December 2022
Routers: Meta Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Router rankings posted by key online experts, as of December 2022.
Summary
As of 1 Dec 2022, TP-Link Archer AX50 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed router with 6 expert endorsements. 1 experts out of 6 recommended it as the '#1 router' this month. It is followed by Asus RT-AX88U and Google Nest WiFi , with 4 and 5 expert endorsements respectively.
At a glance - December 2022 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Router |
PCMag
|
Lifewire
|
Laptop Mag
|
Wirecutter
|
Business Insider
|
TechRadar
|
T3
|
How To Geek
|
Digital Trends
|
Tom's Guide
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $99 |
TP-Link Archer AX50
|
4
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
|
2
|
+1 | $262 |
Asus RT-AX88U
|
-
|
3
|
9
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
|
3
|
-1 | $75 |
Google Nest WiFi
|
-
|
8
|
2
|
-
|
5
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
|
4
|
- | $251 |
Asus RT-AX86U
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
1
|
|
5
|
- | $215 |
TP-Link Archer AX11000
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
6
|
- | $329 |
Asus Rapture GT-AX11000
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
4
|
-
|
4
|
|
7
|
- | $369 |
Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
|
8
|
- | $365 |
Netgear Nighthawk AX8
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
|
9
|
- | $46 |
TP-Link Archer A7
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
9
|
|
10
|
+1 | $60 |
TP-Link Archer A8 AC1900
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
|
11
|
-1 | $200 |
TP-Link Archer AX6600 AX90
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
|
16
|
- | $450 |
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
|
17
|
- | $225 |
TP-Link Archer GX90
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
18
|
- | $186 |
Netgear Nighthawk AC2300 RS400
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
|
19
|
- | $249 |
Linksys Hydra Pro 6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
We ranked TP-Link Archer AX50 #1 in December 2022 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked TP-Link Archer AX50 as #1.
PCMag
Best Budget Wi-Fi 6 Router / Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Easy to install
Solid throughput and signal strength performance
Strong parental controls
Anti-malware protection
Link aggregation
|
Cons
Doesn't support WPA3 or 160MHz channels
Middling file-transfer performance
|
Lifewire
Best Value
|
Pros
Affordable Wi-Fi 6 technology
160MHz-wide channels
Free advanced security and parental controls
|
Cons
Slow NAS performance
|
Laptop Mag
Best Wi-Fi 6 router for most people
|
Pros
Affordable for performance
Solid coverage for single unit
Advanced security options
Reduces battery drain on connected devices
|
Cons
Limited USB ports
Max data transfer not as high as some
|
Business Insider
The best budget router
|
Pros
Good performance at long range
simple setup process
attractive design
compact size
|
Cons
Maximum Wi-Fi speeds could be higher
|
How To Geek
Best Budget Router
|
Pros
Wi-Fi 6 on a budget
Solid and reliable
|
Cons
Only 3000 Mbps speeds
No WPA3 security
Fewer features
|
We ranked Asus RT-AX88U #2 in December 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Asus RT-AX88U as #1.
Lifewire
Best Security
|
Pros
Advanced Wi-Fi 6 support
Advanced security features
Eight LAN ports
|
Cons
A bit pricey
|
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
|
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
|
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 December 2022 ranking
PCMag
Lifewire
Laptop Mag
Wirecutter
Business Insider
TechRadar
T3
How To Geek
Digital Trends
Tom's Guide
We ranked Google Nest WiFi #3 in December 2022 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Asus RT-AX86U #4 in December 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Asus RT-AX86U as #1.
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
|
TechRadar
The best Wi-Fi 6 router with gaming-focused features
|
Pros
Fast Wi-Fi 6 performance
Gaming-focused
Security features
|
Cons
Not cheap
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked TP-Link Archer AX11000 #5 in December 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked TP-Link Archer AX11000 as #1.
PCMag
Best Overall Wireless Router / Editors' Choice
|
Pros
Easy to install
Lots of gamer-friendly settings
Numerous ports
Multi-gig WAN. Link aggregation
Lifetime malware protection
Solid parental controls
|
Cons
Expensive
Bulky
|
T3
The best wireless router for most people
|
Pros
Latest Wi-Fi 6 speeds
Huge range
Eight wired points
|
Cons
Setup takes a while
Expensive
|
We ranked Asus Rapture GT-AX11000 #6 in December 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
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
|
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
|
How To Geek
Best Gaming Router
|
Pros
11000 Mbps speeds
Tri-band Wi-Fi
Packed with cutting-edge features
|
Cons
It's pricey
|
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
|
We ranked Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 #7 in December 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8 as #1.
TechRadar
The best wireless router overall
|
Pros
Great Wi-Fi performance
Good security features
|
Cons
Expensive
Limited to two routers
|
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
|
We ranked Netgear Nighthawk AX8 #8 in December 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
Lifewire
Best Design
|
Pros
Sleek design
Wi-Fi 6 Support
8K streaming
|
Cons
Expensive
Design can make for awkward placement
|
T3
Wi-Fi 6 support and much more besides
|
Pros
Support for Wi-Fi 6
Stunning design
Excellent traffic management
|
Cons
Very expensive
|
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
|
We ranked TP-Link Archer A7 #9 in December 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
Laptop Mag
Best budget Wi-Fi router
|
Pros
Affordable
Solid speeds
Excellent software and warranty
|
Cons
Somewhat limited range
Lacks higher-end features
|
Digital Trends
The best budget wireless router
|
Pros
Affordable price
Tether app with useful settings
Alexa
|
Cons
Limited design for coverage
|
Tom's Guide
Our favorite low-priced wireless router
|
Pros
Costs less than $100
Reasonable performance
Two-year warranty
|
Cons
Lacks deep customization options
Limited range
|
We ranked TP-Link Archer A8 AC1900 #10 in December 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
How To Geek
Best Cheap Router Under $100
|
Pros
A solid router at a low price
|
Cons
No Wi-Fi 6
1900 Mbps speeds
|
We ranked TP-Link Archer AX6600 AX90 #11 in December 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
T3
A mid-range wireless router with loads of smart features
|
Pros
Improves Wi-Fi speed and capacity
Easy to use and manage through the app
HomeShield is free and protects your devices
|
Cons
The 2.4GHz channel could be faster
You have to create an account
There’s a subscription fee for the advanced security features
|
Digital Trends
The best high-performance router
|
Pros
Wi-Fi 6 support
Multi-gig Ethernet ports
Solid performance
|
Cons
Relatively expensive
|
We ranked Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 #12 in December 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
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
|
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
|
We ranked TP-Link Archer GX90 #13 in December 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
PCMag
A Solid Alternative to the Asus GS-AX5400
|
Pros
Easy to install
Strong throughput and signal performance
Lifetime network security and parental control software
Multi-gig connectivity
Gamer-friendly settings
|
Cons
Pricey
Non-adjustable antennas
|
TechRadar
The best gaming router with Wi-Fi 6 speeds
|
Pros
Wi-Fi 6 running at 6.6Gbps
Dedicated 4.8Gbps ‘gaming band’
|
Cons
Slightly fiddly set-up
|
We ranked Netgear Nighthawk AC2300 RS400 #14 in December 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
Laptop Mag
Best Wi-Fi router for the security-conscious
|
Pros
Extensive security features
Includes 3-year Bitdefender subscription
Easy setup
|
Cons
Expensive for performance
Limited range
|
Tom's Guide
The best router to secure your whole house
|
Pros
Good performance
Three years of security software
Easy setup
|
Cons
Short range
Not much to configure
|
We ranked Linksys Hydra Pro 6 #15 in December 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Routers” rankings.
TechRadar
A fast, easy-to-use Wi-Fi 6 router for home networks
|
Pros
Simple but effective app
Lots of physical ports
|
Cons
Weak parental controls
Not suited for gamers
|
Tom's Guide
A pint-sized Wi-fi 6 router that's easy to set up
|
Pros
Small and easy to set up
Good customization options
Wide 160MHz data channels available
|
Cons
Expensive
No extra security software
|