Are you in quest of a reliable WiFi router for under $100? You’re at the right place. Budget routers can’t give you high performance but offer enough bandwidth to meet home or office internet requirements. Nonetheless, they’re way ahead of ISP-rented gateways.
But the market is filled with many options, making it difficult to find the best-suited router under 100 dollars. So what’s the way out? Well, consider these key points while choosing a router, and you are good to go.
I’ve tested most budget-friendly routers of this price range and can recommend the following 7 options for 2024:
- The Best Under $100: TP-Link AX55
- Best For Gaming: ASUS RT-AX55
- Best For Home Use: Linksys EA8100
- Best For Small Business: Motorola MR2600
- Best Mesh WiFi Router: Amazon Eero 6
- Best For Apartments: Netgear R6700
- Cheapest Option: D-Link DIR-882-US
7 Best Routers Under $100 in 2024
How did I test and select models in this list?
I got my hands on 19 different wireless routers that cost less than 100 dollars and put them on tests for over a month. I tested them for several KPIs, including speeds, coverage, security, and reliability. Only 7 out of 19 could pass all the tests and qualify for this list.
Besides, I tried to include models that work with popular internet plans and can suit the requirements of different users and setups. So, why wait? Let’s get in!
1. Best Overall: TP-Link Archer AX55
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,000 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: Up to 1 Gbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 574 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 2402 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 12+
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN/LAN + 4 x Gig LAN + 1 x USB 3.0
- Processor: 1GHz Qualcomm IPQ0518
- RAM & NAND Memory: 512MB + 128MB
- App Support: Yes
Topping the list is TP-Link’s latest Archer AX55 which just makes it within your budget range and gets you a reliable and improved performance courtesy of dual-band Wi-Fi 6, a speed capacity of 3000 Mbps, and a new Qualcomm chip.
The improved hardware makes it the best Gigabit router for under $100 that outperforms its predecessor, Archer AX20, in terms of throughput capacity, consistency, and stability.
Why is it a suitable choice?
Boasting a Wi-Fi 6 standard, an unfamiliar sight amongst routers priced below 100 dollars, it has a maximum throughput capacity of 3000 Mbps, with band-wise distribution as follows:
| 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps | 5 GHz: 2402 Mbps |
To test out practical speeds, I paired it with the Xfinity Gigabit plan and individually monitored the download and upload speeds across both bands.
Starting with the 5 GHz bands, the speed values averaged 939 Mbps and 43 Mbps, while similarly, they were placed at 521 Mbps and 29 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz band. I obtained all these speeds over a 10 feet distance.
At the same time, moving two walls away, i.e., at around 50 feet, speeds dropped by 20-25%. The obtained speeds are enough to enjoy lag-free 4K streaming and gaming.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Support
With not many advanced features and technologies, you can’t expect sub $100 routers to cover a longer distance, but I was surprised by the output I got with the Archer AX55. Courtesy of its four high-amplified external antennas, its signals were powerful enough to travel throughout a 1,800 Sq Ft old house.
Besides, it’s OneMesh compatible, so you can extend the coverage as per your house by pairing it with a OneMesh extender. Coming to its device support, you can expect a decent performance with 25-30 connections at a stretch, thanks to MU-MIMO and OFDMA.
Security Features
Security-wise, Archer AX55 offers plenty on the table. Features like access control, WPA3, VPN, SPI firewall, application layer gateway, and guest access come right out of the box (for free) to keep your home network safe. Besides, you’ve got parental controls with WiFi pausing, scheduling, and monitoring kids’ internet activities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, TP-Link’s Archer AX55 is the best router for under $100. It offers a lot in every department. And no, I am not getting paid by TP-Link to say this; it’s just that once you use this routing unit, you’ll realize how good of a router Archer AX55 is.
Pros
- Wi-Fi AX standard
- Excellent real-world speeds
- Great security features
- Handles 25-30 devices
- User-friendly mobile app
- Decent coverage and OneMesh support
Cons
- No major con
2. Best for Gaming: ASUS RT-AX55
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,000 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: Up to 500 Mbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 574 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 1201 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 30+
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN
- Processor: 1.5GHz Quad-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: 256MB + 128MB
- App Support: Yes
Next on my list is the Asus RT-AX55, the best router for gaming under 100 USD. It’s a great performer with Wi-Fi 6 standard, AiMesh compatibility, and lifetime free security features. Powered by a quad-core processor and other latest networking technologies like MU-MIMO and OFDMA, it’s a much better upgrade than the RT-AC55.
Why is it a suitable choice?
This Wi-Fi 6 router boasts a maximum throughput capacity of 1800 Mbps, with speed distribution in dual-band as follows:
| 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps | 5 GHz: 1201 Mbps |
So, any internet plan below or equal to 500 Mbps should work fine with this Asus router, as per my tests with the WOW internet’s 500 Mbps plan.
Connected to the 5 GHz band, the download and upload speeds over a 10 feet distance averaged 487 Mbps and 44 Mbps, respectively. At the same time, increasing the distance by 50 feet experienced a speed drop of around 30%.
Over the 2.4 GHz band, the respective speed values were around 476 Mbps and 36 Mbps, while on distance tests, it reduced by around 22%. Far or near, the speeds it gets you are more than enough for streaming Netflix without lags or buffering.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Support
With a 2,000 Sq Ft maximum theoretical coverage, you expect a performance similar to my previous recommendation. And fortunately, it could cover areas of up to 1,800 Sq Ft. Plus, the signals were stable and consistent despite connecting 25 devices, thanks to the support of MU-MIMO, beamforming, and OFDMA.
Security Features
Security is another department where RT-AX55 stays ahead of most sub $100 WiFi routers. With a lifetime-free AiProtection Classic, aside from basic features like guest access, WPA3, and access controls, there are a few advanced ones, like malicious site blocking, and infected device blocking, for free.
Besides, there’re a few smart parental controls like manual website blocking, age-based filters, customized internet schedules, and WiFi pausing. So, digital parents can pave the way to safe and secure online browsing with this router installed.
Conclusion
Overall, RT-AX55 is one of the best budget routers for gaming. Its lifetime-free security suite makes it stand out in the market, capable of easily securing all the connected devices. But lesser coverage and throughput capacity have pushed it to the second position.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 standards
- Advanced security features
- Decent wireless speeds
- Good range + AiMesh Compatibile
- Consistent network performance
Cons
- No USB port
3. Best Home WiFi Router: Linksys EA8100
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- WiFi Range: Up to 1,800 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: Up to 500 Mbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 800 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 1733 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 30+
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN + 1 x USB 3.0 + 1 x USB 2.0
- Processor: 880MHz Dual Core MediaTek MIPS1004kc
- RAM & NAND Memory: 256MB + 128MB
- App Support: Yes
If your workspace has been shifted to home and you need the best home wireless router under $100, consider EA8100. Its powerful processor, decent throughout capacity, and excellent port arrangement make it to the list. Compared to its older model, EA7300, it upgrades performance, coverage, and overall value.
Why is it a suitable choice?
Despite inferior wireless standard (Wi-Fi 5), Linksys EA8100 boasts a maximum throughput capacity of 2600 Mbps, with respective band-wise speeds as follows:
| 2.4 GHz: 800 Mbps | 5 GHz: 1733 Mbps |
The device delivers a decent performance in my speed tests over 10 and 40 feet, paired with the Cox 500 Mbps plan. In the 5 GHz band, download and upload speeds raked at 445 Mbps and 29 Mbps, respectively. At the same time, respective speed values for the 2.4 GHz band were around 423 Mbps and 21 Mbps.
When devices are separated by around 40 feet, there is a speed drop of approximately 35%, which is still manageable. With these speeds in play, I could surf the web on multiple devices like smartphones, tablets, work laptops, and more while streaming TV simultaneously.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Support
Despite boasting a four-antenna setup, the maximum coverage area of this router panned out at around 1,700 Sq Ft, making it one of the best-suited routers for small apartments. The signals, courtesy of beamforming and MU-MIMO, were distinctively stable and allowed me to do anything over the internet, with around 22-25 devices connected simultaneously.
Security Features
Like most routers costing less than 100 USD, Linksys EA8100 outrightly comes with basic security features like WPA2-enterprise, guest access, VPN, and 68/128-bit WEP. With these, you can keep the data packets transferred over the network secured, and it lets you browse or stream anything over the internet with peace of mind.
But remember that there isn’t any premium security subscription available from Linksys, so you’d need to subscribe to a third-party antivirus if you need one.
Conclusion
In short, priced at around $79, it might not be the best WiFi router under 100 dollars, but it sure can fulfil all your home internet needs. You can expect decent performance throughout your small house because of its dual-core processor.
The unavailability of the latest wireless standard and premium security suite has pushed it to the third position.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 5 is still relevant.
- Decent speeds and coverage
- Has two USB ports
- MU-MIMO and beamforming
- Reliable performance
Cons
- Basic security features
4. Best for Small Businesses: Motorola MR2600
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,000 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: Up to 500 Mbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 800 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 1733 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 100+
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN + 1 x USB 3.0
- Processor: Dual-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: N/A
- App Support: Yes
If you own a small business and don’t have the capital nor need to invest in those top-tier routers, Motorola MR2600 should be your ideal pick. Its ability to handle multiple devices concurrently stands out. Besides, its processor, throughput capacity, and good port setup make it a superior contender in 100-dollar routers.
Why is it a suitable choice?
Motorola MR2600 boasts a Wi-Fi 5 wireless standard lower than Wi-Fi 6. Still, with a dual-core processor, it tries to give out a maximum theoretical throughput capacity of 2600 Mbps, and respective band-wise speeds are as follows:
| 2.4 GHz: 800 Mbps | 5 GHz: 1733 Mbps |
To test how the router performs in a real-world scenario, I paired it with the Cox 500 Mbps plan and measured the download and upload speeds for both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands.
Over the former, respective speeds were around 410 Mbps and 24 Mbps, while the farther band clocked speeds at 391 Mbps and 19 Mbps. These were the results of proximity tests, i.e., client devices were kept around 10 feet.
Similarly, tests over 50 feet had speed drops of almost 45%, which makes it not a very good choice for large homes. So, get your devices and connect to get your heavy downloads quickly without moving too far from the router.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Support
Boasting a maximum theoretical coverage range of 2,000 Sq Ft, the manufacturer claims to blanket 2,000 Sq Ft homes or small business offices with strong connectivity. In my tests, the signals travelled up to 1,900 Sq Ft, which still makes it a viable pick with 40-50 devices on the network.
Such a huge connection capacity isn’t expected from a budget device, but MU-MIMO and beamforming technologies make it feel like a cakewalk.
Security Features
Similar to my previous recommendation, only a few basic features come in-built with this sub $100 router. These include VPN-passthrough, guest access, WPA3 protocol, WiFi pausing, and kid profiles, which work to keep the data transferred over the network safe.
Again, this device has no premium security features, and there’s no app support, but it can work well with WiFi management software such as Minim.
Conclusion
Motorola MR2600 is a dependable and versatile device that makes your investment worthwhile with its features and performance. There could have been a few improvements in remote management and security features, but the connections are stable, letting you perform internet tasks confidently.
Pros
- Great wired speeds
- Supports 70+ devices
- Decent coverage
- Stable internet due to MU-MIMO
Cons
- Lack of adequate security features
- No app support
5. Best Mesh Router: Amazon Eero 6
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- WiFi Range: Up to 1,500 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: Up to 500 Mbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 600 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 1200 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 30+
- Ports: 2 x Gig WAN/LAN + 1 x USB-C
- Processor: 1.2GHz Quad-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: 512MB + 4GB
- App Support: Yes
If you want a mesh router under a $100 budget, then Amazon Eero 6 is the only option available. It might not be one of the fastest mesh systems out there, but with Wi-Fi 6 support, it is a major upgrade for smart homes. Eero 6 is the first mesh WiFi launched by the manufacturer, so let’s discuss what more the device has to offer.
Why is it a suitable choice?
As mentioned, Eero 6 isn’t very fast, and with Wi-Fi 6 standard, it exhibits a maximum throughput capacity of 1800 Mbps, with speeds for respective bands as follows:
| 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps | 5 GHz: 1200 Mbps |
This makes the device more than compatible with 500 Mbps connections, and I recorded the download and upload speeds at 5 feet and 30 feet for both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands. For the former, the recorded speeds were around 487 Mbps and 24 Mbps, while 423 Mbps and 16 Mbps were for the latter.
When I took the client devices 40 feet away from the router, they experienced around a 45% speed drop, almost similar to my previous recommendation. The signal strength wasn’t great at long distances for a single unit and came with major inconsistencies or dropouts when using the bandwidth.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Support
The single-unit Amazon Eero 6 has a maximum theoretical coverage of 1,500 Sq Ft, with tested values at around 1,400 Sq Ft, making it suitable for a two-bedroom apartment. Besides, the beamforming technology ingrained within the antennas makes way for smooth and consistent signals all across your available devices.
The maximum number of devices you can connect to its single unit is around 22.
A point to bear in mind here is the device is highly scalable. In other words, you can easily add eero products to the system with cross-compatible hardware. And adding more systems would multiply your coverage further and lets you experience fast throughput over long distances.
Security Features
Amazon Eero 6 integrates very basic yet reliable security features that might suit your residential mesh network. The features include WPA3, VPN passthrough, port forwarding, static IP, DHCP, TLS v1.2+, and cloud connectivity. With these tools, you can ensure the safety of your shared data packets over the network.
The best thing about Amazon devices is that they are Alexa-supported, which means you can toggle the security options by making voice commands.
Conclusion
To conclude, this single-unit Eero 6 comes with limited coverage and decent throughput to complete your internet-bound tasks within no time. You can further add Eero devices to access signals at faraway distances. But minor inconsistencies over a certain distance and a lack of advanced security pushed it down the list.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 support
- Decent speeds
- Mesh Scaleablility
- Basic security options
- Works with Alexa
Cons
- Still lesser coverage
6. Best for Small Homes: Netgear R6700
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- WiFi Range: Up to 1,500 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: Up to 500 Mbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 450 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 1300 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 20+
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN + 1 x USB 3.0
- Processor: 1GHz Dual-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: 256MB + 128MB
- App Support: Yes
Next on my list is a Netgear R6700 that, despite its price, packs decently powerful hardware alongside a multitude of advanced features to become a desirable budget-friendly router. Some of its notable features, like a dual-core processor, and a USB 3.0 port, make it a major upgrade over its preceding model.
Why is it a suitable choice?
This Wi-Fi 5 model has a maximum throughput capacity of 1750 Mbps, with band-wise speed distribution as follows:
| 2.4 GHz: 450 Mbps | 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps |
So I used a Dell laptop to measure the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz throughput speeds at 5 feet and 30 feet distances. The proximity test with Spectrum 300 Mbps plan on the 5 GHz band, download, and upload rates at 297 Mbps and 18 Mbps, respectively. At the same time, respective speed values over the 2.4 GHz band were around 257 Mbps and 11 Mbps.
At 40-45 feet away, R6700 had a decent throughput with the 5 GHz band, with speeds dropping just by 30%, on par with the best budget routers. That’s mainly possible with the availability of beamforming+ antennas that boosts reliability, speed, and range of wireless connections for both bands. But there were inconsistencies.
Trust me on this, with such speeds in hand, you can even play your favorite games on 3-4 devices at once with a ping at around 7-8ms.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Support
Despite a theoretical coverage of 1,500 Sq Ft, I was able to access signals at an area of up to 1,250 Sq Ft. So, any small apartment should be a viable fit for this router, where it can send strong signals throughout the entire space to a maximum of 15 devices. These devices include laptops, smart TVs, mobile devices, and personal computers.
Security Features
Security-wise, this Netgear R6700 offers much more than my previous recommendation. Standard features like VPN support, NAT & SPI firewall, guest network access, DoS attack prevention, and customized free URL make it a viable option for residential networks.
Besides, a premium Netgear Armor is available for monthly subscriptions with features like malware blocking and intrusion prevention.
Conclusion
In conclusion, R6700 boasts a decent setup of hardware and other technologies to qualify in the list of best wireless routers under $100. A decent array of security features are on offer for free, besides a premium security upgrade in the form of Netgear Armor. However, lesser coverage and throughput values have ranked this in the penultimate position.
Pros
- Decent throughput
- Security features are reliable
- Supports up to 15 devices
- Great distance speeds
Cons
- Coverage isn’t that great
7. Cheapest Option: D-Link DIR-882-US
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- WiFi Range: Up to 1,500 Sq Ft
- Supported Internet Plan: Up to 200 Mbps
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 800 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 1733 Mbps
- Number of Devices Supported: 30+
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN + 1 x USB 3.0 + 1 x USB 2.0
- Processor: 1.4GHz Broadcom BCM4709C0
- RAM & NAND Memory: 256MB + 128MB
- App Support: Yes
Priced around $50, D-Link DIR-882-US is probably the cheapest yet most reliable router on the market. Despite its inferior WiFi standard, its processor is powerful enough to support low-tier plans, handle enough devices, and deliver good performance. Besides, if you’re into D-Link devices, you’d notice how many upgrades it brings over its preceding model, D-Link DIR-878.
Why is it a suitable choice?
The Wi-Fi 5 inbuilt D-Link device has a maximum throughput capacity of 2600 Mbps, with speed distribution as follows:
| 2.4 GHz: 800 Mbps | 5 GHz: 1733 Mbps |
So, I paired the router with an Xfinity 200 Mbps plan and recorded both bands’ download and upload speeds with devices placed at 5 feet and 30 feet, respectively. In the proximity test, download speeds over 5 and 2.4 GHz were clocked at 196 Mbps and 10 Mbps, respectively. Similarly, the upload speeds for the respective bands were around 57 Mbps and 18 Mbps.
Now, increasing the gap by 30 feet saw a fair drop in speeds. Over the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands, speeds fell by almost 45% and 38%, respectively. That’s a fair result, considering the 2.4 GHz band shares a greater range. Nevertheless, you can expect consistency in signals over multiple devices because of MU-MIMO and QoS.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Support
Coverage isn’t the department where this D-Link router shines, and irrespective of the four-antenna setup, the maximum signals can travel up to 1,100 Sq Ft, the lowest in the list. However, any small household should fare well with it. And the networking technologies and beamforming let you connect more than 25 devices concurrently.
Security Features
This is also the area where this router lacks. But with a VPN server and WPA2 encryption, you can keep your identity, user credentials, and shared data packets safe. There’s also a guest access feature that lets you add any devices temporarily to your network. And in terms of parental controls, you have features like WiFi pausing and monitoring the online time of connected devices.
Conclusion
To conclude, D-Link DIR-882-US, despite being the cheapest, ingrains some decent features and, in turn, performance to qualify as a good router under $100. It is suitable for any small residential apartment and gives you reliable performance with its fast near-band speeds. But it lacks coverage and security features, taking it to the bottom of the list.
Pros
- Good near-band speed
- Great wired speeds
- A cheapest yet reliable option
- Features like beamforming, MU-MIMO, and QoS
Cons
- Lacks in terms of coverage and security features
Frequently Asked Questions
As far as my tests go, TP-Link Archer AX55 is the best budget router available to you in the market. Features like Wi-Fi 6 dual-band support, decent throughput capacity, and coverage give you decent performance in your home and small workplace setup.
For a sub $100 router, you can expect features like a WiFi protocol, a dual-core processor, smart QoS, guest network capability, decently powerful antennas, a user-friendly firewall, and parental controls. With such features in place, you can expect a decent enough performance to satiate the network needs of your home network ecosystem.
A budget router with a Wi-Fi 6 standard should support 30 devices at max, making them suitable for any home network.
Yes, a few choices are available for a router that you can use to undertake high-speed gaming. For example, TP-Link Archer AX55 and Asus RT-AX55, with features like Wi-Fi 6 dual-band support and other networking technologies, can handle games like Valorant, Destiny 2, and others without any lags or latencies.
Verdict
With businesses getting online, carrying work-related traffic alongside normal gaming and entertainment with reliability can be difficult for an aging router kept under your TV.
Plus, with the modern economy getting stretched, you should be looking for something inexpensive. I hope the guide should help you get an ideal router for under $100.
But if you still can’t decide, here’s a list of the best options:
- The best overall choice would be TP-Link Archer AX55, with features like a new Qualcomm chip, Wi-Fi 6, and others that deliver a reliable performance every time.
- If you are working from home and have a few devices to connect to the network, Linksys EA8100 should be your ideal pick. And, if you have set up a small business, go for Motorola MR2600.
- Finally, if you need a scalable option to fulfil your data needs in the future, Amazon’s Eero 6 should be your go-to option.
Saying that I’d like to wrap up. Goodbye for now!
