If your router isn't delivering the speeds you pay for, or if your devices are dropping their connections a couple of rooms away, it might be time for an upgrade. There are many routers available with different features, performance promises, and jargon-filled names that make the buying process intimidating, but we're here to help.

When choosing the best router for home use, the most important factors to consider are your internet plan's maximum speed, what you do online, and the size and layout of your home. Almost all the routers we tested can saturate an internet connection of up to ~450Mbps at short range. A faster router will help you download large files like game updates faster, but only if your internet connection isn't the bottleneck. If your home is very large or has obstacles like concrete or masonry walls, a router or mesh system with good range will help deliver a faster and more consistent connection.

Other considerations can include where you live and how many people you live with; large apartment complexes often have a noisy wireless environment that can affect your speed and connection strength, for example. However, it's important to keep in mind that while our test results are comparable to each other, every living situation is different, so your experience will vary from ours.