How We Ranked the 5 Best VOIP Routers

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By

Evan Shephard Avatar

Reviewed By

Evan Shephard
Updated Jun 18, 2024 2:34 PM
best voip router guide that shows the top best router model

A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

When choosing the best VOIP router, key features to look for include Quality of Service (QoS) prioritization, which ensures smooth and clear voice calls by managing bandwidth allocation effectively. Optimal routers should have low latency and a 5 GHz download speed surpassing 200 Mbps.

Our guide identified five top-performing routers from a thorough evaluation of 37 models, backed by an analysis of 193,833 reviews. By using our AI-powered Trust Score, we filtered out untrustworthy and fake reviews, ensuring only the best made it to our list. These fantastic routers excelled in delivering consistent performance, making them ideal choices for both home and business use.

How Did We Rank the Best VOIP Router?

Our buying guide for the best VOIP routers is the result of a rigorous analysis of over 200 sites. By examining varied testing methods, evaluating expert reviews, and analyzing customer reviews, we identified 2 required test results, 1 nice-to-have test result, and 1 must-have specification. This ensures that the routers we recommend meet the highest standards for performance, reliability, and features essential for VOIP.

Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.

?️ Minimum Specifications

  • Must have quality of service prioritization

? Test Criteria

  • Latency: A latency of 30 ms or less.
  • 5 GHz Download Speed: A download speed on the 5 GHz band of at least 200 Mbits.

? “Nice To Haves”

  • Router Range: A range of at least 50 feet before the signal from the router begins to become noticeably weaker.

Latest Updates

  • 06/18/2024: Republished the list to include the best VOIP routers based on our True Score system.

Top Best VOIP Router For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    TP-Link Archer GX-90

    • Best For Streaming

    For seamless VOIP, TP-Link Archer GX-90 delivers reliable, high-quality calls with prioritized traffic management and support for multiple devices.

    TP-Link Archer GX-90 Review →

    True Score

    85
    84
    7

    Experts

    91
    8k

    Customers

    SAVE $20
    $249.99
    $229.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500

    For top-notch VOIP performance, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 excels with its long-range connectivity and impressive speeds, ideal for crystal-clear voice calls.

    Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 Review →

    True Score

    83
    83
    7

    Experts

    89
    3k

    Customers

    SAVE $200
    $599.99
    $399.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Asus RT-AX86S

    • Best For Secure

    For long-range VOIP on a budget, the Asus RT-AX86S shines with stable coverage and impressive speeds, ideal for uninterrupted calls.

    Asus RT-AX86S Review →

    True Score

    83
    83
    3

    Experts

    89
    1k

    Customers

    $119.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Asus ROG GT6 Mesh

    • Best For Vpn

    For handling multiple VOIP calls with clarity and reliability, choose the Asus ROG GT6 Mesh router, which offers impressive speeds and prioritization features.

    Asus ROG GT6 Mesh Review →

    True Score

    82
    82
    6

    Experts

    86
    4k

    Customers

    SAVE $23
    $479.99
    $456.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    TP-Link Archer AXE75

    • Best For Wired

    The TP-Link Archer AXE75 excels at high speeds, low latency, and robust security features, making it a budget-friendly, VOIP-focused networking option.

    TP-Link Archer AXE75 Review →

    True Score

    81
    80
    4

    Experts

    86
    2k

    Customers

    SAVE $4
    $159.00
    $155.00

Which Criteria Matters for Testing VOIP Router?

By focusing on these criteria (2 required, 1 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these routers and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a router that will meet your needs.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
Latency< 30 msYesThe delay that is created by a signal being sent by the router and then received.
5 GHz Download Speed> 200 Mbits/sYesThe maximum speed that the router can reach when downloading on the 5 GHz band.
Router Range > 50 ftNo (Nice to have)How far a device can be from a router before the signal starts degrading. It is worth noting that 2.4 GHz reaches further than 5 GHz.

Our Trusted Data Sources

We looked at 120+ router reviewers and found that 46 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for routers.

  1. James Morris – Kit Guru, LinkedIn
  2. Matt Spencer – TechGearLab, LinkedIn
  3. Brian Nadel – Tom’s Guide, MuckRack

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every router review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

Router Test Data & Results

Disclaimer:

Evaluating router performance is more than hardware analysis. While hardware tests are straightforward, the challenge lies in contextualizing the results within the limits of real-world usage. Routers operate under conditions that testers cannot fully standardize, including variations in Internet Service Providers (ISPs), network traffic congestion, discrepancies between advertised and actual internet speeds, and the physical layout of homes. These factors introduce a degree of unpredictability, making it hard to draw universal conclusions. As such, our router recommendations aim to provide useful general guidance, accommodating a wide range of home environments and internet setups.

1. Latency (ms)

On a router, latency refers to how long it takes for the router to send out and receive a signal. The longer it takes, the more delay there is between you sending and receiving data, which can introduce lag in video games and also makes video conferencing harder since the person you’re speaking with now has to contend with your delay and vice versa. If you’ve ever spent a call talking over someone because you don’t know they started talking a second ago, that’s latency.

For that reason, we recommend a latency below 30 ms. As low as you can get it is obviously preferable, but latency is another aspect of your internet connection that is hard to manage. Latency differs to every single place you connect to, and every ISP has its own latency they “add” because you have to connect to their service too. Latency creeps in from your ISP, from the site you’re requesting data from, from your router, and from your own onboard Wi-Fi antenna – and that’s just to name a few sources. If you’re gaming, you also have a delay introduced by your connection to game servers and the delay that exists on a hardware level when you input commands.

Latency (ms; lower is better; 0 = No Data)

2. 5 GHz Download Speed (Mbits/s)

The much faster 5 GHz band offers up much greater bandwidth and is much, much better at meeting high-speed demands. Streaming high-quality video, using streaming services, gaming, downloading large files and games – the 5 GHz band is what makes all of these activities quick and bearable. It reaches a lower range than the 2.4 GHz band, but it’s also much faster, so you’ll use it more, especially on newer devices that actually support the band.

Given how much you’ll be using this band, we recommend a speed of at least 200 Mbits/s to ensure you’re able to enjoy streaming and gaming on at least a few devices simultaneously. Any lower and you start to run into real bottleneck concerns, such as endless buffering, lagging, or drops in connection.

5 GHz Download Speed (Mbits/s; higher is better; 0 = No Data)

3. Router Range (ft)

Router range is exactly what the name suggests: how far can you get from the router before you start experiencing issues with your connection? The complicating factor is the simple fact that range depends on the band you’re using. 2.4 GHz is a band that offers greater range, so it gives tests results that show a greater range than tests that use the 5 GHz band. In general, our research found most publications used the 5 GHz band, so our recommendations are based on that.

As such, we recommend your router have a range of at least 50 ft. This gives you a good “bubble” around the router that you can connect to, but it’s important to know that things like the walls in your home can cause issues. Thicker walls block more signal, thinner walls block less. Some materials will also do a better job than others will at stopping signal, so if you see a router with a range of 65 ft, know that it might not reach that far in your home. It could reach further – or not nearly as far. This is also why you get dead zones in your home – it’s a matter of geometry and materials.

Router Range (ft; higher is better; 0 = No Data)

Best Small Business Routers: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Ignoring Scalability: Opting for a router that doesn’t scale with your business growth can lead to frequent upgrades and additional expenses down the line. Ensure the router can accommodate increasing network demands.

  2. Overlooking Security Features: Security breaches can be devastating for small businesses. Don’t compromise on robust security features such as firewall protection, VPN support, and intrusion detection/prevention systems.

  3. Not Considering Performance Needs: Assess your network’s performance requirements carefully. Choosing a router with insufficient throughput or lacking essential features like Quality of Service (QoS) can hinder productivity.

  4. Neglecting Compatibility: Ensure the router is compatible with your existing network infrastructure, including switches, access points, and other devices. Incompatibility issues can lead to connectivity issues and downtime.

The Best Small Business Routers Tests Compared

Product
True Score
2.4 GHz D/L Speed
5 Ghz D/L Speed
Range
Latency

TP-Link Archer GX-90

  • Best for Streaming

85
  • 75.39 Mbits/s

  • 279.62 Mbits/s

  • 40 ft

  • 20 ms

$229.99
$250
$20
83
  • 416.64 Mbits/s

  • 844.37 Mbits/s

  • 105 ft

  • 19 ms

$399.99
$600
$200

Asus RT-AX86S

  • Best for Secure

83
  • 89 Mbits/s

  • 563 Mbits/s

  • 140 ft

  • 15 ms

$119.99

Asus ROG GT6 Mesh

  • Best for Vpn

82
  • 139.35 Mbits/s

  • 701.28 Mbits/s

  • 95 ft

  • 21.89 ms

$456.99
$480
$23

TP-Link Archer AXE75

  • Best for Wired

81
  • 65.05 Mbits/s

  • 309.1 Mbits/s

  • 60 ft

  • 9 ms

$155.00
$159
$4

VOIP Router Questions (FAQ)

What features should I look for in the best VoIP router?

When selecting the best VoIP router, look for features such as Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize voice traffic, dual-band or tri-band support for better performance, strong security protocols, and multiple LAN ports. Additionally, ensure the router supports SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) for compatibility with most VoIP services.

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