8 Best Routers With USB Ports In 2022
Are you looking for an easier way to share a printer within the household? Do you need to configure printers/external hard drives for faster data sharing? If you have plans to expand your Wi-Fi into a mesh system, having a capable router with USB ports could be your solution. And this post shall help you find the right one!
Having more control over the devices within your network and their internet consumption is paramount for any household with kids. Protecting the devices from imminent cyber threats takes a higher priority too. Having plenty of devices places a demand on the router. It’s sensible to invest in a capable routing device. (You may read my router buying guide)
Upon considering all the critical requirements and factoring in the diverse preferences of a typical household/SO-HO setup, I have put together the final list. The USB wireless routers listed here have capable hardware backed up by advanced features like MU-MIMO, Beamforming, OFDMA, QoS & gaming support.
From a shortlist of over 35 routers in the market space, I have narrowed it down to the top 8 routers with multiple USB ports. The selection is based on the features, their utility value considering the price point they’re available.
The list starts with premium routers supporting the latest technologies and features. I have also included a bunch of mid-range, value-for-money routers before ending the article with the best budget recommendations.
1. Best Overall: TP-Link Archer AX6000
The Archer AX6000 is the dual-band version of the much more powerful AX11000 with gaming-specific features and larger storage. The impressive selection of wired connectivity makes TP-Link Archer AX6000 stand out, complementing its latest features and superior user interfaces for easy network management.
Connectivity & Design
The combination of a 2.5Gbps WAN port, 8 LAN ports with Link Aggregation gives you access to high-speed connectivity and the ability to integrate multiple internet connections for effective bandwidth sharing. This is one of the few routers that come with two USB 3.0 ports, 1 Type-A & 1 Type-C, to accommodate device sharing within the home network.
AX6000 weighs over 3.6 pounds and comes in a black ventilated chassis sporting a beveled cross on its top. The routing devices come with 8 high-powered antennas with beamforming support. The entire unit measures 10.3 x 10.3 x 2.4 inches in dimensions, leaving a large footprint in your household.
Speeds & Coverage
The support to 160MHz channels and the latest wireless standards enables the router to deliver top speeds of 1148 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 4804 Mbps on 5GHz frequency. Features like MU-MIMO, OFDMA optimizes the latency in data transmission to multiple devices, lending the ability to handle 50 devices spread across a 3000 sq ft.
App & Security Features
The intuitive interface of the Tether mobile application simplifies the process of management. The in-depth customization of the web interface gives you complete control over the network with parental controls. Homecare security offers lifelong protection in tandem with firewalls and the WPA2 encryption standards.
Hardware & Other Features
TP-Link backs the AX6000 with a quad-core processor clocking at 1.8GHz, aided by a duo of 1GB operating memory and 128MB storage. The hardware combination gives the power to handle data-intensive activities like 4K media streaming and online gaming. With QoS and Airtime Fairness, the router prioritizes and improves network efficiency.
Conclusion
If you are living in a large yet network congested apartment, the DFS Channels, BSS coloring will make your life a tad easier. The high-speed WAN port and the support to the latest wireless standards, i.e., Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), make this USB 3.0 router far better than C5400X at the runner-up.
Also Check: TP-Link AX6000 Detailed Review
* Link Aggregation
* Quad-core CPU
* DFS Channels, BSS Coloring
* 2.5G WAN port
* Excellent wired connectivity
2. Best Tri-Band Router: TP-Link Archer C5400X
Do you have a lot of devices running at your home? In search of a wireless router with USB ports to accommodate them with proper bandwidth and speeds? Well, the TP-Link router is here to help you with the support for tri-band operation.
In Archer C5400X, TP-Link re-hauls the entire hardware unit of its frontrunner. The addition of a quad-core processing unit and improved memory makes TP-Link C5400X a powerful routing device. The gaming optimization engine and a simultaneous tri-band operation make this router a standout choice.
Connectivity & Design
Never worry about running short of wired connectivity. With 8 Ethernet ports and 2 USB 3.0 ports, you will have adequate connectivity for streaming devices, gaming consoles, and shared drives & printers. Link aggregation gives you the power to combine multiple internet connections.
A square-shaped hefty design on a heat-regulated chassis with accents of red is a statement of its gaming abilities. The heavyweight weighs 3 pounds and comes with 8 bulky external antennas reinforced with beamforming. The unit measures 11.3 x 11.3 x 7.2 inches in dimensions.
Speeds & Coverage
The advantage of advanced technology like MU-MIMO and NitroQAM enables C5400x to deliver top speeds of 1000 Mbps in 2.4GHz and 2167 Mbps in its dual 5GHz bands. Do you have plenty of devices at home? Archer’s powerful hardware unit can cope with 55 devices with ease while covering a large area of 3500 sq ft.
App & Security Features
With the Tether application, setting up the beast of a routing unit becomes easier. The comprehensive lifetime protection of Homecare keeps the devices in your home network at no additional cost. Inbuilt VPN, parental controls combined with access filters, and WPA2 configuration on the router will give you more control over the network.
Hardware & Other Features
C5400X brings the strength of a 64-bit quad-core unit clocking at 1.8GHz, an intelligent optimization engine, 1GB RAM, and lush storage of 16GB. This powerful unit can ease through heavy graphic games like Red dead redemption, Witcher, etc., with ease.
Archer C5400X gives you an upper hand in competitive gaming owing to its intelligent design to reduce latency and superior performance. Features like Airtime Fairness, QoS powered by GeForce make this a beast of a routing device.
Conclusion
Archer C5400x is one of the best-rated routers for a large household of gaming enthusiasts owing to its wired connectivity and the gaming optimization engine. C5400X trumps its Asus counterpart over its enormous selection of connectivity and power hardware unit.
* 1.8GHz Quad-Core Processor
* GameFirst Priority
* Link Aggregation
* TP-Link Homecare
* Parental control
3. Best for Printers: ASUS RT-AC86U
ASUS gives this router an overhaul from its preceding version with an upgrade to its processing unit and increasing the memory duo. The gaming acceleration boosts easy mesh compatibility and the adaptive QoS is an advantage for the ASUS RT-AC86U.
Connectivity & Design
The router comes with 4 LAN ports, 1 WAN port to offer a stable, wired high-speed connection to your priority devices. With 1 USB 3.0 port & 1 USB 2.0 port, you can connect & share printers or storage devices within your home network.
The vertical standing sleek, black chassis weighs 1.9 pounds and measures 6.2 x 3.3 x 8.66 inches in dimension. Accents of red are reminiscent of other gaming models. The routing unit carries 3 external antennas equipped with beamforming.
Speeds & Coverage
Features like MU-MIMO brings the best out of the router’s ability to deliver individual speeds of 1200 Mbps in 2.4GHz and 2167 Mbps on 5GHz frequency. With balanced usage, the router can support over 20 devices spread across 1800 sq ft.
App & Security Features
The combination of the Asus mobile application and web interface gives you exhaustive control over the customization. If you need more help with controlling the bandwidth & consumption. The AiProtection.pro comes with Web & Apps filters, parental controls, time scheduling, and lifetime internet security.
Hardware & Other Features
The Asus unit houses a 1.8GHz dual-core processor, 512MB RAM, and a storage of 256MB, that gives you adequate power to run online games, stream high-quality media within a small household. The Adaptive QoS learns to prioritize your gaming traffic.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a value for money router with a USB port for the printer, RT-AC86U slots into your requirements perfectly. It offers adequate wired connectivity & gaming acceleration. Plus, the strength of the processing unit at a price advantage gives the edge over Netgear XR500.
* Adaptive QoS
* WTFast VPN
* AiMesh Compatibility
* AiProtection Pro
4. Best for Gaming: Netgear XR500
The Netgear XR500 is a toned-down, budget version of its powerful predecessor. Despite the downgrade in hardware unit & connectivity, the dedicated gaming features & the exclusive user interface makes it one of the better gaming routers on a budget.
Connectivity & Design
The selection of 4 Gigabit LAN ports, & 1 Gig WAN port is crucial for securing a stable wired high-speed connectivity for the gaming devices. Do you have to share a printer or hard drive within the network? With 2 high-speed USB 3.0 ports, it becomes easier to keep both the devices connected simultaneously.
The glossy, modern-looking, ventilated chassis sports sharp angles. The 4 external antennas, equipped with beamforming act as stable carriers of the signal. Weighing a little over 1.8 pounds, the routing device stands at 12.7 x 9.6 x 2.2 inches in dimensions.
Speeds & Coverage
XR500 can sustain intense gaming activities. Top speeds of 800 Mbps on its 2.4GHz and 1733 Mbps on its 5GHz frequency. The support of advanced features like MU-MIMO & 160 Mhz Channels ensures the router can handle 20 devices spread across an area spanning 3000 sq ft.
App & Security Features
The router is set up easily with the nighthawk mobile application. Security features double firewall protection, inbuilt VPN, & WPA2 encryption, separate guess access to ensure the devices stay protected from any imminent security threats.
Hardware & Other Features
On the strength of a dual-core processing unit clocking at 1.7GHz, XR500 tackles loads of heavy games like Far Cry, Call of Duty, etc. The memory combo of 512MB RAM & storage of 256MB remains crucial for multitasking. DumaOS comes with gaming-specific features like Geo-filtering, ping/latency reduction, and congestion control.
Conclusion
If you are a competitive gamer looking for an edge, the dedicated gaming features of the Duma OS are prone to improve your gaming performance. If not for the price advantage of the Asus router, the Netgear XR500 would be closer to the top of our list.
* 1.7GHz Dual-core processor
* QoS
* Latency reduction
* 160MHz Channels
* DumaOS & gaming dashboard
5. Best Budget Option: D-Link DIR-3040-US
The improvements in the internet throughput and the addition of extra bandwidth gives DIR-3040-US a huge push over its previous design. Its mesh expandability makes a strong case for its inclusion in the list as one of the top choices in the market.
Connectivity & Design
D-Link router doesn’t disappoint on wired connectivity. It comes with 4 Gig Ethernet ports, 1 WAN Port for keeping your essential gadgets wired to the router. You don’t have to compromise between storage devices or printers. Keep them both connected with a USB 3.0 & USB 2.0 port.
A sleek matte finish body with sharp cuts weighs a little over 1.5 pounds and measures 7.8 x 8.5 x 2 inches in dimensions. 6 external beamforming on either side of the router ensures stable signal delivery to devices on every nook and corner.
Speeds & Coverage
The aggregate speeds of 3Gbps will be critical to handle 30+ devices and cover a large area of 2500 sq ft. Worried about delayed data transmission? With MU-MiIMO. & the capacity to support individual speeds of 400 Mbps on 2.4GHz, 866 & 1733 Mbps on dual 5GHz band, the router eases your concern.
App & Security Features
The web-based setup & the D-Link MyWiFi App keeps things simple with network management. The web interface allows you to set up firewalls, manage tour networks, with WPA2 encryption standards.
Hardware & Other Features
The D-Link router comes with a MediaTek-based dual-core processing unit clocking at 880 MHz, a memory duo of 256MB RAM, and 128MB storage. The hardware unit will stand the test of a processing load of a small-medium household. QoS to assign priority & guest zone are essential features in managing the home network.
Conclusion
Do you have plenty of devices in your household? Are you looking to scale your internet into a mesh system? The easy mesh compatibility & the extra bandwidth in D-Link DIR-3040 can come in handy. Its combination of features & internet throughput keeps it above the Netgear R7000P.
* Additional bandwidth
* Mesh Compatibility
* MU-MIMO
* Beamforming
* Works with Alexa
6. Best for Streaming: Netgear R7000P
Netgear adds a USB port while retaining the hardware & features of the predecessor. The plethora of features in the Netgear R7000P unit & its wide range of utility for different types of household makes this a value-for-money choice.
Connectivity & Design
The Netgear router gets high-speed wired connectivity, with 1 Gig WAN port & 4 Gig LAN ports playing a crucial role in ensuring stable internet connectivity. The USB 2.0 port is suitable for sharing printers within the network, while the USB 3.0 port can be used for sharing media.
At 1.65 pounds, the Netgear router comes with a sleek, black chassis measuring 11.2 x 7.2 x 1.9 inches in dimensions. The rear side sports 3 external antennas with beamforming to optimize signal delivery.
Speeds & Coverage
The Netgear R7000P comes with the capacity to reach top speeds of 600 Mbps in 2.4GHz &1625 Mbps in 5GHz channels. Aggregate speed of 2.2Gbps, complemented by MU-MIMO, ensures the ability to handle up to 35 devices. The router can cover medium households measuring 2000 sq ft.
App & Security Features
Netgear Nighthawk App brings a lot of functionality, including a quick setup. If you are looking for dedicated internal security, Netgear Armor offers advanced protection for your home network. The inbuilt VPN, guest network, Circle Parental control offer additional layers of security and privacy for the devices.
Hardware & Other Features
A 1GHz dual-core processor becomes the core component of the routing unit. The memory duo of 256MB RAM and 128MB storage can handle loads of processing data-intense activities for a small household, be it streaming, online gaming, or remote work solutions. Features like Dynamic QoS, Smart Connect offer tweaks to its performance.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a suitable router with additional internet security to blanket your home office with internet, Netgear Armor will be an excellent value addition. Its advantage in a more powerful hardware unit keeps this router above its Linksys counterpart.
* MU-MIMO
* Beamforming
* SmartConnect
* Dynamic QoS
* Alexa compatible
7. Best for Hard Drives: Linksys EA8100
In EA8100, Linksys improved the throughput capacity of its previous version while adding more features to it. The Linksys EA8100 offers great value for money without compromising on the essential features.
Connectivity & Design
Do you want to keep your TV, Desktop, storage devices?& printer connected to your network? The Linksys router offers adequate connectivity with 4 LAN Ports,& 1 WAN port, Y could use 1 USB 3.0 port for faster data transfers & 1 USB 2.0 for connecting printers.
The black ventilated chassis sports the classic Linksys design. It weighs 1.23 pounds & measures 10.12 x 7.24 x 2.2-inches. Bothered about signal quality? The 4 external antennas equipped with beamforming ensure efficient signal delivery to the devices within the network.
Speeds & Coverage
The combination of MU-MIMO & an aggregate speed of 2.6 Gbps translates to individual speeds of 800 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 1733 Mbps on 5GHz that can support 15+ devices with ease. It can cover areas measuring up to 1800 sq ft.
App & Security Features
The Linksys WiFi makes network control easier. The web interface brings you the ability to set up firewalls, access filters & controls, and configure VPN for your home network. With parental controls, you can have more control over kids’ internet consumption.
Hardware & Other Features
With an 880MHz dual-core processor, 256MB RAM, and 128MB storage, the router gets the capacity to handle loads of media streaming, online gaming in a small household. Prioritize your internet bandwidth for the important gadgets and outmaneuver congested networks with DFS Channels.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an affordable router for your small-medium network congested apartment, Linksys offers the right combination with additional DFS Channels to slot into your requirements. Go for MR 7350 if you need to future-proof your internet with the latest wireless standards.
* Beamforming
* DFS Channels
* MU-MIMO
* Device prioritization
8. Cheapest Router with USB 3.0: ASUS RT-AC65
In RT-AC65, ASUS improves the processing unit compared to its weaker previous version. The latest features, processing ability, extended coverage & price point give the ASUS RT-AC65 the advantage over other models in a similar price range.
Connectivity & Design
The routing device comes with 4 Gig Ethernet ports, 1 WAN port, to offer high-speed wired connectivity to your TV, PC & Other important devices. The 1 USB 3.0 offers high-speed data transfers & facilitates quick data sharing.
A multi-shaded design with a matte gray finish gives this router a premium feel. The lightweight router weighs 1.0 pounds and measures 8.66 x 6.3 x 3.43 inches in dimension. Three external beamforming antennas, towering on top of the chassis, ease the worries of quality signal delivery.
Speeds & Coverage
Aided by MU-MIMO & its efficient data transmission, the router can support top speeds of 450Mbps & 1300Mbps on 2.4GHz & 5GHz bands, respectively. It can easily support online gaming activities, video calling, support remote work solutions, & media streaming with no hassles in over 30 devices spread across 3000 sq ft.
App & Security Features
The Asus router app offers an easy way to get through the installations. The WPA2 encryption standards & the inbuilt firewalls offer protection against any unauthorized usage. Parental controls are imperative for keeping your kid’s internet exposure in check.
Hardware & Other Features
Asus accommodates a 1.2GHz dual-core processing unit, a memory duo of 128 MB at this price range. Balanced usage of data-intensive activities like HD streaming & gaming comes within the grasps of this router.
Conclusion
If you want a budget router that doesn’t compromise on the essential features? RT-AC65 offers sufficient wired connectivity, USB port, & features, without causing a dent in your wallet. That makes it one of your top choices for the best budget router.
* 1.2GHz Dual-core processor
* AiRadar Beamforming
* MU-MIMO
* WPA2 encryption standards
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the USB ports on routers for? The USB ports on the routers are useful for connecting printers, storage devices to the Wi-Fi network. Once they mapped to the network, it would be easier to share data within the home network. You can connect a USB Based 4G/5G modem for additional bandwidth.
What is the fastest USB port you can get in a router? 3rd generation USB ports are the fastest ones available in the most recent routers. The most recent version is the USB 3.2, which allows fast data transfers up to a speed of 20Gb/s contingent on the compatibility of the devices being used.
How do I access USB storage on my router? After connecting & ensuring the device is configured to the home network, you can access the USB storage using the router IP (192.168.1.1). It will be available as a shared folder. You can limit and control access to the hard drive by logging in to the router admin page & changing the default settings.
Are USB hard drives a worthy alternative to NAS devices? In a scenario with limited people accessing the hard drive, the shared USB drive could pass as an alternative. But when more users access the drive simultaneously through the wireless channel, it affects the performance. In such a scenario, NAS devices offer superior performance.
Verdict
Having an additional USB port on a router can make a few things easier for you. But it doesn’t warranty compromising on the essential features to accommodate an extra port. Understanding the requirements with clarity will lead to finding the perfect device for your household. Find my top recommendations for popular scenarios.
* TP-Link AX6000 offers the best combination of features with a plethora of wired connectivity for any type of household.
* ASUS RT-AC86U is an affordable gaming router, while the competitive gamers can go Netgear XR500.
* Linksys EA8100 & ASUS RT-AC65 are top choices for budget alternatives.