The 7 Good Routers For Streaming, Tested And Researched

This router is recommended for use with up to 30 devices, making it an excellent choice for streaming, gaming, internet browsing, and connecting smart home devices. It offers 4 x 1 gigabit Ethernet ports for easy connection to nearby wired devices, ensuring faster speeds. The router boasts advanced technology, including a powerful dual-core 1GHz processor, three amplified antennas, Beamforming+, MU MIMO, Dynamic QoS, Smart Connect, Amazon Alexa Voice Controls, and more.

There's a handy USB 3.0 port built right in, perfect for sharing a storage drive or printer across your network. You can even turn it into personal cloud storage that’s accessible from anywhere, which adds a nice layer of convenience for working remotely or backing up files. For parents, the Smart Parental Controls are a major plus. These let you pause internet access for specific devices, filter content, monitor browsing history, set screen time limits, and even schedule online hours—great tools for keeping digital habits in check.

Security-wise, it comes equipped with NETGEAR Armor, which offers comprehensive protection for both your network and all connected devices. It’s designed to catch threats before they become a problem, giving you peace of mind whether you’re working, streaming, or gaming.

Nevertheless, the user interface can feel a little overwhelming at first. It may take a bit of exploring to get fully comfortable with the settings, but once you’re set up, the controls give you a lot of power to customize your network.

There’s a lot to like about the TP-Link Archer AX21 if you're looking to bring WiFi 6 performance into your home without overspending. It delivers speeds up to 1.8 Gbps, powered by a solid CPU, which means smooth 4K streaming, low-lag gaming, and fast downloads, even with a house full of connected devices. It’s no surprise that this model often pops up in lists of good routers for streaming, thanks to its ability to handle high-bandwidth tasks without a hitch.

The router's four antennas and beamforming tech work together to focus stronger signals toward your devices, resulting in more reliable coverage across the home. Add in support for OFDMA and MU-MIMO, and it handles multiple connections at once without slowing down, making it a great fit for busy households and smart homes alike.

Setup is simple, with both a Tether app and a web interface to choose from. However, there's one minor downside: during a routine reboot, the router may unexpectedly fail to reconnect to the internet. While this doesn’t seem to be a widespread issue, it’s something to be aware of.

The ASUS RT-ACRH13 may not grab headlines like some of its flashier competitors, but for reliable, high-speed connectivity across a typical home or small office, it gets the job done and then some. With coverage up to 3,000 square feet, this dual-band router keeps a strong signal flowing throughout most living spaces. You’ll get up to 300 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 867 Mbps on 5GHz, which makes it more than capable of handling 4K streaming, online gaming, and everyday browsing without breaking a sweat.

Wired connections are equally robust. Four Gigabit LAN ports ensure that everything from desktops to smart TVs stays plugged in with speeds far superior to standard Ethernet. There’s even a USB 2.0 port that supports local and remote file sharing through ASUS’s AiDisk, handy for turning any drive into your personal cloud. Setup is straightforward thanks to the clean and responsive ASUSWRT interface, and the four external antennas help maintain strong coverage for multiple devices.

Nonetheless, the instruction manual leaves a bit to be desired. It’s not the most helpful guide for first-timers, which could make the initial setup trickier than it needs to be. But overall, the RT-ACRH13 remains one of the stronger values in the midrange router space.

This Wave 2 wireless router delivers fast and reliable internet connections, offering 600 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5GHz band. The MU-MIMO gigabit technology optimizes device performance by improving communication efficiency. Its Beamforming technology ensures efficient wireless connections and extends coverage, providing uninterrupted streaming, gaming, and browsing experiences throughout your home.

With four Gigabit LAN ports and one Gigabit WAN port, you can get fast, stable wired connections for anything from gaming consoles to smart TVs, perfect for households that prefer a mix of wired and wireless setups. For families, the built-in parental controls offer solid peace of mind, allowing you to filter content and set screen time limits to help manage your kids’ online habits safely.

Another plus: it’s OneMesh-compatible, so expanding your WiFi coverage is simple if you add other TP-Link devices. Just be aware that, like many budget-friendly routers, the TP-Link AC1900 might need the occasional reset to keep things running smoothly. Still, for its mix of features and affordability, it’s an easy pick for building a reliable home network.

Blazing fast and packed with features, the NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router is built for serious users who demand high performance across large homes or offices. With speeds reaching up to 6 Gbps and a generous 3,500 square foot coverage, it’s a powerhouse designed to handle everything from 4K streaming and online gaming to video calls and massive file transfers.

Thanks to WiFi 6 technology, this router efficiently manages multiple devices simultaneously, making it a great fit for smart homes with dozens of connected gadgets. Even better, it's universally compatible with all major internet service providers—whether you’re on cable, DSL, satellite, or fiber, so upgrading is seamless.

The Nighthawk app makes setup and control refreshingly simple. From adjusting device-level settings and testing internet speed to reviewing usage history and monitoring data, the app provides full network visibility at your fingertips. Two USB 3.0 ports also give you the ability to plug in external drives and create your own personal cloud storage, accessible from anywhere.

While the performance is top-tier, the router’s interface can occasionally lag or freeze, especially when handling multiple advanced settings at once. For most users, it’s a minor trade-off for the raw power and flexibility it offers, but worth noting if you’re someone who likes to tinker with settings frequently.

The ASUS RT-AX1800S brings next-gen connectivity to your home with the speed and efficiency of WiFi 6. Built on the 802.11ax standard, it offers a serious upgrade in performance over older models, making it a compelling choice for anyone looking to future-proof their home network. With support for MU-MIMO and OFDMA technologies, the router manages multiple connections simultaneously with ease, perfect for households where streaming, gaming, video calls, and downloads often happen all at once.

Thanks to 1024-QAM modulation, it delivers significantly faster wireless speeds, handling high-bandwidth activities like 4K streaming and online gaming with minimal lag. And with five Gigabit ports, including one WAN and four LAN, you will get fast, wired connectivity for devices like desktops, gaming consoles, and smart TVs, ensuring ultra-smooth performance where you need it most.

Security is also a strong suit. ASUS includes AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro, offering built-in network security to help block malicious sites and protect your devices from online threats. Plus, if you need to expand coverage, the AiMesh compatibility lets you link up with other ASUS routers to create a seamless whole-home mesh network. The only drawback? Some features may require user registration, which might not appeal to privacy-focused users. Despite this, the RT-AX1800S is a solid and forward-thinking router for streaming.