Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
We've recently launched Routers! Read our R&D Article to learn more.

The 4 Best Routers For Streaming - Fall 2024

Updated Nov 11, 2024 at 08:53 am
Best Routers For Streaming

Surprisingly, streaming content online doesn't demand much bandwidth. Most streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Max recommend a minimum speed of 25 to 50Mbps for 4k HDR content. Nearly all of the 30+ routers we bought and tested deliver speeds that are more than suitable for multiple devices streaming content simultaneously, as long as your internet plan's maximum speed isn't the bottleneck. Still, a better router can provide better network coverage and faster speeds at longer distances, which is especially important if you have a big house or like to stream movies in your backyard under the stars. Read on to see our picks for the best Wi-Fi routers for streaming.

If you want more router recommendations, check out our picks for the best budget and cheap routers, the best long-range routers, or the best Wi-Fi 6 routers.


  1. Best Router For Streaming

    The best router for streaming we've tested is the TP-Link Archer BE550, a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router with 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands. If you have newer devices compatible with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, you'll benefit from its blazing-fast 6GHz band. It delivers speeds more than capable for multiple people simultaneously streaming high-bitrate 4k HDR content. Even if you live in a multi-level home, you can take full advantage of a gigabit (or higher) internet connection. It also has an excellent port selection, with all five of its Ethernet ports rated for 2.5Gbps, so your high-bandwidth wired devices, like gaming PCs and NASes, can reach their full speeds. If your home has obstacles like concrete or brick walls that leave you with dead zones, don't worry. This router is compatible with TP-Link's EasyMesh functionality, allowing you to create a mesh network with other compatible routers or range extenders for better coverage.

    Wi-Fi 7 is a very new standard that makes some serious performance promises, but remember that since it's so new, it'll likely be a while before you upgrade all your other devices to support it. The Wi-Fi Alliance's website has a product finder where you can see if your devices are Wi-Fi 7 certified. With that in mind, this router's biggest downside is its range performance on the 5GHz band. While it still delivers speeds suitable for most high-bandwidth uses like fast downloads at 100 feet away, a mesh solution like the eero Pro 6E, our pick for large homes, would be a better option.

    See our review

  2. Best Mesh Wi-Fi System For Streaming

    If you live in a very large home or notice that a standalone router leaves you staring at the Netflix buffering animation in some rooms, a mesh Wi-Fi system might help, and we recommend the eero Pro 6E for most people. This tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router has a sleek design and a small footprint, so it won't be jarring with your living space decor. In terms of performance, it offers great range, and since it's designed to be easily expandable, you can purchase additional units for better coverage if you have an especially large home. It also delivers impressive speeds that can easily handle multiple devices streaming 4k HDR content, no matter what room they're in.

    With eero routers, ease of use is paramount. Using the eero app, setting up your mesh network is incredibly straightforward. You can configure and monitor your network, look at how many devices are connected, and even oversee your smart home devices since it has a built-in Zigbee hub and supports Thread and Matter. However, you must use the app to manage your network because eero doesn't have a web interface, and the app is limited in the settings you can change. It has many features that are included on most other routers—like parental controls, historical data, content blocking, and 'advanced security'—behind an annoying monthly paywall.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Router For Streaming

    If the most bandwidth-intensive thing you do on your network is streaming, you can find the best router for your needs in the mid-range price category. And pound-for-pound, the TP-Link Archer AX55 is the best we've tested in that price range. It's a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with a conventional design and a small footprint that won't take up too much space wherever you decide to place it. This router really shines in its range and speed performance. At close range, it can saturate an internet connection up to 750Mbps and maintain consistently fast speeds up to nearly 100 feet away. At those speeds, it has no problem handling multiple users browsing and watching 4k content simultaneously.

    While its range is impressive, it's still just a standalone router. If your home is especially large, and you can't place the router centrally because of where your internet cable enters the house, don't worry—it's compatible with both OneMesh and EasyMesh, meaning you can create a mesh network with compatible routers and range extenders. Its biggest drawback is that since it's Wi-Fi 6, it doesn't have a 6GHz band, so your cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6E or 7 devices can't reach their top speeds.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Router For Streaming

    If you're on a budget, we recommend the TP-Link Archer AX20. It's a Wi-Fi 6 router that delivers more than adequate speed and range performance, especially considering its price. It can reach speeds up to 700Mbps when close to it and has decent range, too, delivering solid speeds up to 100 feet away. It's more than suitable for streaming 4k HDR content, even with multiple simultaneous users. If you need more range, it's also compatible with OneMesh, so you can create a mesh network with any range extender that supports it.

    Like our mid-range pick, the TP-Link Archer AX55, this router has a conventional design with four external antennas and a relatively small footprint, so it's easy to place in your home, but it's not the most attractive-looking model. Its other major drawback is that it doesn't support Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS), so it can't access DFS-only channels, which would help its speeds in congested wireless environments like apartment buildings.

    The budget router category is quite crowded, with prices and stock frequently fluctuating. If this router isn't available for its best price of around $55, the TP-Link Archer AX10 is more reliably available and delivers similar performance for only a couple more dollars, but it lacks a USB port. Also, more expensive mid-range routers are typically available to buy used, refurbished, or as an Amazon warehouse deal at a discount. If you're comfortable buying a used router or one with minor cosmetic damage, you can usually pick up our mid-range pick, the TP-Link Archer AX55 for around the same price as the AX20.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • ASUS RT-BE96U:

    The ASUS RT-BE96U is a Wi-Fi 7 router that delivers immense top speeds that are the fastest we've measured. It's huge, has an over-the-top aesthetic, and is incredibly expensive. Hence, the TP-Link Archer BE550 is a better choice since it still delivers excellent performance for considerably less.

    See our review
  • eero Max 7:

    The eero Max 7 is the best-performing router we've tested. It's a Wi-Fi 7 mesh router that's incredibly fast and maintains gigabit speeds nearly 100 feet away. However, we don't recommend it because it's incredibly expensive and overkill for streaming, and the eero Pro 6E delivers enough range and performance for most people.

    See our review
  • AmpliFi Alien:

    The AmpliFi Alien is a consumer tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router from Ubiquiti, a company primarily dealing in commercial-grade wireless equipment. It delivers the best range of any standalone router we've tested, and its design lets you easily add more access points to create a mesh network. That said, it's expensive for a Wi-Fi 6 router, and the TP-Link Archer BE550 offers a better value.

    See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Nov 11, 2024:

    We've replaced the TP-Link Archer AX10 with the TP-Link Archer AX20 as our budget pick since it offers a better value overall.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are currently the best routers for streaming for most people, whether you're looking to upgrade to the latest Wi-Fi standard, replace your ISP-provided router, or even get a better connection in your backyard. We factor in the price (a cheaper router wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our users, and availability (no routers that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you'd like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our router reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no router is perfect, nearly all of them are more than good enough for streaming 4k HDR content, even with multiple simultaneous users.