Network Basics: Access Point Mode vs Bridge Mode & Which One is Better? (2024)

In this post, we will go through a common query of access point mode vs bridge mode and everything related to them to clarify which one is better for each type of internet usage.

What is Access Point Mode?

Access point mode is a wireless network that can be used to bridge between two networks. It's often used when you want to connect two different networks, like if one is wired and the other isn't. Access point mode is also called "bridge" mode because it functions like a bridge between the two networks.

What is Bridge Mode?

Bridge mode is a way to connect two different networks. This allows you to bridge two different types of networks together in an efficient way, but not in the same way as access point mode. Bridge mode connects two different networks by creating a virtual interface between them. You can use this interface to send data over both networks at once or make sure that only one connection is active at any given time.

For example, You have your home network on one side and your office network on another side of town, but they're all connected via WiFi but don't share any resources like printers or file shares (aside from those things being accessible through their local area network). If you set up a bridge between them using bridging protocols such as Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) then everything will work fine until something changes between their respective WLANs—then everyone could suddenly lose connectivity because OSPF wasn't able to identify which devices needed updates first.

Access point mode vs bridge mode

We've all been there: You set up a wireless network, and it works great for a while. Then one day you realize your speed is dropping dramatically and connecting to the Internet becomes a chore. What happened? Well, you may have accidentally used access point mode instead of bridge mode in the setup process.

Bridge mode is better than access point mode because it's more secure, flexible, and cost-effective—but only if you don't mind sacrificing some features like guest access or guest SSID management (which can be easily done by setting up virtual routers). Also keep in mind that once users are connected to your local area network (LAN), they will not see any other networks unless they're part of one large network called "The Network." Access points are compared to the bridges in this way:

• Bridge mode is easier to configure and manage, but it's not as secure or reliable as access point mode.
• Bridge mode scales much better than access point mode and costs less in terms of equipment and management. In most cases, you'll want to use bridge mode if you have an existing network that can't handle the increased load of having multiple access points on it at once (or if there are other reasons why you should go with one main router instead of multiple).

To conclude, bridge mode is a go-to mode to use because it supports all types of networks and devices. Bridge mode also supports all types of applications such as networking, file transfer, video streaming, etc., so there's no need for other modes such as AP Mode or Ad Hoc Mode anymore. Access point mode is the best choice for home users, especially if you have a large home and need to cover more than one room. An access point can be placed anywhere within range of its wireless signal, so it’s easy to position them in any room in your house or apartment. If you have multiple devices that need internet access at once, or if your network gets crowded with devices (especially laptops) then an access point may not be ideal because they can interfere with each other's signals. However, if only one device needs an internet connection at any given time then an AP works fine!

Wrapping Up:

To conclude the question of access point mode vs bridge mode, we can state that access points provide better security than bridges because they don't rely on wired connections like bridges do; instead, they use Wi-Fi signals between all devices connected through their own router/AP combo unit which acts as both modem/router and central hub for connecting wirelessly via Wi-Fi signals from different sources in different rooms throughout your home or apartment building.