The 21st century mobile tech revolution went hand-in-hand with the growing availability of wireless internet, and the vast majority of people who use online sites and services now rely on Wi-Fi to do so. That means that most of us connect to wireless routers on a daily basis whether we think about it or not. We know that buying a router might not be as exciting as shopping for gaming deals or laptop deals, but owning your own (rather than renting one from your internet service provider) has numerous benefits. A good router can guarantee that you’re actually getting the internet speeds you’re paying for, give you more control over your local home or office network, and can even liberate you from ISP equipment rental fees. Our roundup of the best wireless router deals is the best place to find one:
Today’s best wireless router deals
The TP-Deco mesh router system is arguably the best way to cover your whole home in fast AC1200 Wi-Fi. It also works with Amazon Alexa devices, making it a fine choice for the smart home crowd.
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This gaming-focused router will optimize your network’s performance, giving you a smoother connection with zero latency. It’s perfect for gamers with multiple devices or cloud gaming systems.
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With a dual-band throughput of 1,200 Mbps and two Wi-Fi extenders that plug right into any AC outlet, the Meshforce M3 suite is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to cover your whole home in Wi-Fi.
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The Asus Lyra Voice is one of the most unique devices on the market, and one that can pull double duty as a mesh Wi-Fi router and an Alexa-powered Bluetooth smart speaker.
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If you’re paying for gigabit internet, then for less than a Benjamin, it doesn’t get much better than the rockspace AC2100 dual-band router which delivers a combined bandwidth to 2,100 Mbps.
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The Archer A7 from TP-is one of the best “cheap” routers, with its 1,750 dual-band speeds putting it head and shoulders above the majority of ISP-supplied units. It’ll easily pay for itself, too.
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This system includes a wireless router that delivers 3Gbps of high-performance Wi-Fi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage.
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With a max 3,000Mbps throughput across four streams, the TP-Archer AX3000 router puts the stream in extreme, providing a first-rate experience for gaming, streaming, and multi-user networking.
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With tri-band connectivity and up to 3.5 Gbps speeds, the Netgear Nighthawk X6S AC3600 tri-band router is an excellent option if you want brute speed and versatility.
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If you want a decent smart router, the TP-AC1900 dual-band router is a great choice for any household that can’t go too grand or too cheap, offering great functionality at an affordable price.
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Get your game on (or do whatever else you need fast Wi-Fi for) with the beefy Asus RT-AX88U router, which boasts a whopping 6,000 mbps of Wi-Fi 6 throughput.
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With three bands instead of the usual two, the Linksys Max-Stream AC3000 router is a great performer (and great value) for networks where multiple people are regularly browsing, streaming, and gaming.
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The TP-Archer AX6000 dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router is a powerful option that can deliver when it comes to streaming and gaming.
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The Linksys Max-Stream AC2600 dual-band mesh router is an above-average machine that can provide excellent Wi-Fi connectivity with industrial reliability.
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Netgear’s R6700AX is one of our favorite gigabit routers for gaming, streaming, and general use, and this deal might make it the best mid-range router you can score for around $100.
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If you want a simple yet effective router, this Netgear AC1600 dual-band router is exactly what you’re looking for. It’s incredibly affordable and makes for a great router for any household.
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A stable internet connection is a must for any hardcore gamer, and with the Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 router, that’s exactly what you’ll get, capable of delivering a combined 5400 Mbps throughput.
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The Asus AiMesh AX6100 tri-band mesh router bundle is an incredibly powerful router duo that can pump out up to 6100 megabits a second for nonstop high-speed connectivity.
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When 3 Gbps is more than enough, the Netgear Nighthawk RAX40 AX3000 dual-band router is all you need for a stable internet connection with up to 4 streams with up to four Gigabit LAN connections.
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Upgrade your wi-fi connection at home with the Netgear Wireless Access Point router. It can support up to 200 client devices and provides an extra 1GB port for maximum internet speed.
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For about the same price as cheap N300 and AC750 routers, this Tenda AC1200 dual-band router punches well above its weight and even features MU-MIMO technology to reduce network traffic congestion.
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If you have a large home, then a good mesh Wi-Fi setup like the TP-Deco router system can quite literally “blanket” an entire area in wireless connectivity and eliminate dead zones.
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Take your home Wi-Fi to the next level with the Asus RT-AX55, which delivers a combined dual-band throughput of 1800mbps and MU-MIMO technology for a smooth signal.
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With 2,600 Mbps dual-band bandwidth and MU-MIMO technology, the striking Asus Blue Cave is one of the best mid-range routers you can buy if you’re willing to spend a bit more than a Benjamin.
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Boasting six antennae, 4,000 Mbps of bandwidth across three bands, and MU-MIMO technology, the Archer A20 is a top-tier router for gaming, streaming, and large local networks.
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If a single router isn’t cutting it but you don’t want to invest in a complete mesh system, extend your wireless network into those hard to reach places with this inexpensive AC1200 range extender.
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A beginner’s guide to wireless routers
If you have the internet, then you almost certainly have a wireless router somewhere in your home. There’s also a good chance that it was the one supplied by your ISP, which means you’re probably paying a monthly fee to rent it. These ISP-supplied routers are, as you might expect, generally not the best — they’re often the same routers you can buy yourself for $20 to $40 — but that doesn’t stop service providers from charging anywhere from $5 to $15 per month in “equipment rental fees” for the privilege of using one.
That alone is a big reason why it’s a good idea to find a good wireless router deal and buy your own, as even a solid midrange unit can easily pay for itself in a matter of months. Yet another reason is that the best wireless routers can enhance your home or office Wi-Fi network by allowing you to enjoy the internet speeds you’re paying for. This is especially important if you frequently have multiple users connected to the internet at once, and even more so if you regularly stream or game online. Routers are relatively complicated and some of the specs and terminology can be a bit confusing to the uninitiated, however, so here’s what you should know before buying.
What does “dual-band” mean?
Most Wi-Fi routers you will see today (even cheap routers) are dual-band, meaning that they transmit data across two separate streams or “bands.” The 2.4GHz band is used for tasks with moderate bandwidth needs, such as web browsing, while the 5GHz band is reserved for bandwidth-hungry jobs like HD video streaming and online gaming where a lot of data is being transmitted at once. Dividing your wireless connection up between two “highways” in this manner prevents congestion, particularly when multiple people are using the internet at the same time, which can slow down your connection. Many newer routers also have a feature called MU-MIMO (multiple user, multiple input/multiple output) which divides the bands into separate channels to further mitigate congestion when the network is under heavy load.
What does “bandwidth” mean?
If a “band” is a data stream, the “bandwidth” refers to how much data can be transmitted across that stream at one time. Imagine something like an oil pipeline — the wider the pipe, the more can pass through it at once. Routers vary widely when it comes to bandwidth, and how much you need will depend on your network environment. A wireless router will typically have its bandwidth speed represented by a number — N450, AC1900, AC5300, et cetera – which tells you at a glance how many megabytes per second (Mbps) of data can be transmitted across all bands at once.
The routers that are typically rented out by ISPs are on the lower end of the bandwidth spectrum (which, as we said, is why you find a good wireless router deal so you can buy your own), but 600 to 2,400 Mbps is a good range for normal users and small families. Larger networks and more demanding users, such as gamers, will be better served by a router in the 3,200 to 6,700 Mbps range, while routers in the 7,200 to 9,600 Mbps range are deep into “professional” territory — think large offices and other bandwidth-heavy network environments. Note that this total bandwidth is divided between the bands; for instance, a dual-band AC1600 router with 1,600Mbps total bandwidth might commit 300Mbps to the 2.4GHz band and 1,300Mbps to the 5GHz band.
Can wireless routers provide wired connections?
Pretty much all wireless routers (again, this includes cheap routers) have Ethernet LAN ports on the back that allow for multiple wired connections where you want them. Depending on where your wireless router is installed, it might be worth it to use a wired Ethernet connection, as these will almost always be faster than a wireless connection. For instance, if your router is close to your PC or smart TV, it’s not a bad idea to take advantage of this wired connectivity. It will also free up some wireless bandwidth that your other devices are using for their Wi-Fi, preventing wireless traffic congestion, although your overall bandwidth will still be determined by your internet service.
Can a faster wireless router give me faster internet?
Your base internet speeds are capped by your service provider and depend on what internet plan you are paying for. A faster wireless router cannot increase the bandwidth limits set by your ISP; however, a faster router can allow you to more fully enjoy the speeds that you’re paying for if a slow unit — such as the routers typically provided by ISPs — is bottlenecking your connection. If you’re paying for faster internet, make sure you get a router that won’t create a “choke point” that slows your Wi-Fi down to ensure you’re getting all the bandwidth that you’re already paying for. You’ll want a gigabit-capable router (that is, at least 1,000Mbps on the 5GHz band) if you have gigabit internet service, for example.
What are mesh routers?
If you have a large home or are looking for a router capable of sufficiently covering a similar large space (like a multi-story office), then you might want to consider investing in a mesh router system. In contrast to standard single-unit wireless routers, mesh router systems feature multiple “hubs” that you place throughout your network zone. These hubs amplify your internet’s wireless signal, essentially blanketing your home or office in Wi-Fi connectivity and thereby mitigating or eliminating dead zones in the network. This prevents you from losing your connection when moving about.
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