Free Wireless Access Point Software

This is a list of router and firewall distributions, which are operating systems designed for use as routers and/or firewalls.

Wireless Access Points
Free Wireless Access Point Software Reviews
Home Wireless Access Points

Download this app from Microsoft Store for Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows 10 Team (Surface Hub). See screenshots, read the latest customer reviews, and compare ratings for Wifi Direct Access Point.
Give your customers the flexibility and extra mobility with Wireless Internet Access MyHotspot is a professional Wireless LAN software solution for providing internet access to your customers. Customers will be redirected to your login page to authenticate with user account or a prepaid-code before getting the Internet access.

Name	Status	Type	Architecture	Min hardware requirements	License	Cost	Description
Alpine Linux	Active	Linux distribution	x86, x86-64, ARM	Open source	Free	Linux distribution running from a RAM drive. Its original target was small appliances like routers, VPN gateways, or embedded x86 devices. However, it supports hosting other Linux guest OSes under LXC control, making it an attractive hosting solution as well. Uses Busybox and musl.
ClearOS	Active	Red Hat Enterprise Linux derivative	x86, x86-64	GPL and others	Free or paid registration	Router and firewall for SMBs with network, gateway and server modules accessed through WebConfig. A paid registration for extra online services is available, but not necessary for operation of the product.
Cumulus Linux	Active	Debian derivative	?	Free with registration, or paid subscription.	Open source Linux based networking operating system for bare metal switches.
DD-WRT	Active	Linux distribution	MIPS, x86, ARM	?	Free or paid registration for x86	Embedded Linux firmware distribution available on a variety of wireless routers.
Endian Firewall	Active	Linux distribution	x86-64	?	Free (PC) or hardware version	UTM distribution with routing, firewall, anti-spam and anti-virus for web, FTP and e-mail, OpenVPN, IPsec, captive portal functionality, and captive portal (missing in community version). Endian Firewall Community (EFW) is a complete version for x86. The anti-virus for EFW is Sophos or ClamAV. The intrusion protection is Snort.
fli4l	Active	Linux distribution	x86, x86-64	GPL (Free software)	Free	Linux-based router project supporting a large set of layer-1 technologies (e.g. Ethernet LAN, Wireless LAN, ISDN, DSL, UMTS), layer-3 protocols and functionality (IPv4, IPv6, stateful packet filter), and various network-related functionality (e.g. Bridging, Bonding, VLANs; DNS, DHCPv4, DHCPv6, IPv6 RA; PPP (client+server), PPTP (client+server), Multilink PPP, OpenVPN, 6in4 tunneling; support for various DynDNS clients, NTP time synchronization). It is easily extendable by a large number of additional packages.
floppyfw	Unmaintained	Linux distribution	x86	?	Free	Single-floppy router with Linux's advanced firewall capabilities.
Global Technology Associates, Inc.	Discontinued	FreeBSD derivative	x86	?	Free (limited functionality) or paid	GB-OS firewall and UTM appliance.
IPFire	Active	Linux distribution	x86, x86-64, ARM	RAM : 1 GB Storage : 4 GB	GPLv3	Free	IPFire is a hardened Open Source Linux distribution that primarily performs as a Router and a Firewall; a standalone firewall system with a web-based management console for configuration.
Kerio Control	Active	Linux	x86-64	Proprietary	Paid hardware or virtual appliance	Router/firewall distribution.
LEAF Project	Active	Linux distribution	x86	?	Free	linux Embedded Appliance Framework; a customizable embedded Linux network appliance used as an Internet gateway, router, firewall, and wireless access point.
m0n0wall	Discontinued	FreeBSD derivative	x86	?	Free	Development ended 2015-02-15. Small web-administrative router/firewall/VPN (IPsec/PPTP only; no OpenVPN) distribution. m0n0wall was forked to smallwall.org shortly after Manuel Kasper announced end of development for m0n0wall.
Openwall	Active	Linux	x86, x86-64	?	Free	GNU/*/Linux (or Owl for short) is a small security-enhanced Linux distribution for servers, appliances, and virtual appliances.
OpenWrt	Active	Linux	x86, x86-64, MIPS, ARM, PowerPC, AVR32, CRIS, m68k, SPARC, SuperH, Ubicom32, etc.	GPL V2	Free	Niche Linux distribution with a focus on CPE-routers and similar embedded devices. Its comprehensive build system is based upon a heavily modified uClibc#Buildroot and suitable for embedded systems in general.
OPNsense	Active	FreeBSD derivative, fork of pfSense	i386 and x86-64	BSD	Free or paid	Forward caching proxy, traffic shaping, intrusion detection, two-factor authentication and OpenVPN^[1]
pfSense	Active	FreeBSD derivative, fork of m0n0wall	x86, x86-64	Apache	Free or paid	Customized distribution tailored for use as a firewall, router, DHCP server, gateway, OpenVPN, IPsec, proxy and anti-virus (Snort).
securityrouter.org	Active	OpenBSD derivative	x86-64	Proprietary	Free (limited functionality) or paid	OpenBSD-based router/firewall with web UI, read-only filesystem and atomic configuration style.^[2]
SME Server	Active	CentOS derivative	x86, x86-64	?	Free	Router/firewall^{[citation needed]} and web-, file-, email- and database server distribution based on CentOS.
Smoothwall	Active (Closed Source)	Linux distribution	x86	Closed & Open source licences	Free or paid	Router/firewall distribution with a web interface and light terminal.
Sophos	Active	Linux derivative	x86, x86-64	?	Free, Paid or hardware/virtual appliance	UTM - offers free home use for up to 50 clients. Provides HTTP/S web filtering, spam filtering, antivirus (web and email), VPN (PPTP and a HTML5 agentless VPN) and Point-to-point links between UTM and other devices via IPSec and SSL-VPN. Formerly Astaro Security Gateway.^[3]
Tomato Firmware	Active	Linux distribution	Broadcom only: MIPS, ARM	?	Free	Free HyperWRT-based, Linux core firmware distribution for many Broadcom-based wireless routers, originally Linksys WRT54G. Now being ported to ARM-based consumer routers.^[4]
Untangle	Active	Debian derivative	x86, x86-64	?	Free with paid add-ons	GPLv2 firewall and router that runs 13 paid and 13 free open source applications including spam blocker, virus blocker, web filter, OpenVPN, IPsec, protocol control and more.
Vyatta	Active	Linux distribution	x86, x86-64	?	Paid	Enterprise-class router, firewall, VPN, intrusion protection and more delivered as a complete network operating system that runs on x86 hardware or in XenServer, VMware or Hyper-V to provide vFirewall, vRouter network virtualization functionality.
VyOS	Active	Linux distribution	x86, x86-64	RAM : 512MB Storage : 2GB (recommended)	GPL v2	Free 'snapshot' builds or self-compiled. Stable builds require subscription	Based on Vyatta. After Brocade halted development of Vyatta CE (free edition) in favor of the subscription edition, this project aims to keep open source development going. But have switched to a paid subscription model too.
Windows RRAS	Active	Windows add-in feature	x86, x86-64	?	Requires prerequisite Windows OS license	Windows Routing and Remote Access Service is a feature that can be installed on Windows (mainly server) Operating Systems, and can perform routing functions, NAT, and implement firewall rules.
Zentyal (formerly eBox Platform)	Active	Ubuntu derivative	x86, x86-64	Open source	Free with paid services available	Zentyal is an open-source router/firewall and small business server.
Zeroshell	Active	Linux distribution	x86, ARM	GPL V2	Free (contribution required for some graphing functions)	Web-administrative router/firewall live CD with QoS features. It is also able to act as a Wi-Fi access point with advanced features such as the multiple SSID and 802.1x RADIUS authentication. Zeroshell supports VLAN trunking (802.1q), bridging, WAN load balancing, and fail-over features.

References[edit]

Most wireless access points are designed to be set up in one of three locations: Ceiling- and wall-mounted wireless access points are typically the size of a smoke detector, and ideal for covering entire rooms. Keep in mind that wherever you mount your wireless access point, it will need both power and, ideally, a wired internet connection. Expand your wireless network with the Linksys Dual Band 1200AC and 1750AC Access Points featuring next-generation AC technology. With data rates nearly 3x faster than the previous 802.11n standard,. they extend your wireless signal and improve throughput for increased productivity.

^'DistroWatch.com: OPNsense'. DistroWatch. November 21, 2017.
^'securityrouter.org, an OpenBSD-based firewall'. securityrouter.org. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
^'Next-Gen Firewall | Network UTM Firewall Appliances | Sophos NGFW'. Sophos.com. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
^'Tomato for ARM routers'. Linksysinfo.org. Retrieved 2015-07-31.

Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_router_and_firewall_distributions&oldid=913952323'

You're in the middle of a city park. You're at a rest stop on the side of the road, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Or maybe you're simply in your living room. You turn on your computer and have instant, secure access to the Internet without requiring any network cables or log-ins -- or even any payment to an ISP.

Yeah, right.

Ubiquitous, free, and safe Internet access is a long, long way off, and many skeptics believe such a day will never arrive. The glass-half-full among us will point out that the number of people within range of free, secure Internet connections increases every day.

Here's a quick look at the free tools and services designed to help us find and sign into secure wireless access points.

Free tools and services identify networks near and far
Nearly every portable computer and smart phone automatically finds and identifies wireless portals within range of the device. When you sign into a hot spot you'll likely be offered the option to sign into the location automatically the next time you're nearby. An icon on screen indicates the strength of the connection, usually by displaying a number of bars.

Free programs such as MetaGeek's inSSIDer for Windows and iStumbler.net's iStumbler for Macs provide more information about the wireless networks they detect and also offer tools for troubleshooting and otherwise managing a wireless network connection.

You can find a free Wi-Fi access point near a location you're planning to visit by using one of the many hot-spot locator services. For breadth of coverage you'd be hard pressed to find a locator serving up more hot spots over a broader area than JiWire's Global Wi-Fi Finder. The site lists hundreds of thousands of free and fee-based wireless access points in 145 countries.

Wireless Access Points

Enter a city or ZIP code in the site's search box or click its zoomable map to view available hot spots. You can search for locations by name or address, by location type (such as cafe, library, or government office), and by provider. Searches can be narrowed by free or fee-based sites, and by proximity; the search results can be viewed on a map or in a list. JiWire lets you register a new Wi-Fi location, license its Wi-Fi database, and download its free Wi-Fi Finder app for iPhone and iPod Touch.

The Wi-Fi FreeSpot Directory is organized by state and by one of six international regions: Europe; Canada; Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America; the Middle East and Africa; Asia; and Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Entries for each state are listed alphabetically by city with address/location and telephone number. Many of the listings link to the establishment's site.

The directory lets you complete a form to add a new Wi-Fi location. It also provides a Wi-Fi FAQ and blog, but the site lists fewer locations than JiWire's Wi-Fi Finder, and it doesn't let you view the hot spots on a map. The Wi-Fi FreeSpot site is also less polished than JiWire's service: in addition to a number of typos in the Wi-Fi FreeSpot listings, it isn't always clear what is an ad and what is the site's own content.

Brighthouse Networks, Optimum, Time Warner Cable, and Xfinity have collaborated to create the Cable WiFi service that allows each ISP's customers to access the wireless access points offered by the other companies in 'select U.S. markets.' To find out whether your market is selected, visit your ISP's Wi-Fi locator: Brighthouse, Cox, Optimum, Time Warner Cable, and Xfinity.

AT&T customers can use the company's Wi-Fi Locator to view available hot spots on a zoomable map. Enter an address, ZIP code, country, or landmark in the site's search box to view the hot-spot locations on a map keyed to listings that include the name, address, and network ID (SSID). The listings also feature links to get directions to the site, to send the address via e-mail or text message, and to view details about the hot spot.

Just because you're unable to find a free Wi-Fi access point for your location in these services' listings doesn't mean you're out of luck. As more businesses and organizations provide public hot spots, the number of areas not covered continues to shrink. The Apartment Therapy site recently described '12 Places You Didn't Know Had Free Wi-Fi.'

Not all of the categories of hot-spot providers the site lists are big surprises: bookstores and fast-food restaurants have been offering their customers free wireless Internet access for some time. But parks, buses, museums, and yoga studios aren't necessarily noted for being Wi-Fi-friendly.

When 'free' wireless access isn't
It isn't unusual for vendors of all types to throw around the term 'free' when describing their products and services that are anything but. NetZero and FreedomPop claim to provide free Wi-Fi access.

The asterisk on the NetZero site specifies that the company's '[f]ree data plan comes with 200MB of data per month and requires the purchase of a NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband device. Access to the Free plan from a specific device expires (and may not be renewed) twelve (12) months from the date of initial registration, or upon upgrading to a paid plan.' NetZero's 4G USB modem costs $50, and its 4G Hotspot costs $100.

Similarly, FreedomPop's free 4G service requires that you purchase an access device for $39 for a USB stick (normally $49) or $89 for a portable 4G hot spot (normally $99). The company's 'free' service allows up to 500MB of data transfers per month, which is a step up from the 200MB of data transfers offered by NetZero's 'free' plan. However, both companies are counting on customers upgrading to a plan that charges a monthly fee.

Municipal wireless networks grow at a snail's pace
You may be one of the lucky wireless-network users within range of a free municipal wireless network, likely created through a public-private partnership. Political, social, and economic questions aside, implementation and management of such citywide networks pose considerable technical hurdles.

Perhaps the most comprehensive list of municipal wireless networks currently in operation and planned is available in Wikipedia's municipal wireless network page. As with most Wikipedia entries, the list is far from exhaustive. For example, my hometown of Santa Rosa, Calif., provides free Wi-Fi access in large swathes of the city center and other locations. Check your local government's Web site for information about free wireless-network services.

Taking the community approach to free Wi-Fi access
When you consider the great number of Wi-Fi routers sold in recent years you would think the challenge would be finding a location that wasn't covered by somebody's wireless network. It isn't uncommon for city dwellers to rely on their neighbors' unsecured Wi-Fi access points as their unofficial Internet providers.

I don't recommend doing so because to me sneaking onto a neighbor's network is a form of trespassing. (Of course, if you ask your neighbor for permission to do so and they're cool with it, then no problemo.)

Several services attempt to consolidate open wireless access points into a nationwide and even worldwide network. The Open Wireless Movement is supported by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and other leading open-Internet supporters. Wireless-network owners are invited to open all or part of their network to the public.

The group claims that most wireless bandwidth is squandered, that opening your network doesn't necessarily create a security risk, and that wireless routers with a 'guest network' feature won't experience a performance hit as a result of allowing others to use the network.

The benefits of near-ubiquitous, free wireless Internet access more than compensate for any risks associated with operating an open wireless network, according to Open Wireless. Such an open network would enhance user privacy because people wouldn't have to rely on their smartphones as much, so their wireless carriers won't be able to track their location and activities. The organization also cites improved emergency services, economic benefits, and enhanced Internet access for poor people.

Shareair.net takes a similar approach by allowing wireless-network operators to register their network with the service, which provides maps plotting the location of open networks in countries around the world. Hover over a network location to view its name, a star rating, and how long ago the site was added to the Shareair.net database.

Whenever you use an unsecured, open wireless network it is imperative that you take precautions. In a post from February 2011 I described the free, OpenVPN-based SecurityKiss service that creates a secure tunnel when you connect to an unsecured network.

One of the tips in 'How to secure your PC in 10 easy steps' from November 2011 explains how to use the Electronic Frontier Foundation's free HTTPS Everywhere browser add-on to encrypt your network connection.

Skip the Wi-Fi and try a tether
Rather than spend your time hunting around for a free Wi-Fi connection, you might find the fastest and simplest way to get your laptop online is by tethering your smart phone's data link. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon explain how to tether their devices, although doing so may require an additional fee (unless you're a Verizon customer, as mentioned below).