DD-WRT, Tomato and OpenWrt - Where is the best firmware router?

Choosing a custom firmware for the router can be a difficult job. Only a few options are suggested on the Internet and the firmware installation documentation is not very much.

However, this is not as difficult as you think. 3 open source firmware vendors - DD-WRT, Tomato and OpenWRT - all have their own strengths and weaknesses making them the ideal choice for specific situations. You need to consider the features needed for your network and determine if your router supports this firmware. These are the most important factors to consider when selecting the firmware router.

DD-WRT

DD-WRT.com is the biggest 'player' when it comes to open source router firmware. DD-WRT has appeared on the market long enough to set up itself and support more routers than any other provider. There are even places that sell routers with DD-WRT already flashed. It can be said that DD-WRT flash on most routers is a great idea.

DD-WRT is a complete set of tools. It comes with almost everything users need in a router, as well as many other things that you may never have thought of. That is one of the strengths, but also the biggest weakness of DD-WRT. For those seeking maximum control, having a lot of options for DD-WRT is a great thing. However, if you are looking for simplicity, you will have trouble navigating DD-WRT.

DD-WRT supports more routers than any other provider. Therefore, DD-WRT also has the largest user community, making it easier to find support than other custom router firmware. Even unsupported routers tend to receive actively supported builds in DD-WRT forums.

Strength

1. Support a lot of routers
2. Large user community
3. Integrated OpenVPN support
4. Support QoS
5. Lots of powerful options

Weakness

1. It may be a bit difficult for new users
2. It may be difficult to find a new version for some routers

Tomato

1. Upgrade the router using Tomato firmware

Advancedtomato.com is the most user-friendly firmware router for users on this list. Tomato has been around for a while and became famous. It gives users the desired and necessary features. Tomato also received positive feedback from users about speeding up routers.

Recently, the AdvancedTomato project has taken Shibby's classic Tomato software and created a modern and beautiful GUI, allowing real-time monitoring of key indicators through animated charts. AdvancedTomato interface is one of the biggest strengths, making network management simpler, providing a more pleasant visual experience for users.

Tomato does not support as many routers as other competitors and before the AdvancedTomato project starts, development is a bit scattered. If your router is supported, this may be the option you are looking for.

Strength

1. Modern interface
2. High speed
3. Does not affect the router much
4. Integrated OpenVPN
5. Real-time monitoring

Weakness

1. Small support community
2. Support limited number of routers

OpenWRT

OpenWRT.org is the oldest open source router project. It is the predecessor of both DD-WRT and Tomato. OpenWRT is well known as a reliable provider with a myriad of options. OpenWRT is considered the integration of OpenWRT and classic LEDE.

OpenWRT may be the best choice for free software enthusiasts. It is the only option on this list that does not include paid binary blobs. Although all three software are Linux-based, OpenWRT is like a traditional distribution.

There are many routers that OpenWRT can fully support because they require paid drivers to run. The hardware list in the project contains a number of partial support and no Wi-Fi functionality.

OpenWRT provides more granular control over DD-WRT, but users have to pay for it. This firmware requires some knowledge to use it properly and make the most of it. OpenWRT is best suited for those who are knowledgeable about technology and know what features they want.

Strength

1. There are many options
2. Integrated OpenVPN
3. Support QoS
4. The ability to dig deeper into lower levels

Weakness

1. Not user friendly
2. Need more time to run
3. Support less routers

Whichever of these options you choose, you can see a marked improvement over the router's stock firmware. You will also receive additional functions, such as OpenVPN customer support, allowing users to do more with their network. As an additional feature, all of these tend to be safer than the manufacturer's firmware and get more frequent updates. Of course, when installing custom firmware, be sure to follow the developer's instructions carefully to reduce the risk of damaging the router.

Wish you find the right choice!

See more:

1. How to upgrade the Wireless Router Firmware?
2. Increase network performance by installing Tomato on the Router
3. Set up your own VPN server at home with 4 simple ways