Choosing the best budget wireless routers for 2023 is a tricky job for most people. The technologies used and various other features present are not information that everyone is aware of and choosing equipment inferior to the connection present in your home can cause problems in the future. 

How to choose a good router?

When choosing a router, it is necessary to pay attention to some details such as transmission speed, number of antennas, quality of these antennas, security standard, frequency of supported bands, and even extra features that can be very useful for the user, such as accessing the settings by cell phone, parental control, USB ports and more. 

Contrary to what many people think, the number of antennas is not directly linked to signal quality. 

This depends more on the way they are adjusted and also on their potency. The transmission frequency is also very important. 

On most basic routers, the default frequency is 2.4 GHz, which is lower and may interfere with other wireless devices (as it is the most common). 

Despite this, its range is greater (with a lower connection speed). At 5GHz, the user has more connection speed and less interference from other devices, but its range is smaller. 

How do you know which frequency is ideal? For casual browsing, frequency 2.4 is enough, but if you need better quality for tasks like playing games, streaming files (downloading and uploading), 

Router speed is the maximum amount of transmission the device can achieve. 

It is important to remember that this is a separate value from your internet speed, that is, if you have internet with a value above the maximum speed of the router, it will not be able to use its full potential, otherwise you will have a waste of “strength” of the router. 

To calculate the best option for your internet speed is simple, just take the total transmission speed of the device and divide by 8, for example:

• Router with transmission speed of 300 mbps: 35 mbps maximum internet
• Router with transmission speed of 750 mbps: 90 mbps maximum internet
• Router with transmission speed of 1750 mbps: 210 mbps maximum internet

There are models with interesting features such as the Beamforming technology, where data is transmitted homogeneously focused directly on the connected devices, managing to find the best direct path to them and increasing the connection speed. 

There are also devices with integrated USB ports, repeater function (used to improve the signal of an existing router), modem function, access to settings directly from the cell phone, creation of different usage profiles, parental control, and more. 

Best Budget Wireless Routers 2022

1. D-Link WiFi Router AC1200

Looking for something simple and want a three-in-one product? The AC1200 in addition to a router also works as a modem and repeater. 

It is approved by the main providers that provide IPV6 connection, in addition to being able to be used as a repeater router, that is, if you already have the main router and just want to increase the signal range in your home, it also fulfills this job. It has 5 Ports.

2. TP-Link AC1200 WiFi Router (Archer A5)

If you are looking for a simple option with a good cost-benefit ratio, you will like this option. The TP-Link AC1200 is recommended for home use but delivers great quality as usual for TP-Link products. 

Its speed is divided into 300 Mbps for 2.4 GHz and 864 Mbps for 5GHz. 

It has four antennas that give a good range and a consistent signal on your connection. It has only two antennas and a very simplistic design, but if you don’t need a long-range and a very high speed, this model will suffice.

3. TP-Link AC1350

The ARCHER line has several models for the most diverse tastes and needs. The ARCHER is right in the middle of everyone, it’s not the most powerful option in the line, but it’s also far from being among the simplest. 

It divides its total speed (1350 Mbps) as follows: 450mbps for the 2.4GHz connection and 867 for the 5GHz connection.

Its five antennas ensure a great range and stability in the router’s signal. In addition, it has QoS, to prioritize certain types of data in the connection, as well as parental control and the possibility to create specific networks for guests. 

4. D-Link AC2600 MU-MIMO

A router with high processing power and a lot of speed is available. Looking for an upgrade to a top-quality product? Dir 882 to meet your needs. 

It has 2600 mbps and can work both at 2.4 GHz and at 5 GHz. The MU MIMO technology present in this model allows you to transmit a large volume of data between different devices simultaneously. Its four antennas are 5dbi, which provides a large signal range. 

It has a dual-core processor and QoS, which allows you to prioritize which types of data will be in the device’s traffic. To complete it, it has Gigabit ports, for those who have more than 100 Mbps of internet connection. 

5. ASUS AC1900 WiFi Gaming Router (RT-AC68U)

Asus arrives in the market of routers with some models that will please the gamer public. The RT-AC68U has been considered the fastest in the world for a few consecutive years, with a total speed of 1900 mbps. 

It divides this speed as follows: 600 Mbps for 2.4 GHz and 1300 for 5 GHz. Its dual-core processor, which processes data independently and provides very low latency, is ideal for games or streaming in high resolution. 

It features Beamforming technology optimized by AiRadar, amplifying the signal and making it faster and more stable. 

6. ASUS WiFi 6 Router (RT-AX3000)

Asus doesn’t live only from gamer models. If you are looking for a good device for your business, the RT-AX3000 is a great choice. 

It has a speed of 2334 Mbps and provides excellent signal quality, especially in environments where multiple devices are connected simultaneously.

Its processor is dual-core with 1 GHz to account for the number of devices that will go be connected in corporate use. 

It also has USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, support for VPN, WPS, AiProtection and its applications can be controlled from mobile. 

Conclusions

Choosing a router model is directly linked to the use you will make of this device and also the speed of your connection. 

There are several models available for different requirements, ranging from simple home use to commercial use, which requires robust devices with high transmission rates and extra features. 

Leave there in the comments what you think of our list.

Affiliate disclosure:

If you make a purchase through the links on this page, I may receive a small commission. I wrote this review based on my honest experience and my vision of the company. I only write reviews about services and products that I personally use, like and believe in. I usually try to see good things rather than wasting my time thinking about the drawbacks. I strongly believe that if you take action and dedicate some time and effort, you will get your money worth and change your life for the better. Although I always list “cons” and strive to be as objective as possible, I also think that focusing too much on negative aspects can lead to procrastination and having a negative experience. Learn More.