Wireless Router with Advanced Device Control under $150

focus123 on 10/09/2025 - 10:07
Last edited 10/09/2025 - 10:20 by 1 other user

Looking for a new router for NBN 500 with device-level website blocking

Hi All,

I am looking to upgrade my router as my FTTP NBN was recently upgraded to NBN 500, and my current TP-Link Deco E4 mesh router is bottlenecked at the WAN port, which only supports 100 Mbps max speed.

I am looking to upgrade to a router with the following features:

  • 2.5 Gbps WAN port (allowing me to get 2000 Mbps in the future if required)
  • Advanced parental control, allowing me to disable certain URLs per device through an app
  • Price below $150 (can wait until a better deal pops up on the selected device — I somehow missed the Harvey Norman Acer Predator deal, which seems to tick all the boxes)

I have two primary school-aged children, so device-level website control is essential — I want to be able to "stage" a website issue rather than blocking the entire device. Currently, I block the entire device through the Deco app, and it is starting to raise suspicion among the kids.

Appreciate it if you could provide some suggestions for me to add to my shortlist.

Thanks!

Internet Broadband FTTP nbn Wireless Router

Comments

  • thisusernameistaken on 10/09/2025 - 10:24
    +4

    Parental controls aren't going to relieve you from the job of parenting. You still need to supervise your kids, especially since kids are smart and they will likely find ways around the restrictions you set.

    Unfortunately I don't think basic URL filtering will be enough. Most apps use a variety of URLs, for example, simply blocking snapchat.com, may not actually block Snapchat the app.

    I was going to suggest Circle, a hardware device that you connect to your router that does filtering (based on app and URL), however it seems they no longer sell the hardware and instead offer it through an app (the caveat being that those parental controls will only work on those devices that the app supports).

    • ATTS on 10/09/2025 - 10:41

      What wqs that phone that released a few months ago block sensitive photos and stuff automatically?

      I wonder if that could be applied on the router some how?

      • thisusernameistaken on 10/09/2025 - 11:18

        I'm not sure of the specific phone you're referring to, but iPhone has that functionality for iMessage. It's called Communication Safety.

        It can be bypassed… it's more of a warning than a restriction.

        And no, you can't apply that at the router level, that's a device specific feature.

        However, I think some routers can automatically enable Google Safe Search, which blurs explicit images on Google.

        • ATTS on 10/09/2025 - 11:42

          Thanks man.

          Can you learn about parental controls, safe search and router level features online btw?

          • thisusernameistaken on 11/09/2025 - 11:50

            @ATTS: Yeah? I just use Google to figure this stuff out. I do want to stress that it's important you don't rely solely on parental controls. You need to set boundaries as to how technology is used (amount of screen time, where technology is used in the house etc) and enforce them. Simple rules like "no technology in the bedroom" is going to help prevent your kids viewing adult content etc.

          • thisusernameistaken on 11/09/2025 - 11:53

            @ATTS: Another suggestion for filtering: https://nextdns.io/

            It allows you to enforce safe search and YouTube restricted mode too

  • scrimshaw on 10/09/2025 - 10:47

    Google Nest Wifi ?

    https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7455888

    Instead of selectively blocking certain URL's it relies on Google's Safesearch filters to figure out whether a website should be blocked or not

    Otherwise I think you might need a pfsense router.

    Note some devices have randomized MAC addresses, in which case it will thwart your attempt to sites on a per device basis

  • Bruceflix on 10/09/2025 - 11:15
    +1

    Unifi routers will accomplish what you need but you may struggle in getting the pricepoint.

  • mshanann on 10/09/2025 - 11:37

    See if you can pick up a GL.iNet Flint 2.
    You can flash custom openwrt firmware on it if required.
    https://www.gl-inet.com/blog/parental-controls-on-the-glinet…
    https://au.camelcamelcamel.com/product/B0CP7S3117

    I picked up one off facebook marketplace.

    https://store.gl-inet.com/products/flint-2-gl-mt6000-wi-fi-6…
    $200 delivered from their website to Aus - 5OFFON coupon

    • FoxJump on 10/09/2025 - 14:42

      Im a fan of glinet.
      i have a gl.inet brume 2 , with 3x Asus eba63a WIFI AP.

      the glinet brume 2 has adguard home for ad blocking
      and ive wired it up to home assistant so i can toggle their internet on/off (per mac address)
      I havent yet setup more SSIDS for the kids to kill their wifi.

      i cant remember how much the brume was, but i paid $89 for each EBA63
      realistic speeds are 500mb/s

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