Oct 06, 2026  · 8 min read  · By The Rio Team

Rio vs eero vs Firewalla vs Ubiquiti: which router actually protects your home?

The Rio router beside a phone showing the Rio app

Last updated October 6, 2026. Prices are list prices from each brand's US website on that date and change often.

The short answer

If you want strong security without learning networking, Rio is built for that: new devices wait for your approval, SecureRooms keep groups of devices apart, and the firewall is on by default, for $199.99 with no subscription needed for those features. If covering a large home is your main problem, an eero mesh system does that better, though its extra security tools need an eero Plus subscription. Firewalla and Ubiquiti give you more control and visibility than Rio, and they reward people who enjoy configuring a network.

What "protects your home" actually means

Every router on this list has a basic firewall. The real differences show up in four places:

  • Who gets on. Can a new device join with just the Wi-Fi password, or does it wait for your approval?
  • Who can talk to whom. If a smart plug is compromised, can it reach your laptop? Separate segments limit the damage.
  • What leaves the house. A VPN encrypts traffic between your home and the VPN server, which hides your browsing from your internet provider.
  • How hard it is to run. A feature you never turn on does not protect you.

Side-by-side comparison

Rio eero Firewalla Ubiquiti (UniFi)
Model compared Rio (Wi-Fi 6) eero 6+ (Wi-Fi 6) and eero 7 (Wi-Fi 7) Firewalla Orange (Wi-Fi 7) UniFi Dream Router 7 (Wi-Fi 7)
Price (US list, Oct 6, 2026) $199.99, includes 1 year of Rio VPN eero 6+ $139.99; eero 7 $169.99 (one unit) $429 ($399 on sale) $279
Security features Firewall on by default, device approval, SecureRooms, optional Rio VPN Firewall, guest network, block or pause devices. Ad blocking and threat protection need eero Plus Firewall, traffic monitoring and alarms, ad blocking, device quarantine, VPN server and client Firewall, intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS), content and country filtering
Device approval Yes. New devices wait for approval in the app Partly. New-device alerts, and unknown devices can be paused automatically (off by default) Yes. New Device Quarantine holds new devices in a restricted group No approval queue. You block devices manually
Network segmentation SecureRooms: isolated segments, each with its own password Guest network kept apart from the home network. No custom VLANs in the consumer app VLANs (up to 5 on Orange) plus device groups and rules Full VLANs with firewall rules between networks
Built-in VPN Rio VPN at the router, for the rooms you assign. Outbound privacy VPN VPN by Guardian with eero Plus: an app on up to 5 devices, not at the router VPN server for remote access, plus a client for a VPN service you pay for separately VPN servers for remote access (WireGuard, OpenVPN, Teleport), plus a VPN client
Subscription needed? No for core security. Rio VPN is optional after year one: $7.99/month or $79.99/year eero Plus for the security extras and VPN: $9.99/month or $99.99/year No subscription No for core features. CyberSecure (extra threat signatures and filtering) is optional at $99/year
Setup and management iOS and Android app iOS and Android app App, with many more settings to learn App and web console. Networking knowledge helps
Wi-Fi security WPA2 WPA2 and WPA3 WPA2 and WPA3 WPA2 and WPA3
Who it's for Households and home offices that want strong defaults and simple controls Larger homes that need mesh coverage with little fuss Tech-savvy users who want to see and control every connection Prosumers and small offices comfortable with networking

Where each one wins

Rio: security defaults for people who don't want a hobby

Rio is a cybersecurity Wi-Fi router. Its focus is the first two questions above: who gets on, and who can talk to whom. New devices wait in the app until you approve them. SecureRooms split your network into isolated segments, each with its own password, so the kids' tablets, the smart TV and your work laptop don't share one flat network. The firewall is on from the start.

Rio VPN runs on the router and covers the rooms you assign to it, so devices in those rooms don't need their own VPN app. It is a privacy VPN for outbound traffic, not a way to reach your home network remotely, and it does not cover rooms you leave off. The first year is included. Here is how Rio VPN works.

Where Rio is weaker: it is a Wi-Fi 6 router using WPA2, while the other three offer Wi-Fi 7 models and WPA3. It also offers fewer expert controls than Firewalla or Ubiquiti.

eero: the easiest way to cover a big home

eero's strength is mesh Wi-Fi that is simple to expand. Free features include a guest network, device blocking, new-device alerts and an option that automatically pauses unrecognized devices. The deeper security tools (ad blocking, threat protection, content filters) and the bundled VPN need eero Plus. That VPN runs as an app on up to five devices rather than at the router.

Firewalla: the most visibility, no subscription

Firewalla shows you what every device is doing and lets you write rules about it. New Device Quarantine is close to Rio's device approval, and you get VLANs, a VPN server and alarms without a monthly fee. The trade-offs are price, more settings to manage, and Wi-Fi on the Orange that Firewalla rates for around 50 clients.

Ubiquiti: the most control for the money

UniFi gives you full VLANs, intrusion detection and prevention, several VPN servers and room to grow with extra access points. It is excellent if you know networking. There is no approval queue for new devices, and getting segmentation right is up to you.

Where a router is made now also affects which new models can reach US shelves. See our guide to the TP-Link ban.

Where Rio fits

Rio is $199.99, includes a free year of Rio VPN, and comes with a 1-year warranty and 30-day returns. It is designed in the USA and manufactured in Taiwan, and it was featured in the Deals segment of CBS Saturday Morning on September 13, 2025. Small defense contractors who need to document their network for NIST SP 800-171 can look at Rio for Defense, which adds documentation and support to the same router. For homes, start with how Rio works.

Frequently asked questions

Which router is the most secure for a home?

There is no single winner. Rio puts strong defaults first, with device approval, isolated SecureRooms and a firewall that is on by default. Firewalla and Ubiquiti offer more control and visibility for people willing to configure them. eero is the strongest choice for mesh coverage, with security extras through eero Plus.

Do I need a subscription for router security?

It depends on the brand. Rio's firewall, device approval and SecureRooms need no subscription, and Rio VPN is optional after the first year at $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year. eero's ad blocking, threat protection and VPN need eero Plus at $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. Firewalla has no subscription. Ubiquiti's core features are free, with an optional $99 a year CyberSecure add-on.

Does Rio VPN cover every device on my network?

No. Rio VPN covers the SecureRooms you assign to it. Devices in other rooms use your normal internet connection. It is an outbound privacy VPN, not a remote-access VPN.

Is eero or Rio better for a large home?

If coverage is your main problem, a mesh system such as eero is the stronger choice. Rio is aimed at controlling who joins your network and keeping devices apart.

What is device approval on a router?

Device approval means a new device cannot join your network just because it has the Wi-Fi password. It waits until you approve it. On Rio, new devices wait for approval in the app. Firewalla offers a similar feature called New Device Quarantine.

What is network segmentation, and why does it matter at home?

Segmentation splits one home network into separate parts so devices in one part cannot reach devices in another. If a smart camera or plug is compromised, segmentation helps keep it away from your laptops and phones. Rio does this with SecureRooms, each with its own password.

Sources

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