When it comes to business routers, there are many options on the market. Therefore, it can be hard to determine which one is the best router for small businesses. This article will review 10 of the best small business routers on the market. We will cover their features, ratings, pros, and cons. We will also answer some questions related to the best business routers. By the end of this article, you should have a good idea of which router is right for your business!
For SMBs, it’s essential to get the most out of your technology investments. So having the best business Wi-Fi is a fundamental need. The best wireless router for small businesses can mean the difference between frustration and productivity.
Business routers are used to connect and route traffic between networks. There are dual-band and triple-band routers for employees and customers to link to distinct networks in a building. You need to take your time selecting the best SOHO router for your needs.
Things to Consider When Purchasing the Best Business Router
When selecting the best business Wi-Fi, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Below are a few factors to consider when purchasing the best Wi-Fi router for small businesses:
1. Network type
The first thing you’ll want to consider is the type of network your business needs. There are three main types of networks- wired, wireless, and virtual private. Wi-Fi Routers are of the following network types: 802.1b, 802.1g, 802.1n, and 802.11ac. Each type has its benefits and drawbacks, so it’s crucial to select the one that best suits your business needs.
2. Speed
The next thing to consider is the speed of your business Wi-Fi. The router’s job is to connect all of your devices to the internet, so it’s essential to make sure it can handle the speed your business needs. The average speeds for small businesses are between 25 and 50 Mbps.
3. Range
Another vital factor to consider is the range of your business Wi-Fi. Most small businesses will need a router covering between 500 and 1500 square feet. Usually, the 802.11ac network type provides the highest speed and covers a wide range.
4. Bands
You also need to consider the bands of your business Wi-Fi. There are two main types of bands- single-band and dual-band. The bands are 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz. Single-band routers operate on only one of the bands, while the dual-band works on both.
5. Security
Another factor to consider when choosing a router is security. With so many devices accessing the internet, it’s essential to ensure your data is safe from hackers. Look for routers that offer WPA- Enterprise, and WPA- Personal features.
6. Ease of use
You’ll want to consider the ease of use when selecting a router. Many routers have built-in management tools that make it easy to set up and manage your network. In addition, look for features like web-based management and remote management.
7. Size of your business
The number of devices that will be using the router is essential to consider. For example, if you have a large business with many employees, you will need a router that can accommodate a lot of traffic.
8. Budget
Obviously, your budget is an essential factor when choosing any type of business equipment. Therefore, you want to make sure you select a router that fits your budget and has the features you need.
9. Other Features
When it comes to routers, there are various features to consider. Some routers have more powerful processors than others, which can be helpful if you have a lot of devices that will be using the router. Other features to look for include:
- VLAN (virtual local area network) support
- WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) protection. WPA2 is more robust and more advanced.
- Network strength
- Guest Wireless Network connection capabilities
Answering the above questions can help you narrow down your search for the best business Wi-Fi router.
The 10 Best Small Business Routers
We have a curated list of 10 products. You’ll indeed find the best small business router for you here. There are categories such as the best wireless router for small businesses, best business router for value, best business router for security, best router for small businesses in terms of speed, and so on.
1. Overall Best Wireless Router for Small Business
Synology RT2600AC
This is our overall best wireless router for small businesses because of its great wireless functionality and secure Synology Router Manager Core. With those major features, it is sold at a reasonable price of $199. Convinced yet? It’s worth noting that this product was made to cater to workspaces specifically. It is one of the best commercial routers out there.
Technical Specifications
- High-speed connection to many devices enabled by MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output) technology
- Security functionality covers firewall management, protection from intruders, and denial-of-service protection.
- Easy connection to remote offices from the main building’s systems
- Discretional multimedia add-ons that enable the device to transform into a server that can host multimedia content
- Easy streaming of USB storage device and SD card files
- Great file management in private cloud server mode
- File synchronization and sharing across devices
- File backup functionality
Amazon Price: $199
Check the latest price of Synology RT2600AC
Amazon Rating: 4.5/5
Summary of Customer Reviews
“. . . the perfect VPN router . . .”
“Most reliable . . .”
Pros
- Ease of use
- Impressive accessories
Cons
- Costlier than related models
- Not as fast as some small wireless routers
2. Best Small Business Router for Coverage
NETGEAR Orbi Pro Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi System AC3000 (SRK60)
This product was included as our best wireless router for small businesses in terms of coverage due to its ability to spread Wi-Fi connections to an area of about 464 square meters.
Technical Specifications
- Easily accessible, secure Wi-Fi system.
- Mu-MIMO and Tri-Band Wi-Fi for high-speed connection
- Compatibility with existing connections
- Specialized entry portals for different types of users such as managers, employees, customers, and so on
- Ability to host 80 connected devices simultaneously with the aid of 2 units (40 connections each)
Amazon Price: $189
Check the latest price of Netgear Orbi Pro Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi System AC3000 (SRK60)
Amazon Rating: 4.4/5
Summary of Customer Reviews
“. . . I love it.”
“Very good & reliable . . .”
Pros
- It is a tri-band mesh Wi-Fi router for small business
- Very cheap best router for home office and large office buildings
- Wide coverage
Cons
- Inability to manually set up 2.4 and 5 GHz SSIDs
- The second Wi-Fi network for “employees” can’t link to file storage systems and printers belonging to the “executive” or standard network
3. Cheap Business Router
Linksys EA6350
This is our best wireless router for small businesses in terms of affordability because of its low price of $89.90!
Technical Specifications
- The speed that’s almost three times better than the Wireless-N tech
- Wireless-AC tech
- 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports
- USB 3.0 for sharing large files
- Dual-band functionality that can attain about N300 Mbps (2.4 GHz) + AC867 Mbps (5 GHz)
- Two external antennas
Amazon Price: $89.90
Check the latest price of Linksys EA6350
Amazon Rating: 4.4/5
Summary of Customer Reviews
“Very good router . . .”
“Great router for the price.”
Pros
- Ease of installation and management
- Very cheap & one of the best routers for business
- Fast 5GHz throughput in experimentation
Cons
- Antennas aren’t removable
- Relatively slow file-sharing speeds
4. Best Small Business Router for Security
Asus RT-AX88U
This is the best SOHO router for this category because its AiProtection Pro tech provides enough security for your data and devices.
Other Technical Specifications
- Designed for wide coverage with busy networks
- 802.11ax Wi-Fi tech
- Ac/b/g/n/802.11a device compatibility
- Achievable 6,000 Mbps speed rate
- Four antennas
- 8 LAN ports
- Asus AiMesh Wi-Fi system compatibility
Amazon Price: $299.99
Check the latest price of Asus RT-AX88U
Amazon Rating: 4.5/5
Summary of Customer Reviews
“Excellent . . .”
“Strong choice . . .”
Pros
- Many LAN ports to utilize
- Best secure router for small business
- It works better than many other products when it comes to linking to multiple devices
Cons
- Appearance may be a turnoff
5. Best Small Business Router for Speed
NETGEAR Nighthawk X10
This is the choice small business router for speed in this guide because of its possible speed rate of 7.2 Gbps!
Technical Specifications
- It provides 802.11ac/ad Wi-Fi for quick downloads and very smooth 4K streaming
- High-performance 1.7GHz Quad-Core Processor and Quad-Stream design
- Synchronized streaming with MU-MIMO support
- Four external antennas
Amazon Price: $500
Check the latest price of Netgear Nighthawk
Amazon Rating: 4.3/5
Summary of Customer Reviews
“. . . fantastic . . .”
“Great hardware . . .”
Pros
- Great media streaming speed that’s unmatched
- 10G LAN SPF connectivity
Cons
- Expensive
6. Best Business Router with Latest Technology
Google Nest Wi-Fi (AC2200)
It’s our choice small business router for this category because of the following reasons:
- Automatic updating
- Google Home app installation support
- Google Assistant voice tech (Built-in)
Technical Specifications
- Over 204 square meters of Wireless coverage
- Speed rate checking, password sharing, and so on with the Google Home app
- Additional 148 square meters of wireless coverage
Amazon Price: $169
Check the latest price of Google Nest Wi-Fi (AC2200)
Amazon Rating: 4.5/5
Summary of Customer Reviews
“. . . with Easy Set-Up.”
“Awesome!”
Pros
- Great for home office use
- Great throughput results during experimentation
- Aesthetically pleasing build
- Ease of installation
- Voice command
Cons
- Absence of USB ports, dedicated backhaul band, and anti-malware functionality
7. Best Business Router for Streaming
Linksys Max-Stream AC1900
This is our choice small business router for streaming because of the following reasons:
- MU-MIMO feature for connecting to over 12 devices with high-speed internet
- Dual-band wireless speeds of up to 1.9 Gbps
- 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports
Technical Specifications
- Synchronized device connection
- Connection to mobile devices, UHD televisions, and others
- Linksys Smart Wi-Fi software for ease in setting up connections
- Control your connections at any time and from any location
Amazon Price: $179.77
Check the latest price of Linksys Max-Stream AC1900
Amazon Rating: 4.4/5
Summary of Customer Reviews
“WOW!!”
“. . . Outstanding performance.”
Pros
- Multiple management options
- Great port selection
- Fast throughput testing
Cons
- File sharing experimentation results were inconclusive
8. Best Value Small Business Router
NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S
This is our choice small business router for value because it combines functionalities in relation to its price. You’ll be getting high tech, high performance, high speeds, MU-MIMO, etc.
Technical Specifications
- Smooth 4K streaming
- Enjoy speed rates of about 2.53Gbps
- High-performance 1.7GHz dual-core processor
- Doubled bandwidth for mobile devices
- Enhanced Wi-Fi for mobile devices that have 160MHz support
- Synchronized streaming across many devices
Amazon Price: $429.97
Check the latest price of Netgear Nighthawk X4S
Amazon Rating: 4.4/5
Summary of Customer Reviews
“Totally worth the price!”
“Great router.”
Pros
- Many management settings
- Great 5GHz and MU-MIMO throughput during experimentation
- Great port selection
Cons
- Expensive
- File sharing experimentation results were inconclusive
9. Most Versatile Small Business Routers
Linksys MX10600 Velop AX
This is our most versatile small business router because of the following reasons:
- Wireless mesh router and extender
- Its ability to handle large transfers
- Wi-Fi 6 compatibility
- Multi-device compatibility
- It can handle over 100 devices, so it can be used in a large office building or multi-story complex
- It can handle outdoor spaces
- Two packs
- Tri-Band frequency band class
- 4K streaming
Other Technical Specifications
- 3.0 USB port
- 5.5 Gbps
- 6,000-square feet range
- Operating system: RouterOS
- Ethernet connectivity technology
- Control method: App
Amazon Price: $529.99
Check the latest price of Linksys MX10600 Velop AX
Amazon Rating: 4.2/5
Summary of Customer Reviews
“One of the best . . .”
“. . . Worked out great.”
Pros
- It is four times faster than traditional routers
- It is a tri-band mesh router
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Costlier than related models
10. Best Small Business Routers for Features
NETGEAR Nighthawk AX12 (RAX120)
This product was included in this category because of the following reasons:
- 12 simultaneous Wi-Fi streams
- 6 Gbps Wi-Fi speed
- Dual-band frequency band class
- It supports many operating systems
- USB and Ethernet connectivity tech
- Multiple wireless types
- It works with all internet providers
- Sophisticated cyber threat protection (NETGEAR Armor Antivirus and Bitdefender data theft protection)
- Quad-core 2.2Ghz processor
- Many more advanced tech features
Other Technical Specifications
- Eight antennas
- Control method: App
- Wi-Fi 6 capabilities
- 3,500-square feet range
- It can support 30 devices
Amazon Price: $349.99
Check the latest price of NETGEAR Nighthawk AX12 (RAX120)
Amazon Rating: 4.3/5
Summary of Customer Reviews
“FANTASTIC . . .”
“. . . latest Wi-Fi spec.”
Pros
- High speeds across a large area
- State-of-the-art tech
Cons
- PureVPN subscription needed to use a VPN.
Related Questions and Answers
The Synology RT2600AC is the best router for a small business. In addition, it is overall the best router in our pick of top 10 routers.
A small business may only need one router. You should only acquire more when you have an extensive network. The number of routers required depends on the network’s design and the number of users.
No, it isn’t compulsory to have the two because a router can function without a modem. You can use a modem (in the absence of a router) when you only need to connect to one device. Routers are ideal for connecting more than one device to the internet.
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Conclusion
Small businesses are always looking for the best way to improve their connectivity and performance. The best small business routers can help keep your office running smoothly.
When you are looking for the best router for small businesses, there are a few things you should keep in mind. That includes the network type, range, speed, security, etc.
Hopefully, the 10 best business routers that we reviewed will help you make a decision on the best routers for your office.
Do you have any experience with any of these routers? Let us know in the comments below.
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