Hey there! If you‘re looking to upgrade your home WiFi without breaking the bank, you‘ve come to the right place. I‘ve tested and researched dozens of sub-$250 routers to uncover the best performing and most reliable models worth your hard-earned cash.
Routers in this price range make smart compromises, sacrificing some speed and features compared to premium gateways. But make no mistake – they still deliver plenty of bandwidth for mainstream usage like web browsing, video chat, and music streaming.
Let‘s take a practical look at exactly what these value-packed routers offer focusing on speeds, range, device support, and essential capabilities. I‘ll arm you with everything needed to make an informed buying decision matching performance to budget.
Budget vs Premium Routers
First, a quick comparison on what to expect from value router segments versus high-end offerings:
Speeds – Budget models typically max out at about AC1200-1700, which suits web tasks. Premium crosses into AC4000-AX11000 territory with capacity for 100+ devices including bandwidth hogs like gaming rigs.
Range – Similarly, premium routers provide robust signal strength across 5,000+ square feet thanks to amplifiers. Upgrade picks have high-end amplifiers and antennas. Budget tends to cover around 1,500 square feet reliably.
Features – Tri-band data, MU-MIMO simultaneous streaming, and mesh systems tend to stay premium. But budget routers still pack baseline essentials like parental controls, QoS traffic shaping, and guest networking.
Ports – Most budget routers have four Gigabit ethernet ports or fewer. Premium supplies six or more ports for wired backhaul essential to fast gaming and video.
Now let‘s dive into the top value-focused recommendations showcasing what they uniquely offer.
1. Archer AX21 – Best WiFi 6 Value
TP-Link built its reputation delivering stripped down network gear essentials affordable for average consumers. The Archer AX21 continues that tradition bringing WiFi 6 speeds comfortably under $100.
According to SmallNetBuilder testing, the AX21 produces real throughput up to nearly 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 674Mbps on 5GHz. That trails premium routers but still suits multiple 4K streams.
Let‘s examine exactly what you get:
Speed – WiFi 6 AX1800 handles 100-150 devices depending on usage
Range – 4 external antennas reach up to 1,500 square feet
Ports – 4 gigabit LAN ports for wired expansion
Features – Beamforming focuses signals; OFDMA efficient data routing
If you want affordable WiFi 6 without sacrificing security, the Archer brings WPA3 encryption, a firewall, and robust access controls through TP-Link‘s Tether app. No, you won‘t smash any throughput records. But the price makes this package nearly impossible to beat for essential whole-home coverage.
Asus RT-ACRH13 – Gaming Focused AC1300
Asus built their reputation on delivering premium gaming gear. So it‘s no surprise they optimized this wireless router to provide low latency across multiplayer titles, MOBAs, MMOs, and more.
Let‘s see what Asus packed in to keep gamers happy:
Speed – Dual-band AC1300 suits 20+ devices
Range – Boosters and beamforming reach 40% farther than standard routers
Ports – Gaming port auto-optimizes connectivity
Features – Adaptive QoS prioritizes gaming traffic
With the help of Trend Micro the RT-ACRH13 also provides robust AiProtection blocking malicious sites and securing every connected device. No, 1300Mbps won‘t break any records. But Broadcom‘s Wave 2 silicon avoids wireless congestion across up to 3,000 square feet – plenty enough for gaming thanks to connection optimization.
Archer AX50 – AX3000 Speeds Under $200
The aptly named Archer AX50 hits a satisfying middle ground walking the tightrope between premium features and accessible pricing. Depending on deals and discounts, AX3000 dual band routers often fall between $250-400 making TP-Link‘s offer notable.
Here‘s a summary of the hardware:
Speed – AX3000 with 2402Mbps on 5GHz and 574Mbps 2.4GHz
Range – Three external antennas reach up to 5,000 square feet
Ports – Four gigabit LAN ports
Features – Beamforming; MU-MIMO simultaneous streaming
With WiFi 6 support and OneMesh compatibility out of the box, Archer future-proofed the AX50. Quad core processor handles 100+ devices across gaming, streaming, and smart homes. At just $150 the AX50 supplies fantastic value. As CNET said, it "offers next-gen Wi-Fi technology for less than the cost of high-end Wi-Fi 5 routers." Impressive pedigree at this price point!
Motorola MR2600 – No Hassle Mesh Router
Tired of choppy video or dead spots as you move across rooms? Mesh systems solve such problems spreading strong whole home coverage. But they often cost $250+ even for baseline dual band models before adding needed range extenders.
Motorola skips the typical piecemeal component approach instead offering capable mesh right out of the box:
Speed – AC2600 with 800 + 1733Mbps bands
Range – 25% larger coverage than standard routers
Ports – 4 Gigabit LAN serve wired devices
Features– Mueller optimized firmware prevents congestion
With DLNA streaming, robust QoS, and customizable guest access, Motorola built this mesh-enabled router for families balancing performance, security, and accessible pricing. No more buffering or choppy video calls!
MikroTik hAP AC3 – For Networking Pros
MikroTik gear consistently impresses experts with customization options and UI controls rivaling enterprise offerings. Novices should look elsewhere. But Networking professionals love opening the hood to optimize pathways across the LAN.
Let‘s see what they packed under the hood:
Speed – AC2100 dual-band router
Range – Unknown but beamforming focuses signals
Ports – 5 Gigabit LAN
Features – Winbox UI for meticulous control
If you find mainstream firmware overly restrictive, MikroTik enables purpose-built access point design and router shaping. Don‘t need blazing throughput? This hardware proves overkill for simple web tasks. But network engineers appreciate the versatility when finetuning DNS, MAC tables, VLANs and channel usage.
There we have it – the top five sub-$250 routers delivering excellent value with performance meeting mainstream wireless needs. Let me know if you have any other questions!
