In search of a wireless router that comes with the best security features? Whether you’re looking to protect your home network or a small or large workplace ecosystem, you'll find the right device for your needs.
Different routers boast different security levels, and finding the right balance between these and your needs can get tricky. Most models offer basic security, but it won’t be enough for many. Besides, there are premium security suites in many, but again, they and the respective features vary from brand to brand.
So, after testing a lot of models, here are my top picks for high network security:
- Most Secure Router: Synology RT2600AC
- Best Parental Controls: Gryphon Tower
- Best Wi-Fi 6 Router: ASUS RT-AX88U
- Best with High Performance: TP-Link AX90
- Best with Armor Security: Netgear RAX54S
- Best Open-Source Router: Linksys WRT3200ACM
- Best with Firewall & TLS: Google Nest WiFi
- Best Budget Option: ASUS RT-AX55
8 Best Routers for Security in 2024
Securing wireless networks being the quintessential aspect of routers, I have tested the available models in several settings, including residential or commercial, and ensured that it secures the most.
Since you’re purchasing a router, you might also want a device that performs decently well in other departments, including speeds, coverage, and others. The list entails models in various categories, high tech to cheap yet reliable options, so you won’t leave empty-handed.
Now read along through the reviews and pick one most aligned with your needs.
1. Best Overall: Synology RT2600AC
Owing to the WPA3 Personal/Enterprise standard and advanced security suite, the Synology RT2600AC is the most secure wireless router. That said, it also performs well in other routing aspects, such as wireless speeds, coverage area, and device support.
- 1.7GHz Dual-core processor for fast, uncompromising performance
- Powerful 4x4 802.11ac wave 2 radios with MU-MIMO and up to 2.53Gbps breakthrough wireless speeds
- Smart Connect for seamless transition between maximum speed or range
- Hardware accelerated Layer 7 traffic control and monitoring
- Dual WAN capable for load balancing and failover support
Synology RT2600AC scored almost ten pointers for the set of features and the performance it delivers in my tests. With features like dual WAN support and great throughput capacity, it’s a major upgrade over the last year’s RT1900AC.
Alongside, its robust security and parental control tools are capable of eliminating most threats, irrespective of the network ecosystem.
But if its wireless capacity concerns you, go for Synology WRX560 or RT6600AX for WiFi 6 support, boosted speeds, and overall wireless performance.
Why is it a suitable choice?
Synology is the leading manufacturer of routers with the most powerful and reliable network security tools and parental controls in the retail space. And the best thing is you don’t have to pay a penny anytime to access these tools and features.
Threat detection and elimination is the standout feature, which deals with automatic scanning of the network or the web pages you’re browsing and alerts in case it detects any threats or malware.
There’s guest access to let you add any device temporarily and let it access the bandwidth offered. Besides, there’s VPN support that lets you browse through anything remotely.
Many other network security tools are on offer, like WPA3 enterprise, including intrusion prevention, DDoS protection, firewall management, and automatic security updates. This way, no external agents, threats, or malware can impede your network or connected devices.
Alongside, unlike most routers, parental controls in Synology RT2600AC are very advanced, courtesy of features like user profiles, scheduling, and traffic monitoring.
With these features in place, digital parents can ensure that their kids aren’t visiting inappropriate websites and aren’t spending much time online. And its remote control features let you do it sitting anywhere.
Wireless Speeds
Featuring a WiFi 5 dual-band connection, the maximum throughput capacity of RT2600AC stands at 2600 Mbps, with band-wise speeds as follows:
| 5 GHz: 1800 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 800 Mbps |
Although its wireless capacity is not on par with those high-end routers out there, pairing a 1 Gbps Xfinity plan had speeds of 874 Mbps and 32 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads for the 5GHz band.
At the same time, respective speeds for the 2.4GHz band were recorded at 467 Mbps and 24 Mbps. And, courtesy of 4×4 MU-MIMO, the signals are more stable and travel even faster.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
RT2600AC, with a four-antenna setup, can cover a maximum area of 1500 Sq Ft, the size of a small workspace or a mid-sized home. But if you have a large space with multiple weak spots or dead zones, you can pair it with other Synology routers to create a mesh WiFi and extend the signal range to faraway distances.
Besides, technologies like beamforming, MU-MIMO, and QoS enhance the signal-dissipating ability of the router, and you can connect up to 50 devices to the network without falling down.
Ports & Wired Connectivity
Unlike its WiFi 6 variant, there are only three Gigabit Ethernet ports available for connection, amongst which one stays connected to the modem.
Nevertheless, connect your gaming consoles, laptops, or smart devices to the available ones, and experience maximum download and upload speeds of 987 Mbps and 37 Mbps, respectively. And your games also run interference-free.
Conclusion
Synology RT2600AC offers decent throughput capacity and coverage. The main concerning aspect, i.e., security, is the best in business, with some top-tier features like threat detection, intrusion prevention, remote parental controls, and others.
That said, this router is worth it, especially if you want to build a powerful network in your space. Read the full review of the Synology RT2600AC to learn more.
Pros
- Strong network security tools
- Advanced parental controls
- MU-MIMO data streaming
- Solid 2.4GHz and 5GHz performance
Cons
- Middling coverage
2. Best with Built-in Firewall: Gryphon Tower
While the above-mentioned Synology RT2600AC is an amazing pick, it's not for those who want a long-range wireless router. That's where the Gryphon Tower comes into the picture.
- POWERFUL CONNECTIVITY & SECURITY – Experience secure and dependable mesh WiFi connectivity for your family and all your smart devices with the Gryphon Tower, engineered to deliver fast, efficient coverage, enhanced security, and advanced parental controls
- COMPREHENSIVE PARENTAL CONTROLS – Create a safe Internet experience for young users with your WiFi mesh system’s active content monitoring, app and website blocking, individualized time limits, and valuable usage insights so you can better monitor your kids’ screen time (4)
- ADVANCED WIFI TECHNOLOGY – Enjoy entire-home coverage and incredible speeds, no matter how many users and connected devices are added to your network, as simultaneous AC3000 tri-band radios and 4x4 MU-MIMO deliver up to 3,000 sq. ft. of coverage off a single Gryphon Tower router (1) (2)
- NEXT-GENERATION FIREWALL – Protect every device in your home with this WiFi router’s modern malware and ransomware protection, 24/7 intelligent intrusion detection to guard against hackers, and automatic protection from phishing scams (3)
- SIMPLE SETUP & SMARTPHONE CONTROL – The Gryphon Connect app provides you with a single solution for managing your WiFi network, parental controls, device access, and app use (4) (5)
The Gryphon Tower enviably combines outstanding throughput, security, and parental controls to protect your family’s or workplace’s digital goods from any intrusions or malicious agents, besides adorning a sleek look.
Its tri-band WiFi 5 connectivity with an additional backhaul band is one of the most inexpensive ways to fill your space with a reliable bandwidth.
As compared to my previous recommendation, you will find a lot of upgrades in terms of speeds, stability, and, most importantly, coverage. And if you need a WiFi 6 connectivity with almost similar and a bit upgraded features, opt for Gryphon AX.
Why is it a suitable choice?
Security features or parental controls, Gryphon Tower excels in both departments.
Starting with the security features, there is advanced firewall security to keep your network safe from external agents like viruses, malware, intrusions, and phishing scams. Aside from that, there are those standard features like guest access, WPA3, VPN, access control, auto-security update, and others.
Next, moving onto parental controls, it has got everything a digital mother may wish for. You can now create a safe internet-using experience for your young ones with the router’s website and app blocking, content monitoring, valuable usage insights, and individualized time limits to monitor your kids’ screen time.
Wireless Speeds
Integrating a WiFi 5 tri-band connectivity, the maximum theoretical speed of the Gryphon tower is 3000 Mbps, distributed amongst three bands:
| 5 GHz (1): 1700 Mbps | 5 GHz (2): 866 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 400 Mbps |
In my tests, I paired the mesh router with a 1 Gbps Xfinity plan and tested the download and upload speed for both bands. The values averaged at 915 Mbps and 31 Mbps for the 5GHz band, while 541 Mbps and 27 Mbps for the 2.4GHz band.
Besides, the device performed decently well in my penetration tests, and speeds only fell by 20% when placed two walls apart.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
As a mesh system, coverage is its strong suit, so its maximum theoretical coverage for 1-pack and 2-pack units is 3000 and 5000 Sq Ft, respectively.
I had the one-pack unit in place, which in real-time fared at around 2500 Sq Ft, much higher than my previous recommendation.
Other than that, it sets up 4X4 streams and includes beamforming alongside MU-MIMO to transmit strong and stable signals to several clients at once.
In my testing setup, the maximum it can take is 40 devices, which includes heavy-bandwidth-consuming ones like smart TVs, gaming consoles, laptops, mobile devices, and others.
Ports & Wired Connectivity
Unlike my previous recommendation, with only three ports, the Gryphon Tower entails four, including one WAN and three LAN ports.
So, despite one occupied with a modem connection, you have three available Gigabit ports that give out a maximum speed output of around 1015 Mbps and 41 Mbps, respectively.
The latency and ping values decrease with a wired connection and therefore are smoother.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Gryphon Tower is probably one of the cheapest yet most reliable mesh systems encasing a host of powerful security features and parental controls.
Although it's a few steps ahead then Synology RT2600AC in terms of throughput speeds and performance, the latter takes the podium position with additional security features and parental controls.
For a closer look, read my full review of the Gryphon Tower.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Good throughput performance
- Built-in advanced firewall
- Excellent parental controls
- MU-MIMO enabled
Cons
- Middling device support
- Lesser number of ports
3. Best WiFi 6 Router: ASUS RT-AX88U
The above two options that I listed provide enhanced security, but both of them come with WiFi 5. If you're looking for a secure WiFi 6 router, ASUS RT-AX88U is a reliable choice. It's suited for both homeowners and medium-sized businesses.
- Next gen Wi-Fi standard 802.11Ax Wi-Fi standard for better efficiency and throughput; ultrafast Wi-Fi speed 6000 Mbps Wi-Fi speed to handle even the busiest network with ease.Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 19 V with max. 2.37 A current.
- Certified for Humans – Smart home made easy for non-experts. Setup with Alexa is simple.
- Wider usage and more convenience 4 antennas plus 8 LAN ports to support more clients at the same time
- Commercial-grade security – AiProtection powered by Trend Micro blocks internet security threats for all your connected smart devices
- Better partner with mesh system; compatible with ASUS AiMesh Wi-Fi system for seamless whole home coverage’s support: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.6, Mac OS X 10.7, Mac OS X 10.8
Asus RT-AX88U is one of the first WiFi 6 routers on the market, but the range of features it boasts has the capability to make it the best. Some of its notable features include a powerful 1.8GHz quad-core processor, powerful antennas, and security features, which translate towards its quality performance.
Compared to its older model, RT-AX86U, it has many upgrades in processing ability, coverage, and speeds.
Why is it a suitable choice?
The suitability of Asus RT-AX88U is due credit to its lifetime-free security AiProtection Pro which entails some advanced tools and features to keep your network ecosystem safe and secure.
These include malware detection, intrusion blocking, and malicious website detection and blocking, alongside basic features like WPA3 encryption, VPN, access control, guest access, and others.
So with these in place, your network isn’t wronged by any malicious agents, cyber attackers, and others, and sensitive data stored in your devices isn’t compromised.
Other than that, it ingrains some smart parental controls that allow you to block clients from specific online categories and track what devices are doing online.
Wireless Speeds
Sharing dual-band WiFi 6 support, Asus RT-AX88U boasts a maximum throughput capacity of 6000 Mbps, with band-wise speed distribution as follows:
| 5 GHz: 4804 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 1148 Mbps |
To determine the wireless capability of the router, I paired it with a 1 Gbps Cox plan and measured download and upload speeds for both bands separately.
Over the 5GHz band, the respective speed values were recorded at 914 Mbps and 478 Mbps, while for the 2.4GHz band, it was around 515 Mbps and 187 Mbps.
That’s high for any of your internet-bound tasks like streaming, gaming, video conferencing, and others.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
Boasting a four-antenna setup, the maximum range the Asus router can impart is up to 2500 Sq Ft, on par with my previous recommendation.
Within the signal range, the router can connect as many as 25 devices at once, which can be an issue if you have a workspace to cover. This is possible due to the networking technologies it entails, like 4×4 MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and beamforming.
Ports & Wired Connectivity
Although there aren’t any multi-gig ports on offer, there are nine Gigabit Ethernet ports ( 1 WAN and 8 LAN) to give out multiple connectivity options to your devices. Connecting my gaming console to the router got me maximum speeds of around 975 Mbps and 487 Mbps, respectively.
The games like Valorant, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Fortnite at 105fps and 3ms ping, much improved from wireless connections. Besides, the ports support link aggregation, allowing you to combine two IPs and double up your speeds.
Conclusion
To conclude, the Asus RT-AX88U that delivers quality performance courtesy of decent throughput capacity, antennas, and other networking technologies.
The area of focus here is security; the score is eight out of ten, courtesy of its lifetime-free AiProtection pro, but less advanced features compared to my previous recommendations has pushed it down to the third position.
To learn more, check out the ASUS RT-AX88U review.
Pros
- Fast 802.11ax clients
- Eight ports with link-aggregation
- Lifetime-free AiProtection pro
- 4×4 MU-MIMO and OFDMA
Cons
- Premium price
4. Best for High Performance: TP-Link Archer AX90
- Faster AX6600 Tri-Band Wi-Fi - 4804 Mbps (5 GHz) plus 1201 Mbps (5 GHz) plus 574 Mbps (2.4 GHz)
- Ultra Connectivity - 1× 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port plus 1× 1 Gbps WAN/LAN port plus 3× Gigabit LAN ports and two USB ports ensure max flexibility and boosted throughput; The 2.5 Gbps WAN or LAN port and 1 Gbps WAN, LAN port cannot be used as the WAN port at the same time
- Maximized Coverage - Eight high-gain antennas equipped with Beamforming ensure long range coverage Operating Temperature: 0℃-40℃ (32℉ -104℉)
- More Devices with Less Lag - OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology deliver data to multiple devices, simultaneously
- TP-Link HomeShield – TP-Link's premium security services keep your home network safe with cutting-edge features for network and IoT protection, including free features 1. Network Security Scan 2. Parental Controls: basic features are free 3. QoS 4. Weekly or Monthly Reports 5. IoT Device Identification. Subscribe to HomeShield Pro if needed, dollar 5.99 per Month, 1-Month Free Trial.
If you are into TP-Link routers, its Archer AX90 is one of the best you can get. A souped-up version of Archer AX73, its tri-band WiFi 6 connectivity resonates with its quad-core processor to deliver fast and reliable performance.
Besides, there are many efficient network security tools and parental controls to keep your network ecosystem and your kids safe and secure while online.
Why is it a suitable choice?
TP-Link Archer AX90 caters to a variety of audiences with its basic and advanced security features. Its HomeShield basic has some helpful features like guest access, VPN, access control, WPA3, and SPI firewall makes sure none of your shared data is compromised.
Similarly, its parental controls include network pausing, age-based filters, and tracking the online time of connected devices.
For advanced users with a large network ecosystem, there’s a HomeShield Pro monthly subscription available for $5.99 per month.
This feature blocks malware-infected websites from being accessed and eliminates any existing viruses, which means your devices have an additional network security level.
It’s powered by Avira’s database, frequently updated by TP-Link, to safeguard your devices with the latest protection.
Now people looking to have greater control over the internet usage of their family, this advanced HomeShield security will be a great addition. It restricts access to certain website categories like Facebook and Youtube, aside from scheduling and usage limitation features for WiFi access.
Wireless Speeds
Aside from security, Archer AX90 is also a great device in terms of wireless stability and performance. Its WiFi 6 connectivity with an additional 5GHz band works in favor of the device, with its maximum throughput capacity standing at 6600 Mbps. The speed distribution for respective bands is as follows:
| 5 GHz (1): 4804 Mbps | 5 GHz (2): 1201 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps |
In my tests with the Cox 1 Gbps plan, the superior 5GHz band had a speed output of 931 Mbps and 34 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads.
While the faraway 2.4GHz band was valued at 547 Mbps and 29 Mbps, that’s the fastest I got among my tested models, so there are limitless possibilities on offer.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
Coverage isn’t the stand-out aspect of this router. Still, with eight powerful antennas, the maximum area it can cover is around 2000 Sq Ft. So, any of your mid-sized homes or a small workspace is encased with powerful signals.
You can connect up to 25 devices to the network without any lags or latencies, courtesy of MU-MIMO and beamforming.
Ports & Wired Connectivity
Unlike coverage, this is the area where Archer AX90 shines. With a 2.5G WAN port and four Gigabit Ethernet ports, you have access to multi-gig speeds every time.
Over the wired connection, the maximum download and upload speeds fared at 1021 Mbps and 47 Mbps, respectively. That’s a few extra Mbps to the wireless ones, so expect a boost in the overall internet usage experience.
Conclusion
To conclude, Archer AX90 is an excellent product in many aspects, be it its performance and stability. Having an additional 5GHz is very helpful with respect to having multiple connected devices.
Its security features are powerful enough but require an additional monthly payment, pushing it down in the list.
For more details, read its full review.
Pros
- Great wireless performance
- 2.5G port included along with Link aggregation support
- Reliable and stable firmware
- Robust parental control software
Cons
- Some security features need a subscription
5. Best with Paid Security Included: Netgear RAX54S
Well, there’s this saying: Not all good things come for free. Such is the case with Netgear Nighthawk RAX54S, whose advanced security features come at a price. Aside from security, its dual-band WiFi 6 resonates with its powerful hardware to deliver an effective and reliable performance.
Besides, the manufacturer has taken a step forward with this from its older model, RAX45, in terms of throughput performance, coverage and others.
Why is it a suitable choice?
There’s a Bitdefender-powered Netgear Armor which is available at a $6.99 monthly subscription for customers after a year of a free trial.
It’s a complete antivirus solution that identifies, defends, and secures your devices and network ecosystem against cyber threats like adware, ransomware, trojans, and phishing. The best part about it is you can use it on any number of devices at a time.
Netgear Smart parental control feature also comes along with the subscription that lets you pause the internet across multiple devices, track internet usage, assign devices to your kids, and monitor website history.
Aside from that, there’re features like filtering content, scheduling internet pausing and rewarding your kids with some extra online time.
In short, with such network security tools and parental controls in place, your network and your kids are safe from any malicious agents when online.
There's also a bit of something for users who don’t want to spend anything. You have features like WPA3, VPN, firewalls, DDoS protection, and guest access, which are capable of providing a basic level of security.
Wireless Speeds
With dual-band WiFi 6 connectivity, the router has a maximum throughput capacity of 5400 Mbps, with individual speeds as follows:
| 5 GHz: 4804 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps |
it was fair to pair the router with the Xfinity 1 Gbps plan, and the results were pretty decent. Over the 5GHz band, downloading a 150MB file at 927 Mbps took around a minute, while uploads were also very fast, rating at 27 Mbps.
At the same time, its 2.4GHz speed wasn’t very disappointing, valued at 504 Mbps and 21 Mbps, respectively. Most of the credits go to MU-MIMO and QoS, contributing to stable and strong daily signals.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
Boasting a four-antenna setup, the maximum area Nighthawk RAX54S can encase with powerful signals is around 2000-2200 Sq Ft, i.e., the size of a mid-sized apartment. And any number of devices, up to 25, should work seamlessly connected to the router.
The best thing about it is you can perform any heavy tasks on them without any network dropdown, courtesy of technologies like MU-MIMO and QoS.
Ports & Wired Connectivity
The Port setup of this router is decent, with one GigE WAN and four GigE LAN ports. You can connect any of your bandwidth-hungry devices and get maximum download and upload speeds of 991 Mbps and 45 Mbps, respectively. That’s an improvement over your wireless speeds, which means you have a few extra Mbps to exploit.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Netgear Nighthawk RAX54S is an all-in-one router that combines powerful hardware with decent WiFi support to deliver decent performance on all your connected devices.
Its security features are advanced enough to keep your network ecosystem safe and secure, irrespective of its size. But the thing is, it comes at a price, which pushes it down to the fifth position.
Pros
- Great speeds
- Decent coverage
- Advanced security features
- Smart parental controls
Cons
- Security features and parental controls are paid
6. Best Open-Source Router: Linksys WRT3200ACM
- Fast wireless router provides Wi-Fi coverage for your home (works with existing modem)
- Open source firmware offers advanced customization; Certified operating systems: MacOS (10.X or higher), Windows 7, Windows 8.1 (Works with Windows 10)
- Tri stream 160 technology doubles bandwidth from 80 MHz to 160 MHz
- Enjoy 4K HD streaming, gaming and more in high quality without buffering
- Dual band Wi-Fi speeds up to 2.6 Gbps (2.4 GHz / 600 Mbps) plus (5 GHz / 2600 Mbps). Operating temperature: 32 to 104 F (0 to 40 C)
Linksys tends to think out of the box while developing its networking products, and Linksys WRT3200ACM is a prime example of that.
This open-source firmware-compatible router is a holy grail for tech nerds who don’t wish to pay hefty amounts per-customized router and rather a device they can work with according to their needs. Besides, it has got a decent range of specs to qualify itself as a reliable routing device.
Why is it a suitable choice?
Why restrict on pre-loaded limited security features when you can have limitless opportunities to explore with open-source firmware like Tomato, OpenWRT, and DD-WRT? With these installed, you not only get additional security features but a boosted overall router performance.
Upon DD-WRT installation, aside from WPA/WPA2 encryption, there’s a customizable and powerful firewall that keeps your network safe from unauthorized access.
There’s also a VPN that lets you browse any website without revealing and compromising your identity. Aside from that, I can add parental control features like content filtering, creating profiles, pausing WiFi, and many others.
One thing worth mentioning here is this router is also a viable choice for non-techies. Unlike many similar devices, installing open-source firmware in WRT3200ACM feels like a cakewalk. Just log in to the admin portal, replace the firmware, and voila. You’re done!
Wireless Speeds
With 802.11ac WiFi 5 support, this Linksys routing device has a maximum throughput capacity of 3000 Mbps, with individual speed distribution as follows:
| 5 GHz: 2400 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps |
Testing the 5GHz band with Xfinity 1 Gbps plan got speeds of 847 Mbps and 29 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads. For a similar plan, respective speeds over the 2.4GHz were around 412 Mbps and 17 Mbps.
At such speeds, it’s theoretically possible to stream Netflix movies on 20 devices and attend Zoom calls on 50 devices at once.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
DD-WRT firmware installation lets me alter the broadcasting capacity of antennas and, in turn, boost the overall coverage. So, the router was able to match the maximum theoretical coverage limit of 3000 Sq Ft, which is implausible for most routers available. Besides, the maximum device support increased from 25 to 28 upon firmware installation.
Ports & Wired Connectivity
Like most routers on my list, WRT3200ACM presents a decent range of Gigabit ports with maximum speeds of 905 Mbps for downloads and 32 Mbps for uploads.
Besides, the signals should be consistent enough to play any graphics-intensive games and applications at a maximum of 5ms ping value and at 90-92 frames per second.
Conclusion
Overall, the WRT3200ACM is a value-added router ideal for people who want to experiment with various DD-WRT AC router customizations.
Furthermore, you get faster speeds and decent coverage, which adds a few points to its overall score. However, the unavailability of any pre-installed security features has pushed the router down to the sixth position.
Pros
- Fast 5GHz throughput
- Several customizations with DD-WRT firmware
- Support MU-MIMO and beamforming
- Fast 5GHz throughput
Cons
- No 160MHz clients available
7. Best with Firewall & TLS: Google Nest WiFi
If you’re tired of weak zones and dead spots around your house, then try installing a mesh system in your ecosystem. And what’s better than Google Nesh WiFi?
Besides its massive range, the powerful quad-core processor, with decent security, ample storage, and decent wireless connectivity, makes it a great pick.
If you’re a Google WiFi user, you’ll know how many upgrades Nest WiFi brings in terms of processing ability, coverage, and throughput capacity.
Why is it a suitable choice?
Google is always concerned about the security of its users, and I wasn’t disappointed with what Nest WiFi has to offer. A few of its notable features include a firewall, WPA3 protocol, TLS, and automatic firmware updates.
Its firewall isn’t as powerful as my top options, but it does a decent job by keeping track of connections and data traveling across the network and preventing unauthorized attacks.
Besides, the communication between the router and connected devices is secured through WPA3 and Transport Layer Security (TLS). However, key features like malware and virus elimination are missing.
Moving on, there are a few parental controls like scheduling WiFi pauses, tracking online activities, and time for digital mothers to make sure their kids aren’t exposed to anything harmful online.
Wireless Speeds
Despite an 802.11ac WiFi 5 standard, Google Nest WiFi has a maximum speed cap set at 2200 Mbps, with individual band speeds distributed as:
| 5 GHz: 1733 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 400 Mbps |
To test out how the router performs in real life, I paired it with a Cox 500 Mbps plan and followed the routine procedure for both bands.
For the 5GHz band, respective download and upload speeds were recorded at 457 Mbps and 19 Mbps, while the 2.4 GHz band test values were around 225 Mbps and 14 Mbps.
Besides, the router performed well in my stress tests, where I connected a series of devices, including laptops, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and others. Courtesy of technologies like MU-MIMO, beamforming, and QoS, there weren’t any disruptions or inconsistencies.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
Being a mesh system, you can expect it to spread strong and stable signals to faraway distances. And with a practical range of 4000 Sq Ft, this router didn’t disappoint. It easily encased my 3700 Sq Ft home easily, and I could connect up to 45 devices concurrently without experiencing many throttles.
Ports & Wired Connectivity
This is the area where Google Nest WiFi disappoints. Each unit embraces two Gigabit Ethernet ports, one of which is occupied connecting to the modem.
Nevertheless, the other port is powerful enough to give out maximum speeds of 482 Mbps and 19 Mbps with the available 500 Mbps plan. You can upgrade your plan to 1 Gbps if you have limited devices to use.
Conclusion
To conclude, Nest WiFi is an ideal mesh router with a built-in firewall to pair great performance with decent security. With this, you can take over any internet-bound tasks without worrying about compromising your data.
But inferior features and performance than my previous options have pushed the router down to the penultimate position.
Want to know more specific details? Check out the Google Nest WiFi review.
Pros
- Excellent design
- Great range
- Easy to install
- Decent throughput
Cons
- Lack of WiFi 6 support
Alternate Suggestion
If you need a mesh router with better specifications and performance in terms of higher speed capacity and stability, Eero 6 Plus is a great option without costing much extra. Plus, the great part about it is there’s advanced security on offer with Secure and Secure+.
8. Best Budget Option: ASUS RT-AX55
- Maximum Range : 3000 Sq Ft.Processor : 1.5GHz quad-core processor.
- Next-Gen WiFi Standard - Supporting the latest WiFi standard 802.11AX (WiFi 6) and 80MHz bandwidth for better capacity and efficiency.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed - RT-AX55 supports 80MHz bandwidth and 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections. With a total networking speed of about 1800Mbps — 574 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1201 Mbps on the 5GHz band.
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency - Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
Last but not least, presenting you with a budget-friendly option, Asus RT-AX55, which backs a great performance, a decent app, and an optional mesh.
And rest aside, the router excels in the department you and I are primarily concerned about here, i.e., security. These features add up to translate into a better and quality performance over its preceding model, Asus RT-AC55.
Why is it a suitable choice?
Asus RT-AX55, similar to its sibling model, offers a plethora of advanced security features and tools without charging a penny. Its AiProtection classic, aside from the standard basic features like WPA3, VPN, guest access, access controls, and auto-firmware update, has some advanced features at its disposal.
These include firewalls to prevent intrusion and unauthorized devices from accessing your network, alongside weekly scans.
Other than that, it has got some cool parental control features like age-based filters, manual website blocking, WiFi pausing, and creating customized internet schedules. The only features it lags are malware blocking and detecting malicious websites.
Wireless Speeds
This WiFi 6 in-built router boasts a maximum throughput capacity of 1800 Mbps, with band-wise speed distribution as follows:
| 5 GHz: 1200 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps |
Similar to my previous recommendation, I hooked up the Cox 500 Mbps plan, and wasn’t very disappointed with the output.
The respective download speeds for 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands are 454 Mbps and 318 Mbps while uploading speeds were recorded at 18 Mbps and 13 Mbps. The faraway speeds can be lower, considering its potentially weaker antennas.
But despite that, the signals were more or less stable, thanks to networking technologies like beamforming and OFDMA.
In my stress tests, the signals were more or less stable, posting a performance far superior to those ISP-rented routers or modem-router combos.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
Asus RT-AX55, with its four-antenna setup, can cover a decent distance of 1500 Sq Ft, the size of a two-bedroom apartment.
My client was pretty satisfied with its performance as he could connect up to 20 devices, including laptops, personal computers, gaming consoles, and mobile devices. All its credit goes to the networking technologies like beamforming and OFDMA.
Ports & Wired Connectivity
Unlike my previous recommendation, RT-AX55 boasts a decent arrangement of ports with one WAN and four LAN ports, with a maximum speed capacity of 1 Gbps. My Xbox 360 yielded speeds at around 501 Mbps and 213 Mbps connected to these ports, which is a significant improvement over the wireless speeds.
Conclusion
The Asus RT-AX55 is a dependable device in terms of wireless performance, security, and parental controls. Its lifetime-free security can easily secure any networking ecosystem, making it the best secure router for small business. However, its lower coverage and throughput capacity have pushed it to second place.
Pros
- Consistent performance
- Lifetime-free security tools and parental controls
- Easy to use app
- Decent throughput speeds
Cons
- Coverage is a bit on the weaker side
Frequently Asked Questions
The best standard encryption to use for a home network with a decently-sized network ecosystem should be WPA2. It uses the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), also used by the US government, to protect classified documents.
The newest and most secure WiFi security protocol available for a router is WPA3 personal. It works with 802.11ax WiFi 6 standard devices and a few older devices.
Most of the routers included in the router list with best security features have built-in VPN support. With such in place, you can browse any websites and web pages securely and without compromising your identity.
Here are a few steps to make your WiFi more secure:
– Change the default name and password of your home WiFi. Make sure your set password is strong and unique.
– Use the router app to enable network encryption. WPA3 is the latest and most recent wireless encryption standard available
– Turn off your network name broadcasting.
– Make sure your router’s software is up to date. Most routers come with automatic updates but have periodic checkups to ensure it always stays updated.
– Ensure you have a good firewall and VPN
Verdict
Keep your files and network protected with the most secure router. These days, an increasing number of smart devices in residential and commercial settings pose a security risk, but these routers ensure no data breach.
I hope the provided list helps you find the best secure wireless router. But if you still are confused, here’s my curated list of the best options:
- If you are very particular about the security features but aren’t much about speeds and coverage, Synology RT2600 is the best pick. However, trust me when I say its performance is decent enough to get your internet-bound devices up and running.
- If budget isn’t a concern, and you want a router that delivers in most aspects, go for Asus RT-AX88U. It might not offer high-end security features, but it’s powerful enough to cover your commercial network ecosystem.
- Lastly, if you need a budget option, Asus RT-AX55 with free AiProtection Classic is the best home router with a firewall.
Saying that, it's time to wrap up my guide. Goodbye for now!
