The Best Netgear Routers
Seven Netgear routers we'd actually buy, from the WiFi 6E Nighthawk flagship to a budget pick that shames most ISP boxes. Sort the table by what matters to you.
| Model | Score ↓ | Top speed ↕ | Coverage ↕ | Price ↕ | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nighthawk RAXE500WiFi 6E · AXE11000 |
9.2 |
10.8 Gbps | 3,500 ft² | $$$$ | Overall | Check price |
Orbi RBKE963 (3-pack)WiFi 6E mesh · quad-band |
9.0 |
10.8 Gbps | 9,000 ft² | $$$$$ | Big homes | Check price |
Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR1000WiFi 6 · AX5400 · DumaOS |
8.7 |
5.4 Gbps | 2,500 ft² | $$$ | Gaming | Check price |
Nighthawk RAX50WiFi 6 · AX5400 |
8.6 |
5.4 Gbps | 2,500 ft² | $$$ | Streaming | Check price |
Orbi RBK763 (3-pack)WiFi 6 mesh · tri-band |
8.5 |
5.4 Gbps | 7,500 ft² | $$$$ | Mid-size mesh | Check price |
Netgear R6700 (Nighthawk AC1750)WiFi 5 · AC1750 |
8.1 |
1.75 Gbps | 1,500 ft² | $ | Value | Check price |
Nighthawk RAX20WiFi 6 · AX1800 |
7.9 |
1.8 Gbps | 2,000 ft² | $$ | First WiFi 6 | Check price |
Tap a column header to sort. Price shown as a tier ($–$$$$$) because street prices swing — hit "Check price" for today's number. Specs are manufacturer-rated maximums.
If you only want the short answer
Nighthawk RAXE500
WiFi 6E throughput and a 6 GHz band almost nothing else is using yet.
Check price on AmazonNighthawk Pro Gaming XR1000
DumaOS QoS and geo-filtering keep your ping honest under load.
Check price on AmazonOrbi RBKE963
The quad-band Orbi backhaul keeps speeds up across a big, multi-floor home.
Check price on AmazonNetgear R6700
A cheap, dependable Nighthawk that still beats the box your ISP handed you.
Check price on AmazonQuestions we get a lot
Q1Nighthawk or Orbi — which should I get?
One router (Nighthawk) for an apartment or a small-to-mid house; a mesh (Orbi) once walls, floors or square footage start eating your signal. If a single Nighthawk leaves dead zones, that's the sign to step up to Orbi.
Q2Is WiFi 6E worth paying for?
If you own 6E-capable phones or laptops and live somewhere with crowded airwaves, the clean 6 GHz band is a real upgrade. On older gear you won't touch it — a WiFi 6 model like the RAX50 saves money with no practical loss.
Q3Do I still need a separate modem?
Usually yes. Most Netgear routers connect to your existing cable/fiber modem (or the ISP gateway set to bridge mode). Check our setup guide for the bridge-mode step that trips people up.
Q4How long do these stay current?
A good Netgear router lasts four to six years. WiFi 6 and 6E models bought now have plenty of runway before WiFi 7 becomes the default everywhere.