Say goodbye to WiFi dead zones and hello to an easier setup and stronger security with routers from Linkys, Netgear, TP-Link, and more
As you accumulate more WiFi-enabled devices, a good router becomes increasingly important.
By Nicholas De Leon
Your WiFi router, also known as a wireless router, handles all of the data that flows into and out of your home by way of your internet service provider.
This data includes all of the movies you stream on Disney+ and Netflix, all of the shows you binge on Hulu and Max, all of the work calls you participate in on Teams and Zoom, and all of the online games your kids play on Steam and Xbox Game Pass. Name a better way to unwind after a long day than by listening to your favorite album in lossless quality on Apple Music.
Without a good wireless router to reliably transfer all of this data from the cloud to your various devices, it’s hard to imagine how modern life would function smoothly.
With nearly 150 WiFi routers in our ratings, we here at Consumer Reports have a thorough understanding of what separates a good router from a not-so-good router. So consider the following overview a sort of “cheat sheet” on the state of the overall market.
At CR, we divide routers into two broad categories: multi-unit mesh routers and single-unit routers.
A single-unit router plugs directly into the modem supplied by your internet service provider. It then wirelessly slings internet signals around your home. Voila: WiFi!
Mesh routers feature one unit that plugs into the modem plus one or two additional units known as “satellites” or “beacons” that you place in other parts of your home to maximize coverage. The units then “talk” to one another, steering the WiFi signal around obstacles such as doors, walls, and appliances and creating what’s known as a mesh network.
A single router is generally sufficient for apartments and smaller houses, but if you live in more than 2,000 square feet, a mesh router may be a better choice.
The models below stand out with strong Overall Scores, offering solid performance at a range of distances as well as decent privacy and security protections.
Best Mesh Routers
Mesh routers are generally more expensive than singe-unit routers, but they do a better job of spreading WiFi throughout your home, helping to reduce dead zones and connection drops.
Netgear Orbi 750 Series AX5200 (3-pack)
Sold in a three-pack, this Netgear model scores well across our full range of tests. It can transmit data quickly and reliably even at far distances, offers easy app-based setup and management, and has automatic firmware updating. That last feature ensures that the router has the latest security patches, helping keep your data safe. There are seven built-in Ethernet ports (useful for connecting printers, gaming consoles, and other peripherals directly to your network) but zero built-in USB ports. It uses the previous WiFi standard known as WiFi 6. You can read more about the different WiFi standards below.
Linksys Velop AXE5400 Mesh System(2-pack)
Sold in a two-pack, this Linksys model performs very well in our labs, offering fast and reliable data transfer speeds. It supports app-based setup and network management, and has automatic firmware updates. There’s only one built-in Ethernet port and zero built-in USB ports, so this model is best for consumers who don’t frequently need to connect external peripherals to their network. It supports WiFi 7, the latest standard.
TP-Link Deco AX5000 Mesh System (3-pack)
Another all-around good performer, this model comes in a three-pack and features an app-based setup and automatic firmware updating. It offers two Ethernet ports per unit and supports WiFi 6.
Best Single-Unit Routers
You can typically find a single-unit router on sale for less than the cost of a mesh router setup, and it may be all you need for reliable WiFi, especially if you live in a modest home.
Asus TUF Gaming (TUF-AX4200)
Asus may be familiar to you if there’s a gamer in your house. The company is perhaps best known for PC gaming hardware like monitors, motherboards, and, in this case, high-end routers. This model, which supports WiFi 6, transfers data fast and reliably, and supports useful features like app-based setup and automatic firmware updating. There’s even four built-in Ethernet ports and one built-in USB port, making this an especially good choice if your setup involves a lot of peripherals.
Synology RT6600ax
Synology is perhaps better known for its enterprise-class devices, but this consumer-focused model is among the best we’ve tested. It scores highly across metrics like throughput and setup, and has plenty of ports (four Ethernet and one USB) for connecting peripherals.
Netgear Nighthawk AX6000 (RAX120-100NAS)
Another Netgear model, this one is a strong performer for folks who don’t need a mesh router for full coverage. It has all of the features you’d want to see in a modern router, including app-based setup and automatic firmware updates. It supports WiFi 6 and has five built-in Ethernet ports and two built-in USB ports.
How We Test Wireless Routers
Every model in our ratings is tested by the expert technicians in our labs, just north of New York City, where we try to simulate a typical home environment, measuring the throughput (which might be thought of as the router’s “speed”) at three distances: 8 feet, 20 feet, and 55 feet.
We take into account how easy the router is to set up and manage (which nowadays is often done with a smartphone app); whether it has useful features like built-in Ethernet and USB ports, and parental controls; and the quality of service, a technology that helps prevent your video calls for work from being interrupted by other traffic on the network.
We also evaluate the router’s data privacy policies and whether the model automatically updates with the latest firmware, which can help keep you and your data safe.
WiFi Standards Explained
As laptops, phones, and other internet-connected devices proliferate in our homes, the WiFi standards employed by routers are routinely upgraded to make sure the devices keep pace with the traffic. Here’s a look at what the current options have to offer.
WiFi 6: Introduced in 2019, this standard improved transfer speeds and reduced latency.
WiFi 6E: Introduced in 2020, this standard greatly improved speeds in dense locations like apartment buildings by opening up a new part of the wireless spectrum known as the 6GHz band to WiFi devices.
WiFi 7: Introduced in 2024, this standard further improves data transfer speeds and latency by enabling devices to send data across multiple bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz) at the same time.
You may sometimes see these standards referred to by their more technical names: WiFi 6 as 802.11ax, WiFi 6E as 802.11axe, and WiFi 7 as 802.11be. We use both naming conventions in our ratings.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2024, Consumer Reports, Inc.