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Best Routers for Streaming 2024

We tested more than a dozen routers and handpicked the best for streaming music, video, and games.

  • Best overall
    Front shot of TP-Link Archer AX90
    TP-Link Archer AX90
    • $199.99*
    • Basic parental controls
    • Three bands
    • Antivirus subscription
  • Best for budgets
    Front of TP-Link Archer AX20 router
    TP-Link Archer AX20
    • $84.98*
    • Built-in VPN tools
    • USB storage support
    • Limited stream count
  • Best for livestreaming
    RAXE500 Hero image for Best Routers
    NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX200
    • $433.69*
    • Best long range
    • Multi-gig internet support
    • Hefty price tag
  • Best for heavy streaming
    Front shot of ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 router with antennas up
    ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000
    • $349.99*
    • Real gaming tools
    • Free security
    • Annoying antennas
  • Best for mesh
    TP-Link Deco X55
    TP-Link Deco X55
    • $89.99*
    • Low price
    • Attractive design
    • Paid premium features

Our pick: Which router for streaming is best?

The TP-Link Archer AX90 is our top router for streaming. It has great speeds for the money, multi-gig internet support, three Wi-Fi bands, and eight streams to handle all your streaming needs. The only drawback is HomeShield, TP-Link’s security suite, locking the most notable features behind a subscription.

How we test routers

We vigorously test routers to see how well they stack up against the competition in speed and range. We also evaluate the setup process and dig into the web and mobile apps to see if they’re easy or difficult to use. Check out our methodology section for more information.

The 5 best routers for streaming

Compare router speeds and prices

ModelMax throughputTested speed
@ 40 ft.†
Price*Order online
Best overallTP-Link Archer AX906,600 Mbps530Mbps$199.99View on Amazon
Best for budgetsTP-Link Archer AX201,800 Mbps470Mbps$84.98View on Amazon
Best for livestreamingNETGEAR Nighthawk RAX20011,000 Mbps691Mbps$433.69View on Amazon
Best for heavy streamingASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX1100011,000 Mbps642Mbps$349.99View on Amazon
Best for meshTP-Link Deco X553,000 Mbps339Mbps$89.99View on Amazon

What should you look for in a router for streaming?

You can use just about any router for streaming—you don’t need a lot of speed to do so—but we suggest ones with four or more streams on a single band. The higher count ensures your wireless devices have a better chance of seeing their full real-world speeds. We also suggest routers with Wi-Fi 6, as it’s the most common specification today and provides better speeds and data management than other Wi-Fi versions.

Do you have the best internet plan for your favorite streaming services?

If not, be sure to enter your zip code below to see what options are available to you.

Best overall—TP-Link Archer AX90

Best overall

Front shot of TP-Link Archer AX90
Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

The best well-rounded router for streaming

Score:

3.8

out of 5

The Archer AX90 is a great router for anything you do, whether you’re streaming Max or sharing gameplay with your followers. The built-in VPN server and client are a plus.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Great Wi-Fi 6 speeds
  • Multi-gig internet compatibility
  • QoS controls in app only
  • Subscription-based antivirus

$199.99*

 

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Read Our Full Review

Expand for product details and ratings

Category Score* Summary
Performance 4 Achieved some of the best speeds we’ve tested to date.
Features 3 Prioritizes traffic for better per-device streaming.
Design 4 Supports 4 wireless devices at full speed or 8 at half speed.
Setup 4 Takes no time to get your Wi-Fi network running.
Ease of use 3 Lacks parental controls, QoS, and security controls in the web interface.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: The Archer AX90 has some of the best speeds to date in our tests and handles our streaming test beautifully. We love that it gets you ready for multi-gig internet and includes features like a built-in VPN server and client and three bands for better traffic management.

What we wish it did better: We’re not a fan of subscriptions. The AX90 is one of the few TP-Link standalone routers requiring one for antivirus.

Why do we recommend it? You get great Wi-Fi speed for the price. Plus, it sets you up for mesh networking if you want whole-home coverage.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

5 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
1,200 860 530 252

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel.

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Max throughput: 6,600Mbps
  • Antennas: 8
  • Streams: 8
  • Bands: 3
  • WAN/LAN ports (2.5Gbps): 1
  • WAN/LAN ports (1Gbps): 1
  • LAN ports: 3
  • USB 3.2 ports: 1
  • USB 2.1 ports: 1
  • Max internet speed supported: ~2,370Mbps

Best for budgets—TP-Link Archer AX20

Best for budgets

Front of TP-Link Archer AX20 router
Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

Decent Wi-Fi 6 speeds at an affordable price

Score:

3.8

out of 5

The Archer AX20 is an affordable router for a two-person home with several devices. It has decent Wi-Fi 6 speeds for the money, plus cool features like a built-in VPN server and client.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Built-in VPN server and client
  • USB connectivity
  • No multi-gig wired support
  • Limited stream count

$84.98*

 

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Category Score* Summary
Performance 4 Has decent Wi-Fi 6 speeds for the price.
Features 4 Includes a built-in VPN server and a USB port for sharing files.
Design 3 Supports 2 wireless devices at full speed or 4 at half speed.
Setup 3 Takes you longer to get going than the competition.
Ease of use 4 Provides a better, more streamlined experience in the Tether app.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: It performed as expected in our testing, providing baseline Wi-Fi 6 speeds. But for the price, there’s a lot to love, including media and file sharing via USB, parental controls, and built-in VPN features.

What we wish it did better: There are many things we wished the router did better—more streams and wired multi-gig speeds, for example—but you can’t expect a lot at this price.

Why do we recommend it? The AX20 is a great router for under $100. It’s suitable for two people with a handful of devices, and it sets you up for mesh networking.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

5 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
1,200 809 470 244

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel.

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Max throughput: 1,800Mbps
  • Antennas: 4
  • Streams: 4
  • Bands: 2
  • WAN ports: 1
  • LAN ports: 4
  • USB 2.0 ports: 1
  • Max internet speed supported: ~940Mbps

Best for livestreaming—NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX200

Best for livestreaming

RAXE500 Hero image for Best Routers
Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

One of the fastest routers you can get

Score:

4.2

out of 5

The RAX200 is a powerhouse, perfect for livestreamers who need lots of Wi-Fi speed. It packs plenty of wired ports and data streams to ensure the best speeds for all your devices.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Best long range
  • Multi-gig internet compatibility
  • Hefty price
  • Multiple subscriptions for premium features

$433.69*

 

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Read Our Full Review

Expand for product details and ratings

Category Score* Summary
Performance 5 Outpaces all gaming and non-gaming routers we’ve tested to date.
Features 3 Requires subscriptions to use the parental controls and security fully.
Design 4 Includes a third band and multi-gig internet support.
Setup 4 Has one of the fastest setups we’ve endured.
Ease of use 3 Provides a better experience in the app than the web interface.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: The RAX200 has the speeds you need (and then some) based on our tests. There’s plenty of wireless connectivity too, along with real-world wired speeds of up to around 2,370Mbps. It’s perfect for a fiber internet plan of 2Gbps or faster.

What we wish it did better: We’re not a big fan of added expenses, and the RAX200 stacks them up. We wished NETGEAR offered free security and parental controls as seen on competing TP-Link routers.

Why do we recommend it? The RAX200 has the best speeds in our tests, but what really sells this router is the wired multi-gig speeds, the three Wi-Fi bands, and the 12 streams. It’s perfect for a home full of content-hungry devices.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

5 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
1,200 880 691 285

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel.

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Max throughput: 11,000Mbps
  • Antennas: 8
  • Streams: 12
  • Bands: 3
  • WAN ports (1Gbps): 1
  • WAN/LAN ports (1–2.5Gbps): 1
  • LAN ports: 4
  • USB 3.2 ports: 2
  • Max internet speed supported: ~2,370Mbps

Best for heavy streaming—ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000

Best for heavy streaming

Front shot of ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 router with antennas up
Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

The slower alternative to the Nighthawk RAX200

Score:

4.1

out of 5

The GT-AX11000 is similar to the Nighthawk RAX200, but you don’t need multiple subscriptions to get the most out of it. However, the tradeoff is a lower Wi-Fi 6 speed.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Free security and parental controls
  • Multi-gig internet compatibility
  • Hefty price
  • Troublesome antennas

$349.99*

 

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Read Our Full Review

Expand for product details and ratings

Category Score* Summary
Performance 4 Falls short of the RAX200 in Wi-Fi 6 speed but is one of the fastest we’ve tested.
Features 5 Includes free antivirus, parental controls, and a built-in VPN server and client.
Design 4 Supports 6 wireless devices at full speed; 12 at half speed.
Setup 4 Takes longer due to all the extras you normally don’t get on a standard router.
Ease of use 4 Provides a better experience in the web interface than the mobile app.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: This router definitely has a lot to love. Its biggest selling point is capacity: three bands and 12 streams. The free antivirus, parental controls, and VPN components also sweeten the deal.

What we wish it did better: We found the antennas problematic—at least on the model we purchased. No matter how hard we screwed the antennas into place, some of them fell over time.

Why do we recommend it? The GT-AX11000 is a great router for gamers—or anyone for that matter. You get free antivirus, decent parental controls, multi-gig internet support, and VPN tools to keep you safe online. It’s ideal for households with lots of devices if you can handle the price.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

5 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
1,200 848 642 260

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel.

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Max throughput: 11,000Mbps
  • Antennas: 8
  • Streams: 12
  • Bands: 3
  • WAN ports (1Gbps): 1
  • WAN/LAN ports (1–2.5Gbps): 1
  • LAN ports: 4
  • USB 3.2 ports: 2
  • Max internet speed supported: ~2,370Mbps

Best for mesh—TP-Link Deco X55

Best for mesh

TP-Link Deco X55
Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

A good whole-home system for streaming anywhere

Score:

3.8

out of 5

The Deco X55 is a great alternative to the traditional standalone router. It’s cheaper than the Eero Pro 6 but lacks the third band.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Attractive design
  • Affordable price
  • Lack of a third band
  • Subscription-locked features

$89.99*

 

View on Amazon

Read Our Full Review

Expand for product details and ratings

Category Score* Summary
Performance 4 Supplies decent Wi-Fi 6 speeds even on different nodes.
Features 3 Lacks a third band for increased bandwidth and better device management.
Design 4 Supports 2 wireless devices at full speed; 4 at half speed.
Setup 3 Has a lengthy setup and requires a TP-Link ID account to use.
Ease of use 4 Provides easy controls in the Deco app once you learn the layout.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: The Deco X55 is an attractive, affordable kit. You get a few extra wired connections and decent Wi-Fi 6 speeds for the money. It does a good job handling multiple streams too.

What we wish it did better: The X55 would benefit from a dedicated Wi-Fi band for node-to-node communications to increase the bandwidth for client devices. Plus, TP-Link should ditch HomeShield for HomeCare.

Why do we recommend it? The X55 is a decent kit for the money. You can’t expect tons of speed, but there’s plenty for a few devices. The extra Ethernet ports come in handy if you want better speeds for streaming.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

5 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
1,200 739 339 Not tested

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel.

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Max throughput: 3,000Mbps
  • Antennas: 2 (internal)
  • Streams: 4
  • Bands: 2
  • WAN/LAN ports: 3
  • Max internet speed supported: ~940Mbps

Router for streaming specs and features

Technically, you can use any router to stream video and music to your devices—you don’t need a lot of speed to do so, either. But there are a few factors to consider when you want the best router for streaming.

Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6 isn’t the latest spec, but it’s the most commonly used in today’s routers, and for good reason. It supports more devices, provides better speeds, and manages data more efficiently than previous wireless tech like Wi-Fi 5. Plus, most modern Wi-Fi devices now support it, so choosing a Wi-Fi 5 router just slows you down.

Streams

The number of data streams a router supports is essential. Think of them as digital cargo ships cruising along on a sea of radio waves. Devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops can handle two at a time one way. So, if you have a router with just two streams on a single band but you have three laptops connected, you get higher latency and slower speeds per device. All three laptops have to share those two streams. A router with six or more streams is ideal in this scenario.

Quality of service (QoS)

You want a router that lets you prioritize traffic received from streaming services. NETGEAR routers, for example, have a Downstream QoS setting you can toggle on to prioritize streaming traffic and lower the priority of all other internet traffic.

Our verdict

The TP-Link Archer AX90 is an excellent router for streaming, hands down. It provides great speeds at a great price, plus plenty of connections to improve your streaming experience. It has a handful of other great features too, like built-in VPN tools, Amazon Alexa support, and more. The HomeShield subscription requirement is the only drawback, but you may not even need it.

Methodology

We test router speed by setting up each router in an office and connecting it to a local test server. Then, we transmit test data between our wireless devices and the server, taking numerous measurements to account for fluctuations in Wi-Fi speeds.

The first tests occur close to the router, without obstructions—so the Wi-Fi is as strong and fast as it’s gonna get. We repeat the process straight out at 10, 20, and 30 feet, with only a glass door obstructing our view of the router. The same glass door and an exterior door blocks our path when we test outside at 40 and 50 feet.

We also run tests in a hallway to the left of the TV room and office—where there’s a glass door, three walls, and an air handler unit blocking our view of the router. The dining room, another testing point, sits to the right of the kitchen, TV room, and office—two walls and a glass door block the path in this test.

To test video streaming, we connect a fast storage device to the router and stream a 4K video to six wireless devices simultaneously—two phones, three tablets, and a laptop—connected to the same wireless band.

Client devices used in testing

iPhone 12 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 3
Wi-Fi specificationWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 5
Stream configuration2 x 22 x 2
Max 5 GHz speed (AX)1,200Mbps
Max 5 GHz speed (AC)866Mbps866Mbps
Max 2.4 GHz speed (AX)195Mbps
Max 2.4 GHz speed (AC)195Mbps144Mbps
Wi-Fi specification
iPhone 12 Pro MaxWi-Fi 6
Google Pixel 3Wi-Fi 5
Stream configuration
iPhone 12 Pro Max2 x 2
Google Pixel 32 x 2
Max 5 GHz speed (AX)
iPhone 12 Pro Max1,200Mbps
Google Pixel 3
Max 5 GHz speed (AC)
iPhone 12 Pro Max866Mbps
Google Pixel 3866Mbps
Max 2.4 GHz speed (AX)
iPhone 12 Pro Max195Mbps
Google Pixel 3
Max 2.4 GHz speed (AC)
iPhone 12 Pro Max195Mbps
Google Pixel 3144Mbps

Router benchmarks

Here are the average 5 GHz speeds recorded for each router. Wi-Fi speeds fluctuate significantly, so these numbers reflect at least three tests taken at each 10-foot interval.

TP-Link Archer AX90

iPhone 12 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 3
2 feet860642
10 feet818534
20 feet764464
30 feet692359
40 feet (porch)530281
120 feet (across street)252146

TP-Link Archer AX20

iPhone 12 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 3
2 feet809620
10 feet741540
20 feet653415
30 feet542327
40 feet (porch)470200
120 feet (across street)24492

NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX200

iPhone 12 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 3
2 feet880703
10 feet864671
20 feet833538
30 feet750511
40 feet (porch)691464
120 feet (across street)285184

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000

iPhone 12 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 3
2 feet848652
10 feet827644
20 feet755529
30 feet729462
40 feet (porch)642308
120 feet (across street)260169

TP-Link Deco X55

iPhone 12 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 3
2 feet739611
10 feet680573
20 feet613509
30 feet565443
40 feet (porch)339262
120 feet (across street)Not testedNot tested

Other routers we tested

We tested over a dozen standalone routers and mesh kits to determine which routers are ideal for streaming music, video, and games. Here are the tested models we do and don’t recommend.

Other routers we recommend for streaming

ModelSummaryPrice*Shop online
TP-Link Archer AX11000Provides faster speeds than the Rapture GT-AX11000 at a lower price.$235.78View on Amazon
TP-Link Archer AX6000Lacks the third band and extra streams seen with the AX11000 model.$249.99View on Amazon

Other routers we don’t recommend for streaming

ModelSummaryPrice*More details
TP-Link Archer A10Uses the older Wi-Fi 5 spec and is hard to find new at a reasonable price.$59.99View on Amazon
NETGEAR Nighthawk XR500Lacks parental controls and free security features.$299.00View on Amazon

FAQ about routers for streaming

How much speed do you need for streaming?

You don’t need a lot of speed to stream music and video, but you need a router that can handle multiple wireless devices simultaneously. We provide a few guides on how much speed you need for music, video, and more.

Are three Wi-Fi bands better than two?

Yes. Each band uses a single radio—one for 2.4 GHz, one for 5 GHz, and in some cases, one for 5 GHz or 6 GHz. Moreover, each band uses a single channel. So, routers with two 5 GHz radios see the lower channels used by one radio and the higher ones used by the second.

That means your devices won’t crowd a single channel and experience slowdowns caused by congestion. Wi-Fi 6e routers have the third 6 GHz band, which is less congested but has an even shorter range than 5 GHz.

Disclaimer

Author -

Kevin Parrish has more than a decade of experience working as a writer, editor, and product tester. He began writing about computer hardware and soon branched out to other devices and services such as networking equipment, phones and tablets, game consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom’s Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on network equipment testing and review.

Editor - Rebecca Lee Armstrong

Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet.com. Her work has also been featured on Top Ten Reviews, MacSources, Windows Central, Android Central, Best Company, TechnoFAQ, and iMore.

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