9 Best Router for Tomato Reviews and Buying Guide

If you’re looking for the best tomato router that not only works with it, but also has great routing capabilities, speed support, coverage, security, and device support, I’d recommend the Netgear Nighthawk R8000X6.

The all-new Netgear Nighthawk R8000 X6 features a tri-band, excellent data rates, and powerful hardware, making it one of the best, if not the best, routers on which to install your upgraded Tomato firmware. Furthermore, it positions itself as an improvement over its predecessor, the R7000, in terms of hardware specifications, bandwidth speeds, and, as a result, overall performance.

Most people like the Netgear Nighthawk R8000 because it has superb functionality, exceptional speed, and enough computing power to easily burn your future needs.

This premium router can separate connections when using a high-end Tomato build. I could configure some websites to be accessed via VPN while others are accessed via the IP address provided by my local ISP. Furthermore, the built-in ReadySHARE technology enabled me to wirelessly access and share a USB hard drive via the available USB ports.

In terms of security, the R8000 now includes updated security to protect your network from unwanted threats, as well as WPA2/Enterprise encryption. Network Address Translation (NAT) and Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewalls are also supported. The security features can be easily accessed via the Nighthawk app or web browser.

The R8000 is a powerful device with tri-band support that works in tandem with cutting-edge hardware. The best feature of a tri-band router is that it manually distributes bandwidth among its available channels, preventing older devices from slowing down the network for newer ones. So, with a maximum throughput of 3.2 Gbps, I chose a 1 Gbps Xfinity plan.

At 5 feet, the router could provide a maximum download throughput of 960 Mbps for the 5GHz band and an upload throughput of 195 Mbps. And for the first 30 feet, the respective speeds remained around 750 Mbps and 125 Mbps. In the lower frequency band, upload and download speeds were 550 Mbps and 85 Mbps, respectively.

When I watched UHD movies on Netflix, watched a show on my PC, and listened to Internet radio while sending data via email, the device passed my saturation test. Nonetheless, I had enough throughput to play Valorant at 144 frames per second.

The Netgear R8000 has six antennas and can transmit signals up to 2500-2,800 square feet. As a result, you can install this router in any typical workspace or residential setting without fear of network drops or latencies. Aside from that, features such as Beamforming+, Dynamic QoS, and others allow you to connect to over 25 devices without experiencing network clunkiness or hiccups.

In terms of wired connectivity, 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports give you the option of creating a wireless backhaul. You can connect bandwidth-hogging devices such as gaming consoles, laptops, and others to get even faster speeds. Furthermore, you can connect non-networking devices to the two available USBs for faster data transfer.

My next pick is a smart Wi-Fi router with 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 support and three high-performance antennas for unprecedented near-band speeds and throughput. Furthermore, this device incorporates several advanced security features, making your home network more secure than ever.

Furthermore, if you’re a long-time Linksys user, you know how much the company improved on the older EA6400.

The Linksys EA6900 is one of the best open-source firmware-compatible routers on my list, and it is unquestionably appropriate for Tomato installation. People who don’t want to spend a lot of money but still need a customizable device should definitely consider it.

However, because it is loaded with stock firmware, the installation process may take some time. It took me about 2 hours, and the process appears to be complicated, so I would delegate the task to experts.

Aside from that, basic and premium upgradable security features such as SPI firewall and WPA/WPA2 encryption can easily protect your home network. Furthermore, you can pay a monthly subscription fee to get upgraded features such as weekly scans, virus prevention, and external attack prevention.

The router performed admirably in my speed tests, providing the fastest speeds at close range. When used in close proximity to a 500 Mbps Xfinity internet plan, download and upload speeds are maintained at 430 Mbps and 75 Mbps, respectively. Taking the device away from the router, on the other hand, results in speeds of around 185 Mbps and 25 Mbps on a similar 5GHz band.

Measuring download and upload speeds at 2.4GHz yielded results of around 145 Mbps and 15 Mbps, respectively. The overall throughput was excellent in close range, but there were noticeable lags when devices were placed far away from the router.

During my coverage tests, I took the router to my grandfather’s 1,500-square-foot home and was pleased with how it performed. There were no dead spots or weak links in the nooks, and the garden had two signal bars as well. Aside from that, the MU-MIMO device can send strong signals to how many devices are connected; in this case, it was 15.

The Linksys EA6900 has a good port layout, with 1 Gigabit WAN and 4 Gigabit LAN ports on the back panel. So, plugging in my Dell laptop to the router gave me download speeds of around 510 Mbps and upload speeds of 90 Mbps, allowing me to download Gigabits of files in seconds.

The Asus RT-AC68U is a reasonably powerful router with some practical and functional features that make it a viable option. The router has matured significantly since the release of the RT-AC66U, with features such as the 802.11ac wireless standard and decent coverage with three powerful antennas.

Its hardware, combined with its firmware compatibility, makes it a viable purchase for users who enjoy customizing their devices.

As stated in the specifications, the RT-AC68U is compatible with open-source firmware such as Tomato and DD-WRT. So I installed Tomato on this router and was pleasantly surprised by the results. It has more user-friendliness than the stock firmware and better VPN support.

In terms of security, the router adheres to the WPA/WPA2 personal and enterprise security standards. As a result, you can work on your devices without fear of compromising your personal or sensitive data. Furthermore, all configurations are manageable via the website or the user-friendly Asus Wi-Fi app.

The router has maximum throughput speeds of around 1900 Mbps in ideal settings, thanks to the 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 standard. So it’s reasonable to connect with any mid-tier internet plan, i.e., less than 500 Mbps, and I did so with my Cox internet services.

At 5 feet, the download and upload speeds were 479 Mbps and 85 Mbps, respectively, while at 30 feet, the speeds were around 247 Mbps and 35 Mbps. The router’s ability to deliver exceptional near-band speeds is demonstrated by the fact that all of the speeds were measured on the 5GHz band. Its 2.4GHz band, on the other hand, produced speeds of around 187 Mbps and 15 Mbps.

This device can thus be classified as a gaming router because it allowed me to play bandwidth-intensive online games without experiencing any throughput or latency issues.

When it comes to coverage, the device has nearly ten points in this category. The router supports AiRadar technology for delivering strong connections over long distances to connected devices. Furthermore, the inclusion of AiMesh technology allows you to connect with other compatible Asus routers to form a versatile and powerful mesh network.

So, in a room with few interferences, such as multiple networks or thick walls, I could get network coverage of around 1,800 Sq Ft while none of my 16 connected devices lag.

The Asus RT-AC68U has a good port layout, with 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports. Connecting your networking and non-networking devices to the router will increase your speeds by a few Mbps. Furthermore, the USB ports enable faster data transfer in all connected devices.

Despite its age, the router is still in use today, thanks to the 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 standard and other technologies. Furthermore, there are other functional and useful features such as improved QoS and excellent 5GHz speeds that can handle your heavy-duty tasks.

The R7000’s compatibility is clearly stated in the manufacturer’s spec sheet, so you can flash the router with open-source firmware to gain access to additional customizations such as VPN, an excellent user interface, and others. There is also an OpenVPN client available for connecting to or remotely monitoring third-party VPN servers.

For security-conscious customers, the Tomato firmware router provides a plethora of options. In addition to the built-in DDoS protection, there are domain filtering and parental control settings available. Furthermore, if you require advanced security features, consider subscribing to Netgear armour 2.0.

The R7000 is not the fastest device I’ve tested, but it has the most consistent throughput. I paired it with a 300 Mbps IP, only to get download and upload speeds of 285 Mbps and 35 Mbps, respectively, on the device’s 5GHz band. The speeds may vary depending on where you stay.

Due to multiple interferences congesting the available channels, I didn’t bother testing on its 2.4GHz band. With the available speeds, it is capable of handling the majority of the tasks required in residential settings. Besides, there was enough bandwidth left to play online games and watch 4K Netflix movies at the same time.

Despite its low price, this Tomato-recommended router provides excellent coverage thanks to three powerful antennas and a feature called Beamforming+. The router can direct strong wireless signals to devices with increased throughput using this technology.

On average, the device can cover 1,000-1,200 square feet of space and connect up to 12 devices running graphics-intensive tasks at the same time.

The Netgear R7000 has a good number of ports, including four Gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB 3.0 port, and a USB 2.0 port. The inclusion of a ReadyShare printer feature, which allows you to wirelessly access and share a USB hard drive, distinguishes the USB port. This allows for easy sharing across multiple devices while sitting anywhere.

This dual-bandwidth ASUS router provides a faster data transfer rate for up to 3000 square feet of space. Your data connection is secure and dependable due to its compatibility with AI Mesh technology and AI protection.

You can enjoy ASUS Ai protection’s excellent features and functionality while also receiving lifetime internet security and adaptive QoS. It also comes with a firewall and other security features. It has three antennae and can connect to a variety of networks at extremely fast data rates.

Its simple web-based interface lets you manage your router and access a variety of other features, such as parental control, which lets you limit screen time and filter websites. It has USB ports for connecting hardware and gigabit ports for quickly transmitting large files. As a result, it is among the best routers on the market.

It is a professional-grade dual-core router that allows you to stream movies, play online games, and transfer files without lag. This router is open-source and compatible with any firmware. The CPU speeds up the network, and the amplified antennas extend its range and provide high-speed data to a large number of users.

This router has a large amount of storage, allowing it to transfer data between systems more efficiently and quickly. Its four exterior antennas and improved WiFi signal would ensure a strong signal. It also supports beamforming technology, which connects your devices to the network intelligently and provides a stable network connection.

It can function as a wireless bridge connecting multiple LAN networks or as a wireless repeater broadcasting your network connection. Its security Protocol aids in the security of your data and devices, making it one of the best routers available.

This WiFi router has more dual bandwidth, so you can play online games and stream HD content without interruption. Your network performance is powerful and high thanks to its dual-core processor. It also has three external antennas that are significantly boosted and allow access to a broader range of networks.

It can be used by multiple users to stream super HD movies or browse the internet due to its cutting-edge design and dependable network connection. MU MIMO technology allows for an efficient data network of up to 30 devices while also removing interference from other devices.

It has Gigabit connections, allowing it to quickly transfer large files. The Tenda app makes it simple to maintain and upgrade this router.

This router is equipped with a powerful CPU that provides excellent performance and fast internet speeds. It has two USB ports for connecting to other devices such as printers or FTP servers for file transfers.

Using its user interface’s high bandwidth Gigabit ports, which have dependable and exceptional working frequencies, you can watch HD video online and play games. For gamers, this is a better option because it includes a guest SSID as well as a graphical network map with multiple SSIDs.

You can stream quickly and easily without buffering due to the high network frequency. It is also one of the best routers due to its high level of security, which prevents data theft.