Best Wireless Routers for Streaming

Nearly 80,000 people have highly rated this TP-Link router for its wide Wi-Fi coverage, easy installation, and performance. And it helps that it’s only $65, making it one of the cheapest routers on this list.

But you will lose out on a few features at this price point. You'll get Wi-Fi 5 instead of 6. It works best with internet plans of 300Mbps download speeds or less. And you'll be stuck with USB 2.0 instead of 3.0. But, let's be honest, we were all happy without those things a few years ago.

Casual users who just want to stream the new Peacock series, play some Xbox, and occasionally Zoom into a work meeting should be pleased with the AC1750. The Wi-Fi range for this router is best for a two or three-bedroom house.

If you want a well-rounded router perfect for streaming the latest movies and shows in HD/4K/8K, then the TP-Link AX1800 is the way to go. The perfect mix of performance and affordability will satisfy almost everyone.

This dual-band wireless router is equipped with Wi-Fi 6 and four powerful antennas, which can provide fast internet connectivity with low latency throughout most small or medium-sized houses. You should be able to connect over a dozen devices—from Smart TVs to laptops—without an issue (assuming your internet is fast enough).

Then, you can get the movie marathon started.

This TP-Link Wi-Fi router has Alexa Compatibility, but the real selling point is the price. It’s a fast, reliable, Wi-Fi 6–equipped router for $75.

First of all, this router is best for the casual gamer who's looking for affordability. If you’re an avid gamer who plays fast-paced video games, you’ll want to go with the NETGEAR Nighthawk Gaming Router.

But this $90 NETGEAR router has a powerful 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and up to 1.8Gbps transfer speeds. You can also connect up to 20 devices, including all cell phones, tablets, and smart TVs you’d like to stream Max on.

But its range is 1,500 square feet, so this wireless router might be best for townhomes or small homes.

The ASUS 1800 router is equipped with ASUS AiProtection, a commercial-grade network security system that gives antivirus protection to all connected devices.

So you won’t have to worry about internet-based attacks while streaming 24/7, working from home, making dinner, and sitting back to relax.

This wireless router gives you the speeds it promises so you won't experience any buffering during Sunday Night Football games or NBA games.

Consumers applaud the ASUS router for its ease of installation and excellent wireless range. And it doesn’t hurt that this is the best budget pick.

Even the best Wi-Fi routers will have a problem covering larger houses, small businesses, and apartment buildings. The key to unlocking a better Wi-Fi range is called mesh. A mesh Wi-Fi router uses multiple devices to create one large, seamless network.

The best mesh Wi-Fi router on the market right now is NETGEAR’s Orbi AX 6000.

This sleek device uses tri-band Wi-Fi 6 technology, giving you up to 6Gbps of speed (absurdly fast). It allows you to connect up to 100 (!) devices at once without buffering. It has more than enough power to keep you, your family, and even your neighbors streaming video in 4K.

You’re about to shell out some hard-earned dough on a new router, so you want to be sure you’re getting the best product available. Here's a quick rundown of a router's most important features to consider.

• Speed
• Coverage
• Price
• Compatibility
• Special features

We’re not talking about the speed of your internet (how fast information passes from your modem to your router) but the speed of your wireless data transfer (how fast information passes from your router to your computer).

This speed mostly depends on your router's wireless technology (e.g., Wi-Fi 6), internal processor, and coverage area. Make sure you get a router that gives you enough speed for your daily activities.

Wi-Fi routers often have built-in antennas and other features that can boost their range. Those with bigger houses may opt for a mesh router system, which uses multiple devices to increase coverage.

Some of the newest routers cost way more than they need to while sporting unnecessary (and sometimes faulty) features. It's usually best to go with a well-trusted and well-tested model that's cheaper, even if it's a few years old.

Most routers will work with most internet connections, but you should still double-check that your modem and computer will work with the device you’re buying.

Some modems have special software and hardware that can make them especially good for gaming, wireless security, reliable streaming, and other priorities. Find a router that’s optimized for your lifestyle.

• TP-Link AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router: This wireless router is a consumer favorite with the most purchases and a high rating on Amazon. For $65, you get 2,500 square feet of Wi-Fi coverage with great performance. This is the only router on our list with Wi-Fi 5 coverage instead of Wi-Fi 6, so this router works best for money-savers with a 300Mbps internet plan or less.
• TP-Link AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Router: This router might not be the consumer favorite, but we think it has the best value. This TP-Link router is the best for streaming HD and 4K video as it has Wi-Fi 6 coverage. This type of coverage allows for less latency and faster internet speeds.
• NETGEAR 4-Stream Wi-Fi 6 Router: If you’re a gamer who plays Madden here and there in your downtime, this $90 NETGEAR router is likely the one for you. It has a powerful 1.5 GHz processor and a data transfer rate of 1,800Mbps. You can also connect up to 20 devices to stream The Last of Us. If you’re a hardcore gamer, check out the NETGEAR Nighthawk Gaming Router.
• ASUS Dual-band Wi-Fi Router: This $60 ASUS wireless router comes with AiProtection, giving all your devices antivirus protection. It comes with Wi-Fi 6 and 1,200Mbps data transfer rate, perfect for streaming video while you work, clean, or relax.
• NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 Router: This NETGEAR router is the priciest on our list at $585.52, but it has the best performance. It provides 5,000 square feet of Wi-Fi coverage, uses tri-band Wi-Fi technology, gives you 6,000Mbps of speed, and you can connect 100 devices at once.

We’re proud to provide well-researched, objective, and trustworthy reviews of products. So here’s a little glimpse into our process.

These are the features that we considered while evaluating the best wireless routers for streaming:

1. Speed and wireless technology
2. Price
3. Coverage area
4. Special features and optimizations
5. Compatibility with computers and modems

We weighted these features differently, depending on the category (i.e., we gave more attention to price for our best budget pick). But, in all cases, we chose products that we think are reliable, fairly priced, and well-liked by other customers.