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Whether you’re based out of a tiny office on the edge of the Outback, or in the heart of Brisbane, you probably need the internet to work. This is especially true if you work from home and need to stay in touch with your teammates.
And if you need to talk to prospects, customers, or clients? Your internet connection had better be good.
Thanks to VoIP technology, we can even make phone calls—yes, over the internet. You know what that means: No more long-distance charges!
But even if you have a great internet connection and UCaaS solution, you still need one important thing: a router with VoIP capabilities..
But first… What are VoIP routers?
VoIP routers are what let you make those phone calls over an internet connection from your internet service provider, rather than traditional telephony methods. There are both dual-band (two signals) and tri-band (three signals) routers, depending on what speeds you need.
Most routers have something called high Quality of Service (QoS). This means that even if the network is experiencing high volumes of traffic, any VoIP call you make will not be interrupted.
👉 Dialpad tip:
If your business has multiple locations, installing VoIP routers in each location means you don’t have to pay to make phone calls at those locations, since all calls will be made through your internet connection.
The 10 best VoIP routers on the market
So, you have a rough idea of what you need or want your router to do, and how you want it to perform.
But how will different routers affect those essential features you regularly use on your software and apps? For example, if you’re joining video meetings every day, how will your router impact the quality of those calls? (How much pixelation can you really stand?)
Plus, you’ll want to know that the router you choose is secure—the average cost of a data breach in Australia is $3.35 million, which would put a dent in the profits of even the largest business!
Ready to walk through how to choose the router that fits best with your day-to-day business needs? (Don’t worry, we’re not going to start throwing around terms like "fxs ports" and "SIP ALG.")
Let's look at some routers.
1. Sonicwall TZ Series
Cybersecurity is a bigger issue than ever before, especially with so many people now working remotely. Protecting your networks (and your data) is crucial, particularly for if you work at a smaller business that may not be able to afford a phone system with enterprise level protection.
The TZ series is designed with those businesses in mind (as well as for a business’s branch locations).
The series avoids the complexity of some firewall systems and is not only easy to install and operate, but also so easy to manage that even the least tech-savvy person can use it.
Bonus: It can detect even the most sophisticated of threats and attacks, and gives you advanced security and networking features, including cloud-based sandboxing.
👉 Dialpad tip:
Need to take customer calls and have video meetings from home? Dialpad is a unified communications (phone, messaging, video—even a contact centre) platform that has enterprise level security.
If you’re working remotely from home, the EA9500 is a great choice.
It was specifically designed as a dual purpose unit for both home office and entertainment Wi-Fi use. So if you’re doing a lot of streaming and working from home, it’s perfect.
Another perk is the router uses Mu-MIMO so that multiple people can access the network simultaneously without compromising on speeds.
If you’re using multiple devices, the EA9500 treats them all (laptops, phones, Smart TVs, and so on) as if each had its own dedicated router. This means you could be taking part in a lag-free video call (on Dialpad!) while your family is online, watching a streaming TV show, and gaming.
👀 Interested in remote or hybrid work tips?
Grab the Hybrid Work Playbook, which includes real-life case studies and breaks down all things hybrid + remote, from building and sustaining a hybrid workforce to equipping your team for success.
The RAX10 is another router that would suit home office and entertainment use, though it could also work well in an office environment.
It can provide Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1.8Gbps (600 + 1200Mbps) and will give optimum performance for everything from online gaming and video calls, through to controlling your smart home.
For families, one bonus of the AC1750 is the NETGEARSmart Parental Controls that allow you to manage both the time your kids spend online and the content they access. That could have some handy business uses, too. Not that you should treat staff like kids, of course (whether they act like it or not).
This router can cover up to 1,500 square feet from just one unit. That’s enough to cover most average-sized apartment units without any boosters. It also offers smooth 4K UHD streaming to Smart TVs, mobile devices, and gaming consoles.
4. NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000 AC1900
If security is a major concern, then the AC1900 may be for you. As well as super fast Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1.9Gbps, this unit also comes with NETGEAR Armor™, which provides advanced cyber security protection.
👉 Dialpad tip:
Speaking of security, Dialpad offers strict levels of security for businesses, helping them to be compliant with the 1988 Privacy Act and other regulatory requirements.
Like the AC1750, the AC1900 has smart parental control options. And one subscription allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices, from your phones and computers or laptops, to any smart devices such as cameras and thermostats.
The powerful dual-core 1GHz processor that powers the unit boosts any type of performance from wireless to WAN to LAN.
5. TP-Link Archer VR2800
Another great choice for home-based networks, the VR2800 claims to be the fastest VDSL modem router around, and can run at 2167Mbps on 5GHz (or 600Mbps on 2.4GHz).
It also offers ports for VDSL (Very high-speed Digital Subscriber Line) with broadband speeds of up to 100Mbps.
One of the big advantages of the VR2800 is that its four antennas give you better and clearer coverage throughout your home. And the unit is powered by a 1GHz dual-core CPU with two co-processors, which means it’ll constantly deliver a high level of performance.
6. D-Link COVR-X1873
This dual-band system combines next-generation Wi-Fi 6 and mesh technology at AX1800 speeds, so it’s ideal for large homes or offices with multiple connected devices. Smart steering technology automatically directs the device you’re using to the optimum wireless band, depending on your current network traffic.
The easy-to-install router comes with four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports per COVR Point, as well as an Gigabit Ethernet WAN port for optional wired connectivity. It supports the latest WPA3 encryption and also gives you smart roaming, MU-MIMO, and QoS.
7. Asus BRT-AC828
Designed for growing businesses, the BRT-AC828 offers fast and stable connections to multiple devices—it even gives you an automatic backup internet connection if your main line goes down.
The dual-band AC2600 Wi-Fi also provides superb coverage of up to 100 metres on the 2.4GHz band in open areas. More complex office layouts are also accommodated thanks to the powerful 4x4 (4-transmit, 4-receive) MU-MIMO design with four external antennas and fine-tuned power output.
There are eight Gigabit LAN ports with link aggregation, enabling up to 4Gbps LAN transfer speed. Plus, the router comes with a hardware VPN server, which is a great addition to any router with VoIP capabilities.
8. Asus RT-AC68U
One of the pricier options on the market, the RT-AC68U justifies its price tag with equally high performance, so we’ll give it that.
It offers dual-band lightning-fast Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1900Mbps, which makes it an ideal choice for office spaces, home use, or hybrid use.
Its ASUS AiRadar and high performance antennae means that your home or office space won’t experience any dead spots, even if your house is huge and your desk is nowhere near the router!
And that high performance comes with high security, too. AiProtection (powered by Trend Micro™) identifies and blocks or neutralises any threat to any device or smart device connected to your network. The RT-AC68U can be a great option for any office-based setup or can provide coverage for your entire home.
9. Linksys EA9200 Tri-Band Router
The EA9200 AC3200is a tri-band router that offers double the performance of most dual-band systems. The router has a 1 GHz dual-core CPU and up to 3.2Gbps of speed which makes it ideal for a business that has to do a lot of file sharing or data transfers.
It supports multiple devices with no effects on bandwidth so suits both small or medium-sized businesses and large households.
The router features six active antennas and three frequency bands to deliver more Wi-Fi to multiple devices at the fastest combined speedsThis means you can use multiple laptops or desktops in an office environment or a whole range of devices at home.
10. Nest Wifi - Mesh Router (AC2200)
Google’s Nest Wi-Fi system is both flexible and scalable, so can grow as your needs do, whether it’s for an office network or a home-based system.
It offers coverage for an area of up to 3,800 feet, so it should cover most office spaces with a single unit. Because it covers such a large area, you can have an uninterrupted signal even when you’re moving around the office on a call (audio or video).
Plus, the router can handle up to 200 devices at any one time, so you can have a pretty large team using it.
Oh, and if you have Google Assistant or Alexa, Nest can integrate pretty easily with these systems too.
Like most Google devices, it’s designed to be easy to use. You can set up and configure your Wi-Fi network right in the app with just a few clicks. And that’s it, you’re ready to go!
Ready to pick a VoIP router?
There is little doubt that switching to VoIP brings a lot of benefits to your organisation. But that initial decision to switch leads to a whole raft of other decisions. For example, Dialpad has a softphone app that works across all devices. So do you save money by allowing employees to use their own device? Or spend more of your budget to provide them with desk phones?
Choosing your communication system is one part of the puzzle. But choosing the right VoIP router is just as important. Knowing what issues you may face and what security protection both your router and communication systems will use can help you make the right decision.
Pair your VoIP router with the best communications platform
Take phone and video calls, send SMS and instant messages—and communicate however you need to, with anyone, from anywhere. Test drive Dialpad with a 14-day free trial! Signup takes just a few minutes, and you'll be set up with a virtual phone number too.
FAQs about VoIP routers
If you’re considering a VoIP router, then you’ve probably seen a load of technical terms and jargon in your research so far.
The sea of acronyms (VoIP, LAN, MBPS—WTH?!) is enough to drown in, and aren’t exactly the most helpful when it comes to VoIP troubleshooting and knowing how to solve issues.
To put you on the right footing at the outset, here are five of the best VoIP router features to look for... And—thankfully—a brief rundown of what they mean.
1. Quality of Service (QoS)
This one is more self-explanatory than other terms. As the name suggests, it refers to the overall performance of your router and the service it provides. This feature means your router will prioritise traffic if you don’t have quite enough bandwidth. QoS is a good feature for VoIP phones or if your network has high traffic volumes.
2. VLAN
VLANs (virtual LANs) can help with different issues like network security, network management, and scalability challenges. A VLAN can help with segmenting your network, reduce the effects of network congestion, and keep your data safer.
3. Dual/tri-band frequency
A dual-band frequency operates at two different bands and means that speed can go up to 450Mbps at the lower band and 1300Mbps at the higher band. A tri-band operates at three bands and can reduce any interference with signals significantly more than a dual-band device. It also offers high bandwidth so it can provide clear calls and a better VoIP service.
4. 802.11ac and Mu-MIMO
If your chosen router has 802.11ac, then that means it has LAN tech that improves performance and can provide very fast wireless connectivity. Mu-MIMO is something relatively new and stands for “multiuser-multiple input, multiple output.” This feature is good for networks where multiple users are accessing a network at the same time, and prevents a slowdown in speed.
5. H.323 and SIP Support
Look for H.323 if you do a lot of video calls.
It’s a standard that supports video communications over an IP network and also enhances audio calls. So if your business has lots of video meetings with 10 or more people and everyone is encouraged to have their video on, you’ll need this. SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) helps set up sessions between two points. It can help with other communications apps including messaging and file sharing.
Wouldn’t it be great if all the tech you used was guaranteed to be problem-free? Sadly, that’s not the case. (We wish.) But the majority of issues are solvable or avoidable. Wired routers have slightly different problems than wireless routers:
Wired
One thing to consider is that wired connections, even though they’re old fashioned, generally give you the best quality connection-wise.
Always check that the cables you use match the specifications listed for your network speed. Keep an eye on the error counters on your router for notifications of problems with cables or ethernet ports.
Wireless
If you experience any issues with your VoIP system, then there may be a number of common router problems that may be the cause. In some cases, your router may need updated firmware. It might also be an external issue:
Physical. Your Wi-Fi signal is a form of radio signal and, because of that, it may be affected by physical obstructions such as metal, concrete, stone, hardwoods, and even glass. (The same reason why reception is terrible on the Metro.)
Congestion. Like the beach in summertime, Wi-FI channels can get congested. A good router should scan local channels and choose the one with the least amount of networks, but this doesn’t always happen. Use the scanner software in your router to check, or use a third-party app to check all local channels.
Protocols. This dives into jargon a bit, so grab your favourite IT person if you need to. Wi-Fi protocols might sometimes be the cause of your issue. Most wireless antennas can only use one protocol at any time. If all your devices are using the same protocol, then you shouldn’t have any problems.
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol (sometimes called Voice Over IP). It was first developed in around 1995 as a method of saving money on phone calls—especially long distance and international ones. It’s now a popular and proven way of making any sort of call using an internet connection rather than analog landlines, and with better call quality.
As well as cost savings (often costing less than half of its traditional counterpart), a VoIP phone system also offers more features and capabilities than analog phones. Common features on Dialpad, for instance, include call recording, forwarding voicemail to email, easy management of voicemails, and many more. VoIP also offers portability and functionality in that you can take calls from anywhere you are located, as long as you have an internet connection.
Not all routers are the same, even if they achieve the same (or a similar) purpose. If you’re in the market for a VoIP router, focus on what you want to achieve with VoIP.
Many businesses want to achieve stable and crystal clear VoIP calls like those you get with communications specialists and VoIP provider, Dialpad.
1. Wired routers
The most ‘old fashioned’ type of router. These are devices (usually box shaped) that connect directly to your laptop or desktop. One of the router’s connection ports (usually the WAN port) goes to the modem to allow for the receiving of internet data, while other sets of ports (LAN ports, etc.) connect to computers to allow for the distribution of that received data.
One example of a wired router is an ethernet broadband router. This type of router supports NAT (network address translation) tech that allows multiple computers to share a single IP address via the wired router. Wired routers use SPI firewalls to provide security.
2. Wireless routers
This is the one that most of us have in our homes.
A wireless router receives or transmits data using an antenna (or antennae in some cases). For the tech heads (anyone else, skip ahead), it does this by carrying data packets in binary code (1s and 0s) which it converts into radio signals. Your computer has a wireless receiver already installed that converts those radio signals back into the data you see or read.
A wireless router creates what is known (to your IT professionals) as a wireless local area network (WLAN), but we ordinary people know it better as Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is usually protected by MAC (media access control) or WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access).
3. Virtual routers
A virtual router, also known as a vRouter, is a bit of software. Basically, it does the job of a router without you having to put a black box in the corner of the room.
You’d often use a virtual router as a backup in case your primary router fails, and it uses VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol) in those circumstances. Overkill for most households, but useful for businesses who can’t afford to have downtime. Virtual routers are also useful when you’re setting up dedicated lines for VoIP traffic, especially with businesses who do a lot of video conferencing. If this is a priority for you, using a system such as Dialpad can also help reduce bandwidth and network congestion.