The Best DD-WRT Routers of 2020.

It has tri-band support that can reach a throughput as high as 5.33Gbps, and it can cover large homes up to 5,000 sq ft. If that’s somehow not enough, you can connect more Asus routers to it and cover a wider area with its AiMesh feature.

This advantage becomes more evident when you’re using your favorite mobile apps. The support for MU-MIMO allows you to prioritize devices, to ensure trouble-free connections for even older and slower ones, without throttling the newer devices in the network.

The AC3150 also offers generous I/O port options and extensive open-source firmware support if you’re inclined to do some tinkering. It has a web-based network management console that is accessible through D-Link’s QRS smartphone app. It shows the network map clearly along with vital info, such as user IP addresses, type of connections, and provides connection uptime monitoring.

A 1.4GHz dual-processor along with its proprietary 1024-NitroQAM tech gives this 4-stream dual-band router more than a 25% performance boost in both its 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. It also lets you pick the most optimal band your device can use with the help of its Smart Connect feature. It will prioritize faster devices with larger bandwidth and only allocates enough for slower ones too keep everything running smoothly.

Netgear had more than a mere router in mind when they gave the X4S the capability to connect to a host of storage devices and printers with its eSATA and two USB 3.0 ports. With its ReadShare Vault app, you can take advantage of these storage devices to backup all your data automatically. While data transfer may be wanting, it’s MU-MIMO 4x4 data streaming per band is solid and maximizes throughput speeds with hardly any compromises in bandwidth.

Admittedly, its dual-band will be slower than more expensive tri-band routers. Still, it makes up for this with its fast processor and Dynamic QoS (Quality of Service) feature that prioritizes bandwidth allocation very efficiently.

This ensures that even the most speed demanding applications like movie streaming channels and games will all run without a hitch and won’t ruin your experience.

The X4S is packed with security features and even allows parents to filter internet websites. It’s a smart router and has a user-friendly Netgear-Genie console that walks you through multiple options and makes managing your network connection a breeze.

Best for Network Extension: Netgear R6700 Nighthawk

Netgear designed this as an affordable solution for households that have up to a dozen or more Wi-Fi devices. It has powerful amplifiers and three adjustable and removable external antennas with Beamforming+ that boosts the signal significantly. Coverage extends to the entire home with minimal dead spots.

This dual-band router can deliver speeds up to 1.3GBps on its 5GHz band and up to 450MBps, and can handle 4K streaming without hiccups. Online gaming performance is also impressive, delivering lag-free gameplay. All of this is made possible with its Dynamic QoS that does a stellar job of optimizing the router’s bandwidth potential even during heavy loads.

Network-Allocated Storage or NAS, as well as file transfer performance with USB 3.0, are also commendable when transferring data in both NTFS and FAT32 formats. It also has the Genie app shared with other Netgear models. The app allows users total control, monitoring, and troubleshooting of their network without booting up their PC.

Best Green Router: TRENDnet AC1900

With that said, you can’t expect blazing speeds offered by more premium products. It can reach up to 1.3Gbps in 803.11ac networks and about 600Mbps in 803.11n. For external storage, it both USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports. Its four Gigabit Ethernet ports should provide ample speed for any use.

Despite that, it still offers above-average mid-range performance. The AC1900 is a very affordable dual-band AC router that boasts of a 50% reduction in energy consumption over previous models. It’s capable of Targeted Beamforming that boosts the signal and improves the performance of a specific location for even more efficient use of power.

It allows you to put up an isolated guest network as well as a secure one to protect your sensitive data from any intrusion. This router can handle up to 8 Wi-Fi networks simultaneously, and data transfer is pre-encrypted for added security. There are also parental controls to prevent unwanted sites from appearing in any device connected to the network.

It sports both USB 2.0 and 3.0 for storage devices as well as printing support. There are also 4 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports to hardwire your devices. All of this, combined with its robust dual-band Wi-Fi performance, will provide a dependable network in your home.

Best Smart Features: Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3000

Its smart features are what separates it from other tri-bands. Most notable is its smart, Dynamic QoS that works in conjunction with a processor able to deliver up to 3.0Gbps Wi-Fi speeds. It takes bandwidth prioritization to a whole new level by ensuring that all devices connected are allocated with optimal bandwidth to match their capabilities. Bandwidth won’t be wasted on slower devices so that newer and faster ones won’t end up throttling.

A dedicated amplifier for each of the six antennas boosts signal strength. You can also monitor and manage your internet access easily from any smart mobile device. What you get is an advanced all-around performer that’s easy to set up and can provide uninterrupted streaming and lag-free gaming.

Best Budget Router: GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2

It has 128MB RAM, 16MB flash ROM, and can deliver up to 300Mbps in a single 2.4GHz band only. There are also micro USB and dual Ethernet ports that allow for better extendability.