The Best WiFi Router of 2025

Our Picks of WiFi Routers

Best Overall WiFi Router

Asus RT-BE58U BE3600 WiFi 7

Number of WAN and/or LAN ports:5 | Band: Dual Band

The ASUS RT-BE58U BE3600 WiFi 7 is an excellent router that will serve you well in almost any use case. It has the kind of throughput that gamers and content creators dream of. It also has the most impressive multi-device efficiency we measured in any router, making it perfect for large families, shared spaces, and busy workplaces. You get all this, as well as some of the most advanced WiFi 7 perks, for a relatively modest price. After going hands-on with this router in a series of exhaustive tests, our reviewer proclaimed, “I think it's a great all-around choice for most consumers wanting future-proofing without overspending.”

WiFi Version	WiFi 7 (802.11be)
Wireless Specification	Dual Band
Frequency (MIMO)	2.4 GHz (2x2) 5 GHz (2x2)
Max Channel Width Supported	160 MHz
WAN/LAN Ports	1 x 1 GbE WAN 3 x 1 GbE LAN 1 x 2.5 GbE WAN/LAN

The RT-BE58U BE3600 is definitely a jack-of-all-trades in the router world, but that means it can fall short in some specific scenarios. For example, its 5 GHz throughput falls from an impressive 840 Mbps at 35 ft. to a middle-of-the-road 430 Mbps at 60 ft. The range of its 2.4 GHz signal was on the lower end of our tests, too, at a maximum reach of only 95 ft. If you need something that can really go the distance, the ASUS RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6 might be worth the cost. For everyday use, though, the RT-BE58U BE3600 remains our favorite.

Read more: ASUS RT-BE58U BE3600 WiFi 7 review

Best Bang for Your Buck

TP-Link Archer BE230 BE3600 WiFi 7

Number of WAN and/or LAN ports:5 | Band: Dual Band

We were pleasantly surprised by the TP-Link Archer BE230 BE3600 WiFi 7. It's a capable WiFi 7 router, complete with Multi-Link Operation and other futuristic features, but at an appealing bargain price. While it's not the best at handling multiple users per band at once, it overcomes that limitation to some extent by having a very strong 2.4 GHz band. There's enough throughput to bring shame to higher-end models, like the Asus RT-BE58U BE3600 WiFi 7, that seem to neglect the 2.4 GHz band as much as possible in favor of more popular features. With a maximum 2.4 GHz throughput of 105 Mbps or more from the Archer BE230, there's no need to hesitate about switching frequencies if things get slow on the 5 GHz channel.

WiFi Version	WiFi 7 (802.11be)
Wireless Specification	Dual Band
Frequency (MIMO)	2.4 GHz (2x2) 5 GHz (2x2)
Max Channel Width Supported	160 MHz
WAN/LAN Ports	1 x 2.5 GbE WAN 1 x 2.5 GbE LAN 3 x 1 GbE LAN

The fact is, though, that a 5 GHz frequency will always be capable of a much higher maximum throughput. Considering that this TP-Link router struggles to reach distant rooms or handle many users at once, there's a chance you might have a bad experience if you're trying to provide a strong signal across a large property. Our tester explained the situation, saying, “The 5 GHz throughput wasn't as high as the ASUS RT-BE58U, but it had superior 2.4 GHz performance. That would likely be my deciding factor on these two.” Ultimately, the TP-Link still stands out as an impressive low-cost choice for individual use.

Read more: TP-Link Archer BE230 BE3600 WiFi 7 review

Best WiFi Router on a Tight Budget

Asus RT-AX1800S Dual Band WiFi 6

Number of WAN and/or LAN ports:2 | Band: Dual Band

The ASUS RT-AX1800S Dual Band WiFi 6 was the least expensive router in our entire testing lineup, but that doesn't translate to “cheap” in terms of its build quality or performance. It may be a super budget-friendly option that runs on older WiFi 6 technology, but it thoroughly impressed us with its impressive 165 ft. signal range and above-average 5 GHz throughput. As an ASUS router, it brings extra appeal with its built-in AiProtection security feature and streamlined setup via the accompanying app.

WiFi Version	WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
Wireless Specification	Dual Band
Frequency (MIMO)	2.4 GHz (2x2) 5 GHz (2x2)
Max Channel Width Supported	80 MHz
WAN/LAN Ports	1 x 1 GbE WAN 1 x 1 GbE LAN

The most significant limitation of this router is its limited multi-device efficiency. When more than a few devices are connected to the network, we noticed a significant drop in throughput and range. Compared to the ASUS RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6, which can support many devices even at long distances, this router is more suited to individuals or smaller households. Our tester voiced his personal verdict after spending hours of rigorous hands-on time with the RT-AX1800S, saying, “I think it's great for cost-conscious buyers who still want decent throughput for small-to-medium homes.”

Read more: ASUS RT-AX1800S Dual Band WiFi 6 review

Best WiFi Version 6 Router

Asus RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6

Number of WAN and/or LAN ports:6 | Band: Dual Band

The ASUS RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6 is a premium router that presents immense value with its top-notch performance. The WiFi 7 standard may be the modern trend, but a reliable WiFi 6 router like this one can still be just as good and often more convenient. In fact, it had the best 5 GHz throughput in our entire testing lineup — we measured near-gigabit speeds at close range and an impressive retention of 780 Mbps at 60 ft., making this a router that is very capable of supplying high-speed connections throughout your whole home.

WiFi Version	WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
Wireless Specification	Dual Band
Frequency (MIMO)	2.4 GHz (3x3) 5 GHz (4x4)
Max Channel Width Supported	160 MHz
WAN/LAN Ports	1 x 1 GbE WAN 4 x 1 GbE LAN 1 x 2.5 GbE WAN/LAN

There aren't many negative things to say about the RT-AX86U Pro AX5700. Its expensive price tag can certainly be a dealbreaker, but it's worth mentioning that it outperforms many models that are even more pricey, such as the TP-Link Archer BE550 BE9300 WiFi 7. As an ASUS router, it also has some quirks that aren't for everyone — it lacks some more advanced parental control features, and it has a “gamer tech” design that is more conspicuous and bulky than what many people may want for their living room or office. Ultimately, the bottom line from our expert tester is: “Yes, I would buy this. This router delivers top-tier 5 GHz throughput, solid multi-device support, and excellent range at a reasonable price.”

Read more: ASUS RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6 review

An Especially Easy to Use Router

Amazon eero 6

Number of WAN and/or LAN ports:2 | Band: Dual Band

WiFi is a complex subject, and realistically, the difference in performance between routers is often imperceptible unless you're carefully monitoring connection speed with specialized software. That's why we value the Amazon eero 6 as a router that is particularly easy to set up, use, and manage. If you just want to get internet set up in your home with minimum hassle, this is a solid choice. If you value numbers, there's no need to fret — this router can walk the walk with a very respectable 800+ Mbps connection speed under the right conditions.

WiFi Version	WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
Wireless Specification	Dual Band
Frequency (MIMO)	2.4 GHz (2x2) 5 GHz (2x2)
Max Channel Width Supported	80 MHz
WAN/LAN Ports	2 x 1 GbE WAN/LAN

The eero's claim to fame is its straightforwardness, but of course, this means that it lacks the high-end tech and advanced features that make other routers into relative powerhouses. By spending a bit more, you could opt for something like the TP-Link Archer BE230 BE3600 WiFi 7 with advanced parental controls and superior signal range. Even so, there's a lot to like about such a simple device. Even our tech-savvy tester appreciated the frictionless process of using the eero 6, saying, " I thought this was easy to use and simple. I liked the no frills approach. It's pretty much plug and play!"

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	92	Asus RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6 Best WiFi Version 6 Router	$200
	86	Asus RT-BE58U BE3600 WiFi 7 Best Overall WiFi Router	$150
	81	Netgear Nighthawk RAX54S AX5400	$154
	77	Asus RT-AX1800S Dual Band WiFi 6 Best WiFi Router on a Tight Budget	$70
	75	Amazon eero 6	$90
	72	TP-Link Archer BE230 BE3600 WiFi 7 Best Bang for Your Buck	$120
	70	TP-Link Archer BE550 BE9300 WiFi 7	$250
	68	Netgear Nighthawk RS90 BE3600	$129
	67	TP-Link Archer AXE75 AXE5400 Tri-Band WiFi 6E	$200
	63	TP-Link Archer AX21 AX1800 WiFi 6	$129

How We Test WiFi Routers

A huge part of our philosophy at GearLab is making sure to recognize how much of a role hardware can play in a person's everyday life. When we review WiFi routers, we make sure to keep in mind that these are gadgets that serve as the foundation of so many important moments. A good WiFi connection can support your professional livelihood, your most exciting gaming moments, and your communication with loved ones, we make sure not to take those considerations for granted when we design a testing plan that accounts for everything that might be important to you.

To rank the most popular WiFi routers against each other, we tested each one based on four rating metrics.

• 5 GHz Throughput (35% of overall score weighting)

• Multi-Device Efficiency (30% weighting)

• Range (25% weighting)

• 2.4 GHz Throughput (10% weighting)

Why Trust GearLab

Austin Palmer is a Senior Review Analyst at GearLab, and he tapped into his experience from well over 1,000 product reviews to design a thorough testing plan for WiFi routers. As a tech enthusiast both on and off the clock, Austin knows exactly what to expect from a great router — and what WiFi failings are worth criticizing.

This review is written by Jonathan Sayers, a frequent Review Editor for GearLab. Jonathan works to convey our testers' findings to you and help you narrow down your purchase options as much as possible. When it comes to WiFi routers, he made a particular effort to consider what he personally would look for to help support his work responsibilities and online hobbies.

Analysis and Test Results

The majority of the routers we tested were “dual band” models, meaning they transmit a 2.4 GHz signal as well as a 5 GHz signal. In the past, 2.4 GHz meant “long-range yet weak” while 5 GHz meant “shorter range but stronger signal.” However, our testing showed that modern routers have extremely capable 5 GHz bands that overcome many of their past limitations. That's why we prioritize our 5 GHz throughput tests, followed by multi-device efficiency and then signal range, as we report our analysis and test results to you.

What's the Best Value?

Determining the value of a router comes down to a simple question: “Will it let me do the things I need to do at a reasonable price?” With that mentality, the best value can be found with the ASUS RT-AX1800S Dual Band WiFi 6. It's an incredibly budget-friendly router that does not make any critical compromises. The TP-Link Archer BE230 BE3600 WiFi 7 is a step up in price, but it gives you affordable access to newer WiFi 7 features. Of course, value can also mean getting your money's worth out of a larger investment, and that's why we also recommend checking out the ASUS RT-BE58U BE3600 WiFi 7 — our favorite router overall.

Which Router Is Easiest To Use?

In our latest round of WiFi router testing, we chose not to factor “ease of use” into our final scores simply because every router in our lineup does a great job of making the setup process extremely intuitive. No matter which router you pick, you should have your network up and running in 10 minutes or less! It's often as easy as downloading the corresponding app or scanning a QR code on the router itself, then following a few simple instructions.

5 GHz Throughput

A router's throughput is the all-important metric that determines how well it can capitalize on your internet service provider (ISP) investment and how capable it is at supporting your everyday activities. If you're paying your service provider for gigabit connection speeds, for example, you want to be sure that your router can actually put through ~1,000 Mbps. The 5 GHz band is the router frequency that is actually capable of those higher speeds, and it's the one that most device connections default to. That's why we weigh the 5 GHz throughput metric higher than any other test during our router evaluations.

5 GHz Throughput

Product	10' Unobstructed	10' Obstructed	35'	60'
Asus RT-AX86U Pro	944	943	923	783
Asus RT-BE58U	940	938	840	434
Netgear Nighthawk RAX54S	901	821	747	410
Asus RT-AX1800S	860	790	695	494
TP-Link Archer BE550	1013	865	601	265
Netgear Nighthawk RS90	898	904	605	306
TP-Link Archer BE230	993	883	539	198
Amazon eero 6	833	833	577	303
TP-Link Archer AXE75	800	744	449	197
TP-Link Archer AX21	658	652	375	202

We tested signal strength at 10 ft., 35 ft., and 60 ft., both with and without walls obstructing the connection. We found the best 5 GHz performance in the ASUS RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6, which was able to maintain an incredibly high throughput of nearly 800 Mbps when we were 60 ft. from the router. On the other end of the spectrum, the TP-Link Archer AX21 AX1800 WiFi 6 was a bit of a letdown by only exhibiting less than 700 Mbps of throughput even under the most ideal conditions. We definitely expect a modern router to be able to support gigabit speeds.

Multi-Device Efficiency

When we talk about the multi-device efficiency of WiFi routers, we refer to their ability to handle many connected devices at the same time. It's reasonable to expect that your router will support your entire family at home or an entire staff of employees at the office. However, there's always going to be a limit to the load that a router can bear. We test this by connecting several devices (smartphones) and running identical tasks on each device simultaneously. Using dedicated software, we can observe how each connection affects bandwidth and overall throughput. Connecting multiple devices doesn't just “split” the throughput evenly among them — it typically lowers the overall connection efficiency by a certain amount.

The above table shows how each router handled multiple devices at a range of 35 ft., which is the average range that most users tend to be from their home's router. The ASUS RT-BE58U was utterly impressive, capable of operating at near-100% efficiency while streaming 1080p video to 3 separate devices at once.

The table above elaborates on how each device performs over the 5 GHz band at a significant distance of 100 ft. The ASUS RT-AX86U Pro retains an extremely usable signal strength at that range and can still support a generous number of users, as compared to a weaker performer like that Netgear Nighthawk RS90 that can barely support a single user from such a distance.

Range

The main purpose of our range test was to determine the maximum distance of a router's signal under optimal conditions. We measured the distance at which we could stream 1080p and 4K video to a single device over each router's 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Similar to our multi-device efficiency tests, we then determined how many devices each router could support at an extreme range of 100 ft. and factored that into our final ratings as well.

Single Device Range

Product	1080p @ 2.4 GHz	1080p @ 5 GHz	4K @ 5 GHz
Asus RT-AX1800S	165	165	140
Netgear Nighthawk RAX54S	95	190	160
Asus RT-AX86U Pro	110	180	150
TP-Link Archer BE230	110	170	135
Asus RT-BE58U	95	160	140
TP-Link Archer AXE75	110	150	120
Amazon eero 6	140	130	100
Netgear Nighthawk RS90	95	140	130
TP-Link Archer BE550	110	140	115
TP-Link Archer AX21	80	170	105

The chart above shows the results of our long-range video-streaming tests conducted over the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The Netgear Nighthawk RAX54S was a surprise standout in this test, demonstrating its ability to support low-intensity tasks from an insane distance of 190 ft. However, we would still recommend the Asus RT-AX86U Pro AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6 as a superior long-range router because of the high throughput it can maintain at that distance.

2.4 GHz Throughput

Research shows that many people only use a router's 2.4 GHz band when the 5 GHz frequency is too congested or when the router is too far away to receive a decent 5 GHz signal. That's why we weigh 2.4 GHz throughput lower than the other metrics in our testing plan, though it's still an important factor overall. If you have a lot of IoT devices in your house, or if you need a signal to pass through many walls and rooms, then it's worthwhile to pay attention to 2.4 GHz specs.

2.4 GHz Throughput

Product	10' Unobstructed	10' Obstructed	35'	60'
TP-Link Archer BE230	106	95	71	34
Amazon eero 6	95	113	43	55
TP-Link Archer BE550	88	98	61	26
Asus RT-AX86U Pro	86	77	44	24
Asus RT-AX1800S	84	73	34	16
TP-Link Archer AXE75	67	86	43	7
TP-Link Archer AX21	105	68	8	18
Asus RT-BE58U	72	72	28	19
Netgear Nighthawk RS90	70	55	33	21
Netgear Nighthawk RAX54S	58	61	36	17

The chart above summarizes the performance of each router over the 2.4 GHz band at various distances and levels of obstruction. The 2.4 GHz router that impressed us the most was the Amazon eero 6, with its ability to deliver a very usable signal even at 60 ft. or beyond. The TP-Link Archer AX21 AX1800 WiFi 6 is an example of a router that has trouble getting its signal through obstructions, even at 35 ft.

Conclusion

We live in a time when WiFi is a privilege that everyone deserves. WiFi itself is a complex technology, but having access to great WiFi should be simple. Our team at GearLab is passionate about deeply researching tech products and distilling their granular specs into the information that people actually need to know before making a purchase. We bought the best WiFi routers on the market and tested them based on throughput, multi-device efficiency, and signal range. We rate each product and assign awards to the top performers so that you can find all the information you need to know about buying your next router at a single glance.