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The 10 best routers to buy in the UK

Picture of a router

Struggling to find the best router for your home? It can be quite challenging if you aren’t sure what to look for in the product, which is quite common amongst most people that aren’t too familiar with computers and technology.

To make the process easier, check out the buying guide below! It has all the info you need to find the best routers for your home:

What are routers?

A router is a type of networking device that connects home computers like laptops and smartphones to a modem, allowing them to share communication packages that let the devices connect to the internet. Routers also provide important network security through a firewall, which prevents malicious attacks on the home network.

Why should you buy a good router?

You need a good router to connect your home computer devices to a modem, otherwise, you won’t have access to the internet! The networking device is needed to share your IP address between computers and a modem, allowing them to use the internet, while also preventing any network attacks that could steal your data.

Moreover, if you buy a great router you will gain many benefits, including more stable Wi-Fi connections, improve connection range, and can let you customise various aspects of your home network.

How to choose the right router in 2024?

Another picture of a router

Choosing the best router can be difficult as they seem like complex devices. However, it’s not too difficult once you know what to look for and some buying considerations to make before you decide on a product.

  • Frequency Band: Single-band routers operate on a 2.45GHz band while dual-band routers operate on a 5Gghz band. The latter has higher speed limits but loses signal, particularly through walls, while the former offers a more stable connection but less speed. Dual-band routers are usually better for gaming, while single-band routers are fine for general browsing. You can even get devices that use both single and dual-band frequencies, giving the best of both and no drawbacks.
  • Coverage: Consider how much coverage you require in your home. Single-band routers offer more range so are ideal for larger houses with lots of devices that are further apart. So if your devices are constantly disconnecting from lost signals consider a single-band frequency or a good WiFi-Extender. Dual-band should be fine for smaller homes with a few rooms.
  • Number of Devices: The more devices a home has the more strain it puts on the router, so think about how many devices are going to connect to the router. When homes have a lot of devices all connecting to the net at once, then a high-end dual-band router is recommended as it can handle more devices. Also, check the ethernet ports to make sure there are enough to connect to all the devices if using wired connections.

What is the best kind of router in the UK?

Here are some of the most popular types of routers available to buy:

  • Wired Router: These versatile routers connect devices to the internet and are required for homes that access the internet via phone lines. They connect to modem using a cable, while also connecting the router to computer devices through a wire. It provides a strong and stable connection but lacks the range and convenience of wireless connectivity.
  • Wireless Routers: Connects routers to computers using wireless signals, making them very convenient for homes with lots of devices like laptops, smartphones, tablets, games consoles, etc. It requires a wired connection between the modem and the router itself, with just the distributing data being sent wirelessly across the network.

Top 10 list of routers in the UK (2024)

The bestseller list compares brands and their routers. Which router is the best?
Best choice TOP 1
Image of TP-Link ARCHER C50 V6 router
TP-Link AC1200 Wireless Dual Band Wi-Fi Router, Wi-Fi Speed Up to…
  • Please contact TP-Link Technical support and service by calling the hotline number…
  • Easy Setup and Use - The free Tether app is available for both Android and iOS devices,…
  • Optimal Coverage - Four antennas make your connections more efficient and stable.…
BUY NOW
Offer TOP 2
Image of WAVLINK 530HG3 router
WAVLINK AC1200 Dual Band Wifi Router, 867 Mbps/5 GHz + 300 Mbps/2.4GHz…
  • Network Security & Guest WiFi Technology: Support multiple devices at the same…
  • Enhanced WiFi Coverage: 4 x 5dBi external adjustable antennas (patented) with beamforming…
  • 3 Operating Modes: Supports Router Mode, Access Point(AP) and Repeater Modes. Router/AP…
BUY NOW
TOP 3
Image of GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 router
GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 (Opal) Secure Travel WiFi Router – AC1200…
  • Repeater for Public WiFiConvert a public network(wired/wireless) to a private Wi-Fi…
  • Keep your Internet SafeIPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible…
  • Full Gigabit PortsGigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1…
BUY NOW
TOP 4
Image of TP-Link Archer AX72 router
TP-Link Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6 AX5400 Mbps Gigabit Dual Band Wireless Router,…
  • EasyMesh-Compatible - Flexibly creates a Mesh network by connecting to an EasyMesh-compatible…
  • Easy Setup – Set up the router in minutes with the Tether app
  • More Vents, Less Heat – Improved vents area unleashes the full power of the…
BUY NOW
TOP 5
Image of TP-Link Archer AX12 router
TP-Link Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6 AX1500 Mbps Gigabit Dual Band Wireless Router,…
  • Increased Battery Life: Target Wake Time technology reduces your devices' power…
  • More Reliable Coverage: Achieve the strongest, most reliable Wi-Fi coverage with…
  • Connect More Devices: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices using…
BUY NOW
TOP 6
Image of TP-Link DECO X20-DSL router
TP-Link AX1800 VDSL Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router, Dual-Band with…
  • True Seamless Roaming Mesh Wi-Fi - Walk through your home and stay connected with…
  • TP-Link HomeShield - Real-time IoT and network protection, robust Parental Controls,…
  • Fully Gigabit Ethernet - 4x Gigabit WAN/LAN Ethernet ports provide flexible internet…
BUY NOW
TOP 7
Image of Tenda RX1 Pro router
Tenda AX1500 Wi-Fi 6 Router RX1 Pro, Dual Band (5GHz/2.4GHz) 10/100…
  • RX1 Pro is equipped with the new generation of Wi-Fi security standards - WPA3, which…
  • Support Wi-Fi 6 new technology TWT (Target Wake Time). The router can wake up the…
  • Automatic recognition of modem connection type to reduce setup steps. Installation…
BUY NOW
TOP 8
Image of Tenda AC8 router
Tenda AC8 Router WiFi AC1200 - Wireless Router with Dual Band 5GHz/2.4GHz,…
  • After-sales Service - If you have any problems with the products, please feel free…
  • Attention: 1. The AC8 router is not a LTE router and does not have SIM card slot.…
  • Easy Setup - You can manage your network on the website (192.168.0.1) or Tenda App,…
BUY NOW
TOP 9
Image of WAVLINK WiFi Router router
WAVLINK AC3200 Wi-Fi Router, Wireless Dual-Band Gigabit Smart WiFi…
  • This WiFi Router Built-in firewall features IP and MAC filtering which flexibly controls…
  • Smart Gigabit Wireless Router Provides 1 x 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet WAN port and…
  • The wireless router with MU-MIMO communicates with several devices at once to reduce…
BUY NOW
TOP 10
Image of TP-Link TL-WR902AC(UK) router
TP-Link AC750 Dual Band Wi-Fi Travel Router (Support Router Mode/Hotspot/Range…
  • Please contact our support and service by calling the hotline number 03451470017
  • Wireless Standards : IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz, IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz; Frequency:…
  • Versatile USB - for file sharing or Internet access from a 3G/4G USB modem
BUY NOW
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We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We consider only products that are available on Amazon while the ranking is based on factors such as customer reviews, number of sales and keyword. Last Update: 2024/07/02.