The internet has changed our lives for the better, but it also means we must be vigilant about keeping ourselves safe. Today, you'll find a lot of routers with firewalls, but not all are created equal.
To help you navigate these options and pick the best one for your needs, we've compiled this list of top-rated models that will serve your family well and protect them from cyber threats.
Comparison of the Best Routers With Firewall
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Best overall  |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
Runner-Up  |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
 |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
Best Overall:
Asus RT-AX88U AX6000
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This router appears to have all of the quality and features that a router should have. One recent buyer stated that it has strong signals, simple to set up, and can handle all IoT devices. The other buyer said that this router is worth it.
Why It Stands out To Us
AX88U router is one of the best routers with a firewall available in the market that allows you to surf safely without worrying about your data security. The latest firmware ensures that there will be no bugs or glitches while using this device, and it also enhances its performance manifold.
We also like this router because it has four antennas and 8 LAN ports, supporting more devices simultaneously. Trend Micro's AiProtection protects your connected smart devices from internet security threats.
Who Will Use This Most
The router is especially useful for small businesses, startups, and freelancers who need a secure internet connection. Since it can be used to provide Wi-Fi connectivity at home or in the office this device will also be beneficial for homeowners.
Runner-Up:
Linksys WRT3200ACM
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The recent buyer of this router seemed to be delighted because of the easy setup. Plus, the buyer also noted that Linksys WRT3200ACM is fast and reliable. The other buyer stated that this is an excellent alternative to protect all your home devices with a VPN Service.
Why It Stands Out To Us
Linksys WRT3200ACM is a fast wireless router that provides Wi-Fi coverage for your home. It also supports open-source firmware and advanced customization. Unlike other routers, it utilizes tri-stream 160 technology, doubles bandwidth from 80 MHz to 160 MHz, making it suitable for gaming and streaming.
Enjoy 4K HD streaming, gaming, and more in high quality without buffering with the dual-band Wi-Fi speed up to 2.6 Gbps (2.4 GHz / 600 Mbps) plus (5 GHz / 2600 Mbps). It also has MU MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output) that provides Wi-Fi to multiple devices simultaneously at the same high speed.
Who Will Use This Most
If you're a person who does not want to bother with technicalities and just wants a VPN in the simplest way possible, this is an excellent option. This device is also perfect for beginners. It's also great if you are a traveler, so basically, everyone can use it!
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
One of the most recent buyers said this router’s admin tools are extremely basic, and the firewall rules not to be well documented or work as expected. On the other hand, a satisfied buyer said this router has an excellent multi-WAN load balancer.
Why It Stands Out To Us
This router stands out because of its five Giga ports that optimize bandwidth usage through one device. In addition to that, it also supports Omada’s Software-Defined Networking (SDN) platform that integrates network devices including gateways, access points & switches with multiple control options.
The remote cloud access and Omada app bring centralized cloud management of the whole network from different sites—all controlled from a single interface anywhere, anytime. And most importantly, it is SDN compatible, making sure your devices/controllers are either equipped with or upgraded to the SDN version.
Who Will Use This Most
This router is good for users looking for one that has a multi-WAN load balancer. It is also best suited for a business that needs to have a reliable and safe connection.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
One recent buyer says this router is an excellent replacement for his old router. Before the Nighthawk R7000, the buyer had been dealing with a slew of issues with the old router. The majority of buyers also liked this router's simple setup.
Why It Stands Out To Us
The Netgear Nighthawk Wi-Fi Router (R7000) AC1900 is one of the best-selling routers on Amazon. It has impressive ratings of a minimum of four stars out of five from buyers for its outstanding performance and long-range connectivity thanks to MU-MIMO technology.
The router also has advanced security features, including parental controls to keep kids safe when connecting their tablets or mobile phones. Plus, you may manage your network via the Nighthawk app, which makes this router great.
Who Will Use This Most
The Netgear Nighthawk Wi-Fi Router (R7000) AC1900 is an excellent choice for large homes with multiple connected devices. The MU-MIMO technology allows it to connect to more than one device, which means you can enjoy fast wireless speeds without interruptions even when using the router along with other compatible Wi-Fi devices.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The most recent buyer purchased this to replace the old router. As a result, the router exceeded the buyer's expectations by providing fast speeds and a strong signal throughout the house. And also, most buyers appreciated the long-range and ease of installation.
Why It Stands Out To Us
It does have a few flaws that aren't worth mentioning, but for the most part, this is an excellent router. If you want to stream high-definition video or play online games without delay, MU-MIMO technology will help.
This router also has advanced security to protect your network and connected devices with a free lifetime subscription to TP-Link HomeCare. The subscription features next-level antivirus, robust parental controls, and QoS.
Who Will Use This Most
This router is the best choice for gamers and larger families who want a fast internet connection. With its superb range, speed, and signal strength, it's simply an all-around brilliant wireless router.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The recent buyer said that this router has excellent reception. The majority of the buyers also like how easy this router is to set up. They also like the design. However, they find it bulky, but overall, they were satisfied with its performance.
Why It Stands Out To Us
JD Power Award awarded Archer AC5400 the highest customer satisfaction for wireless routers in 2017 and 2019. This router has the leading edge of 1.8 GHz 64 bit Quad-core CPU and 1G RAM that accelerates the loading, great for gamers.
It also has 8 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN port, with Link Aggregation, that you can team up to double connection speed. It uses AC5400 Tri-band Wi-Fi over one 2.4 GHz (1000Mbps) and two 5 GHz bands (2167Mbps), which dedicate one band to gaming traffic.
The MU-MIMO and Airtime Fairness maximize the total throughput and response rates to boost the reception. In addition to that, the beamforming sends targeted Wi-Fi to keep devices connected at farther distances than other wireless internet routers.
Who Will Use This Most
This router was made with gamers and streamers in mind. It may give uninterrupted gameplay owing to its increasing RAM storage.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The recent buyer stated that this router is great! The buyer even recommended it to others and said that it's worth buying for.
Why It Stands Out To Us
Netgear has built a VPN into the BR500 router to provide small and medium enterprises (SMBs) with a secure and economical option to protect their privacy. It has a Stateful packet inspection firewall and easy rule setting for instant protection against intrusion.
It also supports VLAN in VLAN support for private VLAN tagging in the ISP network for an additional layer of isolation and security. Furthermore, it provides remote monitoring and management from the Insight app or Insight cloud portal even across multiple sites from a single-pane-of-glass.
However, it may not provide enough control for more experienced administrators. There is a cost associated with adding more devices, which can be acquired on a subscription once the initial limit has been reached.
Who Will use This Most
It's simple to deploy and administer, making it suited for less experienced IT experts, and its minimalistic white style would look great in any business.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
One of the most recent customers complimented on the signal's speed and quality. One of them also commented that the router did exactly what it was supposed to do and that the money was well spent!
Why It Stands Out To Us
This router stands out because of its fast Wi-Fi 6 performance that may provide wireless coverage for large homes with AX6000 speed. With its dual-band up to 1.2 + 4.8 Gbps, it can offer more capacity so more devices can use Wi-Fi simultaneously.
It also supports wired ethernet ports to plug in computers, game consoles, and streaming players. It is loaded with advanced technology, including Beamforming+, MU-MIMO, Dynamic QoS, Smart Connect, OFDMA, Amazon Alexa Voice Control, and more.
Who Will Use This Most
This router is perfect for large households with several users that need to connect to the network at the same time. Gamers and streamers will enjoy this router's Gigabit Ethernet ports.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The recent buyers like the outstanding performance of Synology RT-2600AC. However, one of the recent buyers did not like the design because its feet make it hard to mount on walls.
Why It Stands Out To Us
The RT2600ac's software features to set it apart from the competition, even though it doesn't give the fastest Wi-Fi speeds in its class. The app support, which includes a built-in VPN client and server, a passable DNLA media server, and per-device parental controls, is the most intriguing feature.
They contain two pre-configured blocklists that allow you to block either malicious or malicious and adult' sites, as well as the ability to block or allow other domains. It also has Smart Connect for a seamless transition between maximum speed or range.
Who Will Use This Most
Beginners who are not tech-savvy will benefit from this router as it is easy to set up. With its reliable parental controls, parents who value their children's protection above all will be the best users of this router.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
All of the recent buyer reports have been positive. They said this router is amazing! This just means they were happy with their purchases.
Why It Stands Out To Us
This router stands out because it may minimize ping and maximize performance with six 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports for lag-free, wired connectivity and 1.7 GHz quad-core processor network efficiency.
This may also Amp up your Wi-Fi with a cutting-edge AD7200 Quad stream router that delivers speeds up to 7.2 Gbps. With the advanced QoS, this router may put your gaming traffic in a designated express lane, bypassing network congestion.
Moreover, this may make every millisecond count by using geo-filtering to connect to the closest servers so you can respond and dominate. This router also lets you monitor your network and game ping in real-time so you can see who's hogging the bandwidth by device and application.
Who Will Use This Most
This router is best suited for gamers. It might be the router you have been looking for. Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR700 may provide you with a lag-free experience and uninterrupted gaming.
Routers with Firewall Buying Guides
VPN Support
A router with a firewall allows you to create private networks over public connections for privacy purposes and encrypt and decrypt data on the fly. VPN support is something that most business-oriented wireless routers will have, but you can also find it in some of the best home router options.
Parental Controls
Parents who want to regulate their children's activity while using connected devices at home should look for parental control features such as time limiting, content filtering, device access management, web history blocking, location tracking, etc. These control measures give parents more peace of mind about what their kids are doing online.
USB Ports
It enables faster file sharing with other computers on the network as well as wireless access to printers without the need for printer cables.
Wireless Range
Wireless range determines how far a wireless signal can reach outside a house or building, affecting speed and connectivity.
Number of Bands
The number of bands a router has is the total amount of available wireless frequencies. The more bands there are, the more devices can connect to it without slowing its speed down for everyone else on the network.
This means that if you have a lot of different devices in your house or office, they won’t interfere with each other by using too many Wi-Fi channels at once, which leads to slower speeds for every device connecting to it.
Price Compatibility
One important thing about routers nowadays is whether or not they will be able to handle demanding applications such as multiple users streaming HD videos simultaneously across all their high bandwidth-consuming devices like tablets and laptops while also performing data backups wirelessly from an external hard drive plugged in the USB port.
As you can see, choosing a router is not as simple as it seems. You must do proper research before purchasing one to ensure that all your devices will work flawlessly together without any interruption or buffering when watching Netflix on multiple screens at once.
Speed
The speed of the router is determined by its bandwidth, which determines how much data it can handle at a time and connection types that are supported such as Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi connections, without any interference from other devices on your network.
Best Router with Firewalls FAQ
1. Should I disable the router's firewall?
By disabling a firewall, all data packets are allowed to enter and leave the network without restriction. This contains not just normal traffic, but also malicious data, posing a danger to the network. Disabling a hardware firewall also affects all connected devices.
2. Does a firewall affect Wi-Fi?
Modern antivirus solutions are often all-in-one packages that include cloud protection and firewalls, as well as system optimization. However, the aforementioned firewalls may sometimes interfere with your Wi-Fi network, stopping you from connecting to the Internet.
3. Is a firewall necessary for a router?
It is critical to employ at least one type of firewall – either a hardware firewall or a software firewall. Suppose you already have a router; leaving the Windows firewall enabled provides security benefits while incurring no real performance cost. As a result, running both is a good idea.
4. Is firewall slowing down internet speed?
A firewall is a type of network protection that filters data entering and leaving your network. Although far from ideal, it is designed to prevent security breaches on your machine. A firewall will naturally slow down your prospective Internet speeds due to the nature of its operation.
5. Should I disable the router's firewall?
It's possible to permit all inbound requests to flow through without a firewall when the firewall was removed. This might mean that someone else has obtained access to your network, posing a serious threat.
