OpenWISP vs MikroTik RouterOS

Struggling to choose between OpenWISP and MikroTik RouterOS? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

OpenWISP is a Network & Admin solution with tags like open-source, firmware, wisp, wireless, access-point, remote-management.

It boasts features such as Centralized management of wireless networks, Firmware customization and automation, Monitoring of network usage and performance, Remote configuration of access points, User management and authentication, Bandwidth control and traffic shaping, Automatic firmware upgrades, VPN capabilities, Captive portal for guest networks, RADIUS integration for authentication and pros including Open source and free, Active development community, Highly customizable and extensible, Supports a wide range of hardware, Scales to manage large networks, Reduces operating costs for WISPs.

On the other hand, MikroTik RouterOS is a Network & Admin product tagged with networking, router, firewall, vpn, wireless, hotspot, bandwidth-management.

Its standout features include Extensive routing capabilities, Firewall functionality, VPN support, Wireless access point management, Bandwidth management, Hotspot gateway, Networking capabilities, and it shines with pros like Highly customizable and powerful networking solution, Suitable for a wide range of networking scenarios, Supports a wide range of hardware devices, Offers a comprehensive set of networking features.

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.

OpenWISP

OpenWISP

OpenWISP is an open source project to create firmware for Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs). It allows WISPs to manage a large number of access points remotely through a web interface.

Categories:
open-source firmware wisp wireless access-point remote-management

OpenWISP Features

  1. Centralized management of wireless networks
  2. Firmware customization and automation
  3. Monitoring of network usage and performance
  4. Remote configuration of access points
  5. User management and authentication
  6. Bandwidth control and traffic shaping
  7. Automatic firmware upgrades
  8. VPN capabilities
  9. Captive portal for guest networks
  10. RADIUS integration for authentication

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Open source and free

Active development community

Highly customizable and extensible

Supports a wide range of hardware

Scales to manage large networks

Reduces operating costs for WISPs

Cons

Steeper learning curve than commercial solutions

Limited official support channels

Requires more in-house technical expertise

Not as feature rich as some commercial options

Fragmented documentation


MikroTik RouterOS

MikroTik RouterOS

MikroTik RouterOS is a Linux-based router and firewall operating system designed for use on MikroTik's hardware devices. It offers extensive routing, firewall, VPN, wireless access point, bandwidth management, hotspot gateway and other networking capabilities in a licenses package.

Categories:
networking router firewall vpn wireless hotspot bandwidth-management

MikroTik RouterOS Features

  1. Extensive routing capabilities
  2. Firewall functionality
  3. VPN support
  4. Wireless access point management
  5. Bandwidth management
  6. Hotspot gateway
  7. Networking capabilities

Pricing

  • One-time Purchase
  • Custom Pricing

Pros

Highly customizable and powerful networking solution

Suitable for a wide range of networking scenarios

Supports a wide range of hardware devices

Offers a comprehensive set of networking features

Cons

Steep learning curve for beginners

Limited user-friendly interface compared to some commercial alternatives

Licensing can be complex depending on the specific use case