A router is the backbone of every home network, doing the hard work of connecting all your devices to the internet. Modern routers do a lot of different things; they’re gateways that connect to your internet modem. They also provide firewall protection, a few Ethernet ports so nearby devices can be wired in directly and Wi-Fi so all the rest of the devices in your home can connect to the internet (and each other) wirelessly.
For the most part, most consumer routers that work fine for your home can also get the job done for a home office — there are no absolutely must-have special features for a home office router. That said, if you find yourself working from home frequently, your network might run better with a router that is optimized for the needs of a home office. You might need a tri-band router to move large files and perform video teleconferences without glitches. And you might need to prioritize your laptop’s access to the internet so your kids don’t gobble up all the bandwidth while watching videos in the next room. For frustration-free day-to-day results, here is a roundup of the best routers you should consider installing to let your home and home office work together in harmony.
Asus AC1900 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Router
Your home network router doesn’t need to be expensive. The Asus AC68U is proof that you can get a good quality router for a very affordable price. What do you lose when you get a router for under $150? First and foremost, antennas — this is a dual-band router that runs at speeds as high as 1,300 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 600 Mbps for 2.4GHz devices but lacks a second 5GHz band that can really make a home network fly. It also includes four Ethernet ports for gigabit wired connectivity.
It’s easy to configure and manage this router since Asus provides a user-friendly mobile app that lets you prioritize bandwidth for certain devices and control the quality of service for specific apps. The router supports parental controls for managing family activities on the network. And Asus includes AiProtection, which scans your network for vulnerabilities and malware infection.
Google Nest Wifi Router (2nd Generation) 2-Pack
The Google Nest Wifi Router is a dual-band mesh router that comes in two different components. Rather than relying on a single traditional router, a mesh network uses multiple routers to distribute the wireless network more uniformly over a larger area, which is especially handy for a larger home. In fact, a mesh router is intended to eliminate the dead spots you commonly encounter in large homes from a single Wi-Fi router.
The Nest system is especially convenient if you already use a lot of Google devices. You use the Google Home app to set up the router, and Google Assistant is on hand to help you get it up and running. If you have Google smart speakers or a Google home monitoring system, the Nest Wifi fits right in and makes everything easier. On the downside, it has only a single Ethernet port, which is unusual — most routers tend to have four or more.
But the router is a great tool for managing your home and business needs. You can prioritize traffic to any devices on the network, which lets you ensure you have good connectivity for Zoom calls or speedy downloads even when the kids are trying to watch YouTube in the room next door. You can also schedule time during the day when the Wi-Fi is off to enforce family time or restrict access to specific devices.
D-Link WiFi Router AC3000
If you don’t know if you need to step up to a mesh network — but want to keep your options open — then consider the D-Link AC3000. This tri-band router looks like an upside-down insect with its six antennae, and out of the box can cover most homes. But if you have dead spots, this router is also mesh-compatible; just add D-Link extenders to build out a mesh network.
This is a fast router, able to hit speeds up to 866Mbps on one of its 5GHz bands and 1,733Mbps on the other 5GHz band (there’s also a 400Mbps 2.4GHz band, of course), along with four Ethernet ports for wiring devices directly.
It comes with parental control software for the family side of your home, able to configure restrictions and limits on web sites and internet usage — and it’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, which you can use to control the router by voice, such as turning the guest network on and off.
Netgear Nighthawk X10 Smart WiFi Router
If high-speed connectivity is your priority, and your home office already has access to very high-speed internet like gigabit fiber service, then the Netgear Nighthawk X10 can help you get the most out of it. If your internet speeds are more typical of standard DSL or cable service, though, this router is going to be overkill.
The Nighthawk X10 has six Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports for connecting devices directly to the router at the highest possible speed. On the wireless front, the router offers tri-band connectivity at 800Mbps for 2.4GHz devices and 1,633Mbps for 5GHz wireless connections. But it also gives you an almost unheard-of speed you won’t find in many other routers: 4,600 Mbps using the 60Ghz antenna and the still-pretty-new 802.11ad Wi-Fi standard. Unfortunately, the 802.11ad signal only has a 20-foot range and doesn’t penetrate walls, so to get those lightning-fast speeds you’ll need to keep the router in your office.
Aside from that, the router offers many common features that will also come in handy for the “home” half of the home office, including parental controls and guest networks.
TP-Link AC4000 Smart WiFi Router
There’s a new Wi-Fi standard coming called Wi-Fi 6, and not many routers on the market are compatible with it. Wi-Fi makes a number of improvements to wireless networks, most notably in security — it’s easier for hackers to crack a weak Wi-Fi password, for example. You don’t desperately need a router that’s Wi-Fi 6 compatible, but if you’re shopping for a router now anyway, getting one that’s Wi-Fi 6-ready isn’t a bad idea. And the TP-Link AX6000 is Wi-Fi 6 ready. It’s also a speedy eight-antenna, dual-band router that is among the fastest you can buy right now. It can reach an impressive 1148 Mbps on the slower 2.4GHz band and 4804 Mbps on the 5GHz band.
The router has an especially solid range, able to handle homes up to about 4,500 square feet without needing mesh satellites or extenders. The system, includes guest network features, parental controls and the ability to prioritize devices for the best performance. It also includes eight Ethernet ports for wired connectivity and a superb mobile app for configuring and optimizing the network settings.
