With our ever-increasing reliance on online connectivity, a decent Wi-Fi router is an essential purchase these days. The best WiFi router will prevent any bottlenecking on your network leaving you free to enjoy fast, dependable wireless connectivity, without choking up your bandwidth.
If you’re working with an old, knackered router, you may want to consider switching it out for one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers, such as the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) which tops our list below. Not only does it offer lightning-fast speeds, it also boasts top-of-the-range security features, and happens to be one of the best mesh Wi-Fi routers we’ve seen, too.
For a more budget-friendly alternative, we recommend the Asus RT-AX55, which wins our best budget pick. This is a bonafide low-cost Wi-Fi 6 router that doesn’t compromise on performance and makes an ideal choice if you just need something reliable for web browsing or media streaming.
Perhaps you’re looking for a signal boost to extend coverage into the dead zones of your dwelling, in which case you’ll want to check out the best Wi-Fi extenders, for hitting those hard-to-reach areas. If you want to safeguard your connection and beef up security, there are plenty of VPN routers to consider as well.
At TechRadar, we’ve spent countless hours testing the very best wireless routers on the market, so that we can give you the lowdown on everything you need to know before you pick the best wireless router for your home.
The best WiFi router in 2024
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Below you’ll find full write-ups for each of the best WiFi router picks on our list. We’ve tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best WiFi router overall
Asus has been rolling out some amazing Wi-Fi 6 routers recently, and it has been releasing them for just about every need and budget. With the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8), it’s introducing Wi-Fi 6 technology to the latest cutting-edge tech in connectivity: mesh routers.
While it is among the more expensive options out there and limits you to two mesh routers, the Asus ZenWifi AX offers blazing fast speeds. During our tests, it pushed our 500Mbps Internet connection all the way, even squeezing it up to 570Mbps at one point, and maintain that speed even in less accessible parts of our space.
It also offers plenty of flexibility in its setup – such as the option to set up one or two networks using the 2.4 and 5GHz bands. With excellent security features to boot, this is a fantastic choice if you’re looking at mesh routers.
Read our full Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) review
The best budget Wi-Fi 6 router
Low-cost Wi-Fi 6 routers are hard to come by. Luckily, the Asus RT-AX55 is one of the very few options that doesn’t compromise on performance and features, making it the best choice if you’re looking for a budget router. It lets you upgrade to Wi-Fi 6, if you haven’t already, delivering a top speed of 1.8Gbps, which may be relatively modest compared to pricier options but is more than enough for most household Wi-Fi needs.
This is an excellent option if you just need a reliable router for web browsing, streaming music and video, and some casual gaming. During our tests, we found that it not only matched the fastest speeds supported by our office broadband connection, but also delivered a more expansive reach than our usual router, its 5.0GHz band maintaining top Wi-Fi speeds of 100Mbs with Ookla and 12.5MB/s for Steam downloads.
One thing to note though is that its 2.4GHz band was a little slower during our testing, dipping to 90Mbps with Ookla and 11MB/s with Steam. Plus, while the app is easy to use, the router itself doesn’t come with more extensive filters and other controls provided by some of Asus’ more expensive routers. But, when you’re going for a budget option, such concessions are to be expected.
Read our full Asus RT-AX55 review
The premium Wi-Fi router
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 might be the mid-range offfering in Netgear’s RAXE line, but this Wi-Fi router is still among the priciest we’ve tested. That isn’t surprising, however; this is among the most future-proof routers we’ve seen this year. That’s both in performance and design.
We found on test that this router provides impressive speed, along with multiple high-speed Ethernet ports for wired connections. And, its six optimally positioned antennas and uses three frequency bands – 2.4GHz, 50GHz, and 60GHz – allow it deliver a top speed of 7.8Gbps that should be fast enough to stream 8K video within its 2,500-square-foot area of coverage.
While on the outside, it might look like a router straight out of Blade Runner, it’s actually very easy to setup. And, it comes with parental controls to keep the kids protected while they’re online.
Read our full Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 review
The best mesh WiFi router
Google kicks things up a notch in its Google Wifi line with its latest installment. Don’t get us wrong; the original Google Wifi is still among the best Wi-Fi routers today. However, if you’re all about the smart home life, then you’ll appreciate the pure genius of Google Nest Wifi.
The best and most affordable mesh router to buy in 2022, it takes everything beloved about the original Google Wifi, gives it the capabilities of Google Home, and wraps it all up in an even sleeker and more appealing package. In the Ookla Speed Test we performed, it proved to be marginally faster than the original model at 5GHz. Overall, we’re pleased with how the Nest Wifi performed during testing.
Plus, you’re paying for a mesh router and a smart speaker in one device. And, it all with the simplicity that Google Wifi is known for.
Read our full Google Nest Wifi review
The best WiFi router for value
Another excellent mid-range option, the Asus RT-AX59U gets all the basics right and is a terrific performer. It’s got an easy-to-use app with good parental controls and delivers a solid 4.2Gbps dual-band Wi-Fi 6 connection. It has proven during our time with it that it is more than capable of handling anything that our 150Mbps office broadband can throw at it. And, because it supports Asus’ AiMesh technology, it will work with other Asus routers to form a mesh network with wider coverage if you need it in the future.
The thing that sets this apart from the rest, however, is its compact and simple design. While most Wi-Fi 6 routers are festooned with antennae, the Asus RT-AX59U has an unusually svelte design that we found to be very compact and lightweight. You can easily fix it to a wall or tuck it in somewhere out of sight.
It does have its share of limitations – namely, it’s dual-band only and it doesn’t have 2.5G Ethernet connectivity on hand – but it’s more than enough for most households’ needs. In fact, if your budget is a little more flexible and you can pay a little more, we recommend getting this one over our budget choice.
Read our full Asus RT-AX59U review
The best WiFi router for gaming
There may be a few things you might not like about the fast and versatile TP-Link Archer GX90. It’s big, it’s bulky, and it’s expensive. However, those are easy to forgive when you realize that you’re getting a big bang for your buck.
This is among the best gaming routers out there, boasting a handful of features for hardcore gaming like a dedicated 5GHz ‘gaming band’ that lets you hog most of your household bandwidth when you need it. We tested all three of its Wi-Fi networks, and they all delivered strong performance, hitting 100Mbps download and 11Mbps upload.
Have younger gamers at home? It also provides good parental controls like content filters to block unsuitable material, with pre-set profiles for children of different ages. It’ll even let you create a schedule to limit Internet use on school nights.
Read our full TP-Link Archer GX90 review
The best WiFi router: FAQs
Which is best Wi-Fi router for home use?
There’s no definitive answer here, since every home is different, and every household has its own set of requirements.
However, for larger homes (or multi-story homes), you should definitely be looking at a mesh router such as the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8), which provides excellent coverage and is robust enough to handle the demands of a heavy-use home, that has multiple users and a large number of wireless devices.
What does a good Wi-Fi router cost?
Again, the answer to this will depend on the size of your household, the number of wireless devices, and the demand that is put on your network.
More modest-use homes can find high-quality budget Wi-Fi routers such as the Asus RT-AX55 for a comparatively modest price tag and will provide ample coverage for things such as media streaming and everyday browsing.
Generally speaking, a good budget router should set you back no more than £150, while you should expect some change from £300 for a decent mesh system such as the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8).
How to choose a wireless router
When picking out a Wi-Fi router, there are a few things to keep in mind. Upgrading your wireless network is not a one-size-fits-all situation.
The first thing to consider is the type of router you need. You’re generally picking from two form factors: a traditional single-unit router and mesh Wi-Fi systems that are made up of multiple units, often one that connects to the modem with two or three satellite units strategically placed around the home or office for wider coverage.
If you have a small home or office, a normal router will more than cover you, not to mention cost less. For larger homes and offices though, a mesh router will do a much better job of reaching every nook and cranny with a strong, continuous signal as they provide a much larger area of coverage. They’re also much better at eliminating or minimizing dead or weak spots.
However, if you do have a newer router that just doesn’t have the reach you need, you can save a little and invest in a wireless extender instead of getting a more expensive mesh Wi-Fi router.
Once you’ve settled on the type of router you need, make sure they’re fast enough for your needs. Most contemporary routers should at least have the Wi-Fi standard of 802.11ac aka Wi-Fi 5. If you get a router with a slower and older standard like 802.11n, it will act as a bottleneck to your network no matter how fast the connection is from your provider or what speeds your new laptop can support. There is a newer standard, Wi-Fi 6 also called 802.11ax, that’s slowly being adopted and is even faster. If you want to future-proof your network, look for a router with that standard. Just know that it will cost a little more.
Lastly, while most devices are wireless or support a wireless connection, you’ll want to use ports for some of them. Maybe someone in your household is a gamer and needs the fastest speeds possible. Being able to connect that PC or console directly via an ethernet port is going to be much more vital than for general internet use. And, if you have an older PC or printer, you’ll probably need to physically connect that to the router as well.
How we test Wi-Fi routers
We test every Wi-Fi router before we make our recommendations. We take a look at its design to ensure that they can blend in your space. We check its ease of initial setup and use, as well as its ports and features – like the ability to create a guest network and set up family controls.
Moving on to its performance, we check its range and strength of coverage. We find out how it performs in the Ookla speed test and our file download test, jotting down any information we collect. We also test it against our everyday network usage to give you a glimpse on its real-world performance. We then take everything we’ve learned and measure all that against its price to see if it’s a great value to consumers.
Today’s best WiFi Router deals
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