Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Debian VS MikroTik RouterOS

Compare Debian VS MikroTik RouterOS and see what are their differences

Debian logo Debian

Debian is a free distribution of the GNU/Linux operating system.

MikroTik RouterOS logo MikroTik RouterOS

The main product of MikroTik is a Linux-based operating system known as MikroTik RouterOS.
  • Debian Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-12
  • MikroTik RouterOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-25

Debian videos

Debian 10 "Buster" Full Review and My Thoughts

More videos:

  • Review - Debian 10 Review (GNOME)
  • Review - Debian 10 "Buster" Review! Excited for THIS

MikroTik RouterOS videos

MikroTik RouterOS security review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Debian and MikroTik RouterOS)
Operating Systems
65 65%
35% 35
Linux
78 78%
22% 22
Perimeter Security And Firewalls
Linux Distribution
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

Debian Reviews

10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
Currently, Debian runs the FreeBSD kernel or Linux kernel. Debian was developed by many volunteers who are managing this operating system amazingly. The significant advantage of Debian is its vast software support. Learn – Install Debian 12 Bullseye on VirtualBox
Top 5 Secure Operating Systems for Privacy and Anonymity
The Debian Project adheres to a rigorous set of principles, the Debian Social Contract. It outlines its relationship with the community and underlines its dedication to delivering a free and secure high-quality operating system. This contract and the Debian Free Software Guidelines ensure that the software within Debian's repositories respects your privacy and freedom.
Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
Debian has a Testing branch, similar to a beta version, it is an intermediary stage between Debian's unstable and stable branches. The Testing branch is intended for users who want a balance between access to newer software and a relatively stable system. Debian Testing gets new features and fixes before the stable Debian release, allowing users who are comfortable...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Debian is what Ubuntu is based on, making it one of the oldest Linux distributions. It was released and developed in 1993. For a long time, the abundance of software packages for Debian was unsurpassed and it is still notable. Commercial programs are easy to install. Installation, maintenance and usage are intuitive and not particularly difficult for both Windows and Mac...
Source: www.ionos.com
6 Best Free Alternatives to Windows for Advanced Users
Debian OS also offers a different variant for users to choose from and made the rolling release option available.
Source: techcult.com

MikroTik RouterOS Reviews

  1. 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...
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.
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.
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.
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.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Debian should be more popular than MikroTik RouterOS. It has been mentiond 66 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.

Debian mentions (66)

  • Coding on a Chromebook
    The terminal is actually a Debian terminal. Debian is a version (distribution) of Linux, so if you've used it or Ubuntu before, you'll be very familiar with the commands. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Can I contribute to a redesign of the Debian website?
    Can't figure out debian.org? Then you probably won't figure out the distribution either. The website is perfectly fine, if you know how to read and think. They have mainly been focusing on making Debian stable, so it's more about reading manuals than expecting user-friendliness from it. There's loads of userfriendly-focused linux distributions out there. Source: 11 months ago
  • Your guide to Debian iso downloads
    Https://debian.org/ has a huge DOWNLOAD button. Source: 11 months ago
  • where all the isos are? (broken links)
    Links on the debian.org doesn't work. Source: 12 months ago
  • Debian 12 froze. How to diagnose ?
    Https://debian.org/ download the iso, dd to a pendrive and reinstall... Source: about 1 year ago
View more

MikroTik RouterOS mentions (23)

  • 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 / 5 months 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 1 year 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 1 year ago
  • Germany ups reliance on Huawei for 5G despite security fears
    Or Mikrotik from Latvia, for switching/routing: Https://mikrotik.com/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Management VLAN vs Native.
    There is way to get default to do whatewer you want (including preseted VLAN on some port): Get some config, which you'd like to use as default Login to mikrotik.com Use branding section to get packet, which can be installed on any RoS to change default config and some other things. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

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

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

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

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

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