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Best Budget Routers Under $100 (2025 Guide)

9/21/2025 · Networking · 8 min

Best Budget Routers Under $100 (2025 Guide)

TL;DR

  • Under $100 you can get solid single router performance for apartments and small homes.
  • Wi-Fi 6 is the sweet spot for future proofing, multi device homes, and improved efficiency; Wi-Fi 5 still works fine if your devices are older.
  • Best picks by use case:
  • Small apartment: Dual-band Wi-Fi 6, 2.4+5 GHz, good antenna design.
  • Large home: Look for a router with strong 2.4 GHz range or consider a mesh kit on sale.
  • Gaming/light streaming: Prioritize 5 GHz speed and QoS features.

Wi-Fi Standards & Speed

  • Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac): Mature, cheaper, good for 1080p streaming and gaming on a few devices.
  • Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): Better at handling many devices at once, improved latency, and longer battery life for some clients thanks to Target Wake Time.
  • In practice, top real world throughput depends on CPU, antennas, and firmware as much as on the standard.

Bands, Channels, and Real Range

  • 2.4 GHz: Better wall penetration and range, but more interference.
  • 5 GHz: Faster speeds and less congestion, shorter range.
  • Channel width: Wider channels give higher peak speed but can be less reliable in crowded environments.

Features to Prioritize

  • MU-MIMO and OFDMA: Improve performance with multiple active devices; more useful on Wi-Fi 6.
  • Quality of Service (QoS): Lets you prioritize gaming or video calls.
  • Guest network and parental controls: Common and handy on budget models.
  • USB ports: Nice for network storage but CPU limits can bottleneck performance.

Antenna, Throughput, and Placement

  • External antennas are easier to optimize with placement adjustments.
  • Place routers high and central, away from metal and microwaves.
  • A single router under $100 can cover up to 1500 square feet in ideal conditions, but real coverage varies a lot by layout.

Mesh, Extenders, and When to Upgrade

  • Mesh systems are useful for multi floor homes but are often above the $100 mark unless on sale.
  • Range extenders can help but may cut throughput if they use the same band for backhaul. Prefer dedicated backhaul or wired Ethernet.

Security and Firmware

  • Look for WPA3 support or at least WPA2 with ongoing firmware updates.
  • Check the manufacturer's track record for patching vulnerabilities.

ISP and Port Considerations

  • Match router WAN port with your internet plan. A gigabit WAN is important if you pay for 200 Mbps or higher.
  • Look for at least one gigabit LAN port and preferably multiple.

Setup and Tips

  • Update firmware on first boot.
  • Use 5 GHz for high speed devices and 2.4 GHz for long range IoT devices.
  • Change default admin credentials and set a strong Wi-Fi password.

Which Router Should You Buy?

  • Choose Wi-Fi 6 if you have multiple modern devices or want a more future proof option.
  • Choose Wi-Fi 5 only if you need the absolute lowest price and most of your devices are older.

Buying Checklist

  • Standard: Wi-Fi 6 preferred.
  • Ports: Gigabit WAN and LAN ports.
  • Features: QoS, guest network, parental controls.
  • Security: WPA3 or regular firmware updates.
  • Coverage: External antennas and good placement.

Bottom Line

For most buyers in 2025, a budget router under $100 with Wi-Fi 6 support offers the best balance of performance and longevity. If your home needs wider coverage, plan for a mesh kit or a wired access point upgrade when possible.

Found this helpful? Check our curated picks on the home page.