OpenWrt is a free operating system for home routers and other small network devices. It lets people replace the software their router came with and customize it, mainly for home users and tech enthusiasts.
Has 2 of 5
How many people bookmarked its code on GitHub. It shows how popular it is, not how good it is or how well it replaces the app.
How hard it is to start using it. Easy: install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser. Advanced: you run it on your own server, use the command line, or it is a tool for developers.
Its code changed within the last year, so someone is still looking after it.
Does the whole job.
Ordered by how fully it replaces the app, Verified, setup and, when there are enough, people's votes.
FreshTomato is alternative firmware, the built-in software that runs a router, for certain Broadcom ARM-based routers from brands like ASUS, Netgear and Linksys. It is meant for people who want to replace their router's software with an open-source version.
Has 0 of 5 · No commands needed ✗
How many people bookmarked its code on GitHub. It shows how popular it is, not how good it is or how well it replaces the app.
How hard it is to start using it. Easy: install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser. Advanced: you run it on your own server, use the command line, or it is a tool for developers.
Its code changed within the last year, so someone is still looking after it.
Does the whole job.
Ordered by how fully it replaces the app, Verified, setup and, when there are enough, people's votes.
OPNsense is free software that runs a computer's network firewall and router, the box that controls traffic between a home or office network and the internet. It is aimed at people and IT staff who want to run their own network security system instead of relying on a closed vendor product.
Has 1 of 5
How many people bookmarked its code on GitHub. It shows how popular it is, not how good it is or how well it replaces the app.
How hard it is to start using it. Easy: install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser. Advanced: you run it on your own server, use the command line, or it is a tool for developers.
Its code changed within the last year, so someone is still looking after it.
Does part of the job.
Ordered by how fully it replaces the app, Verified, setup and, when there are enough, people's votes.
None of these match. Try another device.
Help me choose
I want to pick an open-source replacement for Ubiquiti UniFi OS. Below is a list from Open Source Everything (CC BY-SA 4.0), in the order its website shows it. The order is a starting point, not a verdict.
- OpenWrt: OpenWrt is a free operating system for home routers and other small network devices. It lets people replace the software their router came with and customize it, mainly for home users and tech enthusiasts. [Advanced setup; runs on a server you set up; replaces fully; GPL-2.0-only; https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt]
- FreshTomato: FreshTomato is alternative firmware, the built-in software that runs a router, for certain Broadcom ARM-based routers from brands like ASUS, Netgear and Linksys. It is meant for people who want to replace their router's software with an open-source version. [Advanced setup; devices not listed; replaces fully; GPL-3.0; https://github.com/FreshTomato-Project/freshtomato-arm]
- OPNsense: OPNsense is free software that runs a computer's network firewall and router, the box that controls traffic between a home or office network and the internet. It is aimed at people and IT staff who want to run their own network security system instead of relying on a closed vendor product. [Advanced setup; runs on a server you set up; replaces partly; BSD-2-Clause; https://github.com/opnsense/core]
Setup rating: "Easy setup" means you can install it like a normal app, use it in a browser. "Advanced setup" means you must run it on your own server or use the command line, or it is a tool for developers.
Full details: https://opensourceeverything.org/data/groups/router-firmware.json
Before recommending anything, ask me these three questions (one at a time, in plain words): 1) Which device or devices will I use it on (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone)? 2) How comfortable am I with technical setup: only installing apps from a store, happy to follow a step-by-step guide, or comfortable with servers and the command line? 3) What is my budget: free only, or willing to pay for hosting or support? Then recommend one to three projects from this list only, and for each say why, using how fully it replaces the app, its setup rating, and the devices it runs on. If nothing on the list fits me, say so plainly instead of stretching.
Before you build
Read the list of open-source projects at https://opensourceeverything.org/data/groups/router-firmware.json. Compare it with my project or idea below. Tell me which projects overlap, what I could reuse instead of rewriting, and what mine does that none of them do.
My project or idea: