Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

MikroTik RouterOS VS Raspberry Pi OS

Compare MikroTik RouterOS VS Raspberry Pi OS 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.

Raspberry Pi OS logo Raspberry Pi OS

A step-by-step guide how to create a simple OS from scratch.
  • MikroTik RouterOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-25
  • Raspberry Pi OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-02

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).

Raspberry Pi OS features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Raspberry Pi OS is streamlined for Raspberry Pi hardware, ensuring efficient use of resources and better performance than more complex operating systems.
  • Educational Value
    It is designed to teach users, especially beginners, about how operating systems work by providing a minimal base for building and experimenting.
  • Community Support
    There is a strong community around Raspberry Pi and its projects, making it easier to find tutorials, forums, and resources.
  • Customization
    Users have the flexibility to customize the OS according to their needs, focusing only on the components relevant to their projects.

Possible disadvantages of Raspberry Pi OS

  • Limited Features
    Being minimal and educational, the OS might lack some advanced features found in more complete operating systems.
  • Not User-Friendly
    It might not be suitable for users looking for an out-of-the-box solution, as it requires technical knowledge and manual setup.
  • Hardware Limitations
    The performance is restricted by the Raspberry Pi hardware, which might not suit high-intensity applications.
  • Niche Use Case
    The OS is specifically tailored for Raspberry Pi and is not suitable for use on other types of hardware without significant modification.

MikroTik RouterOS videos

MikroTik RouterOS security review

Raspberry Pi OS videos

Tour of Raspberry pi OS

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MikroTik RouterOS and Raspberry Pi OS)
Operating Systems
90 90%
10% 10
Linux
85 85%
15% 15
Perimeter Security And Firewalls
Linux Distribution
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using MikroTik RouterOS and Raspberry Pi OS. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

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.

Raspberry Pi OS Reviews

Best Linux distros of 2021 for beginners, mainstream and advanced users
There are several distros for the Raspberry Pi, however the best starting point has to be the Raspberry Pi OS, which is the official distro of the Raspberry Pi and for good reason.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, MikroTik RouterOS seems to be a lot more popular than Raspberry Pi OS. While we know about 24 links to MikroTik RouterOS, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Raspberry Pi OS. 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

Raspberry Pi OS mentions (2)

  • I want to learn about kernel development
    Last but not the least, learning by doing is fun so you can check out - raspberry-pi-os (writing an os from scratch) - https://github.com/s-matyukevich/raspberry-pi-os. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Show HN: CheesecakeOS for Raspberry Pi Volume 0: Booting, Processes, and VM
    CheesecakeOS for Raspberry Pi Volume 0: Booting, Processes, and Virtual Memory is the first in what I hope is a series of github markdown tutorials or volumes on bare-metal from-scratch operating system development. I have dreamed of contributing to the Linux Kernel, but have yet to find the courage to jump in and do so. I started by attempting to read Understanding the Linux Kernel by Daniel Bovet and... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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.

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

Linux Kodachi - Kodachi is a Debian-based distro which can be run from a DVD or USB thumb drive.

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

Nitrux OS - Nitrux is an operating system based on Linux.