5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Wireless Router

To set up a home Wi-Fi network, you need a wireless router. Picking the right router can be a challenge because hundreds of models offer different features.

We work from home, so we've used wireless routers for years and have a lot of experience testing different options. We've developed this buying guide to help you determine which wireless router is best for your budget.

What Is a Wireless Router?

A Wi-Fi router is a computer network device that broadcasts the internet signal from your modem, allowing you to wirelessly connect devices to the internet. Some modems have built-in routers, but you'll need to connect to a router to access the web via Wi-Fi if yours doesn't.

Top 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Wireless Router

Keep in mind that the performance of your network equipment (i.e., your router and modem) is limited by your internet service provider (ISP). If you have a high-end router, you will only enjoy the full benefits if you have a comparable internet plan.

There are hundreds of router models, but these are the main factors to consider:

• Price
• Speed
• Wi-Fi Range
  
• Usability
• Brand

At a minimum, ensure the device supports a recent Wi-Fi generation (Wi-Fi 7, or IEEE 802.11be, is the latest) and has a speed rating higher than 25 Mbps. Assess your needs (such as streaming video and online gaming) and each major model's different hardware designs. Consider a long-range router or a Wi-Fi range extender if your router needs to reach multiple stories.

How Much Should You Spend on a Wi-Fi Router?

Price comparison shopping for routers requires patience and attention to detail. Router A can cost twice as much as Router B, yet their differences may be critical to some people and immaterial to others.

The primary factors that determine the selling price of a consumer broadband router are:

• Wi-Fi generation: 802.11be routers carry a cost premium over older models that only support 802.11ac or 802.11n.
• Speed rating: Routers claiming higher data rates bring higher prices over routers with lower rates, all other factors being equal. For example, a 600 Mbps router will have a higher selling price than the model configured for 300 Mbps.
• Industrial design: Home routers have traditionally featured plain, box-like designs, some with antennas poking out the top or side. Vendors have gradually introduced different shapes, rounded corners, and a variety of colors and materials in an attempt to differentiate their products and get a higher price.
• Brand name: Many brands of consumer routers exist. Better-known brand names may carry a higher price tag based on vendor reputation.
• Temporary price reductions: Like many consumer electronics, sellers occasionally discount the prices of their routers. Purchasing a router during a sale can save you money.

How Fast Does a Wi-Fi Router Need to Be?

Wireless routers advertise their speed in megabits per second (Mbps). The first consumer Wi-Fi models offered 11 Mbps, but those have been long replaced by 802.11n routers that cap out around 600 Mbps, Wi-Fi 6 routers (802.11ax) that offer a theoretical maximum speed of over 9 Gbps (9,000 Mbps), and now Wi-Fi 7 routers that have max speeds of over 45 Gbps (45,000 Mbps).

Look at more than just routers with the highest Mbps rating. The actual performance you'll achieve in practice typically averages lower than the maximum rating shown on the package.

The actual router speed is determined by the number of devices on the network, physical interferences that degrade the wireless signal, the distance between the connected device and the router, and more.

A high-speed router can't speed up a slow ?internet connection. For example, if an ISP provides 125 Mbps service, a router that delivers speeds exceeding 1 Gbps will only work at 125 Mbps.

The router determines the maximum speed of a network and the speed provided by the ISP-whichever is slower. So, if a router delivers ultra-fast speeds and your ISP provides a small amount of bandwidth, that lesser amount will be all the router will provide. The same is true in reverse (that is, a slow router will deliver slow speeds even if you have fast bandwidth).

To maximize the speed of your wireless network, buy a router that delivers speeds at least as fast as what your ISP provides. Run a speed test on your network if you're not sure what you pay for.

How Far Does the Wi-Fi Range Extend?

Does your router need to reach a few rooms on one floor or throughout a three-story home and a garage? This feature determines the strength of the router you need.

Some standalone routers that come with one unit may or may not be able to deliver Wi-Fi throughout a whole home (depending on how big the house is and how powerful the router is). However, consider a long-range router, a mesh network with several routers bundled into one, or a Wi-Fi repeater/range extender if you have a large area.

Adding a second home router can also be helpful in large, multi-level homes or if you want to extend Wi-Fi outdoors.

Do You Need a Smart Router?

If you're new to setting up a network or unfamiliar with technology, choose a router with an interface optimized for casual home buyers. Here's how to determine what kind of router you need:

• Older types of routers provide access to their settings by typing the router's IP address into a web browser. This procedure is a difficult way for beginners to manage a network because you must remember the password and be at home when you make changes to the network (such as changing the Wi-Fi password and other settings).
• Smart routers are managed from a smartphone using an app that connects directly to the network from anywhere you are, even if you're away from home. The initial setup involved with these routers is straightforward and can be completed in minutes. Extra features like parental controls are often included.

Choose the first type of wireless router if you want something cheap because the other kind's convenience usually increases its price. Also, mesh Wi-Fi network systems typically use a mobile app, whereas routers that use the IP address method are often seen only with standalone devices.

Although it's always helpful to get advice from consumer ratings and review scores, take them with a grain of salt. People often complain about a device when it wasn't well-chosen for their circumstances in the first place.

What Brand Should You Choose?

Years ago, it was commonplace to purchase external network adapters with routers. Networking vendors sometimes added proprietary extensions to their products, resulting in slightly higher brand-matched performance. Vendors may also thoroughly test compatibility with their equipment.

Brand-matching your Wi-Fi router might make sense if you own some consumer electronic gear. If not, research the available brands and pick one you trust.?

Top router brands include:

• Asus
• Netgear
• Linksys
• TP-Link
• Google Wifi (Nest Wifi)
• Eero

Who Should Buy a Wireless Router?

Since routers are a necessary component of any network, anyone who needs Wi-Fi should consider a router:

• Home Wi-Fi users. If you want to surf the web, stream movies, and play online games, you'll need a router to support all your wireless devices.
  
• Offices. High-speed internet and Wi-Fi are essential for most work environments.
• Businesses. If you own a business, you'll probably need Wi-Fi for managing operations, and you may want to provide free Wi-Fi for your clients. Travel routers are useful if you travel a lot for work.
• Public spaces. Libraries, churches, community centers, and other public venues can offer free Wi-Fi for guests.
  

What to Do After You Buy

Once you have your router, it's time to set it up:

• Connect your router to your modem. Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into your router, then plug the other end into your modem.
• Connect to Wi-Fi. Connect to the Wi-Fi network and enter the password on your wireless device. You can find this information on the router or in the manual.
• Log in to your router. Access the administrative console (via the router's IP address or companion app) to change the Wi-Fi password, configure security settings, block websites, etc.