Best Router for 100 – Our top recommendation for routers under $100 is the Netgear R6700AX. Equipped with Wi-Fi 6 and a wealth of great features and excellent speeds, the router stretches those $100 to their limit.
For busy households, we’d suggest the TP-Link Archer A8 for the fast speeds, excellent coverage, and reliable signal delivered even when multiple devices are connected to the network.
Those that prioritize speed should consider the Motorola MR2600. With speeds up to 2.6 Gbps, this router stands as one of the fastest for under $100, with excellent looks and an impressive feature set for the price.
ROUND UP
1.NETGEAR (R6700AX) – AX1800
Pros & Cons
- Coverage up to 1,500 sq. ft. for 20 devices
- Fast AX1800 Gigabit speed with WiFi 6 technology for uninterrupted streaming, HD video gaming, and web conferencing
- Connects to your existing cable modem and replaces your WiFi router. Compatible with any internet service provider up to 1Gbps including cable, satellite, fiber, and DSL
- Plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and more with 4 x 1G Ethernet ports
- Sets up in minutes with the Nighthawk App; easily manage WiFi settings, test internet speed, and monitor data usage
- NETGEAR Armor protects your family's WiFi with an automatic shield of security across all your connected devices with a 30-day free trial
- NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls promotes healthy Internet habits, fosters responsibility and builds trust with your kids (30-day free trial included)
- Backed by a 1-year limited hardware warranty
The Netgear R6700AX is a top choice for a router priced under $100 that features Wi-Fi 6 technology. The router is a prime example that a tight budget doesn’t have to preclude next-gen features and performance.
The Netgear R6700AX has some enviable specifications for the price, with four streams of dual-band Wi-Fi topping out at 1.8 Gbps (600 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 1200 Gbps on 5 GHz). With this, you can expect to source over 20 devices with quality Wi-Fi without a hitch. The router sports three external high-power antennas with a range up to 1,500 feet, ideal for reliable and robust coverage throughout most homes. On the box itself, which adopts a sleek and neat style, you’ll find four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and one WAN port.
2.TP-Link AC1900
Pros & Cons
- 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
- Boosted WiFi Coverage, Beamforming technology delivers a highly efficient wireless connection, long range WiFi
- 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
- Parental Controls: Block inappropriate content and set daily limits for how much time your children spend online with parental controls
- 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)
While Wi-Fi 6 is undoubtedly a desirable feature, we aren’t quite at the point where it’s imperative – Wi-Fi 5 more than suffices for most users. With the TP-Link Archer A8, you’ll get blisteringly fast Wi-Fi 5 speeds up to 1.9 Gbps (600 on 2.4 GHz, and 1300 on 5 GHz) alongside technologies usually reserved for much pricier routers for less than $100.
While the speeds are a highlight, the way the router distributes Wi-Fi to multiple devices is where the TP-Link Archer A8 truly shines, making it a strong option for busy households with lots of devices connected simultaneously. Thanks to a combination of three MU-MIMO streams, three high-performance external antennas, and beamforming technology, the router focuses signal strength for better efficiency and offers optimal, uninterrupted performance by sending and receiving data to and from devices simultaneously rather than one at a time.
3.Motorola AC2600
Pros & Cons
- The Motorola AC2600 router provides a high-speed intelligent router link between all your WiFi and Ethernet devices and whatever Ethernet-capable modem you choose for Internet access. The MR2600 delivers very high speeds and extended range even when you’re far from your router or surrounded by WiFi noise from neighbors. (Note that this router does not have a built-in cable modem or other type of modem.)
- Connects via AC2600 dual band WiFi or Gigabit Ethernet to all your HDTVs, smartphones, game stations, computers, tablets, and more. Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Video, gaming connections and much more can be delivered many devices at the same time through the MR2600’s 4 Gigabit LAN ports or through WiFi.
- Four external adjustable antennas provide concurrent 4X4 performance for both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz connections. 802.11ac Wave 2 MU-MIMO technology dramatically speeds up your network, allowing high-speed communication with multiple WiFi devices.
- Implicit and explicit Beamforming targets the WiFi signal to each of your WiFi devices resulting in blazing fast WiFi speeds and extended range.
- Router features include a USB 3.0 port with DLNA media sharing support, a Dual Core processor, Smart QoS (Quality of Service) support, user-friendly firewall, IPv4 and IPv6 support, parental controls, guest network capability, and more. Expert, friendly support from the USA. 2 year warranty from Motorola, a company you trust.
Four adjustable antennas do most of the heavy lifting aided by beamforming, Wave 2 MU-MIMO, and 4×4 dual-band Wi-Fi for strong, reliable connections to multiple devices with no interference or interruption. The result is uniform, high-speed internet on all devices, whether phones, tablets, TVs, or PCs. The router also has an excellent range.
The router features four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one WAN port, one USB 3.0 port (mounted on the front, so you’re not battling with Ethernet cables to plug in a device) with DLNA media sharing, a dual-core processor, and automatic traffic prioritization through Smart QoS.
4.ASUS AC1300 WiFi Router
Pros & Cons
- Dual band AC1300 with the latest 2x2 MU MIMO technology for combined speeds of up to 1267 Mbps
- 4 external 5dBi antennas for improved Wi Fi range and multi device performance; Connected devices must be 802.11ac compatible for best results
- Monitor and manage your network with ease from your mobile device using the intuitive ASUS Router App
- Effortless router setup with the ASUSWRT web based interface, Super Fast Wi Fi: Dual band 802.11ac Wi Fi with concurrent speeds up to 867Mbps (5GHz) and 400Mbps (2.4GHz)
- Integrated USB 3.0 port allows you to share external drives/flash drives with your network; OS Support Windows 10, 8, 8.1, 7, Mac OS X 10.1, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8; Operation mode Wireless router mode, Access point mode
- Encryption: 64 bit WEP, 128 bit WEP, WPA2 PSK, WPA PSK, WPA Enterprise , WPS support
With a range of 3000 square ft., the ASUS RT-ACRH13 should suit even the largest homes with room to spare. The four 5dBi antennas are excellent and well-positioned to deliver outstanding coverage in all directions. The router supports 20 simultaneously connected devices with ease, and the MU-MIMO technology keeps Wi-Fi stable and consistent on all devices throughout the home.
Speed-wise, the ASUS RT-ACRH13 tops at 1.3 Gbps (400 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps on 5 GHz) using dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5. No Wi-Fi 6, though. The router is well-served with four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one WAN port, and one USB 3.0 port for network multimedia sharing. You also get good compatibility with Windows and macOS, parental controls, guest networking, firewall, automatic firmware updates, and 64 bit WEP, 128 bit WEP, WPA-2 PSK, WPA PSK encryption.
5.Linksys (EA6350-4B)
Pros & Cons
- Provides up to 1000 square feet of Wi-Fi coverage for 10+ wireless devices
- Works with your existing modem, simple setup through the Linksys App
- Enjoy 4K HD streaming, gaming, video calls and more in high quality without buffering
- Dual band Wi-Fi speeds up to 1.2 Gbps (2. 4 GHz / 5 GHz)
- Gigabit Ethernet ports provide wired transfer speeds 10 times faster than fast Ethernet
- Beamforming technology sends a faster, focused signal from. Your router directly to your devices, instead of dispersing it
The Linksys EA6350 delivers speeds up to 1.2 Gbps (300 Mbps at 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps at 5 GHz) on dual-band Wi-Fi 5, suitable for anything from streaming to load-heavy games. Linksys has thrown in beamforming as a welcome extra, which helps the signal target devices instead of being broadcast uniformly across the home. The result is a stronger, more reliable signal.
Two detachable antennas offer respectable coverage up to 1000 ft. On the box itself, you’ll find four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one WAN port, reset and power buttons, and a USB 3.0 port on the front for easy access. Linksys Smart Wi-Fi monitors and controls the network for less interference from neighboring networks. Welcome features found on the Linksys EA6350 include WPA-2 encryption, a firewall, parental controls, and guest access networking.
6.Google Wifi
Pros & Cons
- Google Wifi is a scalable flexible mesh Wifi system that blankets your home in reliable coverage and keeps buffering at bay; 1 Google Wifi point replaces your router and additional points expand your network to keep the connection fast in every room[1]
- Google Wifi gives you whole home coverage; 1 Pack covers up to 1500 square feet and 3 Pack covers up to 4500 square feet; points work together to create a mesh network for more coverage
- Intelligently works behind the scenes to make sure your Wifi remains fast so you can stream with speed[2]
- Simple setup in a few steps; use the Google Home app to create your network and get online in minutes[3]
- Parental controls let you manage screen time, restrict certain kinds of adult content, and pause Wifi to specific devices on your mesh network whenever you want
- Easy to control home Wifi system lets you prioritize devices check your network speeds, set up a guest network, and more
- Works with all Google Wifi points and can be added to any existing Nest Wifi system; just add more points if you need more coverage
- Sustainably designed; 49% of the plastic part weight is made with recycled material (2020 model)
- Please refer to the product description section below for all applicable legal disclaimers denoted by the bracketed numbers in the preceding bullet points (e.g. [1], [2], etc.)
Most buyers loved the Google Wi-Fi system and stated that it provided excellent coverage and strong signals throughout the house. They also found the installation process to be extremely easy, with some stating that they got the system running in less than 20 minutes. However, some users reported that it was difficult to connect peripheral devices, such as IP cameras and printers.
This unit’s innovative design is what makes it stand out from the crowd. Leaving the traditional design of a typical router behind, the system uses multiple satellite modules to broadcast strong signals throughout any house. The three-point system further ensures there are no dead spots. It also looks classic and elegant, so you don’t have to hide it behind a shelf or in a corner.
7.NETGEAR Nighthawk
Pros & Cons
- Maximum Range : 1500 Sq Ft
- Recommended for up to 25 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect smart home devices
- 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
- 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
- Safe & secure: Supports WPA2 wireless security protocols. Includes Guest Wi-Fi access, DOS, Firewall, VPN, and more
- NETGEAR Armor protects your family's WiFi with an automatic shield of security across all your connected devices with a 30-day free trial
- NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls promotes healthy Internet habits, fosters responsibility and builds trust with your kids (30-day free trial included)
- 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
It has a design of 1GHz, dual core processor and 3 amplified antennas to enhance WiFi range. It features advanced QoS for gaming experience and beamforming technology to boost WiFi speed.
Along with the WiFi you also get a 3.0 USB port that enables you to share stored media with your family members. You can also create your personal cloud storage and access it from the USB. It has some parental controls like limiting internet access, viewing site history and filtering websites to use and setting up online time limits. The best thing about this router is the Nighthawk app (free download) to set up or check router. You don’t need to walk up and physically check the router.
WRAP UP
Best Router for 100 – With that, we’ll wrap up our guide to the best routers under $100. We hope you’ll find an option that suits your needs or that you’ve at least picked up a few pointers to aid your search for a router. Don’t hesitate to drop us a message in the comments section below with any questions or recommendations of your own.
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