If you are comfortable taking things into your own hands and understand the risks, this software can give you some handy extra VPN features like policy-based routing. As such, we can't recommend custom firmware for most people.
When it comes to installing any firmware other than official on your router, you need to be careful, so if you're not familiar with this type of thing, it may be best for you to stick with official tools. This model is one of the most affordable Wi-Fi 6 options that work with ASUSWRT-MERLIN.
AiProtection Pro and parental controls are included like most ASUS routers as well as AiMesh expansion.
This gives the router enough speed for most homes and can even support 160MHz connections. The ASUS RT-AX58U is a solid mid-range Wi-Fi 6 router with an AX3000 dual-band connection. This is a great choice for a business looking to keep its networking secure while accommodating multiple offices or those working from home. This router can also act as a VPN server so you can connect to it while you're away with either your device or another Synology router. VPN client configurations are supported so you can add your preferred VPN connection. You can also add mesh nodes like the MR2200ac for better coverage. It also supports modern features like Smart Connect so your devices connect to the best possible wireless band. While the company hasn't released a Wi-Fi 6 model just yet, this AC2600 router still packs a punch with a 4x4 connection allowing for up to 1733Mbps total throughput at 5GHz. In our review of the Synology RT2600ac, we noted that this is a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 router with plenty of speed for most people. It has continued to build on its reputation with routers featuring decent speeds, excellent software, and great mesh expansion options. Synology has created a strong name for itself in networking with fast and reliable NAS enclosures. It's worth noting that this router does not support AiMesh so if you think you'll create a mesh at some point, you'll want to start with a more capable ASUS router. It also manages to keep AiProtection with parental controls if you're looking for a little extra peace of mind. Around the back, you get four Ethernet ports for wired devices. The dual-band Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 connection is enough for most standard usage with a top speed of 1201Mbps with 5GHz devices. For people that want to be able to switch between a VPN connection and a standard connection quickly, this setup can make sense. With a low price and decent Wi-Fi 6 speeds, this is a good pick if you're looking to operate a second router with the VPN connected all the time. Even so, it still supports VPN client configurations so all devices connected to this router will use the VPN connection. The ASUS RT-AX1800S is a cheap Wi-Fi 6 router that cuts back on some of ASUS' more impressive features to reach its low price.
You can download a configuration file from one of the best VPN providers and upload it to your router. This means that you can get a configuration from a VPN provider to work on this router as well as create a connection to the router from an outside connection. If you want to expand your coverage, AiMesh allows you to use other ASUS routers or nodes to create a custom mesh network in your home.Īs far as VPN features, this router supports standard VPN configurations with L2PT, OVPN, and PPTP for both client and server. In software, you get ASUS' software package with AiProtection for internet security as well as good parental controls with profiles, schedules, and content filters. But in our review of this router, we found that these strengths transfer over well to general usage however and the dual-band AX5400 connection is a great fit for many homes with plenty of capacity for dozens of connections and enough speed to work well with a gigabit connection. The ROG STRIX GS-AX5400 from ASUS is marketed as a gaming router with fast hardware and robust software to keep gaming pings low and speeds consistent.