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Networking · head to head

Domotz vs OpenWrt

Domotz logo

Domotz

Networking

Network monitoring for MSPs and IT teams priced per managed device or per collector, with published rates

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenWrt logo

OpenWrt

Operating Systems

Linux firmware replacement for routers and embedded network devices, with a package manager and writable filesystem

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenWrt has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Domotz the Managed Device Plan bills in bundles of ten, so a network with, for example, eleven devices to manage pays for twenty rather than a precise count; OpenWrt support is per device and per hardware revision, so a model number that worked last year may point at a different chipset this year and be unsupported.
  • They diverge on capability: Domotz covers Device discovery and monitoring, OpenWrt covers Package manager.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Domotz and OpenWrt actually diverge.

Attributes where Domotz and OpenWrt differ
AttributeDomotzOpenWrt
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer collector or per managed device per monthOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidRouters, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gateways
CategoryNetworkingOperating Systems

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Domotz

  • Device discovery and monitoring
  • Remote access without VPN
  • Two published pricing models
  • Automated alerting
  • MSP client segregation

Only in OpenWrt

  • Package manager
  • LuCI web interface
  • Traffic shaping
  • VPN and DNS
  • VLAN and multi-network
  • OpenWrt One

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Domotz

  • An MSP with high device density per client site wanting predictable flat pricing per collector rather than counting individual devicesnot OpenWrt
  • An IT integrator managing many small sites with few devices each, better served by per-device pricing than a flat collector feenot OpenWrt
  • A field services or retail IT team needing remote access to branch equipment without configuring VPN tunnels to each sitenot OpenWrt
  • A team wanting a directly comparable public price against Auvik before starting a sales conversation with either vendornot OpenWrt

OpenWrt

  • Extending the useful life of an ISP-supplied router that has stopped receiving security updatesnot Domotz
  • Separating guest, IoT and work devices onto VLANs on hardware that does not offer it nativelynot Domotz
  • Running WireGuard, ad blocking or DNS over TLS at the edge rather than configuring every clientnot Domotz
  • Building small industrial or retail gateways where a full Linux distribution is too heavynot Domotz

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Domotz

  • The Managed Device Plan bills in bundles of ten, so a network with, for example, eleven devices to manage pays for twenty rather than a precise count
  • The Collector Plan gives full access per collector regardless of device count monitored by that collector, which can be inefficient for a site with very few devices relative to the flat $35 fee
  • As a SaaS platform, ongoing monitoring depends on the local Collector maintaining connectivity to Domotz's cloud, so a site-level outage that also cuts collector connectivity limits remote visibility exactly when it is needed
  • Feature depth for large enterprise NOC-style operations is narrower than platforms built for that scale, since Domotz's roadmap centres on MSP and integrator use cases
  • Remote access without VPN configuration is convenient but depends on Domotz's own relay infrastructure remaining available and trusted, which is a different security posture than a customer-controlled VPN
  • Volume and annual discounts exist but the specific discount schedule is not fully published, so very large deployments still benefit from negotiating directly rather than relying on the list price

OpenWrt

  • Support is per device and per hardware revision, so a model number that worked last year may point at a different chipset this year and be unsupported.
  • Flashing can brick a device permanently, and on hardware without a serial console or a recovery bootloader there is no way back.
  • Devices with 4MB or 8MB of flash have been dropped from recent releases, so a lot of older hardware is stuck on unsupported versions with known vulnerabilities.
  • Hardware acceleration for NAT and routing depends on vendor drivers, and enabling traffic shaping frequently cuts a gigabit connection to a fraction of its rated throughput.
  • A sysupgrade keeps your configuration but not your installed packages, so every release upgrade is followed by reinstalling and reconfiguring add-ons by hand.

Pricing, plan by plan

Domotz

On request
  • Collector Plan$35/month
    • Full platform access on every device that collector monitors
  • Managed Device Plan$1.5/month
    • Billed in bundles of 10 devices
    • All non-managed devices on the network discovered at no extra cost

OpenWrt

Free
  • OpenWrtFree
    • No licence fee for any device count
    • All packages from the official feeds
    • Community support via forum and wiki

Which should you pick?

Choose Domotz if

  • You need device discovery and monitoring.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want remote access without vpn.
Domotz review

Choose OpenWrt if

  • You need package manager.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Routers, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gateways.
  • You also want luci web interface.
OpenWrt review

Questions people ask

Is Domotz or OpenWrt better?
Neither clearly leads. Domotz starts at On request and OpenWrt at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Domotz or OpenWrt?
OpenWrt has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Domotz and Free for OpenWrt.
Does Domotz or OpenWrt run on more platforms?
Domotz runs on Web, iOS, Android. OpenWrt runs on Routers, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gateways.
Can I use OpenWrt for free?
Yes. OpenWrt has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Domotz starts at On request.
What is Domotz best used for?
Domotz is most often used for an msp with high device density per client site wanting predictable flat pricing per collector rather than counting individual devices, an it integrator managing many small sites with few devices each, better served by per-device pricing than a flat collector fee, a field services or retail it team needing remote access to branch equipment without configuring vpn tunnels to each site, a team wanting a directly comparable public price against auvik before starting a sales conversation with either vendor. Of those, an msp with high device density per client site wanting predictable flat pricing per collector rather than counting individual devices and an it integrator managing many small sites with few devices each, better served by per-device pricing than a flat collector fee are not what OpenWrt is typically brought in for.
What can Domotz do that OpenWrt cannot?
Domotz covers Device discovery and monitoring, Remote access without VPN, Two published pricing models, Automated alerting. OpenWrt covers Package manager, LuCI web interface, Traffic shaping, VPN and DNS.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Domotz: Is pricing based on networks, sites or devices?

Devices. Domotz states explicitly there are no per-site, per-network or per-user charges.

OpenWrt: How do I know my router is supported?

Check the Table of Hardware for your exact model and revision before buying or flashing. Do not assume that a supported model number means a supported unit; manufacturers change chipsets within a model.

Domotz: What is the difference between the two plans?

The Collector Plan is a flat $35/month per collector with full access to everything that collector monitors; the Managed Device Plan is $1.50/month per device, billed in bundles of ten.

OpenWrt: Is the OpenWrt One worth buying over a used router?

If you are evaluating OpenWrt rather than rescuing hardware you own, yes. It is supported by definition, has an unbrickable boot arrangement, and part of the price funds the project.

Domotz: Is there a free trial?

Yes, a 14-day free trial is offered.

OpenWrt: Will flashing void my warranty?

Almost always, and it may also break the ISP remote management your provider relies on for support. Keep the stock firmware image before you start.

OpenWrt: Is opkg still the package manager?

It is in the current stable releases, but development has moved towards apk, so expect package tooling and command syntax to change at the next major release.

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