This content originally appeared for a US audience and has been adapted for a UK audience.
Like running water, central heating, a roof over your head, and the next game console – good Wifi is one of the essentials in life. NOTE: You wouldn’t exist without it. And since today’s life is so fast and connected, having a low-end wifi router at home is more important than ever.
Wifi routers are easy to install and can quickly improve WiFi coverage throughout your home with blazing connection speeds. Sounds good, right? The days of waiting for lazy downloads and crazy feeds must be long gone.
But how do you go about choosing the best router for you and your home? That will depend on many factors, including the size of your coverage area, the number of connected devices, and the types of devices connecting to the router. But we are connected when it comes to this kind of thing. Here’s a quick guide to everything you need to know, along with a selection of the best WiFi Routers available now.
What is a wifi router?
Simply put, it’s a small riser that sits in the corner of the room and streams data from your Broadband line to your devices, allowing each device to connect to the Internet. And although routers are wireless, wireless – that’s what this thing is, people – they often have Ethernet ports, which allow you to physically connect PCs, televisions, and other devices directly to the Internet.
How does a wifi router work?
The WiFi Router converts the Broadband data into radio bands, which are just picked up by your devices. These radio bands are like separate lanes, which store different data to avoid blocking. Different devices need different bandwidths – some devices need more than others – so the higher the number of bands, the more efficient the router. You can choose from a single, dual, or Tri-band router.
Single vs vs double band – which is better?
A single-band router has only one 2.4 ghz band. These are usually cheap, connect easily to devices, and are ideal for entry barriers such as doors and walls. But they have lower speed than various coursers and they don’t have all the standard features. Single-band is probably best if your Internet needs are minimal. Dual-band routers are pricier but also promise better speed and performance. Roual-band coursers are now of the highest quality and today’s devices will be well served.
Do you need a tri-band router?
If there are many people in your home – such as a large family with many devices per person – a tri-band router will be the best choice. Tri-band routers have one 2.4 GHZ channel and two 5 GHZ channels. These routers are equipped to handle multiple gigabit speeds – up to 2166 MBP in the 5 GHZ Band. For a really big family – a big house with many rooms – the mesh system is great.
What is a mesh wifi system?
The Mesh WiFi system is actually a series of connected Router Units – known as satellites or nodes – that each one broadcasts wifi signals, eliminating any dead areas of the Internet inside the house. Mesh Systems are ideal for homes with multiple rooms and multiple devices, helping to keep the internet up to speed no matter where you are. Mesh Systems are also expandable, allowing you to add more areas and increase coverage.
Do you need a special router for gaming?
If you have multiple devices and a router that is not up to the task, you will experience lag issues when playing your console. You need a router that can handle multiple devices. Look for a gaming router that prioritizes your gaming and applications. If you live in a household with a lot of gamers, you may also want to get a router that allows you to control what bandwidth only those in your household get. Some also have a built-in management console to easily adjust bandwidth settings according to your needs. Also make sure that your gaming router is at least not capable of using the 5GHz channel for faster speeds. A tri-band router is best because you can keep just one 5GHz channel to play.
What is the best wifi router?
We’ve done a lot of hard work to make your selection process as easy as possible. Whether you’re looking for a single WiFi WiFi model or a full Tri-band model to manage the whole family’s home streaming and gaming, we’ve got you covered. There is something below to connect everyone.
These are the best wifi routers of 2025.
