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If your Wi-Fi router’s wheezing from your work-from-home data load, and you’re piling gaming and entertainment loads atop that, you need to upgrade. Wireless routers that employ leading-edge Wi-Fi technologies can deliver blazing data rates but often cost more than $300. If your budget’s stretched as much as your bandwidth is, take heart: We’ve tested a bundle of value-priced routers. PCMag has been reviewing wireless routers since the early days of Wi-Fi, and we test each model with rigorous, repeatable benchmarks (across multiple wireless bands) to assess throughput and range. (We also evaluate design, usability, and, of course, value.) Our top budget router for most users, TP-Link’s Archer AX21, delivers solid performance for a small home with a few Wi-Fi devices, but we’ve got budget picks for different scenarios, too. Our choices all stem from our detailed hands-on testing; read on for what to expect from a low-cost router.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best Budget Wi-Fi Router for Most Buyers
TP-Link Archer AX21 AX1800 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router
Pros & Cons
Good performance at a low price
Mesh-ready
Basic parental controls
No multi-gig ports
No network security software
Does not support 160GHz channels
Specs & Configurations
Wireless Specification
802.11ax
Wi-Fi Speed (Total Rated Throughput)
AX1800
Number of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
4
Number of USB ports
1
Number of Antennas
4
Number of Bands
2
Wireless Networking Security
WPA2, WPA3
Wireless Parental Controls
Why We Picked It
The TP-Link Archer AX21 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router that offers a solid mix of features and performance at a reasonable price. It turned in relatively high scores on our throughput tests, and showed excellent range on our signal strength tests. The router comes with four LAN ports, although they do not support link aggregation for high-speed connectivity. The AX21 does, however, support OneMesh technology, which lets you create a mesh network using the AX21 and other compatible routers and extenders.
Who It’s For
The AX21 is well-suited to budget-conscious users looking to upgrade a network with Wi-Fi 6 technology. It’s very easy to install and comes with basic parental controls that let you set daily and weekly time limits and create website block and allow lists.
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TP-Link Archer AX21 AX1800 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router Review
Best Budget Wi-Fi Router Emphasizing Performance
Reyee RG-E5 Wi-Fi 6 Router
Pros & Cons
Reasonably priced
Easy to install
Excellent throughput performance
Strong signal performance
No USB ports
Lacks multi-gig WAN/LAN
Does not support WPA3
Lacks 160MHz channel bandwidth
Specs & Configurations
Wireless Specification
802.11ax
Wi-Fi Speed (Total Rated Throughput)
AX3200
Number of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
4
Number of USB ports
0
Number of Antennas
8
Number of Bands
2
Wireless Networking Security
WPA, WPA2
Wireless Parental Controls
Why We Picked It
The Reyee RG-E5 delivered some of the highest throughput scores we’ve seen from a midrange sub-$200 router. In fact, its showing on our 5GHz performance tests rivals that of routers that cost twice as much. You don’t get many extra features with this router, but it had no trouble blanketing our test home with strong Wi-Fi signals. It’s also mesh-ready, with optional add-on nodes.
Who It’s For
The RG-E5 is a good bet if you’re looking to bring Wi-Fi 6 connectivity to your home network for under $150. It’s easy to install and a top performer in its class. It also offers basic parental controls that allow you to block websites, schedule access times, and turn off internet access with the touch of a button. It doesn’t support 160MHz channels or WPA3 encryption, but that’s not uncommon for routers in this price range, and its fast throughput makes up for it.
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Reyee RG-E5 Wi-Fi 6 Router Review
Best Budget Wi-Fi Router for Network Tweaking
TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router (V2)
Pros & Cons
Affordable price.
Very fast throughput performance.
Easy to install.
Lots of management settings.
Clunky user interface.
Middling file-transfer speeds.
Only USB 2.0 ports.
Specs & Configurations
Wireless Specification
802.11ac
Wi-Fi Speed (Total Rated Throughput)
AC1750
Number of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
4
Number of USB ports
2
Number of Antennas
3
Number of Bands
2
Wireless Networking Security
WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA2-Enterprise, WPS
Wireless Parental Controls
Why We Picked It
The TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 churned out some of the fastest throughput scores we’ve seen from a sub-$100 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) router. Its web-based management console could be more user-friendly, but it offers lots of settings for people who like to customize their networks. Plus, the router itself is easy to install. Throw in a nice assortment of I/O ports, and you’ve got an excellent budget router.
Who It’s For
The Archer C7 AC1750 is a smart choice for budget-conscious users who don’t necessarily require Wi-Fi 6 technology but demand fast throughput performance and extensive network customization options. Its four LAN ports and two USB ports are more than you’ll find on similarly priced routers, and it comes with parental controls that allow you to create network access schedules and limit access to specific websites.
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TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router (V2) Review
Best Budget Wi-Fi Gaming Router
Reyee E6 AX6000 Gaming Router
Pros & Cons
Multi-gig connectivity
Speedy performance
Gamer-friendly features
Mesh-ready
No USB port
Lacks anti-malware tools
Specs & Configurations
Wireless Specification
802.11ax
Wi-Fi Speed (Total Rated Throughput)
AX6000
Number of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
4
Number of USB ports
0
Number of Antennas
8
Number of Bands
2
Wireless Networking Security
WPA2, WPA3
Wireless Parental Controls
Why We Picked ItA dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router for hardcore gamers, the E6 AX6000 is a feature beast for the money. You get multi-gig connectivity, gamer-centric QoS settings, and a dedicated gaming LAN port to help bring your online gaming experience up to speed. (It also has a 2.5GbE WAN/LAN port if you have access to very high speed internet.) Plus, it’s simple to set up and manage, and it’s mesh-ready. What that means: You can press it into service as a node in a Reyee mesh network when it comes time to expand your signal range.
Who It’s ForBudget-minded buyers who want to jump into a gaming-specific “classic”-style router now, with the option to go to a mesh system later, will find this Reyee model a very solid pick for today and tomorrow.
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Reyee E6 AX6000 Gaming Router Review
Best Budget Wi-Fi Mesh System
Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi System
Pros & Cons
Very affordable
Easy to install and manage
Basic parental controls
Uses older technology
Lacks malware protection and QoS settings
Middling throughput performance
No USB ports
Specs & Configurations
Wireless Specification
802.11ac
Wi-Fi Speed (Total Rated Throughput)
AC1200
Number of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
2 on router, 3 on nodes
Number of USB ports
0
Number of Antennas
12
Number of Bands
2
Wireless Networking Security
WPA, WPA2, WPS, 128-bit AES
Wireless Parental Controls
Why We Picked It
The Vilo Mesh certainly isn’t the fastest mesh system out there, but it’s easy to install and brings Wi-Fi to every corner of your home for significantly less money than any other three-piece mesh network. The Vilo Mesh comes with three identical nodes that provide coverage for homes of up to 4,500 square feet. There are trade-offs for the low price, of course: It doesn’t use Wi-Fi 6 technology, and it doesn’t deliver stellar throughput performance.
Who It’s For
Think you can’t cover your entire large home with serviceable Wi-Fi for less than $100? The Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi System is here to prove you wrong. That said, if you’re willing to stretch your budget, or prioritize performance over the quantity of mesh nodes and coverage area, you’ll want to check out our guide to the best Wi-Fi mesh systems overall.
Learn More
Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi System Review
Best Extreme-Budget Wi-Fi 6 Router
TP-Link Archer AX10 (AX1500) Wi-Fi 6 Router
Pros & Cons
Affordable
Good 5GHz throughput and signal range in testing
Doesn’t support 160MHz channel width
No anti-malware tools
Lacks USB and multi-gig LAN ports
So-so 2.4GHz performance in testing
Specs & Configurations
Wireless Specification
802.11ax
Wi-Fi Speed (Total Rated Throughput)
AX1500
Number of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port)
4
Number of USB ports
0
Number of Antennas
4
Number of Bands
2
Wireless Networking Security
WPS, WPA, WPA2
Wireless Parental Controls
Why We Picked It
The Archer AX10 isn’t the fastest router out there, and it doesn’t offer much in the way of features, but at $79.99 it’s one of the most affordable Wi-Fi 6 routers we’ve tested. It delivered fast 5GHz performance in testing and installed in minutes.
Who It’s For
The Archer AX10 is great for anyone looking to jump on the Wi-Fi 6 bandwagon without spending a bundle. For under $80, the dual-band AX10 gets you strong 5GHz performance and a handful of useful utilities. They include parental control software that lets you create user profiles, block access to websites, and set time limits with school night and bedtime scheduling. It also offers basic settings that let you give bandwidth priority to specific devices.
Learn More
TP-Link Archer AX10 (AX1500) Wi-Fi 6 Router Review
Buying Guide: The Best Cheap Wi-Fi Routers for 2024
These days, you’ll find that most budget routers use Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technology, although you may see a few Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) routers still hanging around. Avoid these. The latter are single-band routers that operate on the 2.4GHz spectrum and offer very limited throughput speeds. Avoid them. They’ll work, yes, but they probably won’t pair well with today’s PCs, mobile devices, and smart home devices, most of which are looking for at least a Wi-Fi 5 connection. They’re also ill-equipped for multimedia tasks such as video streaming and online gaming.Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 routers, on the other hand, are dual-band devices that let you connect using both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. They have several other improvements, too, especially MU-MIMO technology, which transmits data simultaneously (rather than sequentially) to compatible client devices. Another cool feature is beamforming, which shapes the wireless signals so they are concentrated directly at clients rather than over a broad spectrum. And if you see automatic band steering on your router’s spec sheet, the router can select the most efficient radio band based on the current network traffic, band availability, and signal strength.If you’re wondering which band you’re most likely to use, then know that the 2.4GHz radio band is best suited for long-range transmissions but is subject to interference from other household devices such as microwave ovens and cordless phones. The 5GHz band provides significantly more bandwidth than the 2.4GHz band and is ideal for video streaming, online gaming, and large file downloads, but it has limited range, which is why these systems often need to be bolstered with a wireless range extender, especially in larger homes.
(Credit: Netgear)
The differences between Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Wi-Fi 5 are minor, but the former is the latest in wireless technology, and it offers much-improved throughput speeds: up to 4.8 gigabits per second (Gbps), which makes it sought after by those looking for business-class networking, as well as those seeking a fast gaming router. If you’re looking to future-proof your home network, you can still do that without spending a fortune, as many Wi-Fi 6 routers are now available for under $150. It also uses other new technologies, including Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and Target Wake Time (TWT), to relieve network congestion and reduce client power consumption.Additionally, Wi-Fi 6 takes advantage of previously unused radio frequencies to provide faster 2.4GHz performance, offers WPA3 security to protect against weak passwords, and uses 256-bit encryption to help keep your network safer from hackers. Finally, it provides upstream and downstream MU-MIMO streaming (802.11ac only supports downlink MU-MIMO) and is backward-compatible with previous Wi-Fi protocols.
(Credit: TP-Link)
And if you see a router being advertised as compliant with Wi-Fi 6E, know that’s just the latest in the Wi-Fi 6 saga. With 6E, the software capabilities of the protocol are the same as in Wi-Fi 6, meaning you’ll get all the new goodness around features like OFDMA and TWT. But you’ll also get access to the newly released 6GHz band, so routers that support 6E have access to quite a bit more wireless bandwidth, which should provide much more room for those bandwidth-hogging work applications and solve things like difficult connections due to bandwidth congestion. However, you likely won’t see many 6E routers in the budget-router market for some time. (Wi-Fi 7 is also a thing now, but it’s even further out from the budget zone.) Budget Routers: What You’ll Get for the MoneyThe current crop of AX1500 Wi-Fi 6 routers, mesh or standalone, can typically handle data rates of up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 1,200Mbps on the 5GHz band. It’s important to note that these speed ratings are theoretical and refer to maximum achievable speeds. Actual throughput will likely be significantly lower, but never fear; we thoroughly test all our contenders so you can see all the critical real-world numbers, including throughput and signal strength. (For a primer on what the “AC” and “AX” numbers mean, see our guide.)An exciting trend in the higher-end router spectrum is that prices are starting to drop. No, you won’t find many Wi-Fi mesh systems in our budget roundup just yet, but we are seeing those products become less pricey. And you can now find a smattering of the above-mentioned AX1500 routers for less than $100, even.Should You Compromise on Key Features?So far, it might sound like you can find pretty much anything you want in an under-$100 router. Unfortunately, that’s likely not the case. To hit those lower prices, many routers ditch many of the features you’ll find on more expensive models. On the hardware end, you won’t find any sub-$100 routers that are equipped with more than four LAN ports, nor will you see features like speedy multi-gig (2.5Gbps) LAN ports. The ability to perform link aggregation won’t be there, nor will USB ports. USBs are useful for connecting directly to peripherals like external hard drives (a quick way to build your own network attached storage or NAS device) or printers. Budget routers also typically use non-removable external antennas, which means they can’t be replaced with more powerful high-gain antennas to help boost performance and extend the router’s signal range.Budget routers are managed using a web console or a mobile app, much like their more expensive siblings, but they’ll likely lack some advanced settings. That will likely include support for bandwidth allocation or Quality of Service (QoS), dedicated online gaming presets, VPN connectivity, and sometimes support for DD-WRT. The last is a Linux-based firmware upgrade that replaces the manufacturer’s firmware and provides enhanced settings that allow you to customize the router for maximum performance.
(Credit: TP-Link)
Additionally, budget-class routers rarely offer robust parental controls with age-related presets that filter out things like social media, gambling, shopping, and violent or adult content; these controls are more common on midrange and high-end routers. You can, however, still use basic access-scheduling and URL-filtering features to help you control when your kids go online and which sites they can visit. Or you can purchase a third-party parental control program that suits your family’s needs.Indeed, third-party software is an excellent way to kick up the capabilities of your budget router. That’s because budget routers usually ship with only essential software, unlike many mesh systems and midrange to high-end routers. You likely won’t find one bundled with name-brand security software to protect your network and client devices from phishing, viruses, adware, and other malware, or with real parental control solutions. To find a likely pairing candidate for your router choice, check out our malware protection and removal roundup to see what works best for you.Ready to Buy the Best Budget Router for You?We trust you’re now better armed than ever to get shopping. This guide outlines our top lab-tested, low-cost router models and includes a handy spec table of our latest picks. Whichever router you choose, remember that once you’ve found it, you’ll need to tweak it! Read our tips for setting up your router and boosting your Wi-Fi signal.
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