Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups
Register | Login

SonicWall VS OpenWrt

Compare SonicWall VS OpenWrt and see what are their differences

IsDown.app
Monitor all your cloud services with our status page aggregator. IT teams choose IsDown to monitor all their vendors and get alerts whenever an outage occurs. Integration with Datadog, PagerDuty, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and a lot more. featured
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.
Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

SonicWall logo SonicWall

SonicWall security solutions protects your network, systems, users and data from cyber threats.

OpenWrt logo OpenWrt

OpenWrt is an open-source firmware based on Linux for wireless routers
  • SonicWall Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-22
  • OpenWrt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14

SonicWall features and specs

  • Comprehensive Security Suite
    SonicWall offers a robust set of security features, including next-generation firewalls, VPN support, advanced threat protection, and real-time traffic visibility, ensuring comprehensive protection against cyber threats.
  • User-Friendly Management
    The SonicWall interface is designed to be intuitive, making it easier for IT administrators to set up, configure, and monitor security policies and devices, thereby improving administrative efficiency.
  • Scalability
    SonicWall solutions are scalable and suitable for businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises, allowing for easy upgrades without a complete system overhaul.
  • Strong Support Services
    SonicWall provides comprehensive support services, including online resources, customer service, and training programs, to assist clients in resolving issues and optimizing their security deployments.
  • Regular Updates
    SonicWall frequently updates its security services and appliance firmware to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities, keeping the systems up-to-date with the latest protection measures.

Possible disadvantages of SonicWall

  • Cost
    SonicWall solutions can be expensive, especially for small businesses, including the initial purchase and ongoing subscription costs for advanced features and support.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    Despite its user-friendly management interface, the depth and breadth of its features can be overwhelming for users without extensive IT or cybersecurity experience, requiring a learning curve or professional setup.
  • Occasional Performance Issues
    Some users report occasional performance issues, such as latency or slow processing speeds, particularly when handling high traffic volumes or complex configurations.
  • Firmware and Software Bugs
    Like many advanced technology products, SonicWall occasionally suffers from firmware and software bugs that can cause disruptions or require patches and updates.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    SonicWall's proprietary systems and solutions can create a degree of vendor lock-in, making it more difficult and costly to switch to a different security provider if desired.

OpenWrt features and specs

  • Customizability
    OpenWrt provides a high degree of customizability, allowing users to install and configure a wide variety of software packages to tailor the firmware to specific needs.
  • Performance
    Being lightweight and efficient, OpenWrt can enhance router performance, leading to faster network speeds and more reliable connections.
  • Security
    OpenWrt receives regular updates and has strong security features, including state-of-the-art encryption and support for VPNs, which can help protect your network.
  • Community Support
    A large and active community surrounds OpenWrt, providing extensive documentation, forums, and support, which can be very helpful for troubleshooting and learning.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, OpenWrt allows users to freely inspect, modify, and share the software, contributing to transparency and community-driven improvements.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    OpenWrt is compatible with a wide range of devices, from routers to embedded devices, making it a flexible option for various hardware.

Possible disadvantages of OpenWrt

  • Technical Complexity
    The high level of customization and advanced features can be overwhelming for inexperienced users, requiring a steep learning curve to effectively manage the firmware.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    Although generally stable, custom configurations and new updates can sometimes lead to instability or bugs, which may require troubleshooting.
  • Limited Manufacturer Support
    Using OpenWrt might void the warranty or result in limited support from the router manufacturer, as it replaces the stock firmware with a third-party alternative.
  • Initial Setup
    The initial installation and setup process can be complex and time-consuming, especially for users who are not familiar with command-line interfaces and networking concepts.
  • Resource Intensive on Low-End Hardware
    On lower-end or older hardware, OpenWrt might not perform optimally, and some features could be too resource-intensive to function properly.

Analysis of OpenWrt

Overall verdict

  • Yes, OpenWrt is considered good for users who need a robust and customizable router firmware that can be tailored to specific network requirements.

Why this product is good

  • OpenWrt is widely regarded as a good choice for custom router firmware due to its flexibility, extensive community support, and ability to enhance network performance. It allows users to install additional software packages and customize their network settings in ways not typically available on stock firmware. Additionally, OpenWrt regularly updates to address security vulnerabilities, providing a secure environment for diverse networking needs.

Recommended for

  • Tech-savvy users looking to extend their router functionality
  • Individuals interested in improving network security
  • Users who require advanced networking features
  • Anyone wanting to repurpose old hardware into a stable networking device
  • Open-source enthusiasts who appreciate community-driven projects

SonicWall videos

+ Add

SonicWall SOHO 250 & TZ350 Review: An Overview of Features, Benefits & Specs

More videos:

  • Review - SonicWall NSa 2650 Review: An Overview of Features, Benefits, & Specs
  • Tutorial - Dell SonicWall TZ400 nsa Small Business ssl VPN Firewall - How to sonicwall tutorial setup

OpenWrt videos

+ Add

Upgrading Your Home Router to OpenWRT and Why It Is Worth It

More videos:

  • Review - Playing with OpenWrt Wireless Settings
  • Review - Make Your TP-LINK Router into a High Power Router with OpenWrt

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SonicWall and OpenWrt)

SonicWall

OpenWrt

Monitoring Tools
100 100%
Monitoring Tools
0% 0
Operating Systems
0 0%
Operating Systems
100% 100
Firewall
100 100%
Firewall
0% 0
Linux
0 0%
Linux
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using SonicWall and OpenWrt. 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 SonicWall and OpenWrt

SonicWall Reviews

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

OpenWrt Reviews

Best pfSense Software Alternatives and Competitors
Both pfSense and OpenWRT are formidable and versatile alternatives for network administration software. While OpenWRT is designed for embedded devices such as routers, Pfsense focuses on firewalls and routing functions that are more complex. Pfsense is more user-friendly, while OpenWRT provides more configuration options. Both are supported by thriving online communities...
Source: www.zenarmor.com
The Best Open Source Router OS Software for Large or Small Networks
OpenWrt also offers a range of advanced networking configurations, including support for Quality of Service (QoS), network address translation (NAT), and virtual LAN (VLAN) tagging. These features make OpenWrt an attractive option for businesses and organizations that require more advanced networking capabilities. The open-source nature of OpenWrt means that users can...
Source: www.comparitech.com
Best free Linux router and firewall distributions of 2023
Unlike IPFire, OpenWRT has a large number of optional packages in its repository. As a result, you can configure this OS in countless different ways. Most importantly, OpenWRT has drivers for all hardware supported by Linux. This means that almost all Wireless hardware is supported, making it the most versatile OS for creating Access Points.
Source: teklager.se
Top 7 pfSense Alternatives
OpenWRT is made primarily to replace the software on existing routers, but it can also run on x86 (PCs, server hardware, VMs) machines. It is a very mature OS and has some of the best Wi-Fi support around, unlike a lot of other router software options. It has a pretty good GUI and a ton of add-on packages.
Source: hometechhacker.com
7 Best Router Firmware | Open Source | 2022
OpenWrt Project is a Linux based alternative open source firmware for routers in 2022 and embedded systems. And it is one of the best Open Source Firmware that offers you an utterly writable filesystem along with package management. It allows for full customization and lets you customize the device for any application.
Source: viralhax.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenWrt seems to be a lot more popular than SonicWall. While we know about 103 links to OpenWrt, we've tracked only 2 mentions of SonicWall. 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.

SonicWall mentions (2)

  • firmware updates
    Are there any way to download firmware updates from sonicwall.com without having registered equipment on your account? I am able to find the product > firmware I am looking for but the buttons are grayed out. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is Sonicwall doing somethign fishy with CFS?
    It sounds like since the user can't hit sonicwall.com for a reply the request is failing and not passing traffic and redirecting to walmart.com. Source: almost 3 years ago

OpenWrt mentions (103)

  • Recommendation for a wifi router with L2TP or other VPN server support?
    If your current router supports a custom firmware like openWRT then you could do this without having to buy a new one. Source: over 1 year ago
  • OpenWrt Site Account Creation
    Unfortunately, I can't create an account via Github on the openwrt site. Source: over 1 year ago
  • openwrt.org not loading
    Anyone else having trouble reaching openwrt.org right now? I can't get the forums, main page or downloads. I've done plenty of troubleshooting and there isn't anything else on my network having trouble reaching anything else on the internet. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Things just got a little weird, my current network is down, I'm a newb trying to start from the ground up and I found out I actually have another (newer) wifi router.... what to do?
    On the router. openwrt.org has lots of great documentation that lays out exactly what you're looking for and then some. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • As of June 2023, what is the best router that I could buy specifically for ease of use with all things pi-hole related
    Is the Verizon one a combined modem/router? If you want to add your own router, you might have to call them and ask them to put it into bridged mode. I like OpenWRT because it gives you a lot of customization options. I've just been running it on an old TP-Link Archer C7 for the past 5 years or so and I haven't had any issues, but that's ancient hardware now. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SonicWall and OpenWrt, you can also consider the following products

Comodo Firewall - Comodo Firewall Pro - Secure your system against internal attacks such as Trojan viruses /...

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

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

WatchGuard Firebox - WatchGuard Firebox is a comprehensive advanced network security appliance that puts IT security professionals back in charge of their networks with widely deployable, enterprise-grade security and threat visibility tools suitable for any organization

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

TinyWall - Lightweight and non-intrusive firewall

Loading...