The Best Alternative Firmware for Your Router

We all know that official support for any piece of hardware is a matter of responsibility on the manufacturer's side, but there always comes a point when it decides to pull the curtain and abandon a product (regardless of how well it works) to force the purchase of a new one. Routers are very sensitive to this; however, there is an escape route in the form of alternative firmware. If you think you have a compatible model, don't hesitate to check out our recommendations and bring your router up to date, even if the manufacturer isn't too fond of the idea…

The story goes back to the launch of historic routers like the Linksys WRT54G in 2002. Over time, and thanks to a certain flexibility in the licenses of original firmware, some enthusiasts realized that completely replacing their firmware was a viable option. Today, installing alternative firmware on your router follows two paths: either you want specific features that the manufacturer doesn't offer, or you're looking to improve performance and security after official support has ended.

So, which is the best? In reality, that depends on the hardware you own. The availability of alternative firmware is governed by the main chip each router uses, and sometimes the results are disappointing but with the right model... you have plenty to choose from. Would you like to know more? Then here we go:

AdvancedTomato

One of the many forks based on the original Tomato project, AdvancedTomato makes a greater emphasis on the visual aspect, giving the end user a superior interface without sacrificing advanced features. Port Forward, NAS controls, VPN configuration, bandwidth monitoring… it's all there. AdvancedTomato's support is limited to a total of 29 routers (with a certain preference for Asus, Linksys, and Netgear).

OpenWrt

In essence, the firmware that started it all. The folks at OpenWrt have made a high-profile decision to drop support for routers with 4 MB of flash and 32 MB of RAM. That means all versions after 19.07 will need an 8/64 combination; however, it's always preferable to use a previous build of OpenWrt than to stick with an ancient manufacturer firmware. A positive aspect of OpenWrt is its packages, which allow us to extend the router's functionality. An advanced resource, but no less useful for that.

DD-WRT

Probably the best known of them all (and a personal favorite, I must admit), DD-WRT has developed its own identity and remains one of the most recommended alternative firmwares. Granted, the official page is not a shining example of navigation, and the same can be said for some official guides, but the list of supported routers is impressive. At the end of 2018 we shared an installation tutorial, based on the WRT54G v3.

Gargoyle

In essence, Gargoyle is another variant of OpenWrt, but with different update cycles and a process we could see as more consolidated. An interesting point (especially for parents looking to limit the activity of the little ones in the house) is setting bandwidth limits for specific IP addresses, or blocking access to certain websites. Its hardware support is basically tied to OpenWrt's, and we need to confirm through its documentation that our router has good support.

Is it easy? Not necessarily, since it's impossible to talk about universal tutorials, and each router has "quirks" we have to obey. Are there risks? No doubt about that. The wrong firmware or a misstep during the installation process could lead to a "brick", and recovery procedures are usually tedious. However, we are convinced it's worth the effort. Installing alternative firmware on your router brings many advantages, and nothing stops you from practicing with an old model first to gain confidence. Good luck!