Stop to take a look around your home and count how many devices require a connection to your local wifi. If you’re like me, you probably see more than three. This is all too common in the hyper-connected world we now live in.
From phones to tablets, from laptops to game consoles, even our TVs and washing machines might want to stake a claim on our wifi bandwidth.
Because of this, when it comes to purchasing a router, we need to consider whether it can support numerous devices at a time.
In this roundup review, we will explain what considerations you should make when choosing a router, as well as which router is most suitable for multiple devices.
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Do You Really Need a Router for Multiple Devices?
In a word, “yes.” Because bandwidth is a finite resource, you’re going to need a router that will be able to provide a moderately stable connection to every device you’re using.
The more devices you connect to a single internet connection, the more your performance will start to degrade.
You should also know that having a large number of connected devices in close proximity, this could cause significant wireless interference.
For this reason, many Linksys routers have a default maximum of 50 devices that can be connected at once, consuming up to 20 megabytes per second.
Best WiFi Router for Multiple Devices: Our Picks
This section covers the best WiFi routers and explains what makes each one stand out.
1. Netgear Nighthawk
- Best for: Overall
- Key Features: Fast performance. Easy to set up. Included mobile app helps functionality. USB connections. Great security.
- Control Method: Voice
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-Band
- Voltage: 120240 volts
If you need some serious support, the Netgear Nighthawk is the way to go. This router can handle just about anything you need thanks to how it supports wireless speeds up to 2600Mbps. You can play multiplayer games, browse the web, or stream 4k Ultra HD without any issues.
The set up is extremely easy, regardless of your tech experience, and the firmware upgrades are streamlined and simple. You get excellent strength and range across all bands. The companion app is a nice touch too.
The only bummer with this WiFi router is that the customer service is only free for the first 90 days. After that, you’re going to have to pay. It’s worth it, but something you should know.
2. Linksys Tri-Ban
- Best for: Range
- Key Features: Four Gigabit Ethernet ports. Promotes quick speed. Mobile Linksys app. Simple set up.
- Control Method: App
- Frequency Band Class: Tri-Band
- Voltage: 240 volts
If you’re in the market for a strong router with a solid range, the Linksys Tri-Band delivers. The incredible frequency allows you to do everything you love on your devices, from watching movies to playing games to browsing the web, without any drops in performance.
It comes fully equipped with four Gigabit Ethernet ports (10 times faster than standard ports) as well as Airtime Fairness. That feature actively increases your general speed by reducing lag coming from slower devices.
Though set up with this router is on the simple side, navigating the interface can be a bit tricky. Parental controls are particularly hard, but expect to spend some time learning how it works to get it fully functional.
3. TP-Link Smart WiFi Router
- Best for: Functionality
- Key Features: Incredibly fast. Archer A10. Alex and IFTTT compatibility. Wide range. Affordable price.
- Control Method: Voice
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-band
- Voltage: 120240 volts
The Smart WiFi Router from TP-Link is an incredibly versatile item that truly goes above and beyond when it comes to connectivity. Not only is the Tether app easy to use, but the device is fully compatible with both Alex and IFTTT. That adds a lot of dimensions to the product.
Of course, the specs are strong as well. The range is superb, the signal stays strong throughout your entire house, and the Archer A10 makes all of your networks more reliable by diverting signal strength to your connected devices.
Just know that, if you go with this router, you’ll largely be on your own. The customer support is not great, which doesn’t take away from the amazing product, but it does make larger issues much more problematic than they need to be.
4. D-Link Exo AC2600
- Best for: Usability
- Key Features: High performance dual-core processor. AC smart beat technology. Band steering. MU-MIMO technology.
- Control Method: App
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-Band
- Voltage: 240 volts
The D-Link Exo AC2600 comes with a dual-core process, dual-band Wi-Fi, as well as 4 x 4 data streams. All of those features go a long way in helping you fight congestion and keep your signal strong. The entire unit is intuitive, simple, and powerful at the same time.
One of the router’s biggest plus is the AC Smart Beam Technology that enhances your range. It also has multi-user MIMO technology to better stream across several devices and comes with 2 USB ports for even more functionality.
This router does have some connectivity issues with older technology, however. If you’re someone who likes to use outdated devices you might see some problems. You won’t see those setbacks if you own more modern options.
5. Asus Dual-Band Gaming Router
- Best for: Gamers
- Key Features: NitroQAM technology improves latency. Adaptive QoS. Great customization options. Supports AiMesh.
- Control Method: Voice
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-band
- Voltage: 19 volts
As you would expect the ASUS Dual-Band Gaming Router is perfect for users who like to play on their different devices. Outfitted with special NitroQAM technology, the router improves latency when multiple people are playing on a single network.
On top of that, it has an impressive 3167 Mbps WiFi speed, as well as adaptive QoS. If that’s not enough, you also get 8 Gigabit LAN ports so you can connect multiple computers to create the best possible gaming session. It has excellent management and security options too.
If it has one flaw, it’s the usability. Though utilizing the router’s features isn’t too bad, there’s no manual. If you do encounter a problem you’re going to have to contact their tech support rather than being able to fix it yourself.
6. Asus ROG Rapture
- Best for: Speed
- Key Features: Easy to get going. Tri-band functionality. Plenty of included ports. Fast speeds. Strong processor.
- Control Method: Voice
- Frequency Band Class: Tri-Band
- Voltage: 120240 volts
If you’re someone who absolutely needs the fastest WiFi when dealing with a range of devices, it’s hard to do better than the ROG Rapture. The unique device supports triple-level game acceleration, game radar, as well as port forwarding. The protection is also top of the line.
The 1.8 GHz quad core processor is phenomenal, as is the painless set up. On top of that, you get four 1G Ethernet ports, as well as 2 USB ports and a RJ45. That adds a ton of specs and features to help back up what is an incredibly speedy product.
Just know that, as great as the Rapture can be, it’s not quite as reliable as other top WiFi routers. It’s still one of the best options out there, but you may experience some lag issues from time to time.
7. Netgear R6230
- Best for: Budget
- Key Features: Quick set up. Strong 880MHz processor. QoS technology. 1,200 foot coverage range. Supports 20 devices. Affordable.
- Control Method: App
- Frequency Band Class: Dual-Band
- Voltage: 120240 volts
If you’re after a more affordable router that still does a great job of handling an entire household worth of items, check out the R6230. From NetGear, it’s a well-rounded option that delivers great speeds up to 1200 Mbps and allows for both HD streaming as well as multi-player gaming.
That’s mainly due to the strong 880MHz processor and advanced QoS technology. You get a 1,200 square foot coverage range as well. On top of that, the router has five 1G auto-sending ports and supports up to 20 different devices.
It’s not always reliable, but the glitches are few and far between. For the most part, it’s a well-rounded option that will deliver you solid internet without the hefty price tag you might see on other premium products.
Picking a Router for Multiple Devices: What to Consider
Dual-Band and Tri-Band
Routers that allow devices to connect to more than one network are called Dual-Band or Tri-Band.
Usually, this is achieved with one 5GHz network paired with one 2.4GHz network or, as in the case with Tri-Band, two 5GHz networks, and one 2.4GHz network.
These kinds of routers can provide each device with a more consistent connection by reducing bandwidth congestion.
MU-MIMO
MU-MIMO (Multi-User-Multiple in Multiple Out) allows more than one device to be connected to a router at a time.
This technology improves connections and speeds up data throughput by reducing the negative effects of reflected wifi signals between two antennas.
Quality of Service (QoS)
Quality of Service is a great function to have when your network starts to get congested by multiple users. It improves user experience by prioritizing certain kinds of traffic.
Services that require a more consistent connection, such as voice calls and gaming, will be given more bandwidth over services that don’t require consistent connections, like downloads.
This service is also known as WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia).
Wireless AC
802.11ac WiFi is much faster than 802.11n WiFi, this is why you’ll find it in most single-antennae items like smartphones. It can complete data transfers more efficiently, extending the battery life of your devices.
So, if you have a number of users streaming HD video to their devices from the same router, you’ll want it to have 80211ac WiFi.
Just remember that even if you have a router with the fastest speeds, it won’t make the internet connection from your service provider any faster.
CPU and RAM
The CPU and RAM of a router help reduce congestion and improve throughput, meaning the average number of successful messages delivered through a network. RAM improves user experience by promoting uninterrupted service and smooth data transfer.
Additional Tips and Tricks
In order to maximize your network’s potential, you might consider the ways a second router or access point in your home can help to distribute the network load. The only drawback to adding another router is that it might make your network more difficult to manage.
If you do have additional routers and you still aren’t seeing a huge improvement, you might consider increasing your bandwidth by contacting your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
Another way that some people might improve the WiFi coverage in their homes is with mesh networks. Mesh networks work when interlocking routers provide coverage over corresponding areas so that you never lose your connection no matter where you are in your home.
To further expand the range of the wireless internet in your home, you might consider a WiFi extender. It connects wirelessly to rebroadcast your signal, though it tends to only deliver about half the performance.
If you’re concerned about performance, you might look into a tri-band extender that should send and receive at the same frequency as your original router.
Final Thoughts
Getting a suitable wireless network up and running in your home can be a daunting affair. There is a lot of information to take in and many different variables to keep in mind.
Hopefully, with the products described above, you should be equipped with all the information you’ll need to make the best decision for your needs.
Which wireless routers have you recently used? Have you connected to 50 devices or more? What were some of the challenges you encountered when getting your network configured? Please leave a comment below.
