[Top 7 Picks] Best Router For Smart Home in 2024 – Best WiFi 6 Router For Smart Home Reviews

Many smart home devices are working simultaneously at my residence. Recently, my younger brother started live streams, which slowdowns overall internet speed. That left me thinking, is there any recommended router for smart home devices?

Many companies complain their routers are the best ones, but they slow down the internet with devices and don’t provide many features.

But, after hours of research, I finally found some worthy routers that are the latest ones, can handle many devices at once, and will remain the latest ones for years.

Usually, the router comes with an internet service provider is not the best router for smart home use, but you need a fast, secure, and highly reliable WiFi router for your smart home.

If you have many smart devices, especially smart doorbells or cameras, you need a top-speed router for your smart home. It will help devices to communicate effectively with each other and let you control them over the internet remotely.

In this article, I enlisted and reviewed the best wireless routers for smart home devices.

Purchasing a good router for home automation is a one-time investment that will pay you back for years. Choose wisely.

What is a smart home router?

In a smart home, many appliances and devices are connected with a single router which can decrease the internet speed, and hence smart gadgets will not work correctly.

Smart routers help you connect your Z-Wave, ZigBee, and other WiFi devices and have them work together seamlessly to make your home safe, efficient, and intelligent. 

The best smart router lets IoTs work appropriately while you can still enjoy the internet over your mobile or PC.

It can better handle the demand of modern users and intelligent devices put on a network.

Further, smart routers also let you control them remotely. With the mobile app, you can change router settings, make an internet schedule for your kid’s device, and much more.

Does a better router mean better WiFi?

WiFi speed highly depends upon the routers. So, a new router can enhance the internet speed, but not higher than your internet provider. 

For example, if you hold a 150 Mbps internet plan, even a new modern router can’t make the speed go over 150 Mbps.

WiFi 6 is The New Standard

WiFi 6 is the newest and current standard. It offers better connectivity, faster network speed, and support for multiple devices to connect and work simultaneously on one network.

A WiFi 6 can provide a maximum of 9.6 Gbps speed across multiple channels related to 3.5 Gbps on WiFi 5. 

A WiFi 6 capable router can increase the speed up to 250% than the current WiFi 5 device. I reviewed only the best routers for smart homes which support current WiFi 6 standards.

How do I rank these products?

There are many factors I have to test out before finalizing the list. It includes performance, price, reliability, quality, features, and the user experience.

I have to test each model on these criteria, which takes time, but my ranking is most reliable for you, as I have worked and tested these models for hours. Usually, I rank number one as the product I love most and perform correctly for me. 

The number one product is the one that fits my strict criteria. 

Best Router For Smart Homes in November 2024 – Reviews

After spending hours researching and reviewing, I come up with these 7 top-rated & the best routers for smart home devices in 2024. Pick up one to use your smart devices smoothly.

Here are our in-depth reviews of the Best router for smart home use in 2024.

1. NETGEAR Nighthawk 12-Stream AX12 Wi-Fi 6 Router

A unique and modern router with advanced hardware and software combo. It is the best router for multitaskers and smart homes.

NETGEAR AX12 is easy to set up and manage. You can connect it with your current internet cable modem, and set it up via mobile app in minutes. It doesn’t matter your service provider provides internet via satellite, fiber, or DSL, AX12 will work with it.

It is loaded with advanced technology, including a 2.2 GHz quad-core processor, VPN, DOS, QoS, QAM, WPA3 security protocol, and so on. This advanced hardware makes it the best router for smart home devices.

This advanced hardware can handle many IoTs at once. While your smart IoTs are connected and working over it, you can still stream in HD, or play online games without any lag. It is the best router for smart home and gaming.

Advanced technology also ensures; it will be better over time with regular updates. Hence, you will always get additional features over time without updating your hardware.

It has 8 high performance hidden antennas that spread WiFi into the air. It can spread over a range of 2500 square feet.

If you have a house larger than it, you can add a mesh router for an additional access point in your house. It will let each of your smart devices connect with a reliable internet over a single network.

You can also create personal cloud storage by connecting your storage drive with it via USB. You can access it from anywhere, anytime using 2 x 3.0 USB ports or the mobile app.

NETGEAR AX12 offers smart parental controls including website filtration, setting data limits, scheduling data over any device, view the history of each device, and much more. 

For accessing its advanced controls like parental and threat shield, you need to purchase a Netgear subscription starting at 4.99$/month with a 30-day free trial.

Extra Features:

• Simultaneously Stream Everything: AX12 will let you stream everything in HD at an epic speed while all of your smart devices are working correctly. 
• Ideal for a house full of WiFi devices: Because of 12 streams, it supports 4X more IoTs than any other wireless router. Its robust and highly reliable WiFi makes a correct working environment for intelligent gadgets. 
• Current WiFi Standards: RAX200 offers WiFi 6 coverage, ensuring you are getting only the latest technology. Further, WiFi 6 means a more significant speed up to 10.8 Gbps which will let you download heavy files, stream in HD, and play online 9X faster than before. 
• Tri-Band & Epic Speed: Triple-bands boosts internet speed up to 10.8 Gbps which highly reduces congestion of devices and buffering while streaming HD and online gaming. Triple bands also ensure multiple WiFi devices can work correctly simultaneously.
• A World-Class Cyber Security: Netgear offers the world’s leading cybersecurity powered by Bitdefender. It will protect your network, your personal data, and devices from threats like online viruses, malware, and other attacks.

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2. ASUS ROG Rapture WiFi 6 – Tri-Band Router (GT-AX11000)

AX11000 is an advanced and powerful router built for hefty usage. It can easily handle HD streaming, heavy gaming, work from home, heavy downloads, and wise house devices simultaneously.

It has advanced, and premium hardware that comprises a 1.8 GegaHertz Quad-Core CPU and 1 GB of RAM, which can handle more devices and heavy loads at once.

Its eight Gigabit LAN gates make it ideal for houses with multiple wired devices. It ensures it can work with every internet device in homes.

It looks like a giant machine lying on the table, but it is worth it. After all, it has to handle so many devices.

GT-AX11000 perfectly covers an area of 1800 sq ft. If you have a larger space, you can add mesh routers for extra coverage and connection spots across your house.

Its intelligent monitoring technology will monitor bandwidth usage for each device. You can check the real-time analytics for each device consists of data usage and browsing history.

Its lifetime free AiProtection security will guard your network and neutralize the threats. For protecting your data from internet threats, AX11000 is the most reliable option.

GT-AX1000 is backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi devices. It will also support your current Wi-Fi devices.

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3. ASUS AX6000 WiFi 6 (RT-AX88U) – Dual Band Wireless Router

RT-AX88U is a next-generation router with 802.11Ax standard. 802.11ax offers a better range than the rest 802.11ac adapters. Because of this, it provides high-speed Wi-Fi up to 6 GB.

With RT-AX88U home automation made easy, even if you are not a technical person. It is built to handle multiple devices at once, which makes it a perfect smart home router.

Its 8 gigabit LAN ports will let you connect more devices that aren’t compatible with Wi-Fi.

Rt-AX88U has a target wake time technology that allows it to schedule data transmission for individual devices. This way, devices get communications when needed; it will improve their battery life. 

Batter target wake time, 7x batter battery life for all connected devices.

Extra Features:

• Powerful Whole-House Wi-Fi System: ASUS AiMesh system allows you to increase the access to the internet across your complete house by adding multiple access spots. You install various ASUS routers at different house locations that will connect to a single network.
• 8 Powerful LAN Ports: Its eight Gigabit LAN gates make it ideal for homes with multiple wired devices. It ensures it can work with every internet device in homes. 
• Commercial-grade Network Security: RT-AX88U comes with the AiProtection Pro that will guard connected devices and personal data from every type of internet threats. Trend Micro powered it and will update automatically. 
• Gaming Booster: It has built-in wtfast and adaptive QoS that will let you play online games smoother. This double boost also ensures you get a minimizing game ping and lag. 

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4. Amazon eero Pro mesh WiFi router For Smart Homes

A simple, neat, and mesh smart home router from eero, an Amazon company. Eero pro is a triple band’s wireless router that will let you do more with your smart devices simultaneously.

Amazon eero pro is an excellent origin for any intelligent home dreamer. You will get a premium transmission with an Amazon eero pro mesh system. Later, you can pair an additional eero pro to add coverage at different places of your he when needed.

Eero pro (2nd addition) is backwards compatible, which means you can connect it with eero 1st generation routers.

Amazon eero Pro mesh WiFi router is made of advanced hardware, which will become more reliable over time with regular updates. It ensures you get the latest security and other features.

Tri-band let devices connect and work properly simultaneously.

You can extend the signal coverage to each edge of your house with an eero mesh system if you have multiple intelligent gadgets at different corners of your house or have a prominent place.

Mesh structure ensures every edge of your house gets powerful WiFi signals. You can add 1750 square feet of coverage to the existing eero system. Amazon eero pro is designed and the best router for smart home use.

Add various access spots across your house to make a more reliable transmission network on a single network.

Extra Features:

• Setup Made Simple: While setting it up, the mobile application will guide you step by step. This simple setup will automatically create a wireless mesh system of a premium transmission.
• Entertainment-Grade WiFi: Its WiFi network will let you play games, stream videos, and let intelligent devices work properly simultaneously from all edges of your house.
• Profiles: For better control, you can make multiple profiles to schedule the internet over each profile. It will also let you control the internet over your kids’ devices. You can pause transmissions with a few touches.

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5. NETGEAR Nighthawk 8-Stream AX8 Wifi 6 Router

Another from Netgear with fewer specifications. It has almost the same features as the AX12. If you don’t have advanced internet use, like heavy downloads, online gaming then it the best router for you and your smart home.

AX8 has a dual-band, 8 streams WiFi, 1.8 GHz quad-core processor, VPN, DOS, QoS, QAM, and has a maximum speed of 6 Gbps.

Its advanced hardware can handle many IoTs at once. While your smart IoTs are connected and working over it, you can still stream in HD, or play online games without any lag.

Just like AX12, AX8 is simple to set up and manage. You can connect it with your current internet cable modem, and set it up via mobile app in minutes. It doesn’t matter your service provider provides internet via satellite, fiber, or DSL, AX12 will work with it.

You can still set up your personal cloud storage via USB and get advanced features like an internet shield, and parental controls via a Netgear subscription.

Its 8 high performance hidden antennas spread WiFi into the air. It can spread over a range of 2500 square feet. For larger space, you can add a Netgear mesh router.

NETGEAR Nighthawk AX8 is the best router for smart homes and some advanced uses.

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6. TP-Link AX6000 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX6000)

This next Generation AX WiFi router is best for large smart homes with many smart devices. 160MHz Channel Support, 802.11ax WiFi with OFDMA, 1024 QAM, and AX MU-MIMO is made for higher capacity, more efficiency, and to process numerous devices.

Its 1.8 GHz Quad-Core process easily handles multiple devices at a time, making it the best router for smart devices, online gaming, 8K movies, and experiencing VR.

This TP-link archer has 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports and one 2.5 Gbps WAN port, and types A and Type C USB ports. It will quickly let you connect your smart hubs and other devices that need an Ethernet connection for operating.

Extra Features:

• More Parental Controls: Its innovative and advanced parental controlling feature will allow you to control your kids’ devices network and create schedules.
• High-Speed WiFi: Its advanced hardware will give you internet speeds up to 1148 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 4804MBps on the 5 GHz band.
• Devices at Once: Its innovative technology, 1.8 GHz Quad-Core CPU, 1 GB of RAM, and two co-processors can handle multiple devices at once. It is one of the best routers for an intelligent home with many devices.
• Works with Alexa: This intelligent router is integrable with Amazon Alexa. It means you can access router settings with your voice commands. For example, you can ask to turn on the guest WiFi. 
• Save More Power in Your Smart Home: Its AX technology can schedule your devices’ transmission time. It analyses the wake-up time of devices and will transmit data only when needed; it will help gadgets conserve power. 
• Easy to Set Up: You can easily set up this router with your mobile phone with the ease of Bluetooth or the Tether cloud application, enabling you to handle the settings remotely. 
• Benefit Existing Devices: It doesn’t matter your current devices or compatible with WiFi 6 or not. Its AX technology will boost your existing old WiFi devices.
• Content Filtration: Most of the routers will let you filter websites you won’t want to through your network. But this Archer AX6000 will let you filter the content for real-time. It will allow your family to browse safely on the web. 
• Real-Time Antivirus: It has a next-level powerful real-time antivirus that guards your network against any malware and viruses. It always has the latest security definitions.

I also mentioned it under the best router for Homekit .

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7. Speedefy AC2100 Smart WiFi Router – Dual Band Router

Speedefy K7 smart wireless router will give you dual-band (1733Mbps/5GHz + 300Mbps/2.4GHz) extensive coverage WiFi with a top speed 2100Mbps and gives you complete control over the WiFi and dual-band settings via mobile or web interference.

For an optimal connection with devices, you can select your preferred bands. It will assist your devices to work correctly over preferred settings.

It has a dual-core CPU that will highly reduce buffering while gaming or HD video streaming. It also ensures you get an advanced web browsing experience.

A better CPU means more devices. Speedefy K7 smart wireless router can easily handle 25+ devices simultaneously. It allows your smart devices to work correctly and meanwhile you can enjoy fast and secure internet.

Because of the built-in CPU, your IoTs can communicate with each other more quickly and hence a more secure home. It makes it the best router for smart home devices at an affordable price.

Extra Features

• Secure and Reliable: It will automatically scan your system health, or you can manually scan it; after reviewing, it will safeguard your connection and data from hackers.
• Easy to manage: It has a simple and straightforward interface over the mobile app and the web, allowing you to change settings and operate your router with ease. 
• Parental Control: Its intelligent control will let you manage your kids’ internet via schedules. You can also create isolated guest zones to ensure the privacy of your home network.
• Excellent & Powerful: You will get high speed and long-range coverage with it. You can further customize your preferred bands so that your devices can connect and work at a solid top pace.
• Easy to Set up & Manage: It will not take you over 5 minutes to install it up. Its mobile application and web interface management will bring more accessible and specific preference settings. 

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FAQs Regarding The Best Router For A Smart Home

Here are the common questions people ask while purchasing the wireless router for their smart home. 

What is the difference between a mesh router and a regular router?

Traditional routers are the single and centralized access points to all home devices. It sometimes causes network congestion.

While mesh systems decentralize the access point, in a mesh networking system, instead of connecting to a single gateway to the internet, it creates multiple nodes in the house that provide web connectivity in the entire house to all home devices.

If you have a large house with multiple IoTs, a mesh network is a perfect choice for you. Further, you can easily extend a mesh network.

What does a smart router do?

A traditional router does only one task, beaming the internet out. When you connect multiple devices with a single network, the internet speed slows down. 

But a smart router ensures you are getting the best only. It can change the router and wireless beam on its own to give you an optimal and best experience. It ensures your multiple devices getting the best possible internet speed.

It is straightforward and easy to set up a smart wireless router. You can also access it over its mobile app. The mobile application will let you control its settings and WiFi settings. 

Further, these next-generation and smart wireless routers offer advanced home network security that protects your network from being hacked. 

What is a good WiFi router for smart home use?

NETGEAR Nighthawk AX12 is the best router for smart home use. It has the most advanced hardware and current Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, which will not become old-fashioned for years.

It is easy to set up this router that can do a lot of things at a time. If you are a multi-tasker and own smart home, this is the perfect router for you.

What is the best wirelss router for a large home?

NETGEAR AX1 offers a wide 2500 square feet WiFi range that is enough for most large homes. If your house has an area larger than 2500 square feet, you can add a mesh router to extend the reach. It will create the best mesh WiFi for smart home.

What is the best NetGear router for smart home use?

Nighthawk AX12 is the best router for smart home use. It is one of the latest wireless routers from Netgear and hence has the most advanced hardware and current Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, which will not become old-fashioned for years.

Further, it will support a lot more devices than your current modem at once. You can still do heavy tasks over the internet while your smart IoTs are connected and working over it. 

What is the most powerful smart home router?

Nighthawk AX12 is the most powerful and the best router for home automation and ideal for heavy tasks as well as multitasking. It has the next level of hardware, a 2.2 GHz quad-core processor, VPN, DOS, QoS, QAM, WPA3 security protocol, and so on.

What to look at while purchasing the best wireless router for smart home?

There are many routers available in the market with slightly different features and specifications, making it hard to pick the best router for smart home.

You might be thinking, How do I choose a good router for my home? Or How to select a wireless router for a home with many IoTs?

Here are a few considerations you can check while purchasing the best router for home automation. 

WiFi Standards

As I mentioned earlier, WiFi 6 is the new type now. So, decide whether you want the latest specifications only or good with a bit of older technologies. But a best smart home Wi-Fi router should have the latest specifications.

You might need to pay more for a fast-speed WiFi 6 router.

LAN Ports

LAN (local area network) ports help computers to connect with routers using an Ethernet cable. Like the Samsung SmartThings and Philips Hue, many IoTs require a LAN port-connected hub to work. 

If your router has more minor LAN ports, you can expand by adding an Ethernet switch. So, the best router for smart home devices should have some LAN ports, if not, try expanding at your own when needed. 

Quality of Service (QoS)

This feature allows you to control internet traffic. If you are somebody who prefers to play with device settings, you will appreciate this. 

This feature allows you to optimize the router’s performance depending on what you are doing. 

If you are going to play games online or make Skype calls, you can increase the router performance, so you don’t face any issues because someone in your house downloads an extensive file. So, check whether your best router for smart home has QoS or not.

App-Based Management

These days, every intelligent router offers some settings and adjustments to the network through the mobile app. The mobile app makes it much easier to monitor which devices are connected and how much they are consuming the network.

You can prioritize any device and schedule internet access for that device. These parental controls are much helpful to control internet consumptions of kids. Because of app management, every smart router is the best router for smart home use; it allows you to customize. 

Conclusion

Internet is the most essential thing in home automation. When you want to access any IoT device remotely, your device must be connected to a reliable internet source.

But finding the best router for a smart home can be a difficult task, especially if you are not a technical person. So, our team brainstorms and reviewed some of the best wireless routers which will perform best in a smart home.

I enlisted the best router for smart home automation comprises larger houses, AiMesh routers, and more. I hope you found the perfect one for your residence.

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