Open Source MikroTik RouterOS AlternativesRouter Custom Firmwares & Firewalls like MikroTik RouterOS

The best open source alternative to MikroTik RouterOS is OpenWrt. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 10 alternatives to MikroTik RouterOS and 16 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to MikroTik RouterOS are DD-WRT, OPNsense, pfSense and Freshtomato.

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MikroTik RouterOS alternatives are mainly Firewalls but may also be Router Custom Firmware or VPN Services.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of MikroTik RouterOS.
MikroTik RouterOS iconMikroTik RouterOS
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The main product of MikroTik is a Linux-based operating system known as MikroTik RouterOS. Installed on a personal computer or server computer, it turns the computer into a network router, implementing features such as...

More about MikroTik RouterOS
More about MikroTik RouterOS
MikroTik RouterOS alternatives page was last updated Feb 9, 2023
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  1. OpenWrt icon
    OpenWrt icon

    OpenWrt

     118 likes
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    OpenWrt Project is a Linux operating system targeting embedded devices. Instead of trying to create a single, static firmware, OpenWrt provides a fully writable filesystem with package management. This frees you from the application selection and configuration provided by the...

    20 OpenWrt alternatives
    OpenWrt screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    OpenWrt screenshot 1
    OpenWrt screenshot 2
    +6
    OpenWrt screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  No registration required

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Support for IPv6
    3.  DHCP Server
    4.  Built-in Firewall
    5.  Network Tools
    6.  Wireless-networking
    7.  DNS over HTTPS
    OpenWrt iconMikroTik RouterOS Icon

    OpenWrt VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is OpenWrt a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     

    • Almost everyone thinks OpenWrt is a great MikroTik RouterOS alternative.

    • OpenWrt is the most popular Linux alternative to MikroTik RouterOS.

    • OpenWrt is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to MikroTik RouterOS.

    • OpenWrt is Free and Open SourceMikroTik RouterOS is Paid and Proprietary
  2. DD-WRT icon
    DD-WRT icon

    DD-WRT

     165 likes
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    DD-WRT is a Linux based alternative OpenSource firmware suitable for a great variety of WLAN routers and embedded systems.

    19 DD-WRT alternatives
    DD-WRT screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    DD-WRT Features

    1.  OpenVPN
    2.  Multiple languages
    3.  SSH
    4.  RADIUS Services
    5.  Overclock
    DD-WRT iconMikroTik RouterOS Icon

    DD-WRT VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is DD-WRT a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     

    • Almost everyone thinks DD-WRT is a great MikroTik RouterOS alternative.

    • DD-WRT is the most popular Windows & Mac alternative to MikroTik RouterOS.

    • DD-WRT is Free and Open SourceMikroTik RouterOS is Paid and Proprietary
  4. OPNsense icon
    OPNsense icon

    OPNsense

     55 likes
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    OPNsense includes most of the features available in expensive commercial firewalls, and more in many cases. It brings the rich feature set of commercial offerings with the benefits of open and verifiable sources.

    17 OPNsense alternatives
    Login

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    Dashboard
    System Logs
    +4
    Captive Portal(s)

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Two-factor Authentication
    2.  Geofencing
    3.  Web filter
    4.  Encrypted VPN
    5.  Load balancing
    OPNsense iconMikroTik RouterOS Icon

    OPNsense VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is OPNsense a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     

    • OPNsense is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to MikroTik RouterOS.

    • OPNsense is Free and Open SourceMikroTik RouterOS is Paid and Proprietary
    • OPNsense is Privacy focusedMikroTik RouterOS is not according to our users
  5. pfSense icon
    pfSense icon

    pfSense

     102 likes
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    pfSense is a free and open source firewall and router that also features unified threat management, load balancing, multi WAN, and more.

    28 pfSense alternatives
    pfSense screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • BSD
    pfSense screenshot 1
    pfSense screenshot 2
    +2
    pfSense screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  No registration required

    Features

    1.  OpenVPN
    2.  Integrated Virus scanner
    3.  Load balancing
    4.  DHCP Server
    5.  Spam Filter
    6.  LDAP support
    7.  Zabbix monitoring
    8.  RADIUS Services
    9.  Content Filtering
    pfSense iconMikroTik RouterOS Icon

    pfSense VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is pfSense a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     
  6. Freshtomato icon
    Freshtomato icon

    Freshtomato

     6 likes
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    FreshTomato firmware project is a system based on Linux, dedicated for routers with Broadcom chipset and distributed on the GPL license. This advanced system consists of a particularly friendly interface, thanks to which even inexperienced users can easily work with it.

    9 Freshtomato alternatives
    Freshtomato screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Freshtomato screenshot 1

    Freshtomato Features

    1.  Built-in VPN
    2.  Wake on LAN
    3.  SSH
    4.  Traffic Monitoring
    5.  Access Control
    6.  Port Forwarding
    7.  QoS
    Freshtomato iconMikroTik RouterOS Icon

    Freshtomato VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is Freshtomato a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     
  7. VyOS icon
    VyOS icon

    VyOS

     11 likes
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    VyOS is a community fork of Vyatta , a Linux-based network operating system that provides software-based network routing, firewall, and VPN functionality.

    21 VyOS alternatives
    VyOS screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  No Tracking

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  AES-256 Encryption
    3.  WireGuard
    4.  OpenVPN
    5.  Built-in VPN
    6.  End-to-End Encryption
    7.  Network Discovery
    VyOS iconMikroTik RouterOS Icon

    VyOS VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is VyOS a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     

    • Almost everyone thinks VyOS is a great MikroTik RouterOS alternative.

    • VyOS is the most popular commercial alternative to MikroTik RouterOS.

    • VyOS is Paid and Open SourceMikroTik RouterOS is Paid and Proprietary
  9. OpenContrail icon
    OpenContrail icon

    OpenContrail

     3 likes
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    OpenContrail is an Apache 2.0-licensed project that is built using standards-based protocols and provides all the necessary components for network virtualization–SDN controller, virtual router, analytics engine, and published northbound APIs.

    8 OpenContrail alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted

    OpenContrail Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  OpenVPN
    3.  Gateway
    4.  L2TP
    5.  Content Filtering
    OpenContrail iconMikroTik RouterOS Icon

    OpenContrail VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is OpenContrail a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     
  10. IPFire icon
    IPFire icon

    IPFire

     15 likes
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    IPFire is a server distribution with intended to use as a firewall. It focuses on flexibility, and scales from small to middle sized business networks and home networks.

    13 IPFire alternatives
    IPFire screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    IPFire Features

    1.  DHCP Server
    2.  DNS Server
    IPFire iconMikroTik RouterOS Icon

    IPFire VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is IPFire a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     
  11. Tomato by Shibby icon
    Tomato by Shibby icon

    Tomato by Shibby

     10 likes
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    TomatoUSB fork.

    • Torrent client integration (Transmission) with user-friendly GUI for configuration.
    • NFS server integration
    • Support for USB 3G modems (thx @LDevil)
    • Support MultiWAN.
    10 Tomato by Shibby alternatives
    Tomato by Shibby screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Tomato

    Tomato by Shibby Features

    1.  QoS
    Tomato by Shibby screenshot 1
    Tomato by Shibby screenshot 2
    +3
    Tomato by Shibby screenshot 3
    Discontinued

    Project Discontinued - No project activity since may 2017.

    Tomato by Shibby iconMikroTik RouterOS Icon

    Tomato by Shibby VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is Tomato by Shibby a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     
  12. OpenWISP icon
    OpenWISP icon

    OpenWISP

     8 likes
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    OpenWISP is a software platform that can be used to implement a complete public wifi service.

    10 OpenWISP alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted

    OpenWISP Features

    1.  User Management
    2.  Mesh network
    OpenWISP iconMikroTik RouterOS Icon

    OpenWISP VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is OpenWISP a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     
  13. X-wrt icon
    X-wrt icon

    X-wrt

     1 like
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    OpenWrt Project is a Linux operating system targeting embedded devices. Instead of trying to create a single, static firmware, OpenWrt provides a fully writable filesystem with package management. This frees you from the application selection and configuration provided by the...

    17 X-wrt alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    X-wrt iconMikroTik RouterOS Icon

    X-wrt VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is X-wrt a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     

  14. Quagga

     5 likes
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    Quagga is a network routing software suite providing implementations of Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Routing Information Protocol (RIP), Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) and IS-IS for Unix-like platforms, particularly Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD and NetBSD.

    9 Quagga alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    MikroTik RouterOS Icon

    Quagga VS MikroTik RouterOS

    Is Quagga a good alternative to MikroTik RouterOS?
     
12 of 16 MikroTik RouterOS alternatives