OpenWRT hardware recommendation - available devices 2023
OpenWRT provides a uniform and up-to-date software for different network devices like routers or access points and delivers countless additional setting options, software packages and functions. This makes it possible to combine new and old devices from different manufacturers and, among other things, to use low-cost hardware in a common WiFi, see: Setting up a home network: Extending LAN and WLAN | Improving.
New devices for OpenWrt, not so easy at all
The search for hardware suitable for OpenWrt is anything but simple. The "Table of Hardware" on the OpenWrt page includes around 2000 devices, but very few of them are suitable for use because they are outdated, do not support the current release or certain functions, or are no longer available. After spending some time to find suitable devices and not finding a really good filtered source, I tried to create a list myself. As a basis I used the official OpenWrt device list and filtered it according to the following criteria:
Source is the list from the official OpenWrt page: Table of Hardware: Standard, all devices, this was filtered as follows:
| Version | Devices that support the current OpenWrt version: 22.03.3 (found: 2023-01-10) |
|---|---|
| Installation | Devices where OpenWRT can be installed via the existing web interface. |
| Memory | min. 8MB Flash / 64MB RAM |
| WiFi | support for 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi |
Regarding availability, I looked up the devices on the Amazon site, removed devices that were not listed, and added a link for devices that were found.
I will update the mentioned devices regularly ...
OpenWrt compatible devices
WiFi Router
GL.iNet GL-B1300
Flash: 32 MB
RAM: 256 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (Qualcomm Atheros IPQ4028)
Published on OpenWRT: 2019-11-03
Linksys E8450
Flash: 128NAND MB
RAM: 512 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac/ax (MediaTek MT7622BV, MediaTek MT7915E)
Published on OpenWRT: 2021-03-02
WiFi 6 Router. Same Hardware as Belkin RT3200. Installation have to be done in 2 steps, see: github.com/dangowrt/owrt-ubi-installer
Cudy X6
Flash: 32 MB
RAM: 256 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n/ax; 5G a/n/ac/ax (MediaTek MT7915E)
Customized OpenWrt version: Installation via a download from the manufacturer: www.cudytech.com/openwrt_software_download
Linksys EA7300 v1 v2
Flash: 128NAND MB /
RAM: 256 MB /
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (MediaTek MT7615N)
Published on OpenWRT: 2020-10-12
Hint: SSH-Command necessary after installation so that the router always boots from OpenWRT.
Source / DevicePage for Linksys EA7300 / Source / DevicePage for Linksys EA7300 v2
Linksys E5600 v1
Flash: 128NAND MB
RAM: 128 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (MediaTek MT7603, MediaTek MT7613E)
Published on OpenWRT: 2021-06-06
NETGEAR R6350
Flash: 128NAND MB
RAM: 128 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (MediaTek MT7603E, MediaTek MT7615)
Published on OpenWRT: 2019-09-02
NETGEAR WNDR3700 v5
Flash: 16 MB
RAM: 128 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (MediaTek MT7603EN, MediaTek MT7612EN)
Published on OpenWRT: 2014-11-06
Attention only 1 CPU core, see: NAT performance
TP-Link Archer A7 v5
Flash: 16 MB
RAM: 128 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (Qualcomm Atheros QCA9563, Qualcomm Atheros QCA9880)
Published on OpenWRT: 2019-11-03
The device is identical to TP-Link Archer C7.
Attention only 1 CPU core, see: NAT performance
GL.iNet GL-X750 (Spitz)
Flash: 16, microSDXC MB
RAM: 128 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (Qualcomm Atheros QCA9531, Qualcomm Atheros QCA9887)
Published on OpenWRT: 2020-07-10
Attention only 1 CPU core, see: NAT performance
WiFi AP
D-Link DAP-2610 A1
Flash: 16 MB
RAM: 256 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (Qualcomm IPQ4018)
Published on OpenWRT: 2020-03-31
NETGEAR WAC124
Flash: 128NAND MB
RAM: 128 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (MediaTek MT7603, MediaTek MT7615)
Published on OpenWRT: 2020-06-27
NETGEAR WAC104
Flash: 128NAND MB
RAM: 128 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (MediaTek MT7603EN, MediaTek MT7612EN)
Published on OpenWRT: 2020-06-15
Range Extender
NETGEAR EX6150 v2 v1
Flash: 16 MB /
RAM: 256 MB / 64 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (Qualcomm Atheros IPQ4018)
Source / DevicePage for NETGEAR EX6150 / Source / DevicePage for NETGEAR EX6150 v1
TP-Link RE650 v1 v2
Flash: 16 MB / 8 MB
RAM: 128 MB /
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (MediaTek MT7615E)
Published on OpenWRT: 2022-04-09
Attention only 8MB Flash, Future updates may be limited, GUI may have to be activated via SSH after the update.
Source / DevicePage for TP-Link RE650 / Source / DevicePage for TP-Link RE650 v2
NETGEAR EX3700
Flash: 8 MB
RAM: 64 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (MediaTek MT7612E, MediaTek MT7620A)
Published on OpenWRT: 2018-06-23
Attention only 8MB Flash, Future updates may be limited, GUI may have to be activated via SSH after the update.
Travel Router
GL.iNet GL-AR750S v1
Flash: 128NAND, 16, microSDXC MB
RAM: 128 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (Qualcomm Atheros QCA9563, Qualcomm Atheros QCA9887)
Published on OpenWRT: 2018-08-23
GL.iNet GL-AR750
Flash: 16 MB
RAM: 128 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (Qualcomm Atheros QCA9531, Qualcomm Atheros QCA9887)
Published on OpenWRT: 2018-04-18
Modem
GL.iNet GL-E750 v1
Flash: 128NAND MB
RAM: 128 MB
WiFi: 2,4G b/g/n; 5G a/n/ac (Qualcomm Atheros QCA9531, Qualcomm Atheros QCA9887)
Published on OpenWRT: 2021-12-16
Before installation, please read the Device Page of the respective device.
Before installing OpenWrt on a device, please read the Device Page of the respective device thoroughly and follow any instructions!
Use as router and NAT performance
When used as a router, a device with multiple CPU cores should be used for Internet bandwidths greater than 300MBit, see: openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/archer-c5-c7-wdr7500.
Conclusion
It can take some time until a device is listed with the current "stable version" of OpenWrt. Accordingly, the listed devices have usually been on the market for some time, which is not necessarily a disadvantage: Thanks to OpenWrt, the devices get up-to-date, mature software and usually updates for a very long time and are sometimes somewhat cheaper than a newer model, see also: Alternative router firmware: OpenWrt and no longer DD-WRT. A WiFi router with additional access points could be used to set up a home network. All devices listed here could be used as additional access points: WiFi router, Wifi AP or range extender by configuring this as an access point. The connection between the router and additional access points ideally takes place via LAN cables, see: Set up network for home: Expand and improve your LAN / WiFi.
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