The Fastest Routers We’ve Tested

We tested dozens of routers to see which ones provide the fastest Wi-Fi speeds on the planet.

• $342.00*
• Free parental controls
• Lots of wired ports
• No real gaming tools

• $89.99*
• Free security
• Good long range speeds
• No multi-gig support

• $441.94*
• Fastest Wi-Fi speeds
• 6 GHz band connectivity
• Subscription-locked features

• $279.95*
• Real gaming tools
• Built-in VPN tools
• High price

• $269.99*
• Power over Ethernet
• Easy to use interface
• Limited Wi-Fi control

*Amazon.com prices (as of 8/19/24 11:15 MST). Read full disclaimer.

Our pick: Which router is the best for speed?

TP-Link’s Archer AX11000 is our pick as the best router for speed. We ran dozens of routers through our battery of tests, and the AX11000 performed exceptionally well, hitting high speeds even outside the confines of the building. It’s not the fastest router we have in stock, but it easily handles multiple devices and fast connections with ease. Plus, features like free antivirus and multi-gig internet connectivity make it our favorite router for speed.

How we test routers

We vigorously test routers to see how well they stack up against the competition in speed and range. We also evaluate the setup process and dig into the web and mobile apps to see if they’re easy or difficult to use. Check out our methodology section for more information.

Jump to:

• Best routers for speed
• What to look for
• Best overall
• Specs and features
• Our verdict
• Methodology
• Other routers we tested
• FAQ

The 5 fastest routers we’ve tested

• Best overall: TP-Link Archer AX11000
• Best for budgets: Reyee RG-E5
• Best for speed: NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500
• Best for gamers: ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000
• Best for mesh: TP-Link Deco X50-PoE

Compare router speeds and prices

* Amazon.com prices (as of 8/19/24 11:15 MST). Read full disclaimer.

† Speed recorded using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel.

What should you look for in a superfast router?

Right off the bat, you need to ensure the router supports multi-gig internet if you want the fastest Wi-Fi speeds you can get. There’s no point in getting a router with incredible wireless speeds if it only supports Gigabit internet at the most. We list routers with a multi-gig WAN port, but some link aggregation configurations work too.

You also need a router with Wi-Fi 6, at the least. Actually, we suggest Wi-Fi 6E and the new 6 GHz connection for real-world Gig+ wireless speeds, as you’re not bombarded with the radar woes plaguing the 5 GHz channels.

Do you have the best plan to go with your superfast router?

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Best overall—TP-Link Archer AX11000

A great router with great speeds at a great price

Score:

Price: $342.00*

*Amazon.com price (as of 8/19/24 11:15 MST). Read full disclaimer.

Expand for product details and ratings

* out of 5 points

What we like about it: The Archer AX11000 has the second-fastest close-range speeds we’ve tested to date. And for the price, it’s a steal with free Trend Micro security, a built-in VPN server, and more.

What we wish it did better: While the whole setup process is doable, TP-Link should split the setup process into Basic and Advanced modes so novice users can jump into network management faster.

Why do we recommend it? The Archer AX11000 is one of our favorite routers. You can’t beat what you get for this price. It has great speeds, long range, free Trend Micro antivirus, and multi-gig internet support. If you want a superfast router at an affordable price, this is the one for you.

Alternative: The Archer AX6000 is a cheaper two-band version if you want to save a little money.

Tested speeds at a glance

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel.

Best for budgets—Reyee RG-E5

A budget-oriented router with amazing range

Score:

Price: $89.99*

*Amazon.com price (as of 8/19/24 11:15 MST). Read full disclaimer.

Expand for product details and ratings

* out of 5 points

What we like about it: The Reyee RG-E5 doesn’t support multi-gig internet, it’s true, but it currently has the highest tested speed average at 120 feet. There are a few other callouts, too, like free security and basic parental controls.

What we wish it did better: We don’t expect much at this price, but you can get VPN tools and media sharing on other similarly-priced routers.

Why do we recommend it? The Reyee RG-E5 is a great budget-oriented router, even though it seems geared toward business owners. It has an incredible range, cloud-based network management, and mesh support.

Tested speeds at a glance

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel.

Best for speed—NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500

A high-price Wi-Fi rocket with incredible range

Score:

Price: $441.94*

*Amazon.com price (as of 8/19/24 11:15 MST). Read full disclaimer.

Expand for product details and ratings

* out of 5 points

What we like about it: The RAXE500 is no joke. It’s the only router we’ve tested to date that still registers throughput at 160 feet. The new 6 GHz wireless connection promises even more reliable Wi-Fi speeds.

What we wish it did better: The RAXE500 and RAX200 require subscriptions to get the most out of them, including security and parental controls.

Why do we recommend it? If long range is what you need, then you can’t beat the RAXE500 and RAX200 routers. They’re speed demons at close range, too, plus the RAXE500 model gives you access to the 6 GHz band for more attainable real-world Gig+ wireless speeds.

Alternative: The Nighthawk RAX200 is a cheaper version if you want to save a little money. It swaps out the third 6 GHz band for a 5 GHz one.

Tested speeds at a glance

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel.

Best for gamers—ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000

A fast, feature-packed router for everyone

Score:

Price: $279.95*

*Amazon.com price (as of 8/19/24 11:15 MST). Read full disclaimer.

Expand for product details and ratings

* out of 5 points

What we like about it: The GT-AX11000 is a gaming router at heart, and there are plenty of cool gaming features to be had here. It also has free parental controls, free security, media sharing, and VPN tools.

What we wish it did better: We had issues with the antennas, as some refused to stand upright no matter how hard we tightened them.

Why do we recommend it? You don’t need to be a gamer to love the GT-AX11000. It has great speeds even at long range and tons of great features you may or may not even use. It works with other ASUS gaming gear too.

Tested speeds at a glance

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel.

Best for mesh—TP-Link Deco X50-PoE

One of the best mesh systems we’ve tested

Score:

Price: $269.99*

*Amazon.com price (as of 8/19/24 11:15 MST). Read full disclaimer.

Expand for product details and ratings

* out of 5 points

What we like about it: The Deco X50-PoE has decent speeds, even at a long range. You’ll find some nice callouts here, too, like free basic parental controls and PoE networking.

What we wish it did better: You can set the 5 GHz channel width, but you can’t change the channel. This limitation may be problematic if other networks bombard you.

Why do we recommend it? The Deco X50-PoE is the ideal mesh networking system for business, but it’s also great for homes that need Wi-Fi in areas without a power outlet. The free basic parental controls are also nice, but that’s it in features without a subscription.

Tested speeds at a glance

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel.

Superfast router specs and features

Once upon a time, Gigabit Ethernet enabled fast connections in modems, routers, and other networking equipment. Now you see internet plans speeding along at 1,200Mbps and faster, and Gigabit Ethernet can’t handle those speeds. Here are a few things to look for when shopping for a new superfast router.

Multi-gig internet

A router needs a multi-gig WAN port to support internet plans greater than 940Mbps. Some routers pair a Gigabit Ethernet WAN port with a similar LAN port, and that’s okay for a combined 2,000Mbps (2Gbps) connection if your modem, gateway, or ONT supports it.

Wi-Fi 6 and newer

Be sure the router supports the Wi-Fi 6 specification or newer. It enables faster speeds than Wi-Fi 5, better traffic management, and improved multi-device support. We highly recommend Wi-Fi 6E, as it gives you access to the new 6 GHz spectrum for more attainable real-world sub-2Gbps wireless speeds.

Link aggregation

Link aggregation combines two wired ports to create one fast connection. On routers without a dedicated 2.5Gbps WAN port, look for link aggregation that pairs a Gigabit Ethernet WAN port with a Gigabit Ethernet LAN port. However, your modem, gateway, or ONT must support this feature too.

Other general router stuff

Bands – Most mainstream routers access two wireless spectrums: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. We suggest a three-band router for improved traffic management and better wireless speeds.

Streams – Most wireless devices have a two-transmit-two-receive (2×2) antenna configuration. You want a router that uses a 4×4 design per band at the least, so there’s less wait time as your devices stand in line to receive and send data to the router.

Antennas – Generally, the more antennas you have, the better. You only need one antenna per band, but routers use multiple antennas for features like Beamforming and MU-MIMO. You also want external antennas, as they blast a longer range than internal ones.

Our verdict

The TP-Link Archer AX11000 is our top pick router for speed. It doesn’t have the absolute fastest wireless speeds under the sun, but it’s ideal if you have a multi-gig internet connection. Plus, the eight LAN ports are ideal if you mainly want to avoid Wi-Fi altogether—you can even link two of them together for a 2Gbps wired connection. The free antivirus and premium parental tools round out a great package for the money.

Related content

• Best Long-Range Routers
• Best Wi-Fi Routers
• Best Routers for Security
• Best Routers for Gaming
• Best Routers for Parental Controls

Methodology

We test router speed by setting up each router in an office and connecting it to a local test server. Then, we transmit test data between our wireless devices and the server, taking numerous measurements to account for fluctuations in Wi-Fi speeds.

The first tests occur close to the router, without obstructions—so the Wi-Fi is as strong and fast as it’s gonna get. We repeat the process straight out at 10, 20, and 30 feet, with only a glass door obstructing our view of the router. The same glass door and an exterior door blocks our path when we test outside at 40 and 50 feet.

We also run tests in a hallway to the left of the TV room and office—where there’s a glass door, three walls, and an air handler unit blocking our view of the router. The dining room, another testing point, sits to the right of the kitchen, TV room, and office—two walls and a glass door block the path in this test.

To test video streaming, we connect a fast storage device to the router and stream a 4K video to six wireless devices simultaneously—two phones, three tablets, and a laptop—connected to the same wireless band.

Client devices used in testing