OpenWrt AlternativesRouter Custom Firmwares and other similar apps like OpenWrt

OpenWrt is described as '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' and is a very popular router custom firmware in the network & admin category. There are more than 10 alternatives to OpenWrt for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, Self-Hosted and OpenWrt apps. The best OpenWrt alternative is DD-WRT, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like OpenWrt are pfSense, MikroTik RouterOS, ClearOS and Gargoyle.

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OpenWrt alternatives are mainly Router Custom Firmware but may also be Firewalls 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 OpenWrt.
OpenWrt iconOpenWrt
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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...

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OpenWrt alternatives page was last updated Jan 9, 2023
  1. DD-WRT icon
     165 likes

    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

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    DD-WRT Features

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

    DD-WRT VS OpenWrt

    Is DD-WRT a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
    • Most users think DD-WRT is a great OpenWrt alternative.

    • DD-WRT is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to OpenWrt.

    • DD-WRT is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to OpenWrt.

    • DD-WRT is Free and Open SourceOpenWrt is also Free and Open Source
  2. pfSense icon
     102 likes

    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

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • BSD

    pfSense Features

    1.  OpenVPN
    2.  Integrated Virus scanner
    3.  Load balancing
    4.  DHCP Server
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Spam Filter
    7.  LDAP support
    8.  Zabbix monitoring
    9.  RADIUS Services
    10.  Content Filtering
    pfSense iconOpenWrt Icon

    pfSense VS OpenWrt

    Is pfSense a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
  3. MikroTik RouterOS icon
     32 likes

    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 firewall rules, virtual private network (VPN) server and...

    24 MikroTik RouterOS alternatives
    MikroTik RouterOS screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted

    MikroTik RouterOS Features

    1.  SSH
    2.  Wi-Fi Direct
    3.  User Management
    MikroTik RouterOS iconOpenWrt Icon

    MikroTik RouterOS VS OpenWrt

    Is MikroTik RouterOS a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
    • MikroTik RouterOS is the most popular Web-based & Self-Hosted alternative to OpenWrt.

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

    • MikroTik RouterOS is Paid and ProprietaryOpenWrt is Free and Open Source
  4. ClearOS icon
     71 likes

    ClearOS is a family of operating systems for the enterprise, small business, and home. There are three editions to choose from depending on your needs and suitable to your abilities. They are: ClearOS Enterprise, ClearOS Home, and ClearOS Core.

    26 ClearOS alternatives
    ClearOS screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    ClearOS Features

    1.  Spam Filter
    2.  Web-Based
    3.  Gateway
    4.  PhpMyAdmin
    ClearOS iconOpenWrt Icon

    ClearOS VS OpenWrt

    Is ClearOS a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
  5. Gargoyle icon
     18 likes

    Gargoyle is a free firmware upgrade for your wireless router, based on OpenWRT but with an enhanced interface (not LUCI) focused on ease of use. Some enhanced features of Gargoyle include MONITORING BANDWIDTH per connected computer, SET QUOTAS AND THROTTLE to ensure that...

    13 Gargoyle alternatives
    bandwidth graph

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • OpenWrt

    Gargoyle Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Traffic Monitoring
    3.  QoS
    4.  Wireless
    Gargoyle iconOpenWrt Icon

    Gargoyle VS OpenWrt

    Is Gargoyle a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
  6. Freshtomato icon
     6 likes

    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

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Freshtomato Features

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

    Freshtomato VS OpenWrt

    Is Freshtomato a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
  7. Tomato icon
     18 likes

    Tomato is a small, lean and simple replacement firmware for Linksys' WRT54G/GL/GS, Buffalo WHR-G54S/WHR-HP-G54 and other Broadcom-based routers. It features a new easy to use GUI, a new bandwidth usage monitor, more advanced QOS and access restrictions, enables new wireless...

    11 Tomato alternatives
    Tomato screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Tomato Features

    1.  QoS
    2.  Network Tools
    Discontinued

    Tomato hasn't been updated since 2011. For reason of proof, the latest Tomato update, 1.28, includes in its change notes that it updated dnsmasq version to v2.55. DNS Masq is currently at version v2.72. The v2.55 DNSmasq update was published in 2010.

    Tomato iconOpenWrt Icon

    Tomato VS OpenWrt

    Is Tomato a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
  8. Tomato by Shibby icon
     10 likes

    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

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Tomato

    Tomato by Shibby Features

    1.  QoS
    Discontinued

    Project Discontinued - No project activity since may 2017.

    Tomato by Shibby iconOpenWrt Icon

    Tomato by Shibby VS OpenWrt

    Is Tomato by Shibby a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
  9. LibreMesh icon
     17 likes

    LibreMesh is a set of modules extending the OpenWrt router distribution to create self-configuring wireless and wired mesh networks.

    21 LibreMesh alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • OpenWrt
    • LEDE - Linux Embedded Development Environment

    LibreMesh Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Based on Debian
    3.  Mesh network
    4.  Distributed
    LibreMesh iconOpenWrt Icon

    LibreMesh VS OpenWrt

    Is LibreMesh a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
  10. OpenWISP icon
     8 likes

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

    10 OpenWISP alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted

    OpenWISP Features

    1.  User Management
    2.  Mesh network
    OpenWISP iconOpenWrt Icon

    OpenWISP VS OpenWrt

    Is OpenWISP a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
  11. VyOS icon
     11 likes

    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

    VyOS Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  AES-256 Encryption
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  WireGuard
    5.  OpenVPN
    6.  Built-in VPN
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Network Discovery
    VyOS iconOpenWrt Icon

    VyOS VS OpenWrt

    Is VyOS a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
  12. EasyTomato icon
     4 likes

    EasyTomato is a powerful, easy-to-use, free bandwidth manager that is perfect for schools, hospitals, and nonprofits with slow internet connections and limited IT knowledge.

    9 EasyTomato alternatives
    EasyTomato screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Tomato

    EasyTomato Features

    1.  QoS
    EasyTomato iconOpenWrt Icon

    EasyTomato VS OpenWrt

    Is EasyTomato a good alternative to OpenWrt?
     
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