Best Router for Home Automation – Be Smart and Get a Smart Router!

Remember those days when only humans came under the “smart” category? Ah, such simple times!

Today, everything from your phone to your home can be smart! Technology has boomed so drastically in the past couple of decades that none of us is happy without smart gadgets. Home automation is the latest technological trend that’s catching up with most of us. The idea of living in a home that automatically switches on the TV and adjusts the light or opens the curtains is fascinating and REAL! 

The one thing that makes this possible, besides brilliant minds, is the Internet. For your home to be automated, you must have a strong Wi-Fi connection, and that’s where routers come in. Also, it’s not enough to have a regular router. A smart home needs a smart router!

What is a Smart Wi-Fi Router?

We are positive that this is the first question that came to your mind. What exactly is a smart router, and how does it differ from the normal one? Well, it is quite an upgrade, to be honest, because it has multiple features that normal routers cannot boast of. A few of them are as follows:

• They can handle a great number of devices in one shot.
• They are very easy to use since they are less technical. In other words, smart routers are actually for regular users who may or may not have technical knowledge. This makes them quite attractive because from setup to usage, you don’t have to break your head trying to understand what to do.
• You won’t need to go to the router to control it or change its settings. You can operate a smart router from your smartphone itself. All you need is its app! 
• You can pause the Internet whenever you want.
• You can prioritize a few devices for better speed.
• You can grant access to guests temporarily without being forced to share your password.

Best Router for Home Automation

Since this space is relatively new, we understand your concerns about buying the best smart Wi-Fi router. You need something that can balance the load well even when there are many devices. To ease your confusion, we have researched and tested multiple routers. Here are our top 5.

1. Motorola AC2600 4×4 Wi-Fi Smart Router

Let’s start with Amazon’s Choice! Fairly priced and loaded with excellent features, the Motorola Smart Router is one of our favorites. It promises to give you a high-speed intelligent connection, which is basically the main reason why we all want smart routers. What else? Keep reading!

• It has a very high range and promises great speed even when you are far away.
• It does not let neighbors’ Wi-Fi connections weaken its signal.
• It connects via AC2600 dual-band Wi-Fi to every device in the house, including tablets, computers, game stations, smartphones, and HDTVs.
• It has 4 Gigabit LAN ports.
• It also has 4 antennae, which are adjustable. 
• It has a dual core processor, parental control, user-friendly firewall, guest network capability, media sharing support, and smart quality of service support. 
• Motorola offers a 2-year warranty on the router.
• Important – It does not have a built-in modem.

2. TP-Link AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router

Our second choice is also Amazon’s Choice! And, of course, we couldn’t keep TP-Link away for long. It is one of the most popular smart routers out there with thousands of positive reviews to back its working. Let’s get into the details now:

• It is compatible with 802.11 AC devices and older.
• It is a dual-band router that can reach 1750 Mbps speed.
• It has 3 external antennae that provide long range Wi-Fi.
• It has 4 Gigabit LAN ports that allow you to access many devices in one go.
• You can download the TP-Link Tether app to set it up and also to control it remotely.
• Its USB port functions as a media server.
• Even though it is suitable for all home automation needs, gamers will particularly love this router.
• It has parental control features.
• TP-Link provides free technical support. So, you can always get in touch with them if you have queries.

3. ASUS Dual-Band Superfast Wi-Fi Router

You really shouldn’t be surprised to find ASUS on the list. It may be better known for its laptops, but it also manufactures excellent smart routers. Don’t believe us? We shall run you through this Amazon’s Choice smart router then. 

• It works on the latest MU-MIMO technology that enables a combined speed of 1267 Mbps.
• It has 4 5dbi antennae that improve performance and Wi-Fi range.
• It connects to all devices that are 802.11 AC compatible.
• You can set up, manage, and control the router by downloading the ASUS Router App on your smartphone.
• It has a USB port so that you share flash drives or external drives with ease.
• It supports both Windows and Mac OS.
• It has a web-based interface.

4. NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router

No list about routers can be complete without at least one mention of NETGEAR. Here it is! The Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router can give you up to 1500 square feet coverage, which is outstanding! Here are a few more of its features:

• You can use it connect up to 25 devices!
• It has 3 amplified antennae.
• It works with Mac, Windows, Linux, and Unix.
• It has multiple advanced features such as smart connect, dynamic QoS, dual core processor, parental controls, and Beamforming+. 
• NETGEAR offers a 30-day trial period for you to try the router and see if it meets all your home automation needs.

5. TP-Link A1900 Smart Wi-Fi Router

Let’s round it off with another excellent TP-Link Smart Router! This one is a wave 2 Wi-Fi Router, providing 1300 Mbps speed on the 5 GHz band. Listed below are a few more features:

• It offers boosted coverage thanks to the Beamforming technology. It also provides a seamless, uninterrupted connection.
• It is an MU MIMO router that allows 3 data streams at the same time.
• It provides tough security features such as parental control, VPN server, and access control.
• It has a smart connect technology and is compatible with Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, etc.
• The manufacturers provide free 24/7 technical support.

6. Linksys EA8300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi Router

The Linksys Wi-Fi Router works on the 2.4 GHz frequency and offers seamless, wireless connectivity. It is considered among the best today due to the following features:

• It offers a data transfer speed of up to 2134 Megabits per second.
• It supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac.
• It has the ability to provide 1,500 sft. coverage and connect more than 15 devices without compromising on the quality of the connection. 
• You can easily enjoy high-quality gaming and streaming without experiencing any lag.
• Since it is a tri-band router, you can enjoy a total of 2.2 Gbps at 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz.
• It works on MU MIMO, which allows you to connect multiple devices with no change in the speed.
• It supports HSF+, NTFS, FAT, etc.

7. NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 Smart Router

This is a beast of a router, if you ask us. Those who want superior connectivity with many devices will appreciate what the NETGEAR Nighthawk has to offer. Let’s take a closer look:

• It provides speeds up to 3200 Mbps.
• It has 4 ethernet ports and 2 USB ports.
• You can connect up to 50 devices without any problems.
• The router provides excellent Internet connectivity to watch movies, for gaming, to work, and for complete home automation.
• Since it has multiple ethernet ports, you can easily connect your gaming consoles and get fast Internet.
• It works on the latest technology and has a 1GHz dual-core processor. Alongside, its 6 amplified antennae, dynamic QoS, and Beamforming+ make it a force to reckon.
• The router offers smart parental controls to give you total control on the access. You can filter websites and pause access to certain devices as well.
• Netgear Armor is another feature we love. It protects your devices from malware and threats.

8. ASUS Dual-Band Gigabit Gaming Router

It is popular as a gaming router but it works extremely well for home automation as well. The ASUS Dual-Band Gigabit router is indeed an excellent choice. Let’s see why:

• It works on the 1024 Qam technology that makes it faster than standard 5 and 2.4 GHz frequency.
• It offers multiple connectivity options with its 8 LAN ports.
• It works on Smart Connect to automatically choose the right band for you. You won’t have to manually do this anymore.
• It is an 802.11 ac router.
• The data transfer rate you can expect is around 3167 Megabits per second.
• It is backed by ASUS Protection that makes it safe. It also has parental controls and malicious site blocking.

Now that you know which smart routers are leading in 2019, it is time to make a smart choice. Remember to consider all your requirements and budget before concluding and purchasing. All the best!