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Wi-Fi has become so popular that nowadays, getting a router without it, a non-Wi-Fi router, can be a challenge.
This post will include the best five options among standard routers without built-in Wi-Fi I’ve tested. They are the true representatives of the original meaning of the word “router.”
If you’re wondering why you’d want one in the first place or what a standard router has to do with a Wi-Fi network, you’re reading the right post.
Let’s dig in!
Why a non-Wi-Fi router?
Technically, a Wi-Fi router is a standard router with a Wi-Fi access point (WAP) included within the same hardware box. This convenient design works well when you only need one Wi-Fi broadcaster that you can place anywhere you want within your home for optimal coverage.
The problem is, in real life, you generally need to place the router where the Internet terminal enters the property. In most homes, the Internet drop is not the ideal spot to place the Wi-Fi broadcaster. Since the signals come out from the router like a sphere, the coverage is off-center, rendering many parts of the home Wi-Fi “dead zones”.
For this reason, separating the Wi-Fi access point from the router gives you the flexibility for optimal hardware placement: You put the router unit near the terminal device and the Wi-Fi access point near the center of the area of desired Wi-Fi coverage with a network cable linking the two.
You can use a Wi-Fi router plus another broadcaster, which is the case for most canned mesh systems or extenders, but that’s not ideal in terms of cost and signal quality due to interference.
The point is that getting a non-Wi-Fi router is the fitting option in many homes where the Internet drop is in the basement or at a corner. In this case, you can run a network cable to the center of the house and put a Wi-Fi access point there instead of having it at the same location as the router.
Important: This type of setup is applicable only in a home already wired with network cables or to those who are willing to run one cable or two manually, which can be a fun weekend project.
Top five best non-Wi-Fi routers: The list
Below is the list of the top five best non-Wi-Fi routers you can bring home today, ranging from the most recommended to the least. I’ll also include their wired networking grades and recommended access points to use with each.
Top 5 best non-Wi-Fi Routers
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| Name | Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max’s Rating | Ubiquiti UDM-SE’s Rating | Asus ExpertWiFi EBG15 Router’s Rating | EnGenius ESG510’s Rating | Amazon eero PoE Gateway’s Rating |
| Price | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rating | |||||
| Description | |||||
| Statistics | |||||
| Buy this product |
1. Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max: A 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig router
The Cloud Gateway Max is the latest UniFi console from Ubiquiti that can do much more than just a standard router. For example, it can be the NVR for an IP camera surveillance system, the controller for an IP phone system, and more. And it can do that all at the same time. That, plus the compact design and excellent performance, makes its $199 price tag (no storage) a steal.
The Cloud Gateway Max works with any access point, but it’s designed to host those from the same UniFi family.
Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max's Rating
Pros
Excellent entry-level Multi-Gig performance for a comparatively low-cost
Compact and aesthetically pleasant design with powerful hardware to handle a home or small business networks via multiple simultaneous enterprise-class application
A complete set of useful networking features, including powerful security/web-filtering and WireGuard VPN; excellent web user interface; useful mobile apps
No subscription is required
Cons
No 10Gbps ports or built-in PoE
A Ubiquiti login account is required for the mobile apps and built-in Remote Management, as well as other features, to work
Runs a bit warm, no SSD caddy is included in the non-storage version
2. Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE): A 10Gbps-ready PoE+ router
The UDM-SE is literally a rackmount version of the Cloud Gateway Max above. It’s a much larger UniFi console with more power and higher capacity for a large home or a big office. It, too, is an excellent standard router, among other capabilities, well worth its $500 retail price. Alternatively, you can opt for the Dream Machine Pro Max.
Like the Cloud Gateway Max above, the UDM-SE can work with any access point, but it’s designed to handle those from the UniFi family.
Ubiquiti UDM-SE's Rating
Pros
Powerful enough to run all Ubiquiti's business hardware segments simultaneously
Reliable and fast multi-Gigabit performance with robust Dual-WAN support
A complete set of useful networking features, including powerful security/web-filtering and WireGuard VPN; excellent web user interface; useful mobile apps
Built-in PoE support; comparatively affordable; no subscription required; quiet
Cons
Single Multi-Gig (2.5GBASE-T) port; limited multi-Gigabit LAN options; no PoE++
A Ubiquiti login account is required for the mobile apps and built-in Remote Management, as well as other features, to work
Super bulky, runs hot
3. Asus ExpertWiFi EBG15: A Gigabit router
The EBG15 is the first standard router within Asus’s new ExpertWiFi family. It’s a tiny router with lots of advanced features for home and business users alike. When coupled with Asus’s AiMesh router or access points, it’ll be the host of a robust Wi-Fi network, making its sub-$90 price tag a great deal.
Asus ExpertWiFi EBG15 Router's Rating
Pros
Super-compact and feature-reach with a robust web user interface
Part of the ExpertWiFi family with lots of advanced features, including Software-Defined Networks and powerful VPN options
Excellent optional ExpertWiFi mobile app; can handle up to 4 WAN connections simultaneously
Cons
No Multi-Gig or PoE ports; no built-in Wi-Fi
Single main SSID when hosting an AiMesh broadcaster
4. EnGenius ESG510: a 2.5Gbps PoE+ router
The EnGenius ESG510 is a standard business router—it represents many other options, such as the Firewalla Gold, without a built-in controller for Wi-Fi access points of the same ecosystem. Still, it has a built-in firewall, PoE+ ports, and four 2.5Gbps ports, enough to be well worth the current $300 street price. You can use it with any standard access points, though in this case, it’s best to use those with a centralized controller, such as the Omada or EnGenius FIT lineups.
EnGenius ESG510's Rating
Pros
Simple and straightforward to set up and use
Four Mult-Gig ports with Dual-WAN, PoE+ support
EnGenious Cloud Basic (free) has everything a home or SMB network needs with a helpful Cloud-to-Go mobile app
Compact, practical design; runs cool
Cons
A bit pricey; zero customization with the built-in local web interface
The online portal requires a login account; no 10GBASE-T or SFP+ option
Requires some networking know-how to set up and manage
5. Amazon eero PoE Gateway: A 10Gbps PoE++ router
The eero PoE Gateway is an excellent piece of hardware thanks to its two 10Gbps ports and eight 2.5Gbps PoE+ ports. Unfortunately, it runs a firmware that’s very thin on features and settings while constantly nagging for the Eero+ subscription. If you only care about building a 10Gbps network, it’s still a decent option to consider, especially when you also want to go with the eero access points.
Amazon Mesh with eero PoE Hardware's Rating
Pros
Two auto-sensing 10GBASE-T ports and eight PoE++ 2.5GBASE-T ports on the router and a 2.5GBASE-T POE port on the access point to deliver true multi-Gigabit wired performance
Compact design, easy to use
Good coverage, reliable performance
Cons
Expensive with extremely limited customizability and privacy risks
No web user interface (or desktop app) or command line support; no common business features, such as VLAN; all useful features (Dual-WAN, VPN, QoS, Parental Controls, etc.) require the eero Plus subscription
The router's internal fan is a tad noisy; runs very hot
The takeaway
There you go. Above are the current non-Wi-Fi routers you can bring home today. Depending on your needs, each will give you the flexibility of building a Wi-Fi network with optimal hardware arrangement and cost.
Give this approach a try, and by that, I mean get your home wired, and you’ll find a satisfying home network on the other side.
Currently I have a TMobile 5G gateway which has it’s own wifi. I typically get 500Mbs throughout my home.
My TP-Link Wifi router, connected to the gateway via the internet ethernet port, is dying a slow death, after 3+ years of service.
It’s main feature is the USB port that I use to connect a hard drive, giving everyone on the home network access.
I was able to connect to the gateway or the TP-Link router wifi without any issues for 3+ years, but now the router is failing me in regards to USB drive access, so it needs to be replaced
Would the ASUS router above, with the USB port, provide me access to my USB drive?
(I am having roundcube/webmail login issues with newer USB ported WIFI routers…apparently because I cannot turn off the TMobile gateway router WIFI[HINT, which is an Android App via Google Play, is supposed to turn it off, but is unable to on my “newer” gateway])
Yes, Joe. In fact all Asus routers have the best USB-related features. More here.
At this point, I have the Asus router wired to my TMobile Wireless Gateway(Gateway acts as both modem and WIFI),
My computers are Win11 computers.
The computers that are WIRED to the ASUS router can see the USB drive. Per ASUS customer support, I had to go into the router setup(in my case I was plugged directly into the router), use URL ASUSROUTER.COM and:
0. Login with PW and UN listed on ASUS router
1. Settings
2. USB Application
3. Network Place
4. ENABLE: Enable Share & Allow Guest Login.
At that point, I goto
1. Windows Explorer
2. Goto THIS PC
3. Select the 3 dot menu
4. Select MAP NETWORK DRIVE
5. Enter the drive location(something like //EXPERTWIFE_15EBG/SHARE)
When I access the USB drive via the hard wired connection, I am asked for the Asus router’s credentials and then I have complete access to the USB drive.
However, the computers that are connected to the network via WIFI of the gateway do not see the drive.
Any idea how I get a connection via WIFI?
Win 11
|Laptop|• • • |Wifi Gateway|—|Asus USB|—|USB Drive|
That’s to be expected because you have a double NAT setup. This post will explain and help you what to do next.
hi Dong,
I’ve been reading (and enjoying) a bunch of your articles related to this matter. I have a question as to what you might recommend for my situation. I recently moved into a home with cat 6 cables already run through the house but am currently using an Eero mesh for my router. I want to use these wires for access points as well as installing POE cameras (probably going with Reolink). My question is would I need to replace my Eero router to something more suitable for my ideal setup? I just read your article on non wifi routers and would like to know if that’s the direction o should be leaning towards and then have 2 or 3 wired access points throughout the house for wifi. As far as my Internet speed I have Optimum fiber 1gig so currently the modem is in bridge mode so my Eero is my main source of wifi. Thank you in advance for your response!
You should not use eero as your router, period, Steven, but for a totally differnt reason.
Other that, you can use any router for your setup. All you need is a PoE switch or injector (of the some PoE grade) to use a PoE access point. Some routers has built-in PoE ports. This post will help. Good luck!
Hi Dong, our house has pre-existing Ruckus switch and a ruckus access point (R510). We’re switching the ISP and the new one doesn’t provide a router. The old one had a wireless router which I turned off the wifi antennas anyways because the Ruckus access point was much better and it was always very hot. Which do you recommend for my situation?
One of these, Tim, the top 3, depending on your desired wired grade. Good luck!
What about Mikrotik?
I see there are 2 Ubiquity devices.
I’m actually running separate Modem/Router/Wifi/Switch.
Currently looking at upgrading some stuff, just trying to see if I should swap the router. (Mikrotik RB3011).
Although not having any issues with current setup.
Mikrotik is similar the case of the EnGenius on the list, Tomas. It works but it has nothing special since it doesn’t have APs of the same ecosystem, and I haven’t tested it. The two UniFi routers are quite different. Check out their reviews for more.
I have Asus EVG15 and it is a bag or hurt. It’s firmware is beta, the UI is slow and clunky and ingeneral the firmware is just unfinished.
Firewalla?
I mentioned the Gold I reviewed, which represents the brand well. It’s more of an add-on device than a real router.
I was going to say “wait a minute” but then looking at my own system the Firewalla feeds into an Asus router as a central AP (with both Asus mesh satellites and Ubiquiti APs) and a TP-Link SG stack (3210/2210MP/1024DE). The stack feeds several more switches at entertainment/IOT and data centers (offices and NAS/Security) in the house. But since the cable modem feeds the Firewalla, it’s more than an add-on device even with a considerable downstream distribution. However, I see your point that it doesn’t fit into the single brand/ecosystem ethos and invites unnecessary complexity and trouble-shooting challenges (not to mention who the Hades will manage it all once I click out). BTW acquiring the Firewalla was the inception of this convolution so perhaps I’m unnaturally attached to it. Good times.
MikroTik 5009 is a nice little wired router, esp. for people who want to learn the finer points of networking
It’s similar to the ESG510 mentioned here, which has no built-in controller for any APs.
What about Omada routers? Curious how they fare against the list here. Thank you!
They likely will do well with Omada APs, though they can be overwhelming. I haven’t reviewed one yet.