Best Routers Under $100 in 2023
As ubiquitous and necessary as the internet has become, a strong Wi-Fi signal has never been as important. If yours is starting to strain under this relentless load or you fancy a speed boost, then the time may have come to consider an upgrade. Most of us are spending more sparingly due to economic uncertainty. Still, you don’t have to spend a small fortune to pick an excellent router fit for purpose.
For under $100, you can pick up a fantastic router capable of delivering a reliable connection whether your gaming, working, or streaming video with useful features that should last for the years ahead. To that end, we’ve scoured the router market for the best bargain recommendations and grouped them into this handy guide.
Products at a Glance
When selecting our list of the best routers for under $100, we paid close attention to several factors we deemed important routers have in this price range. First of all, a straightforward user interface is incredibly important. We can assume that buyers in this price range are not necessarily networking enthusiasts – and are probably more interested in setting up their network instantly, than spending loads of time tweaking preferences. As long as the routers were user-friendly enough, we were happy to include routers with more advanced features on the lists – we just wanted to make sure all entry-level bases were covered.
Best Routers Under $100 in 2023
- Great Coverage
- Easy setup
- Not Wifi 6
The TP-Link Deco Mesh Wifi system is an incredibly affordable router that makes great use of TP-Link’s formidable mesh system. The TP-Link Deco Mesh is capable of coverage up to 4,500 square feet, providing your home with full coverage. As a dual-band network, the Deco Mesh is capable of providing high-speed wifi across multiple devices.
The TP-Link Deco Mesh also features robust security controls, including parental controls that can limit online time and block certain sites. The Deco Mesh is also incredibly user-friendly. Set up is incredibly straightforward through the Deco app that’s there to walk you through all the necessary steps. The TP-Link Deco Mesh is our top pick for the best router under 100, poached with features usually seen in far higher price ranges.
- Wifi 6
- MU-MIMO technology
- Broad, reliable coverage
- Expensive additional security system
One of our top recommendations for routers under $100 is the Netgear R6700AX. Equipped with Wi-Fi 6 and a wealth of great features and excellent speeds, this router stretches those $100 to their limit. As a dual-band router, the Netgear R6700AX supports top speeds of 1200 megabits per second. Around the back, the Netgear R6700AX features four-gigabit ethernet ports as well as a WAN port for a modem connection.
The Netgear R6700AX can be easily set up with the Nighthawk app – users should be able topget this router up and running in around 10 mins. The Nighthawk app also lets users manage their Wifi settings, and monitor the connected devices on their network. The Netgear R6700AX is also compatible with Netgear’s notable Armor security system, which offers heavy protection over your network and the devices connected to it. However unlike other security systems, the Netgear Armor is payed for, and comes at a hefty $100 per year. Regardless the Netgear R6700AX is an amazing router for the under $100 m ark, and sits comfortably on our list of the best routers under $100.
- TrueMesh
- Great parental restrictions
- Stylish option
- No Wi-Fi 6
The Amazon eero mesh Wifi 5 is amazon’s answer to whole home coverage. Eero’s TrueMesh technology actively reroutes internet traffic between your connected devices and the point of access – ensuring the best possible connection at any given time. Coverage is therefore not an issue, and the modular nature of the system ensures that further coverage can be reached by adding extra units. However, this may exceed the $100 budget.
Setting up the Amazon eero mesh Wifi 5 is incredibly simple and done over on the app. Users may pair their phones with the eero over Bluetooth. The main page on the app lets users know how many devices are connected, in which rooms, and on what frequencies (2.4GHz or 5GHz). Furthermore, the app allows parents to create profiles for individual devices and place individual restrictions – such as blocking certain pages and enforcing pauses. All in all, the Amazon eero mesh Wifi 5 is a great, affordable mesh system packed with loads of features for a router under $100.
- Wifi 6
- MU-MIMO technology
- Limited inputs
The TP-Link ax1500 is a great option for those of you who are Wifi 6 curious but don’t want to spend a fortune. As a two-band router, the TP-Link ax1500 delivers incredibly solid 5GHz performance, although lacks 2.4GHz power. The TP-Link ax1500 also packs all the latest Wifi 6 features – including beam forming and MUMIMO, significantly increasing Wifi capacity.
In regard to its design, the TP-Link ax1500 is sleek and inoffensive, with a small profile. This router also scores highly in terms of usability. Router settings can be managed over on TP Link’s Tether app, or further modified on the web console for more in-depth functions. QoS settings and parental controls are available. Parents can create user profiles and block certain websites – as well as being able to set time limits on individual devices. The TP-Link ax1500 is a powerful Wifi 6 router that comes with more features than users can expect for a router under $100.
Important features to look out for when buying the best routers for under $100
Parental/security features
When in the market for the best router under $100, it is important to make sure the integrity of your security is not compromised. Parental Control is essential for many parents as this gives you full control over all devices connected to the router -and can stop your children from gaining access to adult sites.
Coverage
Coverage is important in ensuring good wifi signal is evenly distributed across your home. 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.
Our Verdict
The TP-Link Deco Mesh is an incredibly wide-reaching and powerful router for a very modest price. Whilst the price may rise if you wish to expand the number of wifi points in the mesh system, the Deco Mesh is great value regardless.