While most people prefer to use them the regular way, a bunch of ‘power users’ like to take greater control of their internet. If you happen to be in this second category and are looking for a compatible router for OpenWrt firmware, then this post shall be helpful.
Not every router is compatible with OpenWrt, and you need to get hold of certain special devices to use it. Before writing this up, I’ve tested 31 routers mentioned on their official supported devices list and have picked the 8 best options of 2023.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to share files, run a BitTorrent client directly from the router, create a network printer, or increase the signal strength. There’s surely an OpenWrt router that’ll serve your requirements.
7 Best Routers for OpenWrt Firmware in 2023
The routers on this list have been sorted based on their network speeds. The ones appearing on the top offer you the fastest speeds, while those appearing at the bottom offer lesser speeds. However, as you move down the list, the price is also likely to decrease.
1. Best Overall: Linksys WRT3200ACM
One of the best options out there for anyone looking forward to buying an open source-ready router, which supports OpenWrt as well as DD-Wrt, the Linksys WRT3200ACM is a great option for advanced users who want to customize their router as per their networking needs.
Speeds & Performance
Offering a total network speed of 3.2Gbps, you get dual-band coverage here, which offers a speed of 600mbps in the 2.4GHz network and 2600mbps in the 5GHz network. The device uses the Tri-Stream 160 technology, which helps boost the speeds you get in the 5GHz network. It covers an area of 2500 sq ft, which is good for most users.
Antennas & Ports
The blue-and-black router design gives it a unique look. There are four antennas on this Linksys router, two on the back and two on the sides.
Besides all of that, there are 4 LAN ports, 1 WAN port, and 1 USB 3.0 port, and 1 USB 2.0 port on the back. The USB 2.0 port also doubles up as an eSATA port so that you can connect your hard drives with ease here.
Customization & Security Features
Considering that this is a router for power users, you get an app that suits your needs too. The app provides you with a lot of customizations over the network. It also allows you to set guest networks, prioritize certain connected devices, change passwords and set parental controls, among other things.
Installation & Final Thoughts
Setting up the router via the app is also very easy and can be done in just a few minutes. To sum it all up, this is a great open-source router for you if you are looking forward to flashing your own firmware into it and customizing your network as per your needs.
- Sizeable RAM & Storage
- Tri-stream technology
- Good speeds & coverage
- App gives good controls
- Inclusion of two USB ports
- Also supports DD-Wrt firmware
- The GUI could be improved
2. Best Storage Capacity: Zyxel Armor Z2
This router from Zyxel” /] is one of the best options for you if you are looking forward to making use of the OpenWrt framework. The Armor Z2 AC2600 provides you with the best possible support for OpenWrt and allows you to perform tasks such as overclocking the router, complex routing, WAN backups, etc.
Speeds & Performance
The router provides a total speed of 2600mbps, split into a dual-band network where you get 800mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1733mbps on the 5GHz band. It makes use of a 4 x 4 MU-MIMO technology where wireless connections are prioritized based on the device’s usage. This wireless device can cover a range of about 2500 sq. ft.
Design, Antennas & Ports
The device has a slick look and carries a black-and-yellow design, which makes it rather unique. There are four indicator lights on the front and four antennas on the back side.
On the back, there are four LAN ports along with one WAN port as well as two USB ports (one each of 2.0 and 3.0).
Storage & Installation
What truly makes it one of the best options for OpenWrt is the fact that it carries a 4GB storage space, which is as big as it gets for a router. Besides that, setting up the router is quite easy with the ‘Easy 123’ setup offered by the mobile app. The app also allows you to control the users who connect to the router with ease.
Usage
Apart from being highly customizable and a great option for OpenWrt enthusiasts, this is also an excellent choice for gamers and people who want to live stream on Twitch. This is a perfect router for you if you are into entertainment.
Final Thoughts
In terms of customization, this router can be compared to some of the top-level CISCO SOHO devices. Summing up, this is an ideal choice for you if you are planning on customizing the router with the OpenWrt firmware.
- Sizeable storage space
- Includes 2 USB ports
- Range of up to 2500 sq ft
- Good looking device
- Easy to set up
- UI could be improved
3. Best for Large Homes: Asus RT-AC68U
If you are looking forward to installing custom firmware such as OpenWrt onto your router, this is a great router from Asus, which allows you to do just that. The RT-AC68U is a device that does not cost you too much but performs every bit as well as the high-priced routers here.
Speeds & Performance
This model provides you with a total speed of 1900mbps, where you get 600mbps in the 5GHz band and 1300mbps in the 2.4GHz band. It can cover a 3000 sq ft house, making it a good choice for most homes and offices that are subscribed to a 200 Mbps internet plan from any ISP.
Design
There’s nothing about the ASUS AC1900 that makes it stand out when it comes to the design front. The device is as generic as any other device that you can find online. There are three antennas on the back of this router.
Ports
This ASUS router houses four LAN ports, along with one WAN port and two USB ports, one each of 2.0 and 3.0, on the back. The dual-USB ports can connect to printers and other smart devices, which can be of use to the open firmware that you might flash on to them.
RAM & Storage
This wireless device is powered by 256MB of RAM and a 1GHz processor and carries a storage space of 128MB. The AsusWrt firmware is preloaded into it, but you can customize that by flashing your own OpenWrt interface if you wish to.
Other Features
The Asus router app is as good as any other application out there. It allows you to perform all the basic tasks such as setting up the router, changing the password, connecting and disconnecting devices, etc. You also get multi-stage protection from Trend Micro along with this router, which makes it very safe to use.
Final Thoughts
All said and done, the AC1900 from Asus is a highly customizable and powerful device, and at the price point that it comes in, this router certainly punches way above its weight.
- Powerful processor
- Excellent coverage
- Doesn’t cost too much
- Suitable for 200 Mbps plan
- Dual USB ports
- Customer support could be improved
4. Best for Office Use: Netgear Nighthawk R7000
If you are into network management, you already know that Netgear is among the most trusted names out there. The Netgear Nighthawk R7000 is one of the best options for you if you are looking forward to flashing OpenWrt firmware on a router.
Speeds & Performance
With this dual-band router, you get a total speed of 1.9Gbps, where the 2.4GHz network carries speeds up to 600mbps while the 5GHz band carries speeds up to 1300mbps. This model can cover a range of about 1800 sq. ft., which is great for most regular households.
Design, Antennas & Ports
The design is also pretty impressive. It features an angular design with three antennas. It looks pretty good as a part of any room.
It comes with four LAN ports and one WAN port on the back. There are two USB ports too that you can use to plug your media and use it as a media streaming server.
Storage
There is 128MB storage space on this wireless router, which allows you to easily flash your own firmware here, including the OpenWrt system. The router itself is pretty secure, and it follows the WPA2 security protocols.
Other Features
This model can connect up to 30 devices and is a good option for anyone who wants to use their internet connection for streaming 4K videos or for gaming purposes. This is also a good option for smart homes with a lot of IoT devices. The router also supports Amazon Alexa, which makes it easy to control with just voice commands.
Installation & App Support
Besides the voice commands, you can also use a mobile app to control and configure the router. One thing that really impressed us was the ease with which I could set up this router. If you are looking for a router that can be installed in just a few taps, this is the perfect product for you.
- QoS for prioritization
- Smart connect feature
- Support over 30 devices
- Netgear Armor security
- Dual USB ports
- Can be voice-controlled with Alexa
- Range could be improved
5. Best With Voice Control: TP-Link Archer A7
The TP-Link AC1750 Archer A7 is an award-winning router and something you must consider if you are on a budget. This router ranks very high for customizations and installing your own firmware. TP-Link provides users with the OpenWrt code as part of their GPL code package, making this an ideal choice if flashing your own firmware is your thing.
Speeds & Performance
With a total speed of up to 1750mbps and individual speeds of 450mbps on the 2.4GHz network and 1300mbps on the 5GHz network, this model offers decent speeds too. It can provide this network to an area of about 2500 sq ft, which is a good fit for most single-story homes.
Design
The Archer A7 is designed to look as generic and unassuming as it could possibly be. If you were to remove the brand logo, you’d probably confuse it with a generic router that your ISP provides you. There are three antennas on the back, along with indicator lights on the front.
Ports
On the back, you get a WAN port along with 4 LAN ports, which can be used to connect your gaming consoles, printers, or other network devices. The device also comes with one USB port at the back, where you can plug in a hard drive to make it a shared media hub in your home.
Features & Installation
Another interesting feature here is that the router supports Amazon Alexa, and you can control a lot of its features by using just your voice. Talking about controlling the router, TP Link’s ‘Tether’ App allows you to control it just in the way you want it, along with some really cool parental control features which make sure your kids are getting a safe internet experience.
Final Thoughts
Lastly, apart from being one of the best wireless routers for OpenWrt users, this is also a great router when it comes to its customer support and warranty. It offers you a two-year warranty period along with great tech support.
- Good parental controls
- Voice control over alexa
- Good coverage of 2500 sq ft
- Easy to install and manage
- Affordable price
- Good customer support
- Not a good fit for multiple floors
6. Best Under $50: TP-Link Archer A6
I am back with yet another award-winning TP-Link router on our list, this one being equally OpenWrt friendly as the AC1750 that I’ve seen above. For anyone wondering, the two major differences are that this offers a lesser bandwidth but has a larger (double) storage space.
Speeds & Performance
This dual-band router from TP-Link supports a total speed of 1200mbps, offering up to 300mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 900mbps on the 5GHz band. It can also cover an area of up to 2500 sq ft.
Ports
For a router that costs under $50, it sports a really fancy design element on top.
The Archer A6 carries 4 LAN ports and 1 WAN port on the back, though what surprises us is the lack of USB ports in it. There are four antennas on this router that ensure maximum coverage.
Other Features
This affordable router supports the MU-MIMO technology, making it a great device for those users who wish to run many devices. There’s an AP mode as well, which makes sharing the internet connection easier. Besides, the app is really great and makes it easy for you to control your router and set guest logins and parental controls.
Another great aspect of TP-Link routers is the customer service you get. No matter what kind of a problem, be it a physical issue or a software glitch, you are assured of high-quality support.
Final Thoughts
The OpenWrt users can easily flash their own firmware on this TP-Link wireless router and make use of its fast speeds and large range to deliver a custom experience to users connected to your network.
- Easy to setup
- Extremely affordable
- Good for streaming
- Good coverage
- MU-MIMO technology
- Good customer support
- No USB ports
7. Best With Pre-Installed OpenWrt: GL.iNet GL-AR750S-Ext
This router from GL-AR750S-Ext is a great choice for you if you are looking forward to buying a quirky, off-beat router that is highly customizable as well as extremely portable. What adds to its charm is that you don’t even have to install OpenWrt as it comes pre-installed here.
Speeds & Performance
This dual-band router provides you a total speed of about 750mbps, with the 2.4GHz band offering speeds up to 300mbps and the 5GHz band taking it up to 433mbps. The company hasn’t really divulged details about their coverage, but based on most reviews, it is good enough for a medium to large-sized home.
Design
Coming straight to the design, this is a compact and portable option with an extremely minimal design.
There are two small antennas on the sides, one WAN and two LAN ports, and one USB port on the back, and indicator lights on the front.
RAM & Storage
The wireless device carries a built-in storage space of 16MB NOR and 128MB NAND flash, but you can add up to another 128GB with the help of a MicroSD card. This gives you sufficient space to install any custom firmware like DD-WRT, Tomato, Gargoyle, etc., and tweak the router as much as you wish to!
Installation & App Support
There’s no mobile application for this router but setting it up is extremely easy by using the web interface. This device is meant more for developers, coders, and techies than for an average home user. This is also a great choice for organizations and hotels that want to customize their internet experience for their users.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, this is the perfect choice for you if you want something that is very customizable or very portable. With a pre-installed OpenWrt/LEDE and a lot of storage space for installing other firmware and applications, this is a great choice indeed.
- Pre-installed OpenWrt/LEDE
- Adequate storage space
- Includes one USB port
- Portable and easy to carry around
- No mobile app support
- Range not specified
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is very safe to install and set up the OpenWrt firmware on your router. In fact, in many cases, it is even safer than your default router firmware. Besides, if you are a techie and know how to tweak your settings, you can customize your OpenWrt router to boost your network’s security needs even more.
OpenWrt routers come at all prices. The cheapest ones begin at somewhere around $35, and they range all the way up to $350 and above. You must set up a budget and then decide which ones fit your needs the best in that range.
Not all routers allow you to customize the existing firmware. While all the names on our list support OpenWrt, the generic router that you get from your ISP might not really support it. Trying to force-install a firmware on an incompatible router might end up rendering the router useless, so be careful while you do it.
At a connection speed of 3.2Gbps and coverage of over 2500 sq. ft., the Linksys WRT3200ACM is the best option for you if you are looking for a high-speed OpenWrt supported router.
Verdict
All said and done, OpenWrt is undoubtedly one of the best third-party firmware to flash on a router. It provides excellent control and security to your home network. By now, you must have found your favorite pick from the list. However, if you’re still confused, let me make it easy for you to find OpenWrt routers:
- If you want a router with enough storage space and top-notch security and customization options for the OpenWrt firmware, I suggest Linksys WRT3200ACM.
- If you’re looking to set up an open-source network at the office or in your large apartment, go for Asus RT-AC68U
- While TP-Link Archer A6 is the cheapest OpenWrt compatible router that you can get your hands on.
I hope that this article helped you find the perfect router for OpenWrt that matches all your needs! Do go through my other recommendations to get the perfect products for all your needs.
