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The humble router is an essential fixture in every home. Benefits extend to everything from streaming movies and online gaming to video calls. Most people can get by just fine with a single Wi-Fi router, and I’ve collected recommendations to suit different needs, spaces, and budgets. I have tested all of these in my busy family home, which is full of Netflix-addicted gamers.
After testing more than 50 routers (some have since been discontinued or removed, but many are reviewed on this page), the Asus RT-BE58U is the best Wi-Fi router for most people, especially thanks to its affordable price. I have plenty of alternatives to suit different households and budgets though, including a mesh Wi-Fi option if dead zones plague you.
Make sure to check out our Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers guide for larger homes. If you’re confused about terminology, my How to Buy a Router guide can help, along with my explainer on mesh systems versus single routers.
Note: The FCC’s foreign-made router ban announced in March may stop any company that doesn’t secure an exemption (Conditional Approval) from selling new routers in the US, however, existing routers can continue to be sold (everything listed here). They can also be updated with new firmware, at least until January 1, 2029. So far, Netgear, Eero, and Asus, among others (here’s the full list), have secured a Conditional Approval.
Updated November 2026: I added the Asus ROG Rapture BN98 Pro as the best Wi-Fi 8 router and the TP-Link Archer 8 Ultra to Other Routers I Tested and Liked.
Best Router for Most People
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RT-BE58U
I’m recommending the Asus RT-BE58U as the best Wi-Fi router for most people. It was quick and easy to set up and covered my previous modern, two-floor, 1,600-square-foot home with fast and reliable connectivity, keeping pace with many more expensive systems in my tests. This is a dual-band router, so you miss out on the 6-GHz band, which allows for the fastest speed and highest bandwidth but has a very short range. However, you get the other benefits of Wi-Fi 7 (MLO, 4K-QAM, 160 MHz channels, and enhanced security, all of which are explained in my guide). It has a generous 2.5-Gbps WAN/LAN, 1-Gbps WAN/LAN, three further gigabit LANs, and a USB WAN capable of 4G LTE and 5G Mobile tethering. Asus also includes network security (Trend Micro’s AiProtection Pro) and solid parental controls at no extra cost (most manufacturers have a subscription model). But AiProtection means sharing your data with Trend Micro, so I recommend reviewing its privacy policy.
This home router was rock solid for our busy family of four, flawlessly coping with multiple streams and gaming sessions and making the most of our 1-Gbps connection. The only issue I encountered was with devices in the furthest back bedroom dropping onto the 2.4-GHz band from the faster 5-GHz band; I resolved this by adjusting the router position and antennas. (This is crucial to get the most from any router.)
The Asus mobile app is simple and easy to use, and you can dig deeper via the web interface. Asus allows more tinkering than most router manufacturers, and there’s support for VPN service, separate IoT or guest networks, and Ai Mesh, enabling you to add more Asus routers to create a mesh. The Asus RT-BE58U makes a lot of sense for average-size families with up to 1-Gbps internet connections and homes up to 2,000 square feet.
Best Router Upgrade Pick
RT-BE96U
If your budget isn’t fixed and you want top speeds, then the Asus RT-BE96U is calling. This enormous, tri-band, Wi-Fi 7 router is bristling with eight large antennas and is not easy to mount, so you will need a suitable space for it. It’s seriously massive, but performance-wise, this is as good as it gets right now. Testing on the 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz bands, only one other router has performed better, and it was the GT-BE98 Pro gaming router, also from Asus (I have a separate guide coming soon). The RT-BE96U offers expansive coverage, easily blanketing my home and garden with stable, speedy Wi-Fi. At close range, the 6-GHz band is lightning fast, with support for the widest 320 MHz channels. Whether downloading or moving large files, gaming, or streaming, the RT-BE96U is fast and reliable. It also has two 10-Gbps ports (one WAN/LAN and a LAN), four gigabit LANs, one USB 3.2, and a USB 2.0 port. Being super picky, it might have been nice if those gigabit ports were 2.5 Gbps, as TP-Link offers in the BE800.
I love that Asus continues to avoid the subscription model, offering AiProtection security, VPN functionality, and robust parental controls as part of the purchase price and free for the lifetime of the router. You also get an in-depth set of networking features you can dig into, and there is support for AiMesh, enabling you to link this with other Asus routers to create a mesh. You don’t even have to create an account to use this router (a rarity nowadays). The firmware on Asus routers can sometimes be ropey at release, but I used the RT-BE96U for a couple of weeks without a hiccup. The caveat? You need devices that support Wi-Fi 7 and a multi-gig connection to put this router through its paces. Most folks don’t have to spend this much to get great Wi-Fi, but if you want a router to last you the next five years and beyond, this is an excellent choice.
Best Budget Router
Archer BE230
This is the lowest price I’ve seen for a Wi-Fi 7 router worth considering. The design sports four antennas, a 2.5-Gbps WAN, a 2.5-Gbps LAN, and three gigabit LAN ports. It is dual-band (2.4-GHz and 5-GHz), so there’s no 6-GHz option, and it’s only 2 x 2 MIMO, so the maximum bandwidth is 688 Mbps and 2,882 Mbps, respectively. When I first tested, I found the range on the 5-GHz band to be limited and the band steering disappointing, often dropping my phone onto the much slower 2.4-GHz band. But after further testing, I’ve reappraised. The BE230 did an impressive job of keeping my family of four online without any major hiccups. Throughput is so-so, file transfers were mid-table in my results, and the BE230 finished below my top pick in every test. But the price makes it well worth the compromise. It could be perfect for a small home or apartment, as it was impressively speedy at close range on both bands but dropped off with distance, making it tough to recommend for larger properties.
TP-Link’s Tether app is easy to use, and this model supports EasyMesh, so you can always add additional devices to create a mesh later. You can also review connected devices, split bands, create a guest network, prioritize devices, turn on MLO, and do a few other things in the app. You can add intrusion detection and real-time web security by subscribing to Security+ for $5 a month or $36 a year. Total Security adds antivirus, VPN, and password management for $6 a month or $70 a year. You get basic parental controls, but if you want time limits for apps, downtime, SafeSearch, and more, it will cost you $3 a month or $18 a year. The subscriptions are also a hard sell on a router this cheap, but you don’t need them.
Note: Even before the recent US foreign-made router ban, the US government was mulling a TP-Link router ban because of reports that vulnerabilities in the Chinese firm’s routers were exploited in high-profile attacks linked to the Chinese government. According to The Wall Street Journal, the US Commerce, Defense, and Justice departments are investigating TP-Link, though no evidence of any deliberate wrongdoing has yet emerged. TP-Link president Jeff Barney told WIRED the company is cooperating with the investigation, has a transparent supply chain with manufacturing in Vietnam, not China, and is now headquartered in California, having split from TP-Link Technologies, which focuses on mainland China. Texas attorney general Ken Paxton sued TP-Link in February, claiming the company allows the Chinese Communist Party to access American consumers’ devices. The impending ban will impact TP-Link, and it will have to apply for a Conditional Approval.
Best Midrange Router
Nighthawk RS300
It’s still not cheap, but at around half the price of my upgrade pick, this Netgear router is a solid option that will likely exceed most folks’ needs. The classy tower design is understated, and this is a fanless router that kept its cool during my tests. Setup was a breeze, and the simplified app is designed to be hands-off. The Nighthawk RS300 offers 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz bands. Speed and stability on the 5-GHz and 6-GHz bands were excellent, though the range on the 6-GHz band is limited. Performance on the 2.4-GHz band was slightly below par, but that will likely only be an issue if you have loads of older devices. The RS300 has one 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port for your incoming internet, two 2.5 Gbps and two Gigabit LAN ports, and one USB 3.0 port.
While Asus routers are great for tinkerers who want to dive into settings, Netgear limits your options to keep things simple. You can still set up a guest network, run speed tests, split bands, meter your traffic, and analyze your Wi-Fi signal in the accessible Nighthawk app. Premium Smart Parental Controls ($8/month or $70/year) and Netgear Armor ($100/year) add tons of features, but they are expensive (you get a 30-day trial of each), and most people don’t need them. The RS300 is one of the best experiences I have had with a Netgear router, with very fast speeds on the 5- and 6-GHz bands, lightning-quick file transfer times, and no issues over two weeks of testing. For folks with mostly newish gadgets, internet connections up to 2.5 Gbps, and no desire to tweak network settings, this is a solid Wi-Fi 7 router.
Best Mesh Router for Large Homes
Orbi 770 Series
Consistently delivering a stable, high-speed Wi-Fi connection, the Netgear Orbi 770 Series mesh system is our pick of the Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers and is ideal for large homes or houses with dead spots. The relatively large tower design enables expansive coverage. (Netgear optimistically suggests up to 8,000 square feet for a three-pack.) The main router has four 2.5-Gbps Ethernet ports, while the satellites make do with two 2.5-Gbps ports apiece. Setup is quick and easy, and the Orbi app is straightforward. This tri-band system supports 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz bands, and multi-link operation (MLO), allowing devices to connect on multiple bands simultaneously.
On the downside, there’s no USB. You get 30-day trials of Netgear’s Armor security software (powered by Bitdefender) and Smart Parental Controls, but then subscriptions are required if you want to keep using those software features. Armor (phishing and malware protection, device and network scanning) costs $40 for the first year, jumping to $100 thereafter, and the parental controls (profiles, age-appropriate filters, scheduling, and time limits) are $8 per month. You need a large home, a multi-gig internet connection (up to 2.5 Gbps), and at least a couple of Wi-Fi 7 devices to take full advantage of this mesh, but it’s a reliable performer that will serve you well for years to come.
Best Travel Router
RT-BE58 Go
Whether you’re away from home for work or on vacation, a travel router could come in very handy, and the dual-band, Wi-Fi 7 Asus RT-BE58 Go is faster and offers greater range than the TP-Link Roam 7 (BE3600) it replaces here, though it is a bit bigger. Connect your devices at home, and a travel router provides convenience on vacation. I took it on a recent trip, and it was nice to simply hook it up to a source to have pre-paired Wi-Fi on everyone’s devices without being asked for the login again and again (as usually happens). You can plug in an internet source via Ethernet, connect to public Wi-Fi, or employ USB tethering. It’s especially handy when you want to connect multiple devices to hotel Wi-Fi, which limits your device connections.