TP Link vs D Link – Which router is more reliable?
Two of the biggest names in the IT and networking field are TP Link and D Link. Here is a in depth guide on them with their major differences and a review of their most popular devices today.
In the age where home internet is now available for the majority in urban areas, there are many router manufacturers in the market today. However, there are two main companies that have been around for a long time and have provided a lineup of some of the best routers over the past decade. Other than routers, the companies makes other networking devices such as switches, modems and hubs. TP Link is one of the world leaders in routers and has a strong lineup of them over the past ten years. They manufacture everything from small routers fit for a small one room to robust machines for gaming and 4K live streaming. D Link also has a lineup of some of the best routers you can buy today. They have been leading and have won numerous awards for providing some of the best Wi-Fi products in the market over the years. With both companies’ long lineup of products, the following are some of their top differences.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between TP Link and D Link?
Brands |
TP Link |
D Link |
Specialty |
Routers, modems and switches |
All Wi-Fi products |
Operating system |
TP-Link OS |
D Link OS or DD-WRT |
Internal Antennas |
Between 2 and 10 |
2-12 |
LED Light Position |
Around the top |
Bottom front |
Guest Networking |
Yes |
Yes |
Default username |
admin |
Admin, root (depending on model) |
TP Link vs. D Link- How do these router brands compare?
D Link and TP Link are two of the leading router manufacturers today. To compare them, we are going to look at some of the key factors you consider when buying for a router.
Performance
TP Link and D Link have a long lineup of high quality and top performance routers. When it comes to performance, it may be difficult to compare the two brands. Instead, we’ll use two of their routers of same caliber to compare them: TP Link C1200 and D Link N300 Home Cloud router. The routers on paper have similar performance with throughput speeds of up to 300 Mbps. However, when tested in a real world environment, the TP Lin was found to provide slightly higher speeds and even provided more range. This may be due to the different processors fitted inside the routers and other factors. Because of this, we believe that TP Link generally provides better performance as they implement the use of high quality material in their construction and build.
Operating System
All networking devices run on a certain base software where all its details are carried. TP Link products use the TP Link OS on all their devices including routers and hubs. The model and versions of the operating system is however different for various devices. The operating system is responsible for everything just like in desktops and PCs. On the other side, we have D Link that uses either their own self-named operating system or DD-WRT OS. Comparing these operating system may be difficult since they are different for different devices, including routers. D Link is known for its compatibility with Alexa since the company is owned by Amazon. There are a few TP Link routers with this capability however.
Area of coverage
When looking for a router, one of the most important things we look at is the distance that the router covers. The larger the space, the wider range router you should get. Routers usually come with an area of coverage reading on the box or manual. Today, there are mesh systems otherwise known as W-Fi extenders that are used for extremely large homes. They provide triple the area of coverage a regular router can cover with minimal speeds. In terms of distance covered, TP Link takes the crown because of one main reason. They have a long lineup of mesh routers and Wi-Fi extenders known as the Deco routers. Their mesh systems are some of the best in the market and provide long range without losing the bandwidth over the long distances. The Deco routers are the most popular and have provided reliable service for their customers. D Link also has mesh systems although they are less known to the general public. They are also not as fast and reliable as TP Link routers
Pricing
For most companies, the more reputable and more popular company tends to have their products a bit more expensive than their less known counterparts. This is true for the D Link and TP Link companies. Although both companies provide considerably affordable routers compared to more tailored brands such as Netgear, TP Link products tend to cost slightly more than its counterpart. Even if it’s just by two bucks, their products generally cost more. However, this is not a bad thing since their products perform much better and are more durable. They offer better value for money in this manner.
TP Link vs. D Link – A comparison Overview
TP LINK – Overview
TP Link is one of the leading brands when it comes to home and workplace routers. Their long lineup of router guarantees that there is something for everybody that caters for all their needs. On top of this, the company offers a wonderful combination of all the top features you would want for a router such as affordable prices, new technology implemented on the routers, powerful processors and amazing extra features. However, the company’s products are loved by many due to the speed and security they provide for you and your devices. In addition, the TP Link Company is one of the few remaining brands that still manufactures wired routers. Being among the pioneers of this decades ago, the company continues to provide them for large companies that use Ethernet only devices such as switches and hubs. Furthermore, we love TP Link routers because of their versatility and user friendliness. This is because they come with open source firmware known as OPENWRT and DD WRT that can be erased or flashed by the user when need arises.
TP Link has a long lineup of routers and the following are some of their most popular and versatile routers over the years.
TPLink WR940N
- Wireless N speed up to 450Mbps, ideal for bandwidth-intensive tasks like HD video streaming, VoIP, and...
- 802.11n technology, 15x faster with 5x the range of 802. 11g, Three antennas for increased coverage and...
To start you off, we have an entry level router known as TP-Link WR940N. This router is one of the cheapest routers in the market today offering decent performance and nice range for its price tag. For under 50 bucks, you can have the router delivered to your door step. The router is the ideal choice for anyone on a budget that wants high speeds. And this is because the router provides a bandwidth speed of up to 450 Mbps. With this, you have fast internet through the house for social media, surfing and video streaming. However, if you are an extensive and heavy user such as a gamer or 4K live streamer, this is not the router for you.
The router comes with a single band 2.4 GHz processor that provides the 450 Mbps speeds. It also comes with extra features such as QoS and parental control to protect children from harmful content. The TP Link WR940N is also a pretty looking router that goes well into home’s interior décor. It is a black box with three antennas sticking out from the back. it measures 5.5 x 7.9 x 1.1 inches and has four ports on the back; all are Ethernet ports.
TP-Link Archer C5400
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The TP Link has a line of high performance routers known as Archer. The Archer series features some of the best routers in the world today and the C5400 may as well be one of them. Just from the exterior design, this router looks like a powerful beast meant for high speeds and wide range. The futuristic looking router is a rectangular box surrounded by antennas on all sides. Because of this, it has a whopping eight antennas. The design looks like something from a sci-fi movie with a very box shape and a serrated top. The device measures 9.1 by 9.1 by 1.7 inches and weighs 3 pounds which is quite heavy for a router. But all this weight is because of the robust components installed inside that provide some of the best performance ever.
The Archer C5400 provides a data transfer rate of an astounding 5400 Mbps (5.4Gbps). it is fitted with a 1.4 GHz dual core processor and three coprocessors for each of the bands. The eight antennas provide excellent coverage. The router would be the ideal choice for any game streamer and 4K video streams. On top of that, it comes with multiple additional features such as antivirus software, QoS scheduling and powerful parental control. The Archer C5400 is a high end top performance router that may cost you a lot but will definitely be worth it for the long haul.
D LINK – Overview
D Link is one of the longest serving companies in the networking industry. The company was started in 1986 in Taiwan and was originally known as Datex systems. They started with network adapters and expanded into the large Wi-Fi product powerhouse it is today. When it comes to routers, the D Link company excels with their products. In fact, in 2008, D Link was the largest leader in shipment of Wi-Fi products which shows and was among the top ten networking companies. Their routers have been in use in institutions such as schools, hotels and office workplaces and have shown a great amount of reliability, durability and fantastic performance. To understand the company’s wonderful reputation better, the following are some of their most popular and top performance routers.
D-Link Exo AC2600 Wi-Fi Router
- AC2600 Dual band router: Wi-Fi speeds of up to 2600 Mbps (800 Mbps in 2.4 gigahertz plus 1733 Mbps in 5...
- Stream, game, and more: Enjoy 4K/HD video and online gaming simultaneously with 4 x 4 data streams and 4...
The D Link Exo Ac2600 is considered by many to be the best D Link router and it’s not difficult to see why. It is a high end premium router with the price of a mid-entry level router and this is what makes it so popular. The router provides extremely fast internet speed of up to 2600 Mbps. And although this is usually the price on paper, when tested, the router provided 2533 Mbps. The minimal loss of bytes is also another reason this router is a wonderful choice for anyone. In addition, it is equipped with MUMIMO technology to provide equal bandwidth to all the connected devices. Furthermore, the router features a 4 x 4 system that allows lots of bandwidth speed to all the devices. The router may cost you a lot but is definitely a great purchase for gaming and 4K video live streaming.
D-Link Dir-879 AC1900 Exo Router
- High-power amplifiers (1000mW) - Wider coverage throughout your home
- SmartConnect - Band steering automatically balances wireless devices among the two wireless bands
The AC1900 D Link router is a great choice for anyone a budget that is looking for a wonderfully designed and great performance router. One of the things that stands out most in this router is the physical design. With this router, you are guaranteed to turn some heads. First the router takes an orange unconventional color for the body with black touches. The design features sharp edges and a pyramid design that makes it look very futuristic. But even with this menacing-looking design, the router is quite affordable and costs less than 80 bucks. It also comes with four wide antennas that boost the signal to long ranges. Other than that, the router provides high speeds of up to 1.9 Gbps and comes with additional features such as parental checks, WPA and WPA2 encryption
Model |
TP-Link Archer C5400 |
D-Link Exo AC2600 |
Ports |
6 (four LAN, two USB) |
5 (four LAN, one WAN) |
Antennas |
8 |
4 |
Special features |
MUMIMO, QoS scheduling |
MUMIMO, adaptive QoS |
Size |
9.1 x 9.1 x 1.7inches |
1 x 10.2 x 1.8 inches |
Color |
Dark grey |
Black |
Throughput speed |
5400 Mbps |
2600 Mbps |
Availability |
Conclusion
The best router for you depends on your needs and what you’re looking for in a router. If you need an affordable router for your home, the TP Link WR940N would be the best option for you. Otherwise, if you need a balanced router with affordable price and excellent performance, the D-Link Dir-879 will do it for you.
