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OpenWISP
What it is
OpenWISP is a free, open-source network management solution built on Linux OpenWrt for deploying, configuring, monitoring, and maintaining networks. Reusable templates, tags, group templates, and dynamic variables support settings across devices, groups, and organizations. It can generate VPN configurations and cryptographic keys or X.509 certificates for WireGuard, OpenVPN, and ZeroTier. Monitoring includes ping success, round-trip time, Wi-Fi clients, mobile signal quality, traffic patterns, and access technology. Firmware upgrades can run on individual devices or in batches. The RADIUS module supports SMS verification, user imports and generation, social login, SAML single sign-on, session limits, Change of Authorization, and a REST API. Hotspot deployments can use captive portals for registration, authentication, social or phone verification, and paid subscriptions. OpenWISP supports API, Linux, self-hosted, and web environments in a hybrid deployment model. The FAQ recommends the OpenWISP Ansible role for installation and says compatible hardware can include OpenWrt devices plus some non-OpenWrt equipment through SSH, SNMP, or APIs.
For and against
For
- Free open-source software
- Reusable configuration templates
- Generates WireGuard, OpenVPN, and ZeroTier settings
- Batch firmware upgrades
- RADIUS and captive portal tools
Against
- May not fit networks under 20 devices
- Requires IT or OpenWrt familiarity
- Non-OpenWrt devices may need feature adaptation
- Commercial support excludes third-party extension support
The verdict
OpenWISP combines network configuration, monitoring, access control, hotspot management, and firmware operations. Its fit depends on network scale, OpenWrt knowledge, and whether the available deployment and support model match your team.
Who it suits
It suits small teams managing large networks, hotspot and municipal Wi-Fi operators, and organizations familiar with OpenWrt. Networks with fewer than 20 devices or teams without IT expertise may be a poor fit.
Plans and prices
GitHub sponsorship
Accessible to anyone
Read 8 Oct 2026 · openwisp.org
Platinum Sponsorship
8 hours of support · logo placement · community acknowledgment · quarterly insights and analytics
Read 8 Oct 2026 · openwisp.org
On the record
- Configuration
- Reusable templates, tags, group templates, and dynamic variables support device, group, and organization configurations.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Firmware
- The firmware upgrader supports individual and batch device upgrades.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Hardware
- The FAQ says OpenWISP can control any OpenWrt-compatible hardware and can also work with non-OpenWrt devices using protocols such as SSH, SNMP, and APIs, with some feature adaptation.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Hotspots
- Hotspot deployments can use captive portals for registration, authentication, social login, phone verification, and paid subscriptions.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The FAQ recommends installing OpenWISP with the OpenWISP Ansible role.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Monitoring
- Monitoring includes metrics such as ping success, round-trip time, Wi-Fi clients, mobile signal quality, traffic patterns, and access technology.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Network access
- The RADIUS module supports SMS verification, user imports and generation, social login, SAML single sign-on, session limits, Change of Authorization, and a REST API.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OpenWISP is an open-source solution built on Linux OpenWrt for network deployment, monitoring, and management.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- The deployment page describes secure-by-default configurations and automated SSL certificate management for its cloud-ready professional images.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- Commercial support offers deployment and maintenance, proactive monitoring, expert assistance, and encrypted nightly backups with restoration.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support limits
- Commercial support excludes code training and support for third-party OpenWISP extensions.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- VPNs
- OpenWISP can generate configurations and cryptographic keys or X.509 certificates for WireGuard, OpenVPN, and ZeroTier.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Who it suits
- The FAQ describes OpenWISP as suited to small teams managing large networks, hotspot and municipal Wi-Fi operators, and organizations familiar with OpenWrt; it may be a poor fit for networks with fewer than 20 devices or organizations without IT expertise.openwisp.org · read 8 Oct 2026
