Routers with USB ports are gaining popularity as they allow you to connect printer, hard drive, USB-powered networking devices to the router. This allows anyone on the network access files, print documents, etc. Besides that, you can also connect a 3G/4G cellular modems for internet backup or power bank to keep the router on during a power outage.
Also, you can’t buy a router just because it has the USB ports. You must consider other factors like speeds, coverage, security, etc. That said, I’ve done the research on behalf of you and have made up a list of top-rated router options that not only have the USB ports, but also provide exceptional/balanced performance.
Best WiFi Routers with USB Ports in 2024
After spending 3 weeks of testing over 17 of the top WiFi routers with USB ports from reputed networking brands (TP-Link, Asus, Netgear, Linksys, etc.), I am here with a curated list of the best USB port routers that deliver a seamless file transfer performance.
Besides that, I have made sure you get a seamless throughput experience, coverage alongside good security specs, and compatibility with various internet plans. This detailed list starts with the high-end models, followed by mid-range and affordable options. Here are my top picks:
1. Best Overall: Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
- USB Ports: 2 (1 x USB 3.0 + 1 x USB 3.0)
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6E
- WiFi Range: Up to 3,500 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: Up to 2 Gbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 1200 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 4800 Mbps
- 6GHz Speeds: 4800 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 60
- Ports: 1 x 2.5G WAN/LAN + 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN
- Processor: 1.8GHz Quad-Core Processor
- RAM & NAND Memory: 1GB + 512MB
- App Support: Yes
If you are looking for a router that, aside from a fast USB port, ingrains the latest and advanced technology to boost your internet using experience, then Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is your go-to device. With a Wi-Fi 6E standard, an additional 6GHz band, a multi-gig port, and a powerful quad-core processor are capable of delivering unmatched performance, wireless or wired.
Besides, compared to Netgear Nighthawk RAXE450, it makes a major improvement in terms of maximum throughput capacity and network stability.
Why is it a suitable choice?
2xUSB 3.0 ports at the rear panel of RAXE500 make it a top choice for a router with a USB port. Compared to its predecessor, USB 2.0, it makes some major improvements to boost the transfer rates and power efficiency.
So, to test its file transfer performance, I connected my hard drive to transfer over 1.8GB of a folder containing videos, images, songs, and other documents. At a speed of 85 Mbps, my transfer took around 23 minutes to complete, which was much faster than most models I have tested so far.
Wireless & Wired Speeds
Moving on to the speeds, its Wi-Fi 6E standard works harmoniously with the powerful processor to deliver maximum speeds of 11000 Mbps. So, I paired it with the top (2 Gbps) Xfinity internet plan and tested its band-wise speeds for downloads and uploads across various locations in the house. Here are the results.
For the 6GHz band, the speeds were around 1.85 Gbps and 847 Mbps, while for the 5GHz, it panned out at 1.74 Gbps and 725 Mbps, respectively. At the same time, respective speed test results for the 2.4GHz band were 945 Mbps and 547 Mbps. All the mentioned speeds were measured at a 5-foot distance.
While moving my client devices to a room across two walls had a speed drop of around 30%. That’s not very high, considering it’s a standalone router.
Aside from wireless, I tested the wired capability of this router, and courtesy of a 2.5G port, the client devices could achieve speeds as high as 2015 Mbps and 907 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads. Such high speeds are suitable for bandwidth-intensive activities like gaming, streaming, video conferencing, and others.
WiFi Coverage & Device Capacity
RAXE500’s wing-like structure on both sides boasts four antennas each, capable of transmitting signals as far as 3,200 Sq Ft. The best part about these is the beamforming support that can send signals far away without dropping their quality. With further support from networking technologies like OFDMA and MU-MIMO, I can connect up to 35 devices at max, despite the manufacturer’s claim of 60.
Security Features
Keeping in mind the security of users and their data, the Netgear router puts into play features like WPA3 security protocol, VPN support, auto-firmware updates, guest network access, and standard-based WiFi security. WPA3 and VPN are especially helpful in keeping your data encrypted and accessing any site without revealing your identity, respectively.
These features are fittingly suited for residential networks. But, if you have a large ecosystem to protect, subscribe to Netgear Armor. It has advanced features like malware blocking, preventing data theft, identifying and blocking malicious sites, and others.
Conclusion
In conclusion, with Netgear RAXE500, you have a much more advanced router in terms of its features and overall performance, courtesy of its 6GHz band, 2.5G LAN, and battle-ready processor. Its USB ports are powerful enough to transfer multiple and large files to or from your external device in a few minutes. Its only downfall is its price, but with its future-proof features, it’s a smart investment.
For more information, check out my detailed Nighthawk RAXE500 review.
Pros
- Speedy file transfer performance
- Utilizes the 6GHz band
- 2.5G LAN and link aggregation support
- Decent coverage
- Supports 160MHz channel bandwidth
Cons
- Expensive
- Some features require a subscription
2. Best Runner Up: TP-Link Archer AX90
- USB Ports: 2 (1 x USB 3.0 + 1 x USB 2.0)
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,500 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: Up to 2 Gbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 574 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 4804 + 1201 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 40+
- Ports: 1 x 2.5G WAN/LAN + 1 x Gig LAN/WAN + 3 x Gig LAN
- Processor: 1.5 GHz Quad-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: 512MB + 128MB
- App Support: Yes
Next on my list is a powerful device, TP-Link Archer AX90, that presents an ideal setup for users with higher bandwidth and performance needs. A successor to TP-Link’s flagship model, Archer AX73, it brings along a range of upgrades in terms of ports, bands, processor, and speeds which translates to faster and better performance.
Why is it a suitable choice?
Compared to my previous recommendation, there’s a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0 port. Despite featuring an older port, there’s an option for you to connect two devices at a time, which many routers lack.
I performed similar tests as with Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500, where I transferred a 1.5GB folder containing images, videos, etc., using the USB 3.0 port to a personal computer. And with speeds of 54 Mbps, the transfer took around 30-35 minutes, a bit longer than the former. At the same time, the file transfer rate on the USB 2.0 port was 31 Mbps.
Wireless & Wired Speeds
With 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 support, Archer AX90 has a maximum throughput cap of 6600 Mbps. To find out how that translates in real life, I paired an Xfinity 2 Gbps and measured its band-wise speeds. And the results were unsurprisingly great.
In close proximity, the download and upload speeds over the 5GHz band were around 1.75 Gbps and 768 Mbps, while 917 Mbps and 487 Mbps, respectively, for the 2.4GHz band. Moving the client devices 30 feet apart had a 32-34% drop in speeds, a tad higher than my previous recommendation but still enough for streaming 4K Netflix movies over 40 devices at a stretch.
Barring wireless speeds, Archer AX90’s wired speeds are also great, courtesy of its 2.5G multi-gig port. Plugging my smart TV into it generated maximum download and upload speeds of 1.97 Gbps and 814 Mbps, respectively. So, playing 8K videos seems like a walk in the park.
WiFi Coverage & Device Capacity
With an eight-antenna setup, the device’s range extends to 2,500 Sq Ft in ideal settings. But in real life, with thick walls, it translates to around 2,100 Sq Ft, the size of a small to mid-sized home. Despite offering lesser coverage, the signal strength over your space is very strong, courtesy of technologies like beamforming and MU-MIMO.
These technologies also boost the router’s device handling capacity to 45. Most devices streamed 4K Netflix movies without any lags or latencies.
Security Features
The Archer AX90 shares an almost identical range of basic features like the Netgear RAXE500, with features like guest access, VPN support, automatic firmware update, and others. The thing that sets it apart from the latter is its smart parental controls. Some advanced features include WiFi pausing, setting age-based filters, and scheduling WiFi pauses.
Similar to the Netgear device, this has a premium security feature. With TP-Link HomeShield Pro, you get advanced features like malware and malicious website identification and elimination, along with preventing cyber attacks. There are also some additional parental controls, like setting time limits and rewarding kids with extra online time for any chores they complete.
Conclusion
Overall, TP-Link Archer AX90 is a very reliable and effective device that fulfills your and your family’s bandwidth needs. Its USB ports let you carry faster file transfers and have the freedom to connect two devices at once. However, its coverage is less than my previous recommendation and also requires a subscription to access advanced security features.
Pros
- Solid 5GHz performance
- Easy setup
- Solid parental controls
- Multi-gig WAN
Cons
- Middling coverage
3. Best for Gaming: ASUS RT-AX86U
- USB Ports: 2 (1 x USB 3.2 + 1 x USB 2.0)
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,500 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: Up to 2 Gbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 861 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 4804 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 35+
- Ports: 1 x 2.5G LAN/WAN + 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN
- Processor: 1.8GHz Quad-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: 1GB + 256MB
- App Support: Yes
Third on my list of the best routers for USB is the Asus RT-AX86U, which presents some advanced features and gaming-related features to qualify as one of the best gaming routers in the retail space. This model comes as a major improvement over Asus RT-AX82U, with an inferior processor, and USB port, lacking a multi-gig port, leading to a comparatively weaker performance.
Why is it a suitable choice?
The USB 3.2 Gen 1 is the latest and best-in-class USB port to exist in routers. And courtesy of such a port, the file transfer speeds are much higher than the traditional USB 3.0 ports. My 1.5GB folder transferred at a rate of 95 Mbps, the highest of the lot. The router took around 15-16 minutes to transfer the entire thing on my USB drive.
Wireless & Wired Speeds
This gaming router, with 802.11ax WiFi 6 support, supports a maximum throughput of 5700 Mbps, a value achievable only in ideal settings. To test out its actual performance, I paired it with the Xfinity 2 Gbps plan over the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands and measured the download and upload speeds for each.
Over a 5 feet distance, the respective speeds over the 5GHz band were around 1.65 Gbps and 712 Mbps, while for the 2.4GHz band, the values were 689 Mbps and 245 Mbps. Similarly, there was almost a 40% speed displacement when the client device was moved 30 feet away. That’s a major drop when compared to my previous recommendations.
Next, I connected my iPhone 13 to the 2.5G WAN port to test out the gaming performance on wired connections. And courtesy of a “Mobile game boost” feature, the downloads panned out at 1.97 Gbps, while uploads were valued at 815 Mbps. I played out Apex Legends on my iPhone at 120fps without any throttles or lags.
WiFi Coverage & Device Capacity
The three-antenna setup of the Asus RT-AX86U can’t get you expansive coverage, but it’s powerful enough to cover your 1,800 Sq Ft space, the size of a small room. And courtesy of networking technologies like OFDMA and MU-MIMO, you won’t have to worry about signal drops when connecting multiple devices. I could connect 30 devices at a stretch.
Security Features
Security features are a strong suit of this gaming router, where premium features like malware blocking, malicious website identification and blocking, and others, without paying anything. There are also a few smart parental controls like scheduling WiFi, setting up age-based filters, and pausing WiFi, which allows digital mothers to prevent their kids from accessing harmful sites.
Conclusion
Asus RT-AX86U is a solid choice for mobile and online gamers seeking to eliminate network throttles and bottlenecks. With the latest-gen USB port, you can transfer your large files in a few minutes. And courtesy of WiFi 6, you get a fast close-range throughput, along with many other features to optimize your network.
Pros
- Solid close-range throughput
- Easy installation
- Link aggregation and multi-gig LAN
- Robust malware protection and parental controls
Cons
- Middling long-range performance
4. Best Value for Money: Linksys MR9610
- USB Ports: 2 (1 x USB 3.0 + 1 x USB 3.0)
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- WiFi Range: Up to 3,000 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: 1 Gbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 4804 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 1147 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 40+
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN
- Processor: 1.8GHz Quad-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: N/A
- App Support: Yes
Continuing with my list of top routers with USB ports, here’s my next presentation, Linksys MR9610. It costs less than $120 but ingrains some top-of-the-shelf features like WiFi 6 support, greater range, a powerful processor, and a fast USB port. Besides, compared to its older model, MR9610 has put a lot on the table in terms of throughput capacity, range, and overall performance.
Why is it a suitable choice?
Linksys MR9610 boasts two USB 3.0 port setup that delivers much faster port setup compared to the USB 2.0 we find in most routers. Testing its performance with a 1GB movie, the device performed well with a transfer rate of 73 Mbps, much faster than in TP-Link Archer AX90 but slower than the other three recommendations. It took me around 20 minutes to transfer the file.
Wireless & Wired Speeds
Coming to the speeds, with a maximum cap of 6000 Mbps, the device offers a lot of bandwidth to exploit. So, pairing the device with the Cox 1 Gbps plan got me respective speeds for downloads and uploads of 945 Mbps and 347 Mbps over the 5GHz band. At the same time, the 2.4GHz band had speeds of 534 Mbps and 168 Mbps. All the speeds were measured over a 5 feet distance.
Now, moving around 30 feet away from the router caused a speed drop of around 42%, taking download speeds for 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands at 548 Mbps and 310 Mbps, respectively. Even after such a fall-off, the bandwidth was still enough to play games, stream movies, stock trades, and make video calls.
WiFi Coverage & Device Capacity
Linksys MR9610, with a four-antenna setup and a mesh tech, has an advertised range of 3,000 Sq Ft, but the presence of interferences like walls and multiple networking devices cuts out its actual range to 2,500 Sq Ft. You can connect up to 35 devices with the bandwidth at once without any lags, thanks to its networking technologies like MU-MIMO and QoS.
Security Features
Security with this Linksys router isn’t very advanced as Asus RT-AX86U, but there are a few functional features like device prioritization, WPA3 mix protocol, guest network access, an automatic firmware update, and a VPN server. Alongside, features like scheduling an internet pause, manual website blocking, and activity monitoring are a few parental controls of this device.
Conclusion
Overall, Linksys MR9610 is a very reliable device, courtesy of advanced wireless standards, powerful antennas, and above-par performance. Its USB is fast enough to complete your file transfers within minutes, and its throughput capacity is also great. However, a potential drawback of this device is its security features, which only give out basic protection, and no premium upgrade is available.
Pros
- Decent USB file transfer speeds
- Equips a mesh tech for greater coverage
- Decent throughput capacity
- Easy to install
Cons
- Lacks malware protection
5. Best Under $100: TP-Link Archer AX55
- USB Ports: 1 x USB 3.0
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,000 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: 500 Mbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 574 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 2402 Mbps
- Coverage: N/A
- Number of Devices Supported: 25+
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN/LAN + 4 x Gig LAN
- Processor: 1GHz Qualcomm IPQ0518
- RAM & NAND Memory: 512MB + 128MB
- App Support: Yes
If you are a fan of TP-Link devices but are in pursuit of an affordable device, its Archer AX55 is your go-to model. This WiFi 6 ready model now comes with improved performance over the one it replaces, i.e., Archer AX50, thanks to its Qualcomm chip and improved security feature. The wireless performance is now faster, stronger, and, importantly, consistent and stable.
Why is it a suitable choice?
The port setup of Archer AX55, with a USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 port, is pretty standard with most modern routers. Its USB 3.0 port supports any external device, be it an external hard drive, USB SSD, computer, or USB drive. And the file-sharing rates at 48 Mbps are pretty decent, considering the price at which it comes in. It’s probably possible due to the Qualcomm chip.
Wireless & Wired Speeds
Archer AX55 boasts a maximum throughput of 3000 Mbps, with 802.11ax dual-band Wi-Fi 6 support. I paired a 500 Mbps Cox Internet plan, and its performance was decent enough. Over the 5GHz band, respective download and upload speeds over my smart TV were 487 Mbps and 157 Mbps, while 247 Mbps and 98 Mbps over the 2.4GHz band.
So, I get to play my heavy games and stream UHD videos up and running without any inconsistencies or lags.
Besides, connecting my gaming console to the Gigabit WAN/LAN ports boosted my speed. Downloads took place at 507 Mbps, while I carried out the uploads at 198 Mbps. The games now played out at better frame rates and resolution.
WiFi Coverage & Device Capacity
With a four antenna setup, it claims to transmit signals over a 2,000 Sq Ft house. In a real-time setting, the maximum my devices got signals was up to an area of 1,800 Sq Ft, the size of a two-bed apartment or a small workspace. However, it’s OneMesh supported, which means you can use WiFi extenders to expand its coverage.
Now concerning capacity, the integration of networking technologies like MU-MIMO and QoS, signals of equal strength are transmitted to the connected devices. The maximum number of devices you can play your Netflix movies is 20, which is more than enough in a residential network setup.
Security Features
Security-wise, you aren’t getting the most advanced device ever. Archer AX55 ingrains basic features like guest access, a VPN server, a WPA3 protocol, and an SPI firewall. I reckon such features are best for a residential network setup, but you need to get the HomeShield Pro feature at a $5.99 per month subscription.
However, you get smart parental controls like custom profiles, pause the internet, and reward some extra online time to your child if they complete any chores.
Conclusion
Archer AX55, with features like a dual USB port, the latest Wi-Fi 6 protocol, decent throughput capacity, and others, makes it the best option under $100. Besides, its security features are decent enough considering its price range. But middling USB speeds and coverage have pushed the router to the penultimate position.
Pros
- Stable performance
- Affordable performance upgrade
- Decent USB file transfer performance
- User-friendly app
Cons
- HomeShield Pro needs a subscription
6. Cheapest Option: ASUS RT-AC67P
- USB Ports: 1 x USB 3.0
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- WiFi Range: Up to 3,000 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: 200 Mbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 600 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 1300 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 12+
- Ports: 1 x WAN + 4 x Gig LAN
- Processor: MediaTek MT7762N
- RAM & NAND Memory: 128MB + 128MB
- App Support: Yes
Now that I have reached the end of my list of the best wireless routers with USB ports presenting to you the cheapest yet reliable option, the Asus RT-AC67P. Costing around $60, it has a decent range of features, Wi-Fi 5 support, decent throughput capacity, ports, and processor, which translates to better performance, much higher than its older model.
Why is it a suitable choice?
The USB 3.0 port of Asus RT-AC67P translates to a better file transfer performance with a decent speed ranging from 40-45 Mbps. It might be the slowest among my recommendations, but it isn’t very far from those mid-tier ones. A 1GB file takes around 40 minutes to transfer into a secondary device.
Wireless & Wired Speeds
With a maximum throughput cap of 1900 Mbps, you can’t expect Gigabit speeds from this router, but it works wonderfully well with any low-tier or basic internet plans. So, pairing a 200 Mbps Xfinity plan achieved a maximum throughput of 187 Mbps and 47 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads, over the 5GHz band. At the same time, respective speeds with the 2.4GHz band were 97 Mbps and 17 Mbps.
It might sound slow, especially when you have gone through those top-speed options. But trust me when I say this, the speeds are decent enough to stream UHD Netflix movies on eight devices or play games on four devices concurrently.
Now concerning wired speeds, it’s got its ports in a similar arrangement as in most routers. But the best part is if you have limited devices in hand, you can upgrade your IP to a value as high as 500 Mbps. With that in place, the delivered speeds for downloads and uploads reached 487 Mbps and 87 Mbps, respectively.
WiFi Coverage & Device Capacity
A router as cheap as RT-AC67P isn’t an ideal router for a 3,000 Sq Ft house, but its powerful antennas and other technologies like MU-MIMO and beamforming achieve that feat fairly comfortably. However, in real-time settings, the actual coverage fared out at 2,500 Sq Ft, but it’s still pretty high considering the range it belongs in.
Besides, I could connect up to 10 devices at a stretch without experiencing any lag-offs or latencies.
Security Features
Like my top-tier Asus recommendation, you won’t find an AiProtection Pro on this device, but there are still some basic security features to keep you safe. These include SPI & NAT firewalls, guest network access, access controls, VPN, WPA2 protocols, and auto-firmware updates. Besides, parental controls like WiFi pausing and scheduled pauses are decent enough for a low-priced option.
Conclusion
To summarise, Asus RT-AC67P is the perfect example of “good things come in small packets”. Although its throughput and connections capacity could have been better, its massive coverage sells it out to users with large houses. Besides, its security features are decent enough to keep your residential network safe and secure.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- MU-MIMO
- Decent coverage
- Great wired speeds
Cons
- Speeds are a bit low
Frequently Asked Questions
Routers come with USB ports because you can use it in ways beyond just routing traffic. For example, you can use these to attach non-networking devices like printers, hard drives, USB drives and for uninterruptable power supplies.
As you already have read through the review, these two differ in terms of data transfer rates. But apart from that, they also differ in design, power output, and others.
– USB 3.0 has nine connector ports compared to 2.0’s four, which translates to better bandwidth and speed.
– The superior USB port brings more power and consumes less power than its older counterpart.
– USB 3.0 ports are backward compatible, which means you can connect USB 2.0 devices to them. But, if you connect a 3.0 device to a 2.0 port, it’s limited to a maximum speed of USB 2.0.
– If you look carefully, you’ll find a color difference between the two.
Start with using a connector cable to connect an external hard drive to the wireless router. Then choose what you want to do, including file transfer. An indicator light starts blinking, and you can start transferring your files.
Here’s a stepwise process:
– Connect your drive to the USB port using a connector cable
– Check the drive status of your storage using the router’s web UI setup
– Then click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Run
– Type in \IP address of the router, and click OK
– If you’re prompted to enter a username and password, use it to log in and continue using the device
Technically you can, you can use a USB hub to connect multiple USB devices to a single USB port of the host. But the thing is, the speeds might get reduced massively, depending on the number of devices you connect.
Verdict
A USB-port integrated router is very helpful, particularly when you have storage devices to transfer data over to other platforms. But the best routers with USB are tough to find, so you must follow the list if you are unsure. You can’t end up with lesser-specs and mediocre routers that don’t justify your subscribed plan. However, if you still are confused, here are the best picks:
- Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is the best in terms of file transfer rates of its USB ports. Besides, both its ports are USB 3.0, providing you the flexibility to connect your devices.
- If you need a reliable and efficient router with USB without breaking the bank, Asus RT-AX86U should be your go-to device.
- Lastly, if you want the cheapest option, Asus RT-AC67P is the best option. Its coverage is its selling point, but you also get a decent file transfer speed with its USB port.
I hope you get your hands on the best router with a USB port for a hard drive or any other storage device. Goodbye and take care!
