# Best Virtual Routers *By [Bijou Barry](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/bijou-barry)* Virtual routers are software-based solutions that provide routing capabilities traditionally handled by physical hardware routers. These solutions enable organizations to manage network traffic efficiently across various environments, including cloud, data centers, and edge networks, without the need for physical infrastructure. Virtual routers offer flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, allowing businesses to adapt to changing network demands while maintaining high performance and security. Key features include support for advanced routing protocols, secure VPN connectivity, centralized management, and integration with cloud services. They also provide robust security measures, such as firewalls and access control lists, to protect network integrity. To qualify for inclusion in the Virtual Routers category, a product must: - Have features and use cases that do not fit into existing IT infrastructure categories - Provide software-based routing capabilities that can be deployed in virtualized environments, such as cloud or data centers ## Category Overview **Total Products under this Category:** 11 ## Trust & Credibility Stats **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 100+ Authentic Reviews - 11+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## Best Virtual Routers At A Glance - **Easiest to Use:** [Cisco Cloud Services Router 1000V](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-cloud-services-router-1000v/reviews) - **Best Free Software:** [VyOS](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/reviews) ## Top-Rated Products (Ranked by G2 Score) ### 1. [VyOS](https://www.g2.com/products/vyos/reviews) VyOS Networks is the global leader in open-source networking for organizations that need secure, scalable, automated networking across bare metal, cloud, and edge. Designed with flexibility and scalability in mind, VyOS provides an enterprise-grade networking platform for consistent operations and automation at scale, delivering full control and high-performance with zero vendor lock-in. Our mission is to restore ownership of network infrastructure to our users through transparent, high-performance and vendor-neutral networking. Your network, your rules. VyOS Universal Router thrives on bare metal and all major hypervisors and cloud platforms: • Scales seamlessly from small devices to multi-core/nic instances • With this flexibility, you can harmonize your on-premises and cloud networks, eliminating the need for costly, proprietary VPN solutions. • Deploy VyOS Universal Router to create cost-effective, robust remote access VPNs for your off-site personnel or site-to-site VPNs Equipped with an exhaustive suite of features, VyOS Universal Router goes beyond what's expected from a router. From sophisticated routing protocols like BGP, OSPF, and RIP to advanced VPN and tunneling protocols, including IPsec, VTI, L2TP, OpenVPN, Wireguard, GRE, IPIP, SIT, VXLAN, L2TPv3, GENEVE, we have you covered. Enjoy enhanced security with an interface and zone-based firewalls, NAT, and high availability features such as VRRP and connection table synchronization. VyOS Universal Router also offers QoS, NetFlow, sFlow traffic accounting, and Telegraf for enhanced telemetry. VyOS Universal Router simplifies network management like never before. Automation is the cornerstone of modern IT management, and VyOS Universal Router doesn't fall short. With built-in SaltStack integration and an official Ansible module, and Terraform support, automate your configuration workflow effortlessly. VyOS Universal Router provides an HTTP API for those bespoke automation solutions, offering endless possibilities for network configuration and management. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 55 **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [VyOS Networks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/vyos-networks) - **Company Website:** https://www.vyos.io - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** Poway, California, USA - **Twitter:** @vyos_dev (2,737 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/vyos/ (42 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security - **Company Size:** 48% Small-Business, 32% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (13 reviews) - Features (8 reviews) - Open Source (7 reviews) - Powerful Features (7 reviews) - Free/No Cost (6 reviews) **Cons:** - Insufficient Documentation (7 reviews) - Lack of Support (7 reviews) - Learning Curve (6 reviews) - Complex Configuration (4 reviews) - Skill Requirements (4 reviews) ### 2. [Cisco Cloud Services Router 1000V](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-cloud-services-router-1000v/reviews) Cisco routers support secure, reliable enterprise connections. These enterprise routers help you implement an intent-based, future-ready WAN that is constantly learning, adapting, and protecting. Deploy routers for the branch, cloud, co-location, or the data center with any type of connectivity, including MPLS, Internet, and 4G LTE. **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 32 **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Cisco](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cisco) - **Year Founded:** 1984 - **HQ Location:** San Jose, CA - **Twitter:** @Cisco (721,495 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/cisco/ (95,742 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ:CSCO **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 42% Mid-Market, 24% Enterprise ### 3. [Cisco 5900 Series Embedded Services Routers](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-5900-series-embedded-services-routers/reviews) Cisco routers support secure, reliable enterprise connections. These enterprise routers help you implement an intent-based, future-ready WAN that is constantly learning, adapting, and protecting. Deploy routers for the branch, cloud, co-location, or the data center with any type of connectivity, including MPLS, Internet, and 4G LTE. **Average Rating:** 4.8/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 3 **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Cisco](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cisco) - **Year Founded:** 1984 - **HQ Location:** San Jose, CA - **Twitter:** @Cisco (721,495 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/cisco/ (95,742 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ:CSCO **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 75% Small-Business, 25% Enterprise ### 4. [Cisco Catalyst 8000V Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-catalyst-8000v-edge/reviews) The IOS XE based Cisco® Catalyst® 8000V Edge Software (Catalyst 8000V) sets the standard for virtual network services with maximum SDWAN & IPSec performance in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud, bringing the world's most popular networking platform to AWS. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 3 **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Cisco](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cisco) - **Year Founded:** 1984 - **HQ Location:** San Jose, CA - **Twitter:** @Cisco (721,495 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/cisco/ (95,742 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ:CSCO **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 67% Enterprise, 33% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Detection (1 reviews) - Ease of Use (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Difficult Setup (1 reviews) ### 5. [Sky Advanced Threat Prevention](https://www.g2.com/products/sky-advanced-threat-prevention/reviews) The full-featured, carrier-grade vMX extends more than 20 years of Juniper edge routing expertise to the virtual realm. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Juniper Networks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/juniper-networks) - **Year Founded:** 1996 - **HQ Location:** Sunnyvale, CA - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2240/ (9,799 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 50% Mid-Market, 50% Small-Business ### 6. [Verizon VNS - Routing](https://www.g2.com/products/verizon-vns-routing/reviews) VNS - Routing is part of the application delivery platform within the integrated management portfolio. By combining this solution with the management of the entire integrated portfolio, you can globally stay connected so you can focus on your core business objectives and organizational goals. **Average Rating:** 5.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Verizon Enterprise](https://www.g2.com/sellers/verizon-enterprise) - **Year Founded:** 1988 - **HQ Location:** Basking Ridge, NJ - **Twitter:** @VerizonEnterpr (6 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1094/ (15,946 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 100% Enterprise ### 7. [Alkira Network Infrastructure as-a-Service](https://www.g2.com/products/alkira-network-infrastructure-as-a-service/reviews) Alkira is a network infrastructure as a service platform that helps enterprises connect users, sites, data centers, and cloud environments through a unified, cloud-delivered networking solution. Founded by networking industry veterans and headquartered in San Jose, California, Alkira serves mid-to-large enterprises across healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and technology sectors. The company eliminates the need for physical infrastructure deployment by providing virtual network services that can be designed and deployed within minutes rather than months. The Alkira Platform operates through globally distributed Cloud Exchange Points (CXPs) that function as virtual points of presence, delivering comprehensive networking capabilities across multiple regions. Key features and functionality include: - Point-and-click network design canvas enabling single-click deployment of entire network architectures - Native multi-cloud connectivity supporting AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud environments - Integrated security services marketplace supporting third-party firewalls from Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, and other vendors - End-to-end network segmentation and microsegmentation capabilities - Real-time visibility, monitoring, and governance across all network connections Alkira addresses critical enterprise networking challenges by providing a consumption-based model that eliminates upfront capital expenditures while reducing total cost of ownership by up to 40%. Organizations achieve 80% faster provisioning times compared to traditional networking approaches, enabling IT teams to respond rapidly to business requirements. The platform simplifies complex networking tasks such as multi-cloud connectivity, business partner integration, security policy enforcement, and zero trust network access implementation, allowing enterprises to focus on core business objectives rather than infrastructure management. Languages Supported: The Alkira Platform interface and documentation are available in English. Value Proposition: Alkira transforms enterprise networking by delivering infrastructure as a service, similar to how cloud providers revolutionized compute and storage. Unlike traditional networking solutions requiring hardware procurement, complex configurations, and lengthy deployment cycles, Alkira provides instant global connectivity through software-defined infrastructure. The platform differentiates itself through its comprehensive approach to networking challenges - customers can address multi-cloud connectivity, security consolidation, global backbone requirements, and partner integration through a single platform. By abstracting network complexity and providing unified management across all environments, Alkira enables enterprises to achieve cloud-like agility for their networks while maintaining enterprise-grade security and compliance requirements. **Average Rating:** 5.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Alkira](https://www.g2.com/sellers/alkira) - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** San Jose, California, United States - **Twitter:** @alkiranet (1,536 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/alkiranet (173 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 100% Enterprise #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Configuration Ease (1 reviews) - Data Analytics (1 reviews) - Ease of Use (1 reviews) - Easy Setup (1 reviews) - Flexibility (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Lack of Features (1 reviews) - Learning Curve (1 reviews) - Poor Documentation (1 reviews) ### 8. [Equinix Fabric Cloud Router](https://www.g2.com/products/equinix-fabric-cloud-router/reviews) Equinix Fabric Cloud Router is a virtual routing service designed to simplify and accelerate multicloud networking. It enables organizations to establish private, high-performance connections between various cloud providers—such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud—and their private infrastructure without the need for physical hardware or complex configurations. By deploying virtual routers in over 55 global locations, users can achieve low-latency, secure data transfers, effectively bypassing the public internet and reducing associated risks and costs. Key Features and Functionality: - Rapid Deployment: Users can create virtual routers within minutes, facilitating dynamic routing between public clouds without the need for physical infrastructure. - User-Friendly Management: The service offers an intuitive portal for provisioning connections and routing, with support for automation through APIs and Terraform. - Secure, Low-Latency Connections: By utilizing private connections, the service ensures data is not exposed to public internet vulnerabilities, while also reducing data egress fees. - Built-In Resiliency: When configuring redundant connections, diverse virtual routers are assigned automatically, eliminating the need for deploying additional redundant virtual routers. - Scalability: The service supports high aggregate bandwidth, with no predefined bandwidth commitments or limits on the number of virtual connections per router, accommodating hundreds of Gbps throughput. Primary Value and User Solutions: Equinix Fabric Cloud Router addresses the complexities and costs associated with multicloud networking by providing a scalable, secure, and cost-effective solution. It eliminates the need for physical routers or managing virtual alternatives, reducing both capital and operational expenditures. By offering private, low-latency connections, it enhances application performance and security, while also lowering cloud data egress charges compared to routing over the public internet. This service empowers organizations to adopt multicloud strategies with greater agility, avoiding vendor lock-in and facilitating seamless connectivity across diverse cloud environments. **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Equinix](https://www.g2.com/sellers/equinix) - **Year Founded:** 1998 - **HQ Location:** Redwood City, California - **Twitter:** @Equinix (27,946 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/8221 (14,119 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ: EQIX ### 9. [IP Transit](https://www.g2.com/products/orixcom-ip-transit/reviews) Experience seamless connectivity with Orixcom's high-speed and dependable Global IP Transit services, strategically located in global data centre hubs. Trust us to keep you connected with the world. **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Orixcom](https://www.g2.com/sellers/orixcom) - **Year Founded:** 2013 - **HQ Location:** Dubai, AE - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/orixcom (25 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 10. [Netgate TNSR vRouter (Edge / Access / VPN)](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-tnsr-vrouter-edge-access-vpn/reviews) Netgate TNSR is a high-speed (exceeding 100 Gbps) virtual router and VPN aggregator. TNSR is the answer for businesses, governments, and xSPs looking for scalable routing without the six-figure price tag. Businesses can deploy TNSR as a Netgate hardware appliance, Bare Metal Image, or as a virtual appliance on KVM, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. TNSR combines the FD.io Vector Packet Processor (VPP), a fast, scalable layer 2-4 network stack, with a RESTCONF API, as well as a CLI and GUI for configuration and monitoring. The result is a product which delivers high performance in mission-critical site-to-site, edge-to-cloud, data center, and VPN scenarios. This product is complemented by Netgate’s 24x365 Technical Assistance Center, which stands ready to support your critical business requirements every day. **Average Rating:** 3.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Netgate](https://www.g2.com/sellers/netgate) - **Year Founded:** 2002 - **HQ Location:** Austin, US - **Twitter:** @NetgateUSA (8,702 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/netgate/ (121 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 100% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Features (1 reviews) - Powerful Features (1 reviews) - Reliability (1 reviews) - Security (1 reviews) - VPN Services (1 reviews) **Cons:** - UX Improvement (1 reviews) ### 11. [The Open Cloud Exchange](https://www.g2.com/products/the-open-cloud-exchange/reviews) CoreSite's Open Cloud Exchange® is a software-defined networking platform designed to simplify and accelerate hybrid IT deployments. By providing automated, on-demand connectivity services, OCX enables enterprises to seamlessly interconnect their IT infrastructure with cloud service providers, network carriers, and business partners. This platform reduces operational complexity, enhances cloud performance, and supports rapid scalability, all while minimizing total cost of ownership. Key Features and Functionality: - Automated Network Services: OCX allows users to provision virtual routers, Ethernet virtual connections, and ports in real-time through a user-friendly online portal, facilitating swift and efficient network management. - Layer 2 and Layer 3 Connectivity: The platform supports both Ethernet-based and IP-based connections, offering flexible interconnection options to various cloud service providers. - Direct Cloud Onramps: OCX provides low-latency, secure access to leading cloud providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and IBM Cloud, enhancing cloud application performance. - High-Bandwidth Connectivity: With support for connections up to 50 Gbps, OCX accommodates data-intensive applications, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital media production. - Inter-Site and Inter-Market Connectivity: The platform enables seamless connections between CoreSite data centers across various U.S. markets, facilitating business expansion and operational flexibility. Primary Value and User Solutions: The Open Cloud Exchange® addresses several critical challenges faced by enterprises: - Accelerated IT Modernization: By simplifying hybrid cloud interconnections, OCX enables organizations to swiftly adopt and integrate modern IT solutions, reducing deployment times and enhancing agility. - Cost Efficiency: The platform's flat-rate, month-to-month billing structure eliminates vendor lock-in and allows businesses to scale services as needed, optimizing operational expenses. - Risk Mitigation: OCX's private connections to multiple clouds ensure business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities, safeguarding mission-critical data and operations. - Enhanced Performance: Direct, low-latency connections to cloud providers and between data centers improve application responsiveness and user experience, supporting high-performance computing needs. In summary, CoreSite's Open Cloud Exchange® empowers enterprises to efficiently manage and scale their hybrid IT environments, driving digital transformation and competitive advantage. **Average Rating:** 5.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1 **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [CoreSite](https://www.g2.com/sellers/coresite) - **Year Founded:** 2001 - **HQ Location:** Denver, Colorado, United States - **Twitter:** @CoreSite (6,056 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/coresite (611 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NYSE: COR **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Company Size:** 100% Mid-Market ## Parent Category [IT Infrastructure Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/it-infrastructure)