You probably already know how a router hosts a home network and delivers Wi-Fi to multiple devices at a time. But there are also “router NAS” option where a USB-enabled Wi-Fi broadcaster can work as a mini NAS (Network Attached Storage) server. All you need is an external drive.
So, if you want to dabble into network-attached storage, using a good Wi-Fi router is the best way to start. I detailed the process in this post on how to get the most out of a Wi-Fi router’s USB port.
In this piece, you’ll find a list of the current 10 best candidates for the job. I’ll update it as I review more.
Popular Wi-Fi router NAS options in numbers
Almost all Wi-Fi routers with a USB port can work as a mini NAS server, at least for simple file sharing.
What decides if one is good at this job, however, is the performance of this port. In other words, when it comes to network storage, the throughput speed is the king.
That said, below is the chart of NAS performance of (almost) all of those I’ve tested. They are popular USB-enabled routers, in alphabetical order — you might find yours here.
Note: This chart is updated each time I review a new USB-enabled Wi-Fi broadcaster. It includes router NAS options that don’t make it to the top list below.
I tested each broadcaster using a wired Gigabit connection. With those that feature a multi-gig port, I tried that out, too.
As for storage devices, I’ve always used SSD-based portable drives for the testing. The actual drive used for each router might vary, but they all are much faster than the router’s wired network port.
Note that the scores on the chart are in megabyte per second (MB/s), which is eight times the megabit per second (Mbps) measurement generally used for network connection speed.
Best Wi-Fi router NAS solutions: The list
Again, any routers on the chart above will work as a mini NAS server. But you’re on the market for a new USB-enabled router; find my recommendations below.
These are routers that deliver the best performance or have a great feature set when hosting external storage or both. I’ve personally used them all.
This list is sorted based on the NAS read performance using the fastest wired connection each router supports. In my opinion, the read throughput is more most important than the write one when it comes to network-attached storage.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see how their NAS numbers stack against one another’s.
1. Asus RT-AX89X
The RT-AX89X is the top-tier dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router from Asus, and it’s the first router on the market that has not one but two 10Gbps network ports. That plus two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports means it can deliver ultra-high-speed router NAS performance.
Like all Asus routers, including the RT-AX86U, GT-AX11000, and RT-AX68U below, the RT-AX89X can deliver all storage-related applications you can consider, including local and cloud-based data sharing, PC-less download app, Time Machine backup, and a lot more.
By the way, the storage-based feature set is the same across all Asus routers released in the past few years. And that also applies to other Asus routers on this list.
ASUS RT-AX89X AX6000 Dual Band WiFi 6 Router
Pros
- Excellent Wi-Fi performance
- Uniquely cool design with two 10Gbps network ports
- Eight Gigabit network ports with Dual-WAN and Link Aggregation
- Super-fast network attached storage speed when coupled with an external drive
- Tons of useful features, including free-for-life real-time online protection, and AiMesh
Cons
- A bit buggy at launch, relatively expensive
- Smart Connect setting not available at launch
- Tweaking required to deliver top Wi-Fi 6 speeds
- Bulky physical size with internal fan
- Web interface needs work
- Not wall-mountable, no universal backup restoration
2. Netgear Nighthawk RAX120
This router is the latest from Netgear and has the fastest network storage speed, by far, thanks to its 5Gbps port. But even when you use its regular Gigabit connection, the NAS performance is still outstanding.
Like most Netgear routers, when hosting an external drive, the RAX120 is all about sharing that storage space in as may way as possible. You can share that locally or via the Internet using Netgear’s ReadyShare software. The router also supports local backup for Windows and Mac’s Time Machine.
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3. Netgear Nighthawk RAX200
The RAX200 is a tri-band router that shares the same storage feature set as that of the dual-band RAX120 above. It also has a multi-gig network port, but it caps at just 2.5 Gbps, so it’s not as fast as its cousin, but still, it’s speedy.
Netgear Nighthawk AX12 12-Stream AX11000 Tri-Band WiFi 6 Router (RAX200)
$499.99Pros
- Reliable and fast performance
- Eye-catching design
- Helpful mobile app, robust web UI
- Multi-Gig support (2.5Gbps)
Cons
- Comparatively super-expensive with nothing extra
- Shallow Wi-Fi customization, spartan feature set
- Comparatively low CPU clock speed
- No 5Gbps or 10Gbps LAN port, not wall-mountable
4. Asus RT-AX86U
The Asus RT-AX86U is currently the best Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 router on the market. There are many things about this router but the stellar NAS performance when hosting a portable drive sure helps elevate it to this status.
As for features, like other Asus routers, it delivers all you can ask for in terms of what you want to do with the USB ports.
ASUS RT-AX86U AX5700 Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router
Pros
- Fast performance, excellent range, reliable
- Tons of helpful networking features and settings
- Useful settings for online gaming
- Robust web UI, well-designed mobile app
- Multi-gig, WAN/LAN Link Aggregation support
- Excellent NAS performance and features when hosting a storage device
- Comparatively affordable
Cons
- No support for WTFast Gamer VPN
- Not wall-mountable
- Gaming features turn Adaptive QoS off
- Multi-gig port caps at only 2.5 Gbps
5. Asus GT-AX11000
The GT-AX11000 is the tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router from Asus. It’s also a powerful router, and like its cousins above, it has everything when it comes to network storage.
Again, like other Asus routers, its USB ports can host printers, storage devices, or cellular modem, and deliver a ton of storage-based features. On top of that, it also has a 2.5Gbps network connection to deliver fast NAS performance.
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Gaming Router
Pros
- Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance with excellent range
- Lots of useful features for home users
- Unique and effective settings for online gaming
- Multi-Gig network port, Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation
- Mesh ready
Cons
- Expensive
- Bulky design, loose antennas, non-wall-mountable
- Fewer LAN ports than previous model
- Long boot-up time, buggy (at launch), fluctuating Wi-Fi throughputs
6. Asus RT-AX68U
The Asus RT-AX68U is the last entry-level Wi-Fi 6 router and shares similar NAS features as its older cousins mentioned above. However, it’s noticeably more affordable.
Without a multi-gig port, this router is not the fastest in any way, but its router NAS function virtually maxed out the speed of a Gigabit connection in my testing.
The RT-AX68U deserves a spot on this list for a nice combo of excellent features, fast performance, and friendly pricing.
Asus RT-AX68U AX2700 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router
$199.99Pros
- Fast performance, excellent range, reliable
- Tons of helpful networking features and settings, including AiMesh 2.0
- Robust web UI, well-designed mobile app
- Excellent NAS performance and features when hosting a storage device
- Comparatively affordable
Cons
- No Multi-Gig ports or 160MHz channel width suport
- Not wall-mountable
7. TP-Link Archer C5400X
This massive and ostentatious Wi-Fi router is quite impressive in terms of USB-based NAS performance. Despite having no multi-gig network port, it delivers fast NAS performance via its regular Gigabit ports.
The router supports sharing storage locally as well as over the Internet. It can also work as a media server, casting content to network streamers, and an Apple Time Capsule alternative.
TP-Link Archer C5400X Tri Band Gaming Router
$300.60Pros
- Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance
- Solid design with responsive and well-organized interface
- Useful HomeCare features
- Extra LAN ports with Dual-WAN and Link Aggregation
- Fast NAS performance when coupled with an external hard drive
Cons
- Expensive
- No advanced gaming-specific features
- Bulky physical size
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi speed could be better
8. Linksys MX5 Velop AX
The Linksys MX5 is the latest Wi-Fi router of Belkin’s Linksys Velop mesh family. It’s part of the Linksys MX10 mesh system, but you can also get it as a standalone router.
Unlike some other Wi-Fi 6 routers below, the MX5 doesn’t have a multi-gig port, so its NAS performs caps at 1Gbps. And that was almost the speed it delivered in my testing.
The router’s USB port doesn’t offer anything more than local storage sharing — there’s no personal cloud streaming features. Interestingly, it does support Time Machine backup despite the fact Belkin says it doesn’t.
By the way, if you get the MX10 mesh system, keep in mind that you can also use the USB port of the satellite unit, meaning you can host more than one drive in your network.
Linksys MX10 Velop AX WiFi 6 Mesh System
Pros
- Reliable and relatively fast Wi-Fi performance
- Helpful mobile app, full web interface
- Effective backhaul that delivers Wi-Fi 6 throughout in a mesh setup
- Fast NAS speeds when hosting an external drive
Cons
- Expensive with comparatively low Wi-Fi specs
- No support for 160MHz channel bandwidth
- Mobile app and login account required for initial setup
- Spartan Wi-Fi settings, modest feature set
- No multi-gig network ports, Dual-WAN or Link Aggregation
- USB port awkwardly place, not mountable
9. Synology MR2200ac
The MR2200ac‘s NAS feature isn’t exactly fast, as you can see on the chart above. However, thanks to the advanced firmware, it has, by far, the best NAS feature set, similar to that of a Synology server.
Hopefully, Synology will release a more powerful Wi-Fi router in the future with similar storage functions. For now, the RT2600ac also offers the same NAS feature set. Other than storage, you can also use the MR2200ac’s USB port to host a cellular modem.
Synology MR2200ac Mesh Wi-Fi Router
Pros
- Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance
- Powerful mesh system when two or more units are used together
- Sophisticated yet easy-to-use firmware
- Lots of useful and effective features with accompanied mobile apps
- Ability to import settings from other Synology routers
Cons
- Only one LAN port
- Not wall-mountable
10. TP-Link Archer AX11000
The TP-Link Archer AX11000 is the Wi-Fi 6 of the C5400X above. It’s a newer and much better router overall. But in terms of NAS performance, it’s behind its older cousin. The two share the same storage feature set, however.
Despite other advanced networking features of a Wi-Fi router, the comparatively slow read NAS speed when hosting a storage device lands it at the bottom in this post.
TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router
Pros
- Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance
- 2.5 Gbps WAN port with eight Gigabit LAN ports
- 160 MHz channel bandwidth support
- Excellent, Antivirus, QoS and Parental Control features
- Robust full web user interface, helpful mobile app
- Eye-catching and convenient hardware design
- USB-C ready, wall-mountable
Cons
- Misleading gaming veneer, no actual gaming-specific features
- No multi-gig LAN port, bulky design
- Not mesh-ready
- Artificial "Game" items make the interface unnecessarily confusing
- Mobile app require a login account
Best Wi-Fi routers with built-in NAS features: The performance
Find below the NAS performance charts of my recommended routers above. Again, I test them all using a weird Gigabit connection. And for those with a multi-gig port, I also tested them using that with my 10 Gbps adapter.
It’s important to note that I performed the tests with just one client connected to the Wi-Fi router. When you have multiple clients writing or reading from the router’s connected storage, the speed will reduce accordingly. But that’s the case of all NAS servers.
Hi Dong, came across a few of your articles that really helped me decide on my next router. So I went from this…
– “Ok” Frontier Fios Arris Wireless with a older Netgear AC1750 for NAS set up. I couldn’t use the AC1750 directly since it produced horrible speeds no matter what tweak I did. Then an Airi 2.4/5Ghz in AP mode + a switch.
To this…
– AX82U only, eliminating the Frontier router, the Airi & switch. For the life of me, couldn’t find the AX86U anywhere for the life of me.
However, I really hate how Asus do their USB storage set up. With my old Netgear, I could plug in 5 external HDs via plugging in a USB hub into the router’s USB 3.0. Then when I accessed “readyshare” via any comp or my Android TV, I’m able to see all HDs separately and enjoy easily accessing anything from any drive. On the other hand, my new AX82U simply combines everything into a single location……. thousands of directories and files.
So the question is, do you know if Asus have this same ability? To distinguish between drives and keep them as separate views (drives)?
No, Drew. ReadyShare is a different technology entirely, available only in Netgear products. If you go with Asus, you need to get rid of that ReadyShare mentality. Also, it’s generally a terrible idea to use that many drives with a router’s USB port. Get a real NAS server :). I’d recommend a Synology.
Thanks for your awesome feedback! Unfortunately, I was afraid that you’d hammer home what I already speculated lol.
Ya, each drive is how I keep my media categorized and organized. I’ve looked into something like the Synology before but I’m unwilling to take the leap…. since after all, I feel I have “perfectly good” external drives with “ok” networking streaming abilities… notice all the quotation marks 😉
Thanks! I look forward to following your articles.
Sure, Drew. You’re the perfect candidate for a Synology NAS. I mean it. Get one, you can start with an older model year (2013 or newer). You can get one used or refurbished for relatively cheap. You’ll love it.
Great review Dong! I decided to keep my Amplifi Alien and use a $54 Raspberry Pi as my NAS. It is on my 1 Gb LAN and is fast enough for every day use.
Cool, Marshall. That actually works better than using a router-based NAS.
Are you sure about the RT-AC86U numbers? I have seen reviews claiming it has around the same performance as RT-AX86U.
That’s what o got at the time I tested it, Sam. Things can change via firmware updates.
Hi Dong,
So I finally upgraded my RT-N66U with a RT-AX86U. Everything seems to be working great except for my portable hard drive I plug into the back of the router and use SMB within Kodi to play them. I have both H264 and H265 MKV files that played fine with my old N66U router. However, I’m finding that only the H265 files are constantly skipping/buffering now with the AX86U router which I don’t understand since it’s a way more powerful router. Are there any settings that I need to look at or change within the router that could be causing playback issues? During initial setup of new router I updated it, then reset it as suggested. Even though I don’t have any AX products, I chose the 802.11AX/Wi-Fi 6 Mode that was recommended settings when first setting up the router. Should I not use that option or will that not make a difference? Also, I already completely reset Kodi a few times and started from scratch for SMB, then tried some settings within, but still got the stutter/buffering although sound worked great and picture was crystal clear. Note: Same thing happening on 2 separate Amazon Fire TV boxes that had no problems before. I did try a Raspberry Pi 4 with Openmediavault to host the portable hard drive and added that to Kodi, but that skipped video too. Everything is hooked directly by ethernet too in case you need to know that.
Sorry for the long message, just trying to get this fixed since my old router worked fine on these same files. Thanks for any help or suggestions you can give to try.
Try playing the movie file straight on your computer using VLC player, via regular SMB file sharing. If it still skips then it’s the connection issue. If not then it’s Kodi’s fault. That’s as far as I can suggest. I’ve never tried Kodi with routers before.