MikroTik licence levels: hotspot and PPPoE user limits
Last updated: 11 October 2026
Every RouterOS installation has a licence level, and the level caps how many hotspot users and PPPoE tunnels the router can have online at once. For a growing ISP this matters more than the CPU: a router can stop accepting logins at 200 users while it still has power to spare.
Check your level
/system license printThe nlevel line is the level. MikroTik devices come with their licence already on them, and the level for each model is on its product page.
What each level allows
| Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotspot active users | 1 | 200 | 500 | unlimited |
| PPPoE sessions (tunnels) | 200 | 200 | 500 | unlimited |
| User Manager active sessions | 10 | 20 | 50 | unlimited |
| Wireless access point | old wireless package: level 3 is for client devices only, 4 and up can be access points; newer wifi package: access point from level 3 | |||
| Price (for x86, when sold separately) | not sold | $45 | $95 | $250 |
Figures from MikroTik's licence page. Levels 0 (24-hour trial) and 1 (free demo, one of each) are for testing only. Other tunnel types have their own limits on the same page. Licences never expire and include upgrades.
What it means for an ISP
- Hotspot: a level 4 router stops at 200 users logged in at the same time, whether the users are on the router or checked by a RADIUS server. If you are near that number at busy hours, the next login is refused although the router is far from full.
- PPPoE: the same, at 200 sessions for level 4 and 500 for level 5.
- The way past it: a level 6 router, or a second router that takes part of the customers. With a central user list, the same customers can log in on either router.
Signs you have hit the limit
New logins fail while older ones keep working, and the count of active users stops at the same number every evening:
/ip hotspot active print count-only
/ppp active print count-onlyCHR (virtual routers)
CHR licences limit speed, not users: Free is 1 Mbit/s upload per interface, P1 1 Gbit/s, P10 10 Gbit/s, P-Unlimited no limit. See CHR install for the trial.
Where RadiusNest fits
RadiusNest does not change the router's licence limit: it is enforced by RouterOS. What it makes easy is the second router. Add it to your account, paste its command, and all your users and packages work on it at once, so you can split customers between routers without creating anything twice.
Start the free trial See pricing
Questions and answers
How many hotspot users does a MikroTik level 4 licence allow?
200 active (logged in at the same time) hotspot users. Level 5 allows 500 and level 6 is unlimited.
Does the hotspot user limit apply with RADIUS?
Yes. The licence counts users logged in to the router's hotspot, wherever their accounts are stored.
Can I upgrade a MikroTik licence level?
For RouterOS on x86 and for CHR, licences can be bought and upgraded. A MikroTik device keeps the level it was sold with; choose a model with the level you need.