10 Best Small Business Routers

Updated: Dec 28, 2023 12:17 PM
best small business routers featured image that shows the top three best router models

To help you find the best small business routers, we spent several hours sifting through a huge variety of different options. During our initial research, we narrowed our selections by finding the routers with the best speed, range, and overall network customization options. We recommend finding a router that offers a good combination of all of these things for your small business, but there is always some wiggle room within each category based on your business’s needs. We also recommend focusing on design and ease of installation, so you can get your operations up and running in no time.

With these things in mind, we chose the Netgear Nighthawk X10 as our top pick for the best small business router available today. Keep reading on to learn more about this powerful wireless router and the other best router options we selected.

Top 10 Best Small Business Router

 #1  Netgear Orbi SRK60 Small Business Router

Award: BEST COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE

WHY WE LIKE IT: If you need the most coverage possible for your office or storefront, then this mesh small business router is the best option for you. With a range of upwards of 5,000 square feet, speeds up to 3 Gbps, and tri-band functionality, this powerful router creates a comprehensive network for anyone connected to your internet.

Pros
  • Incredible MU-MIMO technology
  • Tri-band connectivity
  • Up to 5,000 square feet of coverage
Cons
  • Lacks USB ports
  • Some difficulty with installation

The Netgear Orbi SRK60, also called the Orbi Pro, is another mesh wireless router that uses a central unit that connects to a variety of satellite units to create a blanket network coverage that can extend up to 5,000 total square feet. This makes it the perfect choice for large office spaces or storefronts where you absolutely need connectivity everywhere. It’s also designed to be user-friendly, with quick installation. The Orbi system uses a smartphone app to guide you through the setup process, but it isn’t as easy as other routers, especially when you get into some of the more technical requirements.

However, the Netgear Orbi Pro is incredibly powerful. It’s a tri-band router with three different channels to which you can connect your wireless devices. This allows you more flexibility in prioritizing certain devices over others, and even allows you to create a guest network for your customers. The Orbi mesh router also gives you speeds up to 3 Gbps, so you’ll always get the best bandwidth from your ISP. Paired with the best webcams for conference rooms and your office set up is complete.

 #2  Netgear Orbi RBS850 Small Business Router

Award: HONORABLE MENTION

WHY WE LIKE IT: This small business router creates a comprehensive mesh network that can be extended over increasingly longer ranges so you can always stay connected, no matter where you are in your office. Plus, it’s compatible with Wi-Fi 6 for the fastest speeds and most reliable internet connection.

Pros
  • Easily handles multiple connected devices
  • Wi-Fi 6 compatible
  • Comprehensive network management settings
Cons
  • No USB ports on extenders
  • Larger than other options

The Netgear Orbi RBS850 is a mesh small business router that provides some of the best coverage and range you can purchase in today’s market. If you have a large office space or storefront that needs a Wi-Fi signal in every nook and cranny, then this is the best option for you. The Orbi system uses a central router and multiple satellite routers to provide blanket coverage across your entire space. The other good thing about this is the fact that the Orbi RBS850 is compatible with Wi-Fi 6, which provides really fast speeds for all devices.

When it comes to installation and initial configuration, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something easier than the Orbi. Even though you may have more than one device to install, the overall process is simple and streamlined. You’ll get a smartphone app that walks you through every step of the way, essentially giving you plug-and-play installation. Unfortunately, the Orbi router and extenders are a little larger than other routers, but they are designed well so they won’t stick out annoyingly. The Orbi also gives you extensive customization options, which is an added bonus to its overall performance and reliability.

 #3  Asus BRT-AC828 Small Business Router

Award: BEST FOR CUSTOMER CONNECTIVITY

WHY WE LIKE IT: With a customizable customer portal and promotions page, high top speeds, and plenty of network management settings, this powerful small business router is perfect for anyone who needs secure access for their customers and employees. The router also offers long-range performance and tons of physical ports for hardwiring devices directly to the internet.

Pros
  • Customizable customer-facing portal
  • Extensive port connectivity
  • High-speed performance for 250 devices
Cons
  • Management settings can be overwhelming

The Asus BRT-AC828 is one of the most convenient wireless routers for small businesses because of its business-specific tools and functionality. For starters, this router is built with a feature that allows you to easily create welcome and promotional pages that your customers will see as soon as they try to connect to your Wi-Fi. This gives you the option of presenting your services, discounts, and specials without paying for expensive marketing campaigns. Plus, you’ll get a ton of management settings on top of this to even further customize your network for customer use. Of course, with so many options available to you, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer extent of customizability, but after some practice, this shouldn’t be an issue.

When it comes to performance, the Asus BRT-AC828 router ranks among the best. Its four powerful, adjustable antennas are capable of producing high speeds – up to an aggregated 2 Gbps across both bands – across long distances. The router also has excellent penetration through obstacles like doors and walls. We were also very impressed by the BRT-AC828’s MU-MIMO capabilities for multiple users. With this feature, the router can provide reliable, consistent Wi-Fi for up to 250 simultaneously-connected devices. You’ll also get eight gigabit Ethernet ports and two USB 3.0 ports for even great connectivity options.

 #4  Netgear Nighthawk X10 Small Business Router

Award: TOP PICK

WHY WE LIKE IT: This small business router brings a solid combination of everything to the table, giving you a fast, long-range, and extra-reliable wireless network experience. Plus, the router gives you the ability to adjust nearly anything in its management settings, so you get a fully customizable network.

Pros
  • 2,500 square feet of range
  • Amazon Alexa compatible
  • Comprehensive network management settings
Cons
  • Disappointing MU-MIMO performance
  • QoS options aren’t fine-tuned

The Netgear Nighthawk X10 is one of the most powerful and reliable small business routers available today, which is why it easily won our top pick spot. It’s a tri-band router that gives you a 2.4GHz channel, a 5GHz channel, and a 60GHz channel for the ultimate versatility in connectivity options spread across employees, network devices, and customers. Plus, the wireless router can provide upwards of 4600 Mbps on its 60GHz band, as long as you’re getting those kinds of speeds from your ISP.

The Nighthawk X10 is also designed incredibly well. It sports a sleek and edgy design aesthetic that looks good anywhere you place it. Plus, its four adjustable antennas provide range up to 2500 square feet, which is a huge plus. You’ll also get six gigabit LAN ports on the back of the router, so you can hardwire devices with ease. When it comes to network settings, you’ll be pleased with what the Netgear Nighthawk X10 has to offer. The user-friendly interface allows you to adjust a wide variety of settings, including parental controls, guest networks, and Quality of Service prioritization for certain devices.

 #5  Asus RT-AX88U Small Business Router

Award: BEST QUALITY

WHY WE LIKE IT: This small business router is packed to the brim with advanced features and functionality, making it one of the highest-quality routers your money can buy today. With things like Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, excellent QoS options, and built-in malware protection, this router will give your small business the best speeds and customizability for a next-gen wireless experience.

Pros
  • Comprehensive Quality of Service features
  • Wi-Fi 6 compatibility
  • Comes with good malware protection
Cons
  • Doesn’t include multi-gig ports
  • Firmware is a little buggy

The Asus RT-AX88U is one of the most powerful small business routers we’ve researched to date. For starters, it features compatibility with the newer Wi-Fi 6 technology, which provides faster speeds and more reliable signal strength across the board. You’ll also get a powerful 1.8GHz quad-core processor, which powers the entire device for a faster, more reliable experience overall.

The Asus RT-AX88U also creates a stellar user experience when it comes to network management and protection. We were most impressed by its robust Quality of Service (QoS) offering, which allows you to indicate which devices get priority internet service and at which times during the day. On top of QoS settings, you’ll get parental controls, gaming boost options, and security features. The router includes built-in malware protection, which is a huge plus for small business owners.

 #6  Synology RT2600AC Small Business Router

Award: BEST FOR NETWORK CUSTOMIZATION

WHY WE LIKE IT: This small business router offers a reliable, fast, and convenient experience for small business users and individual users alike, especially when you consider just how many network management settings it includes. You can customize a wide variety of settings, including a dual WAN setup, to create individualized experiences for your employees and your customers.

Pros
  • Strong 2.4GHz and 5GHz throughput
  • Supports dual WAN setups
  • High long-range speeds
Cons
  • Disappointing MU-MIMO performance
  • Only includes five Ethernet ports

The Synology RT2600AC small business router focuses on network customization above all else, although this isn’t to say that it doesn’t perform as well as other top routers. You’ll still get powerful speeds and reliable signal strength across long distances, making it perfect for use in office spaces or storefronts. The on with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels. More impressively, though, the Synology RT2600AC gives you the option of creating a dual WAN configuration. This means the router can emit signals from two different plans from your ISP. This way, you can create a truly separate experience for your customers and employees. Plus, it keeps your sensitive, business-specific data safe from what your customers are doing online.

When it comes to network customization, you’ll get plenty of options on the Synology RT2600AC. You can create guest networks if you don’t use the dual WAN option, and you can control specifics for things like traffic control, Quality of Service, and parental controls. You’ll also get MU-MIMO options for multiple users, but it isn’t as good as some of the other top-rated competitors. All in all, if you want a wireless router for your small business that allows you to get creative with individual settings, then the Synology RT2600AC is a great choice. For even more customization, you might also want to consider the finest OpenWRT router.

 #7  Cisco RV340 Small Business Router

Award: BEST WIRED FORM FACTOR

WHY WE LIKE IT: If you’re looking for a wired internet router for devices like network printers, and desktop computers, then you’ll be pleased with this powerful little device. With advanced functionality like dual-WAN support, VPN protocol configuration, and an extra-durable build quality, this wired small business router will keep you connected with a reliable signal all day long.

Pros
  • Durable, stackable design
  • Can create dual WAN setups
  • Supports various VPN protocols
Cons
  • No wireless signal
  • Limited firewall rules

The Cisco RV340 is the best wired router for small business available on the market today. With this being said, we need to go one step further in making something clear. This Cisco small business router is not a wireless router. It is a 100% wired router that allows you to connect network devices like printers, fax machines, and desktop computers directly to your network. If you still want to use this router and get a wireless signal, you’ll need to purchase an additional wireless router, which kind of defeats the point. You shouldn’t look at this as a downside; it’s simply a different way of connecting to the internet.

The Cisco RV340’s claim to fame comes in the form of its reliability, durability, and security. It provides a strong, consistent signal for your connected devices with high speeds. It’s also extra durable and features a design that can be stacked, so you can use multiple of these routers simultaneously without taking up too much space. The RV340 even supports a wide variety of VPN protocols to create a more secure wireless network for your most important devices. We were also impressed to find that the Cisco wired router can create dual WAN configurations for even great versatility.

 #8  Linksys EA7500 Small Business Router

Award: BEST EASY INSTALLATION

WHY WE LIKE IT: If you’re looking for an extra user-friendly experience, both in installation and network management, then you can’t go wrong with this small business router. The device also offers excellent long-range performance and overall solid speed ratings, perfect for most small business owners.

Pros
  • Easy configuration and setting management
  • High speeds at long range
  • Comprehensive multi-user support
Cons
  • Slower file transfer speeds
  • Barebones parental controls

The Linksys EA7500 small business router offers an affordable networking solution that works perfectly for most small businesses around. We were most impressed with Linksys’s overall user-friendliness and streamlined approach to installation. Instead of taking hours to configure individual settings, you simply need to plug the router in, turn it on, and connect it to a computer to complete the setup.

We were also really impressed by the overall performance of the Linksys EA7500 router. With this affordable option, you’ll get dual-band functionality for greater versatility in which bands your devices can connect to. Fortunately, both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands perform well with high speeds and long ranges. When it comes to network management options, you’ll be pleased to find a variety of different settings, including Quality of Service and parental controls. However, it’s important to be aware that the EA7500’s parental controls aren’t as comprehensive as other options, but they’re still good enough for a start. For on-the-go networking, check out our best travel router guide.

 #9  Netgear Nighthawk X4S Small Business Router

Award: BEST FOR LARGE SPACES

WHY WE LIKE IT: This small business router is perfect for large offices or stores because of its long-range performance and excellent support for multiple users via MU-MIMO functionality. It also provides top speeds for all devices across its dual bands, making it perfect for online-heavy business models.

Pros
  • Strong MU-MIMO performance
  • Best-of-class 5GHz speeds
  • Includes two USB 3.0 ports
Cons
  • User interface is a little confusing
  • Disappointing network storage performance

The Netgear Nighthawk X4S small business router is an excellent choice for small business owners with have large spaces that need internet access all around. You’ll get dual-band functionality here across both a 5GHz band and a 2.4GHz band. With dual functionality like this, you’ll be able to prioritize the most important devices on the 5GHz band, which gives you the best throughput and overall performance. Both bands also perform really well at longer ranges, making this perfect for larger office spaces.

The Netgear Nighthawk X4S is also really good at providing powerful performance for large numbers of devices. Thanks to the router’s impressive MU-MIMO capabilities, you’ll be able to connect up to 45 devices simultaneously without service interruptions or disconnections. You’ll also get a lot of customization options with the X4S, and it’s really easy to adjust these settings.

 #10  Linksys EA6350 Small Business Router

Award: BEST ON A BUDGET

WHY WE LIKE IT: If you’re on a budget, but you don’t want to sacrifice too much in speed or user-friendliness, then this small business router is the best choice for you. For such an affordable price, you get a ton of speed, a user-friendly experience, and a compact design that’s easy to install.

Pros
  • Incredibly easy installation process
  • Stellar 5GHz performance
  • Compact, simple design
Cons
  • Antennas aren’t removable
  • Sub-par file transfer speeds

The Linksys EA6350 is the best budget small business router, and it doesn’t sacrifice a lot in the way of features or functionality to become a more affordable cost. For starters, the EA6350 is a dual-band router, so you’ll have extra versatility across both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. We were most impressed by this router’s 5GHz performance, which is faster and more reliable than its price tag suggests.

We were also really impressed by the understated, simple design of the router. It’s durable and compact, allowing you to place it essentially anywhere in your office without it getting in the way. It features two adjustable antennas, but they aren’t removable, so keep that in mind as you’re scoping out where to install the device. And speaking of installation, the Linksys EA6350 is incredibly easy to get up and running, even for individuals who aren’t as good with tech. All in all, if you need to save a few bucks on your networking equipment, then you absolutely cannot go wrong with the EA6350.

How We Decided

As we started our small business router comparison, we had to take some time to consider if there were features here that were more important for small business owners than the standard consumer. Many of these devices ride the line between business and personal use, and it can be difficult to determine which is best for each application. However, after our research, we came to determine that long-lasting reliability and customization were the most important things to look for with small business routers. For starters, you’ll want to get a router that will last you for years to come. This encompasses both physical design and regular firmware updates. You don’t want your router to break after a year, but you also want your router to stay supported. As such, we awarded bonus points to well-designed products that are likely to stay around longer than the competition.

Next, we looked at performance, which is made up of speed, range, and reliability. When it comes to speed, the most important thing to consider is whether your small business router matches the speeds you’re getting from your ISP. However, we did rate routers higher if they provided more speed because they are more future proof and work well if you ever decide to upgrade your plan with your ISP. The range also depends on your individual space, but we also awarded bonus points for routers that can produce a strong signal at longer distances.

Finally, we considered network customization and security. This is especially important for small business owners. We preferred wireless routers that came with built-in security features but still rated options well if they allowed you to create and configure your own security settings. Small business routers also scored better if they provided user-friendly interfaces and menus, which makes it easier for non-techies to customize their networks.

Best Small Business Routers Buyer’s Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

  1. Performance
    When it comes to creating a wireless network for your employees, your customers, or both, there’s nothing that matters more than overall performance. This is why you want to choose a business router over a home router.
    • You don’t want to create a dissatisfactory Wi-Fi experience that may drive business away from you. As such, purchasing a small business secure router that can produce the speed and signal strength necessary for your needs is of the utmost importance.
    • Most small business routers are either dual-band or tri-band, which create two or three different networks, respectively, to which devices can connect.
    • For high-traffic businesses, we recommend purchasing a tri-band router. In fact, you’ll be better off with the best modem and router combo for your home business network.
    • You should also look at the bandwidth speed that you get from your internet service provider (ISP) and purchase a strong Cisco router that can handle at least that number, if not more.
  2. Range
    The range of your wireless router can vary greatly depending on the model you purchase. However, not every small business owner needs a router with 3,000+ square feet of range. Take a look at the size of the space where you want to provide a wireless network. If it’s relatively small, then you won’t need as much range. However, if you have a large storefront with lots of traffic, then you’ll definitely need a Wi-Fi router that can handle longer distances and more obstacles with ease.
  3. Security
    Whenever you open up your wireless network to your employees and/or the general public, you immediately introduce variables into the whole situation. You don’t know what people will look up while connected to your network or how they use your Wi-Fi. This is why it’s so important to consider what kind of built-in security features your wireless VoIP router provides. The best options give you firewall settings, advanced protection features, and the ability to filter out unsavory websites.
  4. Network Management Settings
    Most small business routers, allow you to adjust a large number of network settings with administrator privileges. You may or may not want to dive into these kinds of settings, and the level of your desired involvement will determine how much access to this customization you need. Some routers are much more comprehensive in their network settings, where others just provide a basic user interface with minimal adjustability. Some examples of what you can adjust in the network management settings include parental controls, Quality of Service (QoS) prioritization for devices, and VPN configuration.

10 Best Small Business Routers Questions (FAQ)

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