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Routers Comparison - February 2026

Overview:
1
Best Choice
9.6Exceptional
2
9.4Excellent
3
9.3Excellent
4
9.1Excellent
5
8.8Very Good
6
8.7Very Good
7
8.5Good
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Model

TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73) - Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, High-Speed AX Router for Streaming, Long Range Coverage
Model
TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Smart WiFi Router (Archer AX23) - Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, OFDMA, Parental Controls, Long Range Coverage
Model
TP-Link AXE5400 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Router (Archer AXE75)- Gigabit Wireless Internet for Gaming, VPN, OneMesh, WPA3
Model
TP-Link AX3000 WiFi 6 Smart WiFi Router (Archer AX55) – 802.11ax Wireless Router, Gigabit Internet Router, Dual Band, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, OneMesh Compatible
Model
TP-Link AX1500 WiFi 6 Smart WiFi Router (Archer AX10) - Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, 4 Gigabit LAN Ports, Beamforming, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, Parental Controls, Works with Alexa
Model
TP-Link AC1200 Gigabit WiFi Router (Archer A6) - Dual Band MU-MIMO Wireless Internet Router, 4 x Antennas, OneMesh and AP Mode, Long Range Coverage
Model
TP-Link Dual-Band BE6500 WiFi 7 Router (Archer BE400) – 6.5 Gbps, 1× 2.5G WAN, 1× 2.5G LAN, 3× 1G LAN, 1× USB 3.0, Advanced Security, Seamless Streaming & Gaming, Easy Setup via TP-Link Tether App

Brand

TP-Link
Brand
TP-Link
Brand
TP-Link
Brand
TP-Link
Brand
TP-Link
Brand
TP-Link
Brand
TP-Link

Reviews

32,036 reviews
Reviews
28,148 reviews
Reviews
2,316 reviews
Reviews
38,440 reviews
Reviews
470,340 reviews
Reviews
470,340 reviews
Reviews
2,116 reviews

Features

Simple to use

9.9
Simple to use
8.6
Simple to use
8.6
Simple to use
9.8
Simple to use
9.3
Simple to use
9.4
Simple to use
8.6

Tech support

9.1
Tech support
8.6
Tech support
8.4
Tech support
8.6
Tech support
8.4
Tech support
8.9
Tech support
7.9

User interface

9.3
User interface
9.1
User interface
9.1
User interface
9.3
User interface
9.1
User interface
9.1
User interface
8.4

Wi Fi signal

9.4
Wi Fi signal
9.1
Wi Fi signal
9.1
Wi Fi signal
9.4
Wi Fi signal
8.6
Wi Fi signal
9.1
Wi Fi signal
8.4

Easy installation

9.8
Easy installation
9.3
Easy installation
9.1
Easy installation
9.3
Easy installation
9.4
Easy installation
9.4
Easy installation
8.6

Worth the money

9.9
Worth the money
8.9
Worth the money
8.6
Worth the money
9.1
Worth the money
9.1
Worth the money
9.1
Worth the money
8.1

Tech Specs

wireless standard

‎802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n
wireless standard
802.11n, 802.11b, 802.11ax, 802.11g, 802.11ac
wireless standard
‎802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n
wireless standard
‎802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n
wireless standard
802.11n, 802.11b, 802.11ax, 802.11g, 802.11ac
wireless standard
802.11n, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11ac, 802.11g
wireless standard
802.11.be

product dimensions

‎27.25 x 14.73 x 4.93 cm; 662.24 g
product dimensions
26 x 13.5 x 4.2 cm 421.84 g
product dimensions
‎27.3 x 14.8 x 5 cm; 1.56 kg
product dimensions
‎32.99 x 24 x 7.29 cm; 752.96 g
product dimensions
26.01 x 12.6 x 3.3 cm 379.88 g
product dimensions
21.49 x 12.5 x 4.6 cm 322.05 g
product dimensions
-

operating system

‎Proprietary operating system developed by TP-Link
operating system
RouterOS
operating system
‎RouterOS
operating system
‎RouterOS
operating system
Linux
operating system
RouterOS
operating system
-

item dimensions l x w x h

‎27.3 x 14.7 x 4.9 Centimetres
item dimensions l x w x h
26 x 13.5 x 4.2 Centimetres
item dimensions l x w x h
‎27.3 x 14.8 x 5 Centimetres
item dimensions l x w x h
‎33 x 24 x 7.3 Centimetres
item dimensions l x w x h
26 x 12.6 x 3.3 Centimetres
item dimensions l x w x h
21.5 x 12.5 x 4.6 Centimetres
item dimensions l x w x h
-

voltage

‎100240 Volts
voltage
-
voltage
-
voltage
‎240 Volts
voltage
100240 Volts
voltage
12 Volts
voltage
-

color

‎Black
color
-
color
‎Black
color
-
color
-
color
Black
color
-

Available On

Available On Available On Available On Available On Available On Available On

Our Top 3 Picks

Here are the top 3 recommended products with more information to help you find the right product for you
  • 9.6
    1
    TP-Link

    TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73) - Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, High-Speed AX Router for Streaming, Long Range Coverage

    9.9 Simple to use
    9.9 worth the money
    9.8 Easy installation
    Main highlights
    • Works with all internet service providers (a modem is required for most internet service providers)
    • USB Sharing: 1× USB 30 port enables easy media sharing and private cloud storage
    • TP-Link offers 2-year warranty and free 24/7 technical support Please refer to important information section below on all applicable legal disclaimers ISED Certification Number: 8853A-AX73, Hardware Version Identification Number (HVIN): Archer AX73
    • TP-Link OneMesh Ready: Create a Whole Home WiFi by adding a OneMesh supported Range Extender, like the RE505X with Archer AX73
    • TP-Link HomeShield: TP-Links premium security services keep your home network safe with cutting-edge network and IoT protection Free features: 1 Network Security Scan 2 Basic Parental Controls 3 QoS 4 Weekly/Monthly Reports 5 IoT Device Identification, HomeShield Pro paid service ads more robust protections and features Get started with a one month free trail of Homeshield Pro
    • More Vents, Less Heat: Improved vented areas help unleash the full power of the router
    • Gigabit WiFi for 8K Streaming: Up to 5400Mbps WiFi for faster browsing, streaming, gaming and downloading, all at the same time
    • Full Featured WiFi 6 Router: Equipped with 4T4R and HE160 technologies on the 5GHz band to enable max 48Gbps ultra-fast connections
    • Extensive Coverage - Enjoy stable WiFi connections, even in the kitchen and bedroom High-Power FEM, 6× Antennas, Beamforming, and 4T4R structures combine to adapt WiFi coverage to perfectly fit your home and concentrate signal strength towards your devices
    • Connect More Devices: Supports MU-MIMO and OFDMA to reduce congestion and 4X the average throughput
  • 9.4
    2
    TP-Link

    TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Smart WiFi Router (Archer AX23) - Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, OFDMA, Parental Controls, Long Range Coverage

    9.3 Easy installation
    9.1 User interface
    9.1 Wi Fi signal
    Main highlights
    • Works with Most ISPs: Compatible with most ISPs with extra L2TP/PPTP support. IPTV support works with your existing TV over the Internet contract
    • TP-Link offers 2-year warranty and free 24/7 technical support. Actual wireless data throughput, wireless coverage and number of connected devices are not guaranteed and will vary as a result of network conditions, client limitations, and environmental factors, including building materials, obstacles, volume and density of traffic, and client location
    • Super-Fast 1.8 Gbps WiFi: Enjoy smooth 4K streaming and downloading with super-fast WiFi speeds of 1.8 Gbps
    • Parental Controls: Enjoy the most versatile yet free parental controls features among all routers, including URL blocking, profile management, pausing, and more
    • Next-Gen Platform: The Next-Gen High-Efficiency Chipset provides fast and stable WiFi while saving power consumption
    • Connect More Devices: Communicates with more devices using OFDMA while simultaneously reducing lag. Supports all previous 802.11 standards WiFi devices.
    • Broader Coverage: Improved algorithm, beamforming, and high-performance antennas enhance the WiFi coverage performance
  • 9.3
    3
    TP-Link

    TP-Link AXE5400 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Router (Archer AXE75)- Gigabit Wireless Internet for Gaming, VPN, OneMesh, WPA3

    9.1 User interface
    9.1 Wi Fi signal
    9.1 Easy installation
    Main highlights
    • Works with all internet service providers (a modem is required for most internet service providers)
    • WiFi 6E Unleashed: The brand new 6 GHz band brings more bandwidth, faster speeds, and near-zero latency; Enables more responsive gaming and video chatting. Power: 12 V ⎓ 2.5 A
    • VPN Server and Client: Archer AXE75 Supports both VPN Server and VPN Client (OpenVPN/PPTP/L2TP)
    • Tri-Band WiFi 6E Router: Up to 5400Mbps WiFi for faster browsing, streaming, gaming and downloading, all at the same time(6 GHz: 2402 Mbps;5 GHz: 2402 Mbps;2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps)
    • TP-Link offers 2-year warranty and free 24/7 technical support
    • TP-Link HomeShield: TP-Link's premium security services keep your home network safe with cutting-edge network and IoT protectionFree features: 1Network Security Scan 2Basic Parental Controls 3QoS 4Weekly/Monthly Reports 5IoT Device Identification, HomeShield Pro paid service ads more robust protections and featuresGet started with a one month free trail of Homeshield Pro
    • More RAM, Better Processing: Armed with a 1.7 GHz Quad-Core CPU and 512 MB High-Speed Memory
    • Connect More Devices: True Tri-Band and OFDMA technology increase capacity by 4 times to enable simultaneous transmission to more devices

Routers Buyer's Guide

Written by Jim Williams

Introduction

A router is a networking device that connects two or more networks together. It routes data from one network to another and is an essential piece of hardware for any home or business network. When shopping for a router, there are many factors to consider such as speed, range, security, and compatibility. This buying guide will provide an overview of the main features on routers, different types of routers, and tips for choosing the right router for your needs.

Speed

Speed is an important factor to consider when choosing a router. Routers come with different speeds that are measured in megabits per second (Mbps). The higher the Mbps, the faster the router will be. Generally, a router with a speed of at least 100 Mbps is recommended for basic home use. For more demanding applications like streaming video or gaming, a router with a speed of at least 400 Mbps is recommended.

Range

The range of a router is how far it can transmit a signal. A router with a greater range will be able to cover more area. The range of a router is usually determined by the type of antenna it uses. The most common type of antenna is an omnidirectional antenna which transmits a signal in all directions. Other types of antennas, such as directional antennas, can be used to reach specific areas.

Security

Security is an important factor to consider when choosing a router. Most routers come with security features such as WPA2 and WPA3 encryption, firewall protection, and parental controls. It is important to make sure the router you choose has the security features you need to keep your network and data safe.

Compatibility

It is important to make sure the router you choose is compatible with your devices. Most routers are compatible with the most popular operating systems and devices. However, it is important to make sure the router you choose is compatible with your specific devices. It is also important to make sure the router is compatible with the type of internet connection you are using, such as DSL, cable, or fiber.

Types of Routers

There are several different types of routers available. The most common type is a wireless router which is used to connect devices to a wireless network. Another type of router is a wired router which is used to connect devices to a wired network. There are also mesh routers which use multiple nodes to create a large, seamless network. When choosing a router, it is important to consider the type of connection you need and the type of devices you will be connecting to the network.

Our ranking system

At bestchoice.com, our team curates a selection of top products from a vast array available online, using a sophisticated ranking system based on carefully defined criteria.While traditional hands-on testing has its merits, our use of AI technology offers distinct advantages. AI allows us to process and analyze vast amounts of data from multiple sources, providing a comprehensive view that goes beyond what manual testing can achieve. This approach enables us to deliver insights that are aligned with current trends and consumer preferences, ensuring our reviews are both relevant and up-to-date.

Features

Our AI-driven analysis examines key attributes, capabilities, and other critical factors tailored to each product category. This method allows us to assess effectiveness from various perspectives, ensuring a well-rounded evaluation.
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Consumer Reviews

We aggregate and evaluate consumer feedback from across the internet, giving weight to ratings and reviews that reflect the most reliable insights. AI enhances this process by filtering and prioritizing data, offering a balanced view without the need for direct personal endorsements.
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Popularity

Our system also considers the popularity of products, analyzing factors such as market presence, reputation, and user satisfaction. By leveraging AI, we capture a comprehensive picture of a product's standing in the market, which may not always be evident through traditional testing.
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Value for money

AI allows us to compare products based on attributes like price, specifications, and user feedback, helping to determine their value for money. This data-driven approach offers an efficient and reliable way to assess how products stack up against one another in terms of cost-effectiveness.
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