Are you looking for the best routers in 2024 to keep your team and devices connected? If so, you’ve come to the right place. There are many router manufacturers and routers on the market making it challenging to know which one is right for your team. Some of the router companies have been in the critical communications community for decades, others are new but quickly gaining recognition.
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at each manufacturers’ background, number of products, popular models, price range, and other necessary information to help you make an educated decision on which router is right for you.
Here is our list of the top router manufacturers in 2024 (in no particular order).
- Cradlepoint
- Sierra Wireless
- Cisco
- Peplink
- Advantec
This Importance of Routers
Routers are an essential piece of technology for keeping your devices and teams connected. They are used to support laptops, radios, cell phones, and other communications devices. During emergencies—especially natural disasters—cellular service or connection is unpredictable. A router will help fill in those unpredictable coverage gaps. Therefore, selecting the right router for your team is crucial to proper communication. Routers can be the difference between success and failure during emergency responses.
1. Cradlepoint
Founded in 2006 in Boise, Idaho, Cradlepoint has been known for innovation and top-of-the-line routers. In 2020, Cradlepoint became a part of Ericsson Electronics. Following shortly after, the company then opened a software development department in Bangalore, India in 2021.
With a start in Idaho and the expansion of production, Cradlepoint offers worldwide shipping and access. Cradlepoint offers 14 routers and 5 adapters to customers. Although this may be less options compared to older router manufacturers, Cradlepoint is meticulous and thoughtful about the design and construction of each router. Cradlepoint exemplifies quality over quantity.
The company develops routers for public safety (workers and organizations) and public health (hospitals and emergency teams). Cradlepoint’s most popular routers include:
- ESeries Routers
- IBR Series
- R Series
When it comes to pricing, Cradlepoint is competitive. The routers they offer can range anywhere from $700-$3000. The wide range of pricing is because the cost is determined if the buyer also gets a Netcloud subscription at the same time as purchase of the router.
Cradlepoint’s success is reflected in their outstanding estimated yearly revenue of 198.5 million in 2022. Overall, Cradlepoint is at the forefront of the router manufacturing industry and a reliable choice when picking which router works for your needs.
2. Sierra Wireless
Next up is a closer look at Sierra Wireless. The company was founded in 1993 in Vancouver, Canada. Presently, Sierra Wireless has locations in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, India, France, Australia, and New Zealand.
With so many locations around the world, Sierra Wireless offers worldwide shipping. Sierra Wireless creates routers with public safety in mind. They specifically cater to the manufacturing, commercial building, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, healthcare, smart city, public safety, transportation, and logistics industries.
Similar to Cradlepoint, Sierra Wireless prioritizes quality over quantity—the company offers 9 different routers to choose between. Sierra Wireless’ most popular products specifically made for public safety include:
- Air Link XR90
- Air Link MG90
- Air Link RV55
The above routers have a wide range of pricing but start at a reasonable $700. Sierra Wireless provides top-notch routers that come at a reasonable price. The company averaged .67 billion in yearly revenue in 2022. This is significant for a company that has been established for 30 years.
Sierra Wireless is a great company that several different industries—especially—public safety can trust with their wireless connection.
3. Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems was founded in 1984 by a small partnership. The company is now based in San Jose, CA with another 75 office locations in the U.S. Although Cisco Systems has most offices in the U.S. the company does offer worldwide shipping.
Cisco is known for supporting a variety of industries but prioritizes routers for public safety and manufacturing. Public safety workers can choose from an extensive inventory of routers from Cisco Systems.
Among the large inventory, Cisco most popular products include:
- Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series
- Cisco Catalyst IR8100 Heavy Duty Series
- Cisco 500 Series WPAN Industrial Routers
Cisco Systems has been an established router and WAN manufacturer for over 30 years; as a result, the products demonstrate this experience. The price of the routers—starting at $1,600 and up—is higher than others; however, the price often equates to the quality of the router.
Cisco Systems had an estimated total revenue of 56.998 billion for 2023. This is a prime example of Cisco Systems’ success in the router manufacturing industry and how the customers trust these routers.
4. Peplink
Peplink is smaller router manufacturer founded in 2006 by Alex Chan who remains the CEO. The company is based in Mountain View, CA.
Peplink is known for manufacturing routers for public safety, service providers, enterprise, private 5G, and more. Because Peplink designs routers for many different industries, the company has an extensive router industry.
The most popular products Peplink offers specifically for public safety include:
- MAX BR1 Mini (HW3)
- MAX Transit Duo
- BR1 ESN
Peplink’s routers are very reasonably priced, starting at $400. This is a low price—especially in comparison to the above manufacturers. Peplink has lower prices because the routers the company manufactures tend to have less features than the above options.
Less features may sound negative; however, only some applications of routers need all the bells and whistles. It would be counterproductive to spend money on features that will never be used. Peplink has a yearly revenue of 24.5 million, showing they are a successful and growing router manufacturer.
5. Advantech
Advantech was founded in 1981 as a small startup company.
By 1987, Advantech started business in Mainland China and set up a branch office in San Francisco, CA. Today, the company is headquartered in Tapei, Taiwan.
The company does offer worldwide shipping to customers. They also specifically produce routers for public safety, healthcare, energy/environment, industrial/manufacturing, transportation, and other industries.
From catering to so many industries and being in business for multiple decades, Advantech has created an extensive inventory of routers. Advantech’s most popular routers include:
- ICR-3211B
- ICR-4401
- BB-SR30519420
These routers can range anywhere from $400-$2000. With a yearly revenue of 2.2 billion dollars in 2022, it is apparent Advantech creates highly desirable products.
Bottom Line
Choosing the right router for your team’s purposes is crucial to dependable communication. Knowing the manufacturer of the router you are considering is the first step to choosing the right piece of technology.
Above, we provided an overview of the top router manufacturers and suppliers in 2024 including Cradlepoint, Sierra Wireless, Cisco Systems, Peplink, and Advantech.
Each manufacturer has its own unique company history and goals. They have different price points due to different manufacturing techniques and router design priorities. By comparing the different points above, you can narrow down which manufacturer matches your needs.
With a better understanding of the top router manufacturers in 2024, it is time to act. Consider your budget, the range of products offered and the shipping options before making a purchase. Also be sure to read reviews to ensure you are getting a product that holds up to your personal standards.
By being thoughtful about what router to purchase for your team, there is a higher chance of getting a product that matches your budget and technical needs. Without matching technical needs, you run the risk of losing communication during an emergency.
We hope this article provided you with the necessary information to make an informed decision on what router will be best for you!
