Have you subscribed to Ziply Fiber but are dissatisfied with the speeds, WiFi coverage, and customization features you've got with the ISP-supplied device? You're better off investing in a third-party router for your Ziply Fiber connection.
But then, there are many options, and locating an ideal Ziply Fiber router can be a bit challenging. So, what I did is purchased 13 routers meant for Fiber Internet and started testing them in varying scenarios.
After testing each for about 5 days, I was left with 7 models that passed in every performance aspect (speed, coverage, reliability, security, etc).
7 Best Routers for Ziply Fiber in 2024
Whether you're on the lowest Fiber 100/100, mid-range 300/300, high-speed Gig, or the fastest 2 Gig plan, the wireless routers featured here should cater to all of them. Plus, I've considered different use cases to accommodate different needs.
So without further ado, let’s get into the reviews.
1. Best Overall: TP-Link Archer AX80
TP-Link Archer AX80, with a multi-gig port, is your best bet for the 2 Gig plan.
- Go Further and Faster: Level up your Wi-Fi game with Wi-Fi 6 technology providing up to 4804 Mbps on 5.0 Ghz and 1148 Mbps on 2.4 Ghz band. Reach even further with eight high-gain antennas equipped with Beamforming to ensure vast coverage. ¹
- 2.5G Multi-Gigabit Port: Breakthrough gigabit speeds and enter the multi-gig era of wired connection. With more internet service providers offering multi-gig wired connection, don’t let your router be a bottleneck.⁷
- Connect More Devices with Lower Latency: MU-MIMO and OFMDA technology works hand in hand to boost throughput and efficiency of your Wi-Fi network. MU-MIMO communicates with your router to provide multiple data streams simultaneously, greatly increasing the number of connected devices and OFDMA enables sharing a single data stream between multiple devices to further enhance the efficiency of each data stream.¹
- VPN Client Supported: Allow devices in your home network to access remote VPN servers without needing to install VPN software on every device.
- TP-Link HomeShield - TP-Link's premium security service keeps your home network safe with cutting-edge network and IoT protection. Free features: 1. Basic Network Security including Security Scan and IoT Device Identification 2. Basic Parental Controls 3. Quality of Service 4. Basic Weekly/Monthly Reports. Visit TP-Link website for more information.
Archer AX80 is the latest offering from TP-Link that’s sleek, packed with features, and covers a large area, reasons why it topped the list.
Compared to the Archer AX73, it brings around multiple upgrades regarding its throughput capacity, port setup, and the number of connections it can handle.
Speeds & Performance
Before I jump into performance, let me quote the maximum speeds of AX80. With a speed rating of AX6000, it’s the fastest in the list, and its two bands share it as follows:
| 5 GHz: 4804 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 1148 Mbps |
Being the fastest, picking the Ziply 2 Gbps plan was a wise choice to pair it with, and the output was excellent. At 15 feet, AX80 achieved a download speed of 1.82 Gbps and an upload speed of 210 Mbps.
With such impressive speeds, I managed to stream Netflix on 15 devices simultaneously. Besides, other tasks like gaming, video calling, trading, etc., are also feasible.
Now once I moved away from the router, it held up the speeds pretty well. The measured download and upload speed at a 40 feet distance was around 1.32 Gbps and 159 Mbps, respectively. That’s still faster than all routers I used with Ziply Fiber.
Besides, if a few more bandwidth-hogging devices are at bay, you can connect one to the multi-gig port with a maximum speed output of 2.5 Gbps. My gaming console with a ping value of 9ms ran most games in 4K quality.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Alongside the speeds, its massive stipulated coverage of 3,000 Sq Ft betters most in the list. In my test, it reaches upwards of 2,600 Sq Ft, making it one of the better routers for large homes. I could access signals in the farthest corners.
That’s not it. Its OneMesh support lets you connect several WAPs without compromising anyone’s performance. It means you can pair two/three similar routers and extend the powerful performance to a large building.
Moreover, technologies like MU-MIMO, beamforming, and OFDMA add to the router’s capability, as the manufacturer claims to provide 4x capacity compared to any standard router. At once, I could pair over 44 devices, which include laptops, computers, iPad, gaming consoles, and others.
Security Features
TP-Link is always diligent about security, and nothing’s different with AX80. Its HomeShield basic has got a multitude of tools like WPA3 encryption, VPN, SPI firewall, guest access, and access control that make hacking the network data very tricky.
Besides, the firmware has an auto-update feature that saves you from the hassles of manually updating it every time.
Another aspect I liked about this is its advanced parental controls. Features like blocking a website category, time scheduling, and pausing the internet let you ensure your kids are focused more on their studies.
Conclusion
TP-Link Archer AX80 is the best-suited router for Ziply Fiber 2 Gig internet service. It stays above most options on the list. But all of these come at a premium price, but you certainly get what you’re paying for.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6
- Fast and consistent performance
- Powerful hardware setup
- Great WiFi coverage
- Can handle 40+ devices
Cons
- Dual-Band
- Premium-priced
2. Best Runner-Up: Netgear RAX50
- Coverage up to 2,500 sq. ft. for up to 25 devices.
- Fast AX5400 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 Share a storage drive with any connected device and create a personal cloud storage to access from anywhere using the 1 x 3.0 USB port
- NETGEAR Armor protects your family's WiFi with an automatic shield of security across all your connected devices with a 30-day free trial
Next on my list is Netgear Nighthawk RAX50, an ideal choice for Ziply Fiber 1 Gig plan. It combines high-speed operations courtesy of its future-proof Wi-Fi 6 standard, powerful hardware, and other networking traits with great security.
I tested it alongside RAX43 and noticed a considerable improvement in the performance of the former, courtesy of the multiple upgrades it brings.
Speeds & Performance
The RAX50 has a throughput capacity of AX5400, just shy away from my top recommendation. The speed cap on each band is as follows:
| 5 GHz: 4800 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps |
In my grandpa’s house, RAX50 excelled at delivering lots of data at a faster rate to my iPhone 13. At around 20 feet, the download and upload speeds with Ziply 1 Gbps plan measured at around 988 Mbps and 129 Mbps, respectively.
Whereas the respective speeds over 40 feet were recorded at 513 Mbps and 71 Mbps. That’s pretty fast. It passed my informal stress test.
The bandwidth was distributed to support UHD videos on my iPhone 13, listening to the radio over an iPad while streaming a 4K movie on a Dell XPS laptop. The sound and video ran buffer-free without any artifacts, drop-outs, or freeze-up.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
The RAX50 claims to cover an area of up to 2,500 Sq Ft, which, although just falls short of my top recommendation, but still enough for a large space.
Besides, MU-MIMO and beamforming help stabilize the signals sent to the device and let users connect multiple devices to the bandwidth.
In my tests, the maximum area the router could cover was around 2,100 Sq Ft, the size of a large to mid-sized home. And the number of devices I could connect maxes out at 26, including my smartphone, tablets, laptops, and others.
Security Features
In terms of security, RAX50 packs many cool features. On top of it, its WPA3 encryption keeps the data shared over the network in an encrypted form.
Other features like guest access, auto-firmware update, VPN, and access control add a cherry on top. You can now browse without feeling endangered by external threats.
Its parental controls are, however, no match to TP-Link Archer AX80. You only get the basic features like time scheduling and pausing the network at any time.
Conclusion
Netgear RAX50 is an excellent router to pair with Ziply 1 Gig Fiber connection. Features like Wi-Fi 6, beamforming, and others can satiate your bandwidth-hogging devices' hunger and keep them safe simultaneously.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 support
- Excellent throughput
- Customization potential
- Great range
- Quick setup
Cons
- Premium
- Basic parental controls
3. Best for Gaming: ASUS GS-AX3000
- New-generation WiFi 6 – Enjoy ultrafast speeds up to 3000 Mbps with 160 MHz WiFi 6 channels.Power Supply: AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 2 A current.
- Fully optimized gaming – Mobile Game Mode, dedicated Gaming Port and Gear Accelerator let you optimize any type of gaming on mobile, console or PC
- VPN Fusion – Run a VPN and an ordinary internet connection simultaneously, allowing maximum speed even if other network users need to use a VPN
- More privacy, anywhere – Instant Guard secures public WiFi connections anywhere in the world using GS-AX3000, with just a click
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Pro, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click sharable secure VPN.
Asus GS-AX3000 replaces RT-AX3000, which shares similar hardware specs and has made major improvements, especially regarding a more responsive interface and special online gaming features.
And for the most part, the performance was better regarding speeds or range.
Speeds & Performance
The Asus router comes with a speed cap of 3000 Mbps, which is split over its two frequency bands as follows:
| 5 GHz: 2401 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps |
Judging through the spec sheet, the router isn’t the fastest but seems sufficient enough for the Zipley Fiber 1 Gig plan.
Connected to my iPhone 13, the speeds are impressive in my tests. Measured over 15 feet, the download speed score was at 967 Mbps, while uploads were rated at around 109 Mbps.
In my long-range test (40 feet), the respective speeds were recorded at 483 Mbps and 48 Mbps, which still is pretty fast to stream 4K videos and video calls.
But there’s more. The router has got specialized gaming features like mobile gaming mode, gear accelerator, and VPN fusion to ensure fast and lag-free online gaming. My devices recorded a 16ms ping value, bettering even my top recommendations.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
GS-AX3000 boasts a 2,000 Sq Ft of wireless range. I tested it at my grandpa’s 100-year-old house with an area of around 1,800 Sq Ft, and the router’s four-antenna setup successfully filled the entire space with powerful signals.
The numbers might vary depending on the environment, but it’s safe to say that if you stay in a 1,600 Sq Ft home, the router will blanket most of it.
Besides, the router manages to handle up to 35 devices connected to the bandwidth at the same time. The connections on each turned out to be stable due to technologies like beamforming and MU-MIMO.
Security Features
Security is the standout aspect of the Asus GS-AX3000. You can access many advanced features with AiProtection that make your wireless networks safe. And the best part of it is you don’t have to pay a penny for it.
To start with, it has got an enterprise-level firewall which is available at cost with Netgear and TP-link routers. It excels in keeping your network and devices safe from many malicious websites and malware.
Besides, it has got staple features like guest access, VPN, WPA3, and auto-firmware update.
Conclusion
Asus GS-AX3000 is a superb gaming router that offers great value for money. Its AiMesh support allows for creating a mesh-like network by pairing other AiMesh-compatible devices. The dedicated gaming features make it ideal for gamers.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6
- AiMesh support
- Advanced security with AiProtection
- Great speeds
- Gaming-centric features
Cons
- Middling range
4. Best Mesh WiFi: TP-Link Deco XE75
- WiFi 6E Tri-Band Mesh WiFi – Cover up to 5,500 Sq.Ft with next-gen seamless WiFi and make dead zones and buffering a thing of the past
- New 6 GHz Band – The latest Wi-Fi frequency, eliminates interference from legacy devices. The 6 GHz band can work as a backhaul for stable connections between nodes by default. Switch to Wi-Fi mode and connect your WiFi 6E devices to the 6GHz Network³
- True Tri-Band Speed – All three WiFi bands work together to unleash your network’s total speeds up to 5,400 Mbps for 200 devices(6 GHz: 2402 Mbps (HE160);5 GHz: 2402 Mbps (HE160);2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps)
- Unlock the Full Potential of WiFi 6E - Opening the 6GHz band changes the game for WiFi 6 bringing upgraded performance in network efficiency and capacity. The 6GHz band is available only for WiFi 6E, allowing WiFi 6 to achieve its full potential
- AI-Driven Mesh - Deco XE75 delivers smart WiFi that follows you wherever you are, without interruption. It automatically learns your network environment, client quality, and user behaviors
If you’re in for fast wireless connections and reside in a large house, then TP-Link Deco XE75 is a WiFi 6e mesh worth a look at. The 6 GHz band is a great addition considering how congested the 5GHz band has become.
Aside from that, it’s a mesh system, so forget about any weak connections in your house and leave any smart devices stale.
Speeds & Performance
Deco XE75 boasts a tri-band setup with a maximum throughput capacity of 5400 Mbps. The speed division on each band is as follows:
| 6 GHz: 2402 Mbps | 5 GHz: 2402 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps |
When testing the speed on my iPhone 13 in close proximity (20 feet) with Ziply Fiber Gigabit connection, Deco XE75 easily managed a download speed of 924 Mbps.
And with an upload speed of 121 Mbps, it leaps ahead of TP-Link’s flagship Deco X90 with 20% more backhaul capacity. Here shows the importance of the new 6GHz that provides more usable speed.
Moving on to connecting with the mesh node 40 feet away from my testing device, the respective download and upload speeds were recorded at 614 Mbps and 91 Mbps.
With such speed, it sweeps away the competition and lets you stay active on a plethora of tasks like online gaming, 4K streaming, video conferencing, and others with ease.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Aside from fast speeds, coverage is the strongest selling point for this mesh system. The manufacturer states the two-pack unit is suitable for any five-bedroom house, with a maximum range of 5,500 Sq Ft.
In my tests, the mesh system could cover an area of up to 5,100 Sq Ft, more than enough even for my mansion-style house.
Besides, the Deco XE75 units entail an 802.11k/v/r fast roaming technology with an AI-Driven algorithm. What it does is the entire mesh network has a single name and doesn’t require manual switching when I am moving around my home.
The mesh system further comes with beamforming, MU-MIMO, and OFDMA tech to strengthen the signals on your connected devices.
Connecting my 85 devices was smooth sailing, and considering the maximum device limit, you could add a few more.
Security Features
Security is actually decent, considering what I have seen from most devices in the market. First, it has the latest WPA3 encryption paired with a basic SPI firewall to secure the data transferred over the network.
Furthermore, features like guest access, access control, and the auto-firmware update add to the security.
Similar to my other TP-Link recommendation, it has some advanced parental controls like blocking specific categories of websites, setting time limits, and tracking users' online time.
Conclusion
TP-Link Deco XE75 is a Wi-Fi 6E mesh router that works best with Ziply Fiber gig internet. The new 6 GHz band gives out a great performance. Its hero aspect is its coverage and stable signals accessible to the devices.
Besides, its parental controls are advanced and keep a tab on your kids’ online activities in the age of e-learning. Read the full review of the Deco XE75 for more details.
Pros
- New 6 GHz band
- Excellent coverage
- Handles multiple devices
- Easy to setup
Cons
- No USB port
5. Best for Businesses: Synology RT2600ac
- 1.7GHz Dual-core processor for fast, uncompromising performance
- Powerful 4x4 802.11ac wave 2 radios with MU-MIMO and up to 2.53Gbps breakthrough wireless speeds
- Smart Connect for seamless transition between maximum speed or range
- Hardware accelerated Layer 7 traffic control and monitoring
- Dual WAN capable for load balancing and failover support
Moving on, I get swiftly from long-range WiFi routers to a more secure one, Synology RT2600ac. Besides offering multiple security tools for free, it tries to maintain a decent range of features.
It takes a further step ahead of its younger sibling, RT1900ac, regarding speed, coverage, and other aspects.
Speeds & Performance
Synology RT2600AC doesn’t comes as the fastest router with a maximum speed capacity of 2600 Mbps, with its band-wise speeds are as follows:
| 5 GHz: 1733 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 800 Mbps |
The RT2600AC had a great performance in my throughput tests with Ziply 500 Mbps plan. Its score of 478 Mbps for downloads on the close proximity test is faster than most routers in this range.
With such speeds at bay, high-end tasks like gaming, streaming, stock trading, and others went like a breeze. Besides, an upload speed of 67 Mbps was great for any Zoom video calls.
At a distance of 40 feet, RT2600AC scored 241 Mbps and 30 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads, still beating its competition.
The router also passed my network saturation test by streaming HD videos on my iPhone 13, online games on my PS5, and video calls on my Macbook Air without any jitters and artifacts.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Coverage-wise, RT2600AC seems like a solid business router for Ziply Fiber, maximizing its value at 2,000 Sq Ft. In real life, its four-antenna setup easily covers my 1500 Sq Ft home office.
My test on the WiFi analyzer app shows an even distribution of signals throughout the house that maintains a decent strength, even in the nooks.
The device further instills MU-MIMO and beamforming tech to support online activities on up to 60 devices at once. That’s a great performance for a mid-tier router.
Security Features
Synology RT2600AC ranks at the top, if not less, in terms of security with some advanced features.
The notable one is a firewall that keeps away any unauthorized agents like viruses, malware, and infected websites from accessing your network and connected devices.
Other features include DDoS protection, firewall management, auto-firmware update, and staple ones like VPN and guest access. The router also carries out periodical scans and takes action if it detects any anomaly.
RT2600AC also has got some top-notch parental control features like scheduling, traffic monitoring, and tracking users' online activities. The best part is you won’t need to pay a penny for it.
Conclusion
Overall, Synology RT2600AC is one of the best-rated routers for network security. If you are working from home, dealing with sensitive data on a regular basis, or searching for a secured router for your small business, this is the one. But its throughput capacity and range are middling, which is the reason it’s ranked fifth.
Want to learn more about this device? Read the full Synology RT2600ac review.
Pros
- Solid security tools
- Powerful parental controls
- Decent throughput performance
- MU-MIMO data streaming
- Easy to install
Cons
- Middling range
6. Best Budget Tri-Band Router: Linksys MR8300
- Provides up to 2,000 square feet of Wi-Fi coverage for 20plus wireless devices
- Works with existing modem, simple setup through Linksys App. A mobile device with Android 4.4 or iOS 9 and higher, Bluetooth preferred
- Enjoy 4K HD streaming, gaming and more in high quality without buffering
- Tri band router delivers the fastest combined Wi-Fi speeds to all your devices
- Tri band Wi-Fi speeds up to 2.2 Gbps (5 GHz / 400 Mbps) plus (5 GHz / 867 Mbps) plus (2.4 GHz / 867 Mbps)
Linksys MR8300 is a sub $100 router with tri-band support, easy setup, and extra channels for much faster data transfer. With support for mesh, it makes way for better and wider coverage by deploying Velop nodes with a weak or no internet connection.
Besides, compared to its predecessor, Linksys MR7350, it has better coverage and speeds and can handle multiple devices.
Speeds & Performance
The MR8300 has a maximum throughput capacity of 2200 Mbps. The respective speeds on each of its three bands are as follows:
| 5 GHz (1): 867 Mbps | 5 GHz (2): 867 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 400 Mbps |
The speed cap on each band makes it suitable for Ziply Fiber 500 Mbps, and the test results were on par.
With the testing system 15 feet away, MR8300 could land speeds of up to 467 Mbps and 72 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads. And thanks to the availability of additional channels, the speed values stay constant over time.
At the same time, the respective speeds took a hit in my 40 feet test, with values staying at 221 Mbps and 38 Mbps.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
The router turned out decent in my range test. My 1,500 Sq Ft home office was covered with strong signals everywhere. Number-wise, its range lies around 1,600 Sq Ft, ideal for most mid-sized houses.
Besides, the router supports a mesh tech, so connect any Velop node and expand the range by a few thousand square feet.
With the bandwidth in place, I could establish connections to up to 35 devices, which sounds less than my previous pick but is enough for many residential setups. And courtesy of MU-MIMO and beamforming, connections are stable on them.
Security Features
Compared to my previous recommendation, most security tools are missing in the discussed router. Nevertheless, a WPA2 encryption, VPN server, and auto-firmware update features keep the data shared over the network safe.
Parental controls also aren’t something to be excited about. It just got the basic features like VPN passthrough and auto-firmware update.
Conclusion
Linksys EA8300 is a great tri-band router to have with Ziply fiber mid-range plan. By utilizing the extra channels offered by the additional 5 GHz band, you can be confident in experiencing stable, dependable, and high-speed WiFi connectivity.
Pros
- Good close-range speeds
- An extra 5GHz band
- Easy to install
- MU-MIMO streaming
Cons
- Distance speed is below par
7. Best Budget Option: Netgear R6700AX
- 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
- NETGEAR Armor software provides an automatic shield of security for your WiFi and connected devices for real-time protection against hackers and added privacy with VPN. 30-day trial included
As I have reached the end of my list, let me present you with a budget-friendly Wi-Fi 6 router for your entry-level fiber plans.
Netgear R6700X is an upgrade to its predecessor, R6700, it brings along several handy features like a future-proof wireless standard, a decent range, and an ever-reliable Quad-core processor to bolster a stable and reliable performance.
Speeds & Performance
The R6700AX comes with a maximum speed capacity of 1800 Mbps, bringing enhanced performance to the forefront. The speeds are split into two bands as:
| 5 GHz: 1200 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps |
The raw speeds with the 500 Mbps plan were particularly impressive. In the same room (about 15 feet away) as the router, the download and upload speeds were recorded at 421 Mbps and 61 Mbps, respectively.
While moving two walls away, the respective speeds fell to 196 Mbps and 29 Mbps.
Despite lagging behind my previous recommendation, the router cruised through the sessions of my cut-throat gaming. I played FIFA, Destiny 2, and Valorant in the highest quality. Alongside I streamed UHD videos on my smart TV without any blip.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
The R6700AX with 3 external beamforming antennas claims to cover an area of around 1,500 Sq Ft.
In real life, the router manages to cover up to 1,200 Sq Ft, which is decent, but I had to install an extender to access signals in the basement of my 2,000 Sq Ft office.
Besides, features like MU-MIMO and OFDMA work in tandem to let you operate around 22-25 devices, depending on the number of gaming consoles and smart TVs there.
In my setup with a gaming console, smart TV, and rest, including computers, laptops, and others, I had over 22 devices connected to the same bandwidth. And the instances of network drops were very few.
Security Features
Security isn’t top-notch for this device, but it still has a WPA3 encryption that encrypts your passwords and other data. It also has got a few basic features like a simple access filter, VPN, and guest network. But if that’s not enough, subscribe to Netgear’s Armor security feature.
Conclusion
If you have a small family with not more than 20 devices, the R6700AX, with a decent throughput capacity and range, makes perfect sense. Its only limitation is that there is no USB port, which is why it’s ranked at the bottom.
For a closer look, read a dedicated review of the Netgear R6700AX.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 standard
- Quad-core processor
- Good throughput capacity
- Handles up to 20 devices
Cons
- No USB port
- Lesser coverage
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike modems, there is no compatibility quotient with the routers so anyone could work well with it. Just make sure to get a router suited ideally to your subscribed internet plan and not end up with a low-tech one.
No, any router would work with the fiber optic internet. But the thing is, these generally are fast, and so it’s viable to get routers to work well with these.
Yes, budget routers capable of handling speeds up to 300 Mbps are okay to use with Zipley fiber.
Verdict
With that comes an end to my guide. Make your selection based on the Zipley fiber plan you’re subscribed to and the budget you have at bay. If you still can’t make a choice, here’s my list of the best in each category:
- If you want a high-end router for your top-tier Ziply Fiber plan, check out the premium TP-Link Archer AX80.
- If you have a limited budget and yet can’t compromise much on the features, Asus GS-AX3000 is your go-to device.
- And if you need the cheap option for your basic internet plan, opt for Linksys MR8300.
Before I wrap up, here’s a piece of advice: make sure you don’t cheap out on routers. Spend a few extra bucks to stay relevant with upcoming plans for at least a decade.
