Side by side
LibreMesh vs OpenWISP
Both stand on wireless network management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose LibreMesh if you want a free, modifiable framework for building community-run wireless mesh networks with OpenWrt-based firmware. It provides useful protocol defaults, but router memory and flash constraints mean builds may need tailoring to fit a device.
Visit LibreMesh
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.
Visit OpenWISPThe facts
| LibreMesh | OpenWISP | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Self-hosted, Web | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | See the plans |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | libremesh.org | openwisp.org |
| On wireless network management software | #10 of 27 | #6 of 27 |
LibreMesh: what it does well
- Free software under the AGPL license.
- Provides defaults for four mesh routing protocols.
- Default design supports roaming and network segmentation.
- Firmware can be requested, built on a host, or downloaded as an archived release.
- Smartphone-usable web management is an aim of the project.
What to know first
- The project recommends at least 16 MB flash and 128 MB RAM.
- Builds may need customization to preserve firmware space and device RAM.
- The project warns against upgrading packages directly.
OpenWISP: 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.
Alternatives to LibreMesh Alternatives to OpenWISP The whole list