If your router isn't delivering the speeds you pay for or your devices are dropping their connection 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 things to consider are your internet plan's maximum speed, what you do on the internet, 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 impacts 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.
We've tested over 45 of the most popular Wi-Fi routers on the market, and our picks for the best wireless routers for home use are below. Check out our R&D article to learn more about how we tested mesh systems and when they can help. Also, see our recommendations for the best routers for streaming, the best long-range routers, and the best Wi-Fi 6 routers for more picks!
Since we started reviewing them in 2024, we've tested over 35 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 the same standardized testing platform, providing you with all the data to allow you to compare between different models.
-
Best Wi-Fi Router
Apartment/Condo8.5Multi-Level House8.0Speed8.8Range7.8Wi-Fi Version:Wi-Fi 7 (be)See all our test resultsTest Configuration:StandaloneThe best router we've tested is the TP-Link Archer BE550, a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router with 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands. This is a great option if you have newer Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 devices, as you'll benefit from its blazing-fast 6GHz band. It delivers speeds suitable for multiple people simultaneously streaming high-resolution videos or downloading large files like game updates. It also has an excellent port selection, with all five of its Ethernet ports rated for 2.5Gbps, so high-bandwidth wired devices like a gaming PC or NAS can reach their full speeds. If your home has obstacles like concrete masonry 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 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. This router's biggest downside is its range performance on the 5GHz band. While it still delivers speeds suitable for most high-bandwidth uses, those with a large home will want to consider our best mesh Wi-Fi system below instead, the TP-Link Deco BE63. Also, check out our Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 7 article if you want to learn more about what Wi-Fi 7 brings to the table.
-
Best Mesh Wi-Fi System
Apartment/Condo8.8Multi-Level House8.5Speed8.9Range8.5Wi-Fi Version:Wi-Fi 7 (be)See all our test resultsTest Configuration:Dual Node MeshIf you live in a very large house or find that a standalone router leaves your home with dead zones and a slow connection, a mesh Wi-Fi system like the TP-Link Deco BE63 will likely help. It's a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router with a sleek design and a conveniently small footprint, so it won't clash with the decor in your living space. Performance-wise, it has great range, and since it's designed to be easily expandable, you can buy additional units for better range. It delivers impressive speeds that can take advantage of a gigabit internet connection, no matter where you are in your home, making it a great pick if you're downloading lots of large files in an office far from where your internet cable comes into your house. It also has great wired connectivity with four 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports, so you're covered if you have wired devices that can take advantage of those speeds.
TP-Link's Deco app makes it easy to get your mesh network up and running quickly. You can configure and monitor your network, see the number of connected devices, and access settings like the channel widths each band operates on. By default, you have access to several basic parental control features where you can set profiles for specific devices and block certain sites or categories. Unfortunately, more precise parental controls like time management as well as additional security features like a network-wide antivirus are behind TP-Link's HomeShield monthly subscription service.
If you're curious to learn about some other options for very large homes or living situations with dead zones, then check out our best routers for large homes or best mesh Wi-Fi systems articles.
-
Best Budget Router
Apartment/Condo7.7Multi-Level House7.8Speed7.9Range7.9Wi-Fi Version:Wi-Fi 6 (ax)See all our test resultsTest Configuration:StandaloneThe best router for home use we've tested in the budget range is 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. 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.
This router has impressive range that's suitable for most apartments and small to medium-sized homes. If your home is especially large and you can't place the router centrally because of where your internet cable enters the house, it's compatible with both OneMesh and EasyMesh, meaning you can create a mesh network with compatible routers and range extenders. If you have a lot of cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 devices, then this router's biggest drawback is that it's a Wi-Fi 6 device, so you'll lose out on access to the 6GHz band for faster speeds.
The budget router category is crowded, with fluctuating prices and stock, especially with tariffs coming into effect. If this router isn't available for its best price of around $70, the TP-Link Archer AX10 is a cheaper option that doesn't perform quite as well and lacks Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS), a feature that's useful in noisy wireless environments.
Check out our best budget and cheap routers article for more low-cost picks.
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
-
GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300):
If you appreciate the ability to fine tune your network settings and want to take advantage of advanced features like multi-WAN with options for cell network failover or load balancing, the GL.iNet Flint 3 is a great alternative to the TP-Link Archer BE550. That said, it's not quite as user-friendly as the TP-Link and doesn't have the same degree of mesh support.
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 the TP-Link Deco BE63 delivers enough range and performance for most people.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 12, 2025:
We've revamped this recommendation article to better reflect the current state of the market. The TP-Link Deco BE63 has replaced the eero Pro 6E as our pick for the 'Best Mesh Router.' We've also removed the upper mid-range and mid-range categories because we haven't yet tested products in those price categories that outperform the TP-Link AX55, which is now our budget pick, as it's consistently available at a budget price point. Lastly, we've included the GL.iNet Flint 3 as a Notable Mention.
Mar 07, 2025:
All picks are valid and available. No change in recommendations.
Feb 06, 2025:
We've verified that our recommendations are available and represent the best choices. We also made edits throughout for clarity and concision.
Jan 08, 2025:
We've vetted our picks to ensure they're readily available and relevant, but we haven't made any changes.
Dec 13, 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 for money. We've also renamed the 'Best Router For Large Homes' category as the 'Best Mesh Wi-Fi System' to better align with user interest.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are currently the best wifi routers and best routers for home use 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.