Side by side
OpenWISP vs Purple WiFi
Both stand on guest wi-fi providers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
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 OpenWISP Free plan Web
Visit Purple WiFi The facts
| OpenWISP | Purple WiFi | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web | Web |
| Lowest paid plan | See the plans | Not published |
| Plans published | 2 | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | openwisp.org | purple.ai |
| On guest wi-fi providers | #1 of 19 | #2 of 19 |
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.
Purple WiFi: what it does well
Alternatives to OpenWISP Alternatives to Purple WiFi The whole list