Best Wi-Fi Routers (2026): My Honest Picks After Testing 40+

Published 5 July 2026 · tech

Compare 7 Top Wi-Fi Routers Product Price (MSRP) Wi-Fi Version Bands Ports Coverage Best Wi-Fi 7 Router: Asus RT-BE96U $550 Wi-Fi 7 6 GHz, 5

Compare 7 Top Wi-Fi Routers Product Price (MSRP) Wi-Fi Version Bands Ports Coverage Best Wi-Fi 7 Router: Asus RT-BE96U $550 Wi-Fi 7 6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 2.4 GHz 1x 10-Gbps WAN/LAN, 1x 10-Gbps LAN, 4x Gigabit LAN, 1x USB 3.2, 1x USB 2.0 5,400 square feet A More Affordable Wi-Fi 7 Router: TP-Link Archer BE9700 $250 Wi-Fi 7 6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 2.4 GHz 1x 10-Gbps WAN/LAN, 1x 2.5-Gbps WAN/LAN, 3x 2.5 Gbps LAN, 1x USB 3.0 2,600 square feet Best Router for Large Homes: Netgear Orbi 770 Series (2-Pack) $550 Wi-Fi 7 6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 2.4 GHz 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN, 3x 2.5 Gbps LAN (main), 2x 2.5 Gbps LAN (satellites) 5,500 square feet Best Budget Router: Asus RT-BE58U $150 Wi-Fi 7 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN, 1x Gigabit WAN/LAN, 3x Gigabit LAN, 1x USB WAN 2,000 square feet Best Gaming Router: Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro $629 Wi-Fi 7 2x 6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 2.4 GHz 1x 10-Gbps WAN/LAN, 2x 10-Gbps LAN, 4x Gigabit LAN, 1x USB 3.2, 1x USB 2.0 2,500 square feet Best Travel Router: Asus RT-BE58 Go $160 Wi-Fi 7 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN, 1x Gigabit LAN, 1x USB-A 3.0 1,800 square feet Best 5G Router: Netgear Nighthawk M7 $500 Wi-Fi 7 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz 1x USB-C, SIM slot 2,000 square feet Other Wi-Fi 7 Routers I Tested and Liked I have tested many other models and have several more in the queue. These aren’t as great as the picks above, but they are worth considering. Photograph: Simon Hill TP-Link Archer BE6500 (GE400) for $200: This dual-band Wi-Fi 7 gaming router is a solid performer. At close range on the 5-GHz band, it can go toe-to-toe with most of the devices on this list. It also offers dedicated gaming features, though some of them require subscriptions. I was disappointed by the limited range, and the comparable TP-Link BE6500 (BE400) is currently on sale for a lot less. You also don’t have to spend much more to get the far superior, tri-band Archer BE9700 (BE600) listed above, giving you the full 6-GHz Wi-Fi 7 experience. For gamers who live alone in apartments or small homes, this router could still be a decent buy. TP-Link Roam 7 (BE3600) for $130: This dual-band, Wi-Fi 7 travel router was my pick, but the Asus RT-BE58 Go above is a slightly better performer for around the same money. This is still a good, portable device, capable of keeping you online in your hotel room or modest apartment. It also supports mobile tethering, VPN, and can serve as a Wi-Fi range extender. There’s a USB-C for power that works with portable chargers, and a USB-A for file sharing or backup. TP-Link Archer BE5000 (BE260) for $110: This dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) Wi-Fi 7 router runs close to our top pick on performance and is a solid alternative. This router offers a slight upgrade over the BE230 (BE3600) below, with improved 5-GHz performance, an extra antenna, and a coverage boost up to 2,400 square feet. It also sports a 2.5-Gbps WAN, a 2.5-Gbps LAN, three Gigabit LAN, and a USB 3.0 port. Throw in EasyMesh support and a relatively low price, and the BE260 is a tempting option. But if you want enhanced security and parental controls, you have to subscribe, which takes the shine off the value. AVM FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro Photograph: Simon Hill AVM FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro for £447: While AVM has dominated the German router market for years and still has around a 50 percent market share, it's now expanding across Europe and the UK, so I tested the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro. AVM’s range is distinctive in white and red plastic, but there's a focus on functionality. This tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router boasts a 2.5-Gbps WAN/LAN, four gigabit LAN, and a USB 3.1 port. It’s fast, scoring mid- to high-table results in my tests, and it proved reliable. It also has DSL or fiber-optic modems, an integrated DECT base station for cordless phones, built-in storage (NAS), and support for Zigbee to connect smart home devices. You don’t need an account to set it up or configure it. There’s a firewall and guest network option in the straightforward web interface (you can use the mobile app if you prefer). AVM’s routers are developed and manufactured in Europe, making them an interesting, privacy-focused alternative to routers from China or the US. The company also has a strong track record of supporting its products for years after release. Folks in the UK and Europe looking to upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 should consider this router. My fingers are crossed that AVM expands into the US next. Asus RT-BE86U for $230: The new Wi-Fi 7 version of the Asus RT-AX86U, this dual-band (2.4- and 5-GHz) router is similar to the Asus RT-BE88U below. It lacks the 6-GHz band but brings all the other improvements that Wi-Fi 7 offers. The RT-BE86U proved reliable in my tests and performed extremely well on the 5-GHz band, matching the slightly more expensive RT-BE88U. It is slightly smaller but still has one 10-Gbps and four 2.5-Gbps Ethernet ports, alongside a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0 port. Netgear Nighthawk RS300 Photograph: Simon Hill Netgear Nighthawk RS300 for $300: This classy, tri-band, Wi-Fi 7 tower router is understated with a fanless design. Setup was a breeze, and the simplified app is designed to be hands-off. This was our middle pick, but was unseated by TP-Link's Archer BE9700. Speed and stability on the 5-GHz and 6-GHz bands were excellent, though the range on the 6-GHz band is limited. Performance on the 2.4-GHz band was slightly below par, but that will likely only be an issue if you have loads of older devices. The RS300 has one 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN, two 2.5 Gbps, two Gigabit LAN ports, and one USB 3.0 port.