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OpenWISP
What OpenWISP is
OpenWISP is an open-source platform for deploying, monitoring, and managing networks built on Linux OpenWrt. Its configuration tools use reusable templates, tags, group templates, and dynamic variables to manage settings across devices, groups, and organizations. It can generate configurations and cryptographic keys or X.509 certificates for WireGuard, OpenVPN, and ZeroTier. Network monitoring includes ping success, round-trip time, Wi-Fi clients, mobile signal quality, traffic patterns, and access technology, while firmware upgrades can be applied to individual devices or in batches.
For network access, its RADIUS module includes SMS verification, user imports and generation, social login, SAML single sign-on, session limits, Change of Authorization, and a REST API. Hotspot deployments can use captive portals for registration, authentication, social login, phone verification, and paid subscriptions. OpenWISP supports API, Linux, self-hosted, and web environments in a hybrid deployment model, with configuration management and policy automation. The FAQ describes it as a fit for teams managing large networks, hotspot and municipal Wi-Fi operators, and organizations familiar with OpenWrt. Installation is recommended through the OpenWISP Ansible role. The software has a free plan, with sponsorship options and separate commercial support.
Who it suits
OpenWISP suits small teams responsible for large networks, hotspot or municipal Wi-Fi operators, and organizations familiar with OpenWrt. The FAQ cautions that it may be a poor fit for networks with fewer than 20 devices or organizations without IT expertise.
What it does well
- Reusable templates and dynamic variables organize device and group configurations.
- Generates VPN configurations and keys or certificates for three named VPN systems.
- Monitoring covers connectivity, wireless clients, signal, traffic, and access technology.
- Firmware upgrades can be applied individually or in batches.
- Captive portals support registration, authentication, and paid subscriptions.
What to know first
- The FAQ says it may be a poor fit below 20 devices.
- Organizations without IT expertise may find it a poor fit.
- Commercial support excludes code training and third-party extension support.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub sponsorship | Starting from 5$ per month · Accessible to anyone | $5 a month |
| Platinum Sponsorship | €700.00 per year · 8 hours of support · logo placement · community acknowledgment · quarterly insights and analytics | €700 a year |
As openwisp.org lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://openwisp.org/.
- Install using the recommended OpenWISP Ansible role.
- Use it in an API, Linux, self-hosted, or web environment.
- Choose the free plan or review the sponsorship options.
Verdict
Choose OpenWISP if you need network configuration, monitoring, access, and hotspot tools in an open-source platform. It is less suitable for very small networks or organizations without IT expertise; commercial support also excludes code training and third-party extensions.
Questions
Is OpenWISP free?
OpenWISP has a free plan. Listed sponsorship options include GitHub sponsorship at $5 a month and Platinum Sponsorship at €700 a year.
What platforms does OpenWISP support?
Its listed platforms are API, Linux, self-hosted, and web. Its deployment model is hybrid.
What hardware can it manage?
The FAQ says it can control OpenWrt-compatible hardware and can also work with non-OpenWrt devices using SSH, SNMP, and APIs, with some feature adaptation.
How is OpenWISP installed?
The FAQ recommends installation with the OpenWISP Ansible role.
What does commercial support include?
It offers deployment and maintenance, proactive monitoring, expert assistance, and encrypted nightly backups with restoration. It excludes code training and support for third-party OpenWISP extensions.
Facts from OpenWISP's own pages
- Configuration
- Reusable templates, tags, group templates, and dynamic variables support device, group, and organization configurations. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Firmware
- The firmware upgrader supports individual and batch device upgrades. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2008 · openwisp.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Hardware
- The FAQ says OpenWISP can control any OpenWrt-compatible hardware and can also work with non-OpenWrt devices using protocols such as SSH, SNMP, and APIs, with some feature adaptation. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Hotspots
- Hotspot deployments can use captive portals for registration, authentication, social login, phone verification, and paid subscriptions. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The FAQ recommends installing OpenWISP with the OpenWISP Ansible role. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Monitoring
- Monitoring includes metrics such as ping success, round-trip time, Wi-Fi clients, mobile signal quality, traffic patterns, and access technology. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Network access
- The RADIUS module supports SMS verification, user imports and generation, social login, SAML single sign-on, session limits, Change of Authorization, and a REST API. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OpenWISP is an open-source solution built on Linux OpenWrt for network deployment, monitoring, and management. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- The deployment page describes secure-by-default configurations and automated SSL certificate management for its cloud-ready professional images. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- Commercial support offers deployment and maintenance, proactive monitoring, expert assistance, and encrypted nightly backups with restoration. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Support limits
- Commercial support excludes code training and support for third-party OpenWISP extensions. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- VPNs
- OpenWISP can generate configurations and cryptographic keys or X.509 certificates for WireGuard, OpenVPN, and ZeroTier. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Who it suits
- The FAQ describes OpenWISP as suited to small teams managing large networks, hotspot and municipal Wi-Fi operators, and organizations familiar with OpenWrt; it may be a poor fit for networks with fewer than 20 devices or organizations without IT expertise. · openwisp.org, 8 Oct 2026
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