Best Wi-Fi Routers 2024: safe and dependable

Adding one of the best Wi-Fi routers to my home network has completely changed the way I use the internet. It was an investment that was well worth every penny. When I switched from my old router to a new, cutting-edge one, all of my connected devices, from my trusted laptop to my smart TV, game console, and even my doorbell camera, ran much better.

Modern routers often come with security features already built in, which has given me peace of mind about my online safety. Also, these routers usually come with helpful mobile apps that let me change their settings on the go. This has been a real game-changer for me.

One of the best Wi-Fi routers is the only way to get top-notch performance whether you work from home, stream content online, or even play games. We test each router we review in-depth to help you find one that works for you and fits your budget. This way, we can find the best models for a wide range of needs and uses.

Your Wi-Fi router is putting in some serious overtime, doing a lot more than just helping you stream movies and play games. Big Home Routers keep millions of people working, and they also connect an ever-growing array of smart home devices. That means choosing a device that works best for both you and your wallet is harder than ever, especially now that we are seeing more and more Wi-Fi 6 devices becoming available. We are here to help you find best Wi-Fi routers for your needs.

When looking for the latest router, it’s best to first consider the size of your coverage area and the number of clients you need to support, as well as the types of devices you will be connecting. Not everyone needs the kind of performance you get with the latest and greatest variants, and there’s no reason to spend money on features you will likely never use. Below we have mentioned the best Wi-Fi routers.

Best Wi-Fi Routers

Asus RT-AX86U

The Asus RT-AX86U is a Wi-Fi 6 powerhouse that offers high speeds and great gaming features, as well as fantastic customization options. With high-end performance and lifetime protection against intrusions and malware, it’s also a great option for securing your entire home network, as it offers long-term protection with no subscription fees and comes with a two-year warranty.

The real draw of the Asus RT-AX86U, however, is its performance, which approached the magic 1 Gbps mark in our tests to ensure fast and effortless connectivity for all your devices. With its excellent range and performance even through walls and between floors – the RT-AX86U is equal parts general-purpose router and elite gaming router, and the collection of features and ports it offers is a bargain compared to some of the most powerful gaming devices. Easily one of the best Wi-Fi routers available in the market.

TP-Link AC1900

The TP-Link AC1900 Archer A8 manages the impressive maximum streaming speed of 600 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band and an additional 1,300 Mbps in the 5 GHz band. On the other hand, it is designed to work seamlessly with Amazon Alexa voice control to provide you with maximum convenience and security. The focus is on the MU-MIMO gigabit router setting.

The TP-Link Router AC1900 Archer A8 is capable of streaming a whopping 3 streams of data simultaneously, which helps your devices perform at their best as the overall communication becomes much more efficient. Moreover, your computing devices can work hand in hand with each other. A VPN server will also help you hide your identity when you are in an unknown area. This server gives your router the ability to bypass geographical restrictions and access content that is blocked in that area or geographical area. In this way, it expands your access range to online content. Thanks to Smart Connect technology, this router always directs its users to the less congested bands.

Netgear’s NightHawk AX8 8-Stream Wi-Fi 6 Router

Netgear NightHawk AX8 8-Stream Wi-Fi 6 Router (RAX80) joins the Asus RT-AX88U as the first 802.11ax routers tested in our labs. Shaped like a futuristic spaceship, the RAX80 has an impressive feature set that includes five gigabit LAN ports, link aggregation, a powerful quad-core processor, and of course 802.11ax wireless technology, also known as Wi-Fi 6. Priced at $399.99, the RAX80 isn’t cheap, but it performed impressively in our throughput tests, and its file transfer performance is top-notch.

However, you don’t get the robust player-friendly QoS options and anti-malware tools that you get with the Asus RT-AX88U, and as with the RT-AX88U, you’ll have to wait until Wi-Fi 6 clients hit the market to take full advantage of the RAX80. If you want one of the best Wi-Fi routers, we recommend this one.

Nest WiFi

The Google Nest Wifi is the company’s latest foray into mesh networking and harkens back to the Google Wifi success story. What we like most about this latest model is that it finally integrates Google Home into the experience in a meaningful and turnkey way. That’s exactly what was missing from previous models, whether they were Google Home speakers that weren’t routers in their own right, or Google Wifi routers that weren’t Google Home speakers.

Finally, these two worlds collide and it feels great. However, don’t expect the massive power or throughput and deep, fine-grained control of Netgear or Linksys routers or mesh systems. Google Nest Wifi is all about simplicity, with a focus on the features that matter most to a broad range of consumers.

Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000

Asus has a high-end router for you. The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 ($450) packs almost every feature you could reasonably want and adds even more features, as Nigel Tufnel would say, “…that extra push over the cliff”. If you’re looking for a router that gives you plenty of software tweaks and game-friendly options to prioritize your gaming traffic, this is a solid choice.

But don’t buy it just for the performance, because despite all those antennas, we’ve seen similar speeds on routers that cost a lot less – some from Asus’ own product stack. The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 high-end router brings many highly configurable features to your network. But in our test, the performance was not quite in line with the high price.

TP-Link Archer C2300

Half of the Archer C2300’s two-tone black body has a matte textured finish and the other half is glossy. It measures 1.4 x 8.5 x 6.5 inches (HWD) and features a strip of LED indicators on the top of the router showing status for power, both radios, Internet and Ethernet activity, WPS -Shows activity and USB activity.

On the left side of the router are WPS and reset buttons, a Wi-Fi on/off button, a USB 2.0 port, and a USB 3.0 port. On the back there are four gigabit LAN ports, a WAN port, a power socket and a power switch, as well as three screw connectors for the adjustable antennas that are included. The router supports HomeCare, which offers Trend Micro anti-malware and virus protection, as well as parental controls with web filtering for specific age groups, Internet access scheduling, and online monitoring tools.

TP-Link Archer AX6000

TP-Link’s next-generation Archer AX6000 Wi-Fi router falls somewhere between a full-fledged gaming router like the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 and basic budget options like TP’s sub-$70 Archer A7 AC1750 -Link. The Archer AX6000’s mid-range approach results in a router that’s larger than others, with lots of antennas (8) and Gigabit Ethernet ports (8 plus 2.5GB WAN).

You also get Wi-Fi 6, but not the newer 6E, which uses the less congested 6 GHz band. The Archer AX6000 doesn’t have the red accents and dancing LEDs that gaming routers often come with, however. It also doesn’t come at a ridiculously high price. At the time of release, it sold for around $270 – a far cry from the flagship gaming options that often sell in the $500 range. Overall, one of the best Wi-Fi routers available out there.

Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500

The arrival of the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500, ASUS GT-AXE11000, Linksys Atlas Max 6E and Hydra Pro 6E, Wi-Fi 6E is official. Depending on how you look at it, it landed in style or with a bang. It will take a few more months to work out the initial bugs, and a few more years for it to be adopted by the masses. We’re only at the beginning of Wi-Fi 6E and can only guess at what 6GHz can offer us.

First, a disclaimer: We’re not usually a fan of Netgear products. Recently, we tested the Netgear Orbi RBK852 kit. We found it frustrating, even though it had the best performance we’ve seen in a Wi-Fi 6 mesh kit. This isn’t unique to Netgear – we had similar experiences with Linksys’ Velop MX10 and Atlas Max 6E kits. Most consumer Wi-Fi systems don’t appeal to a networking nerd like me, but I’m not here to gripe.

Netgear Nighthawk AC2300 (RS400)

The new Nighthawk’s black chassis measures 1.9 x 11.2 x 7.2 inches (HWD) and features three removable, adjustable antennas. The ominous, wedge-shaped Nighthawk R7000P looks similar to the Nighthawk R7000. On the front edge of the router, just below the numerous LED indicators, is a USB 3.0 port.

On the back are four Gigabit LAN ports, a WAN port, a USB 2.0 port, a reset button, and a power button. In addition to basic WiFi, Internet and guest network settings, you can view a list of connected devices with their IP address and current status, and disable WiFi access for one or all devices.

TP-Link Archer A7

The Archer A7 has a fairly simple design consisting of a horizontally oriented chassis with three thin external antennas. Typical of mainstream electronics, it has a glossy black plastic casing with two grooves running along the top of the router case for some visual interest. A row of green LEDs provides status information on aspects such as power, Internet, connections to Ethernet ports, and whether the WLAN signal is active.

On the back of the Archer A7, the simple but functional theme continues. It includes a physical power switch between the antenna mounting points, a USB port, a WAN port and four Ethernet ports, and a WPS switch. There is nothing here that really stands out, but all the essentials are covered.

TP-Link Archer C5400X

The Archer C5400X has a similar shape and design to the Archer 3200 I previously reviewed, but it has been significantly improved. It’s a bit thicker overall, and the eight antennas have evolved from boring stick-shaped units to clip-on models with a bit of “gamer flair,” thanks to their wave-like design and red-and-black color scheme.

The router still features the same matte black grille design, which has just enough attitude to make it look interesting and not overdone, boring or silly. The antennas are by far the “loudest” part of the design, and while the look is subjective, it does come across as a bit over the top, but not obnoxiously so. However, many gamers are overwhelmed with the “gamers like red and black” look, so I can see many people rolling their eyes at TP-Link’s attempt to “adjust” it.