Best Wired Router 2024 (Non-Wireless Routers)

Wired routers are a traditional but more secure means of setting up high-speed and stable internet connection.

Finding the best wired router for your home or small business will enable network users to benefit from quality internet speeds and strong network security.

Wired routers are known for providing reliable and consistent ethernet-based internet access, whether you are playing video games, streaming content, or simply downloading and uploading large files.

While the functions of a wired router can be similar to that of a wireless router, you need to prioritize some features such as having enough USB and ethernet ports to connect to your devices and ensuring that the router can meet the maximum speed output of your internet plan.

Additionally, you should select a wired router that has proper security protocols so that your local network is protected from security breaches and hackers.

Best Wired Routers (2024)

Top 7 Wired Routers (Non-Wireless Routers)

Wired routers are traditionally used by individuals who want to set up a small local area network.

Although rapid technological advancements in wireless routers have seen them dominate the market in the last decade, there is still room for wired routers in small businesses and homes.

There are several options for various needs from VPN-focused models to models focusing on high-speed internet connections.

Below are the 7 best wired routers for 2024 that you can choose from. Each wired router has an explanation about its design, performance, and whom it is made for as well as the advantages and disadvantages:

1. Ubiquiti Unifi Security Gateway (Editor’s Choice)

Our Editor’s Choice for the best wired router is the Ubiquiti Unifi Security Gateway (USG).

Design

The Ubiquiti Unifi Security Gateway features three Ethernet ports (1 WAN port, 1 LAN port, and 1 LAN/WAN port) as well as CLI management for advanced users.

It comes with a 3 Gbps total line rate for packets 512 bytes or larger and 1 million packets per second for 64-byte packets.

The Ubiquiti USG extends the Unifi Enterprise System to offer reliable, cost-effective, and advanced security and routing for your network.

It also comes with powerful firewall performance and convenient VLAN support.

Performance

The Ubiquiti USG is bundled with the Unifi Controller software at no extra charge to conduct device provisioning, discovery, and management of the Unifi Security Gateway and other Unifi devices using one centralized management system.

This USG provides advanced firewall policies that protect your network and its data, and it can generate virtual network segments for network traffic management and security.

It uses a MIPS64 processor which can accelerate the packet if you need it. You can achieve 1 Gbps speed when connected to a gigabit internet service.

If you are using this USG only for routing the throughput will drop when you enable Deep Packet Inspection.

The Ubiquiti USG also comes with an Intrusion Detection System that checks the network traffic for any known attack signatures and blocks them on the network level. The device does not come with any fan which makes it near silent when in operation.

The site-to-site VPN feature encrypts and secures private data communications moving across the internet, giving users extra data security and protection.

Who It’s For

The Ubiquiti Unifi Security Gateway is recommended for home, gaming, and business.

Pros

• Great hardware performance and acceleration.
• Comes with advanced security features such as IDS and Deep Packet Inspection.
• Has advanced routing features.
• Great management tool.

Cons

• Does not have PoE (Power over Ethernet) ports.

2. Ubiquiti EdgeRouter 4 (High Performance)

Design

The Ubiquiti EdgeRouter 4 is a high-capacity router that is designed to allow you to simultaneously stream on several devices, making it suitable for every household.

It is constructed with versatility in mind as you can mount it on the wall or let it sit on a table, desk, or shelf.

The device comes with one SFP port and three (10/100/1000 Mbps) Ethernet ports. Also, it comes with an internal PSU and does not have a fan.

Performance

The Ubiquiti EdgeRouter 4 is a high-performing and fast-wired router as it can route 3.4 million packets in one second with a line rate of 4 Gbps.

It combines enterprise-level features and carrier-class reliability in an affordable and compact unit.

This router has a 50% increase in performance than the EdgeRouter Pro to provide the performance your network requires.

It can handle dual WAN with 1 Gbps throughput without QoS or DPI. The throughput drops to about 500 Mbps if the QoS is enabled but it is still faster compared to other consumer-grade routers.

Who It’s For

The Ubiquiti EdgeRouter 4 is suitable for households with several streaming devices as well as small businesses.

Pros

• The download speed is fast.
• Built and designed for high performance.
• You can configure the VLAN for network segmentation.
• Site-to-site VPN.
• Dual WAN failover.

Cons

• To get it working properly, you need to know about networking.

3. TRENDnet Gigabit VPN Router (Budget Friendly)

Design

The TRENDnet Multi-WAN router features a fail-safe network backup, WAN for balancing load, and VPN access that is encrypted for users who are using the network remotely.

It comes with 5 Gigabit ports which include 4 WAN ports and 1 LAN port. It also features one RJ-45 console port and one USB port.

The Multi-WAN feature enables the router to support four different WAN internet connections which balance traffic efficiently by distributing it to the best available link.

Performance

The TRENDnet router creates a high-availability network with router redundancy by grouping several TWG-431BR routers to minimize network downtime.

The VPN router generates an encrypted VPN tunnel using the PPTP, IPSec, SSL, and L2TP w/IPsec VPN protocols which enables it to remotely access the local area network.

The Router Limits powers advanced web content filtering which enables the users to have more control over the activity on their network. Additionally, this router enables you to track web use, browsing history as well as manage screen time, and many more.

The VPN router comes with advanced management, QoS, high availability, VPN, VLAN, and other capabilities to ensure optimal scalability, performance, and protection for your network.

The advanced NAT, SPI, and SNAT protect your devices against internet attacks. The availability of Router Limit’s software for mobile services enables you to manage your connected network better.

The latest software upgrade provides extra support for speed tests and DPI. DPI offers more detailed information and analyzes data traffic on specific users or devices such as the content being viewed or downloaded, bandwidth usage, apps used, and more. This allows parents to better manage and monitor network traffic.

You can also remotely run speed tests between your ISP and TRENDnet router which allows you to check the internet connection speeds for bandwidth or connectivity issues.

It comes with a three-year TRENDnet warranty.

Who It’s For

The TRENDnet Multi-WAN router is compatible with a personal computer so is best suited for home use.

Pros

• Quality router for a good price.
• Can control the port traffic easily.
• Eliminates network downtime.

Cons

• Few troubleshooting options to help with advanced setup.

4. Zyxel USG Flex 500 (For Small & Medium Businesses)

Design

The USG FLEX firewalls are the latest addition to the Nebula cloud management family. It optimizes Nebula with holistic protection and security for SMB business networks. Zyxel offers a provisioning security policy that is centralized to the remote workforce from Nebula.

For better business productivity and easy IT support, the USG Flex allows for traffic shaping which removes the network bottleneck.

Whether you are using a wireless, IoT, or wired device, a secure L2 tunnel is built using the Secure WiFi service which extends the working experience securely and easily for work-from-home users.

Performance

With the Zyxel USG Flex 500, you will stay ahead of threats with the use of CDR. The firewalls can sync with the Nebula Control Center and detect any threat on the connected devices, then automatically contain the devices at the Wireless Access Point of the network and respond to cyber threats.

Working from home is here to stay and the USG FLEX series uses the principles of zero trust access which makes sure that the same security controls are applied to branch offices, HQ, home, or anywhere the remote workers live.

To enforce network segmentation, the USG FLEX uses device contextual such as device category or OS version to generate an access policy.

This prevents threats from spreading and minimizes the attack surface.

USG FLEX comes with multi-layered protection to protect your device from different types of threats and enables you to restrict users from inappropriate web access or application usage.

Zyxel provides you with a DNS content filter that is leading in the industry to remove blind spots in all encrypted traffic using TLS 1.3 without deploying SSL inspection.

The dashboard provides you with user-friendly threat statistical visuals and traffic summaries.

Who It’s For

The Zyxel USG Flex 500 is recommended for small businesses as it supports up to 150 users.

Pros

• Provides multi-layered protection.
• Web security is guaranteed with the URL and DNS content filter.
• Better control and visibility are provided by Device Insight.
• Contains threats automatically at the network edge.

Cons

• Some issues getting the unit to install and update the firmware.
• Low throughput.

5. Peplink Balance 20 Router (Dual WAN)

Design

The Peplink Balance 20 Dual-WAN router comes with a load-balancing functionality that provides you with the most balanced use of the bandwidth as it allocates it appropriately to where it is most needed, whether it is uploading, downloading, streaming, or browsing.

This router features 2 GE WAN ports and 1 USB WAN port that can be used with 3G/ 4G LTE modem. You can activate the third GE WAN port using a license key provided by Peplink if you need an optional upgrade.

It also comes with 4 GE LAN ports and 150 Mbps throughput.

Performance

The Peplink Balance 20 allows you to increase bandwidth by easily breaking the internet bandwidth limits to add internet links. Each Peplink Balance comes with 7 load balancing algorithms that are advanced.

You can increase the overall speed of your network by distributing network traffic to different internet links.

Additionally, you can add cheaper internet links to your current networks such as DSL or Cable to make loading websites faster.

With the outbound traffic manager, you can optimize speed and set up rules to direct high-volume traffic to internet links that are faster.

Combine up to 13 internet connections with this router and subscribe to several internet providers for optimal efficiency.

In case of a link failure, the automatic health check will monitor the status of the internet links and reroute traffic.

With Peplink Balance 20, you can save money instantly as it switches you to an optimal combination of traditional internet connection like cable internet and ADSL. This change will dramatically increase performance and minimize your internet expenses.

Who It’s For

The Peplink Balance 20 is recommended for home offices or users that require a bit of additional power.

Pros

• Can manage up to 13 connections.
• Has a built-in SPI firewall.
• You can limit bandwidth allowance using port-based VLANs.
• Offers a cost-effective connection.
• Provides you control over how traffic is routed.

Cons

• Packaging issues as some customers did not receive the user manual.
• Having issues accessing the web interface when the DSL line is not healthy.

6. Linksys LRT224 (Best VPN Wired Router)

Design

The Lynksys LRT224 router is a suitable choice for growing businesses who are looking for a secure and reliable network service as it features OpenVPN support, Ethernet ports, and an integrated firewall.

It features 5 OpenVPN tunnels for Android and iOS users and around 50 IPsec tunnels.

Additionally, the LRT224 has features that meet a variety of business network needs and support WAN failover and load balancing for internet connectivity that is highly reliable.

Performance

The OpenVPN server support enables employees to have secure remote access to the network from tablets, smartphones, and laptops. To ensure that only trusted sources connect to your network, this router comes with a two-factor authentication.

The LRT224 comes with an integrated firewall that enables you to regulate usage. With URL filtering, you can prevent access to harmful sites and boost the productivity of your employees without sacrificing the performance of the network.

This VPN router enables administrators to regulate the traffic that is in their business network which keeps employees off websites that waste time at work. The router also controls access to source/destination or TCP/UDP ports that are potentially dangerous.

The dual-WAN load balancing provides faster data transfers and downloads by combining the bandwidths of both WAN connections which is a higher internet bandwidth compared to one WAN connection.

This means that if one of the WAN connections loses an internet connection, the WAN failover automatically directs traffic to another WAN which maintains your operations until the network is restored.

You do not need professional IT staff to set up this router as it is easy to install and manage.

The web administrative interface is user-friendly and is designed for small business owners and administrators. It is easy to customize according to your office needs.

Who It’s For

Lynksys LRT224 router is recommended for growing businesses.

Pros

• Provides secure access with the use of OpenVPN.
• Regulated network usage through URL filtering.
• Resources are organized using inter-VLAN routing and VLAN tagging.
• Offers a user-friendly web interface for administrators and business owners.

Cons

• The User Guide does not provide enough information for set-up.

7. FORTINET FortiGate 30E (Best Security Features)

Design

The FORTINET FortiGate 30E is a hardware appliance that comes with 4 LAN ports (switch ports) for connecting to internal network hosts and 1 WAN port for connecting to other ethernet WAN connections or ISP.

If you need more internal hosts, you can connect the LAN ports to a switch.

Performance

For optimal performance, the FORTINET FortiGate 30E Network Security/Firewall appliance can be used as a normal hardware firewall such as TCP ports restriction, VPN for remote access, or traffic policy controls without purchasing any recurring FortiGuard license.

Using it as a hardware firewall allows you to connect to an internet connection line with high speed and fully use the 950 Mbps throughput.

When you purchase a subscription to the FortiGuard services, you will get the real security benefits as it offers you all NGFW advanced security features including antivirus, web filtering, intrusion prevention, malware protection, anti-spam, and many more.

However, the throughput/performance of the device will be lowered if you enable more advanced inspection controls and features.

Therefore, you can use it initially as a powerful SD-Wan firewall/router for VPNs, network protection, firewall policies, and NAT, and then purchase the security subscription when needed.

Who It’s For

The FortiGate 30E is a great option for a small office or business that wants a solid and robust firewall for security reasons.

Pros

• Meets compliance standards like HIPAA and PCI.
• Can remotely access VPN.
• High security for business and home networks.
• VDOMs enable you to segment the network to enable employee and guest access.

Cons

• Extra charges for anti-virus updates and web filtering.

Factors To Consider When Looking For The Best Wired Router

When looking for the best wired router to suit your home, office, or gaming needs, you need to consider various factors such as speed, security, and ports when reviewing different product options.

Below are some of the factors that you need to consider before buying a wired router:

Speed

Gigabit Ethernet promises to provide an internet speed of up to 1 Gbps depending on the internet service provider, and this is standard for most wired routers.

But some models may come with a 1.25 Gbps SFP cage that can use modules for SFP for multiple speeds and types of fiber and Ethernet cables.

Therefore, when considering the best wired router for your needs, note that there are other speed options available beyond the standard 1 Gbps.

Security Features

Network administrators traditionally used routers as hardware firewall appliances.

Nowadays, most routers still use SPI (stateful packet inspection) as a firewall technique. Apart from SPI, today’s wired routers use other network security features such as VPN support, network administrator control, DoS attack protection, and encryption.

These features provide security to your network but also ensure that individual devices and computers in the network run software like anti-spyware, antivirus, software firewall solutions, anti-trojan, and internet security suites.

Ports

When looking for a router for your home or office, consider the different types of ports available.

WAN ports allow you to access the internet connection provided by the Internet Service Provider (ISP). If you use a backup ISP or subscribe to another Internet Service Provider, you will need multiple WAN ports on the router.

Some of the most popular routers are equipped with up to 4 WAN ports so that you can use multiple Internet Service Providers at the same time.

Wired routers also feature LAN ports, also known as ethernet ports, which are used to connect the router to computers and consoles. LAN ports use the same RJ45 connector as WAN ports.

A wired router with 4 LAN ports will allow you to connect 4 devices at the same time. A router with 8 LAN ports can connect to 8 devices at the same time.

When LAN ports are mentioned as Gigabit Ethernet ports it means they can handle up to 1Gbps speed while basic LAN ports can provide speeds of up to 100Mps.

If you have many devices wanting to access the wired connection, consider a router with more LAN ports.

Built-In VPN

Having a built-in VPN on your wired router means that you have additional security for your whole network. The average home network may not be concerned about a built-in VPN but the truth is you cannot go wrong with having it.

This is because it prevents breaches into your network which keeps the stored or received information safe from outsiders.

To keep their businesses as private and secure as possible, small business owners should have a built-in VPN in their router.

Setup

If you find it difficult to set up a router, you should avoid options that come with complicated configuration processes.

There are wired routers available on the market that are easy to configure and install, so buying them will save you money and time as you will not need to hire a network specialist for the job.

Wired vs Wireless Routers

The main difference between a wireless router and a wired router is that a wired router requires a physical connection between the router and the computer or console to access the internet.

Do note, however, that most routers do have both wireless and wired connections available.

A wired router will outperform a wireless router with the same speed and specification because you directly connect the cable from your computer to the router, meaning you do not share bandwidth or have to manage the QoS protocol that prioritizes the activity of one device over the other.

If you are concerned about data breaches, wired routers are a great option as they are more secure than wireless models.

Wired routers provide internet access through an internet connection while wireless internet relies on the broadcast signal. Since wired routers use cables, you need to know the length of the cable that you will use.

How To Set Up Your Wired Router & Wired Network Security

Wired routers have a control panel that enables you to activate and change the security features. Below are some of the ways that you can protect your wired network using a wired router:

1. Change the default password – when changing the settings using the control panel, your router will ask you to put in the default password. Most manufacturers use ‘admin’ as the default password and cybercriminals know this, so to prevent unauthorized access you should change this password to something hard to guess.
2. Activate MAC address filtering – Media Access Control contains unique letters and numbers that are given to your wired router. This step offers access to a wired network for devices that have specific MAC addresses and are connected.
3. Activate encryption – activating the different encryption techniques such as allowing the VPN to hide your online behavior and credentials from the prying eyes of cybercriminals ensures you have security and protection over a wired network.
4. Protect your wired router from unauthorized access – you can do this by keeping your router away from areas that can be accessed by other people. Also, turn off the wired network appliances when you are not using them, especially during vacations or at night.
5. Protect the devices covered by your wireless router in your network – encrypt confidential files and secure the devices using passwords. Disable file sharing and regularly change the passwords.

Wired Routers FAQs

What Are The Disadvantages Of A Wired Router?

A wired router comes with some drawbacks that you should be aware of, and they include:

• You have restricted mobility because of its wired nature. This means that you are restricted to a certain working space, and you do not enjoy the mobility that wireless routers provide.
• It takes resources and money to lay down cables and wires throughout your home or office space.
• The amount of connections depends on the number of connection ports, meaning the number of users that can use the network is restricted.

Can I Plug A Wireless Router Into A Wired Router?

Yes, you can connect a wireless router to a wired router to get an internet connection through the following steps:

• Connect an ethernet cable to an uplink port on your wireless router and an output port on your wired router then turn on the routers.
• Turn on your computer that has wireless capability and connect it to the new wireless network.
• Find 192.168.0.1 on your browser and enter the router’s password and username.
• To prevent network conflict between the routers, disable the DHCP service.
• Turn on all the computers connected to the wired router and find their IP addresses.
• Change the wireless IP address in the wireless router’s settings to match the wired router, altering the last number to be different from the wired router and your computers.

What Is A Wired VPN Router?

A wired VPN router is a routing device that is designed to allow network communication within a VPN environment. It enables communicating and connecting between several VPN end devices, usually in different locations.

It also uses one or more tunneling/networking protocols to manage and create communications within VPN tunnels.

What Is A Dual WAN Wired Router?

Rather than using the standard single WAN port, a dual WAN router is designed with two internet ports. This enables one router to connect to two separate internet sources.

This allows you to have a more reliable internet service as you can have two connections simultaneously from different ISPs which allows for improved connectivity and a better internet experience.

Final Words

There are various wired routers available in the market and each comes with specific features to satisfy different internet needs.

Wired routers are a great choice if you want strong connectivity, reliability, better security, and better speeds.

From this article, the Ubiquiti Unifi Security Gateway is our editor’s choice for the best wired router as it provides you with advanced, cost-effective, and reliable routing and security for your network.

It also provides you with convenient VLAN support as well as a powerful firewall performance.

Understanding the factors that you need to consider before buying a wired router like security features, ports, and speed will enable you to purchase the right device for your specific needs.