The best parental control router allows you to control the access of restricted content by your children. It is a device that is imperative to have today, especially because most kids have access to the internet and could view content not meant for their age group. Keep reading to learn more about what the best parental control router can do for you.
How to Choose the Best Parental Control Router
Choosing a parental control router can be a tedious process. That is why this list is here for you – to make this process easy. There are many options to choose from, and selecting the right one for your criteria is what counts.
The Advantage and Benefits of a Parental Control Router
The main benefit is that it allows you to restrict access to specific content over your internet connection. It enables you to set parental controls via the router’s settings, eliminating managing parental control from the operating system.
It gives you an extra layer of security when protecting your children from content or websites that aren’t for their age group.
What is the Best Way to Use a Parental Router
The best way to use your new parental control router is by installing it at home and getting your connection stable. You can continue to enter the parental control settings on your device, and from here, you should be able to restrict access to various websites and information online.
It doesn’t necessarily need to restrict children only, but you can limit other things over your home network too.
The Controversy Surrounding Parental Control Routers
Some people might think you are silly using parent control routers to restrict content for your kids. They say that it undermines your trust with your kids and creates animosity between the two.
Whatever you decide, though, the recommendation is to use parental control to curb kids’ viewing if they continue to watch inappropriate things. Findings have revealed it is an excellent last resort for people who cannot control their children’s watching habits.
Differences Between Different Parental Control Routers
Depending on what you want precisely, using your parental control router can make your choice easier. Some designs are better used in an intelligent home situation, while others allow for lag-free gaming, even over Wi-Fi.
The specification depends on personal preference, so be sure to consider your needs when choosing the best parental control router for your home.
What is The Best Way to Use a Parental Control Router
If you want to use the router for parental control, you need to ensure that all passwords and limitations get set before allowing minors to access your network. Preparation is critical in setting up your parental control router to ensure everyone’s protection.
Precautions When Using a Parental Control Router
Besides not trusting your children with the internet, the other precautions of a parent control router are less inconspicuous.
It can always limit ordinary access to websites adult users on your network might want to access. That can be a hassle if your network is host to a few different users with individual preferences.
5 Best Parental Control Routers
Here you find a review of the five best parental control routers for use at your home, school, or college.
TP-Link AX50
It is a great affordable parental control router with solid connectivity speed and a ton of features. It is a 2.4ghz and 5G six radio router that can provide enough internet connection for a 2-bedroom apartment. Although, for anything more significant, you might need to purchase a Wi-Fi extender.
Nearby, this modem performs exceptionally well by delivering high-speed internet access to various devices.
The design is sleek and modern, fitting into any home or office space. The six antennas are supposed to supply extra coverage from the router for a device accepting that frequency.
Of course, this router has the added benefit of being a parent control router that is easy to set up. Ensure to test out all the features on the router to get the full specification of what is capable with this affordable modem.
The AX50 makes it simple to set up your network at home and has the benefit of built-in antivirus software.
The antivirus uses Micro Trend technology to scan your network for threats. If it finds a threat, it quarantines it, not allowing it to affect other computers on your network. It is an excellent feature for a router in this price range, and that is why it makes the list of the best parental control routers.
Pros and Cons of TPLink AX50
Pros:
- Free parental control subscription
- Wi-Fi 6 support
- Time limits for users and devices
- Highly affordable to all of the features included
Cons:
- Relatively small area of reception
- Transfer speeds to the router via cable are slow
Netcare Orbi Wi-Fi System
This beautiful aesthetic and modern modem provides whole home coverage and has complex screen time controls. It is one of the top-rated mesh Wi-Fi systems that you can purchase, and rightfully so.
One of its features include advanced parental control due to its integration with Disney and Circle. It is a pretty big advantage if you are looking to limit or control the content your children are watching.
Another awesome thing about this tri-band Wi-Fi system is that you can expect performance to remain consistent throughout the house. The devices link to each other effortlessly and make use of two 5Ghz bands as a backhaul channel.
Besides being beautiful and providing ultra-fast internet speeds, this device has some of the most modern parental control technology on the market. It has a subscription-based service that gives you a selection of filters to choose from and makes your parental control simpler. The filters are categorized into ages allowing you to set up any restriction you wish to impose quickly.
Of course, there are the standard parent control settings that you can set up for free, but if you are looking for advanced filters and configurations, you are better off signing up for the parental control subscription service.
Overall, this is an excellent modem for a large home or office use with fantastic convenient features that help you restrict content and users.
Pros and Cons of The Netcare Orbi Wi-Fi System
Pros:
- Full speed 5G Wi-Fi coverage
- Perfect to use in a large home or office
- Free and advanced parental controls
- Time limit control for specific guests
Cons:
- A little pricey compare to other modems
- You might run into a compatibility issue when trying to connect with older devices
- To use the advanced parental control feature requires a subscription
Asus AX6000
The Asus AX6000 is the ultimate router for gaming with its high-speed capabilities and its remarkable Wi-Fi range. A name brand like Asus is a symbol of quality when it comes to computer hardware, and the modem is the perfect example of that.
It is powerful enough to allow you to play games while another user is streaming or evening downloading a movie. The coverage is taken care of by six antennas that help to deliver the frequency through walls and ceilings.
Parental control is pretty advanced and allows you to do a multitude of things.
The AiProtection suite using Micro Trend technology helps deliver a customized parental control experience unlike any other.
You can use specific devices and can set time limits individually. It is even possible to block particular websites and streaming services that you don’t want a particular device accessing.
What is even more remarkable about this device is that the parental control service is free. All those advanced settings and features come built-in with the price of the unit.
It is a particularly great router to get if you want to use game lag-free and restrict any access to content across your network. Once you use the Asus AX6000 to run your home network, you won’t want to use anything else.
The Pros and Cons of The Asus AX6000 Router
Pros:
- Advanced parental controls that don’t require a subscription
- You can connect up to 8 ethernet cables at once
- Super high internet speeds
- Quality you can expect from Asus
Cons:
- No user profile support
- This model is a little pricey
Asus AC1200
The Asus AC1200 is the perfect router for anyone on a budget. It provides a fast internet connection for gaming or streaming movies. The device is easy to install, and accessing the settings is even easier.
There is a range of features for the user, which include a parental control that doesn’t require a subscription. It is crucial for someone looking to save money while restricting the content that their children get to view.
Some of the parental control features include setting time limits, blocking certain websites, and monitoring your children’s activity online. Another significant part of the Asus AC1200 is that it works exceptionally well with Amazon Alexa. You can control some of this device’s settings with voice commands.
This modem makes it even easier to manage settings from the Asus mobile app; all you need to do is download the app and register your device. It is one of the best routers for parental control due to its ease of use.
Sadly, on the more budget-friendly Asus, you do not get advanced AiProtection features like the pricier model. You do get a fully functioning route that can serve your uses perfectly.
The Pros and Cons of The Asus AC1200
Pros:
- It sells for an excellent price
- Great range and connection speed
- No subscription for the parent controls
Cons:
- It doesn’t have the advanced Aiprotection features as the more expensive options
Google Nest Wi-Fi (Second Generation
The Google Nest Wi-Fi system is perfect for anyone that wants to incorporate this router into their smart home. It makes the connection to the internet and all the devices around your home simple and effective.
Coming from a tech giant such as Google, you can expect this device to feature all the bells and whistles you need in today’s fast-paced times. The two units provided in this mesh Wi-Fi system also double as a smart speaker to use voice commands wherever you are in your home.
The parental control can also use voice commands, including setting time limits, adding a kid’s device, and restricting content by category. Google has you covered with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
The Google Wi-Fi application makes this whole process quick and straightforward to do. All you need to do is download the application and sign in.
The Pros and Cons of Google Nest Mesh Wi-Fi System
Pros:
- 2200 feet internet coverage
- Voice command on the unit
- Attractive minimalist design
Cons:
- Pricey
- No dedicated backhaul channel
- No ethernet ports
Conclusion
The winner of this round-up is the Google Nets Wi-Fi system due to its premium subscription parental control service. It is the most feature-rich of the lot and has significant network coverage in your home.
This router is super easy to set up, and it’s a breeze to adjust your parent control settings too.
Let’s not forget the built-in voice command, and you can adjust your setting by your verbal input. The router has a total range of around 2000 feet which is convenient if you are using a baby monitor that needs a Wi-Fi connection.
Overall this is a fantastic modem that is regularly updated, and can quickly help you manage your parent control requirements.
