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Selecting the right business router is key to providing good network performance for hundreds of devices while maintaining strong security. Without an excellent business router, IT teams are at risk of network slowdowns and vulnerabilities, which can lead to data breaches.
Data breaches resulting from unreliable routers can quickly become expensive, with IBM estimating the average cost of a data breach in 2024 at $4.88 million.
To help you keep your network secure and running at high speeds, we have compiled a list of the best business and wifi routers for businesses. Before reviewing them, let’s look at the key considerations when investing in a business router.
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5 key considerations when selecting a router for office use
Before you begin looking at the best business and wifi routers, we highly suggest having a clear understanding of the basics.
In general, there are five key considerations you should make when selecting a router.
1. Understand the equipment you’ll need
If you’re setting up a wifi system for your home office or a small business, there isn’t much equipment you need (other than the wifi router and possibly APs to extend coverage).
For enterprise wifi systems, you need more than that. This is what we recommend:
Business router
This is the core of your network, connecting your internal LAN to the internet. Routers handle routing between networks (e.g., the internet and the office LAN), assign IP addresses to users, and manage firewall rules to control traffic flow and security.
For enterprises, it’s important to select a router that supports features like VLANs, VPNs, SD-WAN, and high throughput. One example is the Cisco Analyst 8500 Series, which we’ll later review in this article.
Many enterprises also replace routers with firewall appliances. This can be beneficial, as firewalls combine routing functionality with security features, like packet filtering and access control.
In contrast, small businesses can usually get by with a dedicated wifi router capable of basic routing and wireless access control.
Access points
Access points (APs) handle the chaos of hundreds of devices trying to connect simultaneously. As a general guideline, your office should have one AP per every 1,000 square feet. The right amount obviously depends on how many people want to connect to the wifi.
Place your APs smartly across different rooms and floors, so everyone in your office can enjoy good coverage.
Network switches
Network switches link APs, routers, security appliances, and other devices to keep data moving freely. They make sure that tasks like moving video files or handling real-time communications happen without delays.
2. Specify your office needs
After you have a better understanding of the equipment you need, it’s time to specify your office needs further.
This includes knowing:
1. The size of your office space: Knowing your office space size helps you understand how many APs you need to support your business router. For example, a large office of 10,000 square feet may need 10+ APs, while smaller offices of under 1,000 square feet might only need one or two APs.
2. Bandwidth and speed requirements: Large organizations with data-intensive applications require a router with high bandwidth and speed. Conversely, smaller offices require less speed. You should also verify that your ISP supports the speed of your router.
3. The number of devices connected: Estimate how many devices, such as laptops, desktops, printers, IoT devices, and other office equipment, will be connected to the wifi routers simultaneously. For offices with many connected devices, look for routers that support higher device limits.
4. Redundancy: This is your network’s backup plan in case things don’t go as expected. In enterprise environments, this means having overlapping access point coverage and failover internet connections, so that if one component fails, your operations will continue to function.
3. Examine the router’s features
Both business-grade routers and wifi routers have different features you should understand and prioritize.
Let’s go through them, starting with features found in regular wifi routers.
If you’re looking for a regular wifi router, consider these features:
- Single-band, dual-band, vs. tri-band: As the name suggests, single-band routers use one frequency, which makes them slower and less reliable. Dual-band routers use two frequencies, which makes them significantly faster. Tri-band routers use three frequencies, which makes them the fastest, although they come at a premium price.
- Mesh wifi and AP support: Mesh wifi systems and access points help extend the coverage of your wireless network. They are necessary, especially in large office environments with demanding network requirements.
Mesh wifi system explained (Source)
- Wifi standards: Wifi standards are a set of specifications that define the speed range, frequency bands, and overall performance of a wireless network. The main ones you should look for are 802.11n (wifi 4), 802.11ac (wifi 5), 802.11ax (wifi 6), and 802.11be (wifi 7). The newest and fastest wifi standard is 802.11be (wifi 7), which provides the highest speeds and lower latency.
- Supported internet speed: Your router must support a speed greater than what you receive from your ISP. If you aren’t using the full speed you paid for, you aren’t maximizing your router’s capabilities.
- WAN ports: These ports provide internet access by connecting to a modem or wireless broadband. Typical routers have one WAN port, which can be suitable for small businesses. Enterprises should select a router with a minimum of two WAN ports in case of a system failure.
- Ethernet ports: Ethernet cables create a connection between a router and a device, such as a computer, server, or printer. Depending on how many devices require Ethernet connections, choose a router that has enough Ethernet ports.
- MU-MIMO support: MU-MIMO allows a single router or access point to transmit data to multiple devices at the same time. This is helpful for reducing network congestion and improving performance.
The above are features for wifi routers, but what about business-grade routers? If that’s what you need, here’s what you should prioritize:
- VPN support: Allows remote workers to connect to the network securely.
- Quality of Service (QoS): QoS helps prioritize specific network traffic, making sure critical applications, such as video meetings, receive the necessary bandwidth to keep running at high speed.
- Multiple WAN support: Helps to connect multiple ISPs and automatically switches between them if one fails.
- Support for VLANs: A security feature for separating guest access, segmenting networks, and isolating different departments or device types.
- PoE support: A must-have feature for powering devices like IP phones and APs through Ethernet cables.
- IoT support: If your office has IoT devices, you should make sure that the router is compatible with them.
- Security: Look for strong encryption (WPA2/WPA3), DDoS protection, and intrusion detection and prevention systems.
4. Centralized management, warranty, and available support
To keep your routers secure, the best models come with monitoring and alerting capabilities, or they can be connected with third-party tools, such as Atera, for this purpose.
Your router should also offer hardware support in case problems arise. This is especially important for large organizations that have complex router setups and may require constant assistance.
For example, Cisco publicly shares the phone numbers you can contact if you need technical support. Plus, they have a diverse configuration guide library for their business routers:
Cisco configuration guide examples (Source)
5. Ensure internet service provider (ISP) compatibility
If you’re buying a wifi router, make sure it’s compatible with the ISP you’re choosing. Most routers work with most ISPs, but it doesn’t hurt to double-check.
For example, T-Mobile clearly explains on their website how mesh networks, network switches, and third-party routers can be connected:
The 8 best business & wifi routers for IT teams in 2025
To find the best business routers, we looked at reviews from platforms like Reddit, G2, and Spiceworks to see what other users actually recommend.
Based on the recommendations (and our own research), the best routers for business in 2025 are:
- NETGEAR Orbi 960 Series – Best overall wifi router for business
- ASUS RT-AXE7800 – Best budget wifi router
- Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series – Best router for large organizations
- ASUS BRT-AC828 – Best wifi router for small businesses
- NETGEAR Orbi Quad-Band – Best high-performance wifi router
- Synology RT6600 – Best router for security
- TP-Link EAP245 – Best wifi access point
- NETGEAR WBE750 – Best mesh wifi system
Below is a more detailed breakdown of each of these routers and access points.
1. Best overall wifi router for business (NETGEAR Orbi 960 Series)
Our choice for the best overall wifi router is the NETGEAR Orbi 960 Series, which provides unparalleled speed and reliability while being highly secure. While the Orbi 960 Series is an overkill for individuals, it is an ideal solution for offices that need advanced features, such as wifi 7E technology, multi-gigabit speeds, and wide coverage to support up to 200 concurrent devices.
NETGEAR Orbi 960 Series is a mesh router that can be expanded through additional satellite units to cover larger areas. NETGEAR Armor offers Wi-Fi protection for PCs, phones, cameras, TVs, and other IoT devices. It is possible to create a guest network to provide visitors with internet access.
Specifications (NETGEAR Orbi 960 Series) | Price: $1499.99 for the 3-pack Standard: Wifi 6 Wifi speed: Up to 10.8Gbps Coverage: Up to 9,000 sq. ft. and supports up to 200 devices Security: Through NETGEAR Armor Warranty: 1-year limited warranty Cloud management: Through the Orbi app |
Reasons to choose this router | Extend wifi 6E coverage by 200m² with each extra satellite10 GB WAN-port & 2,5 and 1 Gigabit Ethernet portsCompatible with any ISP |
Reasons not to choose this router | Overkill for smaller businesses with only a handful of devices |
2. Best budget wifi router (ASUS RT-AXE7800)
ASUS RT-AXE7800 is a wifi 6E technology wifi router with connectivity speeds of up to 7800 Mbps and is available at an affordable price. While it lacks advanced features for larger organizations, it’s an ideal choice for small IT teams with basic wifi requirements. The router has a 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port and supports both WAN and LAN aggregation, which gives you more options when setting up your network.
This model supports the ASUS AiMesh technology, which lets you combine multiple ASUS routers to extend your network. It offers WPA3 security and automatic software updates to protect your devices from threats.
Specifications (ASUS RT-AXE7800) | Price: Starts from $179.99 Standard: Wifi 6E Wifi speed: Up to 7800 Mbps Coverage: Not disclosed Security: Real-time threat monitoring Warranty: 1-year limited warranty Cloud management: Through the AiProtection Pro app |
Reasons to choose this router | + Supports AiMesh routers that expand your wireless network + Reliable wifi 6E technology |
Reasons not to choose this router | – Doesn’t have more advanced features, such as QoS and MU-MIMO support |
3. Best router for large organizations (Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series)
Organizations that want more than a regular wifi router can benefit from the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series routers. These routers do not have built-in wifi connectivity, but they can be used alongside access points and wireless controllers to provide connectivity to large offices.
Compared to regular wifi routers, the Catalyst 8500 Series routers provide more advanced features, including multi-layered security, advanced SD-WAN capabilities, and QoS and PoE support. The C8500 model comes with 20 1/10GE ports and 6 40/100GE ports, which allow for high-speed data transfer and flexible connectivity options.
Specifications (Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series) | Price: Based on custom quotation Standard: Doesn’t include built-in wifi Wifi speed: Configurable through access points and wireless controllers Coverage: Not disclosed Security: Next-generation firewall (NG-FW), intrusion prevention system, URL filtering, and advanced malware protection Warranty: 1-year limited hardware warranty Cloud management: Through the Cisco Catalyst Center app |
Reasons to choose this router | + Supports external cellular gateways with LTE/5G capabilities + Ideal for large organizations who want to build robust network infrastructure + Includes advanced features, such as QoS, IP routing, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and firewall |
Reasons not to choose this router | – Expensive router option – The available features are an overkill for smaller organizations |
4. Best wifi router for small businesses (ASUS BRT-AC828)
ASUS BRT-AC828 is our choice for the best small business router. It offers features such as dual WAN for failover protection, VPN support, and easy management through an admin dashboard. It also supports MU-MIMO, which allows up to 250 simultaneous connections and prioritizes bandwidth for high-demand devices.
The security features include an AiProtection security package, VLAN, and a hardware crypto engine IPsec VPN. You can use a USB LTE modem as a backup internet connection to ensure continuous internet access even during outages.
Specifications (ASUS BRT-AC828) | Price: Not disclosed Standard: WiFi 5 (802.11ac) Wifi speed: Up to 2 Gbps Coverage: 100 meters in open areas and up to 250 simultaneous devices Security: Through the AIProtection security pack Warranty: 1-year limited warranty Cloud management: Through the ASUS cloud app |
Reasons to choose this router | + Up to 4 Gbps Link Aggregation LAN + Ability to create and customize guest wifi + Highly expandable |
Reasons not to choose this router | – Real-time threat monitoring features are lacking |
5. Best high-performance wifi router (NETGEAR Orbi Quad-Band)
The Orbi 970 Series is NETGEAR’s most recent model and comes with the newest Wi-Fi 7E technology, which offers fast speeds, low latency, and increased capacity to handle more devices. The Orbi 970 Series router offers speeds up to 27 Gbps, 13 total Ethernet ports, and coverage of up to 10,000 square feet, with the option to expand further using additional satellites.
The router comes with a NETGEAR Armor app that automatically protects your devices, updates their software, monitors them in real-time, and alerts you if anything goes wrong.
Specifications (NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series) | Price: $2299.99 for the 3-pack Standard: Wifi 7 Wifi speed: Up to 27Gbps Coverage: Up to 10,000 sq. ft. and supports up to 200 devices Security: 802.11i, 128-bit AES encryption with PSK Warranty: 90-day complimentary technical support Cloud management: Through the Orbi app |
Reasons to choose this router | + Highly scalable through additional satellites + Multi-link operation, which enables devices to connect at higher speeds + Faster speeds than wifi 6 and 5 technologies offer |
Reasons not to choose this router | – Expensive option – Doesn’t offer as extensive security as enterprise routers offer |
6. Best wifi router for security (Synology RT6600)
Synology RT6600 is a mesh wifi router designed to deliver high-speed, reliable performance with tri-band connectivity. It’s one of the most secure wifi routers with features like user and network profiles, real-time monitoring and alerting on threats, automatic reports, and remote access through Synology DDNS.
You can create up to five networks and 15 wifi SSIDs for distributing devices according to their roles. In addition, one feature that is useful for enterprises is VLAN tagging, which allows the RT6600ax to integrate with existing networks.
Specifications (Synology RT6600) | Price: $299 Standard: Wifi 6E Wifi speed: Up to 6.6 Gbps Coverage: Can be extended with additional Synology routers Security: Real-time monitoring and alerting, reports, remote access, network segmentation, and more Warranty: 1-year limited product warranty Cloud management: Available through the cloud and a mobile app |
Reasons to choose this router | + Robust security and remote access are available + Highly scalable through the VLAN tagging feature or by connecting multiple Synology routers + 2.5GbE port configurable for WAN or LAN + QoS support |
Reasons not to choose this router | Lack of support for 10 Gbps Lack of link aggregation support |
7. Best wifi access point (TP-Link EAP245)
TP-Link EAP245 is a wifi access point that can be used to extend wireless coverage. For example, it can be used alongside a router to create reliable and high-speed internet across multiple floors or rooms. The EAP245 model supports MU-MIMO and band steering, which helps to optimize network performance.
Additionally, you can create a guest network to provide secure and isolated internet access for visitors.
Specifications (TP-Link EAP245) | Price: $79 per one access point Standard: 802.11k/802.11v Wifi speed: Up to 1750 Mbps Coverage: Long-range wireless coverage over 2.4GHz and 5GHz Security: Real-time threat monitoring and alerting Warranty: 5-year limited warranty Cloud management: Through the Omada SDN app |
Reasons to choose this router | + Expand your wireless network + PoE and MU-MIMO support + Suitable for large offices + Good performance at an affordable price + Free cloud management application |
Reasons not to choose this router | – No client bandwidth controls |
8. Best mesh wifi system (NETGEAR WBE750)
NETGEAR WBE750 is a wifi 7 access point that large organizations can use to create a mesh network. This requires connecting multiple WBE750 access points to work together.
Its tri-band capability allows for a total data throughput of 18.4 Gbit/s, which ensures fast connectivity even in high-traffic environments.
This business router is ideal for separating IoT devices, internal employees, and guest traffic thanks to the available 8 separate WLAN networks. It comes equipped with a 10G/multi-gig Ethernet port.
Specifications (NETGEAR WBE750) | Price: $699.99 Standard: Wifi 7 Wifi speed: Up to 5Gbps Coverage: Up to 600 devices simultaneously Security: Enterprise-level WPA3 for robust security Warranty: 5-year hardware limited warranty Cloud management: Available through the NETGEAR Insight app |
Reasons to choose this router | + Ability to create a mesh network by connecting multiple access points + The newest wifi 7 technology, which provides high speeds and reliability + 10Gbps/Multi-gigabit PoE++ ports |
Reasons not to choose this router | – Gets expensive quickly if you require multiple access points |
How to monitor your router’s health and performance?
To monitor the health and performance of your router, you have four different options:
- Router dashboard: Modern routers, such as those recommended in this article, come with a dashboard that allows you to monitor performance in real time.
- Third-party software: Third-party tools, such as Fing and NetWorx, give you access to basic monitoring tools for your routers.
- Parental controls: Many routers (especially home routers) come with parental control features, which allow you to monitor wifi usage and activity.
- Network monitoring tools: The best network monitoring tools include a built-in SNMP module, which helps to monitor router health and performance.
IT teams who want to take router monitoring seriously benefit most from network monitoring tools. One option is Atera, which allows you to monitor SNMP-enabled devices, such as routers and printers, in real time, making it an excellent solution for comprehensive network and printer monitoring.
If you’re interested in using Atera for your IT team, you can take advantage of the 30-day free trial. Or, contact our sales team for a custom demo.
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