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.

Feature	pfSense	OpenWISP
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Network & Admin	Network & Admin

Product Overview

pfSense

Description: 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.

OpenWISP

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

pfSense Features

• 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

OpenWISP Features

• 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

Pros & Cons Analysis

pfSense

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

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

Pricing Comparison

pfSense

• Open Source

OpenWISP

• Open Source