🤝 no affiliate links · no paid placements · every entry lists honest trade-offs · updated 2026-08

Little Snitch alternatives

Killing ~$59 one-time (~$708/yr) — here are 2 verified escapes, honest trade-offs included.

the answer medium migration
Portmaster · Free ⭐ 13.6K stars

Per-app network firewall with global defaults and telemetry blocking.

you stop paying ~$59 one-time → keep ~$708/yr

head-to-head

Portmaster
price Free
self-hostable yes
license GPL-3.0
verified 2026-08
migration medium effort

free & open source (2)

Portmaster oss ⭐ 13.6K self-host GPL-3.0
Free

Per-app network firewall with global defaults and telemetry blocking.

trade-offs: Windows/Linux today; macOS in progress

github →
LuLu oss ⭐ 13.1K self-host GPL-3.0
Free

Objective-See's free macOS firewall — simple allow/deny rules.

trade-offs: Rule management simpler than LS

github →
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faq

What is the best free alternative to Little Snitch?

Portmaster is the top free option — Per-app network firewall with global defaults and telemetry blocking.

How much can I save by switching from Little Snitch?

Little Snitch costs ~$59 one-time, so switching to a free alternative saves roughly $708/year per seat.

Can Little Snitch be self-hosted?

Yes — Portmaster and LuLu can be self-hosted for free.