Best Home and Small Network Routers

 Are you looking for a router for your SMB or home network? Read our expert-written article on small network routers, covering every necessary information and providing a Cisco vs. MikroTik comparison.

People looking for a network switch for an SMB or a home office need precise price, technology, and scope information. More often than not, they tend to go with the product that offers extra features, and which results in paying a significant price. Network connectivity, security, and performance are everything that is required by small network routers to boost business and productivity. If such features are available at less cost, then why choose premium solutions over them?

This article will look at the different facts and features of routing devices that are best for small networks. Whether you are looking for an SMB router or looking to upgrade your home network, we will cover a lot of the necessary information.

And then (due to the vast customer base, popularity, and pricing), we will compare Mikrotik and Cisco routers.

Back to Basics: What is a router?

A router is a networking device that helps establish communication between multiple subnets/networks or devices either in a LAN or WAN. It works in layer 3 of the OSI reference model, which is the Network Layer. The router works with data packets and determines the source and destination based on the IP addresses. Router is the crucial complement that allows you to interact with other systems and resources on the internet.

Mikrotik Routers

As a network engineer, I am a fan of Mikrotik routers and their features. Considering their price, availability, setup, and management, they offer some great deals, such as:

·       Firewall capability alongside the wireless network

·       Customization features to make your wireless hotspot pages, login pages, and website restriction

The inbuilt firewall allows you to block malicious and unwanted websites to secure your network. Features like Destination NAT are another critical element allowing internal resource sharing from public networks or the internet. 

The additional support for SFP to fasten the network traffic with dedicated inbuilt gigabit ethernet ports makes it highly demanded among end customers. All the features come in handy and on budget.

The price range for Mikrotik routers starts from as low as $42, reaching up to $500 and more. So, when people get routing protocols, security, built-in firewall, and wireless features for less than $500, they find Mikrotik the best option in terms of every aspect when compared to competitors in this price range. 

Some of the best small network routers by Mikrotik are:

1. MikroTik CCR1009-7G-1C-1S+ Router
2. MikroTik RB1100X4 ROUTER
3. MikroTik RB4011IGS+5HACQ2HND-IN-US Router
4. MikroTik HEX Router (RB750GR3)
5. MikroTik CCR1016-12S-1S Router

Pros:

●      Cost-effective

●      Inbuilt firewall

●      SNAT and DNAT

●      Gigabit ports

●      Support for SFP

●      PoE

●      Website denylisting

Cons:

●      Confusing GUI for beginners

●      Technical support needs improvement

Cisco Routers

The Cisco routers are best known for their performance, reliability, and rich features. Cisco routers are the best choice for enterprise businesses where mission-critical applications and services require maximum uptime, high availability, and security. Cisco provides reliable performance with enhanced security to protect from unauthorized users and access. Port security, ACLs, and route-based IPsec VPN are some of the many salient features that target enterprise businesses.

It's not like Cisco routers are not suitable for home or small networks; they are. But for an SMB owner, the price and complexity of utilizing all of the router's features is a significant concern. Since small and home networks do not have multiple branch offices, there is no need to have VPN characteristics.

Pros:

●      Supports L3 routing protocols

●      Enhanced security

●      Reliable

●      Performance centric

●      PoE

●      SFP supported

●      Better technical support

Cons:

●      Expensive in cost

●      Requires professional training to operate and run the device

The race to reach small networks

To say it loud and clear, manufacturing home or small network routers is not essential to Cisco's business strategy. They lack aggressive pricing and network size-centric features offered to these small enterprise markets.

On the other hand, Mikrotik dominates the home and small network router segment. It is also the first choice among small businesses where a mix of features and security are required. Mikrotik routers have also become the choice for mid-sized networks due to their versatile technical aspects and aggressive pricing.

Cisco vs. Mikrotik

Which one should you buy?

We always support Cisco for its reliable performance and security but not today. If you plan to upgrade, scale, or expand the business, the network congestion, bandwidth, and performance constrain will increase. In such a case, you should also consider Cisco.

However, if that is not the case, then Mikrotik is your answer. We understand the importance of budgeting for small offices and home networks and believe Mikrotik is the best solution for small networks' needs.

Do you need to ask more questions? You can CONTACT our expert customer representatives.