Who owns TP-Link?

TP-Link has long been an undisputed leader in Wi-Fi technology. Need proof? The company has clinched the top spot as a WLAN device vendor for 12 consecutive years in 2022 – no small feat by any metric. However, in 2025, a multitude of federal agencies and departments have all joined in banning TP-Link sales in the United States. The reason? According to the parties involved, the company’s ties to China are a huge red flag (no pun intended) and therefore pose a national security risk.

Although TP-Link routers are safe to use even after the FCC ban curbed future sales of foreign-made routers (and the evidence that these products are inherently dangerous is thin), the vendor’s reputation may not be so fortunate. Of course, it may take a few years to see what impact this will have on sales, but overall it’s not a good sign. However, the funny thing about this whole thing is that TP-Link is no longer a Chinese company. What do we mean by this?

Just check who owns TP-Link with a quick Google search. You will learn that the company is headquartered in Irvine, California. TP-Link Systems Inc, to be exact, serves US and global customers, not those in China. Confusing on the surface, but despite starting out as a Chinese company, the company spun off from the original TP-LINK Technologies in 2024. They are two completely separate entities, one playing the international game and the other limited to mainland China. That’s the bottom line, but the rabbit hole gets a little deeper once you peel back all the layers.

The quickest way to describe the split into two separate companies is as a way for the entity to preserve its U.S. operations. It could be argued that the main reason for the confusion (and perhaps even the resulting bans) is due to the rivalry between Netgear (a major US-based router manufacturer) and TP-Link. In fact, it was Netgear that pressured the U.S. government to address what has been dubbed “cybersecurity and strategic competition with China” in 2024. There’s also some legal drama between the two sides, as Netgear sued TP-Link for infringing on its patents around the same time.

So, in a way, the restructuring completed in 2024 has officially split the company legally in two. According to TP-Link, Jeffrey and Hillary Chao are the sole owners, and because the company operates in the United States, neither domestic nor foreign parties have control over their production. But has this effort borne fruit?

Not exactly. Although many users hold TP-Link products in high regard (so much so that their products are on the list of most reliable mesh systems), not everyone is convinced. Netgear claims that the split is a scam and that the two companies are currently engaged in an all-out conflict. Specifically, TP-Link sued Netgear over its alleged smear campaign, and its biggest rival hit back, alleging the company was still connected to China. Netgear went so far as to say that even though TP-Link claims its products are made in Vietnam, most are still made in China.

So, this confusing rabbit hole clarifies who owns TP-Link, but how big is the company? Can they maintain production even if things go wrong? The best way to describe the company is huge. Operating in 170 countries around the world, TP-Link has 42 subsidiaries, four R&D centers and three manufacturing bases.

Routers are its bread and butter, but TP-Link isn’t exactly a one-trick pony. In fact, the well-reviewed Kasa smart plug is (surprise, surprise) produced by the company (along with a similar, somewhat interoperable brand called Tapo). Dig deeper and you’ll find even more. TP-Link operates Vigi (security cameras), Aginet, HomeShield, to name a few.

As a company with a turnover of $2.8 billion, TP-Link is no slouch, and it is difficult to predict how the whole saga will affect its market position in a few years. It’s up to you whether you still agree with their products. TP-Link brand routers may not be as dangerous as you’ve been led to believe, and in many ways, they’re more secure than those offered by some of their other competitors. Still, “scam” allegations can leave a bitter taste in the mouth, and that’s completely normal. As a customer, you have the right to choose, but the issue may not be as black and white as you have been led to believe.