible. You get alerts in real time, and you can allow or block with one click. Profiles let you set custom rules for home, work, or public Wi-Fi. Curated blocklists (ads, trackers, malware) update automatically, and DNS encryption keeps your traffic private. It even logs months of history, so you can look back and see patterns.

It’s heavier than simpler firewalls: you’ll see more alerts and options, and you’ll need to spend a bit of time fine-tuning rules. But if you want complete transparency into what your Mac is doing online, Little Snitch is hard to beat. Best for power users.

DNS Firewall by KeepSolid

	Price: $9.99/year
	Compatibility: macOS 10.15 or newer

DNS Firewall by KeepSolid takes a different approach. Unlike app-level firewalls, it works at the DNS level. With a single tap, you can block malware domains, phishing sites, trackers, shady categories, all cut off in real time.

It’s not about micromanaging apps; it’s about proactive network defense. Setup is simple. You tap to block whole categories (ads, adult content, gambling, etc.) or add custom domains.

DNS Firewall encrypts your DNS queries, updates its threat database in real time, and offers curated blocklists to keep harmful sites away.

If you’re after protection that feels invisible and doesn’t bug you, this is a solid pick. Best for everyday users on Wi-Fi.

LuLu

	Price: Free (open source)
	Compatibility: macOS 10.15 or newer

LuLu is the people’s firewall. It’s open source, free, and does one job very well: blocking unknown outgoing connections until you explicitly allow them. Each new connection attempt triggers an alert, letting you decide in real time.

It’s lightweight, transparent, and for those who want basic per-app control without paying. LuLu automatically trusts signed Apple/system apps, reducing some noise. Rule creation is simple but not as advanced as pro tools.

If you want open-source and free protection with decent coverage, LuLu is a strong choice. Just don’t expect features like traffic history or usage charts. Best for budget-conscious users.

Vallum

	Price: $15 one-time license
	Compatibility: macOS 11.2 or newer

Vallum is like a lighter cousin of Little Snitch. It focuses on inbound and outbound filtering with strong customization, but keeps the interface friendly. It supports rules by hostname, domain, app group, and even rules based on your current network (like SSID).

Unlike kernel-level firewalls, Vallum runs fully in userland using Apple’s extensions, meaning it’s lightweight and secure on modern macOS. The powerful rule editor makes it attractive to advanced users, but it can also run in the background quietly with pop-ups.

It’s highly flexible, especially for users who want more control without diving into Little Snitch’s level of detail. Best for users who want flexibility.

Radio Silence

	Price: $9 one-time license
	Compatibility: macOS 10.15 or newer

True to its name, Radio Silence works quietly in the background. There are no endless pop-ups, no cluttered dashboards. You get a simple list of apps, and you block what you don’t trust.

It also has a real-time monitor to show which apps are talking online. It blocks apps, helpers, and child processes from ‘phoning home’. You get a per-app blocklist and a clean monitor view, but no detailed charts, rules, or encryption features.

If you want something simple, light, and silent, Radio Silence is perfect. It’s one of the cheapest options. Best for minimalists.

Final tips for keeping your Mac secure

A firewall is one of the best shields you can put between your Mac and the Internet. But on its own, it’s not the whole armor. To keep your Mac truly safe in 2025, layer a few good habits and tools on top:

• Keep macOS updated. Apple patches security holes regularly. Delaying updates leaves cracks open for attackers.
• Limit what runs at startup. The fewer background apps calling home, the fewer potential leaks.
• Be careful with Wi-Fi. On public networks, combine a firewall with a VPN for stronger privacy.
• Review permissions. Some apps ask for more access than they need. Revoke unnecessary ones in System Settings.
• Back up regularly. Whether with Time Machine or iCloud, backups protect you if ransomware or failure strikes.
• Use Startup Security Utility. In macOS Recovery, you can enforce secure boot settings and block unauthorized external media from loading your Mac.
• Run antivirus software. Even Macs can pick up malware, ransomware, or adware. A lightweight antivirus helps catch what slips through.