License Comparison

RouterOS License Comparison: Level 4 vs Level 5 vs Level 6

A detailed, side-by-side view of the three RouterOS license levels we sell. If you’re still unsure which one fits your hardware, read the Buying Guide or contact our team before ordering.

Infographic comparing MikroTik RouterOS Level 4, Level 5, and Level 6 licenses across PPPoE tunnels, HotSpot users, User Manager sessions, and other features
FeatureLevel 4Level 5Level 6
Wireless interface (AP / client)Yes (single)YesYes, unlimited
PPPoE tunnels200500Unlimited
PPTP tunnels200500Unlimited
L2TP tunnels200500Unlimited
OVPN tunnels200500Unlimited
EoIP tunnelsUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
HotSpot active users200500Unlimited
User Manager sessions2050Unlimited
VLAN interfacesUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Queue rulesUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
RADIUS authentication✓✓✓
Routing protocolsRIP, OSPF, BGP, MPLSRIP, OSPF, BGP, MPLSRIP, OSPF, BGP, MPLS
License validityLifetime — perpetual, never expires, free software updates forever
Best forSmall offices, branch networks, starter WISPs (up to 200 users)Growing ISPs / WISPs (200–500 users)Large ISPs, enterprises, data centres
Buy Level 4 Buy Level 5 Buy Level 6

The license key is tied permanently to your Software ID and cannot be transferred to different hardware. You can move to a higher license level at any time by purchasing that level separately — see our Software ID Guide for how Manual License Verification works.

Who Should Choose Each Level

Practical use cases for each RouterOS license tier.

Level 4

Choose Level 4 if you have up to 200 active users and need core ISP features on a single access point or branch link — typical for small offices and starter WISPs.

Level 5

Choose Level 5 if you need up to 500 active users and more VPN/PPPoE capacity for a growing wireless network — typical for expanding ISPs and WISPs.

Level 6

Choose Level 6 if you run a large ISP or enterprise network with unlimited users, tunnels, and services — typical for core routers and data centres.

Deploying on a Virtual Machine? CHR Is Coming Soon

Cloud Hosted Router (CHR) is RouterOS built for VMware, Proxmox, Hyper-V, VirtualBox, KVM, AWS, Azure and other cloud platforms, licensed by throughput (Free, P1, P10, P-Unlimited) rather than by device role. CHR licensing is coming soon to this store — see the CHR page for details.

Can I Upgrade Between Levels Later?

Yes. MikroTik allows moving from a lower license level to a higher one at any time — this means purchasing that higher level’s license against the same Software ID, rather than an in-place “upgrade” of your existing key. Contact us and we’ll guide you through the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the tunnel and user limits per device or per license?
They’re limits built into the RouterOS license level itself, applied to the single device that license is issued for — not shared across devices.
Does a higher level include everything a lower level has?
Yes. Level 5 includes everything Level 4 offers at higher limits, and Level 6 removes the limits entirely — each tier is a strict superset of the one below it.
What if my router’s hardware can’t handle Level 6 traffic anyway?
License level and hardware throughput are separate — buying a higher license than your hardware can push won’t cause problems, but it also won’t make underpowered hardware faster. See the Buying Guide for matching license to hardware.

Ready to Buy?

Head to the Products Hub, or read the Buying Guide for what happens after checkout.

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