Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

MikroTik RouterOS VS FRRouting

Compare MikroTik RouterOS VS FRRouting and see what are their differences

MikroTik RouterOS logo MikroTik RouterOS

The main product of MikroTik is a Linux-based operating system known as MikroTik RouterOS.

FRRouting logo FRRouting

FRRouting (FRR) is an IP routing protocol suite for Linux and Unix platforms which
  • MikroTik RouterOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-25
  • FRRouting Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20

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).

FRRouting features and specs

  • Feature Rich
    FRRouting (FRR) supports a wide array of routing protocols, including OSPF, BGP, RIP, and PIM, making it suitable for a large variety of network configurations.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, FRR is free to use, and it benefits from community contributions and transparency in its development process.
  • High Performance
    FRR is designed to deliver high-performance routing capabilities, which are crucial for maintaining efficiency in large or complex networks.
  • Active Community
    Supported and maintained by an active community, FRR receives regular updates and features improvements, and it has strong documentation and community forums.
  • Interoperability
    FRR can operate on a variety of Linux-based systems and integrates well with other networking tools, aiding in flexibility and adaptability.

Possible disadvantages of FRRouting

  • Complex Configuration
    FRR can be complex to configure, particularly for those who are not experienced with command-line interfaces or network routing concepts.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its comprehensive feature set, new users may find FRR difficult to master, requiring time and effort to understand its capabilities fully.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running FRR on smaller hardware or constrained environments may prove challenging, as it can require significant system resources for optimal performance.
  • Dependency on Linux
    FRR principally runs on Linux-based systems, which may limit its use in environments that primarily use other operating systems.
  • Limited Vendor Support
    Compared to some commercial solutions, FRR might have limited official vendor support, which can be a consideration for enterprises relying heavily on support services.

MikroTik RouterOS videos

MikroTik RouterOS security review

FRRouting videos

Netdev 0x12 - Introduction to FRRouting - Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - Netdev 0x13 - FRRouting Workshop

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MikroTik RouterOS and FRRouting)
Operating Systems
76 76%
24% 24
Linux
71 71%
29% 29
Perimeter Security And Firewalls
Network & Admin
0 0%
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 MikroTik RouterOS and FRRouting

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.

FRRouting Reviews

We have no reviews of FRRouting yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, MikroTik RouterOS should be more popular than FRRouting. 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.

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
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FRRouting mentions (12)

  • Advice for a high school networking lab
    FRR https://frrouting.org/ is another open source tool for a more Cisco style CLI syntax. You’d install that on top of most Linux distros. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Flush BGP table faster
    Use a decent PC or three, use https://frrouting.org/ and see fast bgp convergence 8-). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Recommendations on Software-based Traffic Management and Routing Platforms
    Open source, check out freerouter (https://wiki.geant.org/display/RARE/Home) and FRR (https://frrouting.org/). Source: about 3 years ago
  • Pulling My Hair Out Over Netplan
    u/GamerLymx The setup goal was, originally, to set this up as a desktop testing router using FRRouting so I could experiment with some technologies I work with, namely OpenFabric without having to buy a $6k switch (Extreme Networks) as well as OSPF and EIGRP. However, I ran into some issues with setting up FRRouting and could not find sufficient information out there to overcome those. So I decided to just turn... Source: about 3 years ago
  • FRRouting and NordVPN
    Has anyone ever setup FRRouting to connect to a consumer VPN such as NordVPN? I have been Googling but have come up empty so I am assuming it is not something that can be done. Just the same, I thought I would ask in case I am asking the question wrong in my searches. Source: about 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

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

VyOS - VyOS in an open source Linux-based operating system sold and distributed by Sentrium corporations. It is geared toward IT specialists and network administrators for the purpose of securing network and company data... read more.

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

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

Quagga - Quagga is a network routing software suite providing implementations of Open Shortest Path First...

OSRM - Utilities, Application Utilities, and Mapping APIs