7 Best Routers for Streaming in 2023: Stream Your Favorite Games and Shows Faster
Are you tired of buffering and slow streaming speeds while trying to watch your favorite shows or play online games? If so, it may be time to upgrade your router.
Streaming has become an integral part of our daily lives, and the demand for high-quality and fast streaming has never been greater. A good router not only improves the speed and stability of your internet connection but also enhances your overall streaming experience.
If you’re an avid streamer looking for the best routers to upgrade your streaming setup, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we have compiled a list of the seven best routers for streaming in 2023.
Whether you’re gaming, binge-watching your favorite TV shows, or streaming live sports, these routers will provide you with the speed and performance you need to enjoy uninterrupted streaming. So, sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the world of the best routers for streaming in 2023.
Table of Contents
What to look for in a router for streaming?
Selecting an appropriate router for streaming can significantly enhance your streaming experience. By looking for a router with high speed and performance, large bandwidth, strong range, QoS features, and security features, you can ensure that you have a seamless streaming experience with no buffering or interruptions.
Let’s discuss on this further:
Speed and Performance
The speed and performance of your router are crucial for streaming. To ensure that you have a smooth streaming experience, you need a router that can handle high-speed data transfer rates. The minimum speed recommended for streaming is 25 Mbps. However, if you have multiple devices connected to the router or if you’re streaming in 4K, you’ll need a router with a higher speed and performance.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted over your internet connection. For streaming, you’ll need a router with a high bandwidth capacity. Look for routers that offer at least 1 Gbps of bandwidth, which will ensure a seamless streaming experience.
Quality of Service (QoS)
Quality of Service (QoS) is a feature that allows you to prioritize certain types of traffic on your network. This means that you can prioritize streaming traffic over other types of traffic, such as file downloads or web browsing. Look for routers that offer QoS settings so that you can adjust the priority of your streaming traffic.
Range
The range of your router is how far it can transmit a signal. For streaming, you’ll need a router with a long range that can cover your entire home. Look for routers that offer multiple antennas or signal amplifiers to ensure that you have a strong and stable connection throughout your home.
Security
Security is always important when it comes to your internet connection. Look for routers that offer strong security features such as WPA2 encryption, guest network access, and parental controls. These features will not only ensure that your connection is secure but also help you control who has access to your network.
Best Routers for Streaming
Now that you know what you need to look for in a router for streaming, here are our top 7 recommendations for you. Whether you’re looking for a wired or wireless router, and whether you’re on a budget or not, we’ve got you covered!
Best Overall: TP-Link Archer AX11000
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | TP-Link Archer AX11000 |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6 |
| WiFi Speed | 11,000 Mbps |
| Frequency Band | Tri-Band 2.4 GHz: 1148 Mbps 5 GHz: 4804 Mbps 5 GHz: 4804 Mbps |
| Coverage | 5,000 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | One 2.5GbE WAN Port Eight LAN Ports |
| Management App | Tether App |
| Security Features | HomeCare™ Antivirus HomeCare™ Parental Controls |
| Other Features | 8 external antennas 1.8 GHz 64 Bit Quad-Core CPU Beamforming 4×4 MU-MIMO 12 Data Streams High-power FEM OFDMA Adaptive QoS 4T4R Compatible with Amazon Alexa |
The TP-Link Archer AX11000 is a tri-band router, which provides a smoother streaming experience by reducing congestion and ensuring the best possible connection.
This means that you can easily stream content across multiple devices without any interruptions in the connection. That’s why it’s easily the best router for streaming and gaming!
The Archer AX11000 router is equipped with Wi-Fi 6 technology that provides faster speeds than previous generations, with data transfer rates of up to 10Gbps. This makes it ideal for streaming high-definition content without any buffering or lag.
The router also comes with MU-MIMO technology, which allows multiple devices to be connected to the internet at the same time without any loss of speed or performance. This is particularly useful if you have a large family, where multiple devices are being used simultaneously.
The TP-Link Archer AX11000 router also has a game accelerator feature that prioritizes gaming traffic on your network. This means that you can play your favorite games without any lag, even when other devices are being used on the network.
Setting up the TP-Link Archer AX11000 router is easy, thanks to the intuitive user interface. The router also comes with the TP-Link Tether app, which allows you to manage your network from your smartphone or tablet.
For more info, read about how the TP-Link AX11000 is better than the AX6000.
Best Budget: Linksys MR9610
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | Linksys MR9610 |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6 |
| WiFi Speed | 6,000 Mbps |
| Frequency Band | Dual-Band |
| Coverage | 3,000 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | One 1GbE WAN Port Four LAN Ports |
| Management App | Linksys App |
| Security Features | WPA WPA2 WPA/WPA2-Enterprise (802.1x) |
| Other Features | 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU 4×4 spatial streams Intelligent Mesh™ Technology MU-MIMO Next-generation Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology Guest Network Four adjustable antennas Two USB 3.0 ports for storage support Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS) |
The Linksys MR9610 is the best budget router for streaming. With its ease of use, fast speeds, excellent range, affordability, and advanced security features, the router offers everything you need for high-quality streaming without breaking the bank.
One of the main advantages of the Linksys MR9610 is its ease of use. The router is easy to set up and configure, with a user-friendly interface that makes it simple to manage your network. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, you can easily get the router up and running in no time.
Additionally, it boasts Wi-Fi speeds of up to 6000 Mbps, making it an ideal choice for streaming. With this speed, you can easily stream your favorite shows and movies in high definition without worrying about buffering or lag.
The router also comes equipped with advanced MU-MIMO technology, which ensures that multiple devices can connect to the network without sacrificing speed or performance.
The Linksys MR9610 has a wide coverage area, thanks to its range of high-gain antennas and beamforming technology. With this router, you can easily connect devices from different parts of your home or office and enjoy a seamless streaming experience.
Whether you’re in the living room, bedroom, or basement, the Linksys MR9610 has you covered!
Compared to other routers in its class, the Linksys MR9610 is a cost-effective option for those on a budget. Despite its affordable price tag, this router offers all the features you need for a seamless streaming experience.
With its fast Wi-Fi speeds, wide coverage area, and easy-to-use interface, the Linksys MR9610 is a great value for anyone looking to improve their streaming setup.
Best Value for Your Money: TP-Link AC1750
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | TP-Link AC1750 |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6 |
| WiFi Speed | 1,750 Mbps |
| Frequency Band | Dual-Band 2.4 GHz: 450 Mbps 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps |
| Coverage | 2,000 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | One 1GbE WAN Port Four LAN Ports |
| Management App | Tether App |
| Security Features | WPA WPA2 WPA/WPA2-Enterprise (802.1x) |
| Other Features | 3 external antennas Beamforming OneMesh™ Supported |
The TP-Link AC1750 is the best streaming router that gives value for your money. It has impressive speed, excellent coverage, advanced security features, and is easy to manage. Its affordable price makes it a popular choice for consumers who want a reliable and high-performing router for their streaming needs.
The TP-Link AC1750 is a dual-band router that can deliver a maximum speed of 1750Mbps. The 2.4GHz band can provide up to 450Mbps, while the 5GHz band can offer up to 1300Mbps. This impressive speed ensures that you can stream high-quality content without any buffering or lagging.
It also has three external antennas that can provide a strong and stable wireless signal throughout your home. On top of that, it has beamforming technology that can focus the wireless signal toward your connected devices, ensuring a reliable and fast connection.
If you’re worried about security, this router has advanced security features that can protect your network from online threats. It has WPA/WPA2 encryption that can secure your wireless network from unauthorized access. It also has an SPI firewall that can prevent malicious attacks and keep your network safe.
The TP-Link AC1750 has an intuitive web interface that can be easily accessed through your browser. You can set up your network, manage your devices, and configure your settings with just a few clicks. It also has a TP-Link Tether app that can be downloaded on your mobile device, making it convenient to manage your network on the go.
You can also read about how we compare the TP-Link AC1900 to the AC1750.
Best Dual-Band: Netgear Nighthawk RAX50
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | Netgear RAX50 |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6 |
| WiFi Speed | 5,400 Mbps |
| Frequency Band | Dual-Band 2.4 GHz: 1148 Mbps 5 GHz: 4804 Mbps |
| Coverage | 5,000 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | One 1GbE WAN Port Eight LAN Ports |
| Management App | Nighthawk App |
| Security Features | NETGEAR Armor |
| Other Features | 4 external antennas Beamforming High-power FEM OFDMA Adaptive QoS Compatible with Amazon Alexa |
The Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 is a dual-band router that comes with Wi-Fi 6 technology. It can deliver speeds up to 5.4Gbps, which is faster than most other routers in the market. This speed is ideal for streaming high-quality content without buffering or lagging.
The Wi-Fi 6 technology also allows multiple devices to connect simultaneously without impacting the speed of the internet connection.
The Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 is optimized specifically for streaming, making it perfect for households that rely heavily on streaming services. It comes with a dedicated channel that is designed to prioritize streaming traffic, ensuring that you have a seamless streaming experience.
This dedicated channel can be customized to prioritize specific devices in your home, making sure that your main streaming device always gets the best possible connection.
On top of that, it is equipped with advanced security features to protect your devices from malicious attacks. It comes with the latest WPA3 wireless security protocol, which provides better protection against password-guessing attacks.
The router also has a built-in VPN that allows you to access your home network remotely, ensuring that your data is always secure.
Setting up the Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 is easy, thanks to the Nighthawk app. The app guides you through the setup process, making it easy to get your router up and running in minutes. The app also allows you to manage your network, including setting up parental controls, creating a guest network, and monitoring your internet speed.
Best Tri-Band: Netgear Nighthawk RAX200
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | Netgear RAX50 |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6 |
| WiFi Speed | 5,400 Mbps |
| Frequency Band | Dual-Band 2.4 GHz: 1148 Mbps 5 GHz: 4804 Mbps |
| Coverage | 5,000 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | One 1GbE WAN Port Eight LAN Ports |
| Management App | Nighthawk App |
| Security Features | NETGEAR Armor |
| Other Features | 4 external antennas Beamforming High-power FEM OFDMA Adaptive QoS Compatible with Amazon Alexa |
The Netgear RAX200 is a top-performing tri-band router designed for streaming, with twelve WiFi streams spread across three frequency bands that allow for faster transfer of data. Plus, it’s easy to set up and way better than the Netgear RAX120.
Why is it perfect for TV streaming, you ask? Well, the more WiFi streams you have, the less buffering you’ll experience. And with 12 streams provided by this router, you can expect a lag-free experience.
Plus, it’s got some pretty cool networking technologies like an eight-stream MU-MIMO, beamforming+, and QoS, all powered by a mighty processor.
It includes a 2.5G Multi-gig WAN and four GigE LANs, which results in faster, buffer-free streaming. However, it is recommended to conduct further research before making a decision.
We connected Smart TVs and 30 other devices like laptops, mobiles, and gaming consoles. Even with all those connected, we were able to 8K videos on Netflix without any interruptions.
This router has a maximum throughput capacity of 11000 Mbps. You can connect to high-speed IPs from major ISPs out there. The speed output for downloads and uploads was great. Over the 5 GHz band, we got 1.80 Gbps and 920 Mbps, respectively. On the 2.4 GHz band, I got around 1.13 Gbps and 550 Mbps.
Coverage is great too, thanks to eight powerful beamforming antennas. It was able to cover a 2000 Sq Ft two-story house with no weak spots.
Best Mesh WiFi System: Amazon Eero 6+
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | Eero 6+ |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6 |
| WiFi Speed | 3,000 Mbps |
| Frequency Band | 4,500 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | One Gigabit WAN Port Four Gigabit LAN Ports |
| Management App | Eero App |
| Security Features | Eero Secure |
| Other Features | MU-MIMO Beamforming High-power FEM OFDMA |
Got weak spots or dead zones in your big house? Mesh systems are the answer, and Amazon Eero 6+ is the upgrade to beat. With a dual-core processor, WiFi 6 dual-band support, and multiple device support, you can stream your fave shows and movies without any worries.
Eero 6+ can handle up to 3000 Mbps bandwidth, and when we paired it with a 500 Mbps plan, it was pretty stable and reliable.
When we connected to the 5 GHz band at 5 feet away, downloads and uploads were at 448 Mbps and 133 Mbps. The values for the 2.4 GHz band were around 259 Mbps and 79 Mbps.
When we tested devices 30 feet away from the router, the speeds were reduced by 25%, which is common for most routers and mesh systems.
A two-unit pack has a signal range of approximately 2500 sq. ft., which can be expanded by adding another mesh unit to cover a few thousand more sq. ft.
With the help of networking technologies such as MU-MIMO, QoS, and beamforming, connecting over 50 devices is effortless. There are no connectivity problems when linking laptops, mobile devices, computers, and smart TVs.
It has basic security tools like WPA3, VPN, and guest access. But if you want top-notch protection, you can purchase an Eero Secure+ subscription.
It comes with advanced features like malware protection, intrusion blocking, and weekly security scans. Plus, it identifies and eliminates those pesky malicious websites.
And for all the parents out there, it includes smart parental controls too! You can set up age-based filters, put a pause on the network whenever you want, and even block specific websites.
Best Modem-Router Combo: Arris SURFboard G34
| SPECIFICATIONS LIST | ARRIS Surfboard G34 Gateway |
| WiFi Standard | WiFi 6 |
| WiFi Speed | 3,000 Mbps |
| Coverage | 2,500 sq. ft. |
| Ethernet Ports | Four Gigabit LAN Ports |
| Management App | SURFboard Central App |
| DOCSIS Technology | DOCSIS 3.1 |
| Other Features | 32 downstream x 8 upstream DOCSIS 3.0 channels 2 downstream x 2 upstream OFDM DOCSIS 3.1 channels |
The Arris SURFboard G34 offers a high-speed internet connection, making it perfect for streaming. It boasts a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem and the 802.11n Wi-Fi ensures a strong and stable connection, giving you a smooth streaming experience.
The Arris SURFboard G34 is compatible with all major cable providers, including Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Spectrum. This compatibility ensures that you can use the modem-router combo with your existing internet service provider without any issues.
Setting up the Arris SURFboard G34 is a breeze, thanks to its easy setup process. It comes with a simple user interface, making it easy to manage and monitor your network. Additionally, it offers parental controls, allowing you to regulate internet usage for your children.
Additionally, the Arris SURFboard G34 has a sleek and compact design, making it easy to fit in any space. Its small size means that it won’t take up too much space in your house or apartment, making it ideal for small living spaces.
To top it up, the Arris SURFboard G34 is a cost-effective solution for streaming because it combines the modem and router into one device. This means you don’t have to spend extra money on a separate router, saving you both time and money.
Is a WiFi 6 router necessary for streaming?
When it comes to streaming, a WiFi 6 router can certainly provide faster and more reliable connections than a WiFi 5 router. This is especially true if you have multiple devices streaming at the same time.
WiFi 6 routers can handle more devices without sacrificing speed, which means you can stream on your TV while your spouse watches something on their laptop without any lag or buffering.
However, it’s important to note that you may not see a significant improvement in streaming performance if your internet speed is slow. Your internet speed is ultimately what determines the quality of your streaming experience, not necessarily the router.
So, if you have slow internet speeds, upgrading to a WiFi 6 router may not make a huge difference.
Ultimately, whether or not you need a WiFi 6 router for streaming depends on your specific needs and internet speeds. While WiFi 6 routers can provide faster and more reliable connections, they may only be necessary for some. Consider your streaming habits and internet speeds before deciding whether to upgrade your router.
Our Verdict
Choosing the right router for streaming is essential to ensure a seamless and hassle-free experience. By considering the factors mentioned above, you can make an informed decision and choose a router that best suits your needs.
The routers mentioned above are some of the best in the market and can provide you with the speed and connectivity you need for your streaming needs. We hope our list of recommendations helps you get the upgrade your home network deserves.
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