May 2023

Routers: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of Router rankings posted by key online experts, as of May 2023.

Summary

Between 2 May 2023 and 2 May 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 84 Router endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

58 Routers were endorsed in total, only 13 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).

As of 2 May 2023, TP-Link Archer AX50 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed router with 5 expert endorsements. It is followed by Asus RT-AX88U and Google Nest WiFi , with 4 and 5 expert endorsements respectively.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking routers start at $39.99 (TP-Link AC750) and go up to $1419 (Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E (RBKE963)). Median router costs $199.99 (Motorola Q11).
$39.99
$1419

At a glance - May 2023 Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Router
Lifewire
Digital Trends
Business Insider
Laptop Mag
Wirecutter
TechRadar
T3
How To Geek
PCMag
Tom's Guide
1
- $120
TP-Link Archer AX50
The TP-Link Archer AX50 router is a highly recommended Wi-Fi 6 router that offers fast and reliable speeds, supports over 40 connected devices, and has advanced features such as parental controls and antivirus protection.
2
-
2
3
-
-
-
2
3
-
2
- $300
Asus RT-AX88U
The Asus RT-AX88U router is a powerful and reliable dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with advanced security features, 8 Gigabit LAN ports, and a user-friendly interface, making it an excellent option for households with multiple smart home devices or IoT devices.
3
-
-
9
2
-
-
1
-
-
3
- $60
Google Nest WiFi
The Google Nest WiFi router is a reliable and efficient solution for families of four who frequently use multiple devices simultaneously and want fast and reliable internet speeds, with parental controls, QoS capabilities, and easy setup and management using the Google Home app.
8
-
5
2
-
4
-
-
-
6
4
- $298
Asus RT-AX86U
The Asus RT-AX86U router is a high-performance router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, providing faster, more efficient, and more stable connection speeds than previous Wi-Fi standards, making it an excellent choice for both basic and advanced users.
-
7
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
1
5
- $315
Asus Rapture GT-AX11000
The Asus Rapture GT-AX11000 router is a high-performance router with advanced features for gamers and families, offering fast and stable Wi-Fi connectivity, comprehensive security features, and easy setup and management.
5
-
-
-
-
-
6
4
-
5
6
- $350
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 router is a high-speed and powerful device that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, offers excellent range performance, and advanced security features, making it an ideal choice for households with heavy internet usage and multiple devices.
-
1
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
7
- $350
Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8
The Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 router is a high-performance Wi-Fi 6 mesh system with excellent speed and range, advanced features such as parental controls and QoS settings, and easy setup and management through a mobile app.
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
5
-
-
8
+9 $460
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router is a high-performance router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 and 6E standards, offering top speeds of up to 11,000 Mbps, and is ideal for users who require high-speed internet for activities such as streaming and gaming.
-
-
3
-
-
-
8
-
-
7
9
-1 $243
Netgear Nighthawk AX8
The Netgear Nighthawk AX8 router is a high-performance and secure router with a range of features, making it an excellent choice for users who demand the best throughput and performance in their home high-performance routers.
6
-
-
-
-
-
10
-
-
4
10
-1 $60
TP-Link Archer A8 AC1900
The TP-Link Archer A8 AC1900 router is a reliable and affordable option for those looking for fast Wi-Fi speeds and adequate coverage for small to medium-sized homes.
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
3
-
-
11
-1 $257
TP-Link Archer AX6600 AX90
The TP-Link Archer AX6600 AX90 router is a high-speed, Wi-Fi 6 router with Tri-Band Wi-Fi, Ultra Connectivity, Maximized Coverage, and TP-Link HomeShield security features, making it a reliable and versatile choice for any home or office.
-
2
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
12
New * $230
Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR1000
The Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR1000 router is a high-performance Wi-Fi 6 router with a maximum speed of 5.4Gbps, suitable for large households or small offices with multiple devices, and comes with Netgear Armor for all-encompassing anti-virus, anti-malware, and data protection.
-
5
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
19
-1 $59
TP-Link Archer A7
-
4
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
-

Sorted by price:

Position in ranking Price Router
#19 $59 TP-Link Archer A7 [buy] [more info]
#10 $59.99 TP-Link Archer A8 AC1900 [buy] [more info]
#3 $60.49 Google Nest WiFi [buy] [more info]
#1 $119.95 TP-Link Archer AX50 [buy] [more info]
#12 $230 Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR1000 [buy] [more info]
#9 $243.15 Netgear Nighthawk AX8 [buy] [more info]
#11 $257.50 TP-Link Archer AX6600 AX90 [buy] [more info]
#4 $297.51 Asus RT-AX86U [buy] [more info]
#2 $299.99 Asus RT-AX88U [buy] [more info]
#5 $314.58 Asus Rapture GT-AX11000 [buy] [more info]
#6 $349.99 Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 [buy] [more info]
#7 $349.99 Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 [buy] [more info]
#8 $460 Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 [buy] [more info]

We ranked Asus RT-AX88U #2 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Asus RT-AX88U as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Lifewire

Best Security

Pros
Advanced Wi-Fi 6 support
Advanced security features
Eight LAN ports

Cons
A bit pricey

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best future-proof Wi-Fi 6 router

Pros
Fantastic Wi-Fi 6 performance
Solid built-in malware protection
Abundant ports
Easily configurable network options

Cons
Expensive
Limited Wi-Fi 6 devices still

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

Future-proofed, high speed, high price

Go to ranking

How To Geek

Best Wi-Fi Router

Pros
Wi-Fi 6 and future-proof hardware
Packed with features
6000 Mbps speeds

Cons
No Tri-Band
Not the fastest Wi-Fi 6 Router
Not the cheapest Wi-Fi 6 router

Go to ranking

Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Routers.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Routers, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for May 2023 ranking

We ranked Google Nest WiFi #3 in May 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Lifewire

Best for Smart Homes

Pros
Attractive and simple design
Integrates with Google Home
Point units double as smart speakers

Cons
No Ethernet ports on points
Lacks a dedicated backhaul channel

Go to ranking

Business Insider

The best budget mesh router

Pros
Easy to set up and manage
router
points are small and attractive
access points double as smart speakers
reliable performance at range
attractive pricing

Cons
Wi-Fi 6 upgrade is sorely needed

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best mesh Wi-Fi router system for most people

Pros
Excellent, reliable coverage
Easy to set up
Built-in Google Home speaker
Smart home functionality

Cons
Limited ports
Lacks advanced configuration options

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best mesh router if you want something affordable

Pros
Excellent design
Smart speaker(s) included
Even simpler controls

Cons
No major performance gains
Not worth replacing existing mesh

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

A great mesh router with built-in smart speaker

Pros
Good performance
Google Assistant built in
Easy setup

Cons
Short range
Minimal configuration options

Go to ranking

We ranked Asus RT-AX86U #4 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Asus RT-AX86U as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

Best router for mobile gaming

Pros
Mobile gaming mode
Dedicated gaming port
Wi-Fi 6
Mesh and security software included

Cons
Not as useful if there aren't any gamers around

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best Wi-Fi 6 router for gamers

Pros
Blazing fast speeds
Excellent performance at range
Extensive customization and optimization for gamers via software
Extremely low latency

Cons
Large footprint
Pricey

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

Great for a full house,and for gaming

Pros
Excellent throughput and performance
Security software with lifetime updates
Multi-Gig input and port aggregation

Cons
Lacks advanced gaming features like geofencing and ping heat map

Go to ranking

We ranked Asus Rapture GT-AX11000 #5 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Lifewire

Best for Gaming

Pros
Advanced Wi-Fi 6 Support
Extremely Fast Performance
Cutting-edge game-centric QoS

Cons
Large footprint
Expensive
User interface can be a bit daunting

Go to ranking

T3

A top wireless router for power users and gamers

Pros
Support for Wi-Fi 6
Powerful software control
Eight Wi-Fi antennas

Cons
Expensive
Large

Go to ranking

How To Geek

Best Gaming Router

Pros
11000 Mbps speeds
Tri-band Wi-Fi
Packed with cutting-edge features

Cons
It's pricey

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best Wi-Fi 6 gaming router

Pros
First Wi-Fi 6 (802.11AX) router
Performance improves with distance
Plenty of customization
Impressive 2.5Gbps wired connector

Cons
Very large in size compared to other routers

Go to ranking

We ranked Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 #6 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

The best wireless router

Pros
Wi-Fi 6E support
No unsightly antenna with futuristic design
Can be controlled with an app

Cons
Optional services require subscription
Still expensive

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The premium wireless router of the future

Pros
Super-fast Wi-Fi performance
Tri-band support (2.4/5.0/6.0GHz)
Easy to use and set up

Cons
Expensive
Parental controls require monthly subscription

Go to ranking

We ranked Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 #7 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best wireless router overall

Pros
Great Wi-Fi performance
Good security features

Cons
Expensive
Limited to two routers

Go to ranking

How To Geek

Best Mesh Router

Pros
Wi-Fi 6
5500 square feet of coverage
QoS for traffic prioritization

Cons
More expensive than mesh systems without Wi-Fi 6
Not as simple to configure as Google Nest Wifi

Go to ranking

We ranked Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 #8 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Business Insider

Best Wi-Fi 6E router

Pros
Supports Wi-Fi 6E
excellent Wi-Fi performance
performance holds up at range
as a 2.5 Gigabit LAN port

Cons
Large
could use more Gigabit LAN ports for its size

Go to ranking

T3

The best Wi-Fi router if you have a big budget

Pros
Absolutely packed with features
High-end Wi-Fi 6E support
Lots of customisation options

Cons
It's going to cost you

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The Wi-Fi 6e speed demon

Pros
Top speeds with 6GHz band
Very customizable
Security software built-in

Cons
Throughput declines quickly with distance

Go to ranking

We ranked Netgear Nighthawk AX8 #9 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Lifewire

Best Design

Pros
Sleek design
Wi-Fi 6 Support
8K streaming

Cons
Expensive
Design can make for awkward placement

Go to ranking

T3

Wi-Fi 6 support and much more besides

Pros
Support for Wi-Fi 6
Stunning design
Excellent traffic management

Cons
Very expensive

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

A great router overall

Pros
Excellent performance
Includes anti-malware apps
Lots of configuration options

Cons
Throughput falls off quickly with distance

Go to ranking

We ranked Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR1000 #12 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

The best gaming router

Pros
Solid Wi-Fi 6 performance
Options catered towards gamers and streamers
Malware protection included

Cons
No multi-gig port or port aggregation
Relatively pricey

Go to ranking

T3

The best premium wireless router

Pros
High speed, low ping
Handles congestion well
Automatic optimisation

Cons
On the expensive side

Go to ranking