5 Best Routers for Small Businesses in 2023: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
In today’s digital age, a reliable internet connection is crucial for the success of any small business. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right router to meet your specific business needs?
When it comes to selecting the best router for your small business, there are several factors to consider, such as reliability, speed, performance, security, scalability, and ease of use.
In this article, we will review the top routers available on the market and help you make an informed decision on which one is best suited for your business needs. Let’s go!
Table of Contents
What should you look for in a router for your small business?
As a small business owner, you need reliable internet connectivity to keep your operations running smoothly. A router serves as the gateway to your business’s internet connection, allowing all your devices to access the internet with ease.
The right router can ensure that your employees are able to work efficiently and productively without any interruptions or downtime.
So, here are the key factors you need to consider when selecting a router:
Reliability
Reliability is the most crucial factor when it comes to selecting a router. Your router must be dependable and able to handle multiple devices and heavy traffic without crashing or slowing down. Look for a router that has a high MTBF (mean time between failures) rating and a history of positive reviews for stability and reliability.
Speed and Performance
Speed and performance are critical for small businesses that rely on fast internet connectivity to remain productive. Your router should support the latest wireless standards, such as 802.11ac or 802.11ax, to provide high-speed data transfer rates. Additionally, a router equipped with features like Quality of Service (QoS) can prioritize bandwidth to ensure that essential traffic, such as video conferencing and cloud-based applications, receives sufficient bandwidth.
Security
Security is a significant concern for any business that handles sensitive data. Look for a router with advanced security features, such as firewalls, intrusion prevention, and VPN support. Additionally, routers with automatic firmware updates can improve the security of your network by patching vulnerabilities as soon as they become known.
Scalability
As your business grows, so will your network requirements. You need a router that can accommodate your future needs. Look for a router that can support multiple access points or is compatible with mesh networking technology. This will allow you to expand your network without having to replace your router.
Ease of Use
Your router should be user-friendly and easy to configure, even for those without technical expertise. Look for a router with a web-based interface that provides a simple, intuitive user experience. Additionally, some routers come with mobile apps that let you manage your network remotely.
Best Routers for Small Businesses
Now that you know exactly what to look for in a router for your small business, here are our top 5 recommendations for you!
Best Overall: Synology RT6600AX
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | Synology RT6600ax |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6 |
| WiFi Speed | 10,800 Mbps |
| Frequency Band | Tri-Band 2.4 GHz: 1200 Mbps 5 GHz: 4800 Mbps 5 GHz: 4800 Mbps |
| Coverage | 3,500 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | One 1GbE WAN Port One 2.5 GbE WAN Port One 2.5 GbE LAN Port Three LAN Ports |
| Management App | Synology Download Center |
| Security Features | Synology Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) |
| Other Features | Backward compatible with IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi 4×4 MIMO Quad-core 1.8 GHz processor Uses 80 and 160 MHz channels |
The Synology RT6600ax is the best router for small businesses due to its advanced security features, high-speed performance, ease of setup and management, expandability, and affordable price point. With this router, small businesses can enjoy a reliable and secure network that can grow with their business needs.
It also comes with advanced security features that are crucial for small businesses. The router has built-in firewall protection and supports VPN connections, which allows employees to access the company network remotely and securely.
Additionally, the router supports WPA3 encryption, which is the latest and most secure wireless encryption standard available.
Small businesses need fast internet speeds to carry out their daily operations, and with Wi-Fi 6 technology, the Synology RT6600ax delivers high-speed internet to multiple devices simultaneously.
This router can support multiple devices that use high-bandwidth applications such as video conferencing, file sharing, and streaming without any lag or buffering.
in terms of ease of use, the Synology RT6600ax is easy to set up and manage. This makes it an ideal choice for small businesses.
The router comes with a user-friendly web interface that allows for easy configuration and customization of network settings. Additionally, the router can be managed remotely using the Synology Router Manager app, allowing for easy network monitoring and maintenance.
What we admire about this router is it’s scalable. We all know that as a business grows, so does its networking needs. The Synology RT6600ax is expandable with additional mesh nodes, providing seamless and reliable Wi-Fi coverage for larger areas. This feature ensures that the router can grow with your business and adapt to changing networking needs.
If you’re worried about the price, the Synology RT6600ax offers great value! Compared to other routers with similar features, the Synology RT6600ax is competitively priced, making it an affordable option for small businesses.
Best for Offices: Asus RT-AX88U
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | ASUS RT-AX88U |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6 |
| WiFi Speed | 6,000 Mbps |
| Frequency Band | Dual-Band 2.4 GHz: 1148 Mbps 5 GHz: 4804 Mbps |
| Coverage | 5,000 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | One 1GbE WAN Port Eight LAN Ports |
| Management App | ASUS Router App |
| Security Features | AiProtection Pro |
| Other Features | 3 external antennas Beamforming High-power FEM OFDMA AiMesh Compatible Adaptive QoS Compatible with Amazon Alexa |
Running a small business with multiple offices can be challenging, especially when it comes to managing internet connectivity. A reliable and fast internet connection is crucial for the smooth running of any business, and the Asus RT-AX88U router is an excellent choice!
The Asus RT-AX88U is equipped with Wi-Fi 6 technology, which is the latest wireless standard. It offers faster speeds and improved performance, allowing multiple devices to connect and work simultaneously without lagging or buffering.
With the capability to deliver speeds of up to 6,000 Mbps, this router is more than enough for a small business with multiple offices. The router is designed to handle heavy internet usage, allowing multiple devices and customers to connect and stream content without any lag.
In terms of coverage and wireless range, the Asus RT-AX88U has a wide Wi-Fi coverage area, making it suitable for a small business with multiple offices. It has a coverage area of up to 5,000 square feet, ensuring that every corner of the office is covered.
The router has four external antennas that provide strong and stable Wi-Fi signals throughout the office
The Asus RT-AX88U router comes with advanced security features that protect your business from cyber threats. The router uses the latest WPA3 encryption protocol to secure your network and protect your business data. The router also has a built-in VPN server that allows remote workers to securely access the company’s network from anywhere in the world.
The Asus RT-AX88U router is easy to set up and manage. The router comes with a user-friendly interface that allows you to set up the router in minutes. The router also has a mobile app that allows you to manage and monitor the network from anywhere.
The Asus RT-AX88U router has multiple ports, making it suitable for a small business with plenty of devices that need to be connected via a wired backhaul.
The router has eight Gigabit LAN ports that allow you to connect wired devices to the network. It also has two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports that allow you to connect external hard drives and share files across the network.
Best for Gigabit Speeds: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | Netgear RAX500 |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6E |
| WiFi Speed | 10,800 Mbps |
| Frequency Band | Tri-Band 2.4 GHz: 1200 Mbps 5 GHz: 4800 Mbps 6 GHz: 4800 Mbps |
| Coverage | 3,500 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | One 1GbE WAN Port One 2.5 GbE Port Four LAN Ports |
| Management App | Nighthawk App |
| Security Features | NETGEAR Armor NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls |
| Other Features | Backward compatible with IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi Supports new WiFi 6E devices on 6GHz WiFi band Quad-core 1.8GHz processor Two (2) USB 3.0 ports |
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 has emerged as the best choice for businesses that require a gigabit internet plan. Let’s explain why:
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 offers unparalleled speed and performance, delivering up to 10.8Gbps of combined wireless speed. This router is designed with the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology, which provides faster speeds and lower latency, making it ideal for businesses that require high-speed internet connectivity for their daily operations.
With this router, businesses can enjoy faster download and upload speeds, seamless streaming, and smoother video conferencing.
It’s also a tri-band router, which helps to reduce network congestion and improve network performance. This router has one 2.4GHz band, one 5GHz band, and one 6GHz band. This allows businesses to connect more devices and enjoy faster internet speeds simultaneously.
Essentially, this feature is particularly useful for businesses that require a large number of devices to be connected to their network.
Of course, small businesses need to ensure that their sensitive data and information are kept safe from hackers and cybercriminals. The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router offers advanced security features such as WPA3 encryption, which provides better protection against security threats.
This router also has built-in antivirus protection, which helps to block malicious websites and malware from infecting the network. Additionally, this router comes with a guest network feature that allows businesses to create a separate network for guests, ensuring that their main network remains secure.
In terms of ease of use, This router is easy to set up and manage, thanks to its intuitive web interface and mobile app. This router comes with a step-by-step installation guide, making it easy for businesses to get up and running in no time.
Additionally, the mobile app allows businesses to manage their network remotely, monitor network activity, and even set up parental controls.
Best Budget: TP-Link Archer AX55
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | TP-Link Archer AX55 |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6 |
| WiFi Speed | 3,000 Mbps |
| Frequency Band | Dual-Band 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps 5 GHz: 2402 Mbps |
| Coverage | 2,500 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | One Gigabit WAN Port Four Gigabit LAN Ports |
| Management App | Tether App |
| Security Features | TP-Link HomeShield Security |
| Other Features | 4 external antennas Beamforming High-power FEM OFDMA |
As a small business owner, you need a router that can handle all your internet needs without breaking the bank. That’s where the TP-Link Archer AX55 comes in.
The TP-Link Archer AX55 is an efficient router that offers fast internet speeds. It has a dual-band Wi-Fi system that delivers a combined speed of up to 2400Mbps.
This means you can enjoy smooth internet browsing, online streaming, and file sharing without any lag. With this speed, you can easily connect multiple devices at the same time, which is essential for small businesses with multiple employees.
It also comes with advanced features that are usually found in more expensive routers. One of the most noteworthy features is the MU-MIMO technology. This technology allows multiple devices to connect to the router simultaneously without any interruption.
Additionally, it has a built-in VPN server, which allows you to access your network remotely and securely. This is especially useful for small businesses that have employees who work remotely.
Finally, the TP-Link Archer AX55 is easy to set up and use. You don’t need to be a tech guru to install it. It comes with a user-friendly app that guides you through the installation process.
The app is available for both Android and iOS devices. This means you can easily manage your network from anywhere.
Best for Customer Connectivity: Netgear Orbi RBK50
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | Netgear Orbi RBK50 |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 5 |
| WiFi Speed | 3,000 Mbps |
| Frequency Band | Tri-Band |
| Coverage | 5,000 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | One Gigabit WAN Port Three Gigabit LAN Ports |
| Management App | Tether App |
| Security Features | Netgear Armor Netgear Smart Parental Controls |
| Other Features | 512MB NAND flash and 512MB RAM Beamforming High-power FEM OFDMA MU-MIMO |
The Netgear Orbi RBK50 is the best router for customer connectivity because of its fast and stable connection, easy setup and management, advanced security features, compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant, and excellent customer support. If you’re looking for a reliable and efficient router, the Orbi RBK50 is definitely worth considering.
The Netgear Orbi RBK50 uses tri-band technology to provide a fast and stable connection to all devices. With speeds up to 3 Gbps, you can easily stream 4K videos, play online games, and connect multiple devices without a hitch.
In addition, the Orbi RBK50 is equipped with six high-performance internal antennas that provide a strong and reliable signal throughout your home or office.
Setting up the Orbi RBK50 is a breeze thanks to its simple and intuitive user interface. You can easily configure your network settings, monitor your network activity, and manage your devices from your smartphone or computer. In addition, the Orbi RBK50 comes with a user-friendly app that makes it easy to manage your network from anywhere.
In terms of security, the Orbi RBK50 is equipped with advanced security features that help protect your network from cyber threats. The router comes with Netgear Armor, which provides multi-layered cybersecurity for all your devices.
This includes anti-virus and anti-malware protection, as well as advanced threat detection and protection against phishing and ransomware attacks.
The Orbi RBK50 is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, which means you can easily control your network with your voice. You can ask Alexa or Google Assistant to turn on or off your Wi-Fi, check your network status, or even reboot your router.
Now, Netgear is known for its excellent customer support, and the Orbi RBK50 is no exception. If you have any issues with your router, you can easily reach out to Netgear’s customer support team for assistance.
The company also offers a one-year warranty on the Orbi RBK50, which gives you peace of mind knowing that you’re covered if anything goes wrong.
Our Verdict
In conclusion, the best routers for small businesses are the ones that meet your specific networking needs and can provide reliable connectivity, security, and performance.
We hope that our list of routers helps you make an informed decision. Just remember that by understanding your business needs, considering security features, evaluating performance and reliability, choosing a scalable option, and considering price and support, you can choose the right router for your small business.
Related Articles:
