Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

NethServer VS MikroTik RouterOS

Compare NethServer VS MikroTik RouterOS and see what are their differences

NethServer logo NethServer

NethServer is an operating system for Linux enthusiasts, designed for small offices and medium...

MikroTik RouterOS logo MikroTik RouterOS

The main product of MikroTik is a Linux-based operating system known as MikroTik RouterOS.
  • NethServer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19
  • MikroTik RouterOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-25

NethServer features and specs

  • Ease of use
    NethServer provides an intuitive web-based interface, making it easy for administrators to configure and manage the server without extensive command-line knowledge.
  • Modularity
    The system is highly modular, allowing users to install only the needed modules, which makes it versatile for various business needs.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, NethServer allows users to modify and improve the software according to their needs, with a strong community backing development and support.
  • Comprehensive Features
    It offers a wide range of features, from mail server capabilities to firewall and web proxy functions, providing an all-in-one server solution.
  • Strong Community Support
    An active community provides abundant resources, support, and regular updates, contributing to reliability and security.

Possible disadvantages of NethServer

  • Limited Enterprise Support
    While the community is active, official enterprise-grade support options are limited compared to some commercial alternatives.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Although the interface is user-friendly for basic tasks, more complex configurations might require learning and familiarity with the system.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Downloading and updating modules requires a stable internet connection, which may be a limitation in some environments.
  • Compatibility Constraints
    Some specialized enterprise applications may not be fully compatible with NethServer, requiring workarounds or compromises.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running multiple services simultaneously can be resource-intensive, potentially necessitating more powerful hardware for optimal performance.

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).

Analysis of MikroTik RouterOS

Overall verdict

  • MikroTik RouterOS is a strong choice for those who require robust network management tools at a competitive price. Its extensive feature set, reliability, and scalability make it suitable for both small businesses and enterprise environments.

Why this product is good

  • MikroTik RouterOS is often considered good due to its comprehensive feature set, affordability, and flexibility. It is used by network professionals who appreciate its powerful capabilities, including advanced routing, firewall, and VPN capabilities. RouterOS supports a wide range of network configurations, making it a versatile choice for various networking needs.

Recommended for

    Network administrators, IT professionals, small businesses, and enterprises that require customizability, cost-effectiveness, and a wide range of network management features. It's particularly suitable for those who have the technical expertise to manage more complex networking configurations.

NethServer videos

Product Reivew - NethServer 7.4

More videos:

  • Review - What is NethServer? and how it can help you!
  • Review - NethServer 7.3 Installation + Review + VMware Tools on VMware Workstation [2017]

MikroTik RouterOS videos

MikroTik RouterOS security review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to NethServer and MikroTik RouterOS)
Cloud Computing
100 100%
0% 0
Operating Systems
0 0%
100% 100
Cloud Storage
100 100%
0% 0
Linux
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 NethServer and MikroTik RouterOS

NethServer Reviews

11 Best pfsense Alternatives To Secure Your Network
We can acquire security fixes and upgrades from the authorized CentOS repositories on a regular basis. If you are on a Linux operating system, then NethServer is one of the pfSense alternatives to consider
10 Best pfSense Alternatives and Similar Firewalls
NethServer is a free alternative to pfSense. It is an open-source, CentOS-based all-in-one Linux server distribution aimed for small and medium-sized businesses. NethServer has a number of built-in modules that may be used to rapidly transform any machine into a server.
Best Linux distros of 2021 for beginners, mainstream and advanced users
For instance, using NethServer you can set up a web filter, a mail server, file server, web server, firewall, VPN, a Slack-like team chat, and several other services. The best part is that you can deploy and configure just about every aspect of your server through a an intuitive browser-based interface.

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, MikroTik RouterOS seems to be a lot more popular than NethServer. While we know about 24 links to MikroTik RouterOS, we've tracked only 1 mention of NethServer. 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.

NethServer mentions (1)

  • Need some help with setting up Open source AD
    Check out Nethserver - https://nethserver.org/. Source: over 3 years ago

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 / 5 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 NethServer and MikroTik RouterOS, you can also consider the following products

Zentyal - Linux directory, domain, mail, gateway and infrastructure server for SMBs.

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

ClearOS - A very good alternative for Windows Server, for free

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

Univention Corporate Server - Univention Corporate Server UCS with Active Directory functions and App Center is the cost-efficient and popular successor to Microsoft's server solutions.

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