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Best WiFi router for long range in 2024 – our top picks

We take a look at some of the best WiFi routers with longest range!
Last Updated on March 20, 2024
Best long-range WiFi routers

If you’re on the hunt for the best long-range WiFi routers, you’ve come to the right place.

Routers come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are meant to be used inside small houses or apartments, while others are meant for big homes and organizations. As for the long-range routers, they offer coverage of 2,500 sqft or above and are meant for larger areas where a standard router might struggle to reach.

These days, while you can find single routers that offer a great range, you can also opt for mesh systems, as some of the best mesh routers are ideal for large homes or offices with multiple floors. These systems use extenders to increase the range and eliminate dead zones.

As the market is filled with routers, it can get difficult for you to choose the right one. To help you kick off the search in the best possible manner, we’ve selected a few options we think are the best long-range WiFi routers. These routers have been selected on the basis of their range, performance, and other notable features that make them worth getting.

So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best WiFi routers for long range you can get from the market today!

Products at a Glance

How we picked

We’ve used our expertise to explore the market and find the best long-range WiFi routers. While choosing the routers, we carefully looked at their range, performance, features, and other notable aspects that make them shine among the crowd. Also, we’re constantly exploring the market for new routers to add to our list, so make sure to check back here soon for an updated list.

Our Recommended

Best WiFi router for long range in 2024 – our top picks

1
PROS
  • Tri-band
  • Great design
  • WiFi 6E
  • 3,500 sqft coverage
  • Four Gigabit Ethernet ports and one 2.5G multi-gig port
  • Can connect with 60 devices simultaneously
CONS
  • Overkill if not used with a high-speed internet plan
  • Not meant to be used inside small apartments

If you’re looking for the best WiFi router that offers a great range without relying on extenders, then the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is a great choice. After all, it is one of the best Netgear Nighthawk routers

To begin with, the RAXE500 is a WiFi 6E router, which is an extension of the latest WiFi standard, WiFi 6. On top of that, it is a tri-band device, meaning it comes with a 2.5GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz band. While the first two bands are common, 6GHz is something new and is built for high-performance WiFi 6E devices. It reduces data loads on the other two bands, which improves the WiFi speed. 

Now, coming down to the most important aspect – the range. The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 offers a coverage of up to 3,500 sqft and can connect to 60 devices at the same time. This makes it a great choice for a large home with around 4 to five bedrooms. On top of that, as the router supports speeds of up to 10.8 Gbps, you can use it with a high-speed internet plan. But do keep in mind that if you have multiple floors, you’ll be better off with a mesh system. 

For connectivity, the router boasts four Gigabit Ethernet ports and a single 2.5G multi-gig port, which should provide a seamless wire experience. There are also two USB 3.0 ports, with which you can connect your printer or external storage devices and share files over the internet. 

Overall, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is the best WiFi router for long-range. Setting it up is also pretty simple, as it can be done within minutes using the Nighthawk app. You can also get access to parental controls and Netgear armor by subscribing to Netgear’s monthly plan.

2
PROS
  • WiFi 6
  • Dual-band
  • Supports speeds of up to 6,000 Mbps
  • 2.5G Ethernet port
CONS
  • Overkill for low-speed plans

If you’re looking for a router that supports WiFi 6 and has a great range, we’d recommend the TP-Link Archer AX80, which happens to be one of the best routers for Starlink.

Unlike our top pick, the AX80 is a dual-band router and comes with a 2.4GHz and 5GHz band. On top of that, it supports speeds of up to 6,000 Mbps, meaning it can be paired with a high-speed internet connection. When it comes to coverage, the router uses eight high-gain antennas equipped with Beamforming to make the signals reach everywhere in the house. If you’re using it inside a house or office with multiple floors, you can increase its range using OneMesh-supported Range Extenders. 

As far as connectivity is concerned, there are three Gigabit LAN ports, one Gigabit LAN/WAN port, and one 2.5G multi-gig WAN/LAN port. If you have a high-speed plan, you can benefit a lot from the 2.5G port, as it can provide a fast, stable wired connection. The router is also compatible with Alexa, meaning you can enjoy a hands-free experience and give instructions to it using simple commands.

When it comes to additional features, you get Quality of Service, basic parental controls, basic weekly and monthly reports, security scans, and a few more as a part of the TP-Link HomeShield service. As for compatibility, it works with almost every ISP, such as Comcast, Charter, Xfinity, Cox, and more. 

Overall, the TP-Link Archer AX80 is the best WiFi 6 router for long-range. Its support for high speeds, multiple connectivity options, and additional features make it worth getting.

3
PROS
  • Affordable
  • Dual-band
  • Coverage of up to 3,000 sqft
  • Easy setup
CONS
  • Does not come with the latest WiFi technology

If you’re looking for a router that comes with WiFi 5 (802.11ac), we’d recommend checking out the Linksys MR9000. 

To begin with, the Linksys MR9000 is a tri-band mesh router, meaning it comes with an additional 5GHz band for better performance. On top of that, it supports speeds of up to 3 Gbps and it can be connected with up to 25 devices at the same time. As far as coverage is concerned, it has a range of 3,000 sqft, making it a decent choice for a three to four-bedroom house. This range can be further increased by using Linksys Velop nodes, which work together with the router to form a single, strong network.

For connectivity, you can find four Gigabit Ethernet ports at the back of the router, which you can use to connect your PC or console directly to the router using an Ethernet cable. In addition, if you want to quickly share files over the network, you can use the USB 3.0 port to connect your external storage device or printer. 

Setting up the MR9000 is a pretty straightforward task. All you have to do is download the Linksys app, connect the router to your modem, name your network, and choose a password. The app also lets you control the WiFi from anywhere, and you can access features such as parental controls, guest access, device prioritization, and speed tests using it. Parental control feature is extremely useful, as it lets you block certain websites to promote healthy internet habits. 

Overall, the Linksys MR9000 is the best AC router for long-range. While it may not feature the latest WiFi technology like some of the best Linksys routers, it still delivers great performance for its price.

4
PROS
  • Mesh system
  • Comes with G.hn Powerline technology for wall penetration
  • Dual-band
  • Coverage of up to 6,500 sqft
CONS
  • No multi-gig or USB 3.0 port

If you’re looking for a router that can send signals through the walls, you’d want to get the TP-Link Deco PX50, which comes with the latest WiFi 6 technology. 

The Deco PX50 is a dual-band router, and it can support speeds up to 1,500 Mbps. The version we selected comes with a total of three units, which offer a combined range of up to 6,500 sqft. One of them acts as the central router, while the other two work as extenders to help increase the coverage and eliminate dead zones from the area.

But what makes this router stand out from the rest is the G.hn Powerline technology, which allows the signals to bypass walls and floors by using the existing electrical wiring in your home. This reduces the impact of walls, floors, and other obstacles on the signals and provides a much smoother internet experience. 

As far as connectivity is concerned, you can find a total of three Ethernet ports at the back of each router. These ports are Gigabit, so they are great for high-speed wired connections. However, the lack of a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port prevents you from quickly sharing files over the internet by connecting your external storage devices to the router. But you don’t really need them if you’re not always sharing data. 

The router can also be connected with TP-Link HomeShield, which lets you access additional features like Quality of Service, parental controls, and security features. Overall, it is a solid choice for those who don’t want the walls to affect the signal quality, and we think it deserves to be one of the best TP-Link routers

5
PROS
  • Mesh system
  • Great for outdoors
  • Can connect with 100 devices
  • Coverage of up to 5,000 sqft
CONS
  • Extenders are expensive

For outdoors, we suggest setting up a mesh system, as that is the best way to get signals both indoors and outdoors. For this, we recommend the Netgear Orbi RBK852.

The RBK852 is a WiFi 6 mesh router, and it features tri-band functionality. This means it comes with an additional 5GHz band, which improves the performance and speed. Other than that, it can support up to 100 devices at the same time, something that makes it a strong contender for one of the best routers for multiple devices. The version we selected comes with a central router and an extender, which offer a combined range of up to 5,000 sqft, making it suitable for large homes or offices. With the right placement, you’ll get decent coverage outdoors with it. 

If you want to connect your devices to the router using an Ethernet cable for a stable, wired connection, you can use the four Gigabit Ethernet ports that can be found at the back of each unit. However, there’s an additional 2.5G multi-gig port on the router, which will benefit you greatly if you have a high-speed internet connection.

Overall, the Netgear Orbi RBK852 is the best router for long-range outdoors. It is powered by a quad-core 2.2GHz processor and 1GB of RAM, thanks to which it should operate smoothly even when multiple devices are connected to it. You can also set up the router quickly and manage it from anywhere using the Orbi app, which also lets you access different features like parental controls.

How to pick the best WiFi router for long range

With so many options to choose from, it can get tricky to pick the right router. After all, you don’t want to end up getting a router that comes with several antennas but fails to provide a good range. To help you out, we’ve listed a few things to consider when choosing the best long-range WiFi router.

Speed and performance

Make sure the router you’re opting for comes with the latest WiFi technologies, like WiFi 6 or WiFi 6E. These two are around 40% faster than the previous standards, and most of the routers that feature them offer great coverage. On top of that, WiFi 6-enabled routers are more stable compared to ones that feature WiFi 5, and they are also more secure. We recommend checking out our top picks for the best WiFi 6 routers and the best WiFi 6E routers if you want to explore options with the latest WiFi technology.

Mesh features

A mesh network is when a series of devices become part of the same, single network. This allows your router to have several points of possible connectivity for your devices. When these are placed effectively around your office/house – you can expect a far-reaching range.

Design

Far-reaching WiFi often involves having several source points – either through a mesh network or through WiFi extenders. Having several bulky routers around your house may not be ideal. A basic, minimal design may, therefore, be more desirable when searching for far-reaching WiFi networks.

Price

Since some wide-ranging networks, such as mesh networks, are modular – and consist of several units, hence extra hardware – they can often be expensive. Whilst there are more affordable mesh options out there, it’s important to note that wider signal coverage results in a more expensive setup.

Security

Security features play an important role in keeping your network and devices safe from online threats. A good router should feature at least the basic ones, like parental controls and DDoS protection. This is because, according to Avast, hackers can hog your bandwidth, spy on your internet traffic, and access illegal content after they hack your router. Some of the best secure routers come with advanced features such as top-notch firewalls, 1Password, custom profiles, and so on, but you’ll be fine with even the basic ones.

Will a better router improve WiFi range?

Yes – some routers have a better range than others, with the best routers usually excelling in this department. Factors like antennas and mesh systems play into the range of your WiFi signal. However, router placement and the original strength signal are also important factors to consider.

How can I extend WiFi range?

WiFi range can be extended by adding extra access points to your mesh system, using WiFi extenders, or selecting a router with multiple movable antennas.

Our Verdict

For us, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is the best long-range WiFi router. It features a great range of up to 3,500, that too without relying on an extender. On top of that, it features the new 6GHz band, which reduces load from the other two bands to improve the WiFi speed. It can also connect with 60 devices simultaneously and can support speeds of up to 10.8 Gbps.