Nothing is more annoying than a slow WiFi connection with several downtimes and does not provide a full enough coverage. And this is more so if it is on your business premises as it will affect your productivity and clients’ convenience greatly. However, in most instances, slow and unreliable connections are often a result of not having the right infrastructure. And one of the most important things that you need for fast and seamless connectivity and full coverage is an access point.
An access point is necessary hardware in a WiFi system as it connects to a switch or router and delivers the WiFi signal to a particular area, and it can work both in various places such as larger commercial buildings, homes, and offices. And to help you choose the best one for your business or establishment, here we review 10 top-rated access points and also explain the things to watch out for when shopping.
List of The 10 Best Access Points For Small Business in 2024.
10 Best Access Points For Small Business in 2024 Reviews.
1. Ubiquiti Networks Unifi 802.11ac Access Point
UniFi AC-Pro has been designed to support up to 300 Mbps and built to ensure you get some of the fastest WiFi speeds. And this access point will also offer unlimited scalability potential under one controller, which means that it will be ideal to use almost anywhere. Also, many users will appreciate that it provides band steering to push clients to the faster and interference-free 5 GHz channels.
With these access points, you also get simple multiple site management, and because both the software and hardware are bundled together, you will not need to pay extra charges. And with the advanced system software, you can easily and quickly manage the system’s traffic.
2. Ubiquiti Unifi Ap-AC Long Range Access Points
Long-range WiFi connectivity is often the most problematic, and this is more so when you have many clients to deal with. However, Ubiquiti makes these access points specifically for this, and you can use it to ensure seamless connectivity for your long-range clients. And they will achieve this long-range connection thanks to their ceiling mount design.
Overall, this is also a super easy access point to set up, and you will not even need to have any technical expertise to do it. And once you set up this access points, you can be confident of getting some fantastic speeds for both 2.4 and 5 GHz.
3. Ubiquiti Unifi Ap-AC Lite Wireless Access Points
Despite this access point by Ubiquiti being super compact, it still provides full coverage and some impressive speeds for both 2.4 and 5 GHz. When properly mounted and in an ideal location, this access point will deliver a wide enough coverage, and it also offers 24V passive PoE. And like many other access points by Ubiquiti, this one is also super easy to set up, and you will only need to follow the included directions.
Also, it will work well for both home and business use as it offers numerous connectivity options and can accommodate up to 4 networks meaning you will hardly need to buy several of them regardless of the size of the area you want to serve.
4. D-Link Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Access Point
For an inexpensive access point, the AC1200 is a perfect choice, and despite its small price tag, it will outperform many others that cost double its price tag or even more. What makes it a great buy is that it provides wide coverage for both 2.4 and 5 GHz and ultra-fast speeds of up to 1,300 Mbps at 5 GHz and 450 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz. Hence, you can be confident that this access point will meet your gaming and streaming needs.
And to ensure greater flexibility and minimal interference, this gadget is designed to offer simultaneous dual-band WiFi connectivity. And with the multiple antenna technology, you will also get a superior range while the 4 Ethernet ports also allow you to get seamless wired connections.
5. TP-Link EAP225-Wall AC1200 Wireless WiFi Access Point
If you are on the look-out for something to provide a wired or wireless connection for your office or even a hotel room, the TP-Link EAP225 will be a great buy. It is a small and highly portable access point that is also easy and quick to set up, which ensures you can use it from almost anywhere. And with the easy-mount construction, you will never have to worry about where to place it as you can easily install it into an electric wall-box.
Also, the manufacturer provides free cloud management and also have an Omada app to ensure you get fast easy and convenient internet management. Security is also well-taken care of by the enterprise-class WiFi Security. And this access point has also been designed to support management VLAN to enhance network management.
6. Netgear AC1200 Dual Band WiFi Access Point
Netgear AC1200 is another inexpensive access point that still does a great job to ensure you get a seamless internet connection without having to spend much on an access point. Besides being an inexpensive access point, this model also uses some factory-tuned antennas that provide superior signal strength and more extensive coverage.
This access point also ensures you get a flexible wireless configuration, and it uses an advanced security system to ensure your network remains secure at all times. And you will also love that it works with several other devices and also supports IPv6 to improve performance. Also, it will offer super easy setup and configuration and one-touch user connectivity.
7. Linksys LAPAC1750 Access Point
The next-gen Linksys LAPAC1750 is designed to ensure you get some of the most advanced access points for a fast, efficient, and reliable system. Also, it is a dual-band access point that supports 2.4 and 5 GHz to offer more flexible connectivity and with a robust and comprehensive security system to keep your network more secure.
Users also get integrated PoE+ and IPv6 support to ensure enhanced performance. Also, this is generally a high power access point, and so you can be confident that when using it, you will always get wider and longer range coverage.
8. Netgear Insight WiFi Access Point
Despite its rather small and compact appearance, this Netgear access point is highly effective in delivering long-range WiFi Coverage. Besides the long-range connectivity, what sets it apart from others out there is that it is super easy to set up and users also get remote management to ensure they can still monitor and control the WiFi networks even when not around.
The access point also allows users to maximize the performance with multi-gigabit WiFi throughput of up to 1.2 Gbps, and there is also a Gigabit Ethernet port for wired connections. And because this access point uses 802.3af, deployment should be simpler, and this also makes it a more flexible device.
9. Cisco Systems 802.11ac Wireless Access Point
With 802.11ac access point like this one by Cisco Systems, you get wireless connections that are up to three times faster than the 802.11n. And this access point also supports a more flexible installation thanks to the gigabit LAN interface with POE. Cisco also includes a captive portal to ensure more secure guest access and with customized rights and roles.
You will also not need a controller as the single setup does not require it, and so deploying multiple access points should be easier. Also, this access point is ready to use out of the box as it only requires simple web-based configuration, and installation is even more straightforward.
10. EnGenius Technologies EAP1300EXT 11ac Indoor Wireless AP
If you are on the market for the best access point for indoor use, this model by ENGenius Technologies will be a top-notch choice. It delivers long and wide indoor coverage and speeds of up to 400 Mbps for 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps for the 5 GHz.
Also, with this access point, you will get better user device capacities and improved performance thanks to Mu-Mimo. And it also makes use of Beamforming to optimize the antenna signal to make it more reliable for your clients. Setting it up is even more straightforward, and you can have it ready to use in just a few minutes.
How to Choose the Best Access Points
You do not need to be an expert to choose an excellent access point because all it takes is to understand what defines the best ones. And while there are several things that you need to understand and take into account when shopping, the following four are the main ones.
1. Range
The coverage range of the access point matters a lot, but there is no one model that will work for everyone as the right range for you depends on the area you want the WiFi to cover. Also, you need to decide whether the area to be covered will be outdoors or indoors because in some instances you will need considerable shielding for outdoor use.
2. Upgradeability
Because technology is always changing, it is important to make sure that the access point that you choose is upgradeable or will allow you to update the firmware. And if the updates can be made from one central point the better as it will give you an easier time.
3. Support Tools
You will also need to consider the support tools that you get with the access points you buy because support tools like Telnet and HTTP will be very useful as they make configuring and managing the access points easier.
4. Price
Like most other things that you buy, the price will play a vital role when choosing an access point. However, this does not mean you should go for the cheapest model. Instead, you need to compare several of them and choose what offers you the best value for money. Also, factor in the cost of installation if you also plan to have someone come in and set up the access point for you.
Conclusion
If you want to get the best service from your WiFi connection, whether it is in small premises or a larger building with several offices, you need to invest in the best access points.
Finding access points that are tailored to meet your specific needs should also not take a lot of effort as you will only need to look out for things like upgradeability, range, support tool and the price when shopping.
And from our top 10 access points reviews above, there is something that will work for everyone. But, for those that have a small office with fewer users, the Netgear AC1200 is a perfect choice as it is also highly affordable while the Ubiquiti Networks Unifi 802.11ac Access Point will be ideal for larger businesses.