Even if you have a small business, the chances are that you will have several offices and devices that require an internet connection. And while there are many ways of connecting them to the internet, a wireless router provides one of the best and easiest methods of achieving this. But not just any will do, and so you need to find the best wireless router to ensure you get top-notch connections for seamless connectivity in your premises.
But the good news is that you do not need to have a lot of technical know-how or understand all the specific jargon that define wireless routers. In this piece, we make it easy for anyone to choose a good wireless router. And we do this by reviewing 10 top-rated models, and by explaining the most important factors to watch out for when shopping.
List of the 10 Best Wireless Routers for Small Businesses
10 Best Wireless Routers for Small Businesses in 2019 Reviews.
1. Netgear AC3200 Tri-Band WiFi Router
With speeds of up to 3.2 Gbps, the Netgear AC3200 is one of the fastest routers in its class, and it will ensure that you always get uninterrupted internet connections and buffer-free streaming. And you can use it to control your home network with a voice command as it is compatible with Alexa. This router has also been designed to deliver internet to several devices thanks to the high performing antennas and powerful amplifiers.
This router is also designed to ensure the best WiFi connectivity for all your devices as it has a smart connect system that will give each device the best connection. Users will also love that it has a high-speed USB port as it will ensure super fast storage access and it is also easy to set up and troubleshoot.
2. TP-Link Archer AC1750 Smart WiFi Router
The TP-Link Archer AC1750 is an inexpensive WiFi router that has been built to allow you to stream content in 4K across multiple devices with little to no buffering. This top-rated wireless router for small business also works with all Windows and Mac operating systems, and it also includes Ethernet ports to allow you to connect your wired devices.
Setting up this router will also not take a lot of effort, and it also includes USB access to allow you to share content from USB devices wirelessly. And this router has a total of six antennas that will send powerful signals for wider coverage.
3. Linksys Max-Stream AC5400
If you do not mind spending a little more cash on getting a high-end wireless router that will provide top-notch internet connections, this Linksys model will be perfect. It works with most modems, and it makes use of Tri-Band technology to deliver some of the fastest WiFi connectivity speeds. You can enjoy 4K HD streaming and gaming without ever worrying about constant buffering.
And you will not need to have the most recent operating systems on your computer to use this router as it is also compatible with windows 7. Also, this wireless router uses a dual-core processor to ensure super-fast data transfer speeds.
4. Linksys WRT AC3200 Dual-band Open Source Router
Here is another Linksys wireless router that has been designed to provide some fantastic internet connection speeds, and it will offer WiFi speeds of up to an incredible 2.6 Gbps. It achieves this excellent speed using Tri-stream technology. Hence, with this router in your business, you can be confident of always getting 4K streaming with almost no buffering at all.
Also, it makes use of MU-MIMO to ensure all the devices connected to it get internet at the same speeds and that no single gadget lugs behind. This router does not take a lot of effort to set up, and many users will also love that it uses open source firmware to allow for easy customization.
5. TP-Link AC1900 Smart Wireless Router
TP-Link AC1900 is one of the best wireless routers for small businesses under $100 thanks to the long-range coverage provided by the three internal antennas. Also, this wireless router is compatible with almost all Wi-Fi devices, and it makes use of Beamforming Technology that makes it smart detecting for faster WiFi connectivity.
This wireless router also makes use of a powerful dual-core processor that will easily handle several devices, including Alexa enabled ones. And there is even one 3.0 USB port and one 2.0 USB port to allow you to share and print files wirelessly.
6. TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Router
If you have 802.11ac and older WiFi devices, the TP-Link AC1750 will be a great buy as it is designed to work with most of them. This dual-band router has been created to provide up to 1750 Mbps speed, and while it might not seem as fast as other on our wireless router reviews, for its price it is still fast enough. And with this router you also get 3 external antennas to ensure wider coverage.
And if you have devices that do not have WiFi connectivity, this router will still be very useful as it includes 4 Gigabit LAN ports that will ensure fast access for the wired devices. There are also some integrated USB ports that will act as media servers to ensure you can share USB drive content easily.
7. ASUS Dual-Band Gigabit WiFi Router
While ASUS makes this wireless router with gamers in mind, it can still work great for small businesses as it has wide enough coverage and fantastic speeds. The 4 antennas and provide a coverage of up to 5,000 square feet, and you also get more connectivity options besides WiFi as this router also includes 8 ethernet ports. And with a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor, you can also be confident of getting faster USB data transfer.
This router also makes use of smart connect that will choose the best band for your devices to ensure the best connection and fastest speeds. You can also be sure of a safe and secure experience when using this router as it has effective vulnerability detection and malicious site blocking.
8. Linksys WRT AC1900 Dual-Band Wireless Router
With a total of 4 high-quality antennas, this Linksys wireless router has been designed to deliver maximum reliability and coverage. Also, it has a dual wireless band to ensure you always get a strong and reliable WiFi signal with no dead zones even in larger business premises. And with the Beam Forming technology, you can also strengthen the signal for specific devices, and it also uses a powerful 1.2 GHz dual-core processor.
Also, its 4 GB ports are up to 10 times faster than other common ones which ensure besides WiFi you also get faster Ethernet connection. Sharing content via USB storage is also quick and easy thanks to the USB 3.0 port with enhanced performance.
9. D-Link EXO AC2600 WiFi Router
A good wireless router for small business should also be super easy to set up and use like the D-Link AC2600 that offers an intuitive interface. Besides being easy to set up, this router also provides more secure connectivity thanks to WPA/WPA2 encryption. Also, this WiFi router offers 2 USB ports that will deliver super-fast data transmission, and you also get a wider coverage thanks to 4 powerful antennas.
There is also an advanced smart beam technology that will keep track of the connected devices to enhance the WiFi speeds throughout your business premises. And with the intelligent QoS, you will also get optimized traffic for all your devices.
10. D-Link AC1200 WiFi Wireless Router
The D-Link AC1200 is one of the cheapest wireless routers for small businesses you can get anywhere. But, besides being highly affordable, this wireless router still has a lot more to offer such as 4 high-performance antennas that ensure exceptional coverage. This wireless router also provides backward compatibility for more flexible connectivity, and you can also easily create and manage a guest network.
This wireless router will also feature Intelligent QoS for traffic optimization to ensure seamless operation of all your devices, and there is also an intuitive user interface to ensure easy setup and network management. Connections will also be more secure as this router offers WPA/WPA2 encryption.
How to Choose the Best Wireless Router for Small Businesses
A good wireless router can make a massive difference for your business when it comes to internet connectivity. This, in turn, translates to seamless operation in the office and throughout the business premises. And to make sure that you choose a good model, you need to watch out for the following things when shopping.
1. Speed
Any business router that you buy should be fast enough to ensure it works well for your business and to prevent unnecessary delays. Although you will not necessarily need something with super fast speeds, one with at least 802.11n protocol is good enough. But if you want something a little faster, something like 802.11ac will be more appropriate.
2. Number of Ports
Although the number of ports on a wireless router might not look important, it still matters a lot because in some instances you might still be forced to do a wired connection. The more the ports on the router, the better it will be for your office. But the good news is that even if it has few ports, you can still use a switch to increase the number of ports.
3. Security
Security is an essential factor to consider when buying anything for use in your office as you do not want sensitive information or communication ending up in the wrong hands. Therefore, any wireless router that you buy should be secure enough to lock out potential hackers. Something with integrated firewalls and at least WPA2 encryption and more preferably WPA3 should be secure enough for your small business
4. Signal Strength
You probably have several offices in your business, and so the best wireless router for you is one that can transmit the signal to all your offices. Something with several high-quality antennas and extended range will provide the best signal strength.
5. Price
Like with all other office or business accessories, budget is always a huge determinant of what WiFi router you can or cannot buy. If you want to have a fast and reliable wireless router, you should be ready to spend more cash. Although the price will depend on the brand and features, you will typically need to spend at least $50 to get a good wireless router for small businesses.
Conclusion
In these modern times, the internet is an essential part of many small businesses as it is required for everything from internal and external communication to marketing. And if you are going to have a reliable internet connection, you will also need to have the best wireless router.
Here we are all about helping you choose the best ones which should now be quite easy as you only need to consider factors like speed, security, and price. And shopping for one should also not take a lot of your time as our top 10 reviews above will help you narrow down your options.
For those looking or something for larger offices, the Linksys Max-Stream AC5400 is our recommendation while the D-Link AC1200 WiFi Wireless Router will be ideal for small offices looking for something more affordable.