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Coverage and speeds are good, well behind the Asus XT8 but better than the Eero 6 (below). The application is simple and the guest network is easy to set up. Originally released with the free HomeCare app, this has since changed to HomeShield, and TP-Link has updated its HomeShield and parental control subscriptions. You get basic network security (router scan, guest network, QoS) and parental controls (create profiles, stop internet, block and filter) included for free, but everything else requires a subscription.
HomeShield Security+ costs $5 per month or $36 per year and adds web and intrusion protection with notifications and reports. Total Security costs $70 a year and adds antivirus for devices, a VPN service, and a password manager. Advanced Parental Controls cost $3 per month or $18 per year and add time limits, scheduled breaks, rewards, app time limits, safe search, insights and reports. While this granularity allows you to pick and choose what you need, it can be confusing for some, and I don’t want to avoid subscribing. However, most families will likely want Security+ and Advanced Parental Controls, which come in at $54 a year ($1 less than the HomeShield Pro it replaces).
The Quality of Service feature allows you to prioritize activities such as gaming or streaming, or set priority devices. The main thing is that you can Separate the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands to show as two separate Wi-Fi networks. This is convenient because some smart home devices only work in the former band. Similarly, there is a mixed mode for WPA2 and WPA3 security. Some devices don’t work with the newer WPA3 standard, and some routers force you to choose one or the other, which can cause problems. This mode ensures that all your gadgets are up to standard.
The web interface is simple and doesn’t add much, so I preferred to use an easy-to-use app. However, it’s a bit slow to update and the settings are still limited. It didn’t recognize many devices and listed names of unknown hardware manufacturers, which made it difficult to figure out which devices to add to my child’s profiles.
It wasn’t the fastest performer, but this system is fast and reliable enough for the average home. If you have a 500 Mbps connection or better, it may be worth upgrading. Deco X55 or Deco X60.
Best for Smart Homes
Amazon’s Eero 6 mesh system is one of the easiest systems to set up, offers fairly wide coverage, and provides a stable connection. It’s an elegant system available as three identical routers or (slightly cheaper) a main router and two small nodes. The Eeros blends into a desk or shelf, though the compact design leaves no room for any ports. (Routers only have two gigabit ports, nodes have none.)
While the main Eero 6 was one of the slower systems I tested, especially over longer distances, the speeds from the hubs were close to what I got from the main router. There were no drops and it proved adept at sharing limited bandwidth. The mobile app is simple and gives you an overview of connected devices with the option to suspend internet and set up a guest network. I was also able to create profiles, group devices, set schedules and adjust bedtimes. Unfortunately, content filtering, other parental controls, advanced security, ad blocking, and activity insights require a $10 per month or $100 per year Eero Plus subscription.
