The 6 Best Routers for Streaming Netflix, Twitch, and More

Streaming video content from services like Netflix, Hulu, and Twitch is more popular than ever. But it‘s no fun if your internet connection isn‘t fast and reliable enough to handle the high-quality video you want.

That‘s why having the right router is so important for streaming. The router is responsible for managing all the traffic flowing between the devices on your home network and the internet. A router that‘s too slow or doesn‘t have enough features will lead to buffering, pixelation, and other issues while streaming.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll compare the top routers on the market specifically for streaming applications. We evaluated over 15 different models based on speed, range, number of ports, wireless technology, and extra features.

We‘ll also provide specific recommendations depending on your budget and needs – whether you need the absolute best money can buy or just a reliable budget model.

By the end, you‘ll know exactly what makes the best router for streaming Netflix, Twitch, YouTube, and other streaming platforms so you can upgrade your home network for flawless video quality.

Why You Need a Good Router for Streaming

Before we get into the router reviews and recommendations, let‘s go over what factors make a router well-suited for streaming media applications.

The most important features in a streaming router are:

• Fast wireless speeds – A good streaming router needs to support the fastest WiFi protocols – right now that‘s WiFi 6 (also known as 802.11ax). This ensures enough bandwidth for smooth 4K and even 8K video streaming to multiple devices.

• Long range – No matter where you want to stream in your home, the router should provide a strong and reliable signal. Long range is especially crucial for larger homes.

• Plenty of ports – The more wired ports a router has, the more streaming devices and other equipment you can connect directly via Ethernet for even faster and more reliable connectivity. USB ports are also useful for media sharing.

• Latest hardware – A powerful processor, ample RAM, and fast wireless chipset ensures the router can handle many high-bandwidth streams without lag or buffering.

• Quality of Service – QoS and traffic shaping allows you to prioritize streaming traffic over other network tasks for smoother video. Helpful when multiple household members are using the internet.

• Beamforming support – Focuses the WiFi signal towards your active streaming devices for extra speed and range.

Getting a router with the above specs ensures your network won‘t bottleneck the quality of your video streaming across various services. It will deliver reliable, high-quality streams to every device.

Now let‘s get into the router recommendations! We‘ve picked models in different price ranges and use cases to help you find your perfect fit.

The 6 Best Routers for Streaming in 2023

1. TP-Link Archer AX90 – Best Router for Streaming Overall

The TP-Link Archer AX90 is the top router we found for high-quality streaming across the board. It checks every box: extremely fast AX6600 WiFi 6 speeds, excellent range, plenty of ports, and robust streaming enhancement technologies.

Key features:

• AX6600 tri-band WiFi 6 – Fast 4804 Mbps 5 GHz and 1201 Mbps 5 GHz bands plus a 574 Mbps 2.4 GHz band ensures extreme speeds for 8K video or multiple 4K streams.

• 8 high-gain antennas + beamforming – 360 degree signal penetration throughout large homes. Beamforming also focuses bandwidth to active streaming devices.

• 1 WAN/LAN, 4 LAN ports – Connect wired devices like smart TVs and consoles to the LAN ports for dedicated gigabit connectivity.

• Link Aggregation – Team two LAN ports together for up to 2 Gbps speeds to handle many high bandwidth tasks.

• MU-MIMO support – Allows serving multiple devices simultaneously instead of one-at-a-time for faster multi-user streaming.

• Dynamic Quality of Service – Always keeps streaming traffic prioritized by dynamically allocating bandwidth based on device and application. Much smoother video.

From fast wired devices to smooth wireless streaming with rock-solid 4K/8K video, the Archer AX90 has all the features and performance you need. It‘s the ultimate steaming router that will handle anything you can throw at it.

2. Netgear Nighthawk RAX200 – Tri-Band Router for Gaming & Livestreams

Gamers and live streamers need a router that can keep up with blazing fast low-latency internet connections. That‘s where the Netgear Nighthawk RAX200 comes in – it has insanely fast wireless speeds and specialized gaming features to deliver smoother streaming and gameplay.

Key features:

• AX11000 tri-band WiFi 6 – Blistering wireless speeds up to 4.8 Gbps on the 5 GHz bands and 600 Mbps on 2.4 GHz. Handles high-bandwidth 4K/8K streams even with gaming and other tasks.

• Powerful 1.8 Ghz quad-core processor – Premium internal hardware easily manages high-performance networks.

• 5 gigabit LAN ports – Wired ports for your gaming PC, consoles, streaming box and more devices.

• 2 USB 3.0 ports – Quickly share media files from external storage over your network.

• Beamforming+ – Focuses signals to your active gaming and streaming devices for strongest speeds exactly where you need them.

• Gaming Dashboard – See all connected devices and their real-time internet usage for managing your network. Also enables geo-filtering for lower latency connections to game servers.

From lightning quick speeds to gamer-focused network management, the Nighthawk RAX200 has all the features to keep your streams smooth and your games lag-free. It‘s the ultimate gaming router.

3. Asus RT-AX89X – High Performance Router for Large Homes

The Asus RT-AX89X is a tri-band WiFi 6 router made to deliver streaming, gaming, and other high-bandwidth tasks to all corners of extra large homes exceeding 5,000 square feet.

Let‘s look at why this router can easily handle large spaces:

• 100% antenna coverage – Eight foldable external antennas provide complete 360 degree signal penetration to cover more ground.

• AiMesh support – Asus‘s whole home mesh system lets you pair router and satellite units for seamless roaming across giant houses.

• RangeBoost – Improves range and signal strength for farther reaching coverage. Also useful in homes with thick walls that block signals.

• 1 WAN/LAN, 4 LAN ports – Connect a modem to the WAN port and wired devices like TVs and game consoles to the LAN ports.

• Link Aggregation – Team two LAN ports for up to 2 Gbps throughput to individually wired devices. Helpful for high quality livestreams from a gaming PC, for example.

• MU-MIMO – Enables serving multiple devices simultaneously instead of one-at-a-time, improving speeds to wireless clients throughout large homes.

With its powerful hardware, range extending features, and eight amplifying antennas, the Asus RT-AX89X can easily cover 5,000 square feet or more with strong WiFi 6 for high-quality streaming. An excellent fit for big households.

4. Asus RT-AX86U – Gaming & Streaming on a Budget

You don‘t need to spend too much to get excellent gaming and streaming performance. The Asus RT-AX86U delivers fast AX5700 dual-band speeds and specialized gaming tools at a reasonable price point.

Let‘s examine the key details:

• AX5700 dual-band WiFi 6 – Speeds up to 1147 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz can easily handle multiple 4K streams and gaming.

• 1 WAN/LAN port, 4 LAN ports – Connect your modem plus wired devices like smart TVs and games consoles.

• Adaptive QoS – Automatically prioritizes low-latency gaming traffic and high-bandwidth streaming for smoothest performance.

• AiProtection Pro – Network security powered by Trend Micro to protect all connected devices from online threats.

• Gaming Port – Dedicated gaming LAN port provides optimized connectivity for gaming devices. Reduces latency for competitive titles.

• VPN server support – Host a virtual private network server at home to securely access devices outside your home network. Protects your streaming anywhere.

The RT-AX86U brings fast AX WiFi 6 speeds, intelligent gaming optimization, QoS, and robust security together at a mid-range price point. Ideal for budget gamers and streamers.

5. Netgear Nighthawk MK62 – Mesh Router for Whole Home Streaming

Mesh WiFi systems are the ideal way to cover larger homes with a reliable wireless streaming signal to every corner. The Netgear Nighthawk MK62 mesh routers provide AX1800 dual-band speeds and useful streaming enhancement technologies.

Here are the main benefits:

• Smooth roaming – Seamlessly move between MK62 router and satellite units without dropping streaming video sessions. No dead zones.

• Beamforming+ – Focused signal amplification improves speed and range for active streaming devices. Reduces buffering.

• Ethernet backhaul – Use Ethernet cables to link MK62 units instead of wireless for faster and more reliable mesh connections, ensuring top-notch video quality.

• FastLane3 – Smart QoS technology prioritizes bandwidth for streaming videos and mobile gaming with minimum latency.

• OFDMA – Allows serving many devices at once instead of one-at-a-time, enhancing wireless speeds across your whole home.

• Two Ethernet ports per unit – Connect smart TVs, consoles, and other wired gear to each MK62.

With mesh streaming optimization features like QoS and beamforming plus optional fast wired Ethernet backhaul, the Nighthawk MK62 delivers smooth roaming and great video quality to every part of your home.

6. Linksys Atlas Max 6E – Best Future-Proof 6E Router

While WiFi 6 is the current top standard, WiFi 6E is the next big advance thanks to added 6 GHz band support. More bandwidth means even faster speeds, less congestion, and consistently smooth video quality in the future.

The Linksys Atlas Max 6E gives you the most advanced WiFi standard along with great streaming tools:

• AXE8400 tri-band WiFi 6E – 6 GHz band opens up 1201 Mbps of uncongested bandwidth for 8K media and VR streaming in the future. Backward compatible with existing WiFi 6 gear too.

• 10 gigabit WAN/LAN port – Future proofed for multi-gigabit internet plans up to 10 Gbps.

• MU-MIMO – Allows more simultaneous device connections instead of one-at-a-time transmissions.

• Intelligent QoS – Automatically prioritizes bandwidth for streaming sites and services for smooth video playback.

• Free Velop mesh units – Expand coverage with add-on mesh units at no extra cost. Ensures full home streaming with no gaps.

With cutting edge 6E compatibility plus speed enhancement technologies like 10 gig WAN/LAN and QoS, the Atlas Max 6E delivers outstanding real-time and future-proofed streaming.

How to Choose the Best Router for Streaming

Beyond the routers we recommended above, you can use the following criteria to select the right model for your specific streaming needs:

Internet Connection Speed

The maximum wireless throughput of your router needs to exceed your internet plan‘s bandwidth to prevent bottlenecks.

Here are the minimum router speed guidelines based on internet speed:

• 25 – 100 Mbps plans -> Dual-band AC1200 router
• 200 – 400 Mbps plans -> Dual or tri-band AC1900 router
• 500 Mbps – 1 Gbps plans -> Dual or tri-band AC3000 router
• Multi-gig plans -> Tri-band WiFi 6 or 6E router

Faster routers can stream higher video qualities and to more devices simultaneously thanks to extra bandwidth headroom.

Wireless Range & Coverage Area

Make sure your router can provide strong signal across your entire home. Long range models rated for larger square footage are better for big houses.

You can also add range extending mesh units or wireless access points if needed. Backhaul technology like wired Ethernet links or wireless daisy chaining ensures fast speeds between main and satellite devices.

Wired Ports

Having ethernet ports allows connecting devices via cable for the fastest and most reliable connectivity – perfect for streaming.

Look for routers and mesh kits with at least four LAN ports. Two ports per satellite unit is ideal for mesh systems.

Quality of Service & Traffic Shaping

Dynamic QoS that automatically detects streaming traffic is highly desirable. It dynamically allocates bandwidth to prioritize video sites and services.

This prevents non-critical tasks like OS updates and web browsing from interfering with streams. Resulting in smooth, high-quality video playback.

Processor & RAM

A higher quality CPU and more RAM translates to snappier performance when managing many connected devices across your network.

Higher specifications become crucial on congested networks with multiple high-bandwidth video streams and many active users/devices.

Enjoy Smooth Video Streaming with the Right Router

Investing in one of the reliable, high-performance routers above tailored to streaming ensures you‘ll enjoy an interruption-free viewing experience across all your devices.

You‘ll no longer face frustrating lag, constant buffering wheels, and blurry video when streaming Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and other sites.

With strong wireless coverage across your home, plenty of wired connectivity options, intelligent traffic management, and fast speeds – streaming will feel absolutely flawless.

No more compromising video quality or struggling with choppy playback. Upgrade to a quality streaming router and unlock the best experience from internet video possible.