Top 5 Home Routers for Tomato Firmware

The Routers that you use for your home network for Internet connectivity (e.g WiFi, Cable routers/modems, ADSL routers etc) all come with an operating system (stock firmware)  developed by the manufacturer (such as Netgear, Asus, Linksys etc). This stock firmware is tailored for non tech-savvy users and does not allow much flexibility on what you can do with your router.

Tomato router firmware is an open-source (Linux based) free operating system which you can use to replace the factory operating system of your home router device. It is lightweight, very user friendly but also powerful enough for most users (advanced or not).

The Tomato firmware, together with DD-WRT and OpenWRT, are the three most popular open-source replacements of manufacturer firmware for home routers.

Tomato was initially developed by Jonathan Zarate and over the years we have had a few different versions (forks or mods) of it with the most popular one being Tomato by Shibby and also AdvancedTomato which is a better polished GUI version of Shibby.

In this article we have done extensive research, evaluated and shortlisted the top 5 routers for Tomato firmware. The following models are capable of running the popular Tomato by Shibby and also the more user-friendly AdvancedTomato version.

In the brief review of each router model below you will find a link pointing to the proper firmware that you need to download in order to flash your router and start running Tomato.

Note however that flashing your router is somewhat risky if you don’t know what you are doing. A safer option is to purchase an already flashed and optimized router from FlashRouters which comes with either Tomato or DD-WRT firmware pre-installed and super-charged with advanced features that you don’t find anywhere else.

Top 5 Routers that can run on Tomato Firmware

1) Netgear R8000 (Nighthawk X6)

NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 Smart Wi-Fi Router (R8000) - AC3200 Tri-Band Wireless Speed (Up to 3200 Mbps) | Up to 3500 Sq Ft Coverage & 50 Devices | 4 x 1G Ethernet and 2 USB Ports | Armor Security

• Recommended for up to 50 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect smart home devices.
• Wired Ethernet ports: plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and other nearby wired devices with 4 x 1 gigabit Ethernet ports.
• Loaded with advanced technology: Designed with a 1GHz dual core processor, 6 amplified antennas, Beamforming+, Dynamic QoS, Smart Connect, Amazon Alexa Voice Controls, and more.

Check Details Price incl. tax, excl. shipping

Last update on 2026-05-05 at 02:55 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Netgear is known to manufacture some great networking SOHO products (home wifi routers, switches etc).

The Netgear R8000 is more than just a great router. As a matter of fact, it is a powerhouse router device which has been the top choice for many people. It comes with 1GHz dual-core processor and three offload processors which offer impressive performance.

Utilizing the features of the latest WiFi technology (namely the IEEE 802.11ac) and Tri-band radio technology, this AC3200 device supports maximum combined wireless speed of 3200 Mbps.

Tomato Firmware for this model

NOTE: See the comments section at the end of this article about the newer firmware of R8000 model which makes it more difficult to flash Tomato to the device.

Important Note: You must install first the “initial” flash file and then the “AIO” flash file.

First flash File:  Tomato R8000 Initial
Second Flash File: Tomato R8000 AIO

Download Firmware from Tomato by Shibby

Download Firmware from AdvancedTomato

Important Features

6 amplified high-speed antennas

In order to propagate the Wi-Fi signal wherever you are in your house, the R8000 uses 6 high-power antennas to cover even the largest house areas. They also share the signal evenly across the entire home, so you will get the fastest connection whenever you are at that moment. Keep in mind that this router supports up to 3.2Gbps total wireless speeds.

USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports for storage devices

Equipped with two USB ports (2.0 and 3.0) for connecting a storage device (e.g USB hard disk) in order to access the contents of the storage medium over the WiFi network. Using the “ReadySHARE” feature it allows home users to play, backup, do media streaming, view etc all of their files and data over the network.

Tri-band WiFi with SmartConnect

By enabling the SmartConnect feature you can have the router decide in which of the three radio bands each user device will be assigned in order to have the best possible wireless connection to the router.

Pros:

• Latest WiFi technology features (Beamforming+, Tri-band, SmartConnect etc).
• 6 high-end antennas.
• Smart Parental controls using “Circle with Disney” feature.
• Control your home networks with voice command using Echo and Alexa.
• PC Backup software included (ReadyShare Vault).

Cons:

• 90 days of tech support only.
• It’s on the expensive range of routers.
• No port for eSATA.

2) ASUS RT-AC3200

ASUS AC3200 Tri-Band Gigabit WiFi Router, AiProtection Lifetime Security by Trend Micro, Adaptive QoS, Parental Control (RT-AC3200)

• Smart Connect automatically selects the fastest band for all devices individually, based on their demands and capabilities
• Built-in USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports for up to 10-times faster data transfers to USB storage devices1, printer sharing, and 3G/4G dongle support
• ASUSWRT graphical user interface for easy, CD-free 30-second setup and hassle-free advanced network control

Check Details Price incl. tax, excl. shipping

Last update on 2026-05-05 at 00:54 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The second model on our list is another Tri-band AC3200 wifi speed router that comes from Asus. It supports maximum combined wireless speeds of up to 3200Mbps and it also has 6 massive antennas like the first unit on the list for area coverage of medium to large homes.

This one is also equipped with 1Ghz CPU processor to handle the power of the device and two USB ports (version 2 and 3) for connecting storage devices (mostly). Overall, hardware wise, this model is very similar to the previous Netgear R8000 model we’ve described above, therefore it will surely cover the most demanding needs of current and future wifi networks.

NOTE:

If you want a super-charged, tested and optimized Asus RT-AC3200 device with Tomato pre-installed, you can buy one from FlashRouters here. If you already have a subscription plan to one of the popular VPN providers (such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, IPVanish, PIA etc) you can ask FlashRouters to configure your router with the VPN credentials you have so it will be ready to connect your whole home network to the VPN service.

Tomato Firmware for this model

Download Firmware from Tomato by Shibby

Download Firmware from AdvancedTomato

Important Features

Smart connectivity

The feature here simply means that the router will automatically detect the maximum capability of each and every device in your home. As such, it will feed it with the fastest wireless connection, according to the capabilities of each device and also how busy each frequency band is. On the other hand, this feature also means that the client device will automatically detect the best band and connect to it.

Asus AiCloud 2.0

All future owners will have permanent access to the AiCloud 2.0 meaning that you can upload, control and share all your files from any location in the world using any device you want.

Asus AiProtection

This is a very good security solution protecting all of your home network with a free subscription for life that comes when you purchase an ASUS RT-AC3200. Parental Controls, malware protection, content filtering etc are all included in the AiProtection Pro.

Pros:

• Fast and smart wifi connectivity.
• Powerful features for current and future needs.
• Value for money.
• Asus AiCloud 2.0 and AiProtection Pro free subscription.

Cons:

• No port for eSATA.
• Email support is poor according to some customers.

3) Netgear R7000 Nighthawk

NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router (R7000) - AC1900 Wireless Speed (Up to 1900 Mbps) | Up to 1800 Sq Ft Coverage & 30 Devices | 4 x 1G Ethernet and 2 USB Ports | Armor Security

• Fast wifi performance: Get up to 1800 square feet wireless coverage with AC1900 speed (Dual band up to 600 + 1300 Mbps)
• Recommended for up to 30 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect smart home devices
• Wired Ethernet ports: plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and other nearby wired devices with 4 x 1 gigabit Ethernet ports

Check Details Price incl. tax, excl. shipping

Last update on 2026-05-05 at 00:54 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This router is the world famous and very successful “NightHawk” model which has been in the market for a long time and has been embraced by thousands of customers.

The R7000 router is a more affordable version compared to the previous models but is dual-band (AC1900) instead of tri-band (AC3200) like the previous routers. Although it offers maximum combined wireless speed of 1900 Mbps, is more than enough for most homes and use-cases.

The tested model comes with 3 antennas and signal amplifiers, so it is known for superb range and even better capabilities. It also has a dual core processor and compatibility with the device management Nighthawk app, Amazon Alexa and Circle for security and parental controls.

This is a proven router that has been in the market longer than the previous ones and is more stable and reliable.

NOTE:

Just like the previous Asus model, the Nighthawk R7000 is also offered from FlashRouters with Tomato firmware pre-installed and tested on the device.

Moreover, If you already have a subscription plan to one of the popular VPN providers (such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, IPVanish, PIA etc) you can ask FlashRouters to configure your device with the VPN credentials you have so it will be ready to connect your whole home network to the VPN service.

Tomato Firmware for this model

Download from Tomato by Shibby

Download from AdvancedTomato

Important Features

Dynamic QoS

For most of you, this may be the most important feature. Basically, the router will adapt itself and the speed it sends to each device and the application that the device uses. The bottom line is that you can get impressive streaming and gaming performances at any given moment on any device you use.

Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant

The tested model is also compatible with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Now you can control it using your voice only. We were impressed with this feature.

Pros:

• Optimized for gaming and streaming
• Dynamic QoS mode
• Parental control
• Mature model which is reliable and stable
• PC Backup software included (ReadyShare Vault)

Cons:

• The only disadvantage is that is a little older model and is AC1900 instead of AC3200

4) Asus RT-AC66U

No products found.

This is another, affordable, yet powerful router on our list. The model we are reviewing here is actually an improved version of the older and well-known models of Asus RT-AC56U and RT-N66U, so it comes with plenty of additions. As always, the Wi-Fi capabilities are advanced, in the lack of a better word, as it uses the latest 802.11ac standard on the 5GHz band (as all the other models we are discussing in this article). The router also offers three detachable antennas for even better performance.

Although its a dual-band (AC1750) model regarding wifi, one might say that its inferior to the previous models. However, for a medium size home or small office with around 8-12 devices this router will be more than enough. It easily covers areas of more than 2000 square feet with no problems. Considering also its price tag which is almost half of the previous models, then its great value for money.

NOTE:

The latest native firmware of this model (i.e the firmware from the manufacturer), has an option to configure IPVanish VPN without having to flash the router to Tomato.

Tomato Firmware for this model

Download from Tomato by Shibby

Download from AdvancedTomato

Important Features

Asus WRT configuration

The old unit was complicated to set it up and required some experience. This one isn’t. You will be able to configure and set up the router with 3 easy steps. All you have to do is to follow the given instructions and you will get a job done almost instantly. We should add that this may be one of the simplest routers to install out there.

USB ports

Now you can use the router for file sharing, printers and any other device that uses the USB port. It comes with built-in USB ports which significantly increases the usability and makes a router more desirable.

5 Ethernet ports

Unlike other models, this one has 5 Ethernet ports (1 for WAN and 4 for LAN) so you will have plenty of ports for connecting wired devices.

Pros:

• Excellent value for money
• Powerful Asus WRT configuration
• Advanced features for home and business applications
• ASUS AiCloud 2.0 service
• ASUS AiProtection free subscription service
• Plenty of LAN ports
• New firmware from manufacturer allows configuration of IPVanish VPN without flashing.

Cons:

• 3 antennas rather than 6 (slightly lower coverage)

5) Linksys EA6900

Linksys AC1900 Wi-Fi Wireless Dual-Band+ Router with Gigabit & USB 3.0 Ports, Smart Wi-Fi App Enabled to Control Your Network from Anywhere (EA6900)

• Up to N600 Mbps (2.4 GHz) + AC1300 Mbps (5.0 GHz) speeds with Simultaneous Dual Band
• Platform Compatibility : Windows XP, Windows Vista 32/64, Windows 7 32/64, Windows 8 32/64, Mac 10.5.8 Leopard, Mac 10.6.1 Snow Leopard, Mac 10.7 Lion or later
• Includes Linksys Smart Wi Fi providing easy CD free set up, remote network management, parental control and app enabled networking

Check Details Price incl. tax, excl. shipping

Last update on 2026-05-05 at 02:55 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The model in question here offers dual-core 800 MHz processor and is one of the affordable versions in our shortlist.

It offers simultaneous dual-band connectivity which maximizes the functionality (one band at 2.4 Ghz and one AC band at 5Ghz) for a total of 1900 Mbps on both bands combined.

If you want to start experimenting with Tomato firmware and don’t want to spend too much money, then we suggest to buy a Linksys EA6900 (even a used one) to flash Tomato and explore all of its functionality without breaking the bank.

Tomato Firmware for this model

Download from Tomato by Shibby

Download from AdvancedTomato

Important Features

Smart WiFi Linksys app

We like this app a lot. Its a powerful suite of wifi tools on smartphones to manage your whole wifi network.

Guest WiFi

Create a separate guest wifi for visitors in your home. Then send them the guest password via sms or email.

Pros:

• CD free set up process
• Beam technology is impressive
• Supports all operating systems
• Gigabit LAN ports
• Impressive design

Cons:

• Poor Turbo QAM support
• Processor could be faster

Conclusion

In the end, all we can say is that for us, the Netgear R8000 and Asus RT-AC3200 are the most powerful routers for Tomato in our list (concerning speed, wifi features, software specs supported etc). Both models above are an investment for the future because they support all of the newest wireless standards etc.

However, if you don’t want to spend too much money and want a trusted, mature and reliable model, then you can go with the popular Netgear Nighthawk R7000 which is a middle solution in terms of performance and features.

If you are just starting out to experiment with flashing Tomato and don’t mind if you brick the device while flashing, then we suggest the two last models as they are the cheapest (namely the Asus RT-AC66U and the Linksys EA6900).