The Best Wireless Routers of 2024

Find the best router for gamers, streamers, large houses, apartments, and more

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The best wireless routers deliver top-notch range and speed for households of all sizes. Thanks to accompanying smartphone apps, they’re easy to set up, so anybody can quickly get one up and running on their home network.

Whether you’re in a small condo or a sprawling villa, you’ll find one of the best wireless routers that will meet your needs, thanks to advanced technologies like beamforming antennas, quality-of-service, and Wi-Fi 6 support to ensure every one of your devices gets its fair share of your broadband connection.

Best Overall

Netgear Orbi Home Wi-Fi System

Netgear Orbi Whole Home Wi-Fi System

 Amazon

Pros
  • Full Home Coverage

  • Speedy performance

  • Beautiful aesthetics

Cons
  • Pricey

  • Older devices can complicate things

Netgear's Orbi offers a much more living room-friendly aesthetic than most wireless routers, and it's a significant departure from Netgear's usual design. However, it's also the company's first mesh Wi-Fi system, so it's not something you're expected to hide somewhere in your basement. You will have one or more of these units in your living space, so looks are essential here. 

Don't let its appearance fool you, as this powerful Wi-Fi system can easily cover even the most extensive and busiest homes with more than enough performance for all your streaming and video calling needs. A dedicated wireless channel runs between the main Orbi router and the satellite units to keep everything running quickly and smoothly. This means you'll get consistent speeds, no matter which unit you're closest to. 

This also makes each satellite's four wired Gigabit Ethernet ports especially handy. These are designed to let you hardwire in a non-Wi-Fi device like a smart TV, PC, or game console, and thanks to the Orbi's high-speed mesh network, you'll get the same speeds at a satellite unit that you would from plugging straight into the primary router. With Netgear Armor security and advanced Circle with Disney parental controls, it's also an excellent system for families of all ages.

Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: NETGEAR Armor, WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AC3000 | Bands: Tri-band | MU-MIMO: Yes | Beamforming: Yes | Wired Ports: 4 (per unit)

Netgear Orbi

Lifewire / Bill Thomas

Budget Buy

TP-Link Archer AX50 Wi-Fi 6 Router

TP-Link Archer AX50 AX3000 Dual Band Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Router

Amazon

Pros
  • Affordable Wi-Fi 6 technology

  • 160MHz-wide channels

  • Free advanced security and parental controls

Cons
  • Slow NAS performance

TP-Link’s Archer AX50 gives you the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology without costing a bundle. Even if you don’t have a lot of Wi-Fi 6 devices in your home yet, this router will get you ready when they do come along, and in the meantime, it will deliver impressive performance for all your 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 devices.

With enough range to handle a modest-sized home, the AX50 offers excellent value for its affordable price tag, delivering up to 3Gbps of bandwidth to all your Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 devices. It also supports 160MHz-wide channels, which is a pleasant surprise considering that’s something omitted by many more expensive Wi-Fi 6 routers. On top of that, TP-Link also includes a lifetime subscription to its HomeCare suite of security and parental control features powered by Trend Micro. It lets you block malware and create profiles for different family members to set time limits and keep your kids safe online. 

Around the back, you’ll find the usual collection of four Gigabit Ethernet ports, but the AX50 has another pleasant surprise up its sleeve. You can combine two wired ports as a single link for the highest-speed multi-gigabit internet plans. There’s also a USB 3.0 port for plugging in an external hard drive or sharing a printer. While it doesn’t offer the fastest NAS capabilities, it’s more adequate for network backup and even supports Apple’s Time Machine for Mac users. 

Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Security: HomeCare, WPA3 | Standard/Speed: AX3000 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: Yes | Beamforming: Yes | Wired Ports: 4

Cheapest

TP-Link Archer A6 Smart Wi-Fi Router

TP-Link AC1200 Gigabit WiFi Router (Archer A6) - 5GHz Dual Band Mu-MIMO Wireless Internet Router, Supports Guest WiFi and AP mode, Long Range Coverage

Amazon

Pros
  • Affordable and reliable router

  • Four Gigabit Ethernet ports

  • Setup is easy and hassle free

Cons
  • Speed falls off at longer ranges

  • No USB ports

TP-Link's Archer A6 is a solid budget router ideal for users in smaller living spaces. While it doesn't have the range to handle larger homes, it offers more than enough for a single user or a small family living in a bungalow, apartment, or condo.

Featuring dual-band Wi-Fi, the A6 is an 802.11ac router with up to 1.2Gbps of bandwidth across its 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels, so you'll have no problem streaming in 4K or keeping in touch with friends and family on Zoom or FaceTime. An array of four beamforming antennas and MU-MIMO support also means your 5GHz devices won't slow each other down. Surprisingly, it supports the latest WPA3 wireless encryption standard and includes a built-in OpenVPN server.

There's also the usual set of four Gigabit Ethernet ports around the back to hardwire in devices for maximum performance. Sadly, you won't find any USB ports on this one, but that's not surprising for a router in this price range—TP-Link had to cut back somewhere. It's also worth noting that the Archer A6 is virtually identical to the Archer C6. For whatever reason, TP-Link has chosen to use unique model numbers for different sales channels, but both models offer the same features and capabilities. 

Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: WPA3 | Standard/Speed: AC1200 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: Yes | Beamforming: Yes | Wired Ports: 4

TP-Link Archer A6 AC1200

Lifewire / Jeremy Laukkonen

Or Maybe These?

  • Which router is best for gaming? Asus' GT-AX11000 is an extremely powerful gaming router that can handle the needs of the most demanding online gamers with enough performance to spare for the rest of the family. 
  • I want a cool design. Netgear's Nighthawk RAXE500 (AXE11000) looks like the futuristic router it is, with sweeping hawk-like wings that elegantly hide away its high-powered beamforming antennas.
  • What's best for smart homes? Google's Nest Wi-Fi (2nd generation) distinguishes the Google Home ecosystem from the competition, offering a tight level of integration that most others can't match. Thanks to the Google Home app, the Nest Wi-Fi is also a total cinch to set up and manage.
  • What about parental controls? Synology's RT2600ac protects your kids from online threats at the perimeter of your home network, so you don't need to worry about installing parental control apps on each device. 

What to Look For in a Wireless Router

Your home network enables devices like computers and printers to communicate inside your house and allows your computers, phones, game consoles, and other devices to connect to the internet. While the modem is the component that connects to the internet, the wireless router is the linchpin of the entire system that ties everything together.

Choosing the right wireless router can mean the difference between lightning-fast download speeds, frustratingly slow data transfer, a rock-solid network or constantly dropped connections, and even basic compatibility with your latest devices.

Other features, like range, speed, and ports, all impact a router's usability and can significantly affect your overall experience and satisfaction. Select a router that doesn't have enough bands to support all of the users and devices in your house, for example, and you'll set yourself up for a disappointing experience.

Wireless Router Standards: Compatibility is Key

The wireless standards a router supports determine which devices can connect to that router. These standards have evolved a lot over the years. You can future-proof your purchase by selecting a router that supports the latest Wi-Fi standard even if you don't currently own any devices that can take advantage of that technology just yet — every new Wi-Fi standard is backward compatible with the ones that came before.

The modern Wi-Fi standards you'll most often see when shopping for wireless routers start with the number 802.11, followed by one or more letters. The standard in widespread use now is 802.11ac, which is essential if you have a lot of cutting-edge equipment, like laptops, phones, and streaming devices that can benefit from the higher speeds and frequencies it offers. If you want to make sure that you stay on the leading edge of technology, however, look for a router that supports the newest Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax standard, which offers better performance for the latest smartphones and other devices while remaining fully compatible with 802.11ac devices (which is also now known as Wi-Fi 5).

Netgear Orbi
Lifewire / Jordan Provost

If you don't have any devices supporting 802.11ac, or your internet connection is slow, choosing an 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) router might save you some money. Still, we only recommend that if you're reasonably sure you'll never need the better performance or you're willing to purchase another router down the road if you ever do.

Frequencies and Channels: Should You Save Money With Single-Band?

A wireless router allows wireless connectivity between your modem and other devices over radio frequencies. Every wireless router supports at least one frequency band, but these days, dual- and tri-band routers are far more common, and you'll rarely find a Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac router that doesn't offer at least dual-band support.

Single-band routers typically use the 2.4GHz band, which is significantly slower than the 5GHz band. Dual-band routers support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. They can create two simultaneous Wi-Fi networks, while tri-band routers add a second 5GHz band to support more devices at total capacity.

Most people need both 2.4GHz and 5GHz because older devices only work with 2.4GHz, while newer ones can benefit from the additional speed you get with a 5GHz signal. It's also important to remember that 5GHz signals don't travel as far, so good 2.4GHz coverage is still essential.

Dual-band routers are available in various configurations, from budget models to higher-priced units that offer blazing-fast speeds. You can find a dual-band option to fit your budget and connectivity requirements, whatever they may be.

Tri-band routers tend to be the most expensive of the bunch. If you have a lot of wireless devices and a lot of people in your home who use those devices simultaneously, then this type of router can be well worth the investment. You can even dedicate one of the 5GHz bands to a single purpose, like your work computer or a gaming console, to avoid slowdowns caused by network congestion.

Range: Antennas, Extenders, and Mesh Systems

The range of a wireless router is usually calculated based on a clear line of sight, with no obstructions between the router and the wireless device. Obstacles like furniture, walls, ceilings, and even people will reduce the actual range of a router. Also, 2.4GHz signals travel farther and better through solid objects than the higher-frequency 5GHz signals.

A few things can increase the range of a router, eliminate dead spots in a Wi-Fi network, and improve connectivity. The first is the number of antennas that a router has and the orientation of those antennas. As a general rule of thumb, a router with multiple antennas that can be rotated manually will have more range and provide better coverage than a router with just a single antenna. 

Asus AC3100 RT-AC88U
 Lifewire/ Jordan Provost

If you have a small home with an uncomplicated layout, then you may do fine with an inexpensive single antenna router. Larger homes, multi-floor homes, and any situation that places a lot of obstructions between the router and your devices will benefit from a multi-antenna router. The construction of your home matters here as well, as concrete and metal will block signals more than wood and drywall.

For large homes, you will have a much better experience using one or more Wi-Fi extenders or choosing a mesh Wi-Fi system instead of a traditional wireless router. Wi-Fi extenders connect to your existing network and project it further. At the same time, mesh systems use several interlocking nodes to cover a large area without slowing down your connection or introducing lag. These systems are more expensive than traditional wireless routers.

Speed: Don’t Pay For More Than You Can Use

If you like to stream movies in 4K, play video games, or download large files, then your router's speed is critical. When you look at most modern routers, you'll typically see a label like AC1700, AC3000, or AX6000. The number will sometimes come before the AC or AX designation, indicating whether it's using 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6).

In either case, these numbers refer to the maximum throughput the router can offer for all devices connected to it simultaneously across all its frequency bands combined. For example, a dual-band AC1700 router has a theoretical maximum speed of 1,700Mbps, split across its 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Similarly, tri-band routers usually have much higher numbers, like AC5400, since that total speed is divided across three bands instead of only two.

While the numbers are theoretical, and you typically won't see actual speeds that match the listed numbers, you can use them to compare one router to another. For example, two AC1700 routers from different manufacturers are in the same general speed class (although they may offer different speeds on each band), while an AC3000 router will be much faster.

You should look for a router that matches the speed of your internet connection. Don't waste your money on a router that is significantly faster than your internet.

If you need to figure out how fast your internet is, you can contact your ISP or run a speed test. Once you know the top speed of your internet connection, look for a router that can match it, and don't waste money on an expensive router that's significantly faster than your connection.

Linksys Max-Stream AC1900
Lifewire/Jordan Provost

Ports and Connectivity: Is Ethernet Enough?

While the Wi-Fi network is the most important thing about any wireless router, you should pay attention to other ports and connectivity. At a bare minimum, your router should have at least one extra Gigabit Ethernet port in addition to the one you use for your modem or internet connection. This wired connection provides the fastest possible connection speed, and you can always add a network switch later if you want physical connections for other devices.

A good standard to look for on a router is four Gigabit Ethernet ports, although some higher-end devices include eight or more. Some even allow you to achieve a 2Gbps connection by connecting to two Gigabit Ethernet ports at once, and a few leading-edge gaming routers now offer special 2.5Gbps or even 10Gbps ports.

If you don't need or want to connect anything via Ethernet, then a router with just a single Ethernet port would be fine (although it's pretty hard to find a router with fewer than four Ethernet ports these days, anyway).

Some routers offer additional ports, like USB ports and memory card slots. These ports are typically for connecting a hard drive to provide network storage. If you have a lot of digital media that you'd like to stream to various devices on your network, then make sure your router includes at least one USB port. Most routers offer simple file sharing. However, if you want to stream media, you'll be better off with a router with a built-in DLNA server or Plex Media Server specifically designed to handle streaming videos to your smart TVs and other devices.

Security: Protect All of Your Devices at Once

Basic routers don’t include built-in security measures, but some routers have a built-in firewall, a virus scanner, and the ability to protect your devices from malware and ransomware.

Consider whether these features are free or part of a subscription. Some routers come with a complimentary subscription to a security service, and then you have to pay when it lapses. Others include basic functionality, like a built-in firewall, that doesn’t incur ongoing fees.

Eero Pro Mesh Wi-Fi System
Lifewire / Jeremy Laukkonen 
FAQ
  • Can a better router increase your internet speed?

    While no wireless router can give you more speed than your internet plan offers, the best wireless routers will help you take full advantage of the broadband connection that you do have by removing bottlenecks that are often caused by poor Wi-Fi coverage and too many devices sharing your Wi-Fi. Features like powerful multi-core CPUs, beamforming antennas, and dual-band or tri-band Wi-Fi provide extended range while also ensuring that every connected device in your home gets its fair share of your bandwidth. 

  • How often should you replace your wireless router?

    It’s a good rule of thumb to upgrade your router about every three to four years to make sure that you’re staying abreast of the latest technologies. While Wi-Fi standards are fully backward-compatible, newer routers are much more capable of keeping up with the increasing demands of modern internet services and the number of devices you have in your home. This is even more true if you're expanding your home with new smart home devices, as even the most basic Wi-Fi light switches will add some extra load to your wireless network.

  • Do wireless routers go bad?

    Just like any other electronic device, even the best wireless routers can fail over time, especially if you’re putting more stress on them by adding more devices and spending more time streaming and downloading large files. The most common cause of router failures is excessive heat since many folks tuck their router away in a corner or a closet and don’t pay much attention to it. To keep your router in good condition, be sure to put it in a cool and well-ventilated area and clean it once in a while to prevent dust from building up around the cooling vents.

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