8 Best WiFi Router for Long Range in 2021 (Reviews and Guide)

A long-range WiFi router means no more blind spots around the house, and it could also mean that you finally get to enjoy high-internet speeds in the backyard or the porch without issues.

Now, if you are reading this, it’s highly likely that you’ve had your fair share of unfortunate events, cases and times when you’ve had to avoid some rooms or spots in your home because you cannot seem to be able to have good internet connection in every part of your house.

I know I have, and I can confidently say that nothing feels worse than troublesome internet, short-range connections, or presence of internet dark spots. Can you imagine being unable to reach Alexa from one of the bedrooms because of poor connectivity? Or being unable to access your Ring camera’s notifications on your tablet from the study?

I have gone through all that and more, and no one should live through poor internet connection and dark spots, especially not in their own home.

To help resolve this problem, this review gives you recommendations for 7 of the best WiFi routers for long-range use.

Comparison Table for the best Long Range WiFi Routers

Long Range Router		Coverage	Speed	Connectivity	Ports	Price
1	NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band Whole Home Mesh WiFi System	5000sq.ft	3000Mbps	Tri-band; one 2.4GHz band and 2 5GHz bands	4 Gigabit Ethernet ports	Check Price
2	Asus RT-AX88U	Very large homes	6000Mbps	Dual-band (4X4) 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands 802.11ax	8 Gigabit LAN ports	Check Price
3	TP-Link Archer A7 AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router	Medium-sized homes	1750Mbps	Dual-band – 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands 802.11ac	4 Gigabit LAN ports	Check Price
4	TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router	Medium-sized homes	1900Mbps	Dual-band  – 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11ac	4 Gigabit Ethernet Ports	Check Price
5	NETGEAR Nighthawk AX12 12-Stream WiFi 6 Router	3500sq.ft	6000Mbps	Dual-band 4 data streams on 2.4GHz band 8 data streams on 5GHz band 802.11ax	2 USB 3.0 4 Gigabit Ethernet Ports	Check Price
6	Google Nest WiFi (2nd Generation)	4000Sq. ft.	650Mbps	Dual-band 2GHz and 5GHz bands 802.11ac	2 Gigabit Ethernet ports	Check Price
7	Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000	Very large homes	11000Mbps	Tri-band 2 5GHz bands 1 2Ghz band 802.11ax	4 Gigabit Ethernet ports	Check Price
8	TP-Link Archer C2300	Medium-sized 2-story home	2300Mbps	Dual-Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11ac	4 LAN Gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 USB 2.0 1 USB 3.0	Check Price

 

Reviews of the Best Long-Range Routers on the Market Today

1. NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band Whole Home Mesh WiFi System – Best Mesh WiFi Router for Large Homes

With a maximum connection speed of 3Gbps (3000Mbps) and a great connectivity of up to 5,000 square feet, this mesh fiber is, without doubt one of the best long-range WiFi routers on the market. The best part is that this router has an expandable design which means that if you need more coverage from the router, you will only need extra satellites.

This NETGEAR Orbi is a WiFi 6 router meaning that it has the most advanced router features allowing for the best connectivity. It boasts a Tri-band network connectivity one running at 2.4Ghz and 2 on 5GHz, and it allows connection with at least 25 devices.

It also has a 4x Gigabit Ethernet and sports beamforcing, a feature that enhances its performance.

Pros

• Dedicated frequency bands for backhauls
• It covers a large area of 5,000square feet
• Very easy set up
• Excellent speeds and range

Cons

• No USB 3.0
• It’s bulky
• Very expensive

View Price on Amazon

2. Asus RT-AX88U – Best Gaming WiFi Router for Extra Large Homes

Also regarded as the best gaming router, Asus RT-AX88U boasts excellent connectivity even in the largest homes, and you might like it if you are looking for extra internet security/ connectivity and an internet boost.

Fitted with Next-Gen WiFi system, 802.11ax, also called WiFi 6, this router boasts the highest level of throughput and efficiency, along with ultra-fast connectivity speeds capable of handling even the busiest networks. And for maximum coverage in all parts of your house, this Asus router  has 4 powerful antennas plus 8 LAN ports, which make it possible for you multiple clients’ usage.

The other reason why this router makes the best option is its super-fast connection speed. It has a 4×4 dual-band system and a total networking speed of 6000Mbps, spread into the 2.4Ghz band and the 5Ghz band streaming at 1148Mbps and 4804Mbps, respectively. The best part about the router’s speeds is that it’s more than 2 times faster than the 802.11ac systems, with a maximum connection speed of 3100Mbps.

If you are worried about the security of WiFi connections, you will be happy with the commercial-grade security features, which include AirProtection Pro that’s powered by TrendMicro, a security system that will block all security threats from your smart devices.

It’s smart-home ready with integrations for Amazon Alexa, and it’s also compatible with the Asus AIMesh WiFi system.

Pros

• 8 LAN ports
• Advanced and super-high speed WiFi 6 system
• High performance design
• It’s easy to install
• It boasts a robust QoS system
• Advanced security and malware protection

Cons

• It is expensive
• There are few 802.11ax clients on the market

View Price on Amazon

3. TP-Link Archer A7 AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router – Most Affordable Long-Range WiFi

If you are looking for a WiFi router with a good coverage for space of about 2,500 square feet, this TP-Link Archer A7 AC1750 might be a good pick for you, especially since it’s an affordable high-speed router.

It features a high-speed processing system, QoS bandwidth prioritization, and 3 external antennas which ensure long-range connectivity. This dual band router runs at 450Mbps for 2.4Ghz and 1300Mbps for 5Ghz; and with the and with the 4 Gigabit LAN ports, the router delivers the highest connectivity speeds.

It boasts a stable Wi-Fi performance and a top connectivity speed of 1750Mbps, a speed that allows for excellent 4K streaming and supports multiple devices, while working with Alexa seamlessly. It’s WPA/ WPA2 encryptions will keep your network safe, and the stability of the connection makes this router and a good option for you.

Pros

• Affordable
• Good performance
• Easy USB integrations
• 4 Gigabit LAN ports for faster internet access
• Multiple devices connectivity
• 3 external antennas for long-range connectivity
• Dual band high-speed connectivity

Cons

• Few customization options

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4. TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router – Best VPN Router

If you need a smart router with VPN capabilities, this TP-Link router might be a good option for you. It is a dual-band router with 2 frequencies – the 2.4GHz band with a speed of 600Mbps and the 5Ghz band with a running speed of 1300Mbps, and 4 gigabit LAN ports for fast access.

It works with Alexa and it’s features with MU-MIMO gigabit design which allows for connection in 3 simultaneous streams of data, ensuring that you achieve and offer the maximum possible level of performance on all your devices.

With a system that automatically boosts its WiFi coverage and the beamforcing technology, this routers delivers a seamless wireless connectivity, and the Smart Connect technology ensures internet connection to the least congested bandwidth. There’s also the TP-Link Tether app which ensures easy setup and the management of the network.

Pros

• It’s affordable
• It boasts a strong WiFi signal
• It’s easy to setup
• It makes use of the Ultra-Fast Wave 2 AC WiFi
• Smooth 4K connectivity
• High speed of 1.9Gbps
• Beamforming, MU-MIMO, and Airtime fairness enhance its performance
• Good security options
• Secure VPN connectivity
• Tether app for easy connectivity and management

Cons

• It has limited positioning options

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5. NETGEAR Nighthawk AX12 12-Stream WiFi 6 Router – Best Streaming Router

For the most advanced streaming capabilities and large coverage range in every bit of your home, this NETGEAR Nighthawk router is one of the best routers you could invest in. With 12 streaming capabilities, high connectivity speed of 6Gbps for coverage of up to 3500 square feet, this router offers the highest possible level of performance.

This RAX120 is the absolute powerhouse and you might like it because at its core is the Wi-Fi 6 technology, which allows for bufferless and super-smooth streams. The 12-Stream capability is the reason why this router supports 4K and 8K streaming capabilities.

The other features of this router include 2 USB 3.0 ports, smart parental controls, WPA2/ WPA3 security protocols, DoS Firewall VP, backward compatibilitt, 4 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Ports, Aggregate 2 Gigabit LAN ports, OFDMA technology for strong bandwidth, MU-MINO, Smart Connect, and Beamforming.

Pros

• Super-speed 802.11ax connectivity
• It’s easy to install/ set up
• 5GBE wired ports
• Powerful 64bit 2Ghz quad-core processor for top speeds and performance
• 8 amplified beamforming antennas
• Alexa integrations and controls
• Large device capability
• 12-streaming options
• High efficiency
• Excellent file transfer performance from two USB 3.0 ports
• Designed with the most advanced technologies

Cons

• It lacks malware authority
• It’s pricey

View Price on Amazon

6. Google Nest WiFi (2^nd Generation) – Best Mesh Router

With a 4400 square feet coverage, this Google Nest WiFi is one of the most scalable and flexible long-range WiFi routers on the market designed to work with all your Nest devices for complete connectivity in every part of your home, with no buffering.

The router is a 802.11ac, dual-band WiFi that comes with 4 antennas and 2 Gigabit LAN ports. It boasts a peak throughput of 653.2 Mbps and it is powerful enough to keep your home well connected. Thanks to the design and the features of this router, it boasts excellent performance. You might also like it because it is easy to use/ setup, and its Google Assistant integration ensures easy connectivity with all your smart home devices.

This 2-pack WiFi system also boasts MU-MIMO technology with high connectivity speeds of 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz.

Pros

• Easy to setup
• Excellent performance
• Google Assistant integration
• High-speed operation
• Compact, beautiful design
• Powerful Wireless signals

Cons

• The connectivity range is shorter for one pack and you need to stack up the units for a larger range
• There could be more configurations

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7. Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 – Best Router for Very Large Homes

If you live in a mansion, you know all too well that you need the most powerful long-range routers for connectivity in every part of your home. You may have tried several options and they might not have worked as best as you would have hoped, which is why you might need this Asus ROG Rapture Router.

This router boasts super-high internet speeds of 11000Mbps and it comes with 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connectivity. Besides the high WiFi speeds, the other feature that stands out from this router is the fact that it runs on the advanced WiFi 6 system (802.11ax) which means the best network connectivity.

It also has a tri-band system, which means that this router allows you to tap into the latest wireless technologies such as OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access), as well as access to 15Ghz bands, plus dynamic frequency selection for very clear signals.

Inside the router is a powerful quad-core processor chip, a 1.8Ghz processor, 256MB storage space and 1GB RAM, for settings and firmware. The processor also fires up its performance, and being one of the fastest routers on the market, it will push super-high connection speeds of 4.8Gbps on each of the two 5Ghz bands, as well as 1.2Gbps on the 2.4Ghz transmission band.

It has a maximum speed of 10.8Gbps connection to all connected wireless devices, thanks to the 802.11ax hardware. The only catch is that there are few 802.11ax devices on the market, meaning that this router won’t reach its maximum potential. These features are also the reason for the router’s top performance,

It’s AI Mesh-compatible and it comes with AI protection to enhance the security of your devices and to lower the risk of threats to your network and devices.

The router has an aggressive angular design and it’s quite big in comparison with most of the routers on the market today. But even with its large size, it comes with soft rubbery feet that protect surfaces.

Its designed with advanced security features and software, and if you are a gamer, this router will be an excellent option for you because of Asus Gamers’ Private Network designed to get rid of lost packets and lower latency.

You might also like this router as it allows you to create a mesh network from any other Asus routers you might have.

Pros

• Easy set up and customization
• Excellent speeds
• Great router for gamers
• Interface is easy to use
• It features some of the most advanced features
• Large range for big homes
• Its performance increases with distance
• It comes with a wired connect

Cons

• Big with no wall mounting option
• No geo-filtering option
• It is expensive
• Few 802.11ax devices on the market

View Price on Amazon

8. TP-Link Archer C2300 – Best Performance Router

If you are looking for a high-performance router on a budget, this TP-Link Archer C2300 might be what you need, and you might like a little more because it comes with antivirus/ malware protection.

Although it has a simple design that might make you not think much about this router, it is a high-performance router that will not only blend well with your home’s décor, but deliver excellent internet connectivity with no dead spots.

With a powerful 1.8GHz dual-core 64-bit processor, dual-band 802.11ac connectivity with a total theoretical bandwidth of 2.225Gbps – 600Mbps in the 2.4GHz band and 1625Mbps in the 5GHz mode, and the QoS software which will apportion the available network, this router is, without doubt one of the best routers on the market.

It has 4 LAN Gigabit Ethernet Ports and one WAN gigabit port, one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0 ports, for wired connections, and fast file transfer. The 3 rotating antenna help in making sure that you enjoy the best signal.

The performance of this router is enhanced by beamforming and MU-MIMO technologies which ensure that the router offers the best range, and the highest possible internet speed.

Pros

• Easy setup
• MU-MIMO for fast internet speeds and range
• It comes with a 2-year warranty
• It has built-in antivirus protection
• Great performance
• It’s affordable
• Simple, compact design
• VPN server setup
• Good parental controls

Cons

• It runs hot

View Price on Amazon

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Buying Guide for the Best Long Range Routers

What are some of the things you need to consider when buying a long-range WiFi router?

Wireless Protocols

Wireless router protocols refer to the set of iteration technologies/ features relating to a specific class of equipment. For routers, these protocols are WiFi standards which determine the speed at which a router transfers data/ information.

The best routers on the market today use the dual-band and 802.11ac technologies that allows for delivery of top-speed performance. The most advanced versions of routers make use of the 802.11ax protocol that delivers the highest level of network connectivity and efficiency.

Wireless Bands

For the longest time, WiFi routers were designed to run on a single band and they would broadcast on one frequency, the 2.4Ghz band. However, thanks to technological advancements and the Internet of Things, routers are now a lot more sophisticated with dual and tri-band options.

Dual band routers are the most common ones on the market as they are well adapted to increase/ boost traffic by connection devices on the 2.4GHz band and the 5GHz band. A step up from this are the tri-band routers which are quite advanced and fitted for heavy internet usage. The tri-band routers run on one 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands.

Ports

The best routers have more than one Gigabit ports to allow for more wired connections of devices to your network at a long range and a high efficiency. Having more ports will also mean less overcrowding.

Antennas

Bigger antennas mean a stronger signal, and the most powerful routers will look like spiders because of the big number of antennas sticking out in different directions. They also have adjustable antennas, hence a higher signal strength and range.

Other Features include:

Beamforming and MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output) – these features allow for directional signal boost and maximum signal strength to specific devices, respectively

Quality of Service(QoS) – This feature is common with advanced routers and it allows for priority internet access to certain applications.

Parental and Guest Controls – these features ensure controlled and secure access to some users.

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Conclusion

There are numerous options of long-range routers on the market, and the best router offers top speeds, but more importantly, internet coverage for up to 5,000 square feet. The ASUS RT-AC88U definitely fits the bill and it is one of the best options on the market.

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FAQs

Which is the best router for a 2 or a 3-story house?

The WiFi signal will weaken with increased distance, which is why mesh routers like the NETGEAR Orbi make a good option for big homes.

Which is the Wi-Fi Frequency with the best range?

The 2.4GHz frequency band. The 5GHz band is ideal for its high speeds in less crowded spaces.

Which is better – 802.11ac or 802.11ax?

While these two options offer top connection speeds, 802.11ax is the most advanced option that promises elegant and high-speed connectivity. You only need to find compatible devices – 802.11ac has no connectivity issues.