The project’s hardware table contains more than a few entries with partial support and no functional Wi-Fi thanks to this. There are plenty of routers that OpenWRT simply can’t fully support because they require non-free drivers to run.

While all three of these firmware are based on Linux, OpenWRT is the most like a traditional distribution. It’s the only one on this list that doesn’t include non-free binary blobs. OpenWRT might be the best option for free software enthusiasts. OpenWRT, as it is now, is actually a merger of the classic OpenWRT and LEDE. It’s the precursor to both DD-WRT and Tomato, and it has earned its reputation as a powerful choice with a ton of options. OpenWRT is the oldest open-source router firmware project. StrengthsĪlso read: Top 8 Questions to Ask When Buying a New Router OpenWRT If your router is supported, it might be exactly the option you’re looking for, but you’ll certainly need to check first. Tomato doesn’t support as many routers as its competitors, and up until the AdvancedTomato project, development was a bit scattered. The AdvancedTomato interface is one of its best selling points, making network management simpler and providing a more visually pleasing experience.

More recently, the AdvancedTomato project has taken the classic Tomato firmware by Shibby and created a sleek and modern GUI that allows real-time monitoring of vital stats through animated graphs.

Can be hard to find new versions for some routersĪlso read: Modem vs.

Even routers that aren’t officially supported tend to get community builds that are actively supported in the DD-WRT forums. As a result, they also have the largest community, so finding support for DD-WRT tends to be easier than other custom router firmware. The latter helps better manage network traffic.ĭD-WRT supports more routers than anyone else. If you’re looking for simple and direct, though, you’re going to have a hard time navigating DD-WRT.Ī few extra features DD-WRT supports include Wake on LAN for remote PC access and QoS (quality of service) built in. For people looking for maximum control, DD-WRT’s plethora of options is a welcome breath of fresh air. That’s simultaneously one of DD-WRT’s biggest strengths and weaknesses.

It comes with nearly everything you could want in a router as well as a whole lot more that you’ll probably never even look at.

Airties 4920 firmware download