What would you do without Wi-Fi? Probably not a whole lot given how integral it has become in our daily lives. If you stream movies, play online games, or even check e-mail at home, chances are you're doing it over Wi-Fi. Truth is, a Wi-Fi router is right up there with a refrigerator when it comes to must-haves for the modern home.
If you're ready for your next Wi-Fi router, it can get a bit confusing to choose with all the numbers and letters thrown around like 802.11, N, AC, and AX. This guide will give you what you need to know about today's Wi-Fi and help you buy what is best.
Best Wi-Fi Routers
The Expert: For 30 years I’ve been an IT professional, personal tech consultant, and technology writer. I spend most of most of my time hip-deep in various kinds of tech, and over the years I’ve written for PC Mag, Small Business Computing, and Smart Computing, among others. I’ve also authored or co-authored several books. My most recent is Hacks for Alexa (Racehorse Press, 2019).
As a former tech journalist, I first started working with some of the earliest standardized Wi-Fi products back before the dawn of the millennium. As of this writing I have more than three dozen devices connected across multiple home Wi-Fi networks, ranging from PCs and Macs to smartphones and tablets, to cameras, smart home assistants, video games, and even a bathroom scale.
What to Look for in a Wi-Fi Router
Standards and Bands
Had your current Wi-Fi router for more than a few years? It probably supports Wi-Fi 4 (also called 802.11n), which was introduced in 2008, and/or Wi-Fi 5 (also known as 802.11ac), which was introduced in 2014. Wi-Fi 4 operates in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, while Wi-Fi 5 operates only in the 5 GHz band.
The 2.4 GHz band, which is narrow with a limited number of communication channels available, constrains both the number of simultaneous Wi-Fi devices that can communicate at one time, and the amount of data each device can transmit over the air (called the data rate).
The 2.4 GHz band is also highly susceptible to interference, both from other 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks nearby as well as devices that use the same frequencies, like Bluetooth gadgets and microwave ovens. On the plus side, 2.4 GHz signals can travel relatively long distances within a home.
By contrast, the 5 GHz band is considerably wider, providing more channels and more capacity to handle many Wi-Fi devices simultaneously—plus higher data rates. The catch: 5 GHz signals have a shorter range than 2.4 GHz—the higher the frequency, the less distance a transmission travels, and the more trouble it has penetrating walls and other obstacles.
That’s why modern routers are almost always “dual band,” which means they operate on both 2.4 and 5 GHz so you can take advantage of the benefits of each depending on how close you are to the router.
If you’re buying a Wi-Fi router today, you'll want one that supports the most recent standard, Wi-Fi 6 (also known as 802.11ax). Like Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 6 operates at both 2.4 and 5 GHz, but due to more efficient encoding and other technical enhancements, it can squeeze a lot more data into a Wi-Fi signal than its predecessors. It also does so with far less latency, or lag, especially important for online gaming or streaming 4K video versus browsing the Web or sending e-mail.
Thankfully, the Wi-Fi standard is backward-compatible with its predecessors, so you won’t have to worry about your existing devices not working with a new Wi-Fi router.
For decades, Wi-Fi networks could only operate on 2.4 or 5 GHz bands, but now there’s a third band available, at 6 GHz. Wi-Fi that operates on this new 6 GHz band is called Wi-Fi 6E (E for Extended). This additional 6 GHz band is even wider than 5 GHz, opening up even more capacity and speed for Wi-Fi devices. That said, 6 GHz offers the best performance of the three Wi-Fi bands, but the same laws of physics apply so it has the least range, too.
Many (but not all) Wi-Fi 6 routers today also support Wi-Fi 6E. So while you want Wi-Fi 6, do you absolutely need Wi-Fi 6E? Arguably, no. The standard is new enough that there aren’t a ton of Wi-Fi devices that support Wi-Fi 6E just yet (Wi-Fi 6E was only adopted in 2020). But if you want to be forward thinking and get a Wi-Fi router well suited for the smartphones, tablets, and streaming devices you’ll likely purchase over the next several years, then a Wi-Fi 6E router is the best choice. (Most of our recommendations offer Wi-Fi 6E.)
Note: a Wi-Fi 6E router is by definition “tri-band” (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz). But some Wi-Fi 5 or 6 routers advertise themselves as “tri-band” because they provide one 2.4 GHz and two 5 GHz networks, so be aware that a tri-band router doesn’t necessarily mean it supports Wi-Fi 6E.
Streams
Regardless of what standards a Wi-Fi router supports, the number of streams it provides per band determines the highest potential performance it can deliver to a Wi-Fi device. A stream is basically a connection between a Wi-Fi router and a device it’s communicating with, and the more streams that link the two, the faster data can be transferred between them. Wi-Fi 6 routers support at least two streams per band, but four is typical for higher-performance models.
Wi-Fi manufacturers typically use big numbers, adding up the performance potential of the total number of streams a router supports across all its bands to come up with a number like AX3000 or AXE5400 to denote a product’s performance. AXE5400, for example, means Wi-Fi 6 (AX), Wi-Fi 6E (E) and 5400 Megabits per second maximum performance.
But measuring performance in aggregate like this doesn’t mean much because your Wi-Fi device can only connect to one band at a time. So AXE5400 really means it supports two streams on each band, providing about 600 Mbps (Megabits per second) at 2.4 GHz, 2400 Mbps at 5 GHz, and 2400 Mbps at 6 GHz, not 5400 Mbps to a single device across all three bands.
Since this is a more accurate way of describing a Wi-Fi router’s performance potential, we break it down this way in our Key Specs for recommended products. (We also list the number of streams supported in each band.) Just know these figures represent potential performance.
Actual performance is ultimately dictated by several variables including the number of streams the connecting device supports, so even if your router supports four streams at 5 GHz, if your smartphone or other Wi-Fi device only supports two, you’ll at best only see half of that potential performance figure.
Mesh
A standalone Wi-Fi router will generally have little trouble providing coverage for the typical apartment or home. But there’s a practical limit to how far any single device can transmit a Wi-Fi signal. For larger spaces, multiple-floor dwellings, or even some modestly sized living spaces with lots of obstacles (like walls), a lone Wi-Fi router may not suffice. That’s where mesh Wi-Fi comes in.
A mesh Wi-Fi starts with a Wi-Fi router as a base station but adds one or more satellite units that wirelessly communicate with the router and with each other (hence the mesh). A mesh network can provide seamless, better-quality connections throughout your home because it extends your Wi-Fi network across multiple connection points instead of just one.
The highest-performance mesh devices feature a wireless backhaul, a dedicated network (typically 5 GHz) that all the mesh devices use to communicate with each other. Without a wireless backhaul, mesh devices must talk to each other over the same 5 GHz network your wireless devices connect to, which can limit the throughput of your devices.
Wired Ethernet Ports
If we're taking about Wi-Fi, why do wired Ethernet ports matter? It does if you have—or plan to get—a high-speed Internet subscription from your ISP, which we'll define as greater than 1 Gbps (Gigabits per second, or 1,000 Mbps). While these used to be rare, they’re becoming more common (and cost-effective).
If your ISP is pumping out 1.2, 1.5, or 2 Gbps to your home, but your Wi-Fi router is connecting to your provider’s equipment over a standard 1 Gigabit Ethernet port, then that’s a bottleneck... and you won't realize the full Internet speed you’re paying for with your plan.
So, if already have you have a 1Gbps+ Internet connection or think there’s a good chance you might in the next several years, make sure your Wi-Fi router has a WAN (Internet) port that supports 2.5 Gb (the next step up from 1 Gb; some routers provide 10 Gb ports). If you want to get the fastest connection possible for a wired device like a desktop PC, make sure the Wi-Fi router has at least at least one 2.5 Gbps LAN (that’s your local network) port, too.
How We Evaluated Wi-Fi Routers
To make these product recommendations, I relied on my own extensive experience, did substantial research, checking the specs and features of numerous Wi-Fi routers, consulting product reviews, and factoring in customer reviews and feedback ratings.
BEST OVERALL
TP-Link Archer AXE75
Pros
- Supports mesh add-ons
Cons
- No 2.5 Gbps WAN port
Key Specs
| Potential Data Rate | 600 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 2400 Mbps (5 GHz), 2400 Mbps (6 GHz) |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 6E | Yes |
| Bands | 3 - 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz |
| Streams | 6 (2 per band) |
| 2.5 Gb: WAN/LAN Port | No |
TP-Link’s Archer AXE75 isn’t flashy, but it’s a great choice for a typical household because for a couple hundred bucks (or less) it gives you Wi-Fi 6E plus you can add a mesh transmitter to extend range later if it's needed. The main shortcoming is lack of a 2.5 Gbps WAN port, so if a super fast Internet connection is in your future, you'll want to look elsewhere.
Best Budget
TP-Link Archer AX55
Pros
- Supports mesh add-ons
Cons
- No Wi-Fi 6E or multi-Gb Ethernet ports
Key Specs
| Potential Data Rate | 600 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 2400 Mbps (5 GHz) |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 6E | No |
| Bands | 2 - 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz |
| Streams | 4 (2 per band) |
| 2.5 Gb WAN/LAN Port | No/No |
If you’ve got limited funds, the TP-Link Archer AX55 is low-cost without being no-frills. You don’t get Wi-Fi 6E or Ethernet ports that support higher than 1 Gbps, but you do get Wi-Fi 6, an easy-to use Web interface, and basic security and parental controls for free (though you can add more features with a paid subscription).
BEST MESH FOR ALEXA USERS AND SMART HOMES
Eero Pro 6E
Pros
- Can use Echo Dots as mesh devices
- Built-in Zigbee and Thread
Cons
- No dedicated wireless backhaul
Key Specs
| Potential Data Rate | 600 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 2400 Mbps (5 GHz), 2400 Mbps (6 GHz) |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 6E | Yes |
| Bands | 3 - 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz |
| Streams | 6 (2 per band) |
| 2.5 Gb: WAN/LAN Port | Yes/No |
The Eero Pro 6E is a solid mesh router for almost any household—you get a two- or three-pack of devices for $400 or $550, respectively—but what sets it apart is that it can use late model (4th or 5th Generation) Amazon Echo Dot smart speakers as mesh devices. It also supports smart device protocols Zigbee and Thread. It lacks a dedicated wireless backhaul, though you can use wired Ethernet if your home is wired for it.
BEST MESH FOR VERY LARGE HOMES
Netgear Orbi 960
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Dedicated wireless backhaul
- 2.5 and 10 Gbps Ethernet ports
Cons
- Security and parental controls by paid subscription
Key Specs
| Potential Data Rate | 1200 Mbps (2.4 GHz) 4800 Mbps (5 GHz x2) 4800 Mbps (6 GHz) |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 6E | Yes |
| Bands | 4 – 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz x2 (one used for wireless backhaul), 6 GHz |
| Streams | 16 (4 per band) |
| 2.5 Gb WAN/LAN Port | Yes (10Gbps)/Yes |
Netgear’s Orbi 960 reminds us of an old commercial for a certain jarred pasta sauce. Wi-Fi 6E? It’s in there. Dedicated wireless backhaul? It’s in there. A 2.5 Gbps LAN port? It’s in there, too—in fact, there’s one on each device, plus a 10 Gbps WAN port in the router to connect to your ISP.
Suffice it to say, the Orbi 960 is equipped to can handle pretty much whatever your ISP or your Wi-Fi devices can dish out for the foreseeable future. You can even get it black or white to match your décor. But it's expensive (a two- rather than three-device kit cuts the cost by $400), and at this price it would be nice if the advanced security and parental control features were included, but beyond the 30-day trial they require separate subscriptions.
BEST BUDGET MESH
TP-Link Deco AX55
Pros
- Kit includes three mesh devices
- Three Ethernet ports per device
Cons
- No 2.5 Gb port
- No wireless backhaul
Key Specs
| Potential Data Rate | 2.4 GHz, 600 Mbps; 5 GHz, 2400 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi6E | No |
| Bands | 2 – 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz |
| Streams | 4 |
| 2.5 Gb WAN/LAN Port | No/No |
The TP-Link Deco AX55 is a three-piece Wi-Fi mesh kit that won’t break the bank. For its low price you must make do without Wi-Fi 6E, a 2.5 Gb Ethernet port, or a dedicated wireless backhaul. On the plus side, these unobtrusive cylinders each have three Gigabit Ethernet ports, one of which can be used as a wired backhaul if your home is wired for Ethernet.
PREMIUM GAMING
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000
Pros
- Lots of gaming configuration features
- Two 10Gb WAN ports
Cons
- Bulky
Key Specs
| Potential Data Rate | 1200 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 4800 Mbps (5 GHz x2), 4800 Mbps (6 GHz) |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 6E | Yes |
| Bands | 4 – 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz (x2) 6 GHz |
| Streams | 16 (4 per band) |
| 2.5 Gb WAN/LAN Port | Yes (10Gb x 2) /Yes |
The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 looks the part of a gaming router. It’s big, bulky, has multicolored LED lighting, and eight massive external antennas. Exterior aside, this router offers lots of ways to monitor and fine-tune your network so that gaming devices and traffic always have the highest priority. The aforementioned LEDs can even be configured to reflect various aspects of router status like CPU or network traffic load. Best of all, not only do you get a 2.5 Gb LAN port, but you also get two 10Gb ports that you can configure for WAN or LAN use as needed.
MAINSTREAM GAMING
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000
Pros
- Lots of gaming configuration features
Cons
- Bulky
Key Specs
| Advertised Throughput | 2.4 GHz, 1200: 5 GHz, 4800 Mbps, 6 GHz, 4800 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 6E | Yes |
| Bands | 3- 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz |
| Streams | 12 (4 per band) |
| 2.5 Gb WAN/LAN Port | Yes /Yes (one 2.5 GB port configurable as either WAN or LAN) |
If you like the idea of the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000, but don’t need something quite so hardcore (or pricey), take a look at the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000. It omits the pair of 10 Gb ports in favor of one 2.5 Gb port which you can configure for either WAN or LAN, and gives you only one 5 GHz network instead of two. Other than that, it’s more or less the same as it’s higher-octane sibling, for $160 less.
A Wi-Fi Router is an Essential Household Device. Expert Joseph Moran Shares What to Know About Buying a New One and Extras You Won't Want to Overlook.
PM: The device I get from my Internet Service Provider (ISP) has a built-in WiFi router. Can I still buy my own?
JM: You certainly can, but first you’ll need to put your ISP’s device into what’s commonly known as “Bridge Mode”, which keeps the device connected to your ISP’s network but disables its router and Wi-Fi functions so your Wi-Fi router can handle them instead. Here’s how set up Bridge Mode on an Xfinity Wireless Gateway; if you can’t find similar instructions for your ISP, call its customer service line. They should be able to do it for you.
PM: Will a new Wi-Fi router improve the performance of my existing Wi-Fi devices?
JM: Maybe. If, for example, you currently have a Wi-Fi 4 router and some Wi-Fi 5 or 6 devices, then yes, upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 router will likely improve the performance of those devices. But it won’t do anything for Wi-Fi 4 devices. Rest assured that although your older devices may not necessarily work any better with a new Wi-Fi router, they will still work.
PM: What’s the best way to check what version of Wi-Fi my existing devices support?
JM: Search online for the specs of your smartphone, tablet, streamer, or other device. Remember the specs may or may not explicitly mention Wi-Fi 4, 5, or 6. Rather they might list support for 802.11n (4), 802.11ac (5), or 802.11ax (6). Windows laptops make it a little harder since there are so many variations, but you can go to Device Manager and look under Network Adapters to see what version of Wi-Fi it supports.
PM: How often should I upgrade a router—or replace it?
JM: If you buy a state-of-the art router today, you should expect it to serve you well for three to five years. That’s why we mostly recommend Wi-Fi 6E routers.
PM: What are some nice extras to look for when buying a router?
JM: Router extras you might want to consider depending on your needs include a USB port for sharing a storage device across your network, parental controls, and enhanced security features. (Typically you get basic security and parental controls and can get more via a paid subscription.) Another plus is support for smart home protocols such as Matter, Thread, and Zigbee, which would eliminate the need for a separate hub to connect smart home devices to Wi-Fi.
Joseph Moran, a native New Yorker but currently based in Florida, has been testing and writing about technology for 30 years. His work has appeared in Small Business Computing, Smart Computing, PC Mag, and Practically Networked, among other publications. He's also the author or co-author of several tech-focused books including, most recently, Hacks for Alexa (Racehorse Publishing). He’s an avowed Trekker, EV enthusiast, and a lifelong Mets fan who hopes he’s not jinxing it when he says that this really looks like their year.
