While it might be convenient to just use the router provided by your ISP (internet service provider), they are usually slower and don’t offer the same features as newer models. Here is our list of the best WiFi routers you can get, from budget models to mesh WiFi systems for large homes.
Read More: What to look for in a new WiFi router
Do You Even Need a New Router?
To find out if your current router is slowing you down, go to HelloTech.com/Speed and click Go to do a WiFi speed test for free. Then compare your actual download speeds with the speeds advertised in your internet service plan. If the two speeds are drastically different, it might be time to buy a new router.
Read More: How to do a WiFi speed test, and what the results mean
Even if your current router does match your plan’s advertised speeds, upgrading your router can also improve your network security, allow you to connect to more devices at once, and provide other benefits.
New WiFi Router Checklist
- Get a WiFi 6 Router: If you are looking to buy a new WiFi router, we only recommend getting one that supports WiFi 6 (also known as 802.11ax or “AX” for short). Routers that support WiFi 5 and older standards still use outdated security protocols. You can also get a WiFi 6E (also known as AXE) or WiFi 7 (802.11be, or BE) router, but your smartphone, computer, and other devices might not work with these standards yet.
Read More: What is WiFi 6 and why it’s worth upgrading
- Router Vs. Mesh WiFi: A traditional router sends WiFi signals out in all directions. This signal loses strength the farther you get from your router, especially if there are any walls or floors blocking the way. If you have “WiFi dead zones” in certain rooms, or your home is over 1,500 square feet, you might want to consider a “mesh WiFi system” instead of a traditional router.
Read More: What is mesh WiFi?
TP-Link Archer AX55: Best Budget WiFi 6 Router
If you’re looking to upgrade your router, the TP-Link Archer AX55 is one of the best WiFi 6 routers you can get on a budget. With next-gen WiFi 6 technology, this router isn’t just faster than a traditional WiFi 5 router, but it also supports more devices without slowing any of them down.
The Archer AX55 can accommodate four times as many devices as a WiFi 5 router. With beamforming technology, this router will also send WiFi signals directly to your devices instead of just spreading your WiFi signal in every direction. This means your devices will have a stronger, more reliable connection.
This dual-band router can deliver speeds up to 2,400 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and up to 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. It also gives you access to the wider 160 MHz channels on the 5 GHz band, which you can use for high-bandwidth activities, like 8K video streaming without as much lag.
Asus RT-AX88U Pro: Best WiFi 6 Router
The Asus RT-AX88U is one of the fastest and most reliable WiFi 6 routers you can get. Even if you don’t pay for gigabit internet with your service provider, this router can still improve your signal. Plus, there are lots of settings that you can tweak to fully customize your WiFi network.
When you buy this router, you also get a free lifetime subscription to AiProtection Pro, Asus’ own network security software. This built-in feature prevents malware from infecting your devices, blocks malicious sites, and lets you set parental controls. And, unlike most routers, which only give you some of these features for a few years, Asus offers you these features for as long as you own the device.
This dual-band router can deliver speeds up to 1,100 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 4,800 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. Based on real-world tests, you can actually expect to get speeds of around 400 Mbps when you’re 50 feet away from this router. Also, its adaptive QoS technology will automatically prioritize the devices that get the most bandwidth. For example, you can set your laptop to always get the strongest signal, so you will never experience any lag when you’re on an important video call.
While most routers come with four Ethernet ports, the RT-AX88U has eight gigabit ports to connect all your devices. Plus, it has eight streams, a quad-core processor, and 1 GB of RAM, so it will be fast enough to handle anything you throw at it. In fact, the RT-AX88U was one of the first routers to be certified by the WiFi Alliance to “deliver the full benefits of WiFi 6,” and it still remains one of the only routers to be officially recognized as WiFi 6 compliant by the group.
TP-Link Archer BE550: Best Budget WiFi 7 Router
One of the first WiFi 7 routers to come to market is surprisingly inexpensive. The TP-Link Archer BE550 gives you access to the new 6 GHz WiFi band, which is larger than the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands combined. Since the band is so new, it has almost no traffic, so you’ll get the fastest WiFi speeds with no interference from your neighbor’s devices.
This tri-band router can deliver speeds up to 5,760 Mbps on the 6 GHz band, 2,880 Mbps on the 5 GHz band, and 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. You won’t be able to use the new 6 GHz band until you have WiFi 7-compatible devices, but you can still connect your older devices to the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands.
Read More: What is WiFi 7?
One problem with connecting to the 6 GHz band is that it has a short range, but with Easy Mesh technology, you can easily extend this router’s WiFi signal to any room in the home. All you need is another TP-Link router or extender, and you can link them wirelessly to create a single mesh network.
The back of this router features four 2.5 Gbps (gigabit per second) Ethernet ports to connect your devices, as well as a USB 3.0 port for lightning-fast network-attached storage. If you have a multi-gig internet plan, and you want to future-proof your network, this is one of the cheapest ways to connect your devices to the 6 GHz network.
Asus Zen XT8: Best WiFi 6 Mesh System
- Speed: 6,600 Mbps
- Coverage: 5,500 square feet (1 router + 1 satellite)
- WiFi Bands: Tri-band(2x 5 GHz bands, 1x 2.4 GHz band)
If you want to upgrade your network’s speed, range, and everything else, the Asus XT8 is one of the best mesh systems you can get. This tri-band router can deliver speeds up to 4,800 Mbps on one 5 GHz band, 1,200 Mbps on the other 5 GHz band, and 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band.
While a two-pack provides up to 5,500 square feet of coverage, you can add more satellites to expand your WiFi coverage even more. In fact, what really sets this WiFi mesh system apart is its AiMesh technology, which lets you create your own mesh WiFi system using almost any Asus router as satellites.
This allows you to create a single WiFi network for your entire home using your old routers, so you don’t have to throw them away when you upgrade. And, since most routers these days are usually more powerful than the satellites in mesh WiFi systems, AiMesh will give you the speed of a traditional router – plus the coverage of a mesh WiFi system.
The Zen XT8’s router and satellite both feature three high-speed Ethernet ports. And while the router is small, it features a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor and 512 MB of RAM. This mesh WiFi system also features AiProtection Pro, adaptive QoS, parental controls, and other Asus features.
eero Pro 6E: Most Secure Mesh System
- Speed: 2,300 Mbps
- Coverage: 2,000 square feet (per satellite)
- WiFi Bands: Tri-band (6 GHz, 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz)
The eero Pro 6E is a sleek mesh system that supports the 6 GHz frequency band. However, the 6 GHz band is only used as a “wireless backhaul” to connect the router and satellite nodes. That means you’ll get a stronger signal and better coverage, but you can’t actually connect your devices to the 6 GHz band with this mesh system.
Each satellite in the eero Pro 6E system provides up to 2,000 square feet of WiFi coverage, and there’s no limit to how many you can add. With its TrueMesh technology, the router can also intelligently route traffic, so you won’t experience any interruptions.
What really sets this router apart is just how easy it is to use. Unlike most routers, which require you to change complicated settings manually, the eero Pro 6E is controlled through the eero app. With a few taps, you can easily block your children from viewing adult websites or get insights about any users on your network.
On the other hand, if you do want to make changes to your network manually, certain features will require you to pay a subscription fee for eero Plus. This subscription starts at $9.99 a month, and it comes with other features like automatic protection against cyber threats.
If you need any help, HelloTech has technicians across the country who can come to your home and install your new router and set up your WiFi network for you. Our experts are hand-selected, and they can answer any questions you have, so you will know your WiFi is working just the way you want.
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