The 10 Good Budget Routers Of 2024, Researched By Us

Dan Simmons By, Dan Simmons
Updated
Good Budget Routers
Good Budget Routers

The Rundown

1. Best Of The Best: NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router

This powerful router has a maximum capacity of 1500 square feet and includes Ethernet ports to connect wired devices such as laptops or printers. Thanks to its advanced technology, this router is safe and secure with support for WPA2 wireless security protocols, so all your connected devices are protected from intruders. Read Review

2. Best For The Price: Amazon eero mesh WiFi router

The system is easy to install and allows you to manage wifi access for network profiles easily. It's the perfect solution for small spaces, such as apartments or townhomes, where coverage is limited. Our eero app allows you to set up and manage your eero system from anywhere. Read Review

3. Best Durable: TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router Archer AX21

With the Beamforming tech, this wireless router delivers better wireless coverage in larger homes with more devices, clearer signal strength to your devices, and no congestion. Setup with Alexa is simple, and updates are automatic for the best compatibility with today’s demand for multiple connected devices. Read Review

4. Best Quality: ASUS AC1200 WiFi Gaming Router RT-ACRH12

With a maximum range of up to 3000 square feet, it delivers high-speed wireless performance for lag-free gaming and other online activities. It has four powerful external antennas that offer superior wireless coverage. The RT-ACRH12 also offers network file sharing both locally and remotely, an improved coverage and multi device performance. Read Review

5. Best Convenient: TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router Archer AX73

TP-Link Archer AX5400 WiFi 6 Router is the ultimate high speed WiFi router that features a powerful CPU and multiple antenna arrays to provide strong WiFi coverage. This advanced wireless router provides up to 4.8 Gbps max speed, superior performance, quality and stability. Read Review

You don't want to spend a fortune when you're ready to leap to a wireless network. A router won't do much to help you get your new setup off the ground. That makes finding a router good for basics an essential first step.

Fortunately, you can find good budget options that won't break the bank and will have basic features such as Ethernet ports and support for WISPs. Billions of people use the internet today with smartphones and laptops. People are spending more time online than ever before, so it only makes sense that people would start looking for ways to access this information faster and more conveniently than ever before. Wireless networks are one of the best ways to achieve this goal today.

This article will explore some affordable routers that are great for small business owners, home office users, or anyone who needs remote access from only one computer doesn'tsn’t necessarily need high performance or security. 

We think the good budget routers that is available now is NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router. This powerful router is loaded with advanced technology and features such as a range of 1500 sq ft, multiple wired Ethernet ports, and built-in security that protects your family's WiFi with an automatic shield of security across all your connected devices. We also provide you with Amazon eero mesh WiFi router model that you may consider if the top product is not your choice. And bellow is the help buyer's guide to assist you in making your decision.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router
Our Score:
9.7
NETGEAR

Maximum Range : 1500 Sq Ft

Recommended for up to 25 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect smart home devices

NETGEAR Armor protects your family's WiFi with an automatic shield of security across all your connected devices with a 30-day free trial

Wired Ethernet ports: Plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and other nearby wired devices with 4 x 1 gigabit Ethernet ports

Loaded with advanced technology: Designed with a 1GHz dual core processor, 3 amplified antennas, Beamforming plus, Dynamic QoS, Smart Connect, and more

Safe & secure: Supports WPA2 wireless security protocols. Includes Guest Wi-Fi access, DOS, Firewall, VPN, and more

Safe & secure: Supports WPA2 wireless security protocols. Includes Guest Wi-Fi access, DOS, Firewall, VPN, and more. System requirements: Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10, Vista, XP, 2000, Mac OS, UNIX, or Linux. Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0, Firefox 2.0, Safari 1.4, or Google Chrome 11.0 browsers or higher

USB connections: Share a storage drive or printer with any connected device or create a personal cloud storage to access from anywhere, using the 1 x 3.0 USB port

NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls promotes healthy Internet habits, fosters responsibility and builds trust with your kids (30-day free trial included)

TOP Choice #2 Amazon eero mesh WiFi router
Our Score:
9.6
Eero

EASILY EXPAND YOUR SYSTEM - With cross-compatible hardware, you can add eero products as your needs change.

SET UP IN MINUTES - The eero app guides you through setup and allows you to manage your network from anywhere.

GETS BETTER OVER TIME - Receive automatic updates to help keep your network safe and secure. Online security and additional network management features available via a separate subscription.

WORKS WITH ALEXA- With eero and an Alexa device (not included), you can easily manage wifi access for network profiles to take focus away from screens and back to what’s important.

WORKS WITH YOUR INTERENT SERVICE PROVIDER- eero replaces your wifi router and works with most major internet service providers.

EXPERIENCE THE EERO TRUEMESH DIFFERENCE - eero’s patented TrueMesh technology intelligently routes traffic to reduce drop-offs and dead spots.

FAST STANDALONE ROUTER - The eero mesh WiFi router brings up to 1,500 sq. ft. of fast, reliable WiFi to your home.

DON'T LET WIFI SLOW YOU DOWN- Get the most from your WiFi by streaming, gaming, and working from anywhere across your home.

TOP Choice #3 TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router Archer AX21
Our Score:
9.4
TP-Link

Dual-Band WiFi 6 Internet Router: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous generation

VPN Server and Client: Archer AX21 Supports both VPN Server and VPN Client (Open/PPTP/L2TP over Ipsec)

Certified for Humans: Smart home made easy for non-experts. Setup with Alexa is simple

Extensive Coverage: Achieve the strong, reliable WiFi coverage with Archer AX1800 as it focuses signal strength to your devices far away using Beamforming technology, 4 high-gain antennas and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset

Connect more devices: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices simultaneously using revolutionary OFDMA technology

Works with all internet service providers, such as Comcast, Charter, AT&T, Verizon, Xfinity, Spectrum, RCN, Cox, CenturyLink, Frontier, etc.( a modem is required for most internet service providers)

Next-Gen 1.8 Gbps Speeds: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading and more with WiFi speeds up to 1.8 Gbps (1200 Mbps on 5 GHz band and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz band)

Improved coverage and multi device performance with four external antennas

300 Mbps (2 4GHz) and 867 Mbps (5GHz) for fast wireless performance

1 x USB 2 0 port ASUS AiDisk offers network file sharing both locally and remotely

Maximum Range : 3000 Sq Ft

Enjoy the ASUSWRT dashboard UI for easy setup and manage your router

4 x Gigabit LAN port Speeds can be up to 10× faster than 100 Base T Ethernet connections

Full Featured WiFi 6 Router– Equipped with 4T4R and HE160 technologies on the 5 GHz band to enable max 4.8 Gbps ultra-fast connections.Power:12 V ⎓ 2.5 A

TP-Link HomeShield – TP-Link's 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 for, 5.99/Month, 1-Month Free Trial

More Vents, Less Heat – Improved vented areas help unleash the full power of the router

Connect More Devices – Supports MU-MIMO and OFDMA to reduce congestion and 4X the average throughput

Gigabit WiFi for 8K Streaming – Up to 5400 Mbps WiFi for faster browsing, streaming, gaming and downloading, all at the same time

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

USB Sharing – 1× USB 3.0 port enables easy media sharing and private cloud storage

Works with all internet service providers, such as AT&T, Verizon, Xfinity, Spectrum, RCN, Cox, CenturyLink, Frontier, etc.( a modem is required for most internet service providers)

6 D-Link WiFi Router AC1750
Our Score:
9.1
D-Link

AC1750 WiFi Speeds with MU-MIMO - Stream your favorite movies or play games with your friends. The DIR-1750 has plenty of bandwidth along with fast AC1750 dual band Wi-Fi, MU-MIMO and Smart Connect for a smooth, buffer-free online experience.

More Processing Power - A powerful dual-core processor sits at the heart of your router, accelerating every thread and application with strong performance throughout your network.

D-Link WiFi Mesh - Expand your coverage from the bedroom to the kitchen and even the backyard. D-Link Wi-Fi Mesh makes it easy to mix-and-match with compatible D-Link extenders for your own customized mesh network.

Easy Setup and Management with the D-Link WiFi App - Set your router up in minutes, change settings, and easily manage your network with the free D-Link Wi-Fi app (available on Android and iOS).

Better Range with AC Smartbeam - Seamlessly stream video, play games, surf the web, and even voice chat with friends. Four high-performance external antennas and AC SmartBeam technology deliver stronger Wi-Fi coverage to every device in your home.

Reliable Gigabit Wired Performance - Connect four devices to enjoy a strong and reliable wired connection with minimal latency - perfect for connecting Android boxes, smart TVs and game consoles.

Secure Router For Wireless Internet: This wireless router features 6 layers of advanced network security to let you enjoy reliably safe and high-speed Wi-Fi internet

PCMag Readers’ Choice Router: ASUS routers won the PCMag readers’ choice for 10 consecutive years by having the highest marks for delivering reliable and easy-to-use devices for Wi-Fi routers

MU-MIMO For Full Speed On Multiple Devices: This wireless internet router features powerful technology that allows you to connect multiple MU-MIMO-compatible clients at each device’s maximum speed simultaneously

Fast Internet Router: This dual-band router is powered by 5G Wi-Fi and 256 QAM technology that delivers a total speed of up to 1900 Mbps (600Mbps for 2.4GHz, 1300Mbps for 5GHz), which provides you 4K streaming without lagging or jumping

Optimized Coverage With AiRadar Beamforming: With high power amplification and exclusive ASUS RF fine-tuning, this gigabit router is able to extend coverage up to 3000 Sq Ft, increase dynamic data speed and enhance stability

Control Your Network Router Anywhere: Downloading the ASUS Router App allows you to set up your router, manage network traffic, diagnose connection issues and even update firmware, all without needing to boot up a PC

3-Step Effortless Setup: 1. Open web browser 2. Enter ID/ Password 3. Enjoy Wi-Fi, In less than 30 seconds and in only 3 easy steps, effortlessly set up your ASUS router through the simple user interface to start the internet in record time

OneMesh Compatible Router- Form a seamless WiFi when work with TP-Link OneMesh WiFi Extenders

Wave 2 Wireless Internet Router, 600 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5GHz band

MU-MIMO Gigabit Router, 3 simultaneous data streams help your devices achieve optimal performance by making communication more efficient

Works with all internet service providers, such as AT&T, Verizon, Xfinity, Spectrum, RCN, Cox, CenturyLink, Frontier, etc.( a modem is required for most internet service providers)

Full Gigabit Ports: Create fast, reliable wired connections for your PCs, Smart TVs and gaming console with 4 x Gigabit LAN and 1 x Gigabit WAN. No USB Port

Boosted WiFi Coverage, Beamforming technology delivers a highly efficient wireless connection, long range WiFi

Parental Controls: Block inappropriate content and set daily limits for how much time your children spend online with parental controls

ASUS AiMesh Support – Create a flexible, seamless whole-home mesh network with AiMesh-compatible routers

High Efficiency WiFi 6 - Enjoy fast speeds up to 2700 Mbps with WiFi 6 (802.11ax)

More Privacy, Anywhere - Instant Guard gives you one-click secure internet access via RT-AX68U from anywhere in the world

Parental Controls for All Ages - Customize settings for different age groups, giving your kids the internet access they need

Commercial-grade Network Security – Lifetime free ASUS AiProtection Pro, powered by Trend Micro, with WPA3 to protect your home

10 WAVLINK Gigabit WiFi Router
Our Score:
8.7
WAVLINK

【1 Year Warranty】 - All of our products are backed with a 1-year as well as email support. Feel free to contact us if anything goes wrong.

【Ultra-Fast Wired Connection】 - 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports can be aggregated to double the connection speed to wired computers, wired printers and other network devices, which are 10X faster than conventional one.

【More Antennas Means Better Performance】 - 8 high performance omnidirectional patented antennas with beamforming technology dramatically enhance signal reception and dispatching ability, and reduce signal degradation. WAVLINK routers focus on maximize Wi-Fi coverage and improve network performance.

【SuperSpeed USB 3.0】 - Built-in one SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Type-A port (10X faster than USB 2.0) is easy to share media and storage across your local network.

【Latest Tri-Band WiFi Router】- Delivers a massive combined wireless speed of up to 3000Mbps (400Mbps in 2.4GHz + 867Mbps in 5GHz + 1733Mbps in 5GHz), allowing all your devices to be assigned to the fastest Wi-Fi band. This unparalleled Wi-Fi Router is right for gaming online or streaming a immersive 4K UHD.

Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to Look For in a good budget routers?

A range of elements, including those listed below, influence the good budget routers. The study process varies depending on the material. We'll be able to assist you and provide solutions since we're here to help you.

Please keep in mind the following points before selecting good budget routers:

LAN Ports

Many internet-connected smart home devices, such as Philips Hue and Samsung SmartThings products, require a LAN port-connected hub to function. If you need more LAN ports than the router has, you can expand the number available by adding an Ethernet switch. This is sort of like a power strip that adds open Ethernet ports.

Quality Of Service

Wireless Routers offer a great way to optimize the performance of your computer. You can change the router's settings to work best for streaming videos, making Skype calls, playing games, or streaming music. This will give those applications more of the bandwidth—so, for example, your Netflix movie doesn't pause and rebuffer because someone in your house is downloading a large file.

Security

To secure your router, you should use the latest available encryption standard. This is likely WPA2 or WPA3, depending on the age of your router. You’ll need to enter the password just once into each wireless device you use; afterward, the device will remember it.

Booster Club

When it comes to wireless routers, most ISPs offer several tiers of service. If you’re ever in a situation where you need more speed for streaming or gaming, you can always upgrade your service. A connection speed of around 200 megabits per second should be able to handle a family’s worth of activities like this.

USB Ports

USB ports on a router are used for connecting to a flash drive, an external hard drive, or a USB printer if the router has a built-in print server.

App-Based Management

Every new router comes with apps meant to simplify the task of setting up and making adjustments to your WiFi network. The apps make it easier than ever before to monitor which devices are connected to your network and adjust which devices get priority. These apps can also alert you when an update is available for your router.

WiFi Standards

As of early 2021, the tech world is starting to transition away from the WiFi standard known as WiFi 5 and towards WiFi 6, which is faster and boasts better support for more devices connected at the same time. Older, WiFi 5-certified devices like smartphones and laptops can still be used with WiFi 6 routers, but you won’t receive the full benefits of WiFi 6 unless the device you are using is certified for the new standard. For more information on WiFi 6, be sure to read this article.

FAQs

What features are typically included in budget routers?

Budget routers typically include features such as basic network security, wireless network support, and basic parental control options. They may also support multiple network protocols and offer basic port forwarding capabilities.

How do I choose the right budget router for my needs?

When choosing a budget router, consider the number of devices that will be connected to the network, the types of applications that will be used, and the types of security features that are needed. It is also important to compare the features and speeds offered by different routers to find the best model for your needs.

What is a budget router?

A budget router is a type of router that offers basic features at an affordable price. They are often used for basic home networking needs, such as connecting multiple devices to your home network and sharing an internet connection.

Is a budget router a good choice for gaming?

Budget routers may be suitable for casual gaming, but they are not designed for more intensive gaming needs. If you plan to use your router for gaming, you may want to invest in one with higher speeds and more robust security features.

When updated data are available, our system and editor will update a list of good budget routers. Please periodically review our website for the newest data.

We can help you with more than just finding good budget routers.  Please do not hesitate to contact us when you need assistance.


1 ratings

About Dan Simmons

Dan Simmons

Dan Simmons is a writer who loves home theater and HiFi audio. As the editor of TheAudioInsights, he has helped countless people enjoy the best possible sound quality in their homes. He is an audiophile who takes great pleasure in helping others find the perfect audio equipment for their needs. When he's not writing or editing, Dan enjoys listening to music and spending time with his family.