Hi there,
In this post, we are going to talk about the difference between the access point and router. Though they look quite the same as each other, and bring the connectors to the internet, actually, they are totally different from each other.
Figure 1: Wi-Fi router vs. access point
What is an access point?
The access point, or AP, is a WLAN network device that acts as an accessing portal for wireless users, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and so on. Generally, AP could be divided into two parts, the FIT AP and FAT AP. FIT AP cannot bridge the wireless users to the internet independently, it cooperates with an access controller device to fulfill the internet accessing requirements of the wireless users. While the FAT AP integrates the FIT AP and access controller together, it could independently bridge the users to the internet. For a FIT AP, it uses the wired port to connect to the upstream router to transfer the wireless users’ data.
Figure 2: Access point broadcast the Wi-Fi signal
What is a router?
Router, or more precisely the Wi-Fi router, is the most widely used home network device. It appears in multi patterns, home gateway, mesh router, even some ONTs. Usually, unlike the access point, the router could bridge not only the wireless users, but also the wired devices, such as PC, PSP, and so on. To bridge the various patterns of devices, the router uses the WAN port to connect to the internet, or to your ISP, and users the LAN port to connect to your wired devices, and access point, maybe. Besides the aggregate users' data, the router also provides the NAT service so that the internal user can be able to reach the internet using the private IP addresses.
Figure 3: Wi-Fi router home network connection
What is the difference between the access point and the Wi-Fi router?
Based on the description above, we might get the conclusions below:
Wi-Fi router connects not only the wireless users but also the wired users, while the access point usually provides access service for the wireless users.
Wi-Fi routers can work independently while most of the access points cannot.
Wi-Fi router provides not only the user accessing service, but also other services, such as NAT, QoS, port forwarding, and so on. While the access point usually acts as the access portal only.
Wi-Fi router usually is more expensive than the access point does.
Wi-Fi router and access point, which should I choose?
The answer to this question depends on your needs.
If you are using it, or them in your home network, the Wi-Fi router is enough, it is multi-services-available and saves your money. If you have a thin Wi-Fi signal somewhere, you can also configure the MESH or WDS to extend your Wi-Fi signal coverage. You might refer to
For a SOHO, though the Wi-Fi router also is able to bearer the whole data flow, you might need an advanced Wi-Fi router to do that.
For medium to large enterprises, the access controller and access points are a better choice. That combination provides wider Wi-Fi signal coverage, unified management of the traffic, a more stable wireless network, and more wireless access user capacity.
Figure 4: AP extends the Wi-Fi signal to every corner
