8 Best Routers For Firestick in 2021 [Fast/Lag-Free Streaming Experience]

Is your current router unable to handle prolonged HD streaming sessions on your Firestick device or are you just looking for a router that won’t buffer or feel sluggish when using it with Firestick? It doesn’t matter what your needs are, getting a fast router that won’t spoil your streaming experience is imperative.

You can easily pair your Amazon Firestick with any router (as there’s no compatibility check needed), but pairing it with a slow router that isn’t suited for 4K streaming or lacks media-consumption features can cause instabilities, do you want it? If no is the answer, then you’ve come to the right place.

Besides, if you’re a parent who is using the Firestick to educate your child or want to limit your kid’s internet exposure and screen time, then you must also look in for a router that comes with parental controls. There are a lot of factors that are to be considered before picking a router, that’s why I spent around 71 hours researching and reviewing different WiFi options for various scenarios.

Things I checked before making this list

• Parental Control Features (consider this if you have kids)
• Bandwidth Congestion between multiple TVs and Devices
• Availability of enough Ethernet Ports for Wired Connectivity.
• High-Speed support for 4K streaming.
• MU-MIMO and OFDMA for network optimization.
• QoS (For better control of your WiFi router.)
• Support for multiple devices.

8 Best Routers for Firestick in 2021

A comprehensive analysis of the requirements of a diverse group of consumers using the Amazon Fire TV Stick leads to an initial shortlist of over 35 routers. After further scrutiny, I have narrowed it down to the top 8 routers for Firestick that offer the best value for your money.

The list starts with the premium, high-end routers that support the latest wireless standards (Wi-Fi 6), offer more wired connectivity, and comprehensive security options. As one proceeds further, you will find mid-range value options catering to specific requirements. At the end of the list, you will find the best budget choices.

1. Best Overall: TP-Link Archer AX6000

If you’re on the hunt for a dual-band router that offers plenty of ports, then you’ve to check out the TP-Link Archer AX6000. It also has the latest security and technological features that can fill your home with data.

Speeds & Performance

It promises faster throughput performance, increased device handling, more secure home networks, and better speeds. The router can deliver a maximum speed of 6000mbps. The router can deliver a maximum speed of 1148mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 4804mbps on the 5GHz band.

Hardware & Internals

The Archer AX6000 is powered by a quad-core processor that clocks in at a frequency of 1.8GHz to deliver consistent performance. It has 1GB RAM that is sufficient for 4K streaming and gaming on multiple devices simultaneously. It also has a flash memory of 128MB to install any other apps and security features that you have in mind.

Ports & Connectivity

The rear panel of this router is adorned with eight gigabit LAN ports, one 2.5 Gigabit WAN port, a power port, a power button, and a reset button. On the left edge of the router, you’ll notice a USB 3.0 Type-A port and a USB 3.0 Type-C port.

Setup & App Support

The settings of this router can easily be adjusted according to your network requirements using the TP-LINK app that’s available on both Android and iOS devices. You will, however, need to rely on the web console to configure advanced router settings such as IPv6 settings, DHCP Server, NAT forwarding, and VPN Server.

Design & Build

The router has a beefy square design and is available in a beautiful textured black color. It measures 10x12x4 inches and weighs just 3.5 pounds. It is one of the largest routers in the market, with a square LED button on top. Also, on the router’s front panel, you have a WPS button, an LED button, and a WiFi button.

When everything is working normally, the indicator flashes a blue light, pulses blue if any firmware updates are required, glows orange when it’s connected to the internet. Still, the WiFi is disabled, and a solid red when there is no internet connection.

Is this router for you?

If you want to enjoy seamless 4K streaming, then you’ve got to buy this router because of its excellent speed and coverage, BSS Coloring technology, beamforming, and Rangeboost feature for stronger signals, QoS, high-speed ports, advanced security features, robust parental controls, and budget-friendly nature.

2. Best Runner Up: Netgear Nighthawk RAX78

Netgear routers have a reputation for providing undefeatable performance and unbelievable technical features. If speed is what you’re looking for, then the Nighthawk RAX78 is an absolute must-have for you.

Speeds & Performance

The RAX78 tri-band router delivers a combined maximum speed of 6.2Gbps. Talking about individual speeds, the 2.4GHz radio band delivers a speed of 460mbps, one of the 5GHz radio bands delivers a maximum speed of 960mbps, and the primary 5GHz radio band delivers a maximum speed of 4800mbps.

The router also supports DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) and 160MHz channels, combining two 80MHz channels on the 5GHz band for faster throughput. Moreover, the Wi-Fi 6 standard and MU-MIMO technology are ideal for 4K video streaming.

Since it has no difficulty penetrating through the walls, I was able to stream 4K content in every corner of a 2 story house without any dead spots.

Hardware & Internals

This model is powered by a strong quad-core processor that clocks in at a frequency of 1.5GHz. It has a 512MB RAM space that lets you enjoy 4K streaming, gaming, and other tasks without lags, freezes, or WiFi dead zones. It also has 256MB of flash memory to download extra applications and safety features.

Ports & Connectivity

The rear side of this router is adorned with an array of ports. You’ll notice 4 Gigabit LAN ports, a WAN port, and a USB 3.0 port. The USB port is usually seen in most routers and helps you connect external devices on the network.

In order to increase your data transmission efficiency when working with compatible aggregate devices, this Netgear router lets you combine two LAN ports using Ethernet Port Aggregation. You can use this feature for devices such as network switches and network-attached storage (NAS) devices.

Setup & App Support

To manage the RAX78 router, you can either use the Netgear web console or the Nighthawk mobile app. When you open the web console, its home page will inform you about the Basic Internet and Wireless settings.

To enable the parental controls on this router, you’ll have to download the app specifically. To configure it, you need to connect your router to your PC and internet service. After that, go to www.routerlogin.net to access the Setup Wizard that’ll walk you through the router settings and installation.

Design & Build

The router has a remarkable sleek body in black. It measures 11.85 x 8.19 x 3.23 inches and weighs about 2.58 pounds. On the front edge of the router, you’ll notice a textured design for heat dissipation. While on the back, it features ports, an LED indicator, a power button, and a WPS button.

Is this router for you?

This device is compatible with the Fire TV stick and is a must-buy due to its terrific tri-band speeds, strong internals, support for DFS and 160MHz channels, great coverage, and real-time speeds.

3. Best for 4K Streaming: ASUS RT-AX82U

The ASUS RT-AX82U is one of the fastest gaming routers I’ve ever used that has game and stream-friendly features along with solid security standards. This router is specifically suited/made for 2000 Sq Ft houses that require higher bandwidth for FireStick streaming.

Speeds & Performance

Talking about individual band speeds, the 2.4GHz band on the router can deliver a maximum speed of 574mbps, and each of the 5GHz bands can deliver a maximum speed of 4804mbps. The RT-AX82U also has the latest MU-MIMO technology that enables it to support multiple devices simultaneously.

Hardware & Internals

This device is powered by a tri-core processor that clocks in at a frequency of 1.5GHz. As the router is adorned with a powerful chipset, its wireless bands support higher bandwidth. It has a RAM of 512MB that can handle your Firestick streaming operations and 256MB of flash memory that can be used to install any extra applications that you desire.

Ports & Connectivity

The router has a variety of external ports. It has 3 LAN ports and 1 WAN port. It also has one USB 3.2 port to connect to a printer and an external hard drive. What stands out, however, is an inclusion of a dedicated gaming port. So, if you’re someone who likes playing games on gaming consoles like Xbox One or PS4/PS5, it’ll come in handy.

Setup & App Support

The ASUS Router app is the perfect solution to all your router woes as it lets you configure your router according to your requirements and is available on both Android and iOS devices. However, to configure advanced settings on your router, you’ll have to rely on the web console.

Design & Build

The router has a gaming desk-friendly design with AURA RGB lighting effects. It is available in a classic black color with a blue color accent in the front. The Asus router has 4 high-performance external antennas that are fixed and non-adjustable. It measures ‎10.96 x 7.26 x 6.5  inches and weighs just 1.63 pounds.

Other features of this router that give it an edge over its competitors include ASUS AiProtection Pro security, AiMesh compatibility, Mobile Game Mode for low-latency gaming, and advanced parental controls.

Is this router for you?

This is the perfect router for streaming tv and a must-buy because of its unique game-friendly features, lifetime protection against cyber threats, excellent speed and coverage, beamforming feature, QoS, and high-speed LAN ports.

4. Best Under $150: Linksys E8450

The Linksys AX3200 is one of the best sub-$150, especially if you are neck-deep into content streaming. Also, if you have a Fire TV Stick at your disposal, this router is certainly worth investing in, owing to the multi-stream traffic segregation and massive coverage. 

Speeds & Performance

If you own a streaming device, precisely any Fire TV stick variant, the performances exhibited by the Linksys E8450 make it a good enough buying option. Despite encountering network congestion, the router can churn out maximum speeds of 800Mbps for the 2.4GHz band and close to 2400Mbps for the 5GHz band.

I was also impressed with the coverage area of 2500 Sq Ft, which is good enough for most streaming fanatics. However, if you are streaming 4K videos, courtesy of the Fire TV Stick 4K as the go-to device, I would recommend reliance on the 5GHz band for a zero buffering approach.

Hardware & Internals

Linksys houses a standard, dual-core processor. At 1.4GHz, the clock speed is pretty reasonable and perfectly complements the 512MB of RAM and 128MB of flash storage. The combined processing conglomerate takes care of multiple processing threads, which are mostly encountered during streaming and P2P downloading.

Ports & Connectivity

When it comes to the ports, this router deftly includes 4 Gig Ethernet LAN ports for setting up high-speed internet connections. Also, a Gig WAN port connects the router to the modem, sans attenuation and throughput loss. You get access to one USB 2.0 port. It allows you to connect data repositories and peripherals.

Setup & App Support

The Linksys AX3200 is easy to set up, courtesy of the intuitive, browser-based interface and app-based compatibility. However, I would recommend looking at the manual to meander through the steps with added seamlessness.

The competent hardware also lays the foundation for internet sharing, better parental control, and a resourceful guest network. Also, the hardware readily complements the 4×4 spatial streaming and the associated Beamforming technology, which is perfect for increasing the overall coverage.

Design & Build

This router features a vertical layout and weighs a mere 1.41 pounds. Not just that, there is a dedicated WPS button at your disposal, helping you connect other devices, bridges, and access points with a simple push.

Is this router for you?

If you are invested in speeds and exceptional coverage, the Linksys AX3200 seems like the perfect Wi-Fi 6 router to place your bets on. However, it is still advisable to invest in a top-shelf modem to tap into the real potential of this routing device.

5. Best for Large Homes: ASUS RT-AX3000

If you don’t want to burn a hole in your pocket while buying a WiFi 6 router that provides excellent speeds and coverage, then the ASUS RT-AX3000 is the perfect choice for you.

Speeds & Performance

Talking about individual band speeds, the 2.4GHz band can deliver a maximum speed of 575mbps, and the 5GHz band can deliver a maximum speed of 2402mbps. The router also has the latest MU-MIMO technology that enables it to support up to 30+ devices simultaneously.

The router has 4 external antennas with beamforming abilities to deliver a strong signal in every corner of your 3000 Sq Ft house. Each of these antennas has separate input and output channel. Because of this conglomerate, you can enjoy Fire TV streaming while still supporting plenty of other tasks on other clients.

Hardware & Internals

The router is powered by a tri-core processor that clocks in at a frequency of 1.5GHz, enabling it to deliver consistent performance. It has 512MB RAM that can efficiently support your daily tasks and moderate high-end multitasking. It also has a 256MB flash memory to install any extra app if needed. In addition to that, the router supports the latest wireless standards.

Ports & Connectivity

The router sports a variety of ports on its back surface. It has 4 Ethernet LAN ports and 1 WAN port. It also has one USB 3.0 port on the far left at the back panel that can be used to connect hard drives, printers, smartphones, etc. Also, there’s a DC power port at the back to plug in your router. An important office-oriented feature of this router is that you can directly connect a USB-enabled printer to it.

Setup & App Support

The router can be configured by using the NETGEAR app available on both Android and iOS devices. The app allows you to set up a guest network, enable parental controls, compile a list of accessible websites, and filter malicious websites based on Netgear’s algorithm.

You can even pause your wireless connection several times during the day using the app. Setting up this router is super easy as compared to other conventional routers. All you need to do is download NETGEAR’s Nighthawk app on your smartphone and let the network wizard set up your wireless connection.

Design & Build

You’ll find the ASUS logo in golden color and 8 LED indicators on the top panel of the router. These lights indicate your router’s power status, active internet connection, active WiFi connections, and Ethernet status. At the same time, the router’s back panel has a WPS button, a power button, and a reset button.

The router has a plastic chassis available in black color and measures 8.82 x 6.06 x 6.3 inches. It weighs just 1.19 pounds and is a great router to enjoy Firestick streaming in a small living space. Overall, this router has a sleek and smooth finish because all its vents are placed strategically at the back.

Is this router for you?

It is a must-buy due to its 160MHz channels support, QoS, Beamforming, basic parental controls, excellent performance, and the ability to simultaneously support up to 30 devices.

6. Best WiFi Mesh System: TP-Link Deco X20

If you have a Fire TV Stick at home, you are better off purchasing the TP-Link Deco X20 as the routing device of choice. While this mesh system boasts a wide range of impactful features, I was most impressed with the long wireless range and Wi-Fi 6 support. The Deco X20 is a highly innovative device that makes streaming fun and extremely productive.

Speeds & Performance

The Wi-Fi 6 mesh router supports downloads and uploads at cumulative speeds of up to 1.8Gbps. However, I was impressed with the near band speed of up to 1201Mbps. The mesh promises a maximum 2.4GHz band speed of up to 574Mbps. Not just that, the Deco X20 also offers excellent network coverage of up to 4000 Sq Ft, courtesy of the 2 pack setup.

Hardware & Internals

When it comes to the processing components, you get hold of a reliable, quad-core processor. The featured chipset clocks at 710MHz and works in tandem with 512MB of built-in RAM. Therefore, you can expect the router and satellite to manage data and traffic across multiple devices. The tri-band support depends on the requisite firmware, which is stored perfectly in the 512MB flash memory.

Ports & Connectivity

In terms of the port arrangement, there are four Gig Ethernet ports to work with. While you get three LAN ports to set up high-speed wired connections, there is a solitary WAN port to connect the mesh setup to the concerned modem.

Setup & App Support

Setting up this mesh-based router requires minimal effort, courtesy of the Netgear Orbi application. Plus, the seamless browser-based setup and app integration allows you to set up guest networks and manage parental controls and Alexa compatibility with ease.

Also, the hardware makes way for comprehensive protection against data theft, malware, and virus. Not just that, the processing setup also allows you to establish high-gain and secure guest networks and make use of the integrated MU-MIMO and Beamforming support.

Design & Build

The modern layout pertaining to the Orbi RBK50 mesh is in sync with the home décor arrangements. Also, the entire setup weighs close to 1.72 pounds, making it one of the lightest meshes in the retail space.

Is this router for you?

The Deco X20 is the best WiFi mesh setup for Firestick if you want wider coverage for making the most of your streaming preferences. Plus, if you have other streaming devices, this mesh setup is worth the splurge, courtesy of the WPA 3 security standards and the ability to connect up to 100 gadgets at once.

7. Best Value for Money: Netgear Nighthawk R7350

The Netgear Nighthawk R7350 delivers a constant performance and strong wireless signal and is an absolute breeze to install and control. It’s a great sub $100 wireless router with MU-MIMO, Beamforming+, and WPA 3 encryption standards.

Speeds & Performance

This router can deliver a combined maximum speed of 2400 Mbps. Now let’s talk about the individual speeds of the 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels. The 2.4GHz band can deliver a maximum speed of 600mbps, and the 5GHz band can deliver a maximum speed of 1733 Mbps.

The QoS feature of the router lets you prioritize bandwidth for priority tasks based on network traffic. The router can cover a maximum range of 2500 sq. ft.

Hardware & Internals

When a Broadcom BCM4709A0 dual-core processor clocking in at a frequency of 1GHz powers your router, you don’t have to worry about its performance. It has 256MB RAM and 128MB flash memory. These specs are sufficient to support lag-free Fire TV stick streaming, business operations, and more.

Ports & Connectivity

To help you connect to your favorite devices, the router sports four LAN ports and one WAN port at its back that can deliver a maximum speed of 1000 Mbps. It also sports one USB 3.0 port on the front to connect the compatible devices directly to the router.

Setup & App Support

As far as device installation and management is concerned, you can take the help of the Nighthawk app that’s available for both Android and iOS devices. This app also allows you to set some security for your router without any additional assistance. If you don’t wish to install the app, you can switch to the intuitive web-based management console.

Design & Build

The Nighthawk R7350 is quite petit and sports a simple black body that measures 13.35 x 12.68 x 3.94 inches and weighs 1.65 pounds. On the top of the router, there are LED indicators aligned horizontally. They indicate the status of power, internet, radio bands, and USB connectivity. The back panel of this router features ethernet ports, a power button, adapter jack, reset, etc.

Is this router for you?

If you love streaming firestick, then this router is a must-buy for you due to its affordability, adequate CPU and RAM, quad-stream MU-MIMO technology, creative QoS and beamforming abilities, and WPA 3 security standards.

8. Cheapest Option: ASUS RT-ACRH18

In a world where consumers find themselves getting lost in complicated numbers,ASUS RT-ACRH18 is indubitably a breath of fresh air. It’s an affordable router that performs just like an expensive one.

Performance & Speed

This router can deliver a maximum speed of 1750mbps. Individually, the 2.4GHz band can deliver a maximum speed of 450mbps, and the 5GHz band can deliver a maximum speed of 1300mbps. It can support up to eight downstream and four upstream channels.

Hardware & Internals

The RT-ACRH18 is powered by the 1.8GHz Quad-Core chipset that enables the router to deliver consistent performance throughout a 3000 sq ft large home. It has a RAM and storage memory of 128MB that is enough to power your basic operations like TV streaming, Wi-Fi calling, etc. but isn’t suitable for high-end multitasking.

Ports & Connectivity

The router features an assortment of external ports. It has four LAN ports and one WAN port that can deliver a maximum speed of 1Gbps to all your wired connections. It also has one USB 3.0 port that can be used to connect to other devices such as printers and smartphones.

Setup & App Support

If you want to control your router’s settings and find out about its real-time features, you can use the ASUS Router app available on both Android and iOS devices. You can also set up this router at your home or your office using the directions stated on the app or ASUSWRT web interface. The web interface does offer a plethora of basic and advanced settings.

Design & Build

The router has an interesting front panel with an array of LED indicators. It measures 8.66 x 6.3 x 3.43 inches and weighs just 1.03 pounds making it ultra-portable. While the ports are placed on the back, the antennas are aligned on the top. Three external antennas with beamforming abilities deliver a stronger wireless signal and cover a wider network range.

Is this router for you?

If you want to enjoy 4k streaming at your home using Firestick on TV, then this router is an absolute must-have for you due to its incredible speed, extended coverage, QoS abilities, beamforming features, and advanced security features.

The Buyer’s Guide

Let’s have a look at a few features you must consider while buying the best router for Amazon FireStick:

• Powerful Processors

What is the first thing that pops into your mind when thinking of the word ‘processor’? Probably computer specifications, right? But you’d be surprised to hear that routers have processors too that help them power your everyday operations.

If you want to enjoy seamless 4K streaming, then you must opt for a router with at least a dual-core processor. The latest and the greatest modern-day routers are also equipped with quad-core processors.

• Quality of Service

Several high-end routers today offer the Quality of Service feature that allows you to prioritize your bandwidth traffic and stream on multiple devices simultaneously. It also ensures that you can download and stream videos without any buffering and interference from other tasks such as gaming.

• Wireless Standards

As the need of users for connecting multiple devices to the internet has grown, so has wireless technology. Some common wireless standards that you’ll notice on your router specs are the 802.11b/g/n and the latest WiFi 6 or the 802.11ax standard.

WiFi 6 is fairly new and that’s why only a few wireless routers support this wireless standard.

Most modern-day routers support the 802.11 b/g/n standards. You can enjoy good quality streaming using the 802.11 b/g/n standards but for a better user experience, always opt for a router supporting the 802.11ax or WiFi 6 standard.

These wireless standards deliver the speed you require for effortless 4k video streaming and can even handle high-end gaming.

• Bands

Routers operate using radio bands such as the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands. Single-band routers employ only the 2.4 GHz band, dual-band routers employ one 2.4GHz band and one 5 GHz band, and tri-band routers employ one 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands.

You must opt for dual-band or tri-band routers as they can handle more devices and suffer from lesser co-channel and inter-channel interference.

• MU-MIMO and Beamforming

MU-MIMO technology allows you to connect multiple devices to your wireless network and enjoy lag-free streaming. It enables your router to perform advanced multitasking with ease.

Another feature that accompanies MU-MIMO technology in modern-day routers is beamforming. This feature transmits a stronger wireless signal to all your devices using internal antennas and enables the signal to reach a wider range too.

• Ports

All routers come with Ethernet ports to support wired connections such as gaming consoles, computers, etc. However, in order to connect more devices such as printers, you’ll need USB ports in your routers.

My advice would be to choose a router with at least one USB 3.0 port, as it can help you connect your latest devices to your wireless router.

• Antennas

Your WiFi range, performance, reliability, MU-MIMO, and beamforming features depend on the number of antennas on your wireless router. If you want to enjoy 4k streaming with maximum wireless throughput, go for a router that sports multiple antennas.

• Additional Features

Additional router features won’t necessarily make 4K streaming better for you, but they would certainly make your life easier. Look for additional features such as parental control, cloud access, and airtime fairness in the router you’re buying for the ultimate user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

Whether you’re trying to handle 4K streaming or battling with your friends in your favorite game, these high-end routers won’t let you down with buffering. They offer excellent performance and are the absolute best choices for Amazon Firestick. If you’re still confused about picking one, let me help you with the final picks:

• If you need a future-proof device with the latest wireless standards and plenty of LAN ports, the Netgear Nighthawk RAX78 is my top recommendation.
• If you need a device that offers excellent value for the money, you can’t go wrong with the ASUS RT-AX3000. It has great speeds, range, and features that you can’t get in other routers of that price range.
• Lastly, if you need an affordable router to stream content with Amazon Firestick, the Netgear Nighthawk R7350 would be a go-to recommendation.

With these routers at home, you can call your friends for streaming without worrying about encountering buffering, screen lags, screen freezes, and WiFi dead zones.