Control your network traffic with parental controls on your router

Best
Routers with Parental Controls
Android Central
2021

Best Overall: TP-Link Archer AX50

HomeCare is TP-Link’s router safety software program bundle powered by Trend Micro that comes with straightforward parental controls, high quality of service enhancements, and antivirus safety. HomeCare is included with a number of of TP-Links routers. This consists of the Archer AX50 in addition to just a few different routers, together with Deco mesh methods. It additionally works with Alexa. Watch out for the almost an identical Archer AX3000 variant bought at some retailers, as this model shouldn’t be listed to work with HomeCare.

HomeCare permits you to arrange a profile for every member of the family and their gadgets. This permits you to management the kind of content material obtainable to all of their gadgets directly. You can begin with considered one of HomeCare’s presets — baby, pre-teen, teen, and grownup — and it will load a set of filters. Of course, every profile is customizable to dam extra or fewer classes with selections like gaming, playing, and grownup content material.

Otherwise, the Archer AX50 is only a good router. It has a properly balanced spec sheet with AX3000 wi-fi speeds damaged down between two bands. The 2.4GHz band can ship as much as 574Mbps, whereas the 5GHz band can push as much as 2,402Mbps with Wi-Fi 6. Older gadgets will work with out difficulty on this router as effectively. Four Ethernet ports on the again allow you to hook up your wired gadgets. TP-Link recommends this router for a three-bedroom dwelling.

The Asus RT-AC66U is not the quickest router in 2021 by a protracted stretch, however with its AC1750 Wi-Fi 5 connection, able to 450Mbps at 2.4GHz 1,300Mbps at 5GHz, it must be sufficient for a small household with mild multimedia utilization. There are additionally 4 gigabit Ethernet ports on the again between two of the three exterior antennas, in addition to a USB 3.zero port, which make it straightforward to attach your wired gadgets.

Quite just a few Asus routers are suitable with its AiProtection software program powered by Trend Micro, and the RT-AC66U is likely one of the least expensive with the complete bundle. It comes with fairly just a few useful options, together with scheduling for particular person user-profiles and utilization stats. You may also block content material with a set of filters like grownup, unlawful and violence, and playing. This versatile setup permits you to resolve precisely what your baby can do on-line and once they can do it.

Asus was one of many first to launch shopper Wi-Fi 6 gadgets and has managed to deliver its AiProtection service to all of them and fairly just a few older Wi-Fi 5 routers. The RT-AX56U is a superb entry-level Wi-Fi 6 router for a lot of households due to its comparatively low value and sufficient AX1800 dual-band speeds. With a Wi-Fi 6 system, these speeds break down into 574Mbps at 2.4GHz and 1201Mbps at 5GHz. This router additionally helps mesh enlargement with different Asus routers with AiMesh.

Asus consists of AiProtection software program with a lot of its newer routers. With AiProtection, you get profile settings for every of your relations and their gadgets. You can schedule instances to allow or disable the web on these profiles and block content material with completely different key phrases like grownup, gaming, unlawful, and violence. AiProtection additionally comes with antivirus safety from Trend Micro that may get rid of threats earlier than they attain your gadgets.

The Nighthawk identify is related with highly effective routers that supply nice speeds and a high-quality connection for avid gamers. The RAX50S has the entire similar {hardware} because the RAX50 however comes with one 12 months freed from Netgear Armor. Armor prices $70 per 12 months after your first 12 months, however the yearly value can be value the additional assist and safety you get for many individuals.

While gaming is not the primary concern for many individuals searching for parental management, this router permits you to maintain speeds excessive and pings low for avid gamers whereas making certain your youngsters solely play once they’re allowed with parental controls. Circle Smart Parental Controls make it straightforward to take management of your network utilization. Simply obtain the Android or iOS app and open it whereas linked to your suitable Netgear router. You’ll be guided via a setup course of and can be capable to arrange a profile for every member of the family with customized guidelines for when and the way they’re allowed to entry the web.

The Nighthawk RAX50 is a quick Wi-Fi 6 router with an AX5400 connection. This pace breaks right down to 4.8Gbps on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps on the two.4GHz band. There are additionally 4 gigabit Ethernet ports on the again for your wired gadgets. This router ought to sustain with a big household, and the Nighthawk software program ought to maintain your most vital connections operating persistently.

Quite just a few router producers supply paid safety options for his or her merchandise, however Eero manages to face aside due to its decrease costs and nice app (although you’ll be able to’t improve your plan from inside the iOS app). You’ll want to make use of the Android app or an online browser. Eero Secure comes with improved network safety and a filter to dam inappropriate content material per system or profile. The app will even present how gadgets are utilizing the network. This degree is accessible for $2.99 per thirty days or $29.99 per 12 months.

An upgraded plan referred to as Eero Secure+ comes with a password supervisor, a safe VPN service, and Malwarebytes antivirus software program. This plan is $9.99 per thirty days or $99 per 12 months and will not be a very good worth for most individuals.

The normal Eero system relies on a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 answer that Eero recommends just for connections as much as 350Mbps, although we usually achieved over 400Mbps in our review. Each Eero router has two Ethernet ports on the again that can be utilized for both wired gadgets or a wired backhaul. This mesh system is not a terrific worth on the spec sheet however makes up a whole lot of floor due to its nice design and straightforward consumer expertise. If you are searching for one thing with extra pace, Eero 6 or Eero Pro 6 every gives quicker connections.

Like the previous TP-Link routers, the Deco X60 comes with TP-Link’s sturdy HomeCare software program. HomeCare options superior safety powered by TrendMicro and a extra in-depth parental management interface than a typical router. This all means you could prohibit content material simply and rapidly from the app.

The Deco X60 makes use of dual-band Wi-Fi 6 to ship AX3000 with 2402Mbps at 5GHz, and 574Mbps at 2.4GHz. This additional 5GHz pace will assist maintain the mesh efficiency excessive even with a gigabit connection. Each Deco unit has two Ethernet ports for wired gadgets, one used for WAN on the first node.

The Deco X60 comes with two nodes which ought to be capable to cowl as much as 5,800 sq. ft. A 3-pack can also be obtainable with as much as 7,000 sq. ft of protection. You may also add in some other Deco merchandise for enlargement, although for capability, it’s best to keep on with a Wi-Fi 6 Deco with at the very least as a lot pace because the X60. The Deco X60 ought to have greater than sufficient capability for your complete household with sufficient protection for many homes.

Bottom line

Nearly any router you purchase from a good model could have some parental controls, however for essentially the most half, these easier variations of parental controls are way more restricted and infrequently anticipate mother and father to come back up with their very own website blacklist, which is a whole lot of work and never very efficient ultimately. Don’t neglect that almost all fashionable working methods embody some form of parental management capabilities if you wish to cowl all of your bases. Luckily, lots of the routers with nice parental controls are additionally a number of the best wireless routers you should purchase.

For most individuals, having an mechanically curated record of blocked content material corresponding to that supplied by TP-Link’s HomeCare can be one of the vital efficient implementations due to its simple and highly effective function set. The TP-Link Archer AX50 is a superb dwelling Wi-Fi improve for most individuals due to its stable pace choices, HomeCare inclusion, and even Alexa Support. We additionally love you could management all of it via an app.

Credits — The staff that labored on this information

Samuel Contreras When Samuel shouldn’t be writing about networking and carriers, he spends most of his time researching pc parts and obsessing over what CPU goes into the last word Windows 98 pc. It’s the Pentium 3.