pfSense vs OpenWISP

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

pfSense is a Network & Admin solution with tags like firewall, router, networking, open-source.

It boasts features such as Stateful packet filtering firewall, Network Address Translation (NAT), Virtual Private Network (VPN) capabilities, Traffic shaping and quotas, Captive portal, High availability with CARP, Package system for adding functionality and pros including Free and open source, Wide range of features, Extensible through packages, Runs on commodity hardware, Regular security updates.

On the other hand, OpenWISP is a Network & Admin product tagged with open-source, firmware, wisp, wireless, access-point, remote-management.

Its standout features include 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 it shines with pros like 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.

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.

pfSense

pfSense

pfSense is a free, open source firewall and router platform based on FreeBSD. It has a wide range of features including traffic shaping, captive portal, VPN capabilities, and packages that add functionality.

Categories:
firewall router networking open-source

PfSense Features

  1. Stateful packet filtering firewall
  2. Network Address Translation (NAT)
  3. Virtual Private Network (VPN) capabilities
  4. Traffic shaping and quotas
  5. Captive portal
  6. High availability with CARP
  7. Package system for adding functionality

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Wide range of features

Extensible through packages

Runs on commodity hardware

Regular security updates

Cons

Complex interface for beginners

Requires technical knowledge to setup and manage

Limited official support options


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