There’s no denying that wireless routers have become so affordable and offer good speed these days. However, the speeds are still not comparable to a wired connection. The wired connections are undoubtedly more stable and provide better connectivity to the internet.
That said, if you are looking for a wired router for your home or office, this article is for you. We have already shortlisted some of the best Wired Routers that are available out there. But, before you pick one, always check for the following essential things beforehand:
- Speed: Since these routers provide you wired connectivity, you will be dealing with Ethernet Ports here. While some routers come with 10/100Mbps ports which are quite decent. But, in case you want more speed, you can choose options that deliver up to 1Gbps speeds.
- Number of Ports: Since a wired router’s job is to distribute internet bandwidth to multiple devices. It’s important to check how many LAN ports you are getting on the router. In addition, if you use connections from multiple ISPs, multiple WAN ports should also be there.
- Security: It’s always necessary to secure your connection from outside intruders and other threats. For that, most wired routers usually have hardware firewall systems and various other security systems to keep your network protected.
Apart from that, if you are buying a wired router for the first time, you can consider reading the detailed “Buying Guide”, which is mentioned down below in this article. Until then, let’s take a look at the list of best Wired Routers and see what they have to offer!
5 Best Wired Router in 2024
| Best Wired Router | Number of Ports | Data Transfer Rates | Security | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NETGEAR Wired Router | 8x Gigabit Ethernet ports | Up to 1000 Mbps | --- | Check On Amazon |
| Ubiquiti Networks Edgerouter 8-Port Router | 1x Gigabit WAN port, 8x Gigabit LAN ports | Up to 1000 Mbps | Hardware Firewall | Check On Amazon |
| TP-Link Multi-WAN Wired VPN Router | 1x Gigabit WAN port, 1x Gigabit LAN port, 3x Gigabit WAN/LAN ports | Up to 1000 Mbps | DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, Advanced Firewall | Check On Amazon |
| TRENDnet 4-Port Broadband Router | 1x 10/100 WAN port, 4x 10/100 LAN ports | Up to 100 Mbps | Advanced Firewall, IPsec, L2TP, and PPTP Multiple VPN passthrough, Web URL Filtering | Check On Amazon |
| Cisco RV160 VPN Router | 1x Gigabit WAN port, 4x Gigabit LAN ports | Up to 1,000 Mbps | Business-Grade Firewall | Check On Amazon |
Best Wired Router in 2024: Reviews
1. NETGEAR Wired Router
NETGEAR GS308E 8-port Gigabit Ethernet Plus Switch has truly enhanc the network experience. The speed it offers is simply astounding ,With its Gigabit Ethernet ports, everything is lightning-fast. Streaming movies, downloading files, and gaming are a breeze with its Gigabit Ethernet ports.
what impressed me even more is the reliability. No more frustrating interruptions or dropped connections. Setting it up was simple, even for a non-tech person like me. The user-friendly software made customization a snap, and the web interface is so easy to navigate.
Plus, it’s energy-efficient and silent. No more unnecessary expenses or annoying background noise and it comes with a 3-year warranty, giving me peace of mind.
Best Features:
- Lightning-fast Gigabit Ethernet ports for quick and smooth performance.
- Reliable connectivity with a stable connection.
- User-friendly setup and configuration.
- Energy-efficient design for cost savings.
Pros:
- Blazing-fast Gigabit Ethernet ports.
- Reliable and stable network connectivity.
- Energy-efficient operation.
Cons:
- Limited to 8 ports, may not be suitable for larger networks.
2. Ubiquiti Networks Wired Router
Ubiquiti Networks is yet another decently popular brand when it comes to manufacture devices and provide services related to IT and networking.
That said, we have put this wired router in 2nd position in this list since it is built and designed very nicely, and is also one of the most premium routers as well. The special fact about the ER-8 Edgerouter is that it has a rackmount design that allows you to mount it to any rack very easily. It does come with all the necessary screws and nuts in the package itself, which are needed for mounting. Speaking of its features, this wired router boasts a powerful Dual-core 800MHz CPU with 2GB DDR3 RAM.
This much processor power is surely needed for a device like this since it can handle up to 8 devices at the same time. You get a total of 8 Gigabit (10/100/1000) Ethernet RJ45 Ports, 1 WAN port along 1 USB port on this wired router. Moreover, the speeds you get from this router are quite good, thanks to the hardware-accelerated routing which allows the router to send 2 million packets per second.
Key Features:
- Uses Dual-core 800MHz CPU
- Has 2GB DDR3 RAM
- Rackmount Design
- 8x Gigabit (10/100/1000) Ethernet Ports
- 1x Gigabit WAN port
- 1x USB port
- Supports Hardware Accelerated Routing
Pros:
- High-performance router
- Offers ports in abundance
- Rack-mountable design
Cons:
- Very Expensive
3. TP-Link Multi-WAN Wired Router
Next up, we have yet another Wired VPN Router from TP-Link that you should definitely consider if your budget is not allowing you to get the one we discussed before.
The TL-R605 wired router from TP-Link is a good option to put in 3rd position in this list as it serves as good as any expensive router while still being available at an affordable price. TP-Link has loaded this router with features as it gets highly secure VPN connectivity along with other security features such as DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, Advanced Firewall, which protect your network at all times and help you browse safely. With this router, you can also take advantage of SDN if your devices are already equipped with the technology.
Although the TL-R605 wired router also offers you Cloud Access which is quite easy to manage using the Omada app, you will require an additional cloud-based controller, and have to pay some extra fees to use this feature. Speaking of the Gigabit ports, there are a total of 3 LAN/WAN ports, 1 WAN port, and 1 LAN port available on this wired router. The overall size and design of the router are quite attractive as it’s very compact and sturdy as well. In fact, like the other TP-Link router, this one also has 4KV lightning protection. Still, if anything goes wrong with it, you have the Limited Lifetime Warranty as a backup plan.
Key Features:
- Multiple WAN ports
- Speeds up to 1000Mbps
- DoS defense
- IP/MAC/URL filtering
- Advanced Firewall
- Omada SDN
- Cloud Access
- 4KV Lightning Protection
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
Pros:
- Highly secure VPN connectivity
- Durable and compact design
- Attractive Pricing
Cons:
- Need to pay extra fees for cloud services
4. TRENDnet Broadband Wired Router
If you are looking for an affordable wired router for basic home or office usage, TRENDnet has some really good options for you.
One of the best options from TRENDnet is this TW100-S4W1CA wired router which comes in a pretty compact form factor and has amazingly affordable pricing as well. The router offers you 4x 10/100Mbps Auto-MDIX ports (LAN), and 1 10/100Mbps WAN port for internet connectivity. Thanks to the Advanced Firewall protection, and Web URL Filtering offered by this router, all the connected devices always stay protected from online threats, and hackers as well.
The setup of the router is pretty easy like we normally configure routers using a web browser. Moreover, the router is quite advanced since it’s equipped with smart UPnP technology that allows it to quickly recognize new connected devices. In addition, it also provides Application Level Gateway support for the internet applications such as E-mail, gaming, FTP, etc. yet another good feature of this router is that it can be controlled or managed remotely. Apart from that, TRENDnet offers a 3-year warranty on this router.
Key Features:
- 4x 10/100Mbps LAN ports
- 1x 10/100Mbps WAN port
- Speeds up to 100Mbps
- Supports Application Level Gateway
- UPnP Technology
- Web URL Filtering
- Advanced Firewall
- 3-Year Warranty
Pros:
- Highly Affordable
- Remote Management
- Advanced Firewall protection is good
Cons:
- No Gigabit Ethernet Ports available
5. Cisco RV160 Wired Router
As you might know, Cisco is also a worldwide leading brand in the IT and Networking industry and has been offering high-quality networking devices for a long time now.
Hence, we picked up this premium wired router option from the brand that you will surely love to use. The Cisco RV160 VPN router is quite a safe choice for people running businesses, thanks to the IPsec VPN support and hardware firewall protection for secure browsing and site-to-site connectivity. This wired router is perfect for business, home office, restaurant, etc., since it comes equipped with 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports which are capable of delivering up to 1000Mbps speed. However, there’s only one 1 Gigabit WAN port available on this router, even after being so expensive.
One amazing fact about this router is that it supports the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client, which allows you to control this router remotely as well. Speaking of its performance, it is commendable as it has 600Mbps NAT throughput and up to 50Mbps VPN throughput which is pretty decent as well. You would be glad to know that all the Cisco products come with a limited lifetime warranty.
Key Features:
- 4x Gigabit Ethernet ports
- 1x Gigabit WAN port
- Speeds up to 1000Mbps
- IPsec VPN support
- Support for Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client
- 600Mbps NAT throughput
- VPN throughput 50Mbps
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
Pros:
- Fantastic Performance
- Allows Remote Management
- Comes with commendable security
Cons:
- Does not support Multiple WAN ports
Buying Guide for the Best Wired Router
Although we have already mentioned some of the best Wired Router options from the market in the list. You might still find it hard to choose the right one for yourself if you are looking for such a device for the first time, or do not know about their features very well. Well, there’s no need to worry as we will be making this task a lot easier for you by providing all the necessary details in this buying guide. Hence, make sure to read this buying guide until the end so that you can pick the right wired router for you from the above list.
Speed
First of all, before picking a router, make sure what internet connection you are using and also check how much speed your internet plan provides. If you are thinking of using a wired router for your office or business, you will surely need good internet speeds. Hence, subscribing to a 1Gbps plan should be good. However, if you are a casual user, you can have a 100Mbps connection, it won’t be an issue.
Depending on your internet connection’s speed, you can pick the right router for yourself that supports the speeds of your internet connection. Even if you have a 100Mbps plan, you can still go for a 1Gbps router as you get the option to upgrade the plan later and use the same router. Otherwise, if you are low on budget, stick to the 100Mbps wired routers.
Security
The security of Wired connections is quite different as compared to the Wireless networks. In general, most wired routers come with advanced hardware firewalls in-built and have support for multiple VPN protocols to make the connection more secure and safe from outside intruders and online threats. Hence, always check the security features and ensure the router is capable of providing you a safe browsing experience.
WAN Ports
All the wired routers come with a WAN port that allows you to access the internet connection offered by your ISP. In most cases, a single WAN port on the router does the job. However, if you have subscribed to a secondary ISP to use as a backup, you might need multiple WAN ports on your wired router. We have already mentioned some of the best Wired Routers on the list that come with up to 4 WAN ports so that you can have access to connections from multiple ISPs at the same time. Apart from that, you should know that Gigabit WAN ports support up to 1000Mbps speed connections. While the conventional ones offer only up to 100Mbps speeds.
LAN Ports
Just like the WAN ports, the LAN ports look the same and use the same RJ45 connector. Depending on the number of devices you want to use at the same time, you can make a good wired router choice. There are various options on the list that offer up to 4 LAN ports, and some even have 8 LAN ports as well.
That means, a 4 LAN port wired router will allow you to connect up to 4 devices at the same time, while the 8 port router will handle 8 devices at the same time. Apart from that, if it is mentioned that the LAN ports are Gigabit Ethernet ports, it means they can handle speeds up to 1Gbps. On the other hand, the basic 10/100 LAN ports are only capable of providing up to 100Mbps speed.
VPN
Next up, in case you need to access your network from a remote location, make sure the router has a secure VPN connectivity feature as well. The routers compatible with VPN protocols like IPsec, L2TP, or PPTP are well-secured and offer decent access to the network.
Setup
If you are new to networking and don’t know how to set up a router properly. Then, avoid the options that have a complicated configuration process. Instead, we have mentioned some of the best Wired Routers, which are pretty easy to install and configure. Not only choosing an easy-to-install router will save you a lot of time. But, also it will save you some extra money as you won’t need to hire any networking specialist for the job.
Warranty
Lastly, you can check for the warranty of the device as well, if you are concerned about it. Popular brands like TP-link and Cisco offer a lifetime warranty for their products and free 24/7 technical support as well. However, you might not need to use a warranty for any purpose since all the products in the list are well-built and work flawlessly.
Conclusion
We hope you have liked the products mentioned on the list. In case you have any difficulties finding the most suitable product for yourself, you can definitely judge them according to your budget. Apart from that, if you want to compare the features, taking a little help from the buying guide will also make things easier for you. In case you are wondering what are our top picks from this list, here are a few good recommendations for you all:
- For the people who are looking for a Multi-WAN wired router, the NETGEAR Wired Router is the best option to pick at the moment. In all, it is an all-rounder router that comes with Gigabit ports and is highly secure.
- Apart from that, we have yet another premium option from Ubiquiti Networks Edgerouter 8-Port Router, which has a rackmount design and comes with 8 Gigabit LAN ports, and a single Gigabit WAN port. Not just that, it has the best performance among all routers, thanks to its Dual-core 800MHz CPU with Hardware Accelerated packet processing.
- On the other hand, budget-oriented people can grab the TP-Link Multi-WAN Wired VPN Router (TL-R605) since it comes at very attractive pricing. This one also offers IP/MAC/Domain name filtering, DoS protection, SPI Firewall, and has up to 4 Gigabit WAN ports.
