Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

MikroTik RouterOS VS OpenWISP

Compare MikroTik RouterOS VS OpenWISP 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.

OpenWISP logo OpenWISP

A software platform to implement a complete public wifi service.
  • MikroTik RouterOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-25
  • OpenWISP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-25

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).

OpenWISP features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenWISP is an open-source platform, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute, allowing for collaborative improvements from a community of developers.
  • Modular Architecture
    OpenWISP features a modular architecture, enabling users to integrate and extend functionalities as needed, providing flexibility and customization.
  • Scalability
    It supports extensive scalability, allowing networks to grow without significant infrastructure changes, making it suitable for both small and large deployments.
  • Centralized Management
    The platform provides centralized management capabilities, enabling easy administration of multiple devices and networks from a single interface.
  • Active Community
    OpenWISP benefits from an active and supportive community, offering extensive documentation, forums, and user assistance for troubleshooting and development.

Possible disadvantages of OpenWISP

  • Complex Setup
    The setup process of OpenWISP can be complex and time-consuming, especially for users unfamiliar with network management software.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running OpenWISP can be resource-intensive, requiring sufficient hardware and technical expertise to ensure optimal performance.
  • Limited Vendor Support
    Compared to commercial network management solutions, OpenWISP may have limited vendor support for specific hardware or advanced features.
  • Customization Challenges
    While highly customizable, the process of tailoring OpenWISP to specific needs can be challenging without adequate technical knowledge or development skills.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a steep learning curve due to the complexity and breadth of features offered by OpenWISP, requiring time and effort to master.

MikroTik RouterOS videos

MikroTik RouterOS security review

OpenWISP videos

Introduction to OpenWISP2

More videos:

  • Review - OpenWISP 2: the modular configuration manager for OpenWRT - OpenWrt Summit 2017
  • Review - OpenWISP 2: Network Topology Module

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MikroTik RouterOS and OpenWISP)
Operating Systems
86 86%
14% 14
Linux
81 81%
19% 19
Perimeter Security And Firewalls
Routers
70 70%
30% 30

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 OpenWISP

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.

OpenWISP Reviews

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

Social recommendations and mentions

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

OpenWISP mentions (13)

  • OpenWrt 24.10.0 – First Stable Release – 6. February 2025
    > Is there a recommended hardware and step by step guide for those new to this? What exactly are you planning to do? OpenWRT is quite flexible. There's this https://openwrt.org/toh/buyerguide. OpenWRT one is hot right now: https://openwrt.org/toh/openwrt/one > Can you do mesh networks? Yes. Note also https://openwisp.org/ if you want to do a whole fleet of OpenWRT routers. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • OpenWrt One router officially launched
    I think the closest thing that exists today is OpenWISP[1] but I haven't had a chance to check it out personally yet. [1] https://openwisp.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • OpenWrt 23.05.0-rc1 – First Release Candidate
    Is this something similar to OpenWISP? It all sounds cool, but might be an overkill for small installations… [0] https://openwisp.org/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Console for managing multiple OpenWRT nodes?
    Haven't tried it yet, but I think OpenWISP is what you want. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Any open source centrally managed access point system?
    All my searches are pointing to OpenWISP. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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

LibreMesh - An Open Source Sofware for Geek-free Mesh Community Networks.

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

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.

IPFire - IPFire is a server distribution with intended to use as a firewall.