The best replacement for firmware is driver.

The best alternatives to firmware are rated as following:
★★★★★  driver
★★★★★  software
★★★  hardware
★★★  bios
★  os
★  operating system
★  embedded
★  rom
★  kernel
★  embedded software
★  baseband
★  dd wrt
★  device driver
  software difference
  dd-wrt
  kernel file
  drivers
  rom android
  microcode
  middleware
  devhook
  eeprom
  official firmware
  kernel android
  your network adapter driver

Your alternative for firmware is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about firmware, one probably shouldn't forget about pandora battery.

Other search terms related to firmware and their ratings are:
★★★★★ pandora battery
★★★★ pandora
★★ homebrew
★★ baseband
★ devhook
redsn0w
qos
You have in mind a companion for firmware and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of firmware in all years. Click on graph for more.
firmware
driver
software