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If you’re on the hunt for the best parental control router, we’ve got you covered right here. Whether it is blocking inappropriate content, managing screen time, or simply ensuring that your children are taking their lectures and not watching random streams, a parental control router is the best way to let your kids access the internet without any worries.
These days, you can find routers that come with dedicated applications, thanks to which you can access the parental controls easily from anywhere. On top of that, these apps also provide detailed reports that can help you understand browsing habits and learn about your children’s online activity. In addition, routers have WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E standards, just like some of the best wireless routers.
To help you kick off the search in the best way possible, we’ve rounded up some options we think are the best routers with parental controls. We selected these routers based on their performance, value, and the features they offer. So, without any further ado, let’s dive into the list.
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BEST PARENTAL CONTROL ROUTERSynology RT2600ac
- Standard: WiFi 5
- Frequency band: 5 Ghz
- Max speed: 2.53 Gbps
- LAN ports: 4 x 1 Gbps
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BEST BUDGET PARENTAL CONTROL ROUTERTP-Link Archer AX10
- Standard: WiFi 6
- Frequency band: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
- Max speed: 1500 Mbps
- LAN ports: 4 x 1 Gbps
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BEST PARENTAL CONTROL MESH ROUTERGoogle Nest WiFi Pro
- Standard: WiFi 6E
- Frequency band: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz
- Max speed: 5400 Mbps
- LAN ports: 2 x 1 Gbps
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BEST NO SUBSCRIPTION PARENTAL CONTROL ROUTERASUS RT-AXE7800
- Standard: WiFi 6E
- Frequency band: 6 GHz
- Max speed: 7800 Mbps
- LAN ports: 3 x 1 Gbps
How we selected the best parental control router
We’ve used our expertise to find the best parental control routers available in the market. We made sure to select only the ones that come with the best parental control features and can help you promote healthy internet habits. Our team is also constantly exploring the market for new WiFi routers with parental controls to add to our list, so make sure to check back here soon for more options.
Best parental control router
- Standard: WiFi 5
- Frequency band: 5 Ghz
- Max speed: 2.53 Gbps
- LAN ports: 4 x 1 Gbps
- Dual-band connectivity
- Excellent parental controls
- Dual WAN ports
- No multi-gig port
If you’re looking for a WiFi router with parental controls that comes with great features and a reasonable price tag, we suggest you check out the Synology RT2600ac. It has all the essential features that make it the go-to option for most parents.
For starters, the router has dual-band connectivity, meaning it comes with a single 2.4GHz and 5GHz band, with up to 2,530 Mbps speeds. However, the most important feature of the router is that it has top-notch parental controls.
You can set up individual rules for each of your kids and get alerts whenever a device is trying to access blocked content. You also get automatically generated reports that offer deep insights into your kids’ internet activity. Apart from that, there is also VPN support and bandwidth prioritization, so you get the best speeds on selected devices.
As far as connectivity is concerned, just like some of the best gigabit routers, there are 4x Gigabit LAN ports and 1x Gigabit WAN port. However, one of the LAN ports can also act as WAN, allowing much better load balancing. It would have been even more impressive to see multi-gig support, but you can look past that if your usage is not that high-end. All in all, if you want a jack-of-all-trades router that does an excellent job at keeping an eye on your kids’ internet activity, the Synology RT2600ac is a great choice.
What users say
According to customer reviews, many users praise the router’s stability, coverage, and feature set. They commend its reliability (often described as “rock solid”), its abundance of features, and its impressive signal range. Additionally, some reviewers find the setup process straightforward and appreciate the parental control options. However, opinions are divided on the router’s performance, value for money, and overall connectivity.
- Standard: WiFi 6
- Frequency band: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
- Max speed: 1500 Mbps
- LAN ports: 4 x 1 Gbps
- WiFi 6 standard
- Should provide good coverage in a 3-bedroom house
- Gigabit LAN ports
- Decent parental controls
- No multi-gig port
- No USB port
On a tight budget but still want to control how your children access the Internet? The TP-Link Archer AX10 is the best budget parental control router you can get. With its dual-band connectivity, the router can achieve over 1500 Mbps of speed simultaneously (1201 Mbps from 5GHz and 300 Mbps from 2.4GHz). Plus, thanks to Wi-Fi 6 and 4x antennas, the range is also excellent, making it perfect for 3-bedroom houses.
Plus, you also get 4x Gigabit LAN ports and 1x Gigabit WAN port. While there are no USB ports, which is a bit disappointing, it is hard to complain at this price point. Being a TP-Link device, you also get to enjoy the easy-to-setup benefits via the Tether app.
As for parental controls, you can block inappropriate content for your children and also set a time limit as to how much time your kids can spend on the web. Other than that, you also get VPN service for added privacy and QoS to prioritize fast performance. In short, if you are low on cash and want an excellent parental control router, it is hard to beat the TP-Link Archer AX10. In fact, we even think it deserves to be one of the best budget routers.
What users say
Customer reviews highlight the router’s affordability, performance, and user-friendly setup. Many users describe it as a “decent budget router” that delivers good value. Some reviewers specifically mention the clear instructions and intuitive interface, making setup a breeze. However, opinions are divided on the router’s speed, connectivity, signal strength, and overall build quality.
- Standard: WiFi 6E
- Frequency band: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz
- Max speed: 5400 Mbps
- LAN ports: 2 x 1 Gbps
- WiFi 6E
- 6600 sq ft coverage
- Google Home app to access parental controls
- Extenders can be expensive
Tired of losing Wi-Fi signals as you move across your home? Well, you need the Google Nest WiFi Pro, which is our pick for the best parental control mesh router. With its latest and greatest WiFi 6E technology, the router offers exceptional speeds with great reliability.
First up, it has a tri-band connectivity with a combined speed of up to 5400 Mbps (6GHz + 5GHz + 2.4GHz). Along with that, like some of the best mesh routers, each router covers 2200 sq ft, which means you get a total of 6600 sq ft coverage, more than enough for most big homes. This can help you eliminate every deadzone inside your house. Similarly, every router also has 2x Gigabit LAN ports as well, totaling 6x ports across 3 routers.
Being a Google product, you can use the Google Home app to set up parental controls in a few taps. From blocking inappropriate content to internet time-outs and Wi-Fi schedules, you can have complete control over what kind of content your children can access.
Apart from all of that, another good thing about the Nest WiFi Pro is the design. The routers have a very minimalistic feel, and they look really beautiful. Overall, if you can afford one and want a mesh system, then the Google Nest WiFi Pro is a no-brainer choice, as it is easily one of the best wireless routers with parental controls.
- Standard: WiFi 6E
- Frequency band: 6 GHz
- Max speed: 7800 Mbps
- LAN ports: 3 x 1 Gbps
- No subscription required to access parental controls
- Tri-band connectivity
- WiFi 6E technology
- 2.5G port
- Overkill if not used with a high-speed plan
The best parental control router without subscription has to be the ASUS RT-AXE7800. There are many subscription-free routers, but the reason we’ve picked the RT-AXE7800 is its performance. The router is truly a top-tier beast that is capable of unmatched speeds.
For starters, it has tri-band connectivity with up to 7800 Mbps of speed, all thanks to the WiFi 6E technology. Being a tri-band router means that the AXE7800 comes with an additional 6 GHz band, which increases network capacity, resulting in a better internet experience.
Another good thing about the RT-AXE7800 is its support for multi-gig ports. At the back, you will find 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 port, 3x Gigabit LAN ports, 1x Gigabit LAN/WAN port, and 1x 2.5 Gigabit LAN/WAN port, which is very impressive. However, if you don’t have a high-speed internet plan, the multi-gig port won’t benefit you that much.
The router also features free parental controls, allowing you to monitor your kids’ online activity, restrict websites, grant extra time, and do so much more – right from your phone. You can also enable VPN services and protect all of the connected devices at once. Sure, the pricing is a bit steep, and the non-adjustable antennas make the design a bit impractical. However, if you can look past these issues, the ASUS RT-AXE7800 is a very good option for a parental control router.
What users say
Customer reviews rave about the router’s quality, ease of installation, and robust security features. Reviewers often describe it as a “great product” and highlight its built-in firewall, subscription-free network security with Instant Guard, and comprehensive parental controls. Additionally, some users appreciate the router’s impressive coverage and user-friendly interface.
Considerations for the best parental control router
As the market is filled with routers with parental controls, it can get tricky to choose the right one. Here are a few things to consider before making a final purchase.
Compatibility
Make sure the router works well with the devices you already have at home. Check if it supports your phones, tablets, computers, and any other gadgets. It’s important that the router can easily connect with these devices without causing any issues. If you want a hands-free experience, you’ll need to get a router that is compatible with Alexa. This way, you’ll be able to control it using voice commands.
Content filtering
Good content filtering lets you block websites that might not be suitable for your kids’ age. Some parental control routers even let you choose categories to block, such as social media or gaming sites. This helps you with promoting healthy internet habits.
Time limit
Choose a router that lets you set specific time limits for internet usage on different days of the week, enabling you to establish healthy boundaries for screen time. Some routers also come with options to create schedules for individual devices, which makes it easier for you to keep track of everything.
Companion app
These days, most routers come with a dedicated application that can help you access parental control settings from anywhere. Some routers that don’t have a dedicated app allow you to control them using a web interface, which should work fine as well. However, for ease of use, it will be better to opt for the one with an app.
Usage report
Choose a router that provides you with reports after a while. These reports allow you to track the online activity of your children, providing insights into the websites visited, time spent online, and the types of content accessed. Detailed reports can assist in understanding browsing habits and identifying potential concerns. This way, you can also identify websites that need to be blocked immediately. The best routers with parental controls should provide you with a daily, weekly, and monthly report, so take this into consideration before getting one.
Verdict
For us, the Synology RT2600ac is the best parental control router currently available in the market. Not only does it offer top-notch parental controls that can help set up individual rules for your kids and monitor their internet activity, but it also comes with an affordable price tag. On top of that, the router features enough ports for wired connectivity, so your kids can easily connect their gaming consoles or PCs directly to the router. Sure, there isn’t a multi-gig port, but you don’t really need it unless you have a high-speed internet plan.
FAQs
Can my parents see my Internet history through the router?
Yes, your parents can see your internet history from the router. However, they can only do it if they can access the router’s settings from the website or application.
How do I block inappropriate content on my router?
To block a website with inappropriate content on your router, you will need to access Parental Controls or Website Filtering settings. Here, you can add the website to the block list, after which no one can access it from the same network.
