5 Best Router for Streaming On Twitch in 2021 (Reviews and Guide)

Imagine never having to sit through low-quality signals, buffering in the best part of the show you are streaming, and or missing some of the important bits of a live video. Wouldn’t that feel like a wonderful slice of heaven?

Well, I have been through all the things you are tired of thanks to poor internet connections/ signals, and it was painful. I have suffered trying to stream live on YouTube, watching Twitch, or even when using Chromecast, and though you could argue that ‘It can’t be that bad,’ the truth is that life is much more fun and seamless on this side of the world, as I learned after upgrading to the best router for Twitch streaming.

If you are open to the idea of seamless streaming on Twitch, you will be happy to know that there are numerous options for you to choose from on this other side, and once you settle for one, you will enjoy faster and more reliable WiFi speeds.

But like shopping for anything else online, finding the best router for streaming on Twitch is not the easiest task, especially with dozens of top-rated products on the market, each looking better than the last one you saw. To help you come to a decision faster, I did the hard work of looking through tens of potentially wonderful routers then narrowed down the long list to 5 of the best streaming routers for Twitch.

Comparison Table: Best Routers for Streaming on Twitch

Best Routers for Streaming on Twitch	Best For	Speed	WiFi Protocol	Price
Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 Wireless Router	Best Twitch Streaming Router	5.4Gbps	802.11ac	Check Price
NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S Smart WiFi Router	Best Gaming and Streaming Router	2.6Gbps	802.11ac	Check Price
NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 WiFi Router	Best Pro Gaming/ Heavy Streaming Router	2.6Gbps	802.11ac	Check Price
TP-Link Archer C5400X AC5400 Tri-Band Gaming Router	Best Tri-Band Twitch Streaming Router	5.4Gbps	802.11ac	Check Price
NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX120 AX12 12-Stream WiFi 6 Router	Best High-End Router	6Gbps	802.11ax	Check Price

 

Best Routers for Streaming on Twitch – Reviews

1. Linksys EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 Wireless Router – Best Twitch Streaming Router

There is a lot that goes into a high-performance router, especially one for heavy streaming, either on Twitch or other platforms, and this Linksys makes it to the top of our list as it is fitted with all the features and functions you need.

For starters, it offers super-high streaming speeds of 5.3Gbps spread into a 3-band system, which promises uninterrupted streaming. This tri-band frequency is divided into one 2.4GHz band with speeds of 1000Mbps and two 5GHz bands, each offering high speeds of 2166Mbps. Thanks to the bands and the robust processor that ensures everything runs smoothly, you have a bandwidth dedicated exclusively to streaming. Note that the 5GHz bands have the strongest WiFi signals, but a lower range, which is why they are ideal for streaming.

Then there’s the fact that this router comes with the MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output) feature which allows for multi-user/ device access to the WiFi at the same time, and at high speeds. Thanks to MU MIMO, the router’s bandwidth will support at least 25 devices. You’ll also like it because it boasts a large signal range covering at least 3000Sq.Ft. The eight antennas enhance the range of the router.

The other features of this tri-band router include its eight Gigabit Ethernet ports, which offer wired connections up to 10X faster speeds for printers, PCs, Smart TVs, and gaming consoles, compared to the wireless connections.

Regarding its security features, you are looking at WEP encryptions, WPA and WPA2 Personal/ Enterprise, as well as the SPI Firewall. All these features will keep your network safe at all times while preventing data theft. It also features a robust Parental Control function.

Pros

• Seamless roaming
• Works well with Alexa
• High-speed streaming with no buffering thanks to the tri-band, high-speed design
• Ease of use
• Great for 4K streaming on Twitch
• Blazing-fast WiFi speeds reaching a maximum of 5.3Gbps
• 8 Antennas boost the range and ensure optimal WiFi performance
• Easy setup
• Powerful dual-core processor enhances its efficiency
• Improved WiFi signals thanks to Beamforming

Cons

• Expensive
• The software’s configuration could be better

View Price on Amazon

2. NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S Smart WiFi Router – Best Gaming and Streaming Router

You don’t want to buy a router only to think that it blows after weeks of use, and the guys at NetGear know this, hence this high-performance Netgear Nighthawk X45 router. This router is designed to meet your heavy gaming and streaming, and it provides the fastest gaming performance, thanks to its superior WiFi technology and its unparalleled processing power.

Some of the reasons and features for its impressive and super-fast streaming performance include its Gigabit dual-core 1.7GHz CPU, the 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports which ensure the best-wired connection, Gigabit WiFi, as well as the fact that this router comes ready for 4K streaming.

Thanks to the 1.7GHz dual-core processor, this router offers unmatched speeds and performance, keeping your network’s performance at its best, with no CPU hogs and no lags. This dual-core processor further allows for the dedication of processing power to the network traffic while offering the lowest possible levels of latency, for heavy online gaming. And you get to connect many devices without worrying about faltered performance thanks to the 512MB memory.

It’s also a gaming beast thanks to its 2600Mbps WiFi speeds, as well as its design with a piece of technology called Dynamic Quality of Service or QoS. QoS is an intelligent feature that optimizes bandwidth and signals for video streaming and/or gaming.

The router also boasts superior levels of WiFi technology that allow the wireless signal to reach all corners of your home, including Beamforming+ and the four top-performance antennas (external). The MU-MIMO system in this router ensures a multiple-user system and enhanced gaming performance in all online games.

It also features a 160MHz radio, which means that the router is capable of doubling its bandwidth for devices, hence a lower latency.

Finally, it’s worth noting that this router is an 802.11ac router, which means that it is among the fastest routers on the market, and though it does not make use of the latest/ fastest WiFi protocols, it’s more than good enough for gaming and streaming on Twitch. It’s a dual-band router, with the 2.4GHz band running at speeds of 800Mbps and the 5GHz band at 1733Mbps.

It boasts a wide coverage of 2500Sq. Ft, and it supports a maximum of 45 devices. File sharing is made possible by the two USB 3.0 ports and the single eSATA ports, while the parental controls ensure easy network control and security.

Pros

• Large coverage, ideal for (very) large homes
• Large device capacity of 45
• Ideal for heavy-duty streaming
• Secure WiFi network
• 2600Mbps for heavy streaming and gaming
• Great parental controls
• Four reliable, high-speed Gigabit Ethernet ports
• Beamforming, MU-MIMO and Dual-Band design for improved performance
• Works with Alexa

Cons

• 8 Ethernet ports would be better
• The customer support services could be better

View Price on Amazon

3. NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 WiFi Router – Best Pro Gaming/ Heavy Streaming Router

If you are a pro-gamer and also big on streaming on Twitch, you need a router that not only works with Alexa but also optimizes your WiFi signals for lower pings.  This NetGear Nighthawk XR500 offers just that with its four Ethernet ports for high-speed wired connections and the 2.6Gbps top speeds for streaming.

It maximizes streaming performance and minimizes pings with its Ethernet ports, allowing you to enjoy lag-free streaming. Besides the ports, you also have the 1.7GHz dual-core processor, which boosts the router’s network connectivity.

If you a heavy gamer, you will be happy to note that this router supports gaming in all the best ways, from the use of a geo-filtering function that will connect you to the closest players and servers for faster responses and domination in the games.

It also features the QoS function, which is ideal for enhancing gaming/ streaming traffic. Dynamic QoS bypasses any network congestion and also reduces lag spikes, jitters, and jumps, ensuring the best streaming performance – low latency and no buffering. You might also like this router because it features a simple monitoring system, and you can keep an eye on the network plus the pings in real-time.

Pros

• Nice security functions like VPN and Parental controls
• No buffering
• Powerful 1.7GHz processor that supports heavy streaming on Twitch by supporting high-demand devices
• Good gaming router
• Ultra-fast WiFi speeds of 2600Mbps
• Four Gigabit Ethernet ports for high-speed wired connections
• High-quality 4K streaming
• Stable signal and it runs flawlessly at all times

Cons

• Expensive
• 8 Ethernet ports would be better
• The remote admin portal doesn’t work too well for more than one IP address

View Price on Amazon

4. TP-Link Archer C5400X AC5400 Tri-Band Gaming Router – Best Tri-Band Twitch Streaming Router

One thing you will realize from this review is that some of the best routers for streaming on Twitch would also be regarded as the best gaming routers. The primary reason for this is that the routers that allow for either heavy streaming or gaming are retrofitted with advanced and high-performance features. So, if you love streaming on Twitch and gaming, a router like this one by TP-Link will bring two of your loves together, leaving you with the best level of performance in everything you do online. Thanks to the features of this router, you can look forward to no buffering and lower latency, hence excellent performance.

Some of the features that make this gaming router one of the best options for streaming include its ultra-powerful 1.8GHz 64-bit Quad-core processor plus the 1GB RAM, for accelerated loading, fast streaming, and multiple device use. It also features eight Gigabit Ethernet ports plus a single WAN port that boasts link aggregation. Essentially, you could aggregate two of these ports to work as one, for double WiFi speeds.

Speaking of WiFi speeds, this router boasts a tri-band system with two 5GHz bands at 2167Mbps each and one 2.4GHz band at 1000Mbps. This setup allows you to dedicate one 5GHz band to streaming and the other to gaming traffic.

The other features include AirTime Fairness and MU-MIMO for a boost in the response rates and the maximization of the total throughout. It also features Beamforming, which allows for the delivery of targeted WiFi and RangeBoost that strengthens WiFi reception for connection and seamless streaming for devices far from the router. The range and performance of the router are further enhanced by the eight external antennas.

You might also like this router because of Dynamic QoS, which ensures traffic optimization and the prevention of latency. Its security features are also impressive, and they include the best antivirus protection, and reliable parental controls thanks to the TP-Link HomeCare advanced security feature.

Pros

• Powerful quad-core and three other co-processors for the best streaming performance
• Works well with Alexa
• Robust Tri-Band system
• Easy setup and it has a Bluetooth function too
• Large 1GB RAM that allows for connection with multiple devices
• Optimized throughout thanks to Beamforming, MU-MIMO, QoS, and Airtime Fairness
• Intelligent prioritization of traffic
• Ultra-fast internets
• Advanced security features

Cons

• Not WiFi 6
• The firmware updates could be better
• Expensive
• Not future-proof

View Price on Amazon

5. NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX120 AX12 12-Stream WiFi 6 Router – Best High-End Router

If you live in a large house, you need to be able to stream from each part of your home, and this router makes that possible thanks to its extra-wide coverage of up to 3500sq.Ft.

With its 12-stream design, the WiFi 6 protocol, and ultra-high WiFi speeds of 6000Mbps, this router is one of the best routers you could find for heavy streaming, as well as gaming. With 12 streams running simultaneously, this router offers a large capacity for more devices. And with four Gigabit and two 5/ 5G Ethernet ports, this router promises the best wired connectivity for streaming without buffering.

It further comes loaded with several advanced technological features, including a powerful 2.0GHz 64-Bit two quad-core processors, as well as eight extra amplified antennas, OFDMA, Beamforming+, MU-MIMO, and Smart Connect technologies. It works with Alexa too.

Note that OFDMA is a feature unique to routers running on the WiFi 6 system, and it ensures an improvement in the router’s overall throughput by breaking the main WiFi channels into sub-channels, increasing the device capacity of the router. Beamforming also improves throughput by shaping the signals, increasing range, and efficiency, while MU-MIMO ensures simultaneous rather than sequential streaming of data to multiple clients/ users, hence an improved throughput. Then you have the Smart Connect function, which means that this router is smart-home ready, and you won’t have a hard time trying to configure it.

With two USB 3.0 ports, file/ media transfers will be easier, and the smart parental controls ensure control over the content your kids have access to. It also features Netgear Armor, which is an advanced cyber-threat protection function against malware, viruses, fraud, ransomware, and phishing.

Pros

• WiFi 6 stretches the limits of any old router you might have used in the past
• It’s smart-home ready
• It boasts a larger capacity for devices
• Backward compatible
• Amplified antennas for higher speeds and range
• Less congestion
• Super-smooth 4K/ 8K streaming
• Multi-Gigabit Internet system up to 2Gbps for the ports
• Easy setup
• 12-stream for improved performance
• An advanced threat protection system
• Broad coverage

Cons

• Quite expensive
• Few AX clients
• 8 Ethernet ports could be better

View Price on Amazon

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Buying Guide for the Best Router for Streaming on Twitch

In this section, we’ll take a look at all the important considerations you need to keep in mind in your search for the best routers for streaming on Twitch.

• Speed

At the end of the day, the most important feature for you to consider in streaming routers is the speed, because the speed plays an important role in determining the streaming performance of the router, and whether you have to worry about buffering or not.

When looking for the best router for streaming on Twitch, make sure that it boasts the highest internet speeds. Besides the high speeds, I recommend looking at the processor’s power because it is what holds the ultimate power regarding the speed and the performance of the router.

Speaking of speeds, bear in mind that the best, high-speed routers on the market today run on the 802.11ac and 802.11ax protocols. The latter represents WiFi 6 routers, and these are the latest router versions on the market currently, boasting super high speeds, larger capacity, and an overall higher level of performance.

• Number of Devices to be connected to the router

Essentially, if you have few devices to connect to the router, then you will be fine with the standard/ basic high-speed routers. However, if you live in a big house with multiple devices connected to the router house, you will need the most powerful high-speed routers for the best streaming experience on Twitch. Also, bear in mind that you will need a router with more bandwidth if you have many devices.

• Coverage

In this day and age, dead spots shouldn’t be something you struggle with, but if you still do, you want to make sure that the router upgrade you are planning will help you avoid all the network issues you’ve suffered in the past. For that, consider the size of your home or apartment.

If you live in a small house/ apartment, a single router with a small/ medium coverage will work well, but if you live in a large house/ apartment, you need to look for a router designed to provide the largest possible coverage, or two (three) routers with medium coverage.

• Router-Modem Compatibility

Before buying the router, make sure that the router you are considering is compatible with your modem, and also the check the maximum speed capacity for the modem.

Other considerations

• Smart features: These features include beamforming, OFDMA, QoS, Smart Connect, and MU-MIMO.
• Processor’s power
• Security features and parental controls
• The number of bands – opt for dual and tri-band routers.
• Budget – which router can you afford?

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FAQs

Will my router keep my data safe?

Essentially, the best routers on the market are designed with reliable security functions, but if you need the most secure router, you might want to opt for the advanced routers which come with several layers of robust protection, from VPN and WPA access to brand-customized firewall protection, DoS, and the most advanced Parental controls.

Why do you need a router with Ethernet ports?

Well, while WiFi is great for internet access, hardwired internet (Ethernet) connection offers unmatched benefits, and most importantly, these ports ensure faster and dedicated internet connection. So, if you are heavy on streaming on Twitch and are tired of buffering or poor internet connection, you might want to make sure that the router you upgrade to has at least 4 gigabit Ethernet ports.

Do you need WiFi 6?

If you are looking for a future-proof WiFi system in your home, then it would be an excellent idea for you to invest in a router build on the latest WiFi protocol, WiFi 6. It’s super-fast, boasting really high throughput speeds, reduced congestion, better range, and performance, as well as a greater client capacity.

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Conclusion

Streaming on Twitch is today, bigger than it ever was, with millions of viewers each month tuning on to watch the top-rated and the biggest video game broadcasts, talk shows, and live music broadcasts, among others.

What this means is that whether you are a Twitch streamer streaming your most favorite Fortnite plays. Vlogs, or live podcasts, you need to invest in the best router that will help you enjoy seamless streaming. The routers reviewed above are some of the best options of streaming on Twitch, and the best bit is that they offer great performance to all its users, depending on your budget.