If you truly want to enjoy everything the modern internet has to offer, then you need one of the best wireless routers to deliver the performance necessary for demanding online activities like streaming, gaming, and video calling. With many households playing host to everything from laptops and PCs to smartphones, tablets, game consoles and connected home appliances, a basic router isn’t enough anymore—you need one that can keep up even while multiple family members are streaming Netflix in 4K and hanging out on Zoom and FaceTime.
The best wireless routers deliver top-notch range and speed for households of all sizes—and all the devices and users in them. 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. The best wireless routers aren’t just for power users, either—they’re easy and intuitive to set up thanks to accompanying smartphone apps, so anybody can get one up and running on their home network in no time at all.
The RundownBest
Overall: Netgear Orbi at AmazonThe Netgear Orbi can cover up to 5,000 square feet and can handle speeds of up to 2.2Gbps.
Best Value: TP-Link Archer AX50 at AmazonA really affordable way to move into the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, with a wealth of advanced features for its price.
Best Security: Asus RT-AX88U at AmazonCutting-edge Wi-Fi 6 performance and advanced security features keep everything in your home protected from internet threats.
Best Mesh: Eero Pro at AmazonCan cover your whole home and beyond without the need to fiddle with advanced Wi-Fi settings.
Best for Gaming: Asus GT-AX11000 at AmazonAn ultra-fast Wi-Fi 6 router with a plethora of advanced features designed specifically with gamers in mind.
Best Design: Netgear Nighthawk RAX80 at AmazonWith a futuristic look and 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 support, the RAX80 paves the way for the future.
Best Parental Controls: Synology RT2600ac at AmazonThe full-featured router operating system makes it easy to set up filtering rules for your whole home and each of your kids.
Best for Smart Homes: Google Nest Wi-Fi at AmazonFeatures tight Google Home integration and point units that double as smart speakers.
Best Under $50: TP-Link Archer A6 at AmazonA great little router for an extremely reasonable price.