6 Top Small Business Routers of 2024 Ranked

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By

Evan Shephard Avatar

Reviewed By

Evan Shephard
Updated Jun 17, 2024 7:00 PM
best small business routers guide that shows the top best router model

A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

When selecting a router for a small business, you need to consider specific features and performance metrics. Important factors include MU-MIMO support for handling multiple simultaneous connections, a 2.4 GHz download speed over 50 Mbps, and a 5 GHz download speed exceeding 200 Mbps. Low latency below 30ms and a range greater than 50 feet are also crucial.

Our buying guide features six routers that excelled in these areas. We analyzed 37 models, verifying their performance through 193,479 customer reviews. Our scientific True Score system certifies products as tested and filters out fake and low-quality reviews. The winning routers delivered top-tier performance, making them excellent routers for your small business needs.

How Did We Rank the Best Small Business Routers?

Crafting our buying guide for the best small business routers, we meticulously analyzed customer reviews, testing methodologies, and expert opinions across 200+ websites. This rigorous process helped us pinpoint 2 essential test results, 2 additional desirable test outcomes, and 1 critical specification. Our goal was to distill the vital information, focusing on what really counts to ensure your business runs smoothly with the most reliable router options available.

Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.

?️ Minimum Specifications

  • Must Support MU-MIMO

? Test Criteria

  • 2.4 GHz Download Speed: A download speed on the 2.4 GHz band of at least 50 Mbits.
  • 5 GHz Download Speed: A download speed on the 5 GHz band of at least 200 Mbits.

? “Nice To Haves”

  • Router Range: A range of at least 50 feet before the signal from the router begins to become noticeably weaker.
  • Latency: A latency of 30 ms or less.

Latest Updates

  • 06/17/2024: Republished the list to include the best small business routers based on our True Score system.

Top Small Business Routers For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300

    • Best For Long Range

    The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 delivers exceptional performance and extensive coverage for small businesses needing top-tier networking.

    Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 Review →

    True Score

    84
    82
    9

    Experts

    89
    4k

    Customers

    SAVE $100
    $399.99
    $299.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Asus ROG GT6 Mesh

    • Best For Streaming

    The Asus ROG GT6 Mesh router offers exceptional performance and comprehensive features for small businesses with heavy device usage.

    Asus ROG GT6 Mesh Review →

    True Score

    82
    82
    6

    Experts

    86
    4k

    Customers

    $479.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    TP-Link Archer AXE75

    • Best For Secure

    This affordable TP-Link Archer AXE75 is ideal for budget-conscious small businesses. It offers excellent performance and security features.

    TP-Link Archer AXE75 Review →

    True Score

    81
    80
    4

    Experts

    86
    2k

    Customers

    $160.00
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Eero Max 7

    • Best For Parental Controls

    For small businesses needing top-tier performance and management, the Eero Max 7 tri-band router is a standout choice with broad coverage and advanced features.

    Eero Max 7 Review →

    True Score

    80
    79
    7

    Experts

    85
    227

    Customers

    SAVE $150
    $599.99
    $449.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    TP-Link Archer AX55

    For expansive Wi-Fi coverage in small businesses, the TP-Link Archer AX55 excels with robust performance and tailored features.

    TP-Link Archer AX55 Review →

    True Score

    80
    78
    3

    Experts

    85
    6k

    Customers

    SAVE $181
    $298.64
    $117.73
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Eero Pro 6E

    For small businesses seeking reliable connectivity, the Eero Pro 6E offers impressive speeds and comprehensive coverage, making it an excellent mid-range choice.

    Eero Pro 6E Review →

    True Score

    80
    78
    12

    Experts

    85
    6k

    Customers

    SAVE $90
    $249.99
    $159.99

Which Criteria Matters for Testing Small Business Routers?

By focusing on these criteria (2 required, 2 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these routers and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a router that will meet your needs.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
2.4 GHz Download Speed> 50 Mbits/sYesThe maximum speed that the router can reach when downloading on the 2.4 GHz band.
5 GHz Download Speed> 200 Mbits/sYesThe maximum speed that the router can reach when downloading on the 5 GHz band.
Router Range > 50 ftNo (Nice to have)How far a device can be from a router before the signal starts degrading. It is worth noting that 2.4 GHz reaches further than 5 GHz.
Latency< 30msNo (Nice to have)The delay that is created by a signal being sent by the router and then received.

Our Trusted Data Sources

We looked at 120+ router reviewers and found that 46 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for routers.

  1. James Morris – Kit Guru, LinkedIn
  2. Matt Spencer – TechGearLab, LinkedIn
  3. Brian Nadel – Tom’s Guide, MuckRack

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every router review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Router Test Data & Results

Disclaimer:

Evaluating router performance is more than hardware analysis. While hardware tests are straightforward, the challenge lies in contextualizing the results within the limits of real-world usage. Routers operate under conditions that testers cannot fully standardize, including variations in Internet Service Providers (ISPs), network traffic congestion, discrepancies between advertised and actual internet speeds, and the physical layout of homes. These factors introduce a degree of unpredictability, making it hard to draw universal conclusions. As such, our router recommendations aim to provide useful general guidance, accommodating a wide range of home environments and internet setups.

1. 2.4 GHz Download Speed (Mbits/s)

The oldest and slowest of the bands on a router is the 2.4 GHz band, but it sticks around for a reason. Generally speaking, while this band features the slowest available speeds and has the lowest bandwidth, but also reaches out the furthest. It’s not the best band to connect to connect if you need high speeds, but if you just need to be connected for light browsing or anything that’s low bandwidth, it works. Alternatively, if you own a lot of old devices, this band may be the only band they can “see” and therefore, use.

Given the age of the band, top speeds on 2.4 GHz cap out very quickly. We recommend a speed of at least 50 Mbits/s, but if you aren’t really going to be using this band for anything other than checking web pages, you can go lower. It’s worth noting, though, that this might lead to a more frustrating and laggier time on modern sites with lots of scripting and high-quality images.

2.4 GHz Download Speed (Mbits/s; higher is better; 0 = No Data)

2. 5 GHz Download Speed (Mbits/s)

The much faster 5 GHz band offers up much greater bandwidth and is much, much better at meeting high-speed demands. Streaming high-quality video, using streaming services, gaming, downloading large files and games – the 5 GHz band is what makes all of these activities quick and bearable. It reaches a lower range than the 2.4 GHz band, but it’s also much faster, so you’ll use it more, especially on newer devices that actually support the band.

Given how much you’ll be using this band, we recommend a speed of at least 200 Mbits/s to ensure you’re able to enjoy streaming and gaming on at least a few devices simultaneously. Any lower and you start to run into real bottleneck concerns, such as endless buffering, lagging, or drops in connection.

5 GHz Download Speed (Mbits/s; higher is better; 0 = No Data)

3. Router Range (ft)

Router range is exactly what the name suggests: how far can you get from the router before you start experiencing issues with your connection? The complicating factor is the simple fact that range depends on the band you’re using. 2.4 GHz is a band that offers greater range, so it gives tests results that show a greater range than tests that use the 5 GHz band. In general, our research found most publications used the 5 GHz band, so our recommendations are based on that.

As such, we recommend your router have a range of at least 50 ft. This gives you a good “bubble” around the router that you can connect to, but it’s important to know that things like the walls in your home can cause issues. Thicker walls block more signal, thinner walls block less. Some materials will also do a better job than others will at stopping signal, so if you see a router with a range of 65 ft, know that it might not reach that far in your home. It could reach further – or not nearly as far. This is also why you get dead zones in your home – it’s a matter of geometry and materials.

Router Range (ft; higher is better; 0 = No Data)

4. Latency (ms)

On a router, latency refers to how long it takes for the router to send out and receive a signal. The longer it takes, the more delay there is between you sending and receiving data, which can introduce lag in video games and also makes video conferencing harder since the person you’re speaking with now has to contend with your delay and vice versa. If you’ve ever spent a call talking over someone because you don’t know they started talking a second ago, that’s latency.

For that reason, we recommend a latency below 30 ms. As low as you can get it is obviously preferable, but latency is another aspect of your internet connection that is hard to manage. Latency differs to every single place you connect to, and every ISP has its own latency they “add” because you have to connect to their service too. Latency creeps in from your ISP, from the site you’re requesting data from, from your router, and from your own onboard Wi-Fi antenna – and that’s just to name a few sources. If you’re gaming, you also have a delay introduced by your connection to game servers and the delay that exists on a hardware level when you input commands.

Latency (ms; lower is better; 0 = No Data)

Best Small Business Routers: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Ignoring Future Needs: Buying a router without considering future growth and scalability can limit your network’s ability to handle increased traffic and more devices. Choose a router that can accommodate your business’s projected expansion.

  2. Overlooking Security Features: Neglecting advanced security features can leave your network vulnerable to cyber threats. Ensure the router offers robust security protocols like WPA3, VPN support, and regular firmware updates.

  3. Underestimating Coverage Area: Choosing a router without evaluating the size of your workspace can result in weak or dead spots. Consider the coverage area and opt for mesh systems if necessary to ensure comprehensive coverage.

  4. Disregarding Bandwidth Requirements: Ignoring the bandwidth needs of your business can lead to network slowdowns. Select a router that supports high bandwidth and can manage multiple simultaneous connections effectively.

The Best Small Business Routers Tests Compared

Product
True Score
2.4 GHz D/L Speed
5 Ghz D/L Speed
6 GHz D/L Speed
Range
Latency

Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300

  • Best for Long Range

84
  • 221.65 Mbits/s

  • 851.59 Mbits/s

  • 756.81 Mbits/s

  • 170 ft

  • 5 ms

$299.99
$400
$100

Asus ROG GT6 Mesh

  • Best for Streaming

82
  • 139.35 Mbits/s

  • 701.28 Mbits/s

  • 0

  • 95 ft

  • 21.89 ms

$479.99

TP-Link Archer AXE75

  • Best for Secure

81
  • 65.05 Mbits/s

  • 309.1 Mbits/s

  • 317.9 Mbits/s

  • 60 ft

  • 9 ms

$160.00

Eero Max 7

  • Best for Parental Controls

80
  • 95.9 Mbits/s

  • 1,078.48 Mbits/s

  • 1,222.5 Mbits/s

  • 90 ft

  • 7 ms

$449.99
$600
$150

TP-Link Archer AX55

  • Best for Tp Link

80
  • 98.64 Mbits/s

  • 485.2 Mbits/s

  • 0

  • 120 ft

  • 0

$117.73
$299
$181

Eero Pro 6E

  • Best for Google Fiber

80
  • 214.83 Mbits/s

  • 546.99 Mbits/s

  • 777.42 Mbits/s

  • 85 ft

  • 0

$159.99
$250
$90

Small Business Router Questions (FAQ)

What should I look for in the best small business router?

When choosing the best small business router, consider features such as robust security protocols (like VPN support and firewall protection), multiple WAN ports for failover, Quality of Service (QoS) for traffic prioritization, and support for high-speed internet connections. Additionally, look for routers that offer scalability options to grow with your business.

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