Best Wi-Fi Routers Tested and Reviewed 2026
The ASUS RT-BE96U takes the crown as our current Wi-Fi router champ
Mar 16, 2026 | Share 
Best Routers
Best for budgets
TP-Link Archer BE230
TP-Link Archer BE230
Max internet speed
2,350Mbps
Best for speed
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S
Max internet speed
9,400Mbps
Best for gaming
TP-Link Archer GE400
TP-Link Archer GE400
Max internet speed
2,350Mbps
Best for mesh
ASUS ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro
ASUS ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro
Max internet speed
9,400Mbps
* Read Amazon disclaimer.
Best Wi-Fi routers in a nutshell
We’ve tested a lot of routers, and one of the hardest parts about a list like this is that we have to say goodbye to a lot of awesome ones. The ASUS RT-BE96U is now the top pick we’ve tested and reviewed (for now), replacing the most awesomest-of-awesome routers and former champ in many categories, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000.
But if the price is too steep for the RT-BE96U, or you seek something different, like a two-piece mesh system, then you’ve come to the right place.
But, dude, I like my router—why should I upgrade?
Routers don’t last forever. In fact, NETGEAR kindly reminded us that the Nighthawk RAX200 reached its end of life on March 26, 2026. That means it stopped receiving firmware updates. Sure, the router may work until the end of time (not), but you’ll be wide open to hackers who will exploit unplugged security holes, steal your data, and take control of your network.
You don’t want that.
That all said, the Nighthawk RAX200’s lifespan was around seven years, so if you purchase a new Wi-Fi 7 one right now, expect to upgrade again in another seven years.
Now, let’s go list some routers, and happy shopping!
In this roundup:
Best overall | Best for budgets | Best for speed | Best for gaming | Best for mesh | Compare benchmarks | Compare specifications | Providers with compatible plans
In this roundup:
Best overall
Pros
Free security tools
Free parental controls
Cons
Proprietary mesh tech
High price tag
What we like about it
The RT-BE96U is simply the best modern router we’ve reviewed to date. It packs plenty of speed, even at long range, and is stuffed with awesome free features.
What we wish it did better
ASUS says its proprietary mesh tech is best for performance and compatibility, but we’d like to see support for EasyMesh, too, so it can pair with other EasyMesh-compatible routers.
Why we recommend it
You simply can’t go wrong with the RT-BE96U. It has some of the best speeds to date, free security features, free parental controls, a five-year warranty, and so much more.
Specifications
Wi-Fi specs
- Standard: Wi-Fi 7
- Max throughput: 18,000Mbps
- Antennas: 8
- Streams: 12
- Bands: 3
Wired specs
- 1 Gigabit WAN ports: 1
- 10 Gigabit WAN ports: 1
- 1 Gigabit LAN ports: 3
- 10 Gigabit LAN ports: 1
- USB 3.2 ports: 1
- USB 2.0 ports: 1
* Read Amazon disclaimer.
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Best for budgets
Pros
Built-in VPN tools
EasyMesh support
Cons
Subscription-locked features
No 6 GHz band
What we like about it
The Archer BE230 is our top pick for the best budget router due to its speeds and the free features you get, like its built-in VPN tools.
What we wish it did better
The Archer BE230 is cheap due to its design and feature set, but we’d like to see more free security features and parental controls.
Why we recommend it
The Archer BE230 is a great, low-cost choice if you need an upgrade for a small home with a few devices. The 2.5Gbps internet support and free features are definitely a plus.
Specifications
Wi-Fi specs
- Standard: Wi-Fi 7
- Max throughput: 3,600Mbps
- Antennas: 4
- Streams: 4
- Bands: 2
Wired specs
- 2.5 Gigabit WAN ports: 1
- 2.5 Gigabit LAN ports: 1
- 1 Gigabit LAN ports: 3
- USB 3.2 ports: 1
* Read Amazon disclaimer.
Best for speed
Pros
10Gbps Ethernet ports
Built-in VPN server
Cons
Subscription-locked features
High price
What we like about it
The Nighthawk RS700S is the fastest router we’ve tested to date, even at our marker across the street. It has a few notable free features too.
What we wish it did better
You don’t get a lot of included features at this price, which we’d like to see. Instead, you need at least two subscriptions to get the most out of it.
Why we recommend it
Get the Nighthawk RS700S if you have lots of devices and want the fastest speeds you can get. It’s a decent pick for 10Gbps internet too.
Specifications
Wi-Fi specs
- Standard: Wi-Fi 7
- Max throughput: 19,000Mbps
- Antennas: 8
- Streams: 12
- Bands: 3
Wired specs
- 10 Gigabit WAN ports: 1
- 10 Gigabit LAN ports: 1
- 1 Gigabit LAN ports: 4
- USB 3.2 ports: 1
* Read Amazon disclaimer.
Best for gaming
Pros
Great 5 GHz speeds and range
Built-in VPN tools
Cons
No 6 GHz band
No 10Gbps port
What we like about it
The Archer GE400 is a decent upgrade, providing improved speeds on both bands. It also has a few unique gaming features.
What we wish it did better
TP-Link locks a lot of security features and parental controls behind subscriptions to keep the cost low, but we’d like to see more free ones.
Why we recommend it
Get the Archer GE400 if you need a gaming router and money is tight. It’s a great upgrade if you don’t have a lot of devices and haven’t upgraded them to Wi-Fi 7 (like gaming consoles, which currently use Wi-Fi 6).
Specifications
Wi-Fi specs
- Standard: Wi-Fi 7
- Max throughput: 6,500Mbps
- Antennas: 6
- Streams: 6
- Bands: 2
Wired specs
- 2.5 Gigabit WAN port: 1
- 2.5 Gigabit LAN port: 1
- 1 Gigabit LAN ports: 3
- USB 3.2 ports: 1
* Read Amazon disclaimer.
Best for mesh
Pros
Multi-internet compatibility
4G LTE/5G internet support
Cons
High price
Proprietary mesh tech
What we like about it
The BQ16 Pro is currently the fastest and most feature-packed mesh system we’ve tested to date. Sure, it has a high price, but you definitely get what you pay for.
What we wish it did better
There’s nothing this mesh system can do better, other than have a lower price and perhaps one user interface to control everything, not two.
Why we recommend it
Get the BQ16 Pro if you want everything a mesh system can offer and price isn’t an issue.
Specifications
Wi-Fi specs
- Standard: Wi-Fi 7
- Max throughput: 30,000Mbps
- Antennas: 12 each
- Streams: 16 each
- Bands: 4
Wired specs
- 10 Gigabit WAN/LAN ports: 1
- 1 Gigabit WAN/LAN ports: 1
- 1 Gigabit LAN ports: 3
- USB 3.2 ports: 1
* Read Amazon disclaimer.
Compare best router benchmarks
The speed test results are interesting, as we clocked the highest 6 GHz speeds using the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S, but the fastest 5 GHz speeds with the TP-Link Archer GE400. TP-Link’s other router on our list, the Archer BE230, is the fastest router we’ve tested on the 2.4 GHz band.
The key takeaway here is that our tests are based on the client devices we use and where we test. You may get better or worse performance, depending on those two factors. However, if you have devices that can access the 6 GHz band, then ASUS and NETGEAR routers are your best bet.
6 GHz
5 GHz
2.4 GHz
Compare the best router specifications
The more Wi-Fi devices you have, the more streams you need, so the two ASUS products and NETGEAR’s router are ideal. They’re also best for internet plans of up to 9.4Gbps, whereas the two TP-Link models support 2Gbps plans and slower.
If you want loads of free features, then get one of the two ASUS products. The other three on our list require subscriptions to get the most out of them.
| ASUS RT- BE96U | TP-Link Archer BE230 | NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S | TP-Link Archer GE400 | ASUS ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max throughput: 18,000Mbps | Max throughput: 3,600Mbps | Max throughput: 19,000Mbps | Max throughput: 6,500Mbps | Max throughput: 30,000Mbps |
| Radios: 3 | Radios: 2 | Radios: 3 | Radios: 2 | Radios: 4 |
| Streams: 12 | Streams: 4 | Streams: 12 | Streams: 6 | Streams: 16 |
| Internet port: 10GbE | Internet port: 2.5GbE | Internet port: 10GbE | Internet port: 2.5GbE | Internet port: 10GbE |
| LAN ports: 4 | LAN ports: 4 | LAN ports: 5 | LAN ports: 4 | LAN ports: 4 |
| USB ports: 2 | USB ports: 1 | USB ports: 1 | USB ports: 1 | USB ports: 1 |
| VPN server: Included | VPN server: Included | VPN server: Included | VPN server: Included | VPN server: Included |
| VPN client: Included | VPN client: Included | VPN client: No | VPN client: Included | VPN client: Included |
| Media server: Included | Media server: No | Media server: Included | Media server: No | Media server: Included |
| Parental controls: Included | Parental controls: Free, Premium | Parental controls: Premium only | Parental controls: Free, Premium | Parental controls: Included |
| Security: Included | Security: Free, Premium | Security: Premium | Security: Free, Premium | Security: Included |
| Mesh type: AiMesh | Mesh type: EasyMesh | Mesh type: No mesh | Mesh type: EasyMesh | Mesh type: AiMesh |
| Get on Amazon | Get on Amazon | Get on Amazon | Get on Amazon | Get on Amazon |
Compatible internet providers
We selected the providers below based on their fastest plans. Note that any provider with an internet plan of 9.4Gbps and slower works with routers with a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port for internet. Routers with a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port for internet are not recommended for internet plans faster than 2.3Gbps.
| 2.3Gbps and slower * | 9.4Gbps and slower † |
|---|---|
* Around 2.35Gbps is your max wired speed after networking overhead when using a 2.5GbE port.
† Around 9.4Gbps is your max wired speed after networking overhead when using a 10GbE port.
Disclaimers
Amazon
Amazon.com Availability as of 2/19/26 17:35 MST. Product availability is accurate as of the date/time indicated and is subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Highspeedinternet.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
Speed test results
Our router and mesh system benchmark results are based on several factors, including:
- Router or mesh system configurations
- Client device configurations
- Local interference (neighboring Wi-Fi, radar, etc.)
- Local obstructions (walls, doors, etc.)
Our stated speed test numbers reflect the router-to-client connection only and do not include the internet. Reported speeds are not guaranteed. Your speeds will vary based on the list provided above.
Author - Kevin Parrish
Kevin Parrish has more than a decade of experience working as a writer, editor, and product tester. He began writing about computer hardware and soon branched out to other devices and services such as networking equipment, phones and tablets, game consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom’s Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on network equipment testing and review.
Editor - Jessica Brooksby
Jessica loves bringing her passion for the written word and her love of tech into one space at HighSpeedInternet.com. She works with the team’s writers to revise strong, user-focused content so every reader can find the tech that works for them. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in English from Utah Valley University and seven years of creative and editorial experience. Outside of work, she spends her time gaming, reading, painting, and buying an excessive amount of Legend of Zelda merchandise.
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