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Tag: wi-fi
7 Best Mesh Routers (2025), Tested and Reviewed
Mesh routers promise dependable Wi-Fi throughout your home, and most follow through, but finding the best mesh router for the job can be tricky. Instead of a single router to wash your home in Wi-Fi connectivity, a mesh system combines the main router with one or more nodes that appear as a unified Wi-Fi network. Your devices will automatically connect to the nearest option for the best speeds.
Most of us are stuck with placing our router in a less-than-optimal spot, depending on where the internet connection comes into our home. You can extend Wi-Fi coverage by placing a second or third node where needed. Whether you want to fix dead zones, deliver a stronger signal into the back bedroom, or have great Wi-Fi in the backyard, a mesh system could be the answer. The Asus ZenWiFi XT8 is our top pick for most people, but I have many alternatives to suit different homes and internet connections.
Before you dive into our lineup, it’s a good idea to consider whether a mesh system is right for you. Our guide on how to choose a router will help you answer that question and figure out what features you need. If you don’t want to switch to a new system, I also have advice on upgrading your existing Wi-Fi and, as always, ways to secure it and protect your home network.
Updated April 2025: We’ve added some details to our top pick, changed our recommended Eero system, and added the Eero 7. We’ve also added the Asus ZenWifi BT8 mesh and an Avoid section with a few entries, including the Acer Predator Connect T7.
Table of Contents
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$2.50$1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.Things to Consider When Shopping for a Mesh System
Here are a few points to keep in mind when you are buying a new mesh Wi-Fi system.
Wi-Fi standards: Many devices support Wi-Fi 6E now. (Many of the best laptops and phones do, and it’s only growing more common.) Support for Wi-Fi 7 is also growing (the iPhone 16 range supports it). All the mesh routers I recommend as main picks support at least Wi-Fi 6, and they are backward compatible with older Wi-Fi standards. If you have a lot of new devices, consider Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7. Our router shopping guide goes into more depth.
Internet speeds: There are many ways to upgrade your Wi-Fi, but your internet speed is limited by your internet service provider (ISP). If the maximum speed of data coming to your modem is 100 Mbps, that’s the fastest possible connection that any router can provide.
Bands: The top speed that router manufacturers claim on the box is all of the bands added together, which is disingenuous since you will only ever connect to one band at a time.
Coverage: While it’s good to have an idea of a router’s coverage and speed, understand that your mileage may vary. The construction materials in your house, your neighbors’ proximity and Wi-Fi networks, the devices you have with wireless connectivity, and the position of routers and nodes in your home are just some of the factors that can impact the performance of your Wi-Fi.
Backhaul: Backhaul channels are reserved for one mesh router or node to talk to another. It’s common for mesh routers to have a fast backhaul channel, enabling the main router to provide speeds as close to your full internet speed as possible to any node. This is also important for local network speed and may impact the performance of network-attached storage (NAS) systems, remote console play, and how quickly you can copy a file from one wireless device on your network to another.
QoS: Quality of Service, allows you to prioritize specific activities and their related apps. You can use it to ensure gaming, streaming, or video calls take precedence, which can be very handy in any household with limited bandwidth.
Ports: Ports and cables can help establish more stable connections. They may be essential if you have smart home hubs for lights and security cameras or network-attached storage that needs to plug into your main router. But they can also be useful on nodes to plug in streaming devices or game consoles and get the full benefit of any dedicated backhaul channel speeds your chosen system might offer.
Mesh vs. router: Although mesh systems are tempting, many homes will be better served by a single, well-placed Wi-Fi router. Check out the Best Wi-Fi Routers for options. Some of the routers I tested in my two-floor 1,600-square-foot home performed just as well or better than mesh systems.
Security: Most routers come with optional subscriptions for security, parental controls, and sometimes other extras like VPN service. You don’t need these subscriptions, but they can be handy and provide peace of mind. Just make sure you factor in the cost or opt for a system from a manufacturer like Asus, which offers them for free.
Wait for sales: Mesh systems tend to be very expensive when first released and are often buggy. By waiting a few months, you can expect deep discounts (50 percent is not unusual) and firmware updates that ensure more stable performance. I am considering revising review scores based on initial pricing and performance for mesh systems that are now more affordable and stable, but I will always add a note to indicate when I have done this.
To test these mesh systems, I use each one for at least a week (usually longer) in a busy family home of four with lots of video streaming, gaming, and video calls. I run speed tests (downloads and uploads). I transfer files on the network on multiple devices (including iPhones, Android phones, Windows PCs, and MacBooks) from different spots around my home, including files from devices connected to the main router to devices connected to nodes. I use NetSpot to survey signal strength throughout the house and create heat maps for comparison. I run the TamoSoft Throughput Test, and I turn the power and modem off and on to find out how each system recovers. I also test the mobile apps and web interfaces to see how easy it is to change settings, set up parental controls, and access security features.
Best Mesh Router Overall
The combination of speedy performance, impressive range, and lots of extra features earns the Asus ZenWiFi XT8 the top spot as the best mesh Wi-Fi system. (Even if it’s a bit of a mouthful.) I tested the two-pack, and the straightforward setup through the mobile app took minutes, though you have to keep the node close by during setup and then move it. This is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system with one 2.4-GHz band and two 5-GHz bands (one is reserved for wireless backhaul). Available in black or white, these units are fairly large, but they’re unobtrusive and look classy, with side vents to help dissipate heat. Each router offers three gigabit Ethernet ports, which is generous, as well as a 2.5 gigabit WAN port and a USB 3.1 port.
At short, medium, or long range, the XT8 was consistently one of the fastest systems I tested, and speeds never dropped. The inclusion of AiProtection Pro, which adds anti-malware and parental controls powered by Trend Micro, is very welcome, especially since it doesn’t require a subscription, unlike most competitors. Just remember that using AiProtection means sharing your data with Trend Micro, so you might want to read its privacy policy. I like the parental controls, too. You can set up and reuse profiles, schedule bedtimes, filter by age group, and review activity. The Quality of Service (QoS) option lets you prioritize activities like working from home, gaming, or streaming, and you can limit bandwidth for specific devices.
The mobile app has a wealth of options, and the web interface is even more in-depth. It’s easy to split bands or set up a guest network. I also found that the app recognized most devices correctly. (Sometimes it’s difficult to identify devices from the attributed hardware names in router apps.) There’s support for AiMesh, which means you can easily add other Asus routers to expand your Wi-Fi system. The dedicated backhaul channel—the way the router speaks to its nodes and vice versa—is extremely fast, ensuring you get the full speed of your internet connection even from that node you placed near the backyard.
The major caveat with this mesh is that it can take some tinkering to get it working well for your home. If a failed firmware update is your idea of hell or you can’t face trial and error with settings, pick one of the systems below. My XT8 node initially refused to update its firmware, which took a couple of attempts to fix. I also had an issue with my Sonos speakers disappearing, which required a factory reset. Overall, using the XT8 has been a smooth experience. With a little patience and research, it’s easy for just about anyone to operate, but the depth of options will satisfy power users. You can find open source firmware if you want to go down the rabbit hole.
I also tested the slightly upgraded version of this mesh, the Asus ZenWiFi XT9 ($285). It appears identical but offers a few upgrades beneath the hood. Firstly, the 5-GHz band you can connect to has a 160-MHz channel width (theoretically double the XT8’s bandwidth), the processor is slightly more powerful, and there’s support for link aggregation. On the downside, just like with the XT8, I had some teething troubles with the XT9 that required a firmware upgrade and some tweaks to the settings. It’s slightly better than the XT8, so if you see it at a similar price, I would go for the XT9 instead.
Best Budget Mesh Router
Note: The US government is reportedly mulling a TP-Link router ban after reports that vulnerabilities in the Chinese firm’s routers were exploited in high-profile attacks linked to the Chinese government. According to The Wall Street Journal, the US Commerce, Defense, and Justice departments are investigating TP-Link, though no evidence of any deliberate wrongdoing has yet emerged. TP-Link president Jeff Barney told WIRED the company is cooperating with the investigation, has a transparent supply chain with manufacturing in Vietnam, not China, and is now headquartered in California, having split from TP-Link Technologies, which focuses on mainland China. TP-Link is not the only brand targeted by malicious actors; Cisco and Netgear devices have also been infected in suspected Chinese state-sponsored attacks. I’ll monitor this situation as it develops before deciding whether I need to reconsider recommendations.
The Deco X20 is an affordable Wi-Fi 6 mesh that delivers decent coverage and performance, with optional parental controls and antivirus protection, making it ideal for an average family home. I tested the three-pack, and it was very easy to set ’em all up. The three routers are small and sport a cylinder design that blends in well. This is a dual-band system (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). There are two gigabit Ethernet ports on each router.
Coverage and speeds are OK, falling well short of the Asus XT8 but beating systems like the entry-level Eero 6. The app is straightforward, and it’s easy to set up a guest network. Originally released with the free HomeCare software, this has since changed to a HomeShield system, and TP-Link has updated its HomeShield and parental control subscriptions. You get basic network security (router scan, guest network, QoS) and parental controls (create profiles, pause internet, block, and filter) included for free, but everything else requires a subscription.
HomeShield Security+ costs $5 a month or $36 a year and adds web and intrusion protection with notifications and reports. Total Security costs $70 a year and adds antivirus for devices, VPN service, and a password manager. Advanced Parental Controls costs $3 a month or $18 a year and adds time limits, downtime scheduling, rewards, app time limits, safe search, insights, and reports. While this granularity enables you to pick and choose what you need, it might be confusing for some, and I’m not keen on subscription creep. That said, most families will likely want the Security+ and Advanced Parental Controls, which will come in at $54 for the year ($1 cheaper than the HomeShield Pro it replaces).
The Quality of Service feature lets you prioritize activities like gaming or streaming, or set priority devices. Importantly, you can split the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands to show as two separate Wi-Fi networks. This is handy, as some smart home devices only operate on the former band. Similarly, there’s a mixed mode for WPA2 and WPA3 security. Some devices don’t work with the newer WPA3 standard, and some routers force you to choose one or the other, which can lead to issues. This mode ensures all your gadgets are on a compatible standard.
The web interface is basic and doesn’t add much, so I preferred using the easy-to-use app. However, it’s a little slow to update, and settings are limited. It didn’t recognize many devices and listed obscure hardware manufacturer names, making it tough to know which devices to add to my kid’s profiles.
It wasn’t the speediest performer, but this system is fast and dependable enough for the average home. If you have a connection that’s 500 Mbps or better, it might be worth upgrading to the Deco X55 or Deco X60.
Best for Simplicity
Amazon’s Eero mesh systems are some of the easiest to set up, offer fairly wide coverage, and deliver stable connectivity. The Eero Pro 6E (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is an elegant system, available as two or three identical routers. The Eeros blend in easily on a table or shelf, sport a USB-C port for power, and two Ethernet ports rated at 2.5 Gbps and 1 Gbps. This tri-band system supports Wi-Fi 6E, offering the 6-GHz band alongside 2.4- and 5-GHz, and is designed to be a hands-off, set-and-forget mesh system.
The Eero Pro 6E was impressively fast in my tests; there were no drops, and it proved adept at sharing bandwidth. The mobile app is straightforward, giving you an overview of connected devices with the option to pause the internet and set up a guest network. I could also create profiles, group devices, set schedules, and fix bedtimes. Unfortunately, content filtering, other parental controls, advanced security, ad blocking, and activity insights require an Eero Plus subscription at $10 per month or $100 per year.
Eero is an Amazon company, and its routers come with Alexa support. Enable the Eero skill, and you can pause the internet with a voice command through your Echo device, which is handy when your child won’t get off the computer to eat dinner. The Eero Pro 6E supports Matter and Thread and can pull double duty as a ZigBee smart-home hub in the same way Echo devices can, allowing you to directly connect some smart lighting, smart locks, and other ZigBee devices.
Two other tricks make Eero systems attractive. An Echo (4th Gen), Echo Dot (4th or 5th Gen), or Echo Dot with clock (4th or 5th Gen) smart speaker can act as a Wi-Fi extender, offering an extra 1,000 square feet of coverage at speeds up to 100 Mbps for up to 10 devices. Eero also offers an Internet Backup option, so you can add multiple backup networks (Wi-Fi or hotspot) to keep you online if your main wired network goes down.
Eero’s simplicity will appeal to anyone who hates digging into settings, but there’s a cost. You won’t find any Quality of Service features for prioritizing activities, and you can’t separate bands. One final con with basic Eero systems is comparatively slow transfer speeds, though this was not an issue for the Pro 6E and other higher-end systems I tested.
A few Eero systems on the market are worth considering, offering a broadly similar experience. The first two are dual-band systems (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). Although the basic Eero 6 ($200) was one of the slower systems I tested, particularly at longer distances, it’s likely enough for folks with internet connections up to 500 Mbps and modest needs. If you have a faster connection, up to 1 Gbps, and your home is smaller than 4,500 square feet, then the Eero 6+ ($300) might suit.
If you want a Wi-Fi 7 system and have a small home or limited demand, consider the Eero 7 ($350). It’s another dual-band system, so you don’t get the faster 6-GHz band, but you get the other advantages of Wi-Fi 7, including MLO and enhanced security. The Eero 7 performed respectably in my tests, with solid 2.4- and 5-GHz band speeds, but range and throughput are limited, meaning it won’t be a good pick for everyone. It has a 2.5 Gbps port, but I’d pick something else if your connection is faster than 1 Gbps. The Eero 7 only did slightly better than the 6+ and was significantly outperformed by the Pro 6E. Considering that a three-pack of the Pro 6E frequently drops to $400, it’s a better buy.
Anyone with larger properties or above-average demands (lots of devices and people simultaneously using the internet) might consider the Eero Pro 7 ($700)—I’ll be testing it next. Or the top-of-the-line Eero Max 7 ($1,360) (7/10, WIRED Review), which boasts four Ethernet ports, two rated at 10 Gbps and two at 2.5 Gbps, though it will be overkill for most people. If you want a stronger signal in your backyard this summer, you can also snag an Eero 7 Outdoor ($400) to pair with any of these systems, though I have not tested it yet.
All Eero systems are compatible with each other, which makes it easy to expand your network. You can dig deeper into the differences in our Eero buying guide. But whichever model you choose, keep an eye out for frequent discounts.
12 Best Wi-Fi Routers of 2025, Tested and Reviewed
Other Routers We Have Tested
I have tested some other routers and have several more in the queue. These aren’t as great as the picks above but are worth considering.
Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro for $800: While I am keen to add a 5G router and mobile hot spot to this guide, and the Nighthawk M6 Pro is an excellent performer, it is simply too expensive to recommend for most folks. (I plan to test cheaper models in the coming weeks.) That said, the M6 Pro is easy to use and might suit business folks with an expense account. Pop a 5G SIM in there and you have a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router (2.4-, 5-, and 6-GHz) with a sturdy design, a handy 2.8-inch touchscreen, a 2.5-gigabit Ethernet port, and a battery that’s good for up to 13 hours of use. You can connect up to 32 devices via Wi-Fi and expect a range of around 1,000 square feet. You can also use the Ethernet port as a WAN connection or employ the M6 Pro as a secure Wi-Fi repeater. It’s versatile, but configuration can be a chore, speeds are limited if you want to extend battery life, and it’s too expensive.
Asus RT-BE86U for $300: The new Wi-Fi 7 version of the Asus RT-AX86U listed above, this dual band (2.4- and 5-GHz) router is very similar to the Asus RT-BE88U below. It lacks the 6-GHz band but brings all the other improvements that Wi-Fi 7 offers, from MLO to better security. 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. It also offers all the usual benefits of an Asus router, including onboard security, parental controls, AiMesh and VPN support, and a host of configuration options. It’s perhaps a little pricey at the moment, but when this router starts to drop, it will be a solid choice for many homes and may well claim a place above.
Netgear Nighthawk RS200 for $200: The RS200 is Netgear’s dual-band (2.4- and 5-GHz) Wi-Fi 7 router and the cheapest in its Wi-Fi 7 lineup. After the tri-band RS300 won a recommendation, I expected this router to put in a decent performance, but I encountered several issues, including random drops and poor range. After turning the router off and on again, many devices, including my Pixel and iPhone, struggled to reconnect. Perhaps I have too many devices in my home for it, though Netgear suggests it can handle up to 80. It has two 2.5 Gbps, three Gigabit Ethernet, and a USB 3.0 port. Test results were OK, but significantly slower than the RT-BE86U. The expensive subscriptions for Netgear Armor ($100/year) and Premium Smart Parental Controls ($8/month or $70/year) seem especially expensive with a cheaper router like this.
TP-Link Archer GE800 for $450: This stunning tri-band Wi-Fi 7 gaming router came very close to a place above. The angled design with customizable RGB lighting screams Vader’s castle but also provides room for antennas to ensure extremely fast performance across the board. You also get a 10-Gbps port for your incoming internet connection, a further two 10-Gbps and four 2.5-Gbps Ethernet LAN ports, and a USB 3.0 port. The Tether app is solid, with some gaming-specific options, but separate subscriptions are required for extra security and parental controls. Despite the blazing fast results, the GE800 couldn’t quite match our top Wi-Fi 7 gaming pick above on the 6-GHz band, and it produced quite a lot of heat and audible fan noise, though it is significantly cheaper.
Asus RT-BE88U for $300: This dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router is an odd prospect because it does not offer the 6-GHz band at all, just 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. But you can still combine those bands with MLO and enjoy features like 4K QAM, and this router will be fast enough for the average home. It has ports galore (two 10 Gbps, four 2.5 Gbps, four Gigabit, and one USB 3.0). It outperformed several more expensive routers on the 5-GHz band, and that’s likely what most of your devices are using most of the time right now. Asus also offers free security software and parental controls with its routers, so there’s no need for subscriptions. But when I consider that you can snag the Netgear Nighthawk RS300 listed above for less, I find it tough to recommend this router to folks in the US. If the 6-GHz band is unavailable or nerfed in your country, the RT-BE88U is for you.
TP-Link Travel Router AX1500 for $60: If you don’t want to spend much on a travel router, this is a good alternative to our pick above and less than half the price. The catch is that you can expect around half the performance. If you just need to cover a hotel room, it’s fine, but the USB 2.0 port limits the effectiveness of using your phone’s cellular connection, and the 2.4-GHz band is only Wi-Fi 4. It does have two Gigabit ports, some handy modes, and VPN support. I also love that it is powered via USB-C, as it affords some versatility (you could even use a fast portable charger).
Netgear Nighthawk RS700 for $550: Although I had setup issues that required a factory reset, there’s no hiding the top-notch performance of this router. It’s a Wi-Fi 7 tri-band router with two 10-Gbps Ethernet ports, four gigabit ports, and a USB 3.2. The tower design is new for the Nighthawk line, and it looks great. This router will blend in far better than our bulky Wi-Fi 7 pick above from Asus, and it was slightly faster on the 6-GHz band, though not the 5-GHz or 2.4-GHz bands. It mainly misses out on a recommendation because it is more expensive. We’re already seeing discounts on the RT-BE96U, and Asus offers free security software and parental controls. If you get the Nighthawk RS700S, the “S” at the end denotes a free year of Netgear Armor, which costs $100 a year thereafter. If you need parental controls, that’s another $70 a year.
TP-Link Archer GX90 AX6600 for $180: Picks above too expensive? The slightly more affordable TP-Link Archer GX90 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) might tempt you. It looks like a Sith spider, but this gaming-focused behemoth is feature-packed. It’s easy to set up and configure, and boasts a game accelerator feature and prioritization, making it easy to reserve bandwidth for gaming. I had no issues with multiple simultaneous gaming sessions. It has a 2.5-Gbps WAN/LAN port, a gigabit WAN/LAN port, three gigabit LAN ports, and two USB ports (3.0 and 2.0). Sadly, full parental controls and enhanced security require subscriptions.
Aircove ExpressVPN Router for $190: This router has a built-in VPN service, allowing you to shield your network traffic from prying eyes. You do have to buy a subscription to ExpressVPN separately (it’s $13 per month, or just over $8 if you pay annually). But setup is simple, and having a VPN at the router level is much easier than having to install it on each device (though several of our picks above can do this too). It’s worth noting that ExpressVPN doesn’t make our Best VPNs guide because it was sold to a parent company with a less-than-sterling reputation; that might matter to you if you’re the kind of person who wants a VPN. I also ran into a few issues with websites and streaming services that aren’t keen on VPNs.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Vodafone Pro II from £37 a month: Folks in the UK looking for a new internet service provider (ISP) should check out Vodafone’s Pro II (8/10, WIRED Review). While ISPs have traditionally provided shoddy routers to their customers, that seems to be changing. The Vodafone Pro II is a tri-band router that supports Wi-Fi 6E, and it delivered lightning-fast speeds in my tests, on par with many of my picks above. The range is limited, especially on the 6-GHz band, but this service comes with a range extender that appears as part of the same network. You can also get a 4G backup that connects to Vodafone’s mobile network to keep you online should your regular internet connection fail. It’s only available with a two-year Vodafone service contract, starting from £37 a month.
Firewalla Gold SE for $449: This quirky portable device is perfect for people who worry about security and privacy. It offers comprehensive tools for monitoring all traffic in and out of your house, robust and detailed parental controls, ad-blocking, and enhanced security with a built-in firewall and VPN option. It serves as a router, but you will want to pair another router in access point mode for Wi-Fi in your home. It’s expensive and may prove intimidating for inexperienced folks, but it offers deep insight into your network and an impressive depth of security features without an additional subscription. The Gold SE has two 2.5-Gbps ports and two gigabit ports and is suitable for folks with up to 2-gigabit connections. If your internet is only one gigabit, try the more affordable but slightly less capable, Firewalla Purple ($359) (8/10, WIRED recommends).
TP-Link Archer BE800 for $477: With a fresh design that’s more desktop PC than router, the BE800 (8/10, WIRED Review) tri-band beast came out on top or close to it in my tests on the 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz bands, proving impressively swift for file transfers and downloads. It also boasts speedy ports galore, a cool but kind of pointless customizable dot-matrix LED screen, and the Tether app offers a guest network, IoT network, VPN server or client, EasyMesh, QoS for device prioritization, and remote management. This was our Wi-Fi 7 pick, but the Asus RT-BE96U beat it in my tests and does not require a subscription. TP-Link’s Security+ ($5/month, $36/year) and Advanced Parental Controls ($3/month, $18/year) bring full-featured parental controls and network security.
Reyee RG-E6 for $140: This affordable gaming router from Reyee is a decent budget gaming pick that recorded some impressive test results. It is only a dual-band router, but with support for 160-MHz channels, the speeds on the 5-GHz band were very good. It has a 2.5-Gbps WAN/LAN and three gigabit LANs, but no USB ports. Reyee’s app offers prioritization for devices, ports, and gaming traffic, separate guest and IoT networks, and basic parental controls. What it lacks is any security, and the app is poorly translated. But if that doesn’t bother you, this is likely the best gaming router you can get for the money.
TP-Link Archer AXE75 for $150: While this tri-band router makes Wi-Fi 6E affordable, its performance was mixed. The 6-GHz band offers fast speeds at close range but drops off sharply with distance. I found the 5-GHz band somewhat inconsistent, recording zippy performance in most of my tests but relatively slow results on a few occasions. You also need subscriptions if you want full-featured parental controls and network security, and all four Ethernet ports are limited to 1 Gbps.
Synology WRX560 for $220: If you already have the Synology RT6600ax listed above, the WRX560 is a decent additional device for setting up a mesh network. I had some issues with setup that required a factory reset, but once up and running, the WRX560 offers a strong and stable signal on the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands. However, a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router is a tough sell at this price, so if you just need one, it’s worth spending the extra $80 for the RT6600ax.
TP-Link Archer AX5400 Pro for $200: This dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router is almost identical to the Archer AX73, except for the 2.5-Gbps WAN port. It delivers relatively fast speeds on the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands and boasts a 160-MHz channel width on 5 GHz. The range is good, easily covering my home and garden, but the performance was inconsistent. It was also relatively slow at moving files locally. There’s support for TP-Link OneMesh, VPN, and QoS, but you only get basic parental controls and network security unless you subscribe.
MSi RadiX AXE6600 for $153: This Wi-Fi 6E tri-band gaming router has that familiar red and black Sith spider look, though you can customize the lighting. It proved very fast in most of my tests, coming close to the top of the table at short range on the 6-GHz band and offering average performance on the 5-GHz and 2.4-GHz bands. But the mobile app had limited options, a confusing layout, and was buggy (it crashed on me more than once). The web interface was better, with more options, including open VPN, simple parental controls, guest network, and QoS optimization for gaming. Unfortunately, performance was inconsistent, and I suffered random drops twice in a week of testing.
Linksys Hydra Pro 6E for $159: One of the first Wi-Fi 6E tri-band routers (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) to hit the market, the price has dropped significantly since release. It proved easy to set up and has a very straightforward app, though it was often slow to load. It has a 5-Gbps WAN port and four gigabit LAN ports. The performance proved reliable, and it’s possible to get lightning-fast speeds at close range if you have a device that supports Wi-Fi 6E. Coverage and speeds at mid and long range were average. There are free basic parental controls that enable you to block sites and schedule downtime, but only on a per-device basis (no profile creation or age restrictions filters). You can split bands if you want to and prioritize three devices. There’s also a guest network option and easy Wi-Fi sharing. Another positive is that this router works with any other Linksys Intelligent Mesh router (including the Velop mesh range).
Linksys Hydra 6 for $100: Specs-wise, this compact router is similar to our top pick (TP-Link Archer AX55). It’s a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with a gigabit WAN and four gigabit LAN ports. The setup was easy, and it uses the same Linksys app as the Pro 6E above, so you get free parental controls, guest network, prioritization, and band splitting. It proved speedy at close range and not bad at mid-range, but if your home is larger than 1,600 square feet, it may struggle. However, as an Intelligent Mesh router, it can mix and match with other Linksys routers or its Velop mesh system. Linksys suggests a limit of 25 connected devices. Although it managed more than 40 without issues in my testing, busy households will likely want something more powerful.