OpenWrt vs TNSR
OpenWrt
openwrt.orgTNSR
netgate.comSide by side
| Figure | OpenWrt | TNSR |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $83.25/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · Virtual Routers Software | 8.5 (#4) | 8.5 (#5) |
| Spec score · Firewall Software | 8.6 (#13) | 8.7 (#11) |
| Spec score · Network Firewall Software | 8.6 (#6) | 8.5 (#7) |
| Founded | 2004 | 2004 |
| Intended users | OpenWrt says users should know GNU/Linux and basic networking concepts before installing it. | Netgate identifies businesses, ISPs, internet telephone providers, hosting providers, managed service providers, and SaaS providers as potential users. |
| Limit: hardware compatibility | ComputerBase warns that support can differ between hardware revisions sharing the same router model name. | Netgate provides no assurance that untested hardware will be compatible or achieve acceptable performance. |
| Product | OpenWrt is a Linux operating system for embedded devices, typically wireless routers. | TNSR is a terabit software router and VPN concentrator for high-speed routing and VPN workloads. |
| Support | The project says support may be provided voluntarily by developers and users, but is not guaranteed. | Netgate says TNSR subscriptions include 24x7 TAC support, and its overview describes access to support veterans, professional services, and training. |
| What it does | OpenWrt is a Linux distribution and replacement firmware for embedded devices, especially wireless routers. | TNSR is a high-performance software router and VPN concentrator for enterprise, service-provider and government networks. |
Plans
TNSR
- TNSR AWS/Azure proof of conceptFree
- TNSR Software Subscription - Renewal$999 a year
- TNSR softwarePrice not published
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.
TNSR
TNSR is a software router and VPN concentrator for high-speed routing and VPN workloads. Netgate says its Vector Packet Processing can scale from 1 to 1000 Gbps and beyond on commercial off-the-shelf hardware. Routing options include BGP, OSPF, static and dynamic routing, policy-based routing, carrier-grade NAT, and equal-cost multipath. For VPNs, it supports routed site-to-site IPsec and WireGuard, with IKEv1 and IKEv2. Administrators can manage TNSR through a CLI, RESTCONF API, or NETCONF. Monitoring options include SNMP and a Prometheus exporter for dataplane statistics. Security features listed include access control lists, packet filtering, password or key authentication, RADIUS, and role-based access control. Netgate offers cloud deployments through AWS and Azure marketplaces, as well as its 6100, 8200, and 8300 appliance systems. Subscriptions include 24x7 TAC support. TNSR has firewall capabilities, but Netgate does not position it as a firewall and warns it may lack features customers expect from pfSense Plus.