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Banana Pi VS MikroTik RouterOS

Compare Banana Pi VS MikroTik RouterOS and see what are their differences

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Banana Pi logo Banana Pi

Banana Pi is a single-board computer made in China. It can run Android, Ubuntu and Debian.

MikroTik RouterOS logo MikroTik RouterOS

The main product of MikroTik is a Linux-based operating system known as MikroTik RouterOS.
  • Banana Pi Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-03-19
  • MikroTik RouterOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-25

Banana Pi features and specs

  • Cost-Effective
    Banana Pi models are generally affordable, making them accessible for hobbyists, educators, and small developers who want a cost-effective alternative to more expensive single-board computers.
  • GPIO Support
    Banana Pi supports General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins, which are crucial for interacting with other devices and components in electronics projects.
  • Versatile OS Support
    Supports various operating systems such as Android, Debian, Ubuntu, and more, providing flexibility based on the needs of the user.
  • Performance
    Certain models offer high performance with multi-core processors, making them suitable for tasks beyond basic computing, such as multimedia applications or NAS servers.
  • Connectivity Options
    Comes with extensive connectivity options including USB ports, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI, and others, making it suitable for diverse projects.

Possible disadvantages of Banana Pi

  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to more popular alternatives like Raspberry Pi, Banana Pi has a smaller community, which can make it difficult to find help, support, and resources when encountering issues.
  • Compatibility
    Some users may experience compatibility issues with software and peripherals not specifically designed or optimized for Banana Pi.
  • Documentation
    The documentation can be less comprehensive and sometimes outdated, which might make it challenging for beginners to get started or troubleshoot problems.
  • Firmware Updates
    Access to and frequency of firmware updates may be less than that of more mainstream alternatives, potentially leading to security and stability issues over time.
  • Power Consumption
    Certain Banana Pi models can have higher power consumption compared to similar devices, potentially affecting power efficiency in larger or multiple installations.

MikroTik RouterOS features and specs

  • Cost-Effective
    MikroTik RouterOS offers enterprise-level features at a significantly lower price point compared to other competitors, providing excellent value for small to medium-sized businesses.
  • Feature-Rich
    The OS includes advanced features such as VPN, firewall, bandwidth management, and remote access, making it suitable for a wide range of networking needs.
  • Scalability
    MikroTik RouterOS is highly scalable, making it a good choice for both small networks and large, complex installations.
  • Customizability
    Users have a high degree of control over network settings, enabling customization to meet specific requirements.
  • Strong Community Support
    A large and active online community provides forums, tutorials, and third-party tools to assist users.
  • Regular Updates
    MikroTik frequently releases updates to RouterOS, offering new features and security improvements.

Possible disadvantages of MikroTik RouterOS

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its advanced features and wide range of configuration options, it can be difficult for beginners to get started.
  • Complex Interface
    The interface can be overwhelming and less intuitive compared to other networking solutions, necessitating more time and effort to manage.
  • Limited Third-Party Integrations
    Fewer integrations with third-party tools and services can be a limitation for some users looking for specific functionalities.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Not all hardware is compatible with MikroTik RouterOS, potentially requiring investment in new, supported devices.
  • Support Costs
    Although there is a strong community, official support from MikroTik can be costly for advanced troubleshooting and issues.
  • Limited Graphical Interface
    For advanced configuration, users often need to rely on command-line interface (CLI), which can be daunting for those more accustomed to graphical user interfaces (GUIs).

Banana Pi videos

+ Add

Banana Pi M5: ARM SBC with eMMC

More videos:

  • Review - Banana Pi VS Raspberry Pi
  • Review - #057 Banana Pi Router: NAS, router or trash? // Review

MikroTik RouterOS videos

+ Add

MikroTik RouterOS security review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Banana Pi and MikroTik RouterOS)

Banana Pi

MikroTik RouterOS

Electronics
100 100%
Electronics
0% 0
Operating Systems
8 8%
Operating Systems
92% 92
Single Board Computer
100 100%
Single Board Computer
0% 0
Linux
0 0%
Linux
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Banana Pi and MikroTik RouterOS

Banana Pi Reviews

We have no reviews of Banana Pi yet.
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MikroTik RouterOS Reviews

  1. Guest
    many bugs that block connections

    since 2 years they didn't fix bugs that block the router from the internet

The Best Open Source Router OS Software for Large or Small Networks
MikroTik RouterOS is an open-source router OS software that is designed to provide a powerful, customizable, and secure networking experience. It is based on the Linux kernel and offers a range of features and capabilities that make it a popular choice among network enthusiasts, developers, and IT professionals. The open-source nature of MikroTik RouterOS means that users...
Source: www.comparitech.com
11 Best pfsense Alternatives To Secure Your Network
Before acquiring licensed software, MikroTik enables you to test the MikroTik RouterOS technology. This is referred to as Trial Mode by MikroTik, and it allows you to try the whole MikroTik RouterOS features and functionality set for up to 24 hours.
Source: technicalustad.com
10 Best pfSense Alternatives and Similar Firewalls
RouterOS has a stateful firewall, which conducts stateful inspection and maintains track of the state of network connections traversing it. It also includes Source and Destination Network Address Translation, NAT assistance for common applications, and UPnP compatibility.
Source: www.regendus.com
5 Router OS Turns Old PC Into High Performance Router And Enterprise Network Switch
RouterOS is the operating system of RouterBOARD. It can also be installed on a PC and will turn it into a router with all the necessary features – routing, firewall, bandwidth management, wireless access point, backhaul link, hotspot gateway, VPN server and more.
Source: www.geckoandfly.com
A Feast of Linux-Based Routers
Though the code is not open and it is more of a commercial offering, RouterOS from MikroTik is Linux-based. It installs onto and turns regular PCs into a enterprise-level router. It gives you all the necessary features, including routing, firewall, bandwidth management, wireless access point, backhaul link, hotspot gateway, VPN server, and more.
Source: www.linuxtoday.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, MikroTik RouterOS seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 24 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Banana Pi mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Banana Pi yet. Tracking of Banana Pi recommendations started around Mar 2021.

MikroTik RouterOS mentions (24)

  • What the TP-Link Ban in the US Means for You
    Check out Microtik hardware, it’s good and reasonably priced. No association, I just like it. https://mikrotik.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Ubiquiti showing other users' consoles
    Anyone using Mikrotik these days? Been Mikro-curious for awhile and always see them thrown around as a Unifi alternative. Yet to hear of any firsthand implementations though. [0] https://mikrotik.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Free - Self-hosted - WebRTC - alternative to Zoom, Teams, Google Meet - Real time video calls, chat, screen sharing, file sharing, collaborative whiteboard, dashboard, rooms scheduler and more!
    I keep reading it as the networking hardware company Mikrotik. Source: about 2 years ago
  • hap ax2 or ax3
    The "Buy" link at the top of mikrotik.com - this is how most hardware vendors with a distribution network have their site set up. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Germany ups reliance on Huawei for 5G despite security fears
    Or Mikrotik from Latvia, for switching/routing: Https://mikrotik.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Banana Pi and MikroTik RouterOS, you can also consider the following products

Raspberry Pi - The Raspberry Pi is a tiny and affordable computer that you can use to learn programming through fun, practical projects. Join the global Raspberry Pi community.

OpenWrt - OpenWrt is an open-source firmware based on Linux for wireless routers

Udoo x86 Ultra - Udoo x86 Ultra is a modern PC, known as the most powerful X86 maker board and an Arduino 101 compatible platform.

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

Intel NUC - Intel NUCs are available as Kits(Barebones), Boards(Mainbaord only) and as perconfigured Mini-PCs.

OPNsense - OPNsense® you next open source firewall. Free Download. High-end Security Made Easy™. Offers Intrusion Prevention, Captive Portal, Traffic Shaping and more.

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