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Best Wireless Routers

Updated October 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming 6-Stream WiFi 6 Router
NETGEAR
Nighthawk Pro Gaming 6-Stream WiFi 6 Router
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Fast & Powerful
Bottom Line

If you’re a gamer or you just need flawless, uninterruptible WiFi, this is your best bet, according to our tech expert.

Pros

It’s got more than enough of everything and can support multiple gigabit connections. Covers up to 2,500 square feet and up to 25 devices. Offers ping rate reduction of up to 93%. Compatible with wireless gaming devices.

Cons

It’s expensive, and setup requires a little time.

Best Bang for the Buck
ASUS AX1800 WiFi 6 Router
ASUS
AX1800 WiFi 6 Router
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

If you need cutting-edge features for a handful of devices, our expert recommends this model.

Pros

Affordable and supports the latest WiFi standards. Offers a networking speed of about 1,800 Mbps. Can be paired with the ASUS AiMesh WiFi system. Can cover up to 3,000 square feet and up to 30 devices.

Cons

ASUS customer support is not amazing.

NETGEAR R6700AX 4-stream Wi-Fi 6 Router
NETGEAR
R6700AX 4-stream WiFi 6 Router
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

This smart dual-band WiFi 6 router from Netgear is a solid performer for small to medium homes.

Pros

Capable of covering around 1,800 square feet and up to 20 devices. Dual-band technology with WiFi 6 for the latest wireless speeds and standards. Features three beamforming antennas and four wireless streams. Reaches up to 1.8 Gbps.

Cons

May not be best suited for gaming compared to other affordable routers.

TP-LINK Archer AX21 AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Router
TP-LINK
Archer AX21 AX1800 WiFi 6 Router
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Best for Everyday Use
Bottom Line

One of the most reliable choices available to easily deploy WiFi 6 in a typical home.

Pros

Effectively covers up to 2,500 square feet and up to 50 devices. Supports dual-band connections with speeds up to 1,800 Gbps. Easy setup with the smartphone app. Four adjustable beamforming antennas help maintain reliable speeds.

Cons

Won’t get the most speed out of a gigabit connection.

Google Nest WiFi Router
Google
Nest WiFi Router
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Saves Energy
Bottom Line

This WiFi router comes from a great brand and is full of extra features.

Pros

Multiple routers can be used together for reliable WiFi throughout the house. It's quick and reliable, so you don't have to waste time on dropped calls. Buyers praise this product for its easy-to-use setup. It also features a security chip and a smart speaker.

Cons

This product may not be compatible with all devices, so check before purchasing.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

33
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Considered
60
Consumers
Consulted
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Buying guide for Best wireless routers

There are a lot of different ways to set up WiFi in your home, but the most traditional method is to use a wireless router. Wireless routers, sometimes referred to as WiFi routers, take the internet signal from your cable modem and make it available wirelessly to your other devices — so it’s critical to get one that’s both fast enough for all of your gear and secure enough to keep all of your content safe.

Wireless routers are perfect for homes where they can be placed in a centralized location: most models include multiple antennas to increase their broadcast range. Many models also work with WiFi extenders, so you can add coverage to specific problem areas.

A wireless router on a shelf

What is a wireless router?

A wireless router is a device that translates the internet signal from a cable modem into a radio frequency signal—aka WiFi. Your wireless router handles all of your WiFi traffic and allows you to configure specific settings like your WiFi password or WiFi network name.

Most internet service providers (ISPs) offer modem/router combo units, but monthly rental fees add up quickly, so you should buy your own cable modem and wireless router as separate devices.

Expert Tip
If you own a lot of smart home devices, make sure to choose a router that broadcasts on both the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz channels. Smart home devices typically run on the older 2.4GHz channel.
BestReviews Electronics Expert

WiFi terminology: a cheat sheet

​​​​​​Wireless routers are often described by a wide variety of terms, codes, and protocol names that are easy to confuse. 

The Wi-Fi Alliance—a worldwide network of WiFi researchers and manufacturers—ratifies new WiFi standards as they become available. For example, the first mainstream WiFi technology was built based on the 802.11b protocol. Subsequent upgrades like 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11a, 802.11ac, and the bleeding-edge WiFi 6 protocols have enabled WiFi to be faster and farther-reaching. Each new standard is backward-compatible with the ones that came before it. The bottom line: Most modern devices use the 802.11ac standard, and WiFi 6 adoption will be slow. In most cases, sticking with an 802.11ac wireless router is the best option.

Most modern wireless routers are dual-band, which means they broadcast at both the 2.4GHz and the 5.0GHz frequencies. That’s important because older devices and newer smart home devices will typically only work on the 2.4GHz band, and newer devices can take advantage of the less crowded 5.0GHz band. Some routers market themselves as “tri-band” routers, but that’s a bit of a misnomer; tri-band routers have an additional 5.0GHz broadcast. Tri-band routers are overkill for most people, but they can be helpful if you’re supporting several users and dozens of devices.

Expert Tip
If you’re not sure if you need WiFI 6 or not, check your devices--it’s likely that only your most current gear will be able to take advantage of WiFi 6 speeds.
BestReviews Electronics Expert

Some wireless routers are mesh networking systems, which offer similar features using a different delivery model. With a wireless router, you’re broadcasting your WiFi signal from one piece of hardware. With a mesh networking system, you use multiple nodes placed in different locations to create your WiFi network. Both traditional wireless routers and mesh networking systems can deliver fast WiFi to all of your devices; if you’re not sure which to buy, make the decision based on which approach is best for your home’s layout.

Wireless router tips

  • The average wireless router covers about 2,500 square feet. If your home is larger than that, use a range extender or consider a mesh WiFi system.

  • If you want to connect computers or other devices directly to the router using an ethernet cable, make sure your chosen model has sufficient LAN ports.

  • Most wireless routers can be configured with a smartphone app. While you’re shopping, compare app store reviews of different companion apps to get a sense of what your experience will be like.

  • If your router has two external antennae, you'll get the best signal if one is pointed vertically and the other horizontally.

  • If you’re not sure if you need WiFI 6 or not, check your devices--it’s likely that only your most current gear will be able to take advantage of WiFi 6 speeds.

Expert Tip
Experiment with different placement to make sure you’re getting the best WiFi coverage available.
BestReviews Electronics Expert

Wireless router prices

The cost of a wireless router depends on the features and network standard.

Inexpensive

If you want a cheap router and you're not too concerned about speed, an 802.11n wireless router should cost between $20 and $50.

Mid-range

A basic 802.11ac router that will provide fast wireless connection and not much else will cost $40 to $80.

Expert Tip
If you’re a gamer, make sure the router you get supports key features like port forwarding and Quality of Service (QoS) controls. Advanced features like these can make sure your gaming experiences are lag-free.
BestReviews Electronics Expert

Expensive

Expect to pay $80 to $150 for a mid-range 802.11ac wireless router, with a few added extras like apps for remote access or Alexa compatibility.

High-end

The price of a high-end 802.11ac wireless router is roughly $150 to $350. These models should have a range of extra features, like a boosted signal range, multi-stage protection, game acceleration, and more.

Content Image
Unless your internet connection exceeds 1,000 Mbps, you're unlikely to push the limits of an average router, so speed shouldn't be your main concern when selecting which model to buy.

FAQ

Q. How do I secure my wireless network?

A. There are a number of simple techniques that everyone should do to secure their wireless home network, such as:

  • Turning on wireless network encryption.
  • Ensuring that your wireless router’s firewall is turned on.
  • Enabling MAC address filtering.
  • Creating a custom name for your network.
  • Setting your wireless router closer to the center of your home, so less of your WiFi signal will be detected outside of your property.

Q. My WiFi connection keeps dropping. How do I fix it?

A. If your wireless router isn’t reliably emitting the WiFi signal that it should be, there are a few quick fixes to test out:

  • Reset your wireless router. (Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best).
  • Reposition your router.
  • Ensure that all cables are securely inserted into the router.
  • Update your wireless router’s firmware.
  • Call your internet provider and ask if there is an outage in your area.

Q. What is the best way to restart my wireless router?

A. Restarting your router is a common fix for wireless and connectivity issues, but there is a right and a wrong way to do so. Unless you want to turn your device back to its factory settings, do not push the “Reset” button on the back of your wireless router.

To restart your wireless router, simply unplug both your router and modem, and wait at least one minute. Plug in your modem, and wait another minute. Finally, plug your wireless router back in, and wait another minute or two to see if resetting your network connection fixed your problem.