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In this post, you’ll find the comprehensive top-five lists of “the best” standalone Wi-Fi 6 routers.
Since the first availability of the wireless standard in 2019, I’ve reviewed dozens of them, but only those I’d use for myself today make it here. Any of them will likely work out well—it’s a matter of degrees, depending on your situation.
These lists are for those needing a single broadcaster. If you live in a large home and are looking for a Wi-Fi 6 mesh system, check out this list of the best Wi-Fi 6 systems instead.
Wi-Fi 6 is on the way out, considering Wi-Fi 7 became officially certified early in 2024. But that doesn’t mean it’s obsolete. As a matter of fact, this standard will be relevant for various reasons in the years to come. Most importantly, you can use a Wi-Fi 6 router to host clients of all Wi-Fi generations, old and new.
Still, those mentioned here are likely the final best options in their category. Asus ExpertWiFi EBR63 is probably my last Wi-Fi 6 router that made it to this collection. Since its review, there have been a couple of others, including the Netduma R3 and D-Link M60, but neither could remotely make the list.
Find the one that best fits your needs here and read its in-depth review before making the purchase. Or you can make a quick decision and get one now!
Dong’s note: I first published this frequently revised post on November 11, 2019, and last updated it on July 9, 2024.
Tips
A Wi-Fi broadcaster comes with a bandwidth indicator. For Wi-Fi 6, that’s the “AX” prefix (short for 802.11ax) followed by a number showing its bands’ collective bandwidth.
For example, an AX6000 router can theoretically handle up to 6000Mbps of total Wi-Fi bandwidth at any given time. Individually, each of its bands can only deliver a portion of that, with the real-world rate being noticeably lower due to overhead.
Still, a higher number generally means more bandwidth, which can be used as one factor to judge its capability.
Best Wi-Fi 6 routers: The comprehensive top-five lists
There are four lists in the recommended order, with number 1 being the best. They include routers of different grades for different levels of bandwidth needs.
And we’ll start from the ground up.
I. Best budget entry-level (AX1500 to AX3000) Wi-Fi 6 routers for sub-Gigabit broadband
This list includes dual-band 2×2 routers that range from affordable to semi-affordable. They all have a bandwidth cap of 2.4 Gbps or lower when used with 2×2 Wi-Fi 6 clients, which are the only grade on the receiving end.
These generally are routers for the budget-minded or those living in a small or medium home with sub-Gigabit broadband or relatively bandwidth needs.
Top 5 best entry-level dual-band Wi-Fi 6 routers
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| Name | Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Router (UDR)’s Rating | Asus RT-AX68U’s Rating | Asus ExpertWiFi EBR63’s Rating | Asus GS-AX3000’s Rating | Netgear WAX204 Access Point’s Rating |
| Price | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rating | |||||
| Description | |||||
| Statistics | |||||
| Buy this product |
5. Netgear WAX204 (AX1800)
The Netgear WAX204 is different. Although Netgear calls it an Access Point, it is actually a Wi-Fi 6 router. And there’s a catch!
Indeed, with a sub-$100 price tag and solid performance, the WAX204 is an excellent buy for a small home with a sub-Gigabit broadband connection.
Netgear WAX204 Access Point's Rating
Pros
Affordable
Strong and reliable Wi-Fi coverage
Can work as a router or access point
Straightforward local web user interface
Useful Wi-Fi settings
Compact design, wall-mountable
Cons
Entry-level Wi-Fi specs
No Multi-Gig port
Limited Wi-Fi settings and features
No remote web-based management
No PoE support
4. Asus GS-AX3000
The GS-AX3000 is somewhat of a gaming version of the RT-AX3000 below, and as such, it’s an excellent option. This new router, part of Asus’s ROG STRIX series, has many gaming and non-gaming features for a small household.
In many ways, the GS-AX3000 replaces the Asus RT-AX3000, which used to be on this list.
Asus GS-AX3000's Rating
Pros
Excellent performance
Feature-laden, including those for gamers
Robust web UI, well-designed mobile app
Comparatively affordable
Cons
No support for WTFast Gamer VPN
No Multi-Gig network port
Network storage performance, when hosting a portable drive, could be better
3. Asus ExpertWiFi EBR63 (AX3000)
Available in late 2023, the EBR63 is the latest Wi-Fi 6 router on the market. It represents Asus’s all-new ExpertWiFi series.
Despite its compact size, the router has many advanced capabilities for professional and business users, including VLAN and robust VPN options. It’s easily one of the best among its peers, especially considering its friendly pricing.
Asus ExpertWiFi EBR63's Rating
Pros
Excellent performance for the hardware specs with reliable and extensive Wi-Fi coverage
All Wi-Fi and network settings for any advanced network; tons of advanced features, including VLAN, AiMesh, VPN, and more
Robust web user interface, well-designed mobile app
Compact, practical design; affordable and low power consumption
Cons
No Multi-Gig port
No Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7
2. Asus RT-AX68U (AX2700)
The Asus RT-AX68U is a bit odd. It’s the only 3×3 Wi-Fi 6 router I’ve tested. However, it proved an excellent choice as a standalone router or a member of an AiMesh system.
Asus RT-AX68U's Rating
Pros
Fast performance, excellent range, reliable
Tons of helpful networking features and settings, including AiMesh 2.0
Robust web UI, well-designed mobile app
Excellent NAS performance and features when hosting a USB storage device
Comparatively affordable
Cons
No Multi-Gig ports or 160MHz channel width support (at launch)
Not wall-mountable
1. Ubiquiti UDR (AX3000)
Ubiquiti’s UniFi Dream Router is probably the most exciting home router because it’s an advanced enterprise-grade PoE-ready controller, designed to easily pass that “spouse-approval” challenge, that can handle multiple hardware segments, with Wi-Fi and networking being one.
Unfortunately, it does not have a Multi-Gig port. All four network ports are Gigabit ports. Additionally, it has modest processing power. As a result, despite its generous set of advanced features, it is only suitable for homes with sub-Gigabit (800Mbps or slower) broadband and relatively simple networking needs.
Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Router (UDR)'s Rating
Pros
Built-in support for all of Ubiquiti's business hardware segments (Network, Protect, Talk, and Access)
Reliable Wi-Fi performance, excellent range, mesh-ready
Tons of useful networking features, a comprehensive web user interface, and a mobile app
Compact and beautiful design, two PoE ports
Comparatively affordable, quiet operator
Cons
No Multi-Gig, Dual-WAN, or Link Aggregation; middling Wi-Fi specs and modest processing power; only one additional app (Talk, Protect, or Access) is supported at a time
Security feature reduces Wi-Fi 6 speed; power over Ethernet doesn't support PoE+ or PoE++
Requires an account with UniFi; not wall-mountable; internal fan
II. Best mid-tier (AX3000-AX5700) Wi-Fi 6 routers for Gigabit-class broadband or bandwidth needs
These dual-band routers mix high-end (4×4) 5 GHz bands with a subdued 2×2 2.4 GHz band. They also often lack a Multi-Gig network port and have relatively modest processing power.
However, considering that we tend to care more about the 5 GHz bands and that most homes only have Internet speeds of 500 Mbps or slower, these are great deals since they deliver where it matters.
Top 5 best mid-tier dual-band Wi-Fi 6 routers
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| Name | Synology RT6600ax’s Rating | Asus TUF-AX5400’s Rating | Asus RT-AX82U’s Rating | Netgear Nighthawk RAX50’s Rating | Synology WRX560’s Rating |
| Price | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rating | |||||
| Description | |||||
| Statistics | |||||
| Buy this product |
5. Synology WRX560 (AX3000)
As an AX3000 router, the Synology WRX560 barely qualifies for this list, but if you factor in its Multi-Gig LAN port and the support for the UNII-4 portion of the 5GHz band, it’s actually a formidable contender. It’s overall an excellent router.
Synology WRX560's Rating
Pros
Fast and reliable Wi-Fi, 160MHz and 5.9GHz UNII-4 support, mesh-ready
Comprehensive and user-friendly firmware, excellent web interface, useful DS Router app
Lots of useful built-in settings and features, valuable add-on packages
Can work as a full-featured NAS server
Cons
Only one 2.5Gbps port, no practical UNII-4 application
No Link Aggregation or dedicated backhaul in a mesh setup, rigid WAN setting
Impractical port design, not wall-mountable
4. Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 (AX5400)
I called the RAX50 a just-right router that offers the same 5 GHz performance as the higher-end, like the RAX120, yet is much more affordable. It does so by giving you lesser specs in the 2.4 GHz band, of which the higher tier generally doesn’t necessarily give you faster speeds anyway.
Netgear Nighthawk RAX50's Rating
Pros
Fast, reliable Wi-Fi performance
160 MHz channel width support
Excellent NAS performance when hosting a storage device
Responsive web user interface, useful mobile app with built-in online protection
A good set of network features and settings
Wall-mountable
Cons
A bit pricey
No multi-gig port, Dual-WAN, or Link Aggregation
Limited Wi-Fi settings
Mobile app requires a login account with the vendor
3. Asus RT-AX82U (AX5400)
The Asus RT-AX82U is almost identical to the RT-AX86U in terms of performance and features. “Almost” because it’s a lesser option with less processing power and no multi-gig network port. In return, it’s the only router with awesome-looking programmable front lighting. You’ll likely love the combination of excellent performance and a relatively friendly price tag.
Asus RT-AX82U's Rating
Pros
Excellent performance
Beautiful design with tons of helpful networking, game-related features, and settings
Robust web UI, well-designed mobile app
Comparatively affordable
Cons
No support for WTFast Gamer VPN
No multi-gig network port
Network storage performance (when hosting a portable drive) could use some improvement
Not wall-mountable
2. Asus TUF-AX5400
The TUF-AX5400 is one of the more affordable TUF products among gaming routers from Asus. If you need a budget-friendly yet well-performing (gaming) Wi-Fi machine, you won’t go wrong with this router. Alternatively, the Asus GS-AX5400 is also an excellent choice.
Asus TUF-AX5400's Rating
Pros
Excellent overall performance, comparatively affordable
AiMesh 2.0 support, including system-wide Guest network
Excellent web interface, well-designed mobile app, no login account required
Lots of useful features, including those for gamers
Cons
No Multi-Gig port
Performance as a NAS server could be better
Not wall-mountable, small Aura RGB lighting
1. Asus RT-AX86U (AX5700)
The RT-AX86U was once considered the “best dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router” until more options became available. It’s an overall excellent router, even when compared to the newer Pro version.
Asus RT-AX86U's Rating
Pros
Fast performance, excellent range, reliable
Tons of helpful networking features and settings
Useful settings for online gaming
Robust web UI, well-designed mobile app
Multi-Gig, WAN/LAN Link Aggregation support
Excellent NAS performance and features when hosting a USB storage device
Comparatively affordable
Cons
Single, low-speed (2.5Gbps) Multi-Gig port
Not wall-mountable
Gaming features turn Adaptive QoS off
No support for WTFast Gamer VPN
III. Best high-end (AX5700 – AX6000) dual-band Wi-Fi 6 routers for Gig+ broadband
This list includes 4×4 routers with a cap Wi-Fi bandwidth of 4.8 Gbps when used with Wi-Fi 6 clients. These Wi-Fi 6 routers are great for any home with Gig+ or faster broadband needs.
All of these routers feature Multi-Gig, with the first two having a single port and the rest having two. That means they can deliver multi-Gigabit experience in many situations, especially with the help of a switch. Addtionally, when coupled with an external portable drive, they can all work as viable mini NAS servers.
Top 5 best high-end dual-band Wi-Fi 6 routers
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| Name | Asus RT-AX89X’s Rating | Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX6000’s Rating | Asus RT-AX88U Pro’s Rating | Synology RT6600ax’s Rating | Netgear Nighthawk RAX120’s Rating |
| Price | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rating | |||||
| Description | |||||
| Statistics | |||||
| Buy this product |
5. Netgear Nighthawk RAX120 (AX6000)
The Netgear Nighthawk RAX120 is one of a few home routers with a 5Gbps multi-Gig port.
So, in addition to fast Wi-Fi speeds, it also delivers top network-attached storage performance when hosting an external drive. Like its cousin below, it, too, has a futuristic design.
Netgear Nighthawk RAX120's Rating
Pros
Powerful hardware, fast performance
Beautiful design
Multi-Gig network port (5Gbps)
Well-organized web user interface
Ultra-fast network storage performance
Cons
Expensive
No online protection, gaming, or mesh features
A bit bulky
4. Synology RT6600ax
The RT6600ax is the first router from Synology in years and the first to feature the 5.9GHz portion of the 5GHz spectrum. Running the Synology Router Manager (SRM) operating system, it has one of the most comprehensive sets of features and can work as an excellent mini NAS server.
Unfortunately, it has just one 2.5Gbps port, meaning it won’t be able to deliver connection speeds faster than Gig+. But it can provide full Gigabit broadband. If you’re happy with that, it’s easily one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers to get.
Synology RT6600ax's Rating
Pros
Fast and reliable Wi-Fi with support for 5.9GHz UNII-4 spectrum, mesh-ready
Robust, comprehensive, yet user-friendly SRM 1.3 firmware with excellent web interface and DS Router app
Lots of useful built-in settings and networking features, helpful add-on packages with accompanying mobile apps
Can work as a full-featured NAS server
Practical design, wall-mountable
Cons
Only one 2.5Gbps port
No Link Aggregation, awkward Multi-Gig WAN, rigid default WAN port
Only client-based QoS, 5.9GHz clients are scarce
3. Asus RT-AX88U Pro (AX6000)
The RT-AX88U Pro is a 4-year-in-the-making replacement of Asus’s first Wi-Fi 6 router, the RT-AX88U, which used to be on this list. The new router looks identical to the old variant but is completely new inside. It features two Multi-Gig ports, VLAN, Guest Network Pro, and much more.
Asus RT-AX88U Pro's Rating
Pros
Excellent Wi-Fi, wired, and network storage performance
Tons of useful features, including AiMesh 2.0 and Pro-only Guest Network Pro and VLAN
Two 2.5GbE Multi-Gig ports with Dual-WAN and Link Aggregation support
Universal setting backup and restoration
Merlin firmware support
Cons
Pro-enabled features are still in the Beta
Only 6 network ports (instead of 9 in the previous variant)
No Wi-Fi 6E, not wall-mount-ready
2. Asus GT-AX6000
Like all Asus routers, the GT-AX6000 is somewhat the gaming version of the RT-AX88U Pro above with the same specs. However, it looks pretty different as an official gaming router, supporting all of Asus’s high-end game-related features.
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX6000's Rating
Pros
Fast, reliable Wi-Fi with excellent coverage
Dual Multi-Gig ports with Dual-WAN, Link Aggregations, and more
Tons of helpful networking features and settings, including AiMesh 2.0 and gaming-related applications
Robust web UI, well-designed mobile app, no login account required
Multi-Gig, WAN/LAN Link Aggregation support
Excellent NAS performance when hosting a portable drive
Bold-looking design, no fan, runs cool
Cons
Lowest Multi-Gig grade (2.5Gbps), there could be more ports considering the router's massive physical size
A bit pricey
Impractical antenna design, bulky, not practically wall-mountable
1. Asus RT-AX89X (AX6000)
The Asus RT-AX89X has the X (and not U) at the end of its name—I explained that in this post on Asus routers—for a good reason. It’s the first on the market to feature two 10Gbps network ports—one Multi-Gig and one SPF+. It also has eight Gigabit LAN ports and one Gigabit WAN port.
The SFP+ port is a bit less common and might require a supported switch, such as the XS1930-12HP before you can have a full Multi-Gig experience. Nonetheless, it’s one of a few, if not the only, Wi-Fi 6 routers that can provide 10Gbps connections on both the WAN and LAN sides—a must for those with 10Gbps broadband.
Asus RT-AX89X's Rating
Pros
Excellent Wi-Fi performance
Uniquely cool design with two 10Gbps network ports
Eight Gigabit network ports with Dual-WAN and Link Aggregation
Super-fast network-attached storage speed when coupled with an external drive
Tons of useful features, including free-for-life real-time online protection and AiMesh
Cons
No universal backup and restoration with other Asus routers
Bulky physical size with an internal fan
Not wall-mountable
IV. Best high-end tri-band (AX6600 – AX11000) Wi-Fi 6 routers for a crowded home
These are currently the non-compromising Wi-Fi 6 routers on the market. They collectively have everything you’d want from a single router.
While they have Wi-Fi coverage similar to the 4×4 dual-band routers above, they feature double Wi-Fi bandwidth thanks to the additional 5 GHz band. If you have lots of devices or faster-than-Gigabit broadband and only need a single broadcaster for the home, one of these is a suitable choice.
Top 5 best high-end tri-band Wi-Fi 6 routers
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| Name | Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro’s Rating | TP-Link Archer GX90’s Rating | Asus GT-AX11000’s Rating | Netgear Nighthawk RAX200’s Rating | MSI Radix AX6600’s Rating |
| Price | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rating | |||||
| Description | |||||
| Statistics | |||||
| Buy this product |
5. MSI RadiX6600 (AX6600)
The RadiX AX6600 marks MSI’s return to home networking. This new router has a friendly design and excellent performance. While its support for gaming is a little thin, that’s a bonus. And its friendly price tag doesn’t hurt.
MSI Radix AX6600's Rating
Pros
Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance at an affordable cost
Robust, lightweight web user interface, helpful mobile app
Supports all standard home network settings, deep Wi-Fi customization
Eye-catching, practical design, decent network storage read performance when hosting a portable SSD
Cons
Only one 2.5Gbps port; thin on gaming features; no 160MHz on 5GHz-1 band
No Dynamic DNS, Link Aggregation, or Dual-WAN; client management could be better
Network storage requires SMB1 with mediocre write speed
4. Netgear RAX200 (AX11000)
Netgear Nighthawk RAX200's Rating
Pros
Reliable and fast performance
Eye-catching design
Helpful mobile app, robust web UI
Multi-Gig support (2.5Gbps)
Cons
Comparatively super-expensive with nothing extra
Shallow Wi-Fi customization, spartan feature set
Comparatively low CPU clock speed
No 5Gbps or 10Gbps LAN port, not wall-mountable
3. Asus GT-AX11000
The GT-AX11000 is the first Wi-Fi 6 router for gamers—it’s the original variant of the GT-AX11000 Pro below—and it delivers. Like the case of most Asus routers, this tri-band machine has so many features and settings, and you can spend hours figuring things out and probably have fun doing that.
Asus GT-AX11000's Rating
Pros
Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance with an excellent range
Lots of useful features for home users
Unique and effective settings for online gaming
Multi-Gig network port, Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation
Mesh ready
Cons
Expensive
Bulky design, loose antennas, non-wall-mountable
Fewer LAN ports than the previous model
Long boot-up time, buggy (at launch), fluctuating Wi-Fi throughputs
2. TP-Link Archer GX90 (AX6600)
The TP-Link Archer GX90 replaces the Archer AX11000 on this list. And similar to its predecessor, it is not what TP-Link wants you to believe, which is a genuine gaming router.
But you can play games just fine with it, and most importantly, it delivers Wi-Fi performance! And the fact it’s a cool-looking piece of hardware never hurts.
TP-Link Archer GX90's Rating
Pros
Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance
2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN
Excellent feature set and network settings
Robust full web user interface
Nice design and comparatively affordable
Cons
Thin on gaming
Single Multi-Gig port; no Dual-WAN or Link Aggregation
USB-based storage performance could be better
1: Asus GT-AX11000 Pro
The GT-AX11000 Pro replaces the GT-AX11000 as Asus’s top-tier tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router. It’s a much more potent variant and one of a few among its peers that sports two 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig ports. If you have Gig+ and faster broadband (up to 2.5Gbps), it’s an easy choice.
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 Pro's Rating
Pros
Excellent Wi-Fi performance; UNII-4 support
Lots of free and useful networking features and settings, including all gaming features collectively found in Asus routers
Two Multi-Gig ports with excelling port configuration; supports LAN/WAN port, Dual-WAN, and LAN/WAN Link Aggregations
No vendor required login account; improved design
Cons
UNII-4 clients are nonexistent; no 6GHz band
Only one 10Gbps port
Bulky design, not wall-mountable
The final thoughts
While it seems Wi-Fi 6 is no longer the latest and greatest kid on the block, it will be relevant for years to come and, therefore, an excellent option. The standard has matured, and the prices have come down significantly.
If you’re worrying about missing out on the new standard, check out these upgrade options. In some ways, adding a 6GHz band to a Wi-Fi 6 router is better than getting a new Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 router, which are expensive. Among other things, you can place the 6GHz broadcaster at the best location for optimal coverage.
