These days, your wireless router is not just your lifeline to the internet, but also to your job. Here’s what you need to build a snappy home Wi-Fi network, along with reviews of the best Wi-Fi routers we’ve tested for a range of needs and budgets.
In the era of remote and hybrid work, your Wi-Fi router is piling up serious overtime, doing a lot more than just helping you stream movies and play games. Home Wi-Fi routers have become career and education lifelines, and they’re also connecting an ever-growing range of smart home devices. That means picking the right one is more important than ever. Our expertise can help; PCMag has been testing Wi-Fi gear since the standard first emerged. We’ve outlined here our picks for the best Wi-Fi routers you can buy. Each has been selected based on thorough, objective testing, which includes evaluating throughput speeds, range, and signal strength. Our top overall Wi-Fi router pick for most buyers is TP-Link’s Archer AXE75, but we stand all the other routers recommended here too. Check out the pros and cons of each, plus a detailed guide to choosing the right one for you.Why We Picked It
Wi-Fi 6E is the leading edge of consumer home wireless tech, so it’s not a must-have for homes with many devices that might not yet support the standard. But being able to future-proof your network for under $200 is a winner in our book, and that makes the Archer AXE75 the best choice for people who want a full-featured router that they won’t have to replace for a long time. The AXE75 is a pioneer in bringing 6E down as low as we’ve seen it in price. The perk: Enjoy the lack of in-air competition while you can, as the 6GHz radio band should remain uncrowded for a bit, until wider Wi-Fi 6E adoption takes hold.
Beyond the groundbreaking price, the AXE75 a solid performer. All you need is to start collecting 6E-compliant client devices to leverage this bargain router to the max.Who It’s For
Anyone thinking about hopping aboard the 6GHz Wi-Fi train but unwilling to spend a bundle, your engine has arrived. Parents will also be pleased to learn that the AXE75 includes access to HomeShield Basic, TP-Link’s strong parental controls and basic network security tools. You can block internet access for individual users, apply age-based filtering, and see how long a user has been online. (Opting for a monthly or annual paid plan can give you even more control.)Why We Picked It
The Synology WRX560 provided very good scores on our throughput tests, offering superior throughput in both bands. It also performed well on our Wi-Fi signal strength tests, delivering strong 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi to all corners of our test home except for the garage. Plus, the router could even pass for home decor, thanks to a unique black enclosure that stands vertically, with beveled edges and grillwork that give it a futuristic, minimalist look. The WRX560 is an excellent, feature-rich mainstream router.Who It’s For
For around $200 you get the latest Wi-Fi 6 technologies, solid throughput performance, and wide Wi-Fi signal coverage. The Synology WRX560 is easy to install and manage and gets you into a Wi-Fi 6 network without spending a bundle. If you require multi-gig ports and parental control software, be prepared to spend significantly more money for a router like the TP-Link Archer AX11000.Why We Picked It
The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro not only boasts the fastest 6GHz performance we’ve tested, but it is incredibly well appointed. This router is physically huge, but for good reason: It’s equipped with a boatload of connectivity options, including a 10GbE port, plus several more multi-gig ports. The router also supports link aggregation, offering the potential for truly massive bandwidth and future-proofing. It also offers a gamer-friendly user interface and lots of settings designed to optimize your gaming experience.Who It’s For
Whether you’re a gaming enthusiast or simply demand a top-of-the line router to power your home network, the GT-BE98 Pro has you covered. Perhaps the only reason you wouldn’t want it is if you’re not interested in spending extra for Wi-Fi 7 tech, which is still in its infancy. In that case, you should a consider a Wi-Fi 6E router instead; they also offer 6GHz transmissions (albeit slower ones) for much less cash. Why We Picked It
The TP-Link Archer AX10 is proof that you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to upgrade your network with Wi-Fi 6 technology. This reasonably priced dual-band router delivered solid throughput on the 5GHz band and good signal range in our performance tests. Though it lacks features that are typically found on more expensive models, including link aggregation and USB connectivity, you’d be hard pressed to find these features on any sub-$100 router.Who It’s For
If you want to take advantage of the faster connection speeds, decreased latency, and more efficient client battery life that you get with Wi-Fi 6, but you need to keep costs down, then the TP-Link Archer AX10 is an excellent choice. Why We Picked It
The TP-Link Archer AXE95 uses advanced 6GHz wireless technology and multi-gig wired connectivity to deliver speedy throughput, making it the new king of Wi-Fi 6E routers. Using the latest wireless technologies, it offers access to three radio bands—including the 6GHz band—and is equipped with numerous high-speed networking ports, including three 1GbE LAN jacks, a 1GbE WAN/LAN jack, and a 2.5GbE WAN/LAN jack. It delivered mostly excellent results in our performance tests.Who It’s For
If you want the latest and greatest in home Wi-Fi, this is the router to get. It not only harnesses the power of the relatively new and uncrowded 6GHz radio band and comes with network security and parental control software, but it is also mesh-ready for use with other TP-Link routers if you need more coverage later on. Why We Picked It
The three-piece Eero 6 Plus Wi-Fi 6 mesh system delivered blazing throughput speeds and excellent signal range in our performance tests. As with most mesh systems, it is a snap to install and manage using a phone and a user-friendly mobile app, and it has the distinction of being the first Eero system to support 160MHz channels.Who It’s For
The three-piece Eero 6 Plus is ideal for use in larger homes of up to 4,500 square feet. It uses low-profile nodes that are designed to blend in with any home décor while providing a strong Wi-Fi 6 signal to every corner of your house. In addition to eliminating dead zones, the Eero 6 Plus doubles as a home-automation hub that uses a Zigbee radio to control smart devices such as cameras, locks, lighting, and thermostats.Why We Picked It
Plenty of wireless routers have gaming-friendly features, but few of these are mesh systems designed to provide whole-home coverage so you can game from the den, the backyard, and everywhere in between. The Asus ROG Rapture GT6 is an exception, one of a rare breed of mesh systems designed for gamers, and it excels in its niche. An exceptionally robust wireless backhaul system joins an unapologetically “gamer” aesthetic and specialized features like the Game Radar diagnostic utility, which helps you identify the connection quality of servers for specific games.Who It’s For
Any gamer who needs a robust internet connection to feed their hobby in every room of a large house should consider the GT6. The aesthetic might not be to every gamer’s liking, but the performance certainly is. Why We Picked It
Reasonably priced as far as mesh systems go, the Wyze Wi-Fi 6E Mesh Router Pro two-pack is the clear choice for medium or large homes over the company’s other Mesh Router, since the Pro adds 6GHz support for future-proofing your network.
