7 Best Routers For VoIP in 2023 [Seamless Calling]

It doesn’t matter whether you replaced your traditional office setup with IP telephony or are in search of a VoIP compatible router for your existing IP telephony connection. The idea of this article is to make you learn about the elements/features needed for smooth voice over IP calls and help you find a reliable router for the same.

Whether you are a business owner, work-from-home employee, call-center executive, corporate receptionist, or a homebound user interested in making standard Skype or Zoom calls, you might want to swap the spanning telephone cables, hours of wiring, costly PBX units, and superfluous hardware integration with something more compact and comprehensive like a router-based telephone setup.

But then, your need for zero call drops, steady and expansive VoIP reach, a proper balance between VoIP and Data transfer speeds, minimal interference, reduced jitters, and the ability to send over multimedia messages are often plagued by pain points. These include lack of QoS support, pre-activated SIP ALG setting, lack of dedicated VoIP bands, no MU-MIMO support, and more.

I realize that bottlenecks like these, mostly technical, can only be addressed if you get hold of a reliable VoIP router that can have every necessary feature. This is why I chose to review close to 20 routers, only to zero in on 7 options that fit in perfectly for your VoIP-specific requirement.

7 Best Routers For VoIP in 2023

I shall now enumerate 7 highly reliable VoIP routers that have been tried and tested across diverse parameters to establish tolerance and support towards VoIP internet plans and abilities.

Starting from the wireless standard to the number of bands, activated QoS support, third-party firmware integrations, ports, app support, and pricing, each router has been extensively appraised across a wide range of factors.

1. Best Overall: Asus RT-AX88U

The Asus RT-AX88U is often retailed as an out-and-out gaming router but it can efficiently manage VoIP traffic as well. Based on the functionality, I would recommend this router for large-scale business setups that comprise multiple VoIP devices.

As compared to the Asus RT-AX82U, the RT-AX88U is a better option for VoIP users, owing to the 8 high-speed ports as opposed to 4 on the former.

Why is it suited for VoIP?

The RT-AX88U, courtesy of its 802.11AX wireless standard, is capable of sufficing the minimum VoIP requirement of 802.11n, which primarily qualifies as Wi-Fi 4. Plus, Asus makes room for adaptive and traditional QoS for prioritizing VoIP traffic better, to avoid call drop and jitters.

This router also supports MU-MIMO compatibility, which ensures that every VoIP device in the office gets the desired data stream to work with and remains unaffected by the other devices.

App Support & Security Features

When it comes to remote router management, the RT-AX88U features a dedicated application for better control. Plus, you can use the Asus app to activate nifty security specs including website blocking, infected device blocking, AiProtection Pro for securing diverse VoIP and data devices on a local area network.

You also get access to parental controls and guest network monitoring upon deploying this innovative application.

Frequency Bands, Speed, & Coverage

The dual-band router is capable of operating concurrently on 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. However, to get the best VoIP speeds and quality, I would recommend you to connect the devices to the 5GHz band.

As far as speeds are concerned, the 2.4GHz band supports theoretical LAN speeds of up to 1148Mbps whereas the 5GHz band is capable of handling maximum network speeds of up to 4804Mbps. However, the real-time speeds are capped at 960Mbps, provided you wish to operate the router using a Gig plan and on the 5GHz band.

The router coverage is fixed at 3500 sq ft whereas the Explicit Beamforming support allows you to get better 2.4GHz speeds, even at the farthest point.

Design & Build Quality

The rugged, plastic-clad router weighs close to 5.165 pounds and measures 15.1 x 10 x 5 inches. Also, the RT-AX88U comes in black and features four adjustable antennas, which are pivotal to increasing the overall coverage.

Hardware & Port Management

Coming to the processing setup, the RT-AX88U comes equipped with a reliable quad-core chipset followed by 1GB RAM and 256MB of flash memory. The existing hardware setup allows the router to handle and maintain VoIP calls without drops, lags, or jitters. 

In case you plan on connecting the VoIP devices using the Ethernet cable, you can make use of 8 GigE LAN ports. Also, you can make use of the high-speed USB 3.1 port for sharing multimedia, images, and videos across VoIP and data networks.

Other Features

In addition to the mentioned traits, the Asus RT-AX88U also supports AiMesh compatibility, an integrated traffic analyzer, and the ability to work in different operational modes; features that separate it from some of the other products on the list.

2. Best Runner Up: TP-Link Archer C5400X

TP-Link upgrades its predecessor with an intelligent optimization engine to improve and prioritize your incoming traffic, be it gaming, or streaming, or voice. Setup as a hardcore gaming router, the Archer C5400X brings the hardware ability to support VoIP operations on a larger scale.

Why is it suited for VoIP?

With advanced technologies like MU-MIMO and Beamforming, the router ensures simultaneous data transmission to multiple devices with minimal lags. On top of its dedicated GeForce gaming engine, TP-Link comes with an additional QoS by device and application that enables you to optimize your network and prioritize your internet traffic for VoIP applications and devices.

App Support & Security Features

Setting up a heavy-weight router like Archer C5400X becomes easier with the intuitive design of the Tether application. Monitor and manage your router even when you are on the move. The comprehensive web GUI allows you to optimize your network for the activities you deem fit.

TP-Link has an inbuilt antivirus software that runs on strength of the real-time updates of TrendMicro. It protects your network from intrusions, external infected devices, and malicious websites. Get control over the exposure with access and device filters and a dedicated guest network access.

Frequency Bands, Speed, & Coverage

The router, amplified by the high data rate of NitroQAM delivers high speeds of 1000 Mbps in 2.4GHz and 2167 Mbps in dual 5GHz frequency. It brings inadequate bandwidth to support over a dozen VoIP devices.

At the helm of the latest Beamforming technology and the simultaneous tri-band operation, the router employs inbuilt smart connect and airtime fairness to optimize its signal delivery up to 55 devices. Courtesy of its powerful antennas, the device can cover up to 3500 sq ft.

Design & Build Quality

Its square-shaped black chassis stands true to the gamer spirit with high ventilation and accents of red. The router has 8 external antennas towering from its sides. Weighing close to 3 pounds, the routing device leaves a large footprint, measuring 11.3 x 11.3 x 7.2 inches.

Hardware & Port Management

Archer C5400X has a strong processing unit at its disposal. Designed to run data-heavy games, the router eases through loads of multiple VoIP devices on the strength of a quad-core processor clocking at 1.8GHz. With 1GB RAM and storage of 16GB at its disposal, the router handles plenty of devices.

The selection of 8 Ethernet ports and 2 USB 3.0 ports translates to adequate wired connectivity for priority devices, including network shared printers and storage devices. With Link aggregation, you can reinforce your network for additional bandwidth or a fail-safe backup internet plan.

Other Features

Archer C5400X packs comprehensive parental controls to control your network. With double the wired connectivity and its support for VPN, the router packs a plethora of features at a price that gives its peers a run for their money.

3. Best Under $150: Linksys MR9000

The Linksys MR9000 is a reliable tri-band router under the $250 price bracket, best suited for home-bound individuals contemplating VoIP setup for smaller establishments. Also, when compared to the MR8300 AC2200 from Linksys, the improved coverage ensures that none of the other apps and devices is affected.

Why is it suited for VoIP?

This product is suitable for VoIP as it offers a tri-band technology with decent speeds and ports, in case you ever plan on connecting the VoIP devices directly to conserve bandwidth.

However, what I don’t like about this router is the fact that it doesn’t support any third-party firmware. The third-party firmware like OpenWRT offers more granular VoIP control; in case you want to reduce the packet loss, delays, and jitters caused by sluggish ISP speeds. I wish Linksys allowed flashing third-party firmware.

App Support & Security Features

The router setup is easier than expected, courtesy of the Linksys app. However, you would still need to access the web interface to disable the SIP ALG configuration and check for the H.323 protocol. As far as router security is concerned, you get smart parental controls to limit VoIP usage.

Frequency Bands, Speed, & Coverage

Coming to the frequency selections, Linksys offers access to two 5GHz bands and one 2.4GHz band. However, the 5GHz bands are more suited towards handling the VoIP requirements, owing to the 802.11ac standard and aggregated speed of 3000Mbps. The primary 5GHz band is cap out at 1733Mbps, while the other two bands are capped at 867Mbps, respectively.

This router can extend the wireless network in the 3000 sq ft house, which is amazing for a router under the $150 price range.

Design & Build Quality

This router comes in black and weighs close to 1.30 pounds. Also, the plastic-clad unit measures 7.28 x 10.24 x 7.48 inches. Coming to the antennas, you get access to 4 high-gain external units that are adjustable.

Hardware & Port Management

There is a 1.8GHz quad-core processor in play, followed by 512MB of RAM. The existing configuration ensures consistent VoIP and data quality. Also, you have access to 4 GigE ports for managing voice quality during connection failover. There is also one USB 3.0 port and a WAN port for the modem to feed in.

Other Features

The Linksys MR9000 doesn’t support third-party firmware but it still accommodates QoS for traffic shaping and device prioritization. Plus, you also get 512MB RAM and 256MB of flash storage, which allows you to store configuration details better than some of the other products on this list.

4. Best with Two USB Ports: Asus RT-AC68U

If you want a more secure VoIP line for your business, consider this product as it comes with content filtering and top-notch internet security enhancements.

If you seek a voice over IP router for mid-range internet and voice plans, the Asus RT-AC68U is the perfect choice to make. I even compared it with the similarly priced RT-AX55 but the RT-AC68U came out on top, courtesy of the adaptive QoS enhancement, supplied right out of the box.

Why is it suited for VoIP?

It is the adaptive QoS and advanced security specs that qualify the RT-AC68U as one of the more sought-after routers for VoIP. Plus, the Alexa compatibility offers better control over the router’s whereabouts and helps you control the VoIP setup better than usual.

App Support & Security Features

Setting up and configuring this router is easy, courtesy of the intuitive Linksys application. However, it is the web interface that comes forth as the most reliable, especially when you plan on flashing the RT-AC68U with a firmware other than AsusWRT.

This way you get access to better Session Initiation Protocol packages for improved VoIP output.

As far as the security standards are concerned, Asus offers vulnerability protection, AiProtection for mesh connections, and even application control, with third-party firmware installed. Plus, you get access to a wide range of parental control settings and even the advanced traffic analyzer for having better control over the network.

Frequency Bands, Speed, & Coverage

Coming to the band allocation, the RT-AC68U works on 2.4GHz and 5GHz simultaneously, whilst reaching speeds of up to 600Mbps and 1300Mbps, respectively. Coming to the range, the router covers 3000 sq ft of area, courtesy of the 3 high-gain antennas.

Design & Build Quality

This sub $150 router weighs close to 1.70 pounds and measures 6.3 x 3.3 x 8.6 inches. Also, the meshed layout adds to the heat-dissipating capabilities of this advanced reliable router.

Hardware & Port Management

There is a standard dual-core processor at the core followed by 128MB of flash memory and 256MB of RAM. The processing setup, at the least, is good enough for minimizing VoIP jitters and call drops. However, it is the port arrangement, with 1 WAN, 2 USB, and 4 LAN slots, that stands out.

Other Features

Coming to productivity, the Asus RT-AC68U supports the AiMesh functionality by pairing with other Asus routers, if and when available. However, the availability of adaptive and traditional QoS followed by port forwarding support that places it atop a handful of other products in the retail space.

5. Best Mesh Router for VoIP: TP-Link Deco X20

If you want to set up a dedicated VoIP Mesh at the home, office, or hotel, the two-pack TP-Link Deco X20 is the best option to invest in. Also, as compared to Google Wi-Fi Nest system, this mesh router supports Wi-Fi 6 standard, offers better load balancing, courtesy of additional WAN and LAN ports.

Why is it suited for VoIP?

This product offers the best mesh-like coverage and even allows you to prioritize connections on your comprehensive home network. The advanced QoS feature makes it the best option for VoIP setups that are staggered at home or large-size offices.

App Support & Security Features

You are free to control a majority of home and office Wi-Fi resources via the Deco mobile application. As far as security specs are concerned, the app notifies and initiates auto firmware updates and the integrated security chipset keeps DoS and other online threats at bay.

Frequency Bands, Speed, & Coverage

The Deco X20 supports simultaneous dual-band wireless networking, with the 2.4GHz speeds capped at 600Mbps and the 5GHz band speeds limited to 1200Mbps. This functionality makes the 2-pack TP-Link Deco X20 good enough for any 500Mbps internet plan with Voice support.

Also, you can set VoIP devices across any band of choice, based on your speed and bandwidth-specific preferences. The coverage, on the other hand, is fixed at 4000 sqft, courtesy of transmitting Beamforming support across big 2 story houses or crowded apartments.

Design & Build Quality

The Deco X20 comes in white and each hub measures 4.33 x 4.33 x 4.49 inches. Also, each pack weighs close to 2 pounds and is made of hardened, high-quality plastic. It’s aesthetically pleasing and the white color looks fantastic!

Hardware & Port Management

At the core, you have the 1GHz quad-core chipset that works in tandem with the 512MB RAM and 128MB of flash memory for transferring data via NAS access. Plus, there are two ports with GigE support, which allow you to account for connection failover.

Other Features

In addition to the mentioned specs, the TP-Link Deco X20 also offers OFDMA and MU-MIMO support across 4×4 spatial streams for better managing VoIP and other data-specific devices. Regardless, it is the brilliant aesthetics and the maximized range that qualify it as the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh router in comparison to others.

6. Best for Small Businesses: Netgear Nighthawk R6900P

The Netgear Nighthawk R6900P is yet another affordable router for VoIP. I would recommend using this device for small business setups that only have IP phones and need the best possible speeds and zero interference.

Why is it suited for VoIP?

This Netgear router has every attribute that makes it good enough for VoIP services, including QoS support, additional routing band, and MU-MIMO compatibility. However, it is a good port selection that makes it a better bet for VoIP services where sharing multimedia is a priority.

App Support & Security Features

The Nighthawk app is as interactive as it can get and allows you to control specific aspects of the route, including voice controls, parental controls, device prioritization, and more. Plus, the router brings in standard security specs, which can be amplified further upon installing DD-WRT third-party firmware.

Frequency Bands, Speed, & Coverage

As far as frequency segregation is concerned, this router lets you transmit in dual bands with an aggregated transmission speed of 1900Mbps. Next in line is the 600Mbps of steady 2.4GHz speed followed by the 1300Mbps of high-speed 5GHz capping. Therefore, if you plan to use this router for your home or office internet and VoIP requirements, a mid-level internet plan is best recommended.

The coverage, on the other hand, is restricted to 1800 sq ft which is still good enough considering the reliance on short-range VoIP setups for this router.

Design & Build Quality

This router in black weighs 2.6 pounds and measures ‎13.7 x 10.08 x 3.11 inches. Also, the 3 antennas lend a rugged feel to this otherwise plastic-clad device.

Hardware & Port Management

The Netgear Nighthawk R6900P comes equipped with a dual-core processor that can clock at 1GHz. The existing chipset supports better VoIP and data transfer speeds whilst cutting down on attenuation.

The port arrangement is glorified enough with Netgear offering access to 4 gig Ethernet LAN ports followed by a 1 gig WAN port. You also get one USB 3.0 port as a part of the wired connections.

Other Features

The Nighthawk R6900P offers excellent MU-MIMO compatibility, which can be handy if you want to connect multiple VoIP devices to the network. However, it is the availability of good ports, decent speeds, and affordable price that makes this router stand out among other products on the list.

7. Best Budget-Friendly: TP-Link Archer A7

If you own a customer care setup, you might want to consider the TP-Link Archer A7 as the router of choice, for managing VoIP calls with ease. Also, this is one of the more dependable products to vouch for, provided you are inclined towards a higher cost-to-ownership ratio.

If you have an Archer A6 at your disposal, you should upgrade almost immediately, courtesy of higher speeds and even improved coverage.

Why is it suited for VoIP?

Despite being end-to-end encrypted, your call center employees might require VoIP VPN access to reach through to clients in restricted countries. This is where the Archer A7 comes across as the most suitable device as it comes with a dedicated OpenVPN server and PPTP pass-through support for helping you make the VoIP calls even more accessible and secure.

App Support & Security Features

As far as the app support is concerned, you can control and monitor the router using the interactive tether app. You also get access to WPA wireless security standards, improved encryption, and a wide range of parental controls.

Frequency Bands, Speed, & Coverage

Coming to the supported frequency bands, the Archer A7 transmits data and voice across 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels, with speeds capped at 450Mbps and 1300Mbps respectively. Therefore, I would recommend using this with any mid-range internet plan to make the most of the excellent data transfer speeds.

The 2500 sq ft of wireless coverage area is good enough for most mid-size homes and office setups. However, the connection strength is maintained, regardless of the distance, courtesy of the power radio amplifiers and three high-gain, router antennas.

Design & Build Quality

This product weighs a tad less than the 1-pound mark and measures 9.59 x 6.32 x 1.29 inches. Also, the plastic-clad chassis is literally immune to overheating, courtesy of the vents and aesthetic layout.

Hardware & Port Management

The Qualcomm CPU is quite a reliable asset and ensures data packet transmission without lags or congestion. However, you still get access to 4 high-speed GigE ports for connecting to the modem or connecting VoIP phones directly to the router for load balancing.

Other Features

The TP-Link Archer A7 is one of the few routers that are compatible with the OneMesh network. However, it is the VPN provisioning that makes it the best budget router on the list, in terms of added VoIP security.

Things To Consider Before Selecting Routers for VoIP

Voice over IP is recommended. But then, what are voice over IP routers, and how can they transmit voice instead or alongside data remains the pressing question here? Also, if and when you plan on setting up a VoIP connection, you might want to get the most relevant ISP on board to make things easier.

Also, I shall discuss two router features at length, including the SIP ALG setting and QoS support, which need to be deactivated and prioritized, respectively, to make Voice-Over-IP a better experience. Apart from these, here are some of the other points that you need to consider before buying VoIP compatible router:

1. QoS

Quality of Service is an essential router feature to seek if you want to prioritize the VoIP traffic over other data packets.

2. SIP ALG

SIP or Session Initiation Protocol is the underlying technology for data packets moving across devices, apps, and VoIP devices. Also, ALG or Application Layer Gateway segments the internet that is being watched over by SIP on specific devices via NAT.

SIP ALG, in unison rewrites data packets to relay them to devices, which isn’t advisable for VoIP connections as Voice-over-IP cannot afford segmentation. Therefore, you need to reach the web interface of the router and disable SIP ALG before using the device for VoIP.

3. H.323

Now that your VoIP device is ready to send and receive calls, it is important to look for the H.323 protocol that allows you to send multimedia along with Voice.

4. VLAN access

For business VoIP setup, VLAN functionality allows you to partition a specific network for Voice calls or connect every VoIP device in the office as a part of a larger subgroup for better voice quality.

5. Band-Diversity

A tri-band or synchronous dual-band supporting router is preferred as you can then allocate one band to the VoIP traffic to minimize congestion and interference.

6. MU-MIMO Functionality

If you want faster VoIP transmission for lag and jitter-free calling, MU-MIMO support is necessary as it offers dedicated streams to the VoIP devices for managing traffic better. This way, it looks like each device has its own integrated router to work with.

7. Firmware Compatibility

Most routers miss out on relevant VoIP-friendly features, and this is why it is necessary to consider third-party firmware integrations to make the device better suited for voice-over-IP. This might include OpenWRT, Tomato, DDWRT, or any other firmware with relevant capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

Identifying the best router with VoIP support includes looking for the ability to install third-party firmware for activating a more interactive router mode with access to H.323 protocol, firewall management, bandwidth monitoring, QoS activation, and more. Based on the requirements, I have collated a few handpicked options, with specific use-cases in mind:

• For large business setups with several VoIP phones and an inclination towards multimedia transfers, the Asus RT-AX88U is the best router to consider.
• If you have a large area to cover but the VoIP phone is supposed to be near the router for maximum speeds and clarity, the TP-Link Archer C5400X is a pretty good option to invest in.
• If you run a small business and require a VPN server for sending VoIP calls through, the Netgear Nighthawk R6900P is a good option.
• Lastly, if you seek affordability more than anything else, the TP-Link Archer A7 is one of the best budget options for VoIP.

In addition to these curated selections, you are free to read through the entire discussion and take a pick from the remaining products, as per your budget, requirements, and professional needs.