Nothing to do with groceries. FreshTomato is a distinguished open-source firmware project based on Linux and designed for home and small office (SOHO) Wi-Fi routers. With over 20 years of active development, it has cultivated a robust community of users and contributors worldwide, ensuring that the firmware remains reliable and feature-rich. FreshTomato installs as a replacement for your router's original software, instantly declaring: “Your device, your rules”. This project emphasises user empowerment, allowing individuals to take control of their networking devices while significantly enhancing security and privacy. FreshTomato is distributed with the GPL license.

Example of stock firmware	FreshTomato firmware

“But my internet just works!” That's fine, but FreshTomato offers so much more than basic connectivity. Imagine unlocking hidden potential in your router, boosting performance and security without needing a tech degree. FreshTomato provides a user-friendly interface that even non-techies can navigate. After a relatively short learning curve, you gain advanced control over your network, ensuring privacy and security, features standard routers often lack. Notably, FreshTomato includes built-in VPN connectivity, allowing you to connect to well-known VPN providers centrally or even create a secure VPN between e.g. family members. It's like getting a free upgrade, enhancing your existing hardware with regular updates and a supportive community. For those seeking better control, enhanced security, blocking unwanted advertisement, parental control, and in general obtaining a more personalised experience, FreshTomato transforms your router from a simple box into a powerful, customisable network hub.

FreshTomato supports systems based on Broadcom chipsets, including ARM- and MIPS-based models. To see if FreshTomato runs on your hardware, please refer to the wiki's Hardware compatibility page. The firmware's compatibility with a wide range of routers makes it a versatile option for users looking to extend the life and capabilities of their existing hardware.

FreshTomato includes a friendly interface considered easy to use even by inexperienced users. It balances advanced features with an extremely user-friendly interface that appeals to both tech enthusiasts and non-technical users alike. It offers many features and security and bug fixes not available on stock vendor firmware. Its intuitive design makes it easy to configure advanced features, ensuring anyone can unlock their router's full potential without feeling overwhelmed. Did you know you could access your home network, including your NAS, in a secure and private way from your mobile phone while at work or on holiday?

“Tomato” was originally written by Jonathan Zarate, and has been developed over time by the open source community. FreshTomato is currently the most up-to-date fork of Tomato. You might have seen other variations of Tomato around named like Toastman, Shibby, AdvancedTomato, etc. but today those are all old and unsupported. If you are running any of those old version of Tomato you are strongly encouraged to upgrade to FreshTomato.

FreshTomato releases 4 to 6 updates every year. This ensures users benefit from the latest enhancements, security patches, and feature additions, keeping their networks secure and optimised. Release names are based on the year of the release, then the number of the release (NOT the month or date). For example, release 2023.2 is the second release in the year 2023. Regular updates ensure cutting-edge security, enhanced privacy, and compatibility with modern networking needs4.

If you'd like to contribute to this wiki, please see the Style Guidelines page for details. You will need to ask a Tomato forum moderator for permission to edit the wiki.