Every time I mention that you don't really need custom router firmware anymore, someone reminds me that OpenWrt is still going strong. While Broadcom refuses to open up its Wi-Fi drivers for use, Mediatek and Qualcomm are still supporting open source developers (but in differing ways), and several manufacturers are using reskinned versions of OpenWrt for their routers.

And really, I should know this. I first used OpenWrt on a Linksys WRT54G fifteen years ago, and I've used it on multiple routers with Atheros-based chipsets since. GL.iNet uses a reskinned OpenWrt on its travel routers, and I have several that I absolutely love. And with DD-WRT and its derivatives all but disappearing as chipset support dwindles, OpenWrt is almost the only way to rescue an old router from becoming e-waste.

Custom router firmware never really went away

It just got a little harder to write as manufacturers used closed-source Wi-Fi radios

Routers are one of the most unappreciated computers in your home. I mean, think of all the packets of data that it shepherds between your devices and the internet all day, every day, without missing a beat. The problem isn't the hardware — most of the time — it's the manufacturer deciding to cut support, leaving you with a device getting no new security updates or other features.

Even calling it custom firmware is a disservice, because it's a full-fledged operating system, usually based on Linux or OpenBSD. But it wasn't always as accessible. When OpenWrt first launched in 2004, consumer routers were artificially limited in scope, with advanced features like Quality of Service available only on enterprise hardware.

Nowadays, we have many router operating systems to choose from (and I'm sure I'm missing a few here):

Each of these builds on the kernel in different ways, but most are focused on wired-only connectivity, and that's one of the things OpenWrt does differently.

What OpenWrt gives you over the manufacturer's firmware

Thanks to collaborative efforts with MediaTek and Qualcomm, OpenWrt has solid Wi-Fi 6 support and has been working hard to make Wi-Fi 7 stable and fully featured. That's not the best feature either: long-term device support. This can make that old $30 router viable for home or home lab use for a decade, keeping it secure and stable throughout.

On top of that, it is fully GPL-compliant, with an open-source codebase that is developed in full view of the community. It's one of the only options that has stuck to the ethos under which custom router firmware was first developed.

OpenWrt

Old routers can still be very useful

One person's trash is another's treasure

I might need to clarify that OpenWrt is good for plenty of old devices, not just routers. Over the decades, it has gained support for x86 mini-PCs, Arm-based SBCs, and ex-enterprise hardware, making it the first point for many when they want to salvage old hardware.

And you won't lose functionality with older hardware. While it can't magically make a Wi-Fi 5 radio into a newer version, you get a full package manager in opkg, with hundreds of tools spanning the breadth of ad-blocking to traffic shaping, privacy, and more. Those are features your router's stock firmware might never ever get, because when everything is a line item in a budget, manufacturers have less incentive to add features to older hardware.

OpenWrt has its own hardware too

The OpenWrt One is a barebones router that was developed in partnership with Banana Pi, and comes with OpenWrt preinstalled. It's got 1GB of DDR4, 256MB of storage, a 16MB flash chip, a 1GbE port, and a 2.5GbE port. It's also got Wi-Fi 6 with three detachable antennas, and a rarity: full schematics and datasheets in case you want to make your own.

Some routers already run OpenWrt

GL.iNet uses OpenWrt under the hood to power its home and travel routers. These are fantastic devices with tons of features and a mobile app for management that makes things easier, and the company has really put some thought into the user experience. Being able to turn into a Wi-Fi repeater for better access to hotel Wi-Fi is awesome and comes with security benefits, as all your traffic passes through hardware you control first.

OpenWrt makes treasure out of that router you thought was trash

OpenWrt has been rescuing old routers from the scrap heap for two decades now, and shows no signs of stopping. And since they're a member of the Software Freedom Conservancy, I don't expect they'll be going anywhere. It'll turn your compatible routers into a much more capable device, whether you want to use it as an access point or as the main router for your network.