10 Best Wireless Routers Under $100 [Cheap + Powerful]

With the growing demand for connecting multiple smartphones, laptops, computers, and other household devices to a stable wireless connection, it’s important that you invest in a consummate router. But is a $100 budget enough?

While you can’t expect a high-end router that supports mesh networks or is capable of providing seamless connectivity in large houses for such a low price, but it surely is enough for basic internet connectivity for tasks such as video streaming, business work, internet surfing, downloading large movies, etc.

Based on my research, A $100 budget is perfect for people looking for a budget-friendly at-home wireless connection. And as the wireless standards keep evolving, it’s best not to spend too much money on a single piece of hardware that’s going to be rendered redundant in the future. For instance, with the launch of WiFi 6, the previous-gen devices would get redundant.

Routers run the gamut from gaming and business devices to single-band, dual-band, tri-band, and mesh routers. You’d be surprised to know that for under $100 you can buy a reliable equipment for your needs with the latest technological advancements.

What To Expect?

• Fast wireless connection (combined speed of more than 900 Mbps for dual-band routers and 300 Mbps and above for single-band devices)
• Bandwidth prioritization for streaming and gaming aka Quality of Service feature (QoS)
• Dual-core CPU processor and 64MB and above RAM
• A range of more than 1000 sq. ft
• Four LAN ports, USB 2.0 or 3.0 port, and a WAN port
• Advanced security features such as WPA2
• Ability to support over 12 wireless connections

I’m aware of the fact that purchasing or renting out a router can be a daunting task. You need to consider the specifications such as upload and download speeds, chipset, processor, RAM, wireless channels available, ports, range, etc. But don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.

10 Best Routers Under $100

Truth be told, you don’t require an extravagant wireless router to provide you with the latest and the greatest technological features. A small investment can go a long way too. After testing 81 routers from 17 brands, I’ve picked the 10 best-rated options that cost less than $100.

1. Best Overall: NETGEAR Nighthawk R6700

The NETGEAR Nighthawk R6700 smartly selects between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency band to minimize interference and maximize the speed on all your wireless devices.

The device has the additional QoS feature which prioritizes the wireless bandwidth for more important tasks for the best streaming experience. It has a speed of 1750mbps which is perfect for demanding activities such as video streaming, business operations, and gaming.

The router has a powerful 1 GHz dual-core processor. It was released in 2013 and is fueled by the Broadcom BCM4709A0 chipset. It has a flash memory of 128 MB and 256 MB RAM which is perfect to support over 25 wireless connections.

This Netgear dual-band router operates at 450mbps on 2.4 GHz and 1300mbps on the 5 GHz frequency band. It has an excellent range of 1500 sq. ft which means that it will cover almost every nook and cranny of small and medium-sized houses. It also uses three antennas and beamforming technology to provide you with a stronger signal and better range.

The R6700 has four 1 gigabit each wired ethernet ports and 1 USB 3.0 port. The additional USB 3.0 port provides you with the versatility of connecting multiple devices to your router. It also has enhanced parental control features to monitor and protect your child from adult content.

Moreover, you can manage the router settings with Netgear’s Genie app without having to boot up your computer. You can install it within five minutes using your mobile phone. Talk about convenience.

The Netgear R6700 has a sturdy design and is available in a gorgeous black finish. It has a wide base with rubber feet which ensure that your router doesn’t slip on surfaces. It can even be mounted on a wall if the space is limited. You should definitely buy this router for its advanced security features, USB 3.0 port, beamforming, and QoS feature.

2. Best for Large Homes: TP-LINK AC1900 RE580D

If you want to experience an extremely high wireless throughput at your home, then you’ve got to pick the TP-LINK AC1900 RE580D. This router has a combined maximum speed of 1900mbps. It delivers a speed of 600mbps on the 2.4 GHz frequency band and 1300mbps on the 5 GHz frequency band. It also supports up to four MIMO streams.

This wireless device is fueled by a powerful dual-core CPU processor that clocks in at a frequency of 1 GHz. It has a 128MB RAM that can support various high-end operations. It also has a 64MB flash memory to support any other applications that you have in mind.

The TP-LINK AC1900 has three external antennas with 700mW high power amplifiers for better wireless coverage. Furthermore, this device has an outstanding range of 10,000 sq. ft. You can connect multiple smartphones, gaming consoles, and streaming devices to the five 1G ethernet ports of the router.

You can also easily set up this router and manage its settings using the free TP-LINK Tether app support. This router works with the 802.11ac/b/g/n standards and provides you the ultimate support.

This TP-Link router has a gorgeous and sturdy black body. It measures 13.39 x 9.45 x 2.99 inches and weighs 2 pounds. It has an additional feature of a Smart Signal Indicator. This feature discovers the best location at your home for router installation and educates you about it. And if this isn’t enough to convince you to buy this router, its advanced security features, 2-year warranty, and unlimited 24/7 technical support definitely will.

3. Best for Gaming: TP-LINK AC1750 Archer C7

The WAN speed determines the maximum throughput your ISP provides you. For the TP-LINK AC1750 Archer C7, it is 1000mbps. As far as the wireless performance is concerned, even though the router is pretty old, it has an unbeatable solid performance.

This router supports a top speed of 1750mbps. The maximum speed you can get on the 2.4 GHz frequency band is 450mbps and that on the 5 GHz band is 1300mbps. With the abundance of bandwidth available on this device along with the QoS feature, streaming videos, and gaming become really easy due to bandwidth prioritization.

This TP-LINK router is fueled by Qualcomm Atheros QCA9588 CPU chipset which clocks in at a frequency of 720 MHz. It has a 128 MB DDR3 SDRAM and 8 MB flash memory. With such a powerful processor and RAM, it can easily support up to 50 household wireless connections.

Unlike other conventional routers, the Archer C7 has three external antennas and three internal antennas for better wireless coverage and beamforming. Moreover, it’s easy to reposition all the antennas of the router towards the rooms requiring a more focused WiFi connection.

This beast of a router can provide a stable WiFi connection over a range of 2,500 sq. ft. The router has 1 WAN port and four wired Ethernet ports. Furthermore, it has dual USB 2.0 ports to support the connection with other devices.

You can easily manage the settings of your router on your phone with the help of the TP-LINK Tether app. It’s available for both Android and iOS. You can easily establish the 802.11ac wireless network in your home using this app.

This router has a glossy back and measures 9.57 x 6.32 x 1.28 inches and weighs just 1.12 pounds. It supports various OS like Microsoft Windows 10, 8.1,8, and below, MAC OS, NetWare, UNIX, or Linux. I guess what they say is true; old is definitely gold! This routers’ power-packed performance and distinct features will certainly compel you to buy it.

4. Best for Ports: ASUS RT-AC66U

The Asus RT-AC66U provides you solid performance and signal at every nook and cranny of your house. It delivers a maximum speed of 400mbps on the 2.4 GHz band, 1350mbps on the 5 GHz band, and a net total maximum speed of 1750mbps. The router can transmit and receive MIMO streams of 3 x 3 on both; the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.

It is fueled by the dual-core Broadcom BCM4706 CPU processor just like the other two models of the router. It has a powerful RAM of 256MB that can support HD streaming, business operations, and gaming. The router also provides you with a flash memory of the size 128 MB.

This Asus router boasts three external antennas that can be positioned anywhere for better signal reception. This router is suitable for large homes and provides a coverage range of up to 2500 sq. ft.

The router comes with four LAN ports, one gigabit WAN port, and one USB 2.0 port to connect other devices such as a printer to your router. You can control the settings of your router using the ASUS router app. You can manage everything from real-time network traffic to managing the router settings. The device can be installed easily by following just three basic steps.

The Asus RT-AC66U router has a versatile design and a black plastic body that can fit in your home. It can also be mounted on a wall or set up behind monitors and other areas. The device measures 8.14 x 5.86 x 1.4 inches and weighs just 12 ounces. If you’re looking for advanced security features, versatile design, great range, excellent speed and performance, and affordability, then this router is absolutely perfect for you.

5. Best for Multiple Devices: NETGEAR R6120 AC1200

The Netgear R6120 provides you a lag-free performance experience at home. It provides your devices with a net speed of 1200mbps. The 2.4 GHz band delivers a speed of 300mbps and the 5 GHz band delivers a speed of 900mbps. As the wireless router promotes the 802.11ac connection, it supports four MIMO streams.

It is fueled by the MIPS CPU processor that clocks in at a frequency of 580 MHz. The router has a 64MB RAM that is sufficient to support your daily operations but is not suitable for high-end tasks such as business operations and gaming. It has a flash memory of 16MB as well.

It can cover an area of 1200 sq. ft and is most suitable for small homes and individual rooms. This wireless router has four LAN ports and one WAN port that provide a speed of 100mbps. It also has a USB 2.0 port that provides you with the ability to connect other devices of your choice to the router.

Moreover, with the Netgear Genie app, you can easily control your router settings. The router can be installed within just five minutes with the help of the Netgear Genie app.

The Netgear R6120 has a black plastic body and measures 7.05 x 8.62 x 4.29 inches. It weighs just 8.8 ounces and is super light. Overall, this model is a must-have for people looking for a consummate router for their homes. It also has WPA/WPA2 and firewall security features that protect your personal information and is the perfect router to carry out basic daily operations.

6. Best for Work from Home: Asus RT-ACRH13

The Asus RT-ACRH13 is a beast of a router as it provides you with an unbeatable and stable wireless connection at every corner of your living space. It has a combined maximum speed of 1267mbps. It delivers a speed of 400mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 867mbps on the 5 GHz band. The router has the latest MU-MIMO technology that supports 2 x 2 streams.

It is fueled by the powerful Qualcomm Atheros IPQ4028 quad-core CPU processor that clocks in at a frequency of 628 MHz. It also has a powerful RAM of 128MB that can support every high-end operation that you have in mind.

This budget router has four external 5dBi antennas for improved wireless range and to support multiple devices. The wireless signal can reach as far as 3600 sq. ft. This router is equipped with four LAN ports, one WAN port, and one USB 3.0 port to share external drives with your wireless connection.

Setting up this router is a breeze with its ASUS router app. You just have to follow three basic steps on the web interface to install this ASUS router within a matter of minutes. This Asus router has a sturdy build and comes with a black plastic body. It measures 5.8 x 1.4 x 8.1 inches and is ultra-light weighing just 8.8 ounces.

The device is an absolute must-have for the tech geeks who own large living spaces and want to perform high-end tasks using a fast and stable wireless connection. It’s super affordable and its advanced security features will definitely compel you to purchase it.

7. Value for Money: Linksys EA6350

This wireless device has an overall reliable performance and provides you with a fast and secure wireless connection. Linksys EA6350 has a combined wireless throughput of 1200mbps. Individually speaking, the 2.4 GHz band delivers a speed of 300mbps and the 5 GHz frequency band delivers a speed of 867mbps. As it promotes the 802.11ac wireless standard, it supports up to 4 MIMO streams.

The router is powered by a robust Broadcom BCM47081A0 CPU processor that clocks in at a frequency of 880 MHz. It has a powerful RAM of 128MB that is perfect for carrying out everyday operations and mild gaming. It also has a flash memory of size 128MB that provides you an ample amount of space to install other applications.

The Linksys router has two external antennas for more focussed wireless performance and has a range of 1000 sq. ft. Thus, it is most suitable for small homes and individual rooms. The EA6350 model has 4-gigabit ethernet ports, one WAN port, and one USB 3.0 port to help you connect to other household devices.

It also offers a series of Smart WiFi apps that help you prioritize devices, enable parental controls, control guest access, and other settings. You can easily set up this wireless router by following the three-step instructions on the Linksys app.

The router’s design doesn’t leave you impressed. It has a black plastic body and measures 8.9 x 6.92 x 1.11 inches. It weighs just one pound and is ultralight. This device is consummate for people looking to secure a stable wireless connection for small living spaces.

It has advanced MIMO technology and beamforming features that are an absolute must-have to enjoy a brilliant user experience. Moreover, its Smart WiFi apps allow you to access parental controls and even has a USB 3.0 port. This is normally not seen in routers at this price point.

8. Budget Option: Netgear R6080-AC 1200

The Netgear R6080 delivers a solid performance in small-sized homes. It has a net speed of 1000mbps. Talking about individual band speeds, the 2.4 GHz band delivers a speed of 300mbps and the 5 GHz frequency band delivers a speed of 700mbps. As the router promotes the 802.11ac wireless connection, it can support up to four MIMO streams.

The router is fueled by an 880 MHz CPU performance that consistently delivers reliable performance. It also has a 64MB RAM that is perfect for everyday operations but not the most suitable for high-end tasks. Furthermore, the router also provides you with a flash memory of 8MB to install other applications that you desire.

The device has two external antennas and provides maximum coverage of 1000 sq. ft which is most suitable for small-sized homes and individual rooms. This model has four basic LAN ports and one WAN port.

You can easily control the router settings according to your requirements with the help of the Netgear Genie app. It is also super easy to install. You have to just follow three basic steps enlisted on the app and your router will be installed within just five minutes.

The device has a versatile design and a black plastic body. It measures 7.2 x 1.8 x 5.4 inches and weighs 1.2 pounds. Overall, this is the perfect router for you if you’re looking for establishing a stable and fast wireless connection in a small-sized home or a small part of a large home. Moreover, its additional parental control features are something that you don’t generally see at such an affordable price point.

9. Best for Streaming: Tenda AC18

This router provides you with the exceptional wireless performance that you’ve always dreamed of. The Tenda AC18 supports a combined wireless speed of 1900mbps. It delivers 600mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1300mbps on the 5 GHz band. Moreover, it can support up to 4 MIMO streams and up to 30 devices.

The AC18 is fueled by a strong dual-core Cortex A-9 CPU processor. It has a RAM space of 256MB that’s powerful enough to support high-end functions. It also has an additional flash memory of 128MB to support all additional apps and features that you desire.

The router has three external antennas for better wireless coverage and performance. Moreover, the router has an excellent range of 5,300 sq. ft and is suitable for large homes and office spaces.

This model has four LAN ports, one WAN port, and one USB 3.0 port. You can connect devices such as smartphones, gaming consoles, streaming devices, printers, etc. to your wireless network using these ports.

You can manage your WiFi router settings using the Tenda app. It’s available both on Android and iOS devices and is easy to use. You can even install this router by following three basic steps that are enlisted on Tenda’s web interface.

The Tenda AC18 is available in black color and has a hi-tech design that will surely please you. It measures 13 x 13 x 3 inches and weighs 1.41 pounds. You must definitely buy this router if you’re looking for a router with advanced features such as MU-MIMO features, WPA2 security, 1900mbps speed, excellent coverage, turbo-QAM technology, and built-in high power amplifiers. These features provide your home with a stable and seamlessly fast wireless connection.

10. Best for Small Room: Securifi Almond Touchscreen Wireless Router

The Securifi Almond is a compact router that operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency band. Therefore, it experiences a lot of interference from other household devices and doesn’t live up to your speed expectations.

It uses MIMO technology to deliver a theoretical speed of 300mbps. However, with this router, you won’t be experiencing any loose connections or dead zones. As it provides a wireless 802.11ac standard connection, it can support up to four MIMO streams.

The device is fueled by the MIPS CPU processor that clocks in at a frequency of 580 MHz. It also has a powerful RAM of 128 MB. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have any extra storage space for other applications.

This model has two antennas and is a single-band router that operates us in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. There are 11 WiFi channels available for wireless transmission out of which three are non-overlapping. As you know, this band has a lower frequency and therefore, provides you a better range. This device can extend up to a maximum range of 328 sq. ft. Hence, it is suitable for small-sized homes and extra rooms that require a more focussed wireless connection.

This router offers you two LAN ports and one WAN port. It is the world’s first touchscreen wireless router. With its highly intuitive touchscreen, you can easily set up the router wherever you desire and avoid the cumbersome Mac/PC based installation.

You can install this router within just three minutes! However, this router offers no app support. Therefore, you’ll have to rely on the touchscreen interface to control all the router settings.

The Securifi Almond has a black alarm clock design and measures 1.9 x 4.8 x 4.3 inches. It is super light and weighs just 12.8 ounces. It’s an absolute must-buy for the people who want to experience the power of technology at the touch of their hands. Moreover, parental control features, guest networks, and advanced security features of this router will definitely compel you to buy it.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Verdict

Upgrading to a better router is an inexpensive way to experience better wireless speeds at the comfort of your home. Our whole life revolves around wireless networks.

And that’s why it’s important that you’re surrounded by a fast and secure wireless network. This can only happen if you install a good router with the latest features. But don’t think for a second that you’ll have to burn a hole in your pocket to buy modern-day routers.

The routers listed above are the best in the industry and provide you with unmatched user experiences such as better WiFi range, signal, minimal WiFi dead zones, and connectivity to multiple devices.

I hope that my article has helped you find the perfect router for your needs, of course keeping in mind the $100 budget. If you’ve read it, you must have learned a lot about different router specs and be a router wizard.