In today’s world of streaming, surfing, gaming, and more, there is no denying that your router is probably one of the most important equipment in your home. And in order to enhance your entertainment experience, you need to pick the right product.
The market out there has bombarded you with choices for the best routers. But more often than not, the better ones are very expensive and hence out of your reach.
The article will not only introduce you to the best routers under $100 but will also include a buying guide that will aid you in choosing the right router for your use.
Best Routers Under $100 Comparison Table
| Name | Wi-Fi Speed (in Mbps) | Area Coverage (in sq.) | Wired Ethernet ports | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Also Great NETGEAR Wi-Fi Router (R6230)  View Price | Wi-Fi Speed (in Mbps) 1200 | Area Coverage (in sq.) 1000 | Wired Ethernet ports 4 |   (4.3 / 5) |
Best Choice TP-Link AC1900 Smart Wireless Router  View Price | Wi-Fi Speed (in Mbps) 1750 | Area Coverage (in sq.) - | Wired Ethernet ports 4 |  (4 / 5) |
Also Great MOTOROLA AC1700 Dual-Band Wi-Fi  View Price | Wi-Fi Speed (in Mbps) 1700 | Area Coverage (in sq.) varies | Wired Ethernet ports 4 |  (4.1 / 5) |
Wi-Fi Speed (in Mbps) 1750 | Area Coverage (in sq.) 1500 | Wired Ethernet ports 4 |  (4.2 / 5) | |
Wi-Fi Speed (in Mbps) 1000 | Area Coverage (in sq.) 2000 | Wired Ethernet ports 4 |  (4.5 / 5) | |
Wi-Fi Speed (in Mbps) 1267 | Area Coverage (in sq.) varies | Wired Ethernet ports 5 | (4.1 / 5) | |
Also Great Linksys Dual-Band Wi-Fi Router  View Price | Wi-Fi Speed (in Mbps) 1200 | Area Coverage (in sq.) 1000 | Wired Ethernet ports 1 | (4.1 / 5) |
Wi-Fi Speed (in Mbps) 900 | Area Coverage (in sq.) varies | Wired Ethernet ports 5 | (4 / 5) |
Top 8 Best Routers Under $100 To Buy 2020 Reviews
The comparison table is just the tip of the iceberg; there is a lot more in store for you. Let’s have a closer look at the most noticeable features of the most efficient routers for your home and office.
1 NETGEAR Wi-Fi Router (R6230)
Everyone these days is looking for ways to upgrade and enhance their internet experience. With the Netgear Wi-Fi router, you can too.
It provides up to 1200 Mbps of wireless speed. This means that it is perfect for fast streaming of HD videos. It also helps in providing the ultimate gaming experience for online sports enthusiasts.
Moreover, it provides seamless Wi-Fi for up to 20 devices. It does this by selectively choosing between dual bands. This not only minimizes interference between devices but also maximizes speed for all your devices.
Moreover, it contains a high-level WPA/WPA2 that ensures wireless security. This also ensures double firewall protection. This comes in handy for those who have private information on their home devices.
Not just that, but through this advanced technology, the Netgear router is able to create a guest network. This is separate from your home network and therefore protects your data.
Providing greater convenience is another specialty of this Netgear router. You can use the nighthawk app and effortlessly get website access. Moreover, it allows you to pause your Wi-Fi for individual devices.
(4.3 / 5)Pros
- Enhanced Wi-Fi speed.
- Allows fast streaming of videos and games.
- Seamless Wi-Fi for 20 devices.
- Minimized interference.
- Easy 5-min set up.
- Very convenient.
- Four 1 G wired connections.
Cons
- Provides relatively lesser speed than some other models.
2 TP-Link AC1900 Smart Wireless Router
The TP-Link router is yet another amazing router that ensures high-speed internet. It has some other amazing features too. Here’s all about them.
The router provides up to 1900 Mbps of high internet speed and increases total throughput to up to 430%. This allows you to stream in 4K and play your Xbox and PlayStation games without any interruption.
At the heart of this amazing router is a powerful 1 GHz dual-core processor. The best thing about this is that it balances the demands of all your devices. Not just that, it also ensures that they all receive uninterrupted and fast connections.
It is also well-equipped to manage each Wi-Fi band, thereby also streaming movies online and downloading files.
Moreover, its advanced beamforming technology helps the router achieve high powered dual-band antennas. These locate the Wi-Fi devices nearby and focus their signals towards them. The signal is, therefore, more focused and is not transmitted needlessly in all directions.
The dual 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands also ensure that more devices can be easily connected to your home network. This allows 4K streaming of your videos and games. The bands also ensure better connectivity.
Moreover, the USB 3.0 port allows you to connect external devices to your router. It also has an advantage over the USB 2.0 port. This means that with this TP-Link product, you can download your data at a much faster rate.
(4 / 5)Pros
- High internet speed.
- Better connectivity with all devices.
- Connection through a mobile app.
- Allows connection with external devices.
- Advanced beamforming technology.
- Allows 4K streaming.
Cons
- Relatively expensive than some other models.
3 MOTOROLA AC1700 Dual-Band Wi-Fi
If you’re looking for high-speed internet at a lower price, then the Motorola AC1700 dual-band Wi-Fi is the answer for you. It’s one of the best Wi-Fi in the market. Here’s why.
It has a concurrent dual-band operation that supports 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. There are also four antennas for the 2.4GHz frequency band that provides the best service to long-distance devices. This also results in extended range and high-speed performance, which is much better than many expensive routers in the market.
Another distinct feature of the router is that it provides optimum signals in dorms, apartments, and condominiums that are bombarded with noises from neighbors surrounding them.
There are also 4 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports that deliver maximum connection and high speeds to all your local devices. Moreover, they also allow you to run multiple channels like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video at the same time.
Despite containing one of the finest and modern dual-core processor, the router is easy to set up. It also comes with parental controls that come in handy with parents having teens.
There are also user-friendly firewalls installed in the system that not only protect your data but also keep outside interruption and interference at bay.
(4.1 / 5)Pros
- High-speed internet.
- Powerful processing.
- Uninterrupted connections.
- Easy to set up the router.
- Allows parental controls.
- Contains user-friendly firewalls.
- Extended range.
Cons
- Coverage area is not specified-it varies with a number of devices.
4 NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router (R6700)
As the name suggests, the Netgear Nighthawk is a smart Wi-Fi router that provides the best of everything at an affordable price. Here’s the best part.
The Netgear device is built for serious streamers. It provides a whopping 1750Mbps speed for all your activities. This hence allows you to perform demanding tasks like HD streaming and online gaming.
The dual-core 1 GHz processor also boosts both wireless and wired performances. This ensures uninterrupted and fast-paced entertainment on the internet.
Moreover, the device provides seamless Wi-Fi for up to 25 devices. It does this by intelligently selecting dual bands that not only minimize interference but also maximize speed. This hence allows efficient connections on many devices.
It also comes with high powered amplifiers and antennas. These not only increase the range of your home mobility but also boost speed for your mobile devices. The advanced beamstorming technology also aids in making the speed 100% faster.
Another brilliant feature of the Netgear router is that it provides multi-layer security for your system. There is special software that exists inside the router that protects all your devices. Moreover, it provides the absolute best anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-theft programs to enhance protection.
(4.2 / 5)Pros
- Uninterrupted connections.
- Allows HD streaming.
- Smart parental controls.
- Easy 5 min setup
- Advanced beamstorming technology.
- Seamless Wi-Fi for 25 devices.
- Minimized interference.
- Allows four high-speed 1G connections.
Cons
- Allows less parental control than other systems.
5 Medialink AC1200 Wireless Gigabit Router
If you are someone who’s looking for a high-speed router that provides larger-home coverage and gigabit wired connections, then the Medialink AC1200 is definitely the right router for you. Here are all the features that make it one of the best.
It comes with efficient dual-band technology that not only selects dual bands but also minimizes interference between multiple devices. Moreover, It does this while simultaneously maximizing speeds on all these devices.
It provides one of the best Wi-Fi ranges by containing 4+ antennas. They not only boost speed but also allow amplification of the signals on all your home devices.
The router is perfect for large homes and small offices because it provides high speed for many devices at the same time. Moreover, a distinct feature of the Medialink is that it comes with the additional universal range extender mode. This allows you to enhance your coverage and cover more ground.
It also comes with advanced features that not only allow fast access to stored pictures and videos but also makes their sharing much easier.
The Medialink AC1200 is also very secure and provides enhanced protection on all your devices. Moreover, it allows parents to manage what their children use the internet by allowing internet filtering. It also controls the bandwidth on all your devices.
(4.5 / 5)Pros
- Easy setup.
- Works with any modem.
- Gigabit wired connections.
- Dual-band technology.
- Covers more ground.
- Allows easy sharing.
- Extra secure.
- Controlled bandwidth.
Cons
- Internet speed is slightly less than some other models in this review.
6 RT-ACRH13 Dual-Band 2×2 AC1300 Wi-Fi
There are many routers that promise good connections and amazing bandwidth, but the RT-ARCH13 delivers on that promise too. It is one of the best routers under $100. Here’s why.
The router comes with dual-band technology and a speed of up to 1267 Mbps. This allows you to have good connections on all your devices. Moreover, the high speed allows for uninterrupted online gaming and HD streaming.
There are also four 5dBi antennas that not only enhance the speed but also improve the Wi-Fi range. This allows for multi-device performance. It also allows the router to cover more home ground while also providing you with higher coverage and stability.
In order to ensure convenience, the router is connected to the ASUS router app. This allows you to manage and monitor your network with complete easy.
Moreover, the router is easy to set up, so you don’t have to worry about handling complex instructions. It is aided by the AUSWRT web-based interface system that allows you to set up your system effortlessly.
There are also integrated USB 3.0 ports included in the router. These allow you to share external drives with your network with ease.
The ASUS smart connect technology also delivers consistent bandwidth to all your devices. It does this by switching devices between 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, thereby ensuring seamless multi-device connections.
With the ASUS router, you don’t have to worry about home mobility. The device comes with advanced technology and a greater number of antennas. They allow you to roam around the home as much as you want.
(4.1 / 5)Pros
- Enhanced coverage and stability.
- Easy and intuitive setup.
- Allows uninterrupted connection.
- Greater bandwidth.
- Connected through an app.
- Covers more home ground.
Cons
- Speed is relatively lower than some other devices at a lesser price.
7 Linksys Dual-Band Wi-Fi Router
Higher speeds, excellent bandwidth, and greater coverage are some of the many advantages of having a Linksys dual-band Wi-Fi router. But there is more to the story. Read ahead to find out all you need to know.
The Linksys is an excellent router that covers around 1000 sq. of ground. Therefore it makes it a suitable choice for your home or even your small office space. It also works with all existing modems, thereby making it very appealing.
Moreover, it allows for 4K and HD streaming. This is an added benefit for all gaming enthusiasts because the feature allows for uninterrupted online gaming free from buffering. It also allows for quick streaming of videos and other online content.
Also for people who avoid the hassle of setting up their equipment need not worry anymore. This is because the Linksys router is very easy to set up and operate. It comes with a step-by-step instruction booklet that can be followed by any layman easily.
It provides dual-band Wi-Fi speeds up to 1.2 Gbps that enhance your entertainment activities. Moreover, they also enable minimal buffering on multiple devices by allowing data traffic to move quickly and efficiently.
There are also Gigabit Ethernet ports that provide wired speeds that are 10x faster than any fast Ethernet. The AC1200 technology allows fast speeds and amazing connections on both wired and wireless devices. The external antennas on the device also aid in this function.
The router also comes with beamforming technology that enables it to identify and connect with other devices easily. It prevents the router from sending out wireless signals needlessly in all directions. This, therefore, enhances speed on multiple devices by reducing interference between them.
(4.1 / 5)Pros
- Higher range and coverage.
- Consistent bandwidth.
- Allows easy access and sharing of content.
- Minimal buffering and interference.
- Allows HD streaming.
- Works with all existing modems.
Cons
- Has only one Ethernet port.
8 Netgear WNDR4500-100PAS N900 Dual Band Gigabit Wi-Fi Router
If you are looking for an ideal router for unparalleled gaming experience and other activities, then worry no more. Because the Netgear WNDR4500-100PAS is here to make things right. Here are all the features that make it so amazing.
It provides fast Wi-Fi with a speed of up to 900 Mbps. The dual bandwidth is also 2.4 GHz and 5GHz. Both these features, together, ensure amazing gaming and streaming experience. Moreover, advanced QoS technology allows for a smoother HD experience.
Less range is also a hassle with many routers these days, but not with this Netgear product. This is because it comes with an extended range that covers more ground. This hence allows for greater coverage and stability.
There are also five 10/100/1000 (1 WAN and 4 LAN) Gigabit Ethernet ports that come with auto-sensing technology. This means that the router is able to sense and detect devices nearby easily and connects with them automatically.
Added security is another amazing feature of the Netgear N900. It provides double firewall protection. This protects your data and enhances your overall streaming experience.
There are also 2 USB 2.0 ports that are included in the router. These allow you to access and share USB hard drives whenever you need. The N900 also makes sharing online content easier among devices.
The simultaneous dual-band not only ensures double bandwidth but also ensures less interference between devices. This is ideal for homes with a greater number of residents.
Parental controls are another added benefit of the Netgear N900. They allow parents to manage and control the content their children see online. Moreover, the device is easy to set up and operate, thereby ensuring convenience.
(4 / 5)Pros
- Consistent bandwidth.
- Less interference.
- Allows HD streaming.
- Easy setup.
- Allows parental controls.
- Greater protection.
Cons
- The router can become slow if too many devices are connected to it at the same time.
Best Routers Under $100 Buying Guide
Internet is probably the single most important piece of technology in many households today. A router is what makes you enjoy that luxury. So to make the most out of your internet experience, pick the right product.
Here is a list of things for you to consider before you make this important investment.
Type of Wi-Fi
There are two most popular types in the market these days, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) and Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). Wi-Fi 5 is definitely a better choice for a number of reasons. It is less expensive and is more efficient at a closer range. Moreover, it provides a better connection than Wi-Fi 4 and hence is more desirable.
Speed
Internet speed is probably the most important factor that should be considered. The speed ranges from very low to very high. Extremely high speeds often come with expensive routers. You should go for these if you intend to play fast online gaming or streaming; otherwise, a router with 900-1000 Mbps speed is good for most activities.
Throughput
Each router comes with either less or more throughput capabilities. A router with good throughput will work better at a distance. Hence while buying a router, look for one that provides excellent or at least very good throughput figure. It will also be ideal in near or middle range situations.
Security
If you often work with sensitive data from your home devices, then you need a more secure router. Many routers these days come with in-built firewall systems and anti-theft software. Look for one with stronger firewalls if you want to keep your content safe.
Parental Controls
Internet these days is bombarded with all sorts of content. A lot of it is inappropriate for children and as a parent, you want to guard children. You should look for a router that allows you to manage and control the content by allowing parental controls.
LAN and USB ports
LAN ports allow you to connect a computer to the router by using an Ethernet cable. If you require more wired connections, then consider buying a router with more ports. USB ports, on the other hand, allow you to connect a flash drive or a hard drive.
Size of The Home
The size of your home plays an important role in the choice of the router that you buy. If you live in a larger house, then you need to buy a router that covers more ground. Moreover, the place where the router will be placed also plays an important role, so decide that accordingly.
Visitor Frequency
This point is often ignored by many people, but it shouldn’t. For people who have frequent guests should consider the number of devices their router can cater to. Look for a router than can provide seamless wireless connections to at least 15-20 devices.
Conclusion
Different needs demand different routers; however, among all the products mentioned in this article, one gets the most edge. It is the best router under $100, here’s why it is the clear winner.
TP-Link AC1900 Smart Wireless Router does not only ensure the fastest internet but also comes with extraordinary throughput. It also has an extremely powerful processor. This enhances your streaming and gaming experience.
The extra LAN and USB ports, firewall protection, and in-built app system are also some of the other amazing features. These make the TP-Link AC1900 the best router under $100.
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