The 4 Best Wi-Fi 6 Routers - Fall 2024

The ASUS RT-AX86U Pro is the best Wi-Fi 6 router we've tested. It's a gaming router on paper, but you don't need to be a gamer to benefit from its great performance. Firstly, it's fast. It delivers impressive speeds that can saturate an internet connection of up to ~900Mbps, meaning you can quickly download huge files, like game updates. Its range is equally impressive, considering it's a standalone router, so you'll get good speeds throughout your home. If you need more range or have dead spots, it also supports ASUS' AiMesh feature to create a mesh network with any compatible ASUS router or extender.

Since it's a gaming router, it has extensive gaming-oriented features. Namely, Adaptive QoS (quality of service) lets you prioritize specific traffic like online games or video streaming over smart home devices for better performance. As for wired connectivity, it has six total Ethernet ports, including a dedicated gaming LAN port, which ASUS claims prioritizes any connected device, like a PC or game console. It also has a 2.5Gbps port that you can configure as a WAN or LAN port and two USB ports that you can use to connect storage devices. That said, this router sits at an awkward price point.

If you don't care about tinkering with settings and extra features, you should check out our mid-range pick below, the TP-Link Archer AX55. If you don't mind spending a bit more for Wi-Fi 7 and the fastest speeds, the TP-Link Archer BE550 is a better option.

The eero Pro 6E is the best Wi-Fi 6E router we've tested. Wi-Fi 6E uses the same underlying technology as regular old Wi-Fi 6, but it adds support for much more wireless spectrum in the 6GHz range. This all means that your compatible devices can access even more lanes with less traffic and higher top speeds. This router is also designed to work in a mesh system, so if you find that a standalone router leaves parts of your house with a slow connection, you can buy another access point for better coverage.

Its compact, stylish design makes it an unobtrusive addition to any space, and it delivers great performance, especially when paired with gigabit internet—perfect for handling large downloads or streaming in the far-off corners of your home. The eero app guides you through a straightforward setup and provides easy tools to monitor devices, adjust settings, and manage smart home integration via its built-in Zigbee hub. It also supports emerging technologies like Thread and Matter, making it ideal for smart home ecosystems.

However, the router does come with some trade-offs. All management must be done through the app, as there's no web interface. Customization is limited, and features like parental controls, advanced security, and content blocking are locked behind an annoying monthly subscription.

Since it's a Wi-Fi 6E router, you need compatible devices to take advantage of its fast 6GHz band. Even if you haven't upgraded your devices yet, it's still a great choice since you'll benefit from it once you have. If you don't want Wi-Fi 6E, check out our top pick, the ASUS RT-AX86U Pro, for a Wi-Fi 6 router with a more robust feature set.

Most people can find the best router for their 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. With speeds like that, it has no problem handling high-speed downloads and 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 if you have cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6E or 7 devices, they can't reach their top speeds.

If you're looking for a solid option 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 of nearly 700Mbps when you're up close and has good range, delivering solid speeds up to 100 feet away. This means it's suitable for everyday internet use or even more bandwidth-heavy tasks like downloading large files or streaming 4k content, even with multiple 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.

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 router. 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 frequently fluctuating. More expensive mid-range routers are often available to buy used 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. Both of those routers offer measurably better performance in a similar package.