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The Best Netgear Router

Last updated on August 25, 2020

We looked at the top 11 Netgear Routers and dug through the reviews from 33 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Netgear Routers.

Best Netgear Router

Our Review Process

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When it comes to your Wi-Fi connection, you do not want to be left behind. Picking the best router you can find is important because it is your lifeline to fast, reliable internet.

First and foremost, make sure your router is compatible with all major internet providers. Better yet, search for a router that you know works with your provider’s equipment. Most routers will work with various major internet providers, so you should be fine but it’s never a bad idea to double check.

You also want to look for a router that provides you with enough coverage for your space. If you live in a one-bedroom apartment, you would obviously need less coverage than if you lived in a multi-story home. It is also important to look at what speed your internet is expected to be with a specific router.

Some routers offer faster speeds than others and what you’ll need is all based on your browsing habits. If you enjoy playing video games online, you will want to look for a router that provides you with faster speeds than if you are just using it to work on text files from home, for example.

You will also want to look at the number of devices the router can handle. Think about how many devices you have hooked up to your Wi-Fi right now. Possibly a computer, TV, phone, smart speaker and, if you live with other people, add on their devices, too. You want to make sure you have a router that can support all these devices otherwise your internet will drag. For a router that will ensure you never lag, check out Netgear’s Nighthawk X4 smart Wi-Fi router, as it can handle up to 45 different devices.

If you are a parent and you want to have a bit more control or see the history of your child’s actions online, look for a router that has built-in parental controls. For example, with the Netgear Nighthawk AC2300, you have the ability to pause the internet access of certain devices, view site history, usage data and filter websites for free. If you want even more control, you can even set online time limits and set schedules for the internet access of various devices.

Our Picks For The Top Netgear Routers

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Best Overall

NETGEAR C6250 Cable Modem WiFi Router Combo, 300 Mbps

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

NETGEAR

C6250 Cable Modem WiFi Router Combo

This device is both a modem and a router. It is compatible with equipment used by most major cable companies and allows you to save on costly rental fees.

Overall Take

Cable Modem and Router ComboActing as both a modem and a router, this device can deliver Wi-Fi to up to 1,500 square feet of space.

Pros
" Netgear adds value to the AC1600 by including a WAN Ethernet connection. This connection is used to link a cable modem to the router portion of the AC1600, so if you switch from a DSL provider to a cable provider,..."
 Runner Up

NETGEAR R6700 Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router, 1750 Mbps

NETGEAR

R6700 Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router, 1750 Mbps

This router is recommended for those who have a lot of devices they want to connect at once. It can handle up to 25 devices and has smart parental controls.

Overall Take

Smart Wi-Fi RouterIncluded in this router are smart parental controls and the ability to link up to 25 devices.

Pros
" Great 802.11ac speeds. Compelling feature set, including downstream QoS. Fast NAS/Storage performance. Great for gaming and streaming. Two side-by-side networks for better performance. It has exceptional Range due to Beam-forming. VPN supported."
 We Also Like

NETGEAR AX1800 Wifi 6 Router, 4-Stream

NETGEAR

AX1800 Wifi 6 Router, 4-Stream

Loaded with advanced technology, this router provides four simultaneous streams at a time, ensuring nobody lags.

Overall Take

Four-Stream RouterThis router is safe, secure and powerful. It works with existing Wi-Fi devices and has four gigabit ethernet ports.

Pros
" The Nighthawk app is an excellent addition. It allows for easy setup, and the USB port is a great feature. The security features are effective, including the VPN and separate guest network. Add to that the beamforming technology and powerful..."
Cons
"This is one of Netgear's cheapest Wi-Fi 6 routers. Slower speeds than competition."
 Strong Contender

NETGEAR Nighthawk AC2300 Cybersecurity Wi-Fi Router

NETGEAR

Nighthawk AC2300 Cybersecurity Router

Along with fast Wi-Fi performance, this router also has wired ethernet ports and can handle connections for up to 35 devices at a time.

Overall Take

Cybersecurity Router This router supports up to 35 devices at once and has a reach of up to 2,000 feet.

Pros
" By combining a high-output router with some of the best home-security software available, Netgear's Nighthawk AC2300 cybersecurity Wi-Fi router can protect a family's digital valuables as it doles out internet connections — and can help you sleep well at night..."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
18

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the netgear routers available to purchase.
11

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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33

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: BestReviews, PC Magazine, Tom's Guide, Kit Guru, Tech Radar.

201,788

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 11 Netgear Routers and also dug through the reviews from 33 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Netgear Routers.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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The Best Bang For Your Buck

NETGEAR R6700 Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router, 1750 Mbps

Our Expert Score

8.9
3 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

8.7
52,572 user reviews

Our Take

This router is recommended for those who have a lot of devices they want to connect at once. It can handle up to 25 devices and has smart parental controls.

What other experts liked

Great 802.11ac speeds. Compelling feature set, including downstream QoS. Fast NAS/Storage performance. Great for gaming and streaming. Two side-by-side networks for better performance. It has exceptional Range due to Beam-forming. VPN supported.
- Tech Spot
Features 3 amplified antennas for great range and connectivity and a fast CPU for handling a lot of devices at once.
- BestReviews
The R6700 makes it easy to set everything up. I even get full 5Ghz coverage in my garage which is a couple of feet away from my house.
- RelaxedTech

What other experts didn't like

Exceedingly large wall wart. It has unsatisfactory throughput speeds on the 2GHz band. Router firmware is just ok, but it can be upgraded to dd-wrt or tomato if you wish to.
- Tech Spot
Some users report that the router has to be rebooted regularly when multiple devices are being used at once.
- BestReviews
At $150, it is on the expensive side.
- RelaxedTech

What to Look For

  • Look for a trusted brand. With routers, you want to make sure that you are getting exactly what you need. This purchase is important to not only you but to the work and play you do. With trusted brands, you are given peace of mind that if you ever have any issues, you should have access to reliable customer service.
  • Some routers provide you with extra security and privacy, like virtual private network servers, antivirus and other features that can protect your network from malware and other attacks.
  • Purchasing your own router, rather than renting one from your service provider, will pay off in the long run. When you buy your own router, you are making a long-term investment.
  • Look for a router that is easy to set up. Many are simple to set up and use right out of the box.
  • Compare and contrast. Make sure you read up on various models so you are making the best purchase for your usage.
  • Do not throw out your old router. It may be out of date, or not what it used to be, but you can still us old routers as a wireless bridge to extend your network or add access points.

Netgear Router Rankings

1. NETGEAR C6250 Cable Modem WiFi Router Combo, 300 Mbps

Overall Score: 9.6
Reviews Included: 5

2. NETGEAR R6700 Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router, 1750 Mbps

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 5

3. NETGEAR AX1800 Wifi 6 Router, 4-Stream

Overall Score: 9.3
Reviews Included: 5

4. NETGEAR Nighthawk AC2300 Cybersecurity Wi-Fi Router

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 5

5. NETGEAR Nighthawk R7800 X4S Smart WiFi Router

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 5

6. NETGEAR Nighthawk AC2400 Smart WiFi Router

Overall Score: 8.8
Reviews Included: 3

7. NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR700 Wifi Router

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 5

8. NETGEAR Nighthawk AX6000 AX8 WiFi 6 Router, 8-Stream

Overall Score: 8.1
Reviews Included: 5

9. NETGEAR Nighthawk AX3000 AX4 WiFi 6 Router, 4-Stream

Overall Score: 7.9
Reviews Included: 5

10. NETGEAR R6080 Dual Band WiFi Router, 1000 Mbps

Overall Score: 7.9
Reviews Included: 5

11. NETGEAR Nighthawk AC2600 Smart WiFi Router with MU-MIMO

Overall Score: 6.5
Reviews Included: 4

More to Explore

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However, we can trace email as we know it back to one person. The first email was sent by an American programmer named Ray Tomlinson in 1971. He invented the email system and ensured the “@” symbol was used to signify that the message was going to a person’s inbox, not just another computer. It’s estimated that an astonishing 250 billion emails are sent every day, and 81 percent of them are spam.

So if you think about it that way, 200 billion emails a day are purely spam, which makes sense when you look at your junk folder! Now, where does spam originate from? The first spam email was sent back in 1978, as an advertisement for a company called Digital Equipment Corporation. The email was sent to nearly 400 people.

Another interesting fact about the internet is that it weighs about as much as a strawberry. How do we know that? A physicist named Russel Seitz discovered that with atomic physics assumption, the billions and billions of “data-in-motion” moving electrons on the internet add up to about 50 grams.

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