Today's tech — from smartphones and tablets to streaming devices and smartwatches — all require a Wi-Fi connection. That makes the wireless router one of the most important home appliances that no one ever seems to talk about. Routers are pretty much your key to accessing the internet, and if yours frequently requires resetting, it might be time for you to make an upgrade.
It's worth a mention that routers are commonly confused with modems. A modem is a device that connects your home network to the Internet, and a router is a device that creates a private network that lets all your personal devices connect and communicate with one another. So make sure you're buying the right product!
Best Wireless Routers
What to Consider
Wi-Fi 5 Versus Wi-Fi 6
Here are the basics that you should know: When shopping for a router, make sure to at least get an 802.11ac model. This means that it supports some of the newest wireless standards, so you can achieve Gigabit speeds. There’s even a newer standard, Wi-Fi 6, which is sometimes called 802.11ax. If you’re still rocking an older WI-Fi 5 router, now's the time to upgrade! Wi-Fi 6 routers are faster, more reliable, and are futureproof (they'll connect to the latest smartphones, tablets, and laptops), but if you're on a budget, a Wi-Fi 5 router will work just fine for most users.
Have a Large Floor Plan? Get a Mesh Router!
For floor plans over 1,500 square feet, you should consider investing in a mesh router instead. This type of router comes with multiple wireless beacons to expand your overall coverage. We also don’t recommend buying a router/modem combo (neither does CNET) because they’re difficult to fix if something goes awry.
Understand The Different Frequencies
Most modern routers typically transmit data over two radio frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 2.4 GHz band transmits data farther, while the 5 GHz band is less congested and travels a shorter distance. When setting up your router, you’ll typically create two separate networks — one for each frequency. Be sure to change your router's administrator password when you set it up!
A handful of more expensive routers support three bands, meaning you get an additional 5 GHz frequency. This feature, however, is only necessary for power users. The same goes for MU-MIMO (Multiple User Multiple Input, Multiple Output), which is router technology that makes internet connections faster and more reliable.
Security Features
Lastly, the router you plan to buy should support WPA2 (that's the Wi-Fi Protected Access Protocol). This standard ensures your devices and network are secure. The other two standards (WPA and WEP) aren't as safe and can easily be compromised.
We know that was a lot to take in. But luckily for you, we’ve researched more than 40 different router models to find the top seven that should work for most home setups. If you’re constantly unplugging and restarting your modem and router in hopes of getting faster internet speeds, this guide can help you find the best wireless router for your needs and budget.
1
For the Fastest Speed Possible
TP-Link Archer AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 Router
- Mind-blowing speeds
- Impressive range
- Outstanding selection of ports
Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 2.4 inches
Wi-Fi Technology: Dual-band eight-stream Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) AX6000
Maximum Theoretical Speed: 4,800 Mbps
Coverage Area: 5,000 square feet
If you’re one of the lucky ones who has a fiber-optic internet connection and you want to make the most of it, consider splurging for the next-gen TP-Link Archer AX6000 router. This model delivers astonishing wireless speeds.
Editors at CNET said this router achieved the fastest wireless transfer speeds they've ever recorded —an average wireless download speed of 1,523 Mbps at a distance of 5 feet and a zippy 868 Mbps at a distance of 75 feet.
To put those numbers into context, it would take you just over 2 hours to download all 22 films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 4K — a feat that would take nearly 30 hours for the average U.S. broadband internet consumer.
Not only that, the router packs a single 2.5 Gbps WAN port, eight Gigabit LAN ports, dual USB. 3.0 ports and a single USB-C jack — that's enough ports for all your consoles, servers, and more. It’s powered by a quad-core processor, works with Alexa, and supports link aggregation.
If you want the best of the best and have the budget for it, you won’t be disappointed.
2
Best Overall
TP-Link Archer AX50 Wi-Fi 6 Router
- Excellent coverage
- Offers plenty of customizable settings for users
- Lacks multi-gig Ethernet port
Dimensions: 10.2 x 5.3 x 1.5 inches
Wi-Fi Technology: Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) AX3000
Maximum Theoretical Speed: 2,402Mbps
Coverage Area: 2,000 square feet
The Archer AX50 is among the best Wi-Fi 6 routers available on the market today. Its dual bands deliver 2,402 and 574 Mbps speeds, so it's an excellent option for users who stream lots of videos or play video games online.
The router offers superb wireless coverage and has a total of five Ethernet jacks for those who prefer wired connections. There's even a USB port for sharing files over your wireless network. Plus, it's backed by a 2-year warranty, and its free downloadable app makes setup a breeze.
We like that the router automatically designates slower and faster devices to the appropriate Wi-Fi band. As a bonus, it supports MU-MIMO (tech that helps it better handle simultaneous data streams).
All in all, the Archer AX50 is an extremely versatile and powerful router for homes of all shapes and sizes, making it one of the best wireless routers on the market today.
More: The Best Smart TVs for Accessing Your Favorite Content
3
For Affordable Fast Speeds
TP-Link Archer AX10 Wi-Fi Router
- Extremely affordable
- Good-enough performance for many
- Lower than average RAM onboard
Dimensions: 10.2 x 5.3 x 1.5 inches
Wi-Fi Technology: Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ax) AX1500
Maximum Theoretical Speed: 1,200 Mbps
Coverage Area: 2,500 square feet
The TP-Link Archer AX10 is a budget-friendly router that supports dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ax, so it's a great option for achieving high speeds without breaking the bank.
Its antennas help ensure your devices reach peak network speeds of up to 574 Mbps over 2.4 GHz and 2,402 Mbps over 5 GHz. Four Ethernet ports on its backside make it easy to connect video game consoles, hard drives, or printers. But don’t expect to be able to do any intensive gaming while using this router, either. Unfortunately, it only packs a limited 256MB of RAM.
The router includes a free download link to an intuitive app, which you can use to set it up, manage your router, and adjust settings or passwords.
If you want a router on the cheap for streaming HD video or for achieving faster speeds on your smartphone, you can’t go wrong with this TP-Link. Power users on a budget should opt for something stronger like TP-Link's newer Archer AX21 router.
4
Best for Fiber Networks
TP-Link Archer AX73 Wi-Fi 6 Router
- Can be wall-mounted
- Mobile app makes it easy to set up
- Lacks multi-gig Ethernet port
Dimensions: 10.7 x 5.8 x 1.9 inches
Wi-Fi Technology: Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) AX5400
Maximum Theoretical Speed: 5,400 Mbps
Coverage Area: 3,000 square feet
This dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router from TP-Link will blanket your home with reliable Wi-Fi coverage. It's the ideal router for those who are lucky enough to have a fiberoptic internet connection. You can see what type of internet technology your area has by using this map from the FCC.
The Archer AX73 is a solid router that's definitely an upgrade over our best overall pick, the Archer AX50. It's equipped with two more antennas, a better USB 3.0 port, and it supports the 160MHz channel width. This just means it has double the bandwidth.
If your Internet Service Provider has Fiber infrastructure and you're subscribed to a gigabit internet plan, you'd have no issues streaming 8K video and achieving gigabit speeds wirelessly with this router. It has the ability to reach speeds up to 5,400 Mbps, so it's an ideal router for streamers, gamers, and business professionals who need the fastest, most reliable wireless network.
5
Best for Gaming
Asus RT-AX88U AX6000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Router
- Super speedy Wi-Fi performance
- Equipped with eight network ports
- Less bandwidth than tri-band routers
Dimensions: 11.8 x 7.4 x 2.4 inches
Wi-Fi Technology: Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) AX6000
Maximum Theoretical Speed: 6,000 Mbps
Coverage Area: 5,000 square feet
This wireless router was built with gamers in mind. Its four antennas promise combined wireless speeds of up to 6,000 Mbps across the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, which is up from 2,600 Mbps from its predecessor. The RT-AX88U is a great pick for big families with lots of devices, users with large homes, 4K video streamers, and gamers who play online or livestream on Twitch.
Jorge Jimenez, a hardware writer at PC Gamer, said that for gaming in a congested environment, “this router outdistances the competition with the highest FPS seen to date, and a very low dropped frame rate when simultaneously streaming videos.” We also like that it has a sleeker, less bulky design compared to the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 gaming router
If ASUS' Wi-Fi 6 gaming router's price is too far out of reach, we also recommend the slightly older previous-generation ASUS RT-AC86U Wi-Fi 5 router for gamers on a budget.
6
Best Mesh Router
Google Nest Wi-Fi Mesh Router
- Stylish design
- Built-in Google Assistant voice tech
Dimensions: 4.33 x 3.56 inches
Wi-Fi Technology: Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) AC2200
Maximum Theoretical Speed: 2,200 Mbps
Coverage Area: 4,400 square feet
The Google Nest Wi-Fi is an elegant and reasonably priced mesh router setup that's capable of covering more than 5,000 square feet with a speedy and reliable wireless internet connection. Setting up and managing the device is as easy as it gets, courtesy of the Google Home app. As an added bonus, its included range-extending point doubles as a Google Assistant smart speaker.
CNET also named Nest Wi-Fi the best mesh router of 2021 for its top-tier speeds, nice design, and reasonable price.
Although it doesn’t support the new Wi-Fi 6 format, and its beacons don’t have Ethernet jacks, we think that it’s a well-rounded and reliable mesh network system that gets the job done better and easier (and also cheaper) than the competition.
Read More: Our Full Breakdown on Wi-Fi 6
7
Best for Large Homes
Amazon eero Mesh Wi-Fi System
- One of the most affordable mesh kits available
- Excellent parental controls
- Not as speedy as other mesh routers
Dimensions: 3.9 x 3.9 x 2.3 inches
Wi-Fi Technology: Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) AC2200
Maximum Theoretical Speed: 550 Mbps
Coverage Area: 5,000 square feet
The eero is the best-selling mesh router setup on Amazon, and for good reason. It offers a cool design, consistent performance, and an incredibly easy setup. The eero stretches your dollar and Wi-Fi signal further since it comes with three devices for blanketing your home with Wi-Fi — most other mesh setups only include two beacons.
Installing the eero beacons is as easy as plugging them in. Key hardware specs of the eero include simultaneous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands, Alexa support for managing device access with your voice, as well as convenient control from a mobile app. Each unit has a duo of Gigabit Ethernet ports and supports speeds up to 350 Mbps for a total combined coverage of 5,000 square feet.
Compared to other mesh systems like Netgear’s Orbi system or Google Wi-Fi, you can expect slightly slower speeds but a much easier setup. And for those who want the fastest speeds possible and are willing to pay a price premium, consider eero's new Wi-Fi 6 system.
Brandon Carte
Senior Electronics Editor
Brandon Carte has been the technology editor at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been covering the latest gadgets and scouring the internet for the greatest deals; His tech reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com and USA Today.
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