The Best Computer Routers under $200
Best for Load Balancing
NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900
★ Top Choice
BUY NOW
From $154.46
Features
- LOADED WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY: Designed with a 1GHz dual core processor, 3 amplified antennas, Beamforming+, Dynamic QoS, Smart Connect, Amazon Alexa Voice Controls, and more.
- USB CONNECTIONS: Share a storage drive and printer with any connected device, and create a personal cloud storage to access from anywhere, using the 1x3.0 and 1x2.0 USB ports.
- NETGEAR Armor protects your network and connected devices from Internet threats. Get peace of mind knowing you have the best-in-class anti-virus, anti-malware, and data protection for all your smart devices, smartphones, and computers with a 30 day free trial.
- RECOMMENDED FOR UP TO 30 DEVICES: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect smart home devices.
- FAST WiFi PERFORMANCE: Get up to 1800 square feet wireless coverage with AC1900 speed (Dual band up to 600 + 1300 Mbps).
- SAFE & SECURE: Supports WPA2 wireless security protocols. Includes Guest WiFi access, DoS, Firewall, VPN, and more.
- WIRED ETHERNET PORTS: Plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and other nearby wired devices with 4 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports.
- SMART PARENTAL CONTROLS: Pause device internet access, view site history usage, and filter websites for free. Set online time limits, schedule device internet access, and more for $4.99/month (1st month free trial).
Pros
- ⊕ Affordable.
- ⊕ Fast setup.
- ⊕ Fast throughput.
- ⊕ Good 5 GHz performance.
- ⊕ Excellent 5Ghz performance.
Cons
- ⊖ Bulky.
- ⊖ Limited range.
- ⊖ Weaker 2.4 GHz performance.
Best for Smart Home
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Linksys EA9300 Max-Stream AC4000 Router
♥ Runner Up
BUY NOW
From $163.9
Features
- 6 active high gain antennas expand WiFi range throughout a large size home; 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired speeds 10x faster than standard Ethernet for printers, game consoles and Smart TVs.
- Next Gen AC Wi Fi + MU MIMO + Airtime fairness improves network efficiency and provides ultra fast Wi Fi speeds to all your home and home office devices at the same time, same speed. Smart Connect intelligently selects the best radio band for your wireless device.
- Auto firmware updates always keep your router updated with latest features and security measures.
- Advanced Beamforming with 9 high power amplifiers extend and maximize performance and coverage for both 2.4GHz & 5GHz. Minimum System Requirements:Latest versions of Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari (for Mac and iPad), Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer version 8 and newer.
- Intelligent Tri Band router with Net Gen. 1.8GHz Quad Core CPU and 3 offload processors to release your WiFi performance and provide 3 Ultra high speed WiFi bands up to 4 Gbps.
- Works with Amazon Alexa.
Pros
- ⊕ Easy to set up.
- ⊕ Easy to install.
- ⊕ Solid Wi-Fi performance.
- ⊕ MU-MIMO and beamforming.
- ⊕ Good throughput performance.
Cons
- ⊖ Pricey.
- ⊖ Limited parental controls.
- ⊖ Limited parental controls.
Specs
- Number of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port): 4.
- Number of Antennas: 6.
- Number of Bands: 3.
- Supports DD-WRT: no.
- Product Wireless Parental Controls: yes.
- AC Speed: AC4000.
- Wireless Specification: 802.11ac.
- Wireless Networking Security: WPA, WPA2, WPA2-Enterprise, WPS.
Best for Gamers and Video Streamers
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NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S Smart Wi-Fi Gaming Router
Best Streaming
BUY NOW
From $169.99
Features
- RECOMMENDED FOR UP TO 45 DEVICES: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect smart home devices.
- SAFE & SECURE: Supports WPA2 wireless security protocols. Includes Guest WiFi access, DoS, Firewall, VPN, and more.
- FAST WiFi PERFORMANCE: Get up to 2500 square feet wireless coverage with AC2600 speed (Dual band up to 800 + 1733 Mbps).
- LOADED WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY: Designed with a 1.7GHz dual core processor, 4 amplified antennas, Beamforming, MU-MIMO, Dynamic QoS, Amazon Alexa Voice Controls, and more.
- WIRED ETHERNET PORTS: Plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and other nearby wired devices with 4 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports.
- SMART PARENTAL CONTROLS: The Nighthawk app lets you manage device internet access and filter websites.
- USB CONNECTIONS: Share a storage drive and printer with any connected device, and create a personal cloud storage to access from anywhere, using the 2 x 3.0 USB and 1 x eSATA ports.
Pros
- ⊕ Great range.
- ⊕ Two USB 3.0 ports.
- ⊕ Good port selection.
- ⊕ Good 5GHz performance.
- ⊕ Lots of management settings.
Cons
- ⊖ Pricey.
- ⊖ Poor USB performance.
Best for Tweakers
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Cisco Systems Gigabit Dual WAN VPN 14 Port Router
Best for Load Balancing
BUY NOW
From $193.95
Features
- High capacity, high-performance SSL and IP Security VPN capabilities.
- Intuitive, browser based device manager and setup wizards.
- Connects multiple locations and remote workers using VPN.
- Easily manages large files and concurrent users to keep employees productive.
- Dual Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports for load balancing and business continuity.
Pros
- ⊕ 3G USB WWAN support.
- ⊕ Easy admin interface.
- ⊕ Equipped with a 14-port switch.
Cons
- ⊖ SSL VPN can be flaky.
- ⊖ Weak IPsec VPN performance.
Best for Load Balancing
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