Wireless routers are a staple for businesses of all sizes, including hybrid work environments. With the huge variety of devices you can find on the market, finding the best VoIP router for your office can be a daunting task.
When it comes to VoIP, you’ll need a router that is not only fast, but one that’s compatible with your hardware too.
Most importantly, you need your VoIP router to perform. Read on to learn more about what we believe are the 10 best VoIP routers you can buy in 2021.
Your Guide to the 10 Best VoIP Routers in 2021
#1: Sonicwall TZ Series
The Sonicwall TZ series VoIP routers are an exceptional security solution for SMBs. This router combines its software-defined area networking tech with its high-speed threat prevention. The Sonicwall TZ series offers a wide range of wireless and networking features, along with a centralized management system that provides an easy to use security solution.
You can access licensing, reporting, management, and centralized analytics through its security center. The TZ series also has a sleek design that looks great in any environment.
Router Highlights
- SD-WAN networking
- Centralized reporting and analytics
- Integrated security
The Sonicwall TZ series is best for those looking for a VoIP router with QoS capabilities
#2: NetGear ProSafe
The NetGear ProSafe VoIP routers offer high performance with their business-class VPN firewalls and deliver five different types of protection for businesses. These routers also offer fully secure network access across all of your locations, making them perfect for businesses that handle sensitive information and data.
The ProSafe routers with WAN ports can continue operating during load-balancing or in a failover configuration; they can distribute network traffic across multiple broadband connections.
Router Highlights
- AES and 3DES encryption
- Load-balancing configuration
- SPI, VPN, NAT, and DoS protection
The Netgear ProSafe is best for those looking for a VoIP router that offers business-class network protection.
#3: ZyXEL ZyWall
The ZyXEL ZyWall VoIP router is ideal for business operations that focus on mobility. Modern businesses are mobile, global, and dynamic, and ZyXEL introduced its ZyWall routers as an all-new business-grade VPN firewall for the modern business. They have multi-core CPUs and boast the fastest firewall and VPN performance you can find on the market today. The ZyWall routers come equipped with up to 800 Mbps VPN throughput and 6Gbps firewalls.
Router Highlights
- Fast firewall and VPN speeds
- ZyWall series VPN firewalls
- High-speed networking performance
The ZyXEL ZyWall is best for those looking for a VoIP router with fast firewall and VPN performance.
#4: FortiGate 52E SMB
The FortiGate 52E SMB router uses continuous threat intelligence technology to protect businesses from malicious websites. It can detect attacks from unknown sources using dynamic analysis and provides automatic mitigation to stop these attacks.
These routers also offer high-level networking functions, allowing it to merge both security and networking in a single product. They also enable flexible deployment options like secure SD-WAN and UTM. It’s the ultimate router for security, with its predefined security checklist that allows it to improve continuously.
Router Highlights
- Continuous threat intelligence
- Automatically stops cyberattacks
- Detects unknown attacks with dynamic analysis
The FortiGate 52E is best for those looking for a VoIP router with optimal enterprise branch security.
Related: HIPAA Compliant Communication Systems
#5: NetGear Nighthawk X10
For businesses that rely on fast internet speeds, the NetGear Nighthawk X10 is the way to go. It remains the industry’s fastest VoIP router when it comes to media streaming, delivering 802.11ac/ad Wi-Fi for near instant downloads and 4K streaming.
This router offers exceptional wireless performance, giving businesses the opportunity to see speeds of up to 7.2 Gbps. Its four external antennas also help boost Wi-FI signals even further.
Router Highlights
- Strong Wi-Fi performance
- Near instant downloads
- Ultra-fast, ultra-smooth streaming
The NetGear Nighthawk X10 is best for those looking for a VoIP router with the fastest speeds.
#6: Linksys EA8300
The EA8300 Max Stream from Linksys is a tri-band active router that offers multiple ways for you to customize its features to get the best performance for your business. You can use this VoIP router to share wireless signals between devices, track network use, and even prioritize data allotment between applications.
You can manage this router manually or automatically and use it on the go, in your home, or in your office, which is what makes it so great for power users.
Router Highlights
- Customizable features
- Manual or automatic management
- Three wireless bands balance data flow
The Linksys EA8300 is best for power users looking for a capable VoIP router.
#7: WatchGuard FireBox T35
The WatchGuard Firebox matches the high-speed internet connections available today. It’s designed for use in enterprise-level security in small and midsize businesses. It offers extremely fast connection compatibility, allowing it to offer a high level of security while still providing clear video and call quality.
The router’s central interface gives you real-time insights into your network’s security. The WatchGuard also has management tools that give users complete access in an intuitive way. It includes one PoE+ port and five Ethernet ports for maximum connectivity.
Router Highlights
- High-speed connection compatibility
- Enterprise-level security functions
- Versatile, intuitive management controls
The WatchGuard FireBox T35 is best for those looking for a VoIP router with the best call quality.
#8: Asus RT Series
Asus is known for its top-of-the-line hardware, including VoIP routers. The RT-AC88U is an AC3100 series router that has 8 Gigabit LAN ports, and its Wi-Fi performance over the 2.4 and 5 GHz are lightning fast.
This router offers a high-quality connection for reliable and clear video and call quality. The control interface for the RT-AC88U is designed exceptionally well, and it’s intuitive and easy to use for any user.
Router Highlights
- Exceptional Wi-Fi performance
- 8 Gigabit LAN ports
- Intuitive control interface
The ASUS RT series routers are best for those looking for a VoIP router with the best Wi-Fi performance.
#9: Cisco 900 Series
Ideal for small businesses, home offices, and enterprise branches, the Cisco 900 series routers provide integrated security that delivers real-time threat protection. They are the perfect VoIP routers for network defense and protect against attacks and vulnerabilities.
The included security suite also includes SLA verification, monitoring, and configuration management. The routers also feature a four-port managed switch.
Router Highlights
- Metro Ethernet connectivity
- Integrated security features
- Optimized WAN services
The Cisco 900 series routers are best for those looking for a VoIP router for their small, midsize, or home office.
#10: Sophos UTM
The Sophos UTM router offers the ultimate package for network security in a single product. It’s easy to use interface rapidly creates new policies to control security risks and provides users with a detailed report to help them fully understand those policies and potential security threats.
This router provides users with a consolidated network security platform to protect their network by using multi-layered security technologies, including web filtering and Advanced Threat Protection. With modular subscriptions, you can choose the appropriate level of protection for your business.
Router Highlights
- Intuitive security interface
- Multi-layered protection against threats
- Detailed security reports and policies
The Sophos UTM is best for those looking for a VoIP router with the highest level of network protection.
Which Type of VoIP Router Do You Need?
There are three types of VoIP routers: single-, dual-, and tri-band. Here are the differences:
Single-Band VoIP Routers
Sing-band routers operate on one frequency: 2.4 GHz. Most of the older single-band routers use the 2003-802.11g frequency, which caps data speeds at a low 54 Mbps. Other single-band VoIP routers use the 802.11n, or Wireless-N, that operate on a 2.4 GHz band and offer speeds up to 800 Mbps. Due to limitations in internet services, most users won’t see those speeds.
Dual-Band VoIP Routers
A dual-band router supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. With the 5 GHz band, you can expect a faster, more reliable connection, which is beneficial for offices where many users are using the connection at the same time.
Dual-bands are without a doubt a better option than single-band for business use. Some dual-band VoIP routers also offer MU-MIMO support, which improves the way Wi-Fi interacts with different devices. Routers without this functionality can only interchange with one device at a time.
Tri-Band VoIP Routers
A tri-band router has the capability of Gigabit speeds, and on the 5 GHz band, they can get upwards of 4,000 Gbps. Tri-band refers to the fact that these routers operate with one 2.4 GHz band and two 5 GHz bands.
By using automated features, these routers direct other devices to the 5 GHz band and reduce signal interference much better than dual-band routers. Tri-band VoIP routers are the best choice for offices that use various 5 GHz connected devices.
Mesh Networks
A mesh network connects routers together to supply an internet connection over a large area. They consist of various routers that each provide coverage while communicating with other nearby interlocked routers.
Mesh networks are ideal for large buildings, as they can deliver the connection anywhere you need, like throughout an entire office building spanning multiple floors.
The 5 Features You Should Look For in a VoIP Router
Finding a VoIP router that has all of the important features can be challenging, especially if you’ve never purchased one before. When shopping around, you’ll find that there are hundreds of varieties of routers to choose from. On top of that, some of the technical terms can be confusing. We’ll break it all down for you.
#1: Quality of Service (QoS)
Quality of service describes the overall performance of a service—in this case, however, it’s a feature of routers and switches. They prioritize traffic in a way that allows the most important data to pass through it first, improving the performance and efficiency of the network.
QoS is important for VoIP devices and in LANs that see high volumes of traffic. It’s particularly useful for transporting traffic with special requirements.
#2: Virtual LANs (VLANs)
Virtual LANs address security, scalability, and network management by providing network segmentation. VoIP routers between VLANs mitigate congestion, filter traffic, enhance the network’s security, and perform address summarization.
VLANs communicate with each other to route traffic between them in the most efficient way possible.
#3: Dual- & Tri-Band Frequencies
Dual-band frequencies operate on one 2.4 GHz band and one 5 GHz band. Speeds can be up to 450 Mbps and 1,300 Mbps, respectively.
Tri-band frequencies operate on one 2.4 GHz band and two 5 GHz bands. Tri-band routers reduce more signal interference and result in clearer call quality with VoIP services than dual-band routers.
#4: MU-MIMO & 8.211ac
MU-MIMO—multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output—is a newer feature of VoIP routers. Basically, it allows multiple users to share a connection without experiencing reduced speeds.
8.211ac is a LAN technology that increases overall performance and provides the fastest wireless speeds.
#5: SIP Support & H.323
SIP sets up a session across two points and is an important part of any internet architecture. While its initial focus was on voice communications, SIP has expanded to include features like application sharing, video calls, instant messaging, and various other forms of communications.
Related: Understanding SIP Trunking
H.323 is a standard developed to support media communications over a network. While it initially focused on supporting video conferencing, it now also includes audio call functions.
So, What’s the Best VoIP Router in 2021?
While there isn’t one “best” VoIP router for every business, if we had to choose the top one from this list, it would have to be the SonicWall TZ series. It offers the best QoS capabilities, is easy to set up, and works exceptionally well for almost any application.
Of course, it might not be ideal for every setup since every office will have different requirements and network layouts.
To get the best communication quality for your business, a fast and reliable VoIP router is essential. For those that handle sensitive information, you’ll want to ensure that you purchase a router with reliable security features, like the FortiGate 42E, Sophos UTM, or WatchGuard FireBox T35.
Considering switching to a VoIP phone service to enhance your business’s communications while saving over traditional phone line costs? Get in touch with the VoIP and SIP communication experts at G12 Communications and see how easy the transition can be.
