Best Routers For Small Business in 2022
Routers are integral to a small business’s communications infrastructure, so it’s important to buy one that’s fast. You’ll want one with features to keep your employees and visitors happy, too. We look at four of the best small business routers in 2022.
Products at a Glance
Features and considerations
There are quite a few things to consider when buying a small business router, so we’ll summarise some here. One important thing to consider is the Wi-Fi standard and theoretical speed of the router. The speed is expressed in megabits per second (Mbps).
The latest standard is 802.11ax, and it provides the highest theoretical speeds so that you can access network folders and websites quickly. This is the standard to go for, especially if your employees spend a lot of time tele-conferencing. However, the previous standard, 802.11ac, also allows speeds that are pretty quick, so is still a good option.
If you go for 802.11ax or 802.11ac then you’ll have at least two bands on which to create wireless networks. You’ll also have a wider choice of channels for those networks, which means your network can use a less congested channel for higher speeds and reliability.
Check that the router has Gigabit Ethernet ports, as these will provide better data throughput for your network than Fast Ethernet ports. Some routers have Ethernet ports that are even faster than Gigabit Ethernet, which boosts your productivity and efficiency even further.
Some routers let you insert USB flash drives so they can be used for NAS or file-sharing functions. This lets you place commonly used proformas and files on the router so you can access them easily. Some routers let you access attached USB storage via the internet, which adds convenience when you’re out of the office.
How we picked the best routers for small business in 2022
The best router for your small business depends on your needs and budget. You should try to use the one you want before purchase, if possible, to see if it meets your needs.
We chose the four best routers for small business in 2022 using a combination of specs, features, price and desirability. All of which should hit a sweet spot to satisfy most users.
Best Routers For Small Business in 2022
- Synology Router Manager OS for easy interaction
- High Wi-Fi speeds and three bands for maximum device compatibility
- Lots of features such as VPNs and USB file storage
Synology is more commonly associated with network-attached storage (NAS) devices, but it has made routers for a few years now. The RT6600ax uses the latest 802.11ax standard and six antennas to provide three bands for creating multiple Wi-Fi networks.
One band has a maximum theoretical speed of 4,800Mbps, the second has 1,200Mbps and the third has 600Mbps. This lets you create Wi-Fi networks for newer devices that can make use of the higher speeds and also support older devices.
You use the excellent Synology Router Manager to set up and interact with the RT6600ax. It’s a graphical operating system that lets you use the router’s features and set options in a natural, intuitive way. This should help you use the router more quickly and efficiently.
The RT6600ax lets you create VPNs, guest networks, access files from attached USB drives and more.
The RT6600ax has one 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port and three Gigabit Ethernet ports for attaching network items.
This is the best router for small business in 2022 if you need a high-end router with a user-friendly OS.
- Multi-Gig Ethernet for faster WAN or LAN speeds
- Supports up to 60 connections
- High Wi-Fi speeds and three bands for maximum device compatibility
- Have to pay for optional Netgear Armor service after 30 days
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 might look like a model from a sci-fi series, but it’s actually a high-end router. It provides three bands on which you can have up to two 4,800Mbps networks and one with up to 1,200Mbps. That’s a lot of bandwidth for you and your staff.
The RAXE500 allows access from up to 60 devices, so it should have no problem supporting your staff and visitors. You can also create guest accounts so that customers and visitors don’t have full access to your network.
Not only does the RAXE500 have four Gigabit Ethernet ports, you can also aggregate two of them for faster-than-Gigabit speeds. You can also aggregate the LAN port and an Ethernet port for faster-than-Gigabit internet speeds where possible.
Plus, there’s a 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet port that you can use as a WAN port if you have a faster-than-Gigabit internet connection, or as a 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet port. This provides you with lots of flexibility with regards to fast internet and LAN connections.
The RAXE500 has two USB3 ports to which you can attach drives for file sharing. You can even set up access to attached USB drives via the internet for on-the-move convenience.
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is compatible with Netgear Armor. Netgear Armor is a cybersecurity tool that helps keep your data and network safe for your peace of mind. However, it’s a subscription service so you’ll need to pay for it after a 30-day trial.
This is the best router for small business in 2022 if you want fast Wi-Fi and Ethernet speeds.
- High Wi-Fi speeds and three bands for maximum device compatibility
- Can aggregate two Ethernet ports for higher internet speeds
- Have to pay for optional Netgear Armor service after 30 days
The Netgear Nighthawk RAX70 is a very futuristic-looking device that provides 802.11ax Wi-Fi speeds, Four Gigabit Ethernet ports and more. You can aggregate one Ethernet port and the WAN port to allow higher-than-Gigabit internet speeds where possible.
As for Wi-Fi, the tri-band RAX70 provides up to 4,800Mbps on one band, up to 1,200 on the second, and up to 600Mbps on the third. This gives you the fastest speeds for newer devices but also provides compatibility with older, slower devices.
Even better, Smart Connect selects the fastest band for your device. This means you can have one Wi-Fi network name instead of multiple networks for different bands but still get the fastest speeds. You can also create guest networks for customers and visitors to use.
The Netgear Nighthawk RAX70 is compatible with Netgear Armor. Netgear Armor is a cybersecurity tool that helps keep your data and network safe for your peace of mind. However, it’s a subscription service so you’ll need to pay for it after a 30-day trial.
This is the best router for small business in 2022 if you want a fast router compatible with Netgear Armor.
- High Wi-Fi speeds and three bands for maximum device compatibility
- USB port for convenient file access from attached devices
- USB2 port, not a faster USB3.x port
The TP-Link Archer AX90 is an 802.11ax router that provides Wi-Fi speeds up to 4,804Mbps for swift teleconferencing, web browsing and network access. One band provides the highest speed, the second provides up to 1,201Mbps and the third 574Mbps.
There are five Ethernet ports, with one a 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet WAN or LAN port, a second Gigabit WAN or LAN port, and three Gigabit LAN ports. This lets you access higher internet and network speeds where possible.
You can create guest networks for your customers and visitors to use. Plus, you can create blacklists and whitelists to control devices’ access to the internet to help protect your network. There’s VPN support, too.
You can attach a USB drive to the Archer AX90 so that you and your staff can access files, videos and so on. However, it’s a USB2 port rather than a newer and faster USB3 port. The Archer AX90 also has a built-in media server for looking at photos, listening to music and watching videos.
This is the best router for small business in 2022 if you want a fast router with a 2.5-Gigabit WAN port.
Our Verdict
Best Routers For Small Business in 2022
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is a highly desirable device. However, the Synology RT6600ax wins Editor’s Choice due to its combination of high speeds, business-focussed features and Synology Router Manager.