Wi-Fi 6 came onto the market in 2019. It introduced several technical improvements over Wi-Fi 5, making it faster and more reliable. Even with Wi-Fi 6E and 7 routers now available, which might be better options if you have the budget to spare since they have some significant performance advantages for your compatible devices, Wi-Fi 6 routers still occupy that sweet spot of value in the mid-range and budget price categories.
We've tested over 20 Wi-Fi 6 routers; below are our picks for the models we think are the best options for most people.
Check out our picks for the best Wi-Fi routers, the best mesh Wi-Fi systems, and the best cheap and budget routers articles for more recommendations.
Since we started reviewing them in 2024, we've tested over 60 routers. We maintain complete editorial independence and impartiality by purchasing each router ourselves, which ensures we aren't testing specially selected review units. Rather than casually assessing performance by throwing on Netflix and seeing if it works, we rigorously evaluate each router on a standardized testing platform, providing you with all the data you need to compare different models.
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Best Wi-Fi 6 Router
Apartment/Condo8.1Multi-Level House8.2Speed8.5Range8.2Wi-Fi Version:Wi-Fi 6 (ax)See all our test resultsTest Configuration:StandaloneThe GL.iNet Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) is the best Wi-Fi 6 router that we've tested. It's a dual-band router with 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, and it sports two 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN ports and four 1Gbps LAN ports, so you're covered if you have lots of high-speed wired devices. It also delivers impressive range and excellent top speeds, making it suitable if your home internet connection is up to ~1,400Mbps.
While it might not be a household name, GL.iNet routers are lauded by tinkerers and networking nerds for their configurability and flexibility. This router runs a version of OpenWRT, an open-source router firmware that's actually based on Linux. It has some useful features, like the ability to set up a network-wide VPN and easily configure Wi-Fi extenders or repeaters, as well as advanced options such as connecting a cellular modem, even a cellphone, to the USB port for failover or load balancing. There's also a wide range of plug-in support for unlocking even more advanced features. The best part is that all this flexibility is presented in an easy-to-use interface, even if you don't have a computer science degree. Overall, this router's a fantastic option if you want solid performance throughout your home and don't care about the latest and greatest Wi-Fi tech.
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Best Mid-Range Wi-Fi 6 Router
Apartment/Condo7.7Multi-Level House7.6Speed7.8Range7.4Wi-Fi Version:Wi-Fi 6 (ax)See all our test resultsTest Configuration:Dual Node MeshIf you want to save a bit of money and just want a simple, plug-and-play Wi-Fi solution, we recommend the eero 6 as the best mid-range Wi-Fi 6 router. It's a dual-band router that's designed to be used in a mesh system, so we recommend picking it up in a two-pack. Performance-wise, it delivers solid coverage and speeds suitable for internet connections of up to around 700Mbps. It can easily handle multiple 4k movie streams and high-speed downloads at the same time. Its compact, sleek design is much smaller and easier to place in your home than our fairly bulky pick above, and it's easily expandable, allowing you to add more units to cover larger homes. It also offers smart home integration with built-in Zigbee support and Amazon Alexa compatibility.
Setting it up is straightforward and handled entirely through the intuitive eero app. The app is user-friendly, making setup easy even for those without networking experience. However, it doesn't offer anywhere near the level of configurability as the GL.iNet Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) above, and some features, like advanced parental controls, are locked behind a monthly subscription paywall.
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Best Budget Wi-Fi 6 Router
Apartment/Condo7.7Multi-Level House7.8Speed7.9Range7.9Wi-Fi Version:Wi-Fi 6 (ax)See all our test resultsTest Configuration:StandaloneIf you want to save a bit more money or don't necessarily need a mesh system, we recommend the TP-Link Archer AX55. 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 speeds 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. Overall, this router is an excellent value for money that delivers great performance, despite its budget price.
While this is a standalone router, you can create a mesh network with compatible routers and range extenders, as it's compatible with both TP-Link's OneMesh and EasyMesh. Like all the other routers on this list, its biggest drawback is that since it's a Wi-Fi 6 router, it doesn't support the 6GHz band, limiting the speeds on your Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 devices.
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Best Cheap Wi-Fi 6 Router
Apartment/Condo7.2Multi-Level House7.3Speed7.6Range7.2Wi-Fi Version:Wi-Fi 6 (ax)See all our test resultsTest Configuration:StandaloneIf you're on an even tighter budget and just want something good and cheap, we recommend the TP-Link Archer AX10. It's a Wi-Fi 6 router that delivers more than adequate speed and range, especially considering its price. It can reach speeds up 600Mbps 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. You can create a mesh network with any OneMesh-compatible range extender if you need more range.
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 improve speeds in congested wireless environments like apartment buildings.
Recent Updates
Feb 04, 2026:
We've made several changes to this article to reflect new models we've tested and to help make buying decisions easier. We've removed the eero Pro 6E to focus this article on Wi-Fi 6 routers only. We've also replaced the ASUS RT-AX86U Pro with the GL.iNet Flint 2 as our top pick, made the eero 6 our mid-range pick, moved the TP-Link Archer AX55 down to a budget pick, and added the TP-Link Archer AX10 as the cheap pick.
Mar 10, 2025:
We've made small edits for clarity and verified that our recommendations are available and represent the best options.
Feb 13, 2025:
Verified that all picks are valid and available. No change in recommendations.
Jan 13, 2025:
We've verified our picks and ensured they're available and remain the best options.
Dec 18, 2024:
Small text changes for clarity and conciseness. No change in recommendations.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are currently the best Wi-Fi 6E routers and Wi-Fi 6 routers 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 most high-bandwidth uses, like streaming 4k content and downloading large files quickly.