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Best Budget Routers for 2025

We tested a batch of budget-friendly routers to find the best bang for your buck

  • Best overall
    TP-Link Archer BE230
    • $89.00*
    • EasyMesh support
    • Multiple SSIDs
    • No 6GHz band
  • Best for gamers
    Front view of NETGEAR R6700AX router
    NETGEAR R6700AX
    • $47.98*
    • Good speeds for the price
    • Built-in VPN client
    • Subscription requirements
  • Best for long range
    Reyee RG-E5
    • $89.99*
    • Great speeds at long range
    • Free cloud management
    • No built-in VPN tools

Our top pick: Which budget router is best?

TP-Link’s Archer BE230 knocks it out of the park. It’s a Wi-Fi 7 router, sure, and you may not own Wi-Fi 7 devices just yet. But the way the BE230 handles interference and its excellent performance makes it a steal, even when using Wi-Fi 6E devices and older. Want a mesh network? The BE230 has your back with EasyMesh support.

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 page for more information.

The 5 best budget routers

Compare budget router speeds and prices

Best forModelMax throughputPrice*
OverallTP-Link Archer BE2303,600Mbps$89.00 on Amazon
GamersNETGEAR R6700AX1,800Mbps$47.98 on Amazon
Long rangeReyee RG-E53,200Mbps$99.99 on Amazon
Under $100TP-Link Archer AX211,800Mbps$54.99 on Amazon
MeshTP-Link Deco X553,000Mbps$59.99 on Amazon

What should you look for in a budget router?

Don’t expect a lot of bang for your buck for under $150. Our normal recommendations for more expensive routers don’t apply here.

However, start with Wi-Fi 6. It’s the most common Wi-Fi specification as of 2025, offering better speed, range, and security than the previous versions. Keep an eye out for the WAN port speed, too, as it defines the maximum internet speed it supports.

Do you have an affordable plan to go with your budget router?

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

Best overall—TP-Link Archer BE230

Best overall

Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

A feature-packed router that doesn’t break the bank

Score:

4.5

out of 5

There’s a lot packed into the Archer BE230 for the money. It’s definitely a good upgrade from Wi-Fi 6 if your devices can’t access the 6 GHz band.
   Pros    Cons
  • Built-in VPN tools
  • EasyMesh support
  • Subscription-locked features
  • No 6 GHz band

$89.00*

 

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Category Score* Summary
Performance 5 Provides excellent speeds for the money.
Features 4 Includes VPN tools and multiple networks.
Design 4 Packs multi-gig wired connections.
Setup 4 Gets you up and running quickly.
Ease of use 4 Presents a clean interface on desktop and mobile.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: The Archer BE230 has good speeds for the money based on tests. It’s loaded with features, too, like VPN tools and multiple Wi-Fi networks.

What we wish it did better: We’re not a big fan of subscriptions, especially when we know a manufacturer offers similar services for free.

Why do we recommend it? Get the Archer BE230 if you’re on a tight budget and not ready to use the 6 GHz band. The improved speeds and awesome callouts make this affordable router a real treat to have.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

5 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
2,882 2,026 1,327 630

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 7 client and a 160 MHz channel. See our Benchmarks section for more speed results from our testing.

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 7
  • Max throughput: 3,600Mbps
  • Antennas: 4
  • Streams: 4
  • Bands: 2
  • WAN ports (2.5Gbps): 1
  • LAN ports (2.5Gbps): 1
  • LAN ports (1Gbps): 3
  • USB 3.2 ports: 1

Best for gamers—NETGEAR R6700AX

Best for gamers

Front view of NETGEAR R6700AX router

Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

A value-priced router for gamers on a budget

Score:

3.5

out of 5

The NETGEAR R6700AX has good Wi-Fi 6 speeds at close range. It’s a steal if you need a low-cost router with a built-in VPN server and client.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Decent range
  • Built-in VPN server and client
  • Subscription security
  • Subscription parental controls

$47.98*

 

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Category Score* Summary
Performance 4 Performs better than the AX20 in our tests (but not by much).
Features 3 Includes a built-in VPN server and client, but that’s it.
Design 3 Lacks the USB port and extra streams found on other routers.
Setup 3 Has issues when setting up using the web interface.
Ease of use 3 Provides a clean but ugly web interface and a decent app.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: You can get decent speeds at 120 feet, but the tested average wasn’t that much faster than the Archer A10, a slower Wi-Fi 5 model. It has better speeds at close range, plus it includes a VPN server and client, the latter of which the Archer A10 does not.

What we wish it did better: We’re not keen on the required subscriptions, which you need for the parental controls and security features. This router could use a USB port too, so you can share files and stream media from a USB-connected storage device. Printer sharing would also be handy.

Why do we recommend it? Sure, the R6700AX doesn’t have any gaming tools like the more expensive Nighthawk routers, but it has a cheap price tag and good Wi-Fi 6 speeds at close range for the money. The VPN server and client are a bonus.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

5 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
1,200 837 434 203

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel. See our Benchmarks section for more speed results from our testing.

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Max throughput: 1,800Mbps
  • Antennas: 3
  • Streams: 4
  • Bands: 2
  • WAN ports: 1
  • LAN ports: 4
  • Max internet speed supported: ~940Mbps

Best for long range—Reyee RG-E5

Best for long range

Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

A business-class router you can use at home

Score:

3.8

out of 5

The Reyee RG-E5 is a business-first router, but it’s also an affordable solution for homes. It has great speeds at long range plus free access to a cloud management platform.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Free cloud management
  • Great long range
  • No USB connectivity
  • No built-in VPN tools

$99.99*

 

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Category Score* Summary
Performance 4 Has the best long-range speeds for under $150.
Features 3 Provides an ARP Guard and free Ruijie Cloud account.
Design 3 Lacks USB ports, multi-gig internet support, and VPN tools.
Setup 4 Has one of the fastest setups we’ve tested to date.
Ease of use 4 Requires the web interface and mobile app to use fully.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: Of the routers on this list, the RG-E5 has the best speeds at long range. Moreover, it has amazing speed consistency, meaning you don’t see a dramatic speed dropoff as you move away from the router.

What we wish it did better: The RG-E5 is the only Wi-Fi 6 router we have in-house that doesn’t support the latest security standard, WPA3. Plus, it’s lacking in other areas like VPN and USB connectivity.

Why do we recommend it? The Reyee RG-E5 is a high-performance router you should get if you’re willing to spend $150. It lacks in some areas, sure, but if consistent speed is what you need across a long range, this is the router for you.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

5 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
1,200 843 636 330

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel. See our Benchmarks section for more speed results from our testing.

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6
  • Max throughput: 3,200Mbps
  • Antennas: 8
  • Streams: 8
  • Bands: 2
  • WAN ports: 1
  • LAN ports: 4
  • Max internet speed supported: ~940Mbps

Best for under $100—TP-Link Archer AX21

Best for under $100

Front of TP-Link Archer AX20 router

Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

Decent Wi-Fi speeds for a low price

Score:

3.6

out of 5

This slight uptick from the older AX20 model has some bang for your buck, but you may be better off with the AX20 if you want extra features, like USB support.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • EasyMesh support
  • Built-in VPN server
  • No multi-gig support
  • No USB ports

$79.00*

 

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Category Score* Summary
Performance 4 Matches the speeds of similar budget routers.
Features 3 Lacks some notable features offered on the AX20 model.
Design 3 Has more channels than the AX20 but lacks the USB port.
Setup 3 Needs to be more streamlined for a faster process.
Ease of use 4 Provides a great interface for easy network management.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: The Archer AX21 has good speeds for the money based on our tests, even at 120 feet. It has a few extra features, too, like EasyMesh support and a built-in VPN server.

What we wish it did better: The Archer AX21 needs a USB port for file sharing, Apple Time Machine backups, and local media streaming.

Why do we recommend it? The Archer AX21 has a great price for the speeds you get. You can extend your Wi-Fi coverage through EasyMesh and OneMesh products and surf the internet anonymously from anywhere using the built-in VPN server.

 

Tested speeds at a glance

5 GHz max speed 2 feet 40 feet 120 feet
1,200 824 428 223

* Speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) using a Wi-Fi 6 client and an 80 MHz channel. See our Benchmarks section for more speed results from our testing.

 

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
  • Max internet speed supported: ~940Mbps

Best for mesh—TP-Link Deco X55

Best for mesh

TP-Link Deco X55

Kevin Parrish | HighSpeedInternet.com

An affordable mesh system you can build over time

Score:

3.8

out of 5

The Deco X55 is a great value if you’re looking for an inexpensive whole-home Wi-Fi solution. It’s cheaper than many competing systems with the same speeds, but expect to pay extra for everything it has to offer.

 

   Pros    Cons
  • Decent Wi-Fi 6 speeds
  • Basic parental controls
  • No multi-gig support
  • Subscription-locked features

$59.99*†

 

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Category Score* Summary
Performance 4 Performs slower than the Amazon Eero Pro 6 in our tests, but costs far less.
Features 3 Locks some parental and security controls behind a paywall.
Design 4 Includes three Ethernet ports, one of which you can use for fast Deco-to-Deco communication.
Setup 3 Requires a TP-Link ID cloud account to install and use.
Ease of use 4 Presents a great network management experience in the most recent Deco app.

* out of 5 points

 

What we like about it: The Deco X55 is a good megabits-per-dollar value. The tested speeds weren’t bad, and you can get better speeds from each Deco unit by wiring them together with Ethernet. You get some free parental controls, too, which is nice if you have kids.

What we wish it did better:  The Deco X55 supports 160 MHz channels, but it doesn’t have a 2.5Gbps WAN port to support those speeds. Plus, it doesn’t have a third Wi-Fi band dedicated router-to-satellite communication, so your speeds will be slower compared to competing systems that do—unless you use Ethernet.

Why do we recommend it?  The Deco X55 is a decent kit for the money. You can’t expect tons of speed from this system, but there should be plenty for a few devices connecting simultaneously. The extra Ethernet ports come in handy, especially if you want better speeds throughout your home.

 

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. See our Benchmarks section for more speed results from our testing.

 

Wi-Fi specs Wired specs
  • Standard: Wi-Fi 5
  • Max throughput: 3,000Mbps
  • Antennas: 2 (internal)
  • Streams: 4
  • Bands: 2
  • WAN/LAN ports: 3
  • Max internet speed supported: ~940Mbps

Our verdict

TP-Link’s Archer BE230 was a pleasant surprise. We expected the usual “you get what you pay for” speeds when we tested this router, but it made us eat those words. It offers stellar performance backed by a nice feature set for under a hundred bucks. Sure, it’s Wi-Fi 7, but you’ll see the best speeds on Wi-Fi 6E and older devices out of all the routers we list here. The other choices here are decent, too, if the Archer BE230 is unavailable.

Our router benchmarks

Here are the average speeds recorded for each router. Wi-Fi speeds fluctuate significantly, so these numbers reflect at least three tests taken at each 10-foot interval. You can see the specifications of the client devices we use for testing on our Methodology page.

TP-Link Archer BE230

OnePlus 11 5GGoogle Pixel 6
2 feet2,0261,905
10 feet1,8971,832
20 feet1,7011,680
30 feet1,5051,501
40 feet (porch)1,3271,296
120 feet (across street)630612
2 feet
OnePlus 11 5G2,026
Google Pixel 61,905
10 feet
OnePlus 11 5G1,897
Google Pixel 61,832
20 feet
OnePlus 11 5G1,701
Google Pixel 61,680
30 feet
OnePlus 11 5G1,505
Google Pixel 61,501
40 feet (porch)
OnePlus 11 5G1,327
Google Pixel 61,296
120 feet (across street)
OnePlus 11 5G630
Google Pixel 6612

The table above shows our tests on the BE230 using client devices that support a 160MHz channel. We generally don’t see exceptional numbers using such a wide channel on the 5 GHz band due to radar plaguing the area, but Wi-Fi 7’s ability to reduce interference helps us regain speed we lose on Wi-Fi 6E and older routers.

To be fair to the other routers in our roundup, here are the same client devices using a narrower 80 MHz channel. Take a look:

OnePlus 11 5GGoogle Pixel 6
2 feet1,0691,024
10 feet965957
20 feet853843
30 feet783745
40 feet (porch)653620
120 feet (across street)347326
2 feet
OnePlus 11 5G1,069
Google Pixel 61,024
10 feet
OnePlus 11 5G965
Google Pixel 6957
20 feet
OnePlus 11 5G853
Google Pixel 6843
30 feet
OnePlus 11 5G783
Google Pixel 6745
40 feet (porch)
OnePlus 11 5G653
Google Pixel 6620
120 feet (across street)
OnePlus 11 5G347
Google Pixel 6326

NETGEAR R6700AX

iPhone 12 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 3
2 feet837689
10 feet747605
20 feet678502
30 feet560369
40 feet (porch)434234
120 feet (across street)20391
2 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max837
Google Pixel 3689
10 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max747
Google Pixel 3605
20 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max678
Google Pixel 3502
30 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max560
Google Pixel 3369
40 feet (porch)
iPhone 12 Pro Max434
Google Pixel 3234
120 feet (across street)
iPhone 12 Pro Max203
Google Pixel 391

Reyee RG-E5

iPhone 12 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 3
2 feet843695
10 feet842692
20 feet789656
30 feet725646
40 feet (porch)636445
120 feet (across street)330143
2 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max843
Google Pixel 3695
10 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max842
Google Pixel 3692
20 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max789
Google Pixel 3656
30 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max725
Google Pixel 3646
40 feet (porch)
iPhone 12 Pro Max636
Google Pixel 3445
120 feet (across street)
iPhone 12 Pro Max330
Google Pixel 3143

TP-Link Archer AX21

iPhone 12 Pro MaxGoogle Pixel 3
2 feet824666
10 feet798608
20 feet745514
30 feet685495
40 feet (porch)428356
120 feet (across street)223101
2 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max824
Google Pixel 3666
10 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max798
Google Pixel 3608
20 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max745
Google Pixel 3514
30 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max685
Google Pixel 3495
40 feet (porch)
iPhone 12 Pro Max428
Google Pixel 3356
120 feet (across street)
iPhone 12 Pro Max223
Google Pixel 3101

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
20 feet (dining room)373396
2 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max739
Google Pixel 3611
10 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max680
Google Pixel 3573
20 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max613
Google Pixel 3509
30 feet
iPhone 12 Pro Max565
Google Pixel 3443
40 feet (porch)
iPhone 12 Pro Max339
Google Pixel 3262
120 feet (across street)
iPhone 12 Pro MaxNot tested
Google Pixel 3Not tested
20 feet (dining room)
iPhone 12 Pro Max373
Google Pixel 3396

FAQ about budget routers

What subscriptions do you need for the R6700AX?

What does NETGEAR Armor Powered by Bitdefender include?

What do NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls include?

Why do more streams matter?

Why are VPN tools important?

Amazon 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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