Best routers for multiple devices in 2023 – our top picks
If you are looking for the best router for multiple devices, then you have landed on the right page.
Now, a WiFI router can accommodate anywhere from 10 to 300 and even more devices – it all depends on the kind of router that you get. Mostly, these routers are useful for large homes, large office spaces, or if you want to keep multiple devices connected (for example, a smart home system with several devices).
At the moment, if you look at the available routers on the market, you will find several WiFi 6 routers that support multiple simultaneous connections. Plus, with technologies like MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and beamforming, the router can deliver stable, steady connections on all the connected devices.
With that being said, there are quite a lot of routers available that can fulfill your requirements. To save you time on research, we have rounded up what we think are the best WiFi routers for multiple devices.
Products at a Glance
How we picked
For this guide, we have researched and looked at several different routers, compared them, and selected the ones that we think are the best. The routers have been selected based on specs like speed, coverage, and capacity to connect to multiple devices simultaneously. In addition to the research, we keep adding new products to our lists, so check back for new updates.
Best routers for multiple devices in 2023 – our top picks
- Up to 10.8 Gbps speeds
- 3,500 sq. ft. coverage
- 60+ devices
- Paid security features
If you want the absolute best router for multiple devices, then you should check out the Nightgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router, which we think is one of the best WiFi 6E routers available.
As mentioned, this is a WiFi 6E router, which means it has that additional 6GHz band, so you can connect compatible devices and get faster speeds. The tri-band router gives up to 10.8 Gbps speeds, which should be more than sufficient to stream 4K or 8K videos, play games, and for other usage.
As far as coverage goes, the router covers about 3,500 sq. ft. of area, so as long as you’re within this range, you should be able to get a stable WiFi connection.
Now, coming to multiple connections, the router promises to keep about 60 devices connected, which means you should be able to keep all your smart devices running. Plus, the router offers features like MU-MIMO and OFDMA, which should help you get stable connections on multiple devices. And with beamforming, you should be able to get strong signals based on your location.
As far as security is concerned, you get a 30-day free trial for Netgear Armor and Netgear Smart Parental Controls. And if you want to continue these services, you will have to get a paid subscription.
- Up to 5500 Mbps speeds
- Coverage up to 2,700 sq. ft.
- Linksys app
- No fancy features
If you are on a budget, then you should look at the Linksys Hydra Pro 6 Mesh router, which we think deserves to be on the list of the best WiFi 6 routers.
The dual-band router gives you up to 5500 Mbps speeds, which is sufficient for online gaming, streaming, and other activities. Plus, as it has two bands, you should be able to experience lesser congestion and faster speeds.
As far as coverage is concerned, this router promises to cover an area of up to 2,700 sq. ft., which should be sufficient for small to medium-sized houses. Plus, it is compatible with mesh, so you can just add more units to the system, in case you want to extend the coverage.
Now, coming to connectivity, the router is capable of keeping around 30 devices connected. This means you should be able to get WiFi on your mobiles, tablets, laptops, PCs, and even smart home devices.
Coming to installations and settings, you can use the Linksys app to configure your network. The app lets you set up a guest network, prioritize devices with QoS, change passwords, and do much more.
- WiFi 6E mesh
- Coverage of up to 5,500 sq. ft.
- 200+ devices
- Expansion can be expensive
Now, if you want a router that provides decent coverage and connects multiple devices within a reasonable price range, then you should check out the TP-Link Deco XE75 mesh routers.
Now, each Deco unit has three bands – 6GHz (2402 Mbps), 5GHz (2402 Mbps), and 2.4GHz (574 Mbps). You should get enough speed for streaming, gaming, and other online activities. And as this is a WiFi 6E router, you get the 6GHz band, which should reduce the overall congestion.
The variant we have selected has two Deco units that provide coverage of up to 5,500 sq. ft. Now, if you want more coverage, then you can simply add more units. On the contrary, if you want lesser coverage, you can go for just one Deco unit that would double up as a router.
If you go for two Deco units, you should be able to connect around 200 devices simultaneously, so you should be able to keep all of your devices connected without any issues.
You can manage your WiFi network with the Deco app, even when you are away from home. Plus, the routers support Alexa, so you should be able to control the routers easily with voice commands.
How to pick the best router for multiple devices
Here are a few things to consider –
WiFi technology
Considering that you would be using the new router for quite a while, it makes sense to get a product that uses the latest technologies. As of today, you can get a WiFi 6 router, as it is commonly used and most of your devices would be compatible with it.
However, you can also choose to go with a WiFi 6E router, as it comes with a 6GHz band, which can reduce congestion – a feature that can be useful if you are planning to connect multiple devices. The only possible “con” here would be compatibility, as only newer devices are likely to have WiFi 6E.
Coverage
The “right” coverage for you would depend on how big your house or office is. For example, if you have a 3 or 4-bedroom home, then 2500 sq ft. to 3500 sq ft coverage would be enough for you. However, some of the best routers for large homes cover up to 6000 sq ft. or more area to deliver steady and stable internet connection throughout the house.
Features
Assuming that we would be connecting multiple devices at once, you should look for features like – MU-MIMO, OFDMA, beamforming, and QoS. To understand how these features can help you, here’s a quick brief on each one –
- MU-MIMO: With Multi-User Multiple In Multiple Out, a router can connect with multiple devices simultaneously
- OFDMA: With Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access, the router can create sub-streams within a frequency for more efficient performance
- Beamforming: Much like the name suggests, Beamforming creates a “beam” which strengthens WiFi signals in the users’ direction
- QoS: Quality of Service allows you to prioritize certain devices over others to dodge congestion
Our Verdict
If you want to get the best router for multiple devices, then you should probably consider the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 router. This is a WiFi 6E router, so it has the 6GHz band, which should give faster speed to compatible devices. Plus, it3,500 sq. ft. of area and promises to keep over 60 devices connected, which should be sufficient for home use. For better simultaneous connectivity, the router has MU-MIMO and OFDMA, which help in delivering efficient performance.