WiFi routers make it easy to access a wireless internet signal from anywhere in the home, and connect multiple devices at once. Finding the best WiFi router for your home means reading reviews, studying product features, and diving into the ins and outs of available styles and configurations. With the right WiFi router, keeping all of your devices securely connected to your home’s network can become a quick, over-and-done-with task.
We reviewed dozens of WiFi routers to identify the best of the best, based on Amazon reviews, how well they performed in tests, cost, and other considerations. We narrowed our search down to 5 of the top-rated WiFi routers people can purchase to ensure a stable and secure connection.
We’ve identified TP-Link Archer Ax6000 Smart WiFi Router as the best WiFi router out there. With faster speeds, greater capacity, and longer range, this WiFi router is one that will keep your home network in tip top shape. These benefits allow you to stay connected with ease.
The 5 Top-Rated WiFi Routers
Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
---|---|---|
Best WiFi Router Overall | TP-Link Archer Ax6000 Smart WiFi Router | 4.0 |
Best Portable WiFi Router | RAVPower FileHub, Travel Router AC750 | 4.4 |
Best Budget WiFi Router | D-Link DIR-867 WiFi Router | 4.2 |
Best Tri-Band WiFi Router | NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S Smart WiFi Router | 4.3 |
Best Mesh WiFi Router | Gryphon AC3000 Mesh WiFi Router | 4.4 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best WiFi Router Overall: TP-Link Archer Ax6000 Smart WiFi Router
The TP-Link Archer Ax6000 Smart WiFi Router took the top spot on our list of the best WiFi routers and offers faster speeds, greater capacity, and a longer range than most other WiFi routers available on the market. It includes plenty of future-proof features, such as multi-user multiple-input and multiple-output (MU-MIMO), WiFi 6 technology, and an intelligent connection band steering system. It boasts combined wireless speeds of up to 5952 Mbps, a 1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU and 2 co-processors, and 8 Gigabit LAN ports.
Those who purchased and reviewed this WiFi router appreciated that it offered multiple connection ports, and did not require restarting after system updates. People commented that it had no trouble providing a signal in even large houses, and found it easy to set up. Those who wanted more control over their network liked the online interface for customizing the setup.
With a price tag of about $270, it doesn’t come cheap, but the quality craftsmanship associated with the brand, as well as the ease of setup and future-proof features more than justifies that price. It has excellent ratings with thousands of people reviewing it, which we think goes a long way in convincing people to make the investment.
TP-Link Archer Ax6000 Smart WiFi Router Key Features:
- Integrated security features
- Includes a 1-year warranty
- Unlimited 24/7 technical support
Best Portable WiFi Router: RAVPower FileHub, Travel Router AC750
The RAVPower FileHub, Travel Router AC750 took the runner-up spot on our list of the best WiFi routers, and is an excellent option for those looking for a router they can take with them. It instantly converts any wired network to a private one, with the ability to share access with multiple devices. It can also be used as a wireless SD card reader, as well as a storage drive for backing up important files. It offers combined wireless speeds of up to 733 Mbps, with dual band connectivity.
Those who purchased and reviewed this WiFi router appreciated that it was very easy to set up and use, and loved the compact and portable design, saying it is “one of the best tech solutions you can buy!” People found battery life to be about 6.5 hours with 5 devices connected and really liked the multi-function design. The fact that it comes with a lifetime warranty is just icing on the cake.
At a cost of around $48, it’s surprisingly affordable, and the quality craftsmanship associated with the brand, as well as the ease of setup and use more than justifies that price. It has very good ratings with thousands of people reviewing it, which we think goes a long way in convincing people to make the investment.
RAVPower FileHub, Travel Router AC750 Key Features:
- Supports simultaneous connection of up to 5 devices
- Wireless data transfer with automatic backups
- Compatible with Chromecast, Roku, and other DLNA devices
Best Budget WiFi Router: D-Link DIR-867 WiFi Router
The D-Link DIR-867 WiFi Router is an excellent choice for those looking for a WiFi router that won’t break the bank. It offers combined wireless speeds of up to 1,750 Mbps, with dual band connectivity. The four high performance antenna make it suitable for enjoying 4K/HD video and online gaming simultaneously, without drop-off or lag. It tracks your connected devices using advanced Smartbeam Technology for enhanced speed and range throughout the home.
Those who purchased and reviewed this WiFi router appreciated that it was easy to install and use, saying, “I really didn’t have to configure that much. It was simple to apply filters to forbidden sites.” Many users said the range was “much better” on this router than previous D-Link models, and found speeds to be “excellent,” even in the yard.
With a cost of approximately $100, this WiFi router is a solid choice for those looking for a WiFi router option on a budget. It has great ratings from thousands of people who’ve reviewed it, which we think goes a long way in convincing people that this budget-friendly pick is just as good at providing a stable connection as its more expensive counterparts.
D-Link DIR-867 WiFi Router Key Features:
- Designed with MU-MIMO
- Intelligent, adaptive QoS
- Includes 4 Gigabit LAN ports
Best Tri-Band WiFi Router: NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S Smart WiFi Router
The NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S Smart WiFi Router is a great pick for those who prefer the convenience of a tri-band WiFi router. It provides up to 3,500 square feet of wireless coverage with AC4000 speed, and can easily accommodate up to 55 connected devices at once. It comes complete with four Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections, a dual core 1.8GHz processor, 6 amplified antennas, and Beamforming technology.
Those who purchased and reviewed this WiFi router appreciated that it offered “fantastic” speeds that were suitable for even 4K gaming. Some people noted the initial setup to be a bit tedious, but found the level of customization to be solid. While people liked the option of the smart parental controls, they were disappointed that it came with a small monthly fee after the 30-day free trial.
With a price tag of about $202, it doesn’t come cheap, but the quality craftsmanship associated with the brand, as well as the ease of setup and use more than justifies that price. It has very good ratings with tens of thousands of people reviewing it, which we think goes a long way in convincing people to make the investment.
NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S Smart WiFi Router Key Features:
- Designed with MU-MIMO
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa
- Supports WPA2 wireless security protocols
Best Mesh WiFi Router: Gryphon AC3000 Mesh WiFi Router
The Gryphon AC3000 Mesh WiFi Router is a solid choice for those looking to create a mesh WiFi system for better whole home coverage. The router provides up to 3,000 square feet of coverage, and uses tri-band technology to provide fast wireless speeds. This expandable system offers daily updates and 24/7 protection to keep your home’s network secure, and scans all devices, including IoTs, for vulnerabilities.
Those who purchased and reviewed this WiFi router appreciated that it was designed with MU-MIMO technology for seamlessly connecting multiple devices, with one cybersecurity expert saying it is “quite simply the greatest consumer router in the world.” While people liked the option of the smart parental controls, they were disappointed that it came with a small monthly fee after the 90-day free trial. Those who had issues with this router and had to contact customer service found them to be responsive and helpful.
At a cost of around $210, it doesn’t come cheap, but the quality craftsmanship associated with the brand, as well as the ease of setup and use more than justifies that price. It has really good ratings from thousands of people who’ve reviewed it, which we think goes a long way in convincing people to make the investment.
Gryphon AC3000 Mesh WiFi Router Key Features:
- Easily manage network through the free app
- Includes a 1-year warranty and unlimited technical support
- 90-day money-back guarantee
Who Should Buy a WiFi Router?
A WiFi router is an ideal choice for those who want to set up a wireless internet connection in their home. While many service providers offer a combined WiFi modem/router combo that is often rented to the consumer, there are those with just basic modems. A WiFi router then allows you to create a wireless internet signal for connecting your devices, so that you do not have to have a hardwired connection. And, if you don’t want to rent a router from your service provider, purchasing your own is the best option.
Additionally, a WiFi router is also a good choice for those looking to upgrade their wireless speeds. If you have an older router, it may not offer the latest technology, such as WiFi 6, Beamforming, and MU-MIMO. By purchasing an updated router, you can ensure you have the best connectivity and security options available.
Finally, some people find that a WiFi router can help to boost the wireless coverage area in their home. Some routers have weaker signals than others, or a home may have thick walls where signals cannot penetrate. By investing in a mesh WiFi router system, you can ensure you have whole home coverage.
And if you’re looking for information on other electronic accessories, such as finding the best smart home hub, the best wireless printer, or the best WiFi range extender, we have in-depth guides that can help make it easier.
Important Features to Consider
Not all WiFi routers are created equal. A WiFi router should provide a stable and secure connection. Here’s what to consider when evaluating the options in search of the best WiFi router for your home:
- Speed. Arguably the most important consideration when shopping for the best WiFi router is the speed. This will determine your ability to stream content or play network games. At a minimum, look for a router with AC in its name, as this speed should be more than sufficient for most needs. If it’s in your budget, a router with AX will offer the best output in terms of speed, and is also known as the new WiFi 6. More devices are following this protocol for improved speed and security.
- Bands. The majority of WiFi routers these days offer a minimum of two bands signal, but there are others with tri-band capabilities. Think of the bands as lanes on the highway. The more lanes you have, the more you can spread out your internet traffic, and thus reduce congestion for improved speeds.
- Mesh. If your house is about 2,500 square feet or less, you should be fine with just a single WiFi router for wireless coverage. However, if your home is larger than this, and depending on the construction, you might find a mesh WiFi system more suited to your needs. These systems are made up of two or more routers that work together in order to improve the reach of your wireless system without sacrificing on speed.
- LAN ports. LAN ports are handy for making wired connections to the devices in your home, and many internet-connected smart home devices require a hard-wired connection in order to work properly. Having enough ports makes it easy to connect all the devices you need to.
- USB ports. A router’s USB ports are helpful for connecting a flash drive, an external hard drive, or a USB printer to your home’s network.
- QoS. QoS stands for quality of service, and is a feature that is helping to manage the traffic on your network. It lets you create settings that prioritize a certain type of traffic (gaming) over another (email or printing).
- App-based management. App based management of a WiFi router makes it easy to set up and control your preferences, as well as monitor usage and other things.
- Security. Different routers come with varying levels of security, but it’s important to have even a basic level of security in place in order to prevent hackers accessing your network. The most common router encryption types include WEP, WPA, and WPA2. There is also AES, or advanced encryption standard.
- Price point. Finally, consider how much you are willing to spend on a WiFi router. WiFi routers vary in price from $50-$1,000 or more. You can frequently find discounts around holidays such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday that can make buying a WiFi router more affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a WiFi router and how does it work?
A WiFi router is an electronic device that plugs into your modem in order to create a wireless internet signal. This signal is then sent throughout the home, in order to provide a wide coverage area. Wireless devices in the home connect to the router, with the router directing network traffic in the most efficient way.
What is the difference between a WiFi router and a modem?
The difference between a WiFi router and a modem is a big one. The modem is what brings the internet signal into your home, while the router is what creates a wireless local network within your home that you can connect to.
Should I buy my own router?
Whether or not you should buy your own router depends on a few different factors. First, if you don’t want to be concerned with replacements and repairs in the event that something goes wrong with your router, it could make sense to rent from your internet provider. Some providers do require rental contracts of a certain length, so keep that in mind if having the newest technology is important to you. If you aren’t very technically inclined and don’t want the hassle of setting up your router, many service providers offer installation and setup services. If you don’t want to worry about ongoing rental costs, purchasing your own router can easily pay for itself in a matter of months. You also have the option to upgrade your router at any time when you own it, although you will need to ensure compatibility and run through any setup.
Will upgrading my router increase Internet speed?
In many cases, updating your router will increase internet speed. This is because many people may still be running B, G, or N rated routers, while the new standard is AC or even AX. That said, your internet speed will only be as fast as the signal coming into your home, so if you don’t have a fast service, upgrading your router is not likely to increase your internet speed in a noticeable way.
Other WiFi Routers We Reviewed
We looked at 21 other WiFi routers. Even though they didn’t make our 5 best WiFi routers list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for your connection needs. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
Tri-Band WiFi Routers
NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System
This tri-band WiFi router provides a coverage area of up to 7,500 square feet, and can easily support more than 60 devices without compromising on performance.
Key Features:
- Up to 6 Gbps of streaming
- Compatible with all internet providers
- Designed with MU-MIMO
Cost: $1,000
WAVLINK Wireless Tri-Band Gigabit Router
This tri-band WiFi router boasts the ability to touch to connect, and comes complete with 8x 5dBi omni-directional antennas for improved performance.
Key Features:
- Designed with MU-MIMO
- Security options including WPA-PSK/ WPA2-PSK encryption
- Includes a 1-year warranty
Cost: $100
NETGEAR Nighthawk AX12 WiFi 6 Router
This tri-band WiFi router boasts several advanced features and controls, including WiFi 6 compatibility, 8 amplified antennas, Beamforming+, MU-MIMO, and voice assistant compatibility.
Key Features:
- Sleek and stylish design
- Provides up to 3,500 square feet of coverage
- Supports up to 40 devices
Cost: $500
TP-Link Archer A20 AC4000 Smart WiFi Router
This tri-band WiFi router boasts beamforming support, and can support 4K video, streaming, gaming, and more. MU-MIMO technology provides for extended coverage.
Key Features:
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa
- Includes 24/7 technical support
- Includes a 1-year warranty
Cost: $202
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 AX11000 Tri-Band WiFi Router
This tri-band WiFi router boasts several advanced features and controls, including WiFi 6, game packet and game server prioritization, device bandwidth utilization, and usage prioritization.
Key Features:
- Aiprotection lifetime security by Trend Micro
- Backward compatible
- Dedicated 5G gaming band
Gaming Routers
ASUS RT-AC5300 AC5300 Tri-Band WiFi Gaming Router
This gaming router boasts up to 5,000 square feet of coverage, and is compatible with a variety of operating systems including Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
Key Features:
- Mesh system compatible
- Aiprotection lifetime security by Trend Micro
- Designed with MU-MIMO
Cost: $265
D-Link EXO DIR-882 WiFi Router
This gaming router boasts the ability to support 4K streaming and gaming, with WiFi speeds of up to 2,600 Mbps.
Key Features:
- Designed with MU-MIMO
- Dual core processor
- Includes 4 high performance antennas and amplifiers
Cost: $129
ASUS RT-AC88U Dual-Band Gigabit WiFi Gaming Router
This gaming router boasts wireless speeds of up to 2,100 Mbps, and provides a coverage range of up to 5,000 square feet.
Key Features:
- Mesh system compatible
- Aiprotection lifetime security by Trend Micro
- Designed with MU-MIMO
Cost: $216
TP-Link Archer C5400X AC5400 Tri Band Gaming Router
This gaming router boasts a 1.8 GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU, three co-processors, and 1 GB RAM for fast, reliable wireless connections. It offers intelligent traffic prioritization and customizable parental controls for added convenience.
Key Features:
- Integrated powerful antivirus software
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa
- Designed with MU-MIMO
Cost: $230
NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 WiFi Router
This gaming router lets you monitor your network and game ping in real time, and the ability to connect to the closest servers thanks to geo filtering.
Key Features:
- Four 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Prioritize gaming devices
- Configurable advanced QoS bypassing
Cost: $225
Asus RT-AC86U WiFi Dual-band Gigabit Wireless Router
This gaming router boasts dual band technology, and offers data transfer speeds of up to 2,900 Mbps. It is ideal for lag-free online gaming or 4K UHD streaming, and lets you manage your network through the free app.
Key Features:
- Mesh system compatible
- Aiprotection lifetime security by Trend Micro
- Designed with MU-MIMO
Mesh WiFi Routers
Asus AC1900 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Router
This mesh WiFi router boasts dual band technology, and offers data transfer speeds of up to 1,900 Mbps. You can easily manage your network through the free app.
Key Features:
- Adaptive QoS
- Simple setup
- Aiprotection lifetime security by Trend Micro
Cost: $124
Linksys MR8300 Mesh WiFi Router AC2200
This mesh WiFi router boasts up to 2,000 square feet of WiFi coverage — enough to connect more than 20 wireless devices. It allows for 4K HD streaming, gaming, and more, without buffering or lag.
Key Features:
- Easily manage network through the free app
- Tri band coverage
- Integrates with Velop mesh WiFi System
Cost: $138
This mesh WiFi router offers up to 5,000 square feet of wireless coverage so you can connect all your devices. It boasts speeds up to 350 Mbps, and intelligently routes traffic for the best connection experience.
Key Features:
- Fast setup in under 10 minutes
- Automatic security updates
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa
Cost: $200
This mesh WiFi router boasts a sleek and compact design that provides up to 2,200 square feet of coverage. Parents will appreciate the ability to pause WiFi in order to limit children’s screen time.
Key Features:
- Available in single or multi-packs
- Automatic security updates
- Quick and easy setup
Cost: $149
GRYPHON Guardian Advance Security & Parental Control Mesh WiFi Router
This mesh WiFi router boasts advanced security and parental controls to help keep your wireless network safe, and provides up to 1,800 square feet of coverage.
Key Features:
- Available in single or multi-packs
- Easily manage network through the free app
- Includes a 1-year warranty
Portable WiFi Routers
Brume-W (GL-MV1000W) Pocket-Sized Wireless Gateway
Thanks to its high-performance chipset, the Brume-W provides a state-of-the-art, fully-portable VPN routing experience. In fact, it’s so advanced that it can even support in-depth developments for commercial IoT projects.
Key Features:
- Supports 30+ VPN services
- AdGuard Home supported
- Built with Linux compatibility
Cost: Approx. $139
HooToo Filehub, Wireless Travel Router
This portable WiFi router boasts the ability to be used in a variety of ways, including wired, wirelessly, or as a bridge.
Key Features:
- Compatible with USB 3.0
- Upgraded external battery packs and chips
- TV stick compatible
Cost: $44
TP-Link N300 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router
This portable WiFi router boasts a compact, pocket-sized design that quickly creates a secure WiFi hotspot to help you stay connected while on the go.
Key Features:
- WiFi speeds of up to 300Mbps
- TV stick compatible
- Includes a 2-year warranty
Cost: $30
GL.iNET GL-MT300N-V2 Wireless Mini Portable Travel Router
This portable WiFi router offers the ability to quickly and easily convert a public network to a private one for a more secure online experience.
Key Features:
- 3G/4G USB modem compatible
- Pocket-friendly design
- Includes a 1-year warranty
Cost: $23
TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router
This portable WiFi router boasts a compact and lightweight design, and offers dual band AC750 WiFi for fast, stable connections while out and about.
Key Features:
- Flexible power options
- Unlimited 24/7 technical support
- Includes a 2-year warranty
Cost: $35