There may be a bigger learning curve for digging into OpenWrt's features, but it's worth it if your router supports it to stay current. DD-WRT is archaic in some of its design and doesn't seem to be on its way to an updated interface anytime soon. OpenWrt is essentially the modern choice outside of Tomato. That's not to say DD-WRT isn't updated, but because of how much its list of supported routers is stratified with different versions, it's not as consistent as OpenWrt. In a lot of ways, OpenWrt has moved ahead of DD-WRT in recognizing that constant updates can make for a more promising firmware. Keep that in mind if you're about to dedicate your router to one of them. That said, it's a long list, but shorter than DD-WRT. On the other hand, OpenWrt has a more curated list. It's ubiquitous enough to be supported on a list of routers. Even if you have a router from almost 10 years ago, chances are that DD-WRT will probably work on it in some fashion. But where the comparison gets murky is the compatibility.ĭD-WRT will work on what feels like any Wi-Fi router. You download the firmware and flash it onto your router. Both custom firmware are pretty simple to install.

One of those is the first step in everyone's custom router firmware journey: installation. It's tricky to compare DD-WRT versus OpenWrt for a variety of reasons. If you have very particular needs and happen to have a supported router, then OpenWrt is a better choice overall. For most people who aren't buying a router for the specific purpose of having a custom firmware, DD-WRT is the way to go. Both custom router firmware offer a lot of features that make it hard to choose between them.

The battle between DD-WRT and OpenWrt is a close one. Doesn't support as many routers as the competition.

Can be tricky to use for less advanced users.

Dd wrt firmware