A router is a device that is used to connect multiple devices to the same network. It is responsible for routing traffic between different networks, such as the Internet and a local network. One of its most important functions is port forwarding, which allows a user to access certain services on a remote server by forwarding certain ports from the router to the server.
In A Hurry? Check Out Our Top Recommendations!
- ASUS ROG Rapture WiFi Router – Editor’s Choice
- Linksys EA7500 Dual-Band Router – Best Budget Pick
Port forwarding is an important part of network security and can be used to protect against malicious attacks. By configuring port forwarding on a router, a user can control which services and applications are available to their network. This article will provide an overview of port forwarding, how it works, and how to configure it on a router.
Comparison Table:
| Products | Speed Upto | Security Protocol | Recommended of Devices | Special Feature |
| NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi Router | 7.8Gbps | WPA3-PSK, WPA2-PSK | 40+ devices | Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Voice Control |
| ASUS WiFi Router | 5334 Mbps | AiProtection with Parental Controls | 100+ devices | NitroQAM (1024-QAM) technology |
| Google Nest Wifi Router | 3000 Mbps | Parental Controls | 200+ devices | Built with Sustainable Materials |
| Linksys Mesh Wifi 6 Router | 6.0 Gbps | WPA2-PSK | 45+ devices | Future-proof and easily expandable |
| NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band Router | 3Gbps | NETGEAR Armor, WPA2, Guest WiFi Secure Access | 25+ devices | Fosters responsibility and builds trust with your kids |
Best Router for Port Forwarding – Our Top Picks!
In this guide, we will discuss what features to look for in a router for port forwarding and share some of the best routers available on the market today.
1. NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi Router
I recently purchased the NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi Router and it has completely transformed my home network. As someone who frequently uses port forwarding for gaming and other purposes.
Nighthawk router has an impressive coverage area of up to 2,500 square feet. This is perfect for my medium-sized home, as it ensures that I can enjoy consistent and reliable WiFi coverage in every room. And with its ability to connect up to 40 devices, I can easily connect all of my devices.
Another thing that stands out about the router is its exceptional WiFi speed of up to 7.8Gbps. This means that even with multiple devices connected, I can enjoy smooth and lag-free streaming, gaming, and browsing experiences. The router’s tri-band technology and advanced beamforming+smart connection ensure that I can enjoy fast and stable connections throughout my home.
One of the things that really sets the Nighthawk router apart from the competition is its advanced security features. The router comes with NETGEAR Armor, which provides advanced cyber threat protection for all of your devices. It also features WPA2/WPA3 encryption and a double firewall to keep your network and personal information safe and secure.
In addition to its impressive speed and security features, the router also offers a wide range of convenient features. For example, it comes with parental controls that allow you to manage and monitor your kids’ online activity. It also has support for VPNs, so you can easily connect to a secure and private network.
And with its guest WiFi secure access, you can easily set up a separate and secure network for your guests. The router also offers personal cloud storage, so you can easily access and share your files from anywhere.
Also with its compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, you can easily control your WiFi network with your voice. Setting up and managing the router is also a breeze, thanks to the convenient Nighthawk app.
In short, the Router is an exceptional router that offers a wide range of features that make it the perfect choice for anyone looking to set up port forwarding.
2. ASUS WiFi Router
If you’re in need of a powerful and reliable router for port forwarding, the ASUS WiFi Router is an excellent option to consider. With its impressive range of up to 5,000 square feet, it provides strong and stable coverage for large homes and offices. Additionally, its ability to handle up to 100 connected devices allows for a robust network that can support multiple users and devices without compromising on performance.
One of the standout features of the router is its impressive speed capabilities. With speeds of up to 5300 Mbps, it can easily support bandwidth-intensive tasks such as 4K/8K streaming and online gaming. This makes it a great choice for those who require a stable, high-speed connection.
Setting up and managing the router is made easy with the user-friendly app. The app allows for quick and easy setup, as well as the ability to manage and control the router from your phone. Moreover, the router’s compatibility with Amazon Alexa allows for even greater convenience and ease of use.
In terms of security, the ASUS WiFi Router features advanced security protocols such as AiProtection and MU-MIMO. These provide multiple layers of protection against potential security threats, ensuring that your network and connected devices are kept safe from malware, viruses, and other online dangers.
The ASUS WiFi Router also offers advanced connectivity options, such as link aggregation with teaming ports and Tri-Band Smart Connect. These allow for even faster and more stable connections, making it a great choice for those who require the very best in networking performance.
Overall, the ASUS WiFi Router is a top-performing, reliable option for those in need of a router for port forwarding. Its impressive range, speed, and advanced security and connectivity features make it a great choice for large homes and offices.
3. Google Nest Wifi Router
If you’re in the market for a reliable and easy-to-use router for port forwarding, the Google Nest Wifi Router is an excellent option to consider. With a maximum range of 2200 sq ft, it provides strong coverage for homes and small offices, and with the option to add additional points, it can extend its coverage up to 4400 sq ft. This makes it a great choice for larger homes or multi-story buildings where traditional routers may struggle to provide consistent coverage.
The Nest Wifi Router is also capable of handling up to 200 connected devices, making it suitable for households and businesses with a high number of users and devices. Its dual-band 2.4 GHz/5 GHz frequencies provide a stable, high-speed connection, allowing for smooth streaming and gaming experiences.
One of the standout features of the Nest Wifi Router is its security controls and parental controls. These allow users to easily manage and restrict access to the internet for individual devices, ensuring that your network and connected devices are kept safe from potential security threats.
Setting up the Nest Wifi Router is a breeze, thanks to the user-friendly app. The app allows for quick and easy setup, as well as the ability to manage and control the router from your phone.
Additionally, the router’s Bluetooth connectivity technology allows for easy connectivity with other devices. In terms of power, the Nest Wifi Router comes with a 15W power adapter, ensuring that it can provide consistent, stable performance.
4. Linksys Mesh Wifi 6 Router
The Linksys Mesh Wifi 6 Router is a top-of-the-line router that offers a variety of features that make it ideal for port forwarding and home networking.
One of the standout features of this router is its dual-band capabilities, which allow it to operate on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. This not only provides more options for connecting devices but also allows for faster speeds and greater coverage.
With a range of up to 3,000 sq. ft, this router is capable of supporting a large number of devices, making it perfect for households with multiple devices and users.
In terms of speed, the Linksys Mesh Wifi 6 Router is impressive. With a top speed of 6.0 Gbps, it is capable of supporting 4K and 8K streaming, as well as other high-bandwidth activities like gaming and file transfers. This makes it a great choice for users who want to take advantage of the latest streaming technologies and online services.
Another notable feature of this router is its easy setup and management. The Linksys App allows users to quickly and easily configure their router and manage their network, without the need for complex technical knowledge.
Additionally, the router is compatible with Alexa, allowing users to easily manage Wi-Fi access for their devices using voice commands. In terms of security, the Linksys Mesh Wifi 6 Router offers advanced protection with the WPA2-PSK security protocol. This ensures that your network and connected devices are protected from potential security threats.
5. NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band Router
The NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band Router is a fantastic router that offers a wide range of features that make it the perfect choice for anyone looking to set up port forwarding. The first thing that stands out about this router is its impressive coverage area of up to 5,000 square feet, making it ideal for large homes or office spaces. With its tri-band technology and advanced beamforming, you can enjoy consistent and reliable WiFi coverage throughout your entire space.
One of the standout features of the Orbi router is its impressive speed capabilities, with a maximum speed of up to 3Gbps. This means that even with multiple devices connected, you can enjoy smooth and lag-free streaming, gaming, and browsing experiences.
Setting up and managing the Orbi router is a breeze thanks to the convenient Orbi app. With this app, you can easily set up and customize your WiFi network, as well as manage and monitor your internet usage. The app even allows you to set up smart parental controls, so you can ensure that your kids are safe and protected online.
Another great thing about the Orbi router is that it supports all 500Mbps plans from Internet Service Providers, so you can enjoy the fastest and most reliable internet speeds available. And with its ability to connect up to 25+ devices, you can easily connect all of your devices, from laptops and smartphones to smart home devices and gaming consoles.
Also, Orbi router also comes with advanced security features, such as NETGEAR Armor and WPA2 encryption, to keep your network and personal information safe and secure. And with its guest WiFi secure access, you can easily set up a separate and secure network for your guests.
What Features To Look For When Buying Router for Port Forwarding?
When looking to buy a router for port forwarding, there are several key features to consider in order to ensure that you get the best possible performance and value for your money. Here are some of the most important factors to consider when shopping for a router for port forwarding:
Coverage area:
One of the most important factors to consider when buying a router for port forwarding is its coverage area. The larger the coverage area, the more devices you will be able to connect to your network, and the more reliable and consistent your WiFi signal will be. Look for a router with a coverage area of at least 2,000 square feet, but ideally 3,000 square feet or more for larger homes or office spaces.
Speed:
Another important factor to consider when buying a router for port forwarding is its speed capabilities. The faster the router’s speed, the more smoothly your port forwarding applications will run, and the better your overall internet experience will be. Look for a router with a maximum speed of at least 2Gbps, but ideally 3Gbps or more for the fastest and most reliable performance.
Security:
When buying a router for port forwarding, it’s important to consider its security features. Look for a router that offers advanced security features such as WPA2/WPA3 encryption, a double firewall, and protection against DoS attacks. This will help to keep your network and personal information safe and secure.
Convenience features:
In addition to its performance and security features, a good router for port forwarding should also offer a range of convenience features that make it easy to set up, customize, and manage your WiFi network. Look for a router with an intuitive app that allows you to easily set up and manage your network, as well as monitor and manage your internet usage.
Compatibility:
Moreover, for a router for port forwarding, it’s important to consider its compatibility with your internet service provider (ISP) and devices. Look for a router that is compatible with the fastest and most reliable internet plans available from your ISP, and that is compatible with all of your devices, including laptops, smartphones, smart home devices, and gaming consoles.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, port forwarding is an essential part of a router’s security features and can be used to ensure that only certain services are available on your network. With a router with port forwarding, you can limit the types of services that are available on your network and ensure that no unauthorized access is possible. Additionally, port forwarding can also be used to increase the speed of services that are available on your networks, such as websites, gaming, and streaming services. By properly configuring port forwarding on your router, you can enjoy a more secure and faster network experience.
FAQs:
Yes, some hackers may use router port forwarding to gain access to a user’s computer or network. To help prevent this, users should ensure their router’s administrative password is strong and unique, and they should always keep the firmware of their router up to date. Additionally, users should check their router’s settings and disable UPnP or port forwarding options that may be enabled by default. Also, users should monitor their network traffic to detect any suspicious activity.
Yes, some routers are not capable of port forwarding. This is usually because they are older routers that do not have the necessary firmware to support port forwarding.
I am the founder and CEO of Ownrouter. I have been in the industry for over 15 years, and I am passionate about routers. I have a degree in computer science from the University of London and worked as a network engineer for a large ISP. I am also a member of the board of directors for the Open Source Router Project. Learn more