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Best WiFi Router for Small Business Reviews

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Introduction

You’ve come to the right place if you’re seeking the top small business routers money can buy. The best routers for small and medium-sized enterprises are examined in this article. Any of these would be ideal for home offices.

Whether you own a tiny legal office or a neighborhood coffee shop, you need a router to link several networks and transport data between them quickly, effectively, and reliably.

The quality of routers has increased in recent years, and there are now numerous quick dual- and triple-band routers that support several networks, which is helpful if you own a business where customers and staff must connect to different networks (like in a restaurant or retail shop).

The degree of security, whether the router can create a Verified Private Network (VPN), and the size of the area the router needs to cover are further crucial factors (a small office might need to have more coverage than, say, a cafe).

You don’t have to worry about it being able to manage a lot of network traffic while shopping for the best small business router for your requirements. You will nevertheless require something with sufficient capacity to manage numerous users and devices accessing the network continuously.

Modern routers frequently provide twin or even triple-band connectivity in addition to a plethora of other features that are typically seen on much more expensive enterprise-grade devices but are available for a much lower price. Some even let you build your own cloud storage, which is sufficient for the majority of SMBs but not a practical substitute for one of our best cloud storage providers.

The best small business routers now contain a considerably wider range of features, including hardware frequently found in laptops, due to the complexity and demands of running a wireless network nowadays.

The finest small business routers should be simple to install, quick to use, and easy to maintain. This means that smaller firms won’t need to hire a full-time administrator or IT team. The simple-to-use user interface found on a PC or mobile device will make it simple to access all the potent features contained in this list of the finest small business routers.

We carefully selected and compared each of the top small business routers on this list based on factors that are more important to business users than things like speed, cost, or QoS features, such as security, support, remote access, business VPN, WAN redundancy, connectivity options, and scalability.

Best WiFi Router for Small business 2023

Asus BRT-AC828 router
  • Stable WiFi Range
  • Fast, stable WiFi throughout your office with 4×4 MIMO antenna design and ASUS AiRadar beamforming
  • Hardware Dual-WAN
  • Dual physical WAN ports for ultimate speed and reliability, with up to 2Gbps aggregated bandwidth and fail-over capability.
Asus RT-AX88U
  • eight Gigabit LAN ports
  • The Asus RT-AX88U features Dual-WAN and Link Aggregation (both LAN and WAN), but it has no multi-gig ports.
  • The Asus RT-AX88U’s second USB port features USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) speed despite the black color.
Synology RT2600ac router
  • support for MU-MIMO data streaming and dual-WAN connectivity.
  • delivers solid 2.4GHz and 5GHz throughput and adds some new features.
Netgear Orbi SRK60 Small Business Router
  • If you need the most coverage possible for your office or storefront.
  • then this meshes small business router is the best option for you.
  • With a range of upwards of 5,000 square feet.
  • speeds up to 3 Gbps.
  • tri-band functionality
Linksys EA7500 Small Business Router
  • If you prefer a more user-friendly experience.
  • You can’t go wrong with this small business router in terms of installation and network control.
  • In addition, the device has great long-range performance and overall solid speed ratings.
  • ideal for the majority of small business owners.
Netgear Nighthawk X4S Small Business Router
  • Because of its long-range performance and great support for multiple users with MU-MIMO capability, this tiny business router is ideal for large offices or retail.
  • It also offers peak speeds across its twin bands for all devices, making it ideal for online-heavy company models.
Linksys EA6350 Small Business Router
  • You get a ton of speed.
  • A user-friendly experience.
  • A compact design that’s easy to install.

Asus BRT-AC828 router

Asus is known for producing high-quality consumer goods, and the Taiwanese company, which is best known for its motherboards and laptops, has been experimenting with wireless items.

Its sole business router, the BRT-AC828 (opens in new tab), checks many boxes, even for small organizations looking for more than ten simultaneous connections.

Even though it is quite pricey, it has capabilities you’d never anticipate in a router, such as an M.2 slot for an SSD that turns it into a mini-NAS.

There are many more features as well, such as RADIUS support, the capacity to combine four 1Gb Ethernet ports into a virtual 4Gb port, and even support for LTE as a backup connection to increase resilience. The router currently contains two 1Gbps WAN ports that may be combined or used separately.

It supports 4×4 MU-MIMO and theoretical speeds of up to 2.6Gbps with open plan coverage of up to 100m, as you would expect from a top-tier router (albeit on the 2.4GHz band).

AIProtection, a built-in security suite from Asus and Trend Micro, is available.

Pros

  • 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports
  • Impressive expansion capabilities

Cons

  • Expensive

Asus RT-AX88U

The Asus RT-AX88U is a compact business router with all the features you could ask for, including WiFi 6 compatibility.

It is also one of the best small business routers money can now buy because it delivers so much while being on the cheaper end of the WiFi 6 router price range.

One advantage of this router for small businesses is that it has 8 LAN ports. At twice the amount that most other routers carry, the RT-AX88U can save you from having to buy an Ethernet switch.

Both sophisticated web software and a companion mobile app for the RT-AX88U show connected clients, USB devices, and security status.

Additionally, there are settings to optimize guest networking, examine traffic, and modify choices for a more enjoyable gaming experience.

Synology RT2600ac router

The result of combining a typical wireless router with a network-attached storage device, or NAS, is the Synology RT2600ac (opens in new tab) (well, it gives you a bit more besides, too).

Although the modem doesn’t have the most powerful specs or even a conventionally attractive shell like most of the competition, the RT2600ac packs a tonne of features (like a built-in VPN and the ability to aggregate two WAN ports) that make it worthwhile to buy. The company is best known for its NAS boxes.

Although it only offers 4GB of built-in storage, you can connect an external hard drive and set up your own cloud service that is comparable to Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive.

Even NAS-grade applications like a VPN client and server are available for free.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many apps available right now, and the ecosystem might use stronger community support. Hopefully, this will change as time goes on.

The Synology RT2600ac is a lot more user-friendly than most NAS devices, despite its more complicated functions and setup procedure not being completely foolproof.

Although there are some issues with this router, keep in mind that this is only Synology’s second try at creating a router of its own.

Pros

  • Easy-to-use web interface
  • Great hardware extras

Cons

  • Pricier than other AC2600 routers
  • Not the fastest 802.11ac router

Netgear Orbi SRK60 Small Business Router

Another mesh wireless router, the Netgear Orbi SRK60, also known as the Orbi Pro, employs a central unit that links to a number of satellite units to generate a broad network coverage that can cover an area of up to 5,000 total square feet.

This makes it the ideal option for large offices or shops where the internet is a must everywhere.
Additionally, it is made to be simple to use and install.

The Orbi system uses a smartphone app to walk you through setup, but it is more difficult than with other routers, particularly when you start looking at some of the more technical requirements.

The Netgear Orbi Pro, however, is quite potent.
You can connect your wireless devices to the tri-band router’s three distinct channels.

This gives you more freedom to give some devices priority over others and even enables you to set up a guest network for your clients.

You can also achieve rates of up to 3 Gbps with the Orbi mesh router, ensuring that you always get the optimum bandwidth from your ISP.

Complete your business set up with the best webcams for conference rooms.

Pros

  • Incredible MU-MIMO technology
  • Tri-band connectivity
  • Up to 5,000 square feet of coverage

Cons

  • Lacks USB ports
  • Some difficulty with the installation

Linksys EA7500 Small Business Router

The Linksys EA7500 small business router is an inexpensive networking option that is ideal for the majority of local small companies.

The general user-friendliness of Linksys and its methodical approach to installation particularly pleased us.

You don’t need to spend hours setting up each configuration; all you need to do is plug the router in, switch it on, and connect it to a computer.

The Linksys EA7500 router’s overall performance also truly impressed us.

You will receive dual-band capabilities with this reasonable choice, giving you more flexibility in the bands that your devices can connect to.

Thankfully, both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands function well with fast data rates and extensive coverage.

You’ll be happy to know that there are many various settings available for network management, such as parental controls and Quality of Service options.

The parental controls offered by the EA7500 are still adequate for a start, although they aren’t as thorough as some other solutions.

Visit our best travel router guide for mobile networking.

Pros

  • Easy configuration and setting management
  • High speeds at long range
  • Comprehensive multi-user support

Cons

  • Slower file transfer speeds
  • Barebones parental controls

Netgear Nighthawk X4S Small Business Router

For small business owners with huge spaces that require an internet connection all around, the Netgear Nighthawk X4S small business router is a great option.

Here, you’ll get dual-band capabilities on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
With this kind of dual functionality, you can give the most crucial devices on the 5GHz band priority, giving you the highest throughput and overall performance.

This is ideal for larger office spaces because both bands also sound well at greater distances.

Additionally, the Netgear Nighthawk X4S excels in delivering strong performance for numerous devices.

You will be able to connect up to 45 devices at once without experiencing service outages or disconnections thanks to the router’s excellent MU-MIMO capabilities.

With the X4S, you also have a tonne of customization choices, and changing these settings is really simple.

Pros

  • Strong MU-MIMO performance
  • Best-of-class 5GHz speeds
  • Includes two USB 3.0 ports

Cons

  • The user interface is a little confusing
  • Disappointing network storage performance

Linksys EA6350 Small Business Router

The Linksys EA6350 is the best inexpensive small business router because it offers a good balance of features and functionality at a reasonable price.

To begin with, the EA6350 is a dual-band router, giving you more flexibility on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

The 5GHz performance of this router, which is speedier and more dependable than its price tag suggests, most impressed us.

The modest simplicity of the router’s design also greatly pleased us.

You can practically put it everywhere in your office because of how strong and small it is without it getting in the way.

When deciding where to install the gadget, keep in mind that it has two adjustable antennas, but they are not removable.

And speaking of setup, even for those who aren’t as tech-savvy, the Linksys EA6350 is remarkably simple to set up and use.

All things considered, the EA6350 is the best option if you need to cut costs on your networking hardware.

Pros

  • Incredibly easy installation process
  • Stellar 5GHz performance
  • Compact, simple design

Cons

  • Antennas aren’t removable
  • Sub-par file transfer speeds

Buying Guide for the Best WiFi Routers for Small Business

Assessing the size of your office should be the first step in selecting the best small business routers.
A wide-range router will be beneficial if you have a vast workplace area.

Check how many devices you have that are connected to the internet. You should also think about your smart speakers, TVs, lights, and other appliances if they require an internet connection to operate.

You’ll have better connectivity with a mesh router if your office building is huge and has numerous floors.

Make careful to verify the router’s number of communication bands. If it’s a single-band router, having too many devices on the network could cause your internet traffic to become backed up. However, you might segregate the internet traffic and get faster speeds if you have a dual-band router that offers 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands.

Considerably, you should look into the router’s available speeds, ease of setup, and availability of a helpful companion app.

We had to pause before beginning our comparison of small business routers to decide if there were any characteristics that small business owners would value more highly than the average consumer. It can be challenging to decide which of these gadgets is appropriate for each application because many of them blur the line between personal and professional use. However, after conducting our research, we came to the conclusion that the most crucial features to seek in small business routers were long-term dependability and customization.

You should first choose a router that will serve you well for many years. This includes both regular firmware updates and physical design. Although you want your router to continue to be supported, you don’t want it to break after a year. As a result, we gave extra points to items with excellent designs that are probably going to last longer than the competitors.

Performance, which consists of speed, range, and reliability, was the next topic of discussion. The most crucial factor to take into account when it comes to speed is if your small business router matches the speeds you receive from your ISP.

However, we did give routers with higher speeds a better rating because they are more durable and will still function if you decide to increase your plan with your ISP in the future. Although the range also relies on your specific area, we gave extra points to routers that can generate a potent signal across greater distances.

We also took network security and customization into account. This is crucial for small business owners in particular. We favored wireless routers with built-in security measures, but we still gave alternatives high marks if you could specify your own security parameters. Small company routers also performed better if they had easy-to-use menus and interfaces, making it simpler for non-techies to configure their networks.

Most Important Features to Consider

Performance

Nothing is more important than overall performance when designing a wireless network for your staff, consumers, or both. For this reason, a business router is preferable to a home router. You don’t want to offer a poor WiFi experience that might turn away customers. Therefore, it is crucial that you invest in a small company-safe router that can deliver the speed and signal strength required for your purposes.

Most routers for small businesses are dual-band or tri-band, which respectively create two and three networks to which devices can join. We advise getting a tri-band router for busy businesses. Additionally, you should consider the bandwidth speed that your internet service provider (ISP) offers you and choose a powerful Cisco router that can handle at least that amount, if not more.

Range

Depending on the type you buy, the wireless router you use can have a wide range. However, not every owner of a small business requires a router with a range of more than 3,000 square feet. Consider the size of the area where a wireless network will be installed. It won’t require as much range if it’s pretty little.
However, if your storefront is large and busy, you will undoubtedly need a WiFi router that can easily navigate greater distances and more obstructions.

Security

Anytime you let your staff or the general public use your wireless network, you immediately add uncertainty to the scenario. You have no idea what people who are connected to your network will search for or how they will utilize your WiFi. This is why it’s crucial to take into account the type of integrated security measures your wireless VoIP router offers. The finest alternatives provide you access to firewall settings, sophisticated security tools, and the ability to block undesirable websites.

Network Management Settings

The ISR4K and most other small business routers provide you administrator access to modify a variety of network settings. Depending on how involved you want to be, you may or may not want to explore these kinds of settings, and that will affect how much customization access you require.


Some routers offer significantly more extensive network settings, whereas others only offer a minimally functional user interface. Parental restrictions, device Quality of Service (QoS) prioritization, and VPN configuration are a few examples of what you can modify under the network management settings.

The best small business routers: How we test

We analyzed the top small business routers on a wide range of criteria, including their speeds, coverage areas, communication bands, and router types, in order to test them.

We considered the variety of devices the routers could support as well as the size of offices for which they would be most appropriate. We provided solutions for standard and mesh routers that would work in various types of venues.

We evaluated their companion apps and consoles to see how easy their setup was, how simple they were to use, and whether they offered advanced tweaking options for pro users. 

Along with other factors, we also took into account the WiFi standard, connectivity options, and price of the routers.

FAQs

What is the best router for small businesses?

The router that satisfies the requirements of your company, staff, and clients are the ideal option for small businesses. Even though it looks like a hazy response, it’s the one that needs to be heard the most.
Routers come in a variety of sizes and shapes. The one you buy will offer options for speed, range, and adjustability to meet your demands and eyesight.

What is the best router for business use?

The ideal router for business applications provides you with the ideal balance of speed, range, and customize ability so you can design a unique network experience. You’ll be able to do this such that anytime they’re around, both your staff and consumers will be content.

How many routers do I need for a small business?

The amount of routers a small firm needs truly depends on how they will be used. A single wireless router will work perfectly if you and a small group of coworkers are in a constrained area. But if your business has several sections for consumers and staff, you might want to think about getting a mesh router or several routers.

What is a business router?

Networking equipment used exclusively for business reasons is called a business router. Particularly in a small business setting, you might discover that the majority of these routers share the same attributes and feature sets as consumer routers. You’ll start to notice more distinctions between consumer and business equipment as you use larger commercial routers.

Final Verdict

Our top choice is the Synology RT2600AC (see Amazon), which is made with offices in mind.
It enables remote workers, has robust security features, functions as a private cloud server, and much more.

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