Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created by TIME Stamped, under TIME’s direction and produced in accordance with TIME’s editorial guidelines and overseen by TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.
With so many of us working remotely, streaming favorite shows at night from devices, gaming, and scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, a strong Wi-Fi connection is vital. It may seem like a simple task to just go on Amazon and get a highly rated router, but there’s way more to consider when picking the right one for you. You want to make sure it can cover the entirety of your home, which means you may need more than one to ensure a strong Wi-Fi connection through your entire house depending on the size. When you’re browsing through hundreds of router options, pay close attention to my guide, the reviews, and the details and features that are important to you. Here are my suggestions for some of the best Wi-Fi routers out there—and where to start if you’re seeking certain features.
What’s the best home Wi-Fi router? That’s a loaded question. It really comes down to the size of your home and how strong of a connection you need, in addition to a few other details. (For example, if you spend most of your time at home in front of a gaming monitor, your Wi-Fi needs will be different than someone who is primarily working on spreadsheets on their laptop.) If you're looking at an overall good Wi-Fi router for most homes, the TP-Link AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router is a fantastic option. It has reliable streaming and fast downloads on a Wi-Fi 6 speed that’s dependable for gaming, streaming your favorite shows, and more.
Overall, the TP-Link AX3000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router is a great option if you’re looking for something reliable to start with that will work for most homes.
For a mid-range router that’s high speed, the Linksys Hydra Pro 6 Mesh has Wi-Fi 6 technology. The mesh router has a dual-band and can create a strong Wi-Fi connection to handle any games you want to try, or internet surfing.
For a reliable mid-range router, the Linksys Hydra Pro 6 Mesh is a great option that will keep your games streaming and your internet strong.
The TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router is ideal for gaming because of its incredibly strong connection and low lag time. It has a game accelerator that can strengthen your streaming, even in the most action packed scenes.
If you’re looking for a strong Wi-Fi router built for gaming, the TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router is a fantastic option.
Sometimes you just don’t have it in the budget to spend hundreds of dollars on new tech, but you need something reliable. For around $80, the TP-Link AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router isn’t just affordable, but dependable, built for limiting buffer time and strong internet surfing.
When you’re looking for a Wi-Fi solution that won’t break the bank, the TP-Link AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router is under $80 and is the ideal budget solution.
When you’re looking to amp up your wireless router, the Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E AXE5400 Mesh Router supports incredibly fast surfing speeds and a strong connection. It can cover a fairly wide range. The system can support strong Wi-Fi that’s capable of extending throughout a 3 to 5 bedroom home. Shopping tip: If you’re considering other Google Nest devices, check out our guides to the best security cameras, best doorbell video cameras, best home security cameras, and best smart thermostats.
When you’re looking for the best Wi-Fi 6E router, the Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E AXE5400 Mesh Router is a great one to start with that isn’t too expensive, but reaches a wide range throughout the home.
When you’re looking for a premium Wi-Fi 6 router, the NETGEAR Nighthawk 8-Stream Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Router can support strong video streaming, gaming, and internet surfing. Its strong processor has fast Wi-Fi speed and covers up to 40 devices within a 2500 square-foot range. It can also be paired with a paid NETGEAR ARMOR plan to provide a comforting amount of protection to keep your devices secure.
If you’re looking for a premium Wi-Fi 6 router that can cover a lot of ground and up to 40 devices, this NETGEAR Nighthawk 8-Stream Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Router is the ideal option.
When you’re looking for the best mesh Wi-Fi router on the market, the TP-Link AX1800 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router is a great option. Mesh routers look at the connection between the devices and the “radio nodes,” to create fast speeds and a strong connection to support search capability, downloading, and more. Plus, this option compared to others is relatively inexpensive at under $80.
For a mesh router that will support all of your gaming and streaming and won’t break the bank at around $75, this TP-Link AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Dual-Band Wireless Router is a great option.
For the best Wi-Fi 7 router on the market, this two pack of the NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System will give you a ridiculous amount of speed up to 27 Gbps for results that you will rarely have to worry about. In addition to this being a fast speed option (about 2.4X faster than most), it also looks sleek, and can seamlessly fit into the design of your home.
For an incredibly strong, fast Wi-Fi 7 router on the market, this NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Mesh Wi-Fi System is the one to go for that will give you a seamlessly strong connection.
When you’re shopping for the best modem and router combination, the NETGEAR Nighthawk DOCSIS 3.0 1.9 Gbps Two-In-One Cable Modem + Wi-Fi Router is the way to go. It has fast Wi-Fi capability for plenty of streaming, gaming, and beyond. It even comes with “a NETGEAR limited 1-year Hardware Warranty” and customer support (“when purchased from a NETGEAR authorized reseller,” according to the website).
If you're looking for a strong Wi-Fi and modem combination, this NETGEAR Nighthawk DOCSIS 3.0 1.9 Gbps Two-In-One Cable Modem + Wi-Fi Router is a solid option on the market.
When you’re searching for the proper Wi-Fi router for a large home, it’s important to have fast speeds and a wide range. The Linksys Velop Tri-Band AX4200 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System is incredibly fast and can cover 120 devices and up to 8,100 square feet, giving you a strong connection throughout your entire home.
If you’re looking for the right router to cover a large home, this Linksys Velop Tri-Band AX4200 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System is a great option covering 8,100 square feet.
For a router with a built-in VPN, the ExpressVPN Aircove is a great option. If you require accessing cyber content that is specific to certain regions of the world, this can get the job done while keeping your devices secure, protected, and working fast and efficiently.
For a great option with a built-in VPN to be able to access content from different regions around the world, the ExpressVPN Aircove is ideal.
When researching and selecting the best routers, I had a few reasons for pointing out the ones on the list.
While researching the routers, I did a deep dive into what had positive reviews and feedback.
One of the most important things when picking out the right Wi-Fi router is speed. Whether you’re using the router for high-speed action, gaming, or to work, you need a strong connection through a reliable provider and fast speed.
I found a wide range of routers that would work for different size homes. That can be a huge factor when it comes to having good Wi-Fi, whether you live in a two-story home or a particularly larger home.
I made an effort to include affordable Wi-Fi routers that were still high-quality and a few higher end options for buyers that have a larger budget.
When you’re looking at Wi-Fi 6 routers versus Wi-Fi 5, it’s important to prioritize range and speed if you need them even when the network is busy. You don’t want your Wi-Fi lagging when you have that last minute assignment due for work or you’re in the middle of the “Love is Blind” reunion.
Just like having a strong connection, you want it to be fast and dependable. If your home is huge, you need a router with a wide span, or maybe even consider adding multiple routers.
Look at where you live and the size of your home. This can narrow down the decision between a traditional or a mesh router. If you live in an apartment or smaller home, a traditional router should be just fine. If you’re trying to cover a lot of ground and need a really strong connection, it might be worth investing in a mesh system.
When setting up your Wi-Fi router, there are a few important things to consider.
When it comes to setting up your router, finding the spot that will give you access from any area of the house is key. It depends on your layout, but this is also why prioritizing the look of the actual router can be helpful.
It may seem silly, but if the router is sleek and fits in nicely with the decor of the room, it can go into the main area of the house where you have a strong connection and access to it, instead of one that’s maybe not so aesthetically pleasing you want to hide in the basement.
Pay close attention to the range of the router purchased. This will not only provide guidance on which router is right for your home, but also the best place to put the router in your home.
Investing in a high-quality Wi-Fi router is so important to ensure a strong connection for streaming, gaming, and working—and for protection, as well. Some high-quality routers come with firewall protection built-in to keep out hackers looking to snatch your data and personal info.
In addition to most quality routers having a firewall, there are things you can do to protect your devices, like adding passwords to your Wi-Fi network or even turning it off if you’re not home.
When it comes to which Wi-Fi router is best for your home, it really depends on the type of home you have. Do you have a smaller apartment or a large six-bedroom house? However, my overall choice that would work for most homes is the TP-Link AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router.
After doing some research, I found the best place to put a router for both stories of the home to get a strong connection is usually a central location. Think: the floor of the upstairs, or maybe a shelf toward the ceiling on the lower floor.
For the wireless router that has the best range, go with something recommended for a large home like the Linksys Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Velop Tri-Band.
Generally, something meant for gaming is usually built to be strong and fast to support the action. I would suggest going with the TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router.
For a reliable option that’s worth the investment, the NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System is worth the money.
They’re generally in order of speed, price, and how dependable they are. If you don’t use your internet often, a single band is going to generally be a cheaper, slower option, whereas the quad-band will be more expensive, but fast and dependable, with dual-band routers being somewhere in between.
Just like when your laptop backpack starts getting a little frayed and ripped, or your wireless headphones become a little staticky, when your Wi-Fi connection starts slowing down, or you’re dealing with dead spots, it’s time to look into a replacement. Keep in mind that it’s not just about buying a new router, but also who your service provider is. That’s important to research, as well.
The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.
