CoovaChilli vs The Serval Project

Struggling to choose between CoovaChilli and The Serval Project? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

CoovaChilli is a Network & Admin solution with tags like captive-portal, access-controller, authentication, bandwidth-control, accounting.

It boasts features such as RADIUS authentication, Bandwidth control, Accounting and billing, Captive portal, WISPr support and pros including Open source and free, Works with many hardware devices, Supports multiple authentication methods, Granular bandwidth control, Active development community.

On the other hand, The Serval Project is a Social & Communications product tagged with decentralized, mesh-networking, disaster-response.

Its standout features include Decentralized messaging and voice calling, Uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect phones without cellular networks, Allows communication during natural disasters and internet outages, Open-source software, End-to-end encrypted messaging, Works offline and without internet access, Mesh networking capability, and it shines with pros like Works without cellular networks or internet access, Useful during disasters or internet outages, Decentralized and secure communications, Free and open-source software, Mesh networking provides redundancy.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

CoovaChilli

CoovaChilli

CoovaChilli is an open-source software access controller for captive portal and wireless LAN access points. It authenticates users and allows bandwidth control and accounting.

Categories:
captive-portal access-controller authentication bandwidth-control accounting

CoovaChilli Features

  1. RADIUS authentication
  2. Bandwidth control
  3. Accounting and billing
  4. Captive portal
  5. WISPr support

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Open source and free

Works with many hardware devices

Supports multiple authentication methods

Granular bandwidth control

Active development community

Cons

Limited documentation

Steep learning curve

Requires Linux server

Lacks GUI/dashboard

No commercial support


The Serval Project

The Serval Project

The Serval Project is an open-source, decentralized messaging and voice calling app that uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect phones without cellular networks. It allows communication during natural disasters and internet outages.

Categories:
decentralized mesh-networking disaster-response

The Serval Project Features

  1. Decentralized messaging and voice calling
  2. Uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect phones without cellular networks
  3. Allows communication during natural disasters and internet outages
  4. Open-source software
  5. End-to-end encrypted messaging
  6. Works offline and without internet access
  7. Mesh networking capability

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Works without cellular networks or internet access

Useful during disasters or internet outages

Decentralized and secure communications

Free and open-source software

Mesh networking provides redundancy

Cons

Requires phones in proximity for direct connections

Limited adoption and user base

Voice and video calling quality may be low

Setup and configuration may be complex