The 9 Best Wireless Routers of 2023

The Ultimate Wireless Router Buying Guide

Your home network enables devices like computers and printers to communicate inside your house and allows your computers, phones, game consoles, and other devices to connect to the internet. While the modem is the component that connects to the internet, the wireless router is the linchpin of the entire system that ties everything together.

Choosing the right wireless router can mean the difference between lightning-fast download speeds, frustratingly slow data transfer, a rock-solid network or constantly dropped connections and even basic compatibility with your latest devices.

Wireless router technology might seem dry and complicated or even difficult to understand. Still, you can make an informed decision by wrapping your head around key concepts. For example, you need to select a wireless router that supports the standards required by your wireless devices, and it’s essential to understand the difference between the two main wireless router frequencies.

Other features, like range, speed, and ports, all impact the usability of a router and can have a huge effect on your overall experience and satisfaction. Select a router that doesn’t have enough bands to support all of the users and devices in your house, for example, and you’ll set yourself up for a disappointing experience.

Wireless Router Standards: Compatibility is Key

The wireless standards a router supports determine which devices can connect to that router. These standards have evolved a lot over the years, so it's essential to make sure that you choose a router that works with the same standards as your devices to get the best experience. You can also future-proof your purchase by selecting a router that supports the latest Wi-Fi standard even if you don't currently own any devices that can take advantage of that technology just yet — every new Wi-Fi standard is backward compatible with the ones that came before.

The modern Wi-Fi standards you'll most often see when shopping for wireless routers start with the number 802.11, followed by one or more letters. The standard in widespread use now is 802.11ac, which is essential if you have a lot of cutting-edge equipment, like laptops, phones, and streaming devices that can benefit from the higher speeds and frequencies it offers. If you want to make sure that you stay on the leading edge of technology, however, look for a router that supports the newest Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax standard, which offers better performance for the latest smartphones and other devices while remaining fully compatible with 802.11ac devices (which is also now known as Wi-Fi 5).

If you don't have any devices supporting 802.11ac, or your internet connection is slow, choosing an 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) router might save you some money. Still, we don't recommend that these days unless you're reasonably sure you'll never need the better performance, or you're willing to purchase another router down the road if you ever do.

Several older standards, like 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g, but you won't find routers focusing specifically on those standards. However, if you have older devices that use those standards, there's no need to worry, as almost all modern routers are backward compatible with older devices.

Frequencies and Channels: Should You Save Money With Single-Band?

A wireless router is a device that allows wireless connectivity between your modem and various other devices over radio frequencies. Every wireless router supports at least one frequency band, but these days dual- and tri-band routers are far more common, and you'll rarely find a Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac router that doesn't offer at least dual-band support.

Single-band routers typically use the 2.4GHz band, which is significantly slower than the newer 5GHz band. Dual-band routers support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. They can create two simultaneous Wi-Fi networks, while tri-band routers add a 5GHz band to support more devices at full capacity.

Most people need both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, because older devices only work with 2.4GHz, while newer devices can benefit from the additional speed you get with a 5GHz signal. It's also important to remember that 5GHz signals don't travel as far, so good 2.4GHz coverage is still essential.

Dual-band routers are available in various configurations, from budget models to higher-priced units that offer blazing-fast speeds. You can probably find a dual-band option to fit your budget and connectivity requirements, whatever they may be.

If you have a slow internet connection that can't benefit from a 5GHz router, none of your devices support 5GHz, or you value saving money over getting the best performance, you might save a bit of money by going with a single band 2.4GHz router, but keep in mind that there are also some very affordable basic dual-band routers.

Tri-band routers tend to be the most expensive of the bunch. If you have a lot of wireless devices and a lot of people in your home who use those devices simultaneously, then this type of router can be well worth the investment. You can even dedicate one of the 5GHz bands to a single purpose, like your work computer or a gaming console, to avoid slowdowns caused by network congestion.

Keep in mind, however, that since each of your devices can only connect to a single band at a time, a tri-band router won't offer any faster performance unless you have a lot of 5GHz devices—its purpose is to reduce congestion by spreading your 5GHz devices across both bands. There's also only one 2.4GHz band, so a tri-band router won't do anything to help your older 2.4GHz devices—they'll remain cluttered on the lone 2.4GHz band.

Range: Antennas, Extenders, and Mesh Systems

The range of a wireless router is usually calculated based on a clear line of sight, with no obstructions between the router and the wireless device. Obstacles like furniture, walls, ceilings, and even people will reduce the actual range of a router. Also, remember that 2.4GHz signals travel farther and better through solid objects than the higher-frequency 5GHz signals.

A few things can increase the range of a router, eliminate dead spots in a Wi-Fi network, and improve connectivity. The first is the number of antennas that a router has and the orientation of those antennas. As a general rule of thumb, a router with multiple antennas that can be rotated manually will have a greater range and provide better coverage than a router with just a single antenna. 

If you have a small home with an uncomplicated layout, then you may do fine with an inexpensive single antenna router. Larger homes, multi-floor homes, and any situation that places a lot of obstructions between the router and your devices will benefit from a multi-antenna router. The construction of your home matters here as well, as concrete and metal will block signals more than wood and drywall.

For large homes, you will have a much better experience using one or more Wi-Fi extenders or choosing a mesh Wi-Fi system instead of a traditional wireless router. Wi-Fi extenders connect to your existing network and project it further. At the same time, mesh systems use several interlocking nodes to cover a large area without slowing down your connection or introducing lag. These systems are more expensive than traditional wireless routers.

Speed: Don’t Pay For More Than You Can Use

If you like to stream movies in 4K, play video games, or download large files, then your router's speed is critical. When you look at most modern routers, you'll typically see a label like AC1700, AC3000, or AX6000. The number will sometimes come before the AC or AX designation, indicating whether it's using 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6).

In either case, these numbers refer to the maximum throughput the router can offer for all devices connected to it simultaneously across all its frequency bands combined. For example, a dual-band AC1700 router has a theoretical maximum speed of 1,700Mbps, which is split across its 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Similarly, tri-band routers usually have much higher numbers, like AC5400, since that total speed is divided across three bands instead of only two.

While the numbers are theoretical, and you typically won't see actual speeds that match the listed numbers, you can use them to compare one router to another. For example, two AC1700 routers from different manufacturers are in the same general speed class (although they may offer different speeds on each band), while an AC3000 router will be much faster.

In general, you should look for a fast enough router to match your internet connection's speed. That is to say, you should invest in a dual- or tri-band gigabit router if your internet connection supports it, but buying a fast router like that is a waste of money if your internet connection speed itself is slow unless, of course, you run media servers or often transfer files between your home computers.

If you aren't sure how fast your internet is, you can contact your ISP or connect your computer directly to your modem and run a speed test. Once you know the top speed of your internet connection, look for a router that can match it, and don't waste money on an expensive router that's significantly faster than your connection.

Lastly, remember that these numbers represent the combined speeds available to all of your connected devices across all the bands the router offers. Don't let the numbers fool you into thinking that a tri-band AC5400 router is significantly faster than a dual-band AC3000 router, as both likely offer similar speeds on each band. The tri-band router has one extra band for handling more devices.

Ports and Connectivity: Is Ethernet Enough?

While the Wi-Fi network is the most important thing about any wireless router, you shouldn't overlook other ports and connectivity. At a bare minimum, your router should have at least one extra Gigabit Ethernet port in addition to the one you use for your modem or internet connection. This wired connection provides the fastest possible connection speed, and you can always add a network switch later if you want physical connections for other devices.

A good standard to look for on a router is four Gigabit Ethernet ports, although some higher-end devices include eight or more. Some even allow you to achieve a 2Gbps connection by connecting to two Gigabit Ethernet ports at once, and a few leading-edge gaming routers now offer special 2.5Gbps or even 10Gbps ports.

When selecting the best wireless router, it's essential to think about the devices you own that could benefit from a wired connection. If you have a desktop computer, gaming console, and a network printer that doesn't support Wi-Fi, then a router with four Ethernet ports would be a good fit. If you don't need or want to connect anything via Ethernet, then a router with just a single Ethernet port would be fine (although it's pretty hard to find a router with fewer than four Ethernet ports these days, anyway).

Some routers offer additional ports, like USB ports and memory card slots. These ports are typically for connecting a hard drive to provide network storage. If you have a lot of digital media that you'd like to stream to various devices on your network, then make sure your router includes at least one USB port, but also look closely at what you plan to use it for. Most routers offer simple file sharing, but if you want to stream media, you'll probably be better off with a router with a built-in DLNA server or Plex Media Server specifically designed to handle streaming videos to your smart TVs and other devices.

Security: Protect All of Your Devices at Once

Basic routers don’t include any built-in security measures, so you must meticulously secure each device individually. If you’re looking for a central approach, look for a router with built-in security features. Some routers include a built-in firewall, a virus scanner, and the ability to protect your devices from malware and ransomware.

Consider whether these features are free or part of a subscription. Some routers will come with a complimentary subscription to a security service, and then you have to pay if you want to keep the security features. Others include basic functionality, like a built-in firewall, that you don’t have to pay any ongoing fees. Sometimes, a monthly subscription may be worth the expense if it offers sufficiently advanced protection features. Still, you can usually find routers that include basic firewall and content filtering features for free.

Accessories: Most Routers Work Right Out of the Box

When you buy a router, you usually don’t need to worry about accessories. Most routers include everything you need to get started in the box. One notable exception is the Ethernet cable used to connect the router to your modem, as the included cables are almost always very short.

If you need to place your router more than a few feet from your modem, consider purchasing a high-quality Ethernet cable. Use the shortest Ethernet cable to work in your application, and stick with CAT 6 or CAT 7.

If you plan on hanging your router on a wall, and your router supports that, check to see if mounting hardware is included. If you can mount directly to studs, you may need to pick up some wall anchors.

Brands/Manufacturers: All The Big Names

The networking space is crowded with time-tested giants and intriguing newcomers alike. Here are a few worth looking at for your ideal wireless router.

Asus
You might think of laptops and computers when you think of Asus, but they make some of the best wireless routers on the market. From budget routers to their high-performance (and high-priced) Republic of Gamers (ROG) line, Asus has a wireless router to fit just about any situation. Asus also has its unique AiMesh 2.0 technology that lets you easily group almost any set of Asus routers into a mesh Wi-Fi system, making it easier to expand your network if you need more coverage. These are also some of the most configurable routers on the market, making them an ideal choice for power users. However, that adds a layer of complexity that less tech-savvy users might find a bit intimidating.

Netgear

With more than two decades of experience in the networking hardware space, it's no surprise that Netgear is one of the most well-known wireless router brands. They've ridden the cutting edge of router technology over the years, including MU-MIMO, beamforming, and even a mesh offering in their Orbi system. They were one of the first companies to offer Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax routers. They provide a decent balance between ease of configuration and advanced features.

Linksys
This company has a bit of an interesting past. While it was one of the original giants in networking equipment, it was eventually folded into Cisco and then sold to Belkin. Despite changing hands a few times, Linksys still has a reputation for rock-solid hardware that doesn't break the bank, and they make some of the best open-source routers available.

Synology
This is a company that's been around for a long time and is well-known for its network storage appliances. More recently broke into the wireless router market, where they've applied their expertise in building some universally impressive routers with specifications, performance, and pricing that meet or beat more established brands.

Google
Google has its fingers in everything, and wireless networking is no exception. With their Nest brand, Google provides an intriguing mesh option where the nodes are also smart speakers, and the whole thing integrates exceptionally well with Google Home.

Eero
This is another relative newcomer who has regularly put out high-quality equipment since they showed up on the scene. Like Google's Nest, Eero is focused on mesh routers, and they do it quite well. They're also the simplest and easiest to manage of any other router on the market since everything is done through a mobile app. Still, more tech-savvy users who like to tinker with things will find the lack of advanced options somewhat limiting.