Alternatives to OpenWrt
Open-source Linux-based firmware that turns consumer routers into configurable network gateways. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
OpenWrt
Open-source Linux-based firmware that turns consumer routers into configurable network gateways.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as OpenWrt.
DD-WRT
Third-party open-source router firmware that adds VPN, QoS and advanced routing to consumer routers.
DD-WRT is also open-source replacement firmware for consumer routers, focusing on VPN, QoS and advanced routing, and likewise only runs on supported models.
OPNsense
An open-source firewall and routing platform based on FreeBSD that you install on your own hardware.
OPNsense is a FreeBSD-based firewall and router managed through a web interface, but needs a dedicated machine or virtual machine instead of running on consumer routers.
pfSense
FreeBSD-based firewall and router distribution with a web interface.
pfSense combines firewall, router, VPN and traffic shaping on FreeBSD with a package system, but runs on dedicated hardware rather than an existing consumer router.
IPFire
A hardened Linux-based firewall distribution with VPN support, network segmentation and a web management console.
IPFire is a hardened Linux firewall distribution with WireGuard, OpenVPN and zone segmentation, installed on a dedicated machine or virtual machine instead of router firmware.
VyOS
An open-source network operating system that combines routing, firewall and VPN functions in one platform.
VyOS is a network operating system for routing, firewall and VPN on bare metal or cloud, aimed at network engineers, with LTS builds via a support portal.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Technitium DNS Server
A self-hosted DNS server that blocks ads network-wide, hosts your own zones, and encrypts upstream queries.
GNS3
Builds and runs virtual networks of real router and switch images, for lab work and certification study.
NetBox Community
Document network devices, addresses and connections on your own server.
firewalld
A dynamically managed Linux firewall daemon with network zones and a D-Bus interface.
ufw
Uncomplicated Firewall, a command-line tool for managing a netfilter firewall on Linux.
strongSwan
An open-source IPsec VPN implementation using the IKEv2 and IKEv1 key exchange protocols.
