Nobody likes a slow buffering internet where you can’t even play a video without having to wait for it to load every minute. However, the first solution most users lean towards is upgrading their internet bandwidth or complaining to their respectful ISP about how the internet isn’t working.
But regardless of what bandwidth you subscribe, some wireless routers will always give you trouble be it because of the connectivity issue, the heavy number of users, and perhaps even the vast space of a house where the router fails to transmit signals to.
And the worst part about this entire ordeal is that a consumer can never be sure which wireless router to go with because of the large variety already available on the market; which is why we decided to summarize the best and worst features of the top 6 wireless routers under 100.
When choosing which router to go for, features like ease, reliability, speed and even price vary from consumer to consumer, depending on their specific needs. The following list works well for people looking for a high-rated good quality Wi-Fi router to enhance your streaming and surfing experience all within a reasonable price range.
Top 6 Best Wireless Router Under 100 of 2021
1: TP-Link Archer C9 AC1900
The first router on the list is the slim, smooth and classy wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router by TP-Link. The Archer C9 is not only a next generation future proofed product but it also delivers what it aims to achieve.
The salient features it provides go well with the price it’s sold for, being an overall good choice of wireless routers in the mid-tier range.
The router offers a total data transfer speed up to 1.9GBps, making streaming all the more efficient in a well-connected house. The router utilizes the technology of Beamforming, where Wi-Fi signals are boosted and concentrated only towards your devices, or where you need them the most.
This increases the optimum use of the internet bandwidth, keeping your devices connected all over the house or area. The router itself has three dual band antennas that amplify signals and ensure unobstructed connectivity.
From the front it may look elegant, but at the back the router provides a USB 2.0 port, WPS, the Ethernet sockets, and a USB 3.0 port on the side which is ideal for file sharing.
But one of the most prominent feature of this router is the signal rates it provides which amounts up to 1300Mbps over 5Ghz and 600Mbps over 2.4Ghz. Not only is the setup easy and fast, but the installation is user friendly and takes no time at all. It isn’t the fastest router on the market but it’s definitely a bang for your buck, especially if you want an optimized experience but don’t want to spend the extra cash.
Other features that the router comes with are; an IPv6 supported Internet Protocol, parental control that allows authoritative figures to ensure restricted access and set up black lists, and a guest network to provide a secure, fast and reliable access to visitors.
Pros:
- Good price
- Easy setup
- Reliable
Cons:
- Slow speed
- Can’t be mounted
- Only one USB 3.0 port
2: Asus RT-N66U N900
The second router on the list is one by Asus, a company that never fails to meet expectations. The RT-N666U made its way to the top by being one of the fastest 802.11n routers on the market, that is, it uses multiple antennas to increase data rates hence increasing speed.
The RT-N66U is a dual band Wi-Fi router with four Gigabit Ethernet ports and two USB ports. It too provides 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz band Wi-Fi, with three antennas that ensure optimum coverage and reliable connectivity.
As far as its physical features are concerned, the router comes in a sleek black finish that doesn’t leave behind fingerprints, making it not only fast but appealing to look at as well. It can be both mounted and laid flat, and the antennas can be adjusted to will and detached as well to yield high performance connectivity and expandable Wi-Fi coverage.
The router provides rates as high as 900Mbps. Plus, the ASUSWRT makes setting up the router extremely easy and fast, allowing you to customize access for different users, monitor performance and set different priorities to enhance your internet usage experience. This reduces unnecessary installation steps and lets the user go into details of how to best use the router according to their needs.
Another salient feature is the AiCloud service that allows streaming, syncing, and sharing with unlimited storage expansion. You can access it from any device or tablet, if you have AiCloud installed. You can then synchronize the contents of the attached USBs with your cloud storage account. The RT-N66U has been tested to provide an amazing range and high signal rates even through walls and to far reaching rooms as well.
Although the router is fairly older, it’s still a good choice for those who are into the classics and want a high performing long-ranged router. Other features include a built in VPN server, a Quality of Service tab, IPv6 support, and extra security measures. This versatile router definitely isn’t the cheapest on the list but it’s a good bet for those who want breakneck downlink speeds.
Pros:
- High Performance
- Easy installation
- Wide range
Cons:
- Doesn’t support the 3.0 USB port
- Costlier than most home routers.
3: Securifi Almond
Securifi aims to manufacture routers that are wholesome for smart home hubs and easy to use. It’s the first router that provides Wi-Fi and smart home automation as well.
It fits perfectly in the center of a well-connected medium-sized smart house. Perhaps the best feature of the Almond that differentiates it from other routers is its touch screen accessibility.
The entire installation process can be carried out without the need of a computer or any other device. Basic settings to start the router can be managed from the easy to use and 2.8 inch touchscreen. This allows the router to be user friendly especially for people who aren’t very tech savvy.
The touchscreen gives access to settings such as Wi-Fi network, users, firewall and port forwarding. The router supports almost 50 Wi-Fi users. The stock software had 15 icons across the screen, but later on features such as weather and clock were added as well.
It was has one WAN port and two LAN ports but all of these are regular Ethernet, resulting in a slower speed. The router itself is single-band and works only with 2.4Ghz. Therefore, this also reduces its range and renders it average when it comes to performance.
This also lowers the data throughput as a Wi-Fi extender. However, the range works fine with medium-sized houses. It isn’t the ideal option for an extender since it doesn’t support 5Ghz and therefore speed falls off and limits its range. However users believe that the touchscreen novelty doesn’t entirely compensate for the slow paced performance, while others say that the simplicity of setting it up and using it as a hub for a smart house makes it a very safe bet.
It also doesn’t support Ipv6, making it a less adaptive router than others present on the market. We already talked about a router needs to be future proofed in order to meet the demands of the modern era. So without compatibility, the Almond falls short on this aspect as well.
Along with the touchscreen, it also comes with a web interface for more detailed settings but is a lot buggier and slower. Nonetheless, the router is a good choice for those who want a hub in their smart homes and aren’t all that bothered with the short range. The added security also proves to be a helpful addition, using WPA, WPA2 and WEP security protocols. The router has also been known to not disconnect and provide a stable connection all connected devices within the range.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use touchscreen
- Stable connection
Cons:
- Lack of features
- Slow performance
4: NETGEAR R6120
The Netgear R6120 is a dual band router that delivers high speed and better performance compared to most routers on the market. It supports 802.11ac making it not only fast but future proofed as well, adapting to all Wi-Fi clients available.
It goes as far as 1200Mbps over both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. It has 4 LAN ports, and one 2.0 USB port along with a 64 MB RAM. The fast speed is ideal for gaming, streaming in HD and fast connectivity on all devices. The dual band technology helps reduce interference and has proven to transmit strong signals even through walls and obstacles. It also supports IPv6 internet protocol, along with port triggering.
Physcially, the R6120 is compact and small, making it easy to use and set up. It comes with a built-in antenna but no wall mount option. The router is fairly easy to set up, not requiring any web interface for it to start working.
Although to further customize the settings, you can use the Netgear Genie interface. This also comes with an app version available for both iOS and Android. The Wi-Fi range is a lot better than its previous counterparts, covering large homes as well to far reaching corners. A good router will not slow down due to heavy traffic of data.
It also has a sharing feature via the USB access, allowing you to share your media, photos, videos etc. with other devices or on a TV. On top of that, it offers a secure connection with WPA and WPA2 security. Guest networks are also differentiated in order to make sure your personal data is safe and for trusted devices only.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Good performance
- Compact
Cons:
- Average range
5: TP-Link Archer C50 AC1200
Like many routers aiming to be the next best thing on the market, the C50 managed to make its place among one of the top tier routers for the price it offers. A dual band that supports both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz.
It comes in a glossy black finish with 2 grey external antennas that provide good coverage for both work and office needs. The back of the router showcases a WPS button, USB port, and 4 Ethernet ports. You can share data across multiple connected devices and share the USB as well among secure networks.
It gives speed up to 300Mbps on 2.4GHz, and 867Mbps on the 5GHz band. The 802.11ac makes it three times faster than N speeds, making it a reputable option among other high end routers in this price range.
The speed allows for optimum streaming, online gaming and internet surfing. You can simultaneously use both bands, depending on the task you’re performing. For example, browsing and emailing will be carried out on the 2.4Ghz while heavier tasks such as HD streaming will be carried out on the 5GHz bandwidth.
Other miscellaneous support features include Guest Network, IPv6 support, Tether App, and Parental control in order to manage access given to different devices and control the prioritization of bandwidth.
It’s also fairly easy to setup; after connecting the modem, you can customize it on your browser by loading tplinkwifi.net. The setup will then let you configure it to your needs and specifications. After which you can connect your devices.
The router has also proved to be reliable in large houses and areas. Furthermore, it provides a 24/7 stable connection with no hinders. It’s a good bet for consumers looking for a mid-ranged router that’s not only dependable but reliable for providing you with a fast paced stream.
It comes with a 128 MB RAM and is definitely an upgraded version to its predecessors. The basic interface shows options to explore the internet; clients connected both wirelessly and with wire, router details etc. Other tabs let you explore security, USB settings and guest network protocols.
If you want an average priced router that lets you manage its features at the tip of your fingers with no hassle, then this one is for you.
Pros:
- Reliable
- Good Speed
Cons:
- Better routers for the price
6: D-Link DIR-859 AC1750
Lastly on the list, and definitely not the least, we have a high power router by D-Link that surpasses most routers on the market in terms of performance, speed and reliability.
The router supports 802.11ac, and both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, which allow a speed of up to 1700Mbps in total over both frequencies. This top notch speed not only makes it a part of the top tier routers, but along with the four Gigabit Ethernet ports, it enhances the connectivity as well.
The dual band width allows clients connected to use either frequency depending on their tasks, resulting in an optimum use of bandwidth. Another salient feature of this router is the built-in amplifier that boosts signals all over to your house or office; therefore you can connect your device from any corner.
If a router is weak, it starts lagging and after time wear out so much that multiple devices fail to connect at the same time. This amplifier makes sure that there is no backlogging due to heavy traffic and ensures smooth connectivity through and through.
If the amplifier wasn’t enough, the router is also equipped with three external antennas that ensure optimum boost of signals that resonate in every corner of the house. When it comes to physical features, the router is comparatively light weight and has antenna locking mechanisms that keep them in place. It has LED lights that indicate internet, power etc. on the front, with ports at the back.
The setup of the router is simple too, just plug in the cords and finish the customization on the Web interface. It can be monitored via app as well, that works intelligently to control client bandwidth and parental control options. The Quick Router Setup app is available for all smartphones.
Other additional features include Guest network, VPN, firewall, SPI and IPv6 support. It comes with WPA and WPA2 security, and has a FCC Class B certification. The guest network allows the encryption of data and also controlling the traffic of bandwidth.
For under 100, this is one of the best available routers that provide you high speed, good performance, amazing coverage, boosted unobstructed signals and on top of it all, security.
Pros:
- Fast
- High performance
- Extreme Wi-Fi coverage
Cons:
- No USB ports.
Couclusion:
So there you have it, the top 6 best routers available on the market for under 100. Each router has its pros and cons but the buying factor remains on your purpose. If you have a medium house or a large office, if you have lesser users or more guests, if you prefer speed over coverage or security over performance. Usually a lot of bandwidth is wasted when routers fail to transmit signals without congestion, which is why a budgeted option is a necessity to ensure the smooth and stable connectivity of all devices.
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