Firewalla vs OpenWrt
Firewalla
firewalla.comOpenWrt
openwrt.orgSide by side
| Figure | Firewalla | OpenWrt |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 2 |
| Spec score · Network Firewall Software | 7.7 (#14) | 8.6 (#6) |
| Intended users | Firewalla says its Gold Series is optimized for larger and faster networks, while Orange and Purple models are optimized for smaller networks. | OpenWrt says users should know GNU/Linux and basic networking concepts before installing it. |
| Support | Firewalla accepts support cases and email, says it usually responds in less than 48 hours, and does not offer phone or chat support. | The project says support may be provided voluntarily by developers and users, but is not guaranteed. |
Plans
Firewalla
- Firewalla Purple SE$289, paid once
- Firewalla Orange$399, paid once
- Firewalla Gold SE$519, paid once
- Firewalla Gold Plus$629, paid once
- Firewalla Gold Plus SFP$779, paid once
- Firewalla Gold Pro$939, paid once
In their own words
OpenWrt
OpenWrt is a Linux operating system for embedded devices, commonly wireless routers. Its writable filesystem and optional package management let users customize devices by adding packages; the project lists more than 27,000 packages and services. Configuration is available through an SSH command-line interface or a web interface, and the Table of Hardware helps check device support before installation. Hardware capacity is a key consideration: OpenWrt identifies 8 MB flash and 64 MB RAM as bare minimums, while warning against devices at those limits for current, secure use. The downloads page lists OpenWrt 25.12.5 as the current stable release and describes development snapshots as generally untested. The older 24.10 release is slated to receive limited security and bug fixes for some time. OpenWrt is free software, with no subscription or licensing fees. The project says users should know GNU/Linux and basic networking concepts before installing it; voluntary support from developers and users is not guaranteed.