Are you looking for a gaming router that kicks up your competitive gaming experience? Tired of that old router that’s collecting dust behind your old bookshelf? Are you experiencing some unwanted hitches and lag spikes playing or streaming the latest live-service titles? We think it’s time for a change.
The best gaming routers are an absolute must for your online gaming experience, with seamless data streaming to keep your experience as lag-free as possible. Winning a round or a match online comes down to split-second actions, which is why you can’t compromise on quality if you want to improve your K/D. So, without further ado, here are some of the best routers for gaming going into 2024!
- 03Best Entry-Level Gaming Router
How to choose the Best Gaming Router
The best gaming routers primarily take an emphasis on Quality-of-Service, or “QoS”. This means that gaming routers strictly focus on gaming traffic over other types of background network usage. This can seriously help if you’re trying to game on a Wi-Fi network that’s boasting tons of users under one roof. The best modem routers for gaming use this to give you a blazing fast connection, along with a few other tricks – like providing MU-MIMO support to increase capacity, allowing other devices and users to connect to the network without interfering with your gaming PC or console connection. To curate this list of best gaming routers, we’ve taken a priority on these two features, along with a few other aces modern routers have hidden up their sleeves.
Best Router for Gaming: ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro
Frequency
Tri-Band
WiFi Protocol
802.11ax WiFi 6
Ports
1x 10Gbps WAN/LAN, 1x 2.5Gbps LAN, 4x GbpE
External Antennae
8
- Exceptional low latency
- WiFi 6 support
- Incredible 11Gbps download speeds
- Wide selection of ports
- High price point
- Lack of WiFi 6E support
While it boasts a high entry price, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro comes with some unique features and a design that’s sure to spruce up your gaming rig’s aesthetics. This high-performance gaming modem comes with some excellent features catered to competitive gamers.
This gaming router features a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 connection which, while not the latest and greatest in Wi-Fi 6E, is still worth the salt. You get download speeds of up to 11Gbps and a long-range thanks to the eight beefy antennae that feature on the unit – so you can rely on a strong internet connection anywhere in your home. Furthermore, you also get a healthy selection of ports to choose from: 2.5Gbps is still available in the form of a standard LAN port, but in addition, you get four Gigabit Ethernet ports as well as a 10Gbps one that can be configured in WAN or LAN.
And if you still can’t get a solid connection in your home, you can boost the signal strength manually thanks to ASUS’ RangeBoost Plus feature, or combine compatible routers into one with their AiMesh system. The only real downside to this unit is the price, though we clearly think it’s worth it for a healthy selection of gaming-oriented features and consistently sturdy internet connection. If you don’t mind spending a few extra bucks, then the GT-AX11000 Pro is easily the best wireless gaming router.
Runner-Up Router for Gaming: ASUS AX5700 RT-AX86U
ASUS AX5700 WiFi 6 Gaming Router (RT-AX86U)
Frequency Band
Dual- Band
Wi-Fi Protocol
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6
Ports
1x 2.5GbE, 4x GbE, 2x USB 3.0
External Antennas
3
- Fantastic latency average
- Convenient smartphone app
- High value-for-money
- Older model
- Lack of WiFi 6E support
The ASUS RT-AX86U is our second pick for best gaming routers, thanks to its steady speed and gaming feature set that is bound to reel in any competitive gamer. It performs exceptionally well in latency tests despite its age. While this router is a good few years old now, it still has some incredible features with support for Wi-Fi 6E, and comes in at a solid price point.
Where the RT-AX86U shines is in the latency department. Latency Spikes can be game-breaking at the best of times, so the fact that this router has incredibly low latency across the board is a massive relief. With the RT-AX86U, you’re bound to get the best response time in even the most heated clutches. There are also plenty of connection options; with one USB port, four LAN ports, WPS, 1Gbps WAN and a 2.5Gbps LAN port. On top of all that, there’s a convenient router app that allows you to configure your ASUS router with ease and a QoS Engine. Even smartphone gaming is supported, with a smart Mobile Boost Mode for the games in your pocket.
Overall though, due to it being an older model, the RT-AX86U is quite a mid-range router by modern standards; and the design is fairly tame compared to other models. So if you’re looking to really boost your connection speed, this likely isn’t the router for you. That said, it has still aged gracefully, so if you’re after a WiFi Router combo that packs some great latency handling without breaking the bank, then check out the RT-AX86U today!
Gaming Router with Best Design: AmpliFi Gamer’s Edition
Ubiquiti AmpliFi – Gamers’ Edition
Frequency
Dual-Band
WiFi Protocol
802.11ac
Ports
1x WAN, 4x LAN, 1GbpE
External Antennae
2
- Minimal-footprint design
- Great Mesh Networking technology
- Convenient smartphone app
- High price point
- Hard to find
If you’re looking for a router with a few gaming features in mind, Ubiquiti’s AmpliFi spruces things up, with a unique design that’s sure to make the most of your gaming space. With low latency and a convenient package, the AmpliFi is a great complement to any gamer setup – that is, if you can get your hands on one…
As a single-band unit, the AmpliFi doesn’t have the best range in the business, but it comes with easy-to-use plug-in Range Extenders that give it extra reach – which is great for larger homes or spaces. This also means that Ubiquiti can keep its design small, allowing you to put it anywhere with a small footprint – with a built-in touchscreen and ambient lighting for extra style points. It also combines some other great features from ASUS models such as easy mesh networking and a handy smartphone app, that are quick to wrap your head around.
So why isn’t this the best wireless router for gaming? For U.S. gamers especially, you’re going to struggle to find one at a reasonable price. Along with the price of units being quite high even by gaming router standards, you’ll have to pay a premium on delivery. It’s a shame, as the AmpliFi has all the right components to be a fearsome modern gaming router.
Best Wi-Fi 6E Router for Gaming: ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000
Frequency
Quad-Band
WiFi Protocol
802.11ax WiFi 6E
Ports
2x 10Gbps LAN/WAN, 2x 2.5Gbps LAN/WAN, 4x 1GbpE
External Antennae
8
- WiFi 6E gives exceptional connection speeds
- Great selection of ports
- Integrated VPN
- Premium price
If you’re adamant about getting the newest and best router that boasts support for the latest generation of Wi-Fi, then ASUS offers another excellent option in their WiFi router lineup that promises maximum speed. The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 boasts support for Wi-Fi 6E, but it will hurt your wallet more than buying a game a day before a Steam Sale.
You get a mouth-watering selection of features with this ASUS router. For starters, you get incredible quad-band Wi-Fi 6E support (80.2.11ax). This means that you’re capable of running on four different Wi-Fi bands ranging from 2.4 GHz, 2x 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. Wi-Fi 6E also ensures a much lower latency, along with far less interference compared with previous Wi-Fi generations. You can enjoy download speeds of up to 16 Gbps. The model comes with 8 antennae that provide a stable internet connection wherever you’re sitting in your home, and ASUS’ AiMesh allows you to extend it even further. And you can rest easy knowing that your connection is secure, with a built-in VPN for protection against hackers.
There are plenty of connection options yet again, with dual 10Gbps and 2.5Gbps LAN and WAN ports, along with four standard 1GbpE ports. You can choose from a wide range of ISPs, minimizing your downtime and keeping data transfers at an all-time high. But trust us when we tell you to look after this gaming router: at its premium price point, you’ll have to choose between buying a GT-AXE16000 or buying a Playstation 5. If you’re looking to supercharge your wireless connection, then this is easily the best modern wireless gaming router.
Best Mesh Network Wireless Router: Netgear Orbi 960 Series
Netgear Orbi 960 Series
Frequency
Quad-Band
WiFi Protocol
802.11n, 802.11ax, 802.11ac
Ports
1x 10Gbps WAN, 1x 2.5Gbps LAN, 3x 1GbpE
External Antennae
2-8
- Huge range
- WiFi 6E support
- Excellent selection of inputs
- High price point
- No QoS prioritization
If you’re looking for a fully-fledged mesh network package to cover a huge space, then the Netgear Orbi 960 Series may be exactly what you’re looking for. Rather than a single-unit gaming router, this WiFi router is designed with multiple nodes in mind – coming with three as standard. With quad-band WiFi 6E support and unparalleled signal strength, this router combo may be overkill for most people; but great for those who need speed, range and power.
With the three-node bundle, you have a base range of approximately 3,000 square feet with incredible quad-band connectivity. You can buy up to six additional nodes that allow for seven times the range – a whopping 21,000 square feet of coverage. Each of the units comes with a 2.5Gbps LAN port along with three 1Gbps ports – with the hub unit also boasting a fantastic extra 10Gbps WAN port for dedicated ultra-fast speed. With MU-MIMO support, you can browse on dozens of devices at once, all lag-free.
However, Netgear doesn’t offer dedicated QoS traffic prioritization, meaning that the 960 Series isn’t great specifically as a gaming router. And with each wireless node being about $400 each – available in two or three-node bundles – it’s not a cheap investment. If you’re wanting a good all-rounder wireless router, and have several basketball courts that need WiFi coverage, then the 960 Series is a high-quality option.
Best Entry-Level Router for Gaming: TP-Link Archer GX90 AX6600
TP-Link Archer GX90 WiFi 6 Gaming Router AX6600
Frequency Band
Tri-Band
Wi-Fi Protocol
802.11ax, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11b
Ports
2.5 Gbps Ethernet, USB, Wireless
External Antennas
8
- WiFi 6 support
- Great Tri-Band signal
- Budget-friendly
- Game traffic prioritization
- Limited connection speeds
- Entry-level
TP-Link has been a longstanding supplier of budget-friendly routers and networking for some time, and with the Archer GX90, a Tri-Band wireless router with WiFi 6 support, TP-Link has made a worthwhile entry into the gaming router market. Though the red design aesthetics make it a little conspicuous, they provide an affordable entry point with a few neat features mixed in.
The Archer is built with gamers in mind, from the design down to the feature set, so it packs quite a strong signal under the (red) hood. This mainstream gaming router supports Wi-Fi 6, giving a solid throughput of around 6Gbps which is more than enough for the average devices in any home. It also comes with some respectable connectivity options: with four Gigabit Ethernet ports and a 2.5Gbps upstream port. There are also two handy USB-A ports rated at 5Gbps and 450Mbps respectively. With the Game Accelerator feature, the router prioritizes gaming traffic, allowing you to play the most competitive live service titles without a hitch. You also get a lifetime subscription to TP-Link HomeCare when you buy a GX90, giving access to parental controls and antivirus protection.
None of these are particularly earth-shattering statistics, but if you’re looking for value for money without spending too much of it, then the Archer GX90 is a good all-round contender as an entry-level budget wireless gaming router.
Too Expensive? Check out these Budget-Friendly Routers for Gaming
We know that gaming routers can be pretty heavy on your wallet. But if you’re a casual online gamer who doesn’t want the best features and just wants a lag-free experience, then these budget options are certainly worth looking into:
Routers for Gaming: Features to Consider
While gaming routers can get a bit expensive, they offer a few features that traditional offers skimp out on. These subtle differences can seriously make or break your gaming experience.
Quality-of-Service (QoS)
The biggest feature that separates gaming routers from more traditional routers is how they handle QoS or bandwidth prioritization duties. For the most part, nearly every router offers QoS in some shape or form – whether in the form of WMM extension or VoIP – but gaming routers kick things up a notch. These routers prioritize specific gaming systems and applications, figuring out how much bandwidth each client gets. This can really matter if you have tons of devices fighting for the same bandwidth – it can become a competition of who gets to have the best signal. Linksys routers feature firmware that gives network priority to devices that have the Intel Killer Prioritization engine, soaking up maximum bandwidth for a lag-free gaming experience.
Some gaming routers offer a gamer-friendly UI that makes it easy for users to assign bandwidth priorities whenever they want. Netgear started putting DumaOS on their routers. This dashboard gives you a glance at everything that happens on your network whether it be CPU, GPU, or bandwidth usage. This software also features a Geo-Filter feature that eliminates lag. This is done by reducing the distance between the host server that you’re playing on.
Number of WiFi Bands
For the most part, most gaming routers these days are outfitted with dual-band WiFi. The 2.4 GHz is the most widely used band and therefore, is the most prone to get crowded than its 5 GHz counterpart. But the 2.4 GHz band offers better range, while the 5 GHz band offers better speeds. But if you have multiple users on your network, you could step things up with a tri-band router that offers an additional 5 GHz band. This works even better with range extenders in your networking space, to boost the signal. For the average home, the first 5 GHz band could be used for streaming movies, watching Netflix, or downloading content on the fly. The 2.4 GHz band could be relegated to everyday activities like browsing the web, using smart home devices, or doom-scrolling on YouTube shorts or Instagram Reels. This would then free up the additional 5 GHz band to be dedicated to gaming exclusively.
In Summary
These are our top picks for the best WiFi routers for gaming! Overall, the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is our top pick: packing the latest and best technology you can currently find in a wireless gaming router. With ultra-fast networking ports and advanced QoS settings, this unit more than justifies its price point!
But what if you can’t afford the best wireless gaming routers? If you’re looking for something a little cheaper, check out our list of some of the best routers under $200!
