The Best and Most Secure Routers in 2022

The eero Home Router is not just one but up to three routers in a package. This arrangement allows you to set up a large mesh Wi-Fi network in your home. It’s not only convenient to set up, but the security solutions are also impressively secure. This way, you can enjoy fast and stable internet even within the largest houses.

Coming with support for 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, the eero has Wi-Fi 6 compatibility. Not every device supports Wi-Fi 6, but the ones that do enjoy incredible internet browsing and download speeds. The router even supports older network chipsets, allowing you to use it with older modems.

With three units, you can cover an area of 5,000 square feet and reach speeds of 500 Mbps. The TrueMesh technology within each router also analyzes traffic and allocates more speed to tasks that require more bandwidth. Thus, it not only reduces buffering while you watch videos but also eliminates dead zones all around the house.

Thanks to Wi-Fi 6, you can connect 75 devices to the network at once. For a home network, that might be overkill, but it shows how strong Wi-Fi 6 truly is.

Multiple users can stream 4K videos, play video games, attend conference calls, or even stream simultaneously. This is only possible thanks to the dual 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. which reduce network congestion.

Setting up the eero routers takes mere minutes, and the specialized app will guide you all the way. It also comes with access to free customer support, seven days a week.

As eero is an Amazon-owned company, these routers are fully compatible with Alexa. Therefore, Alexa can turn the routers on or off with a simple voice command if you have a smart home. The routers double as Zigbee Smart Home Hubs, allowing voice control.

The eero routers receive regular updates to optimize firmware or increase security. The longer you own them, the better they get.

These routers are also compatible with other eero hardware, such as the faster eero Pro 6. The app will handle the integration, and it takes just a few minutes to set up.

While the eero Home has basic parental controls such as personalized profiles and device control, you can also purchase the eero Plus service for $10 a month.

Eero Plus protects the network with AI-powered enterprise-grade security solutions. It monitors your browsing habits and traffic. As for extras, you get included subscriptions to Encrypt.me VPN, 1Password, and Malwarebytes.

With a robust mesh Wi-Fi router like the eero Home, you can feel safe and secure when browsing the internet. It’s smart home compatible too, something many other routers don’t offer.

Pros

• eero Plus subscription is highly secure
• Easy to set up
• Alexa compatible

Cons

• Smaller coverage area for each router
• Slightly expensive

Unlike other routers on our list, the Linksys WRT AC3200 has open-source firmware capabilities. Almost all other routers have built-in and proprietary firmware inside, but this one lets you replace it. It’s perfect for network security enthusiasts who have some knowledge of the field.

This router supports 802.11a/g/n/ac networks. 802.11ac isn’t the fastest chipset available in 2021, but it’s still not far behind. You can depend on it for intense tasks as well.

As the frequencies are divided into 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, more users can take advantage of the network without causing congestion. Its impressive 5 GHz band is courtesy of the MU-MIMO and Tri-Stream 160 MHz technologies. The demanding tasks get relegated to this stream, freeing up the other band for different processes.

Overall, the 2.4 GHz band can reach speeds of 600 Mbps, while the 5 GHz band is capable of going up to 2,600 Mbps. The router’s design focuses on the 5 GHz band more, which somewhat handicaps the other band’s speeds.

The Tri-Stream 160 technology doubles the 80 MHz frequencies, which aren’t used by other routers often. As this clears up the airspace around the house, you’ll never clash with other networks.

MU-MIMO allows multiple devices to use the Wi-Fi at the same speed simultaneously. There won’t be any inconsistent bumps in connection. The technology also boosts overall speeds.

As mentioned earlier, AC3200’s firmware can be replaced with open-source code. This feature gives you plenty of customization opportunities. Popular open-source packages include OpenWrt and DD-WRT.

With these packages, it’s possible to set up a VPN, make the router a web server, erect security barriers, and much more.

The Linksys app is what you’ll use to control your router for more straightforward tasks. You can use it to set up guest networks, parental controls and even prioritize specific devices over others. Each device can be given unique parental controls parameters.

You can even implement the TOR network into the router for anonymous browsing.

Behind the AC3200 are four Gigabit LAN ports, each capable of lightning-fast speeds. There are also two USB ports. One is a USB 3.0 port, while the other is an eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port suited for hard drives or printers.

The AC3200 requires some specialist knowledge, but it remains a powerful router for the home. It’s highly secure, and the only limit is your level of expertise.

Pros

• Open-source firmware
• Easy to set up
• Incredible 5Ghz performance

Cons

• 2.4Ghz band is slower
• Requires some network security knowledge
• No 160Mhz clients available

Synology’s RT2600AC router was designed to provide comprehensive security solutions. It’s also capable of acting as a server, something few routers can do. If you want something reliable and easy to set up, look no further.

At first glance, you’ll see four antennas, all of which run on 802.11ac chipsets for fast internet access. This way, the whole house gets access to speedy connections, no matter where you are.

The RT2600AC has a theoretical maximum wireless bandwidth of 2.53 Gbps. 800 Mbps is allocated to the 2.4 GHz band, while the remaining 1,733 Mbps is given to the 5 GHz frequency band. These speeds are incredibly fast, allowing you to stream 4K videos without stuttering.

Unlike some other routers, you can blend two connections with dual-WAN, letting you get closer to the maximum speeds listed above. Even with dual-WAN, it’s challenging to reach such speeds, but you can still go faster with this option.

Thanks to MU-MIMO, each device that connects to the router can achieve equal speeds. Routers without MU-MINO will have to fight for speed, while this option eliminates the problem.

There are four Ethernet ports at the back, allowing any computer to be connected with a LAN cable. These ports are Gigabit ports, making them a cut above the rest. The connection becomes much smoother and faster compared to the wireless connection.

Other ports include an SD card slot, a USB 2.0 port, and a USB 3.0 port. These will let your router share files between all those on the network. There’s only one WAN port, and you’ll have to purchase a switch if you wish to use dual-WAN for faster internet.

While not designed to be part of a mesh network, the RT2600AC is compatible with the MR2200AC satellite routers. Adding one or more of the latter lets you create a mesh network that eliminates deadzones and expands the coverage area.

After setting the router up, you can use the web console and change some settings. All of the settings are laid out in tiles, making selection straightforward. You can erect firewalls, set up parental controls, and even download packages such as VPNs and more.

There’s also a mobile app that can handle most simpler settings. It lets you set parental controls, guest networks, and more. However, it would help if you familiarized yourself with the web console too, since the advanced features are only found there.

Even though there are routers out there with more features, the Synology RT2600AC is perfect for a medium-sized home. You can rely on it to keep your network safe from threats.

Pros

• Dual-WAN compatible
• Extensive web console
• Can work with mesh networks

Cons

• Ethernet isn’t high-speed
• Dual-WAN requires a network switch
• Not very fast overall

The TP-Link AC5400 isn’t playing around, even with its slightly unusual design. It has eight antennas to spread the signal throughout the area. This router has won the same award thrice, The JD Power award for Highest Customer Satisfaction in 2017, 2019, and 2020.

This router is designed for gamers and is created from only the best hardware. The Broadcom BCM 4366 Wi-Fi chip supports up to 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and it’s not your typical network either.

The Wi-Fi signal is divided into three bands: one for 2.4 GHz and two for 5 GHz. The former goes up to 1 Gbps, while the two bands can reach 2.167 Gbps each. In the best conditions, the total data flow adds up to 5.3 Gbps, which is nothing to scoff at.

The router has a 1.8 GHz quad-core processor, three co-processors, 512 MB of storage, and 1 GB of RAM to support each band’s transmitters. All of these components are what make its exemplary performance possible. Any gamer would love speeds like this, as it makes stuttering and lag a thing of the past.

Of course, they can always use any of the eight LAN ports at the back. All of them are Gigabit ports, offering smooth and consistent internet access. You can also start a small LAN party with only this router.

Two USB 3.0 ports at the back work well for printers or hard drives.

Even though the AC5400 is aimed at the gaming community, it excellently serves as a home router. It has several parental controls to keep children safe. For example, it comes with a Malicious Content Filter, Intrusion Prevention System, and Infected Device Quarantine, among other features.

These are all part of the TP-Link HomeCare service, and every purchase of this router comes with a lifetime subscription. What’s more, the AC5400 also has a built-in VPN server, which you can even connect to public Wi-Fi. No matter where you go, you’re kept anonymous from corporations or hackers looking to gather your information.

If you’re looking for some top-tier hardware, the AC5400 is hard to beat. Gaming, streaming, or anything else won’t cause any stuttering in ideal conditions. Moreover, the included security solutions are all tested and regularly updated.

Pros

• Incredibly fast
• Tri-band Wi-Fi
• Comes with TP-Link HomeCare

Cons

• Expensive
• Firmware can be problematic sometimes

Mesh Wi-Fi covers plenty of ground quickly, and gaming mesh networks are a godsend for those who want to game at the fastest speeds. This ASUS GT-AC5300 will not only satisfy your gaming needs, but you can watch Netflix at the same time without causing stuttering. Its security also lasts a lifetime, protecting you from harm as long as you need.

802.11ac MU-MIMO Wi-Fi is already quite fast, but the GT-AC5300 is also a tri-band router. It has two 5 GHz bands and one 2.4 GHz band, reducing network congestion.

In total, you get 5,334 Mbps of internet speed distributed across the three bands. However, you’ll be amazed to hear that this router can cover 5,000 square feet all by itself. This is partially due to the eight antennas attached to the sides.

The 1.8 GHz quad-core processor inside also helps with internet speed and running other features. For example, the router can run a VPN for increased internet privacy. The VPN Fusion function lets you run a VPN and standard connection at once, allowing for speedy connections.

The GT-AC5300 also comes with Game IPS, powered by Trend Micro. Any threats must go through multiple layers of protection, which are more than capable of neutralizing any dangers trying to infiltrate. That’s not all, as the built-in Trend Micro AiProtection is also active in preventing threats.

If you wish to start a mesh network, you can couple the GT-AC5300 with other ASUS routers. This is made possible by the AiMesh system. The models can be older ones you don’t often use, giving your past products a new lease of life.

For wired connections, the GT-AC5300 has eight Gigabit LAN ports. That’s more than enough for a family and suitable for online gaming parties. The two USB 3.0 ports are also great for printers or storage.

Gamers love low ping, and this router gives you access to wtfast Gamers Private Network. Anyone using the network can game without stuttering or high ping with this service. For competitive gamers, this is a gift from the heavens.

Even though there were some problems with the firmware, ASUS has addressed the issues with timely updates. The updates also allow the GT-AC5300 to enable AiMesh functionality. Therefore, you should perform a firmware update when you get the router.

For a router with this many features, it’s expected you’ll have to pay a premium for it. However, it’s future-proof and will serve you for years to come. You can even create a mesh network with older ASUS routers in minutes.

Pros

• Incredibly fast
• Tri-band Wi-Fi
• Secured with Game IPS and Trend Micro AiProtection

Cons

• Expensive
• Not everyone likes the design