Many of us may have thought that all Wi-Fi routers are made the same. However, this isn’t the case, as there’s quite a large difference between all of the models on the market. This may be because of the various factors you might need to look at, such as parental controls.
Naturally, this could make you wonder what the home router with parental controls is. We’ve analyzed and tested countless models to try to find the routers on the market. While there are hundreds of them to choose from, there are a few that performed much better than others.
Best Parental Control Routers:
1. TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A7)
The TP-Link AC1750 has quite a variety of features to take advantage of. One of the more notable of these is that it’s quick and easy to set up, which also applies to parental controls. This should mean that you wouldn’t need to spend much time installing it and connecting various devices.
Alongside this, it includes a USB port, so you can share photos and videos with everyone in the house quite easily. Lastly is the fact that it offers quite a high-speed internet connection, which the majority of us will find beneficial. This should also cover most of the house.
However, some previous TP-Link AC1750 buyers have noted that the internet speed may not be consistent. This could mean that you might see the speed fluctuate quite regularly. Though frustrating, this might not be too large of an issue.
If you’re making a list of the wireless routers with parental controls on the market, then this is a strong contender. Though it does have some downsides, the benefits make it quite an appealing choice.
Pros
- Quick & easy to set up and connect to.
- The integrated USB port allows you to share media.
- Provides a high-speed connection at long ranges.
Cons
- Internet speed may not be consistent.
2. Linksys Open Source WiFi Wireless-G Broadband Router
The Linksys WRT54GL offers a variety of benefits compared to some alternatives. One of the more notable is that it provides a significant amount of built-in security, which comes in the form of encryption, firewalls, and much more. Alongside this are the various ports that you can take advantage of.
This should mean that you’ll be able to physically connect some of your devices to make sure that they get a high-speed connection. Lastly are the parental controls, which are quick and easy to set up and adjust whenever you need them.
Despite this, some people who’ve bought the Linksys WRT54GL previously have noted some issues with it. One of the more common of these is that the wireless connection could be unreliable. This could mean that it might become unavailable at certain points.
If you want a large amount of built-in security and protection with your router, then this could be one of the better-recommended options for you.
Pros
- A large amount of encryption & other security measures.
- Parental controls are easy to configure.
- Variety of ports to connect devices to.
Cons
- Wireless connection may be unreliable.
3. NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router
Finding the right router for content filtering can often be one of the more challenging things for many of us. However, this is one of the areas where the NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router excels. The parental controls available with the router are more in-depth than you might find elsewhere and are quite easy to implement.
Coupled with this are built-in encryption, VPNs, and a variety of other security measures. This means that you wouldn’t need to worry about anybody hacking your router, which can be an unfortunate reality for some people. The coverage radius that’s on offer here is also quite extensive, so it should cover your entire home.
While there are many benefits, some owners have suggested that the internet could disconnect quite regularly. This may be quite a frustrating issue for many people, with owners having to reboot or restart the router to get the internet back on.
When it comes to high-quality parental controls and a decent internet connection, this is a highly recommended option.
Pros
- Large wireless coverage radius.
- A significant amount of built-in security.
- Parental controls are easy to implement.
Cons
- Could disconnect when in use.
4. Linksys N300: Wi-Fi Wireless Router
There are a few noticeable benefits that you can capitalize on with the Linksys N300, with one of the more notable being the fast broadband speed. This might mean that you shouldn’t have too much of an issue streaming online or browsing the internet at any point.
Alongside this is that it’s easy to set up and connect your devices to. As a result, you shouldn’t have to spend too much time installing it. This is also true of the parental controls, which are easy to understand and implement.
Despite this, some Linksys N300 owners claim that the coverage area isn’t as large as they may like. While this might not be an issue for some buyers, it could be a problem if you have a larger home.
The Linksys N300 could be one of the better-recommended choices for apartments and smaller homes, which is what could make it a consideration for some people.
Pros
- Easy to set up and connect.
- Fast broadband speed.
- Parental controls are easier to use than some alternatives.
Cons
- Smaller Wi-Fi radius than competitors.
5. TP-Link AC1200 Gigabit WiFi Router (Archer A6)
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The TP-Link AC1200 Gigabit Smart Wi-Fi Router boasts several features that you may find attractive. The first of these is the internet speed that you can capitalize on, with this being quite fast. Alongside this, it boasts quite a large coverage area, which should make it an effective option for most homes.
It’s also quite easy to set up and connect devices to, with the parental controls also being easy to use and take advantage of.
However, there have been some issues noted here by some previous owners. Perhaps the largest of these is that it tends to restart. This will naturally interrupt your internet connection every time it does so, which may become frustrating quite quickly.
This is one of the better choices for a router that has parental controls. As such, if this is one of your main focus points, then it comes well recommended.
Pros
- Easier to set up and connect to than some competitors.
- Faster internet speed than many competitors.
- Large coverage area.
Cons
- Tends to restart regularly.
6. ASUS AC1900 WiFi Gaming Router (RT-AC68U)
The ASUS AC1900 Dual Band Gigabit Wi-Fi Router has quite a large number of features for many owners to use. Prominent among these is that it boasts quite a significant coverage area, which should mean that it will easily cover the majority of houses.
Alongside this, it’s one of the more user-friendly options on the market, with this being seen in several ways. The first is that it’s easy to set up. You’ll also be able to manage your settings through the mobile app, which also extends to the parental controls.
Previous ASUS AC1900s have suggested, however, that this might not be a long-lasting choice. As a result, you could find yourself replacing it faster than you may have thought you’d need to.
If you want a high-speed internet connection that’s easy to use, then this should be one of your top considerations.
Pros
- Faster setup than many alternatives.
- Easy to manage using a mobile app.
- The large signal range for full coverage in a home.
Cons
- May not last as long as some alternatives.
7. NETGEAR Nighthawk 8-Stream AX8 Wifi 6 Router (RAX80)
The NETGEAR Nighthawk AX8 has a variety of features that you might find appealing. Chief among these is that it’s compatible with most devices and shouldn’t be restricted by how old or new they are. Coupled with this is an extensive amount of protection to keep your network private.
You’ll also be able to make use of an internet speed that’s significantly faster than quite a large number of competitors, which is a notable benefit.
Despite this, a few previous owners have noted that the internet connection could drop. While this might not happen constantly, it can happen regularly enough to be an issue.
Finding a high-quality router with time control seems to be more challenging than some people may have thought. However, this is one of the more recommended choices.
Pros
- Much faster internet speed than many alternatives.
- Compatible with most devices.
- Includes a large amount of security.
Cons
- May drop the internet connection regularly.
8. TP-Link TL-WR841ND Wireless N300 Home Router
TP-Link typically creates a variety of high-quality products, and the N300 Wireless Wi-Fi Router is no exception. There are several advantages to take advantage of here, with the most obvious of these being the internet connection itself. This boasts quite a broad coverage area, so most buyers shouldn’t have any issues connecting across their homes.
Alongside this is that it offers high-speed internet, which could mean that there shouldn’t be many issues when streaming videos online. Lastly are the parental controls, which are quite comprehensive. These are relatively easy to set up and shouldn’t take a lot of time to do so.
However, some TP-Link N300 owners have claimed that the internet connection can drop regularly. While this isn’t always an issue, it’s something that may prove frustrating for many.
This parental control Wi-Fi router comes well-recommended, as it boasts a variety of notable advantages when compared to many alternatives.
Pros
- Parental controls are high-quality and easy to set up.
- Larger connection radius than many other routers.
- Fast internet connection.
Cons
- Can drop the internet connection regularly.
9. ASUS AC2900 WiFi Gaming Router (RT-AC86U)
There are a few features to focus on here with the ASUS AC2900, with many of these emphasizing ease of use. This should mean that the router will be easy to set up and connect to. Coupled with this is that you’ll be able to change the parental controls quite easily, which is an attractive trait for it to have.
The internet speed that this ASUS boasts is quite fast, with this outperforming many of its alternatives. Alongside this is a large connection area, which should mean that you’ll be able to access the internet from anywhere in your home without any issues.
Despite this, people who’ve owned the ASUS AC2900 in the past have spotted a few issues. Prominent among these is that it isn’t very long-lasting. This could mean that you’ll end up replacing it much faster than you might have initially thought.
For a fast internet connection across a large radius, this is one of the better-performing routers, which is what makes it worth considering.
Pros
- Parental controls are easy to set up and use.
- Internet speed is significantly faster than many other routers.
- Large connection area.
Cons
- May not last as long as competitors.
10. Synology RT2600ac – 4×4 dual-band Gigabit Wi-Fi router
The Synology RT2600ac has a few notable features to boast about, with one of the largest being its coverage area. This is much larger than many alternatives, so you shouldn’t have any issues when connecting to the internet across your home. The internet speed that’s on offer here is also exceptionally fast, with this outperforming a large number of competitors.
This could make it an effective choice for many people who regularly stream content and play online video games. The last feature of note here is its installation, which is straightforward.
This should mean that you wouldn’t need to waste time with it. However, the router regularly gets firmware updates. While this might not usually be an issue, this could interfere with your internet connection, which can make it a frustrating experience.
The Synology RT2600ac is a parental control Wi-Fi router that offers almost everything that you should need. As such, this comes well-recommended for many buyers.
Pros
- Significant connection area, so it should cover your home.
- Exceptionally fast performance.
- Installation and set-up are quick and easy.
Cons
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- Firmware updates could interfere with the internet connection.
Tips On Choosing
Finding a router with good parental controls can often be much trickier than many people may have thought. However, this might not have to be the case as long as you follow a few simple tricks and tips While there are a few that may be somewhat obvious, many of us might overlook several.
Naturally, choosing a home router with content filtering will be one of the first things that you’ll focus on, though there are several other factors at play.
For example, you’ll need to know how much bandwidth you’ll be using once it’s connected, as well as which type of bandwidth.
Connect
There are two options to take advantage of, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. While these may not mean a lot to many of us, they can make a significant difference for a variety of devices.
This is because some will only work on one of these frequencies. Though some can run on either, they’ll often be much faster and more reliable on the other.
This should mean that you’ll need to put a certain amount of emphasis on one over the other. The majority of routers will have their connections split between these two frequencies, although this wouldn’t be 50/50.
Since one will have more power than the other, you should determine whether this is the right one for your needs. If you want to connect NVR security camera systems to the router, then you need a high-quality router to avoid malfunctions.
Number of connections
How many devices you’ll be connecting to the router, either wirelessly or through a port, is also something that you’ll need to keep in mind.
There are a few reasons for this. Perhaps the largest is that many routers can connect to a limited number of devices, which you should want to be aware of.
Coupled with this is that it could interfere with the connection somewhat, especially if you’ve connected a significant number of devices. You should also look at how much of a connection radius the router offers.
While this might not be a large issue in apartments or small homes, it could be a factor for many other people. You’ll need to know the approximate square footage of your home and determine whether the router you’re considering can match or exceed this.
Subtotal
By factoring this into your decision, you should be able to make sure that your entire home is covered by the router. Should you not consider this, then you might find that certain parts of your home might not have a strong internet connection.
The walls in your home may play a role in this, although it should be relatively minor. However, it’s still worth choosing an option that delivers a larger connection radius than you think you might need.
Conclusion
Finding the right WiFi router with parental controls can be a difficult thing to do. However, the ASUS AC1900 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Router is one of the standouts.
Though it does have some issues, these are seen across a broad range of other devices, so they appear to be relatively common.
Alongside this, any problems that you may find should be relatively easy to fix, though they could be frustrating. Despite this, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, which makes this one of the more recommended options on the market.
With all of the settings that are available on the ASUS AC1900, it could be the best parental control router, especially if you’re on a relatively tight budget. As such, it should be near the top of the list of anybody’s considerations for a Wi-Fi router.
However, this doesn’t mean that each of the other options is of low quality. Instead, you should be able to get a high-quality experience with all of them, despite the drawbacks that some have.
