IPFire vs OpenWrt
IPFire
ipfire.orgOpenWrt
openwrt.orgSide by side
| Figure | IPFire | OpenWrt |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $91.58/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 2 |
| Spec score · Firewall Software | 9.3 (#2) | 8.6 (#13) |
| Spec score · Network Firewall Software | 9.0 (#1) | 8.6 (#6) |
| Spec score · Virtual Routers Software | 9.1 (#1) | 8.5 (#4) |
| Documentation | Official documentation covers installation, WebGUI administration, firewalling, IPS, networking, VPNs, add-ons, hardware and development. | Official documentation is organized into quick-start, user and developer guides plus hardware and technical references. |
| Product | IPFire is an open-source firewall and security platform for networks ranging from home offices to global enterprises. | OpenWrt is a Linux operating system for embedded devices, typically wireless routers. |
| Security updates | Core Update 204 was released on October 14, 2026 to update the operating system and fix a Knot Resolver migration regression. | The downloads page says the outdated 24.10 release will continue to receive limited security and bug fixes for some time. |
| Support | Lightning Wire Labs offers professional support, and the project points users to documentation, community forums, mailing lists, and a bug tracker. | The project says support may be provided voluntarily by developers and users, but is not guaranteed. |
| What it does | IPFire is a hardened Linux operating system functioning as a stateful firewall, VPN gateway, intrusion-prevention platform and extensible network appliance. | OpenWrt is a Linux distribution and replacement firmware for embedded devices, especially wireless routers. |
Plans
IPFire
- IPFireFree
- IPFire softwareFree
- IPFire Nano Appliance$749, paid once
- IPFire Mini Appliance (US)$979, paid once
- IPFire Standard Support$1,099 a year
- IPFire Enterprise Appliance (US)$4,299, paid once
In their own words
IPFire
IPFire is a free, open-source firewall and security platform for networks from home offices to global enterprises. Its Linux Netfilter-based firewall supports network zones, port forwarding, NAT, and stateful packet inspection. VPN options include IPsec, WireGuard, and OpenVPN for site-to-site or remote access. A Suricata-powered intrusion prevention system detects and blocks malicious traffic using updated rule sets. IPFire includes a Squid web proxy with optional URL filtering through URLFilter or SquidGuard, and uses Red, Green, Blue, and Orange zones for roles such as trusted networks, DMZs, and Wi-Fi. Its web interface monitors bandwidth, connections, and intrusion attempts. Proxy authentication can use Microsoft Windows Active Directory, LDAP, or RADIUS. The download page offers x86_64 and aarch64 images for bare metal, virtual machines, embedded hardware, USB sticks, and SD cards; cloud images are available for AWS, Exoscale, and other providers. The project says it releases frequent security updates. Documentation, forums, mailing lists, and a bug tracker are available, and Lightning Wire Labs offers professional support.
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.