Best MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) Alternatives in 2026
The top MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) alternatives are Arista CloudEOS, Juniper vMX and Nokia Virtualized Service Router: 15 virtual routers software our editors would look at instead of MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR), in our ranking order.
MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR): A perpetual-license virtual RouterOS with extensive routing, VPN, firewall and cloud options. Where it falls short: free tier limits upload to 1 mbps per interface.
Switching from MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR)? For most virtual routers software buyers the best MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) alternative is Arista CloudEOS, built for teams seeking an established cloud virtual router. VyOS has a free plan. Juniper vMX offers the most max throughput (100 Mbps).
Why People Look for a MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) Alternative
- Free tier limits upload to 1 Mbps per interface
- Deployment requires importing or launching a virtual machine image
- Throughput depends on the selected speed tier and license
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallArista CloudEOS9.2
Teams seeking an established cloud virtual router
Visit Arista CloudEOS - Best free optionVyOS8.7
Has a free plan
Visit VyOS - Most max throughputJuniper vMX9.0
100 Mbps
Visit Juniper vMX
All 15 MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forTeams seeking an established cloud virtual router
- Better than MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR):
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.9
A cloud-ready virtual router for enterprise WAN, VPN, and multi-cloud routing.
- VPN support
- High availability
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Arista -
Best forService providers needing Junos virtual routing
- Better than MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR):
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.9
Junos-based virtual routing for service providers and enterprises needing MX edge capabilities.
- VPN support
- High availability
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Juniper -
Best forOperators needing virtualized service-provider functions
- Better than MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR):
- Editor score 8.9 vs 7.9
A service-provider-focused virtual router spanning IP/MPLS, broadband, NAT and IPsec functions.
- VPN support
- High availability
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Nokia -
Best forMid-market and enterprise multi-cloud teams
- Better than MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR):
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.9
A cloud-deployable router with broad cloud coverage, VPN, routing, and centralized management.
- VPN support
- High availability
8.8/10★★★★☆Contact Huawei -
Best forTeams automating routing across varied environments
- Better than MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR):
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.9
A flexible virtual router for teams automating network services across on-premises and cloud environments.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit VyOS -
Best forFree Junos labs and small-scale virtual routing
- Better than MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR):
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.9
A capable free Junos lab router, limited by 100 Mbps throughput and single-VM design.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Juniper -
Best forCloud teams prioritizing routing plus security controls
- Better than MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR):
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.9
A cloud firewall and virtual gateway that pairs extensive routing with threat prevention.
- VPN support
- High availability
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Check Point -
Best forCloud teams needing virtual firewall and basic routing
- Better than MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR):
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.9
A cloud-ready virtual firewall with core routing protocols, VPNs and high availability.
- VPN support
- High availability
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forHybrid teams combining firewall, VPN, and SD-WAN
- Better than MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR):
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.9
A hybrid firewall platform that combines VPN, SD-WAN, inspection, and centralized controls.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit FortiGate -
Best forTeams needing a free firewall with failover
A free, firewall-focused platform with multi-WAN failover and VPN capabilities.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit OPNsense -
Best forJuniper teams managing firewall policies centrally
A Juniper firewall management platform, not a virtual router.
7.9/10★★★★☆Contact Juniper -
Best forEmbedded-device users seeking configurable network firmware
Free, configurable router firmware with firewall and VPN packages for supported hardware.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit OpenWrt -
Best forLinux operators seeking free routing and VRF
A free routing suite for Linux operators needing protocol breadth and VRF support.
- High availability
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit FRRouting -
Best forLinux routing deployments needing mature open-source tools
A free, self-hosted routing daemon for teams that need protocol breadth and routing control.
- VPN support
- High availability
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit BIRD -
Best forTeams needing programmable, hardware-agnostic routing
A broad routing and automation feature set for teams building software-defined networks.
- VPN support
- High availability
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Arrcus
MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR)?
Arista CloudEOS: #1 in our Virtual Routers Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A cloud-ready virtual router for enterprise WAN, VPN, and multi-cloud routing.
Is there a free alternative to MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR)?
Yes. VyOS, Juniper vJunos-router, OPNsense, OpenWrt and FRRouting have a free plan or a free tier (6 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) alternatives?
Free tier limits upload to 1 Mbps per interface; Deployment requires importing or launching a virtual machine image; Throughput depends on the selected speed tier and license.
Which MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) alternative has the most max throughput?
Juniper vMX, with 100 Mbps.
How do I switch from MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR)?
Export your data from MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR).
How to Switch from MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR)
- Export your data from MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR).
MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Routing protocols | VPN support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | MikroTik Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) | Yes | $45 one-time | RIP v1/v2, OSPFv2, BGP v4, RIPng, OSPFv3, BGP, BFD | Yes | 7.9 |
| 1 | Arista CloudEOS | No | OSPFv2, BGPv4, IS-IS, RIPv2, OSPFv3, BGPv6 | Yes | 9.2 | |
| 2 | Juniper vMX | No | SPRING (segment routing) | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 3 | Nokia Virtualized Service Router | BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, RIP | Yes | 8.9 | ||
| 4 | Huawei NetEngine AR6700V-L Virtual Router | OSPFv2/v3, BGP/BGP4+, static routing | Yes | 8.8 | ||
| 5 | VyOS | Yes | 8.7 | |||
| 6 | Juniper vJunos-router | Yes | Free | BGP, IS-IS, OSPF, static routing | 8.5 | |
| 7 | Check Point CloudGuard Network Security | OSPFv2, BGP, RIP, static routes, multicast routes, policy-based routing, PIM-SM, PIM-DM, IGMP v2 and v3 | Yes | 8.3 | ||
| 8 | Palo Alto Networks VM-Series | No | BGP, OSPF, OSPFv3, RIP, static routing | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 9 | FortiGate | No | 8.1 | |||
| 10 | OPNsense | Yes | 7.9 | |||
| 11 | Juniper Security Director | 7.9 | ||||
| 12 | OpenWrt | Free | 7.9 | |||
| 13 | FRRouting | Yes | Free | BGP, RIP, RIPng, OSPFv2, OSPFv3, IS-IS, Babel, EIGRP, LDP, PIM, OpenFabric | 7.8 | |
| 14 | BIRD Internet Routing Daemon | Yes | Free | BGP, OSPF, RIP, Babel | Yes | 7.7 |
| 15 | Arrcus ArcOS | BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, EVPN, SR-MPLS, SRv6 | Yes | 7.6 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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