If you are looking for a wireless router with a budget of under $100, there are a lot of things to take into consideration. You want a reasonably fast internet speed, and it’s worth thinking about how important other features, like dual bands or USB ports, are to you. Even though you are looking for an inexpensive router, you still want the highest possible quality for the price.
This article will review seven products and go over things to consider when buying a router on a budget. Hopefully, it will help you find the best routers under 100 dollars. So now read the full article and select the best one for your wireless coverage.
What is the best router under 100 dollars?
How to choose a router less than 100 USD?
Wireless Standard- The wireless standard refers to design elements that affect speed and coverage. The newest and best wireless standard is 802.11ac. This standard uses a 5GHz band, supports eight spatial streams rather than four, and offers faster speeds as well as technologies like beamforming and MU-MIMO that help deliver data straight to your devices. If you are choosing a router, it is advisable to look for this newer wireless standard.
Dual Bands- It is good to have a router with dual-band technology, as it really does a lot to stop the network from becoming congested. Generally, a dual-band router will have a 2.4GHz network and a 5GHz network. It is an important feature to consider and to look for.
Speed- You don’t want to be bogged down by slow Internet speeds, especially if you plan to do a lot of gaming or video watching. In a router with dual bands, you would ideally have a speed of at least 300Mbps on a 2.4GHz network and a speed of at least 1300Mbps on a 5GHz network. If you are going to spend money on a new router, it would be a bad idea to overlook the importance of speed.
Range- Naturally, you want a home router to have WiFi coverage that extends to the whole house. Don’t forget to check the advertised range of a router you are looking at. If you have a large house, you want a router that can cover a large house. The number and design of the antennas affect the WiFi range. If you have thick walls in your home that can weaken the wireless signal, so it might be worth looking for a router that mentions it is capable to handle homes with thick walls.
USB Ports- Some routers come with USB ports. If you want to connect a printer or a scanner directly to the router so it can be accessed on all devices in the network, this feature is worth looking for. USB ports also allow you to share media files across all devices in the network. This might not be important to you, but it is worth considering whether or not it is.
Security and Parental Controls: It’s worth checking whether the router you are considering has any kind of built-in security features. If security is a concern for you, these features are worth thinking about. A lot of routers have parental controls. If you have a lot of children and are concerned about how they are accessing the Internet, it is a good feature to look for in a router.
7 Best routers under 100 USD reviewed
1.Medialink AC1200 Router
This router is ten times as fast as most other routers in its price range. It has a big enough range to cover a large house and comes with some nice security features. If you have a big family with children, this router might be perfect for you.
Fast Speeds: The Medialink AC1200 uses Gigabit ports instead of Ethernet ports. This is what allows it to give you such fast internet speeds. Even the fastest Ethernet ports can only get up to 100Mbps. The Gigabit ports on this router can reach speeds of 1,000Mbps, which will allow you to do things like stream or game with no worrying about lag. Other routers in the same price range will not be nearly as fast.
Extended Range: This router uses a combination of beamforming and two high powered antennas to provide enough range to cover your home, even if it is a large home. The wireless signal will be focused directly towards your device. Additionally, if you already have a router, this router can also be used as a range extender. All you have to do is switch it into Universal Range Extender mode, and you can cover an even larger area and have all your devices be on the same network.
Security Features: This router comes with a strong firewall and wireless security, so hackers will have trouble getting in. It also comes with Guest Network access, allowing guests to connect to a secure and separate network. You will be able to turn off the router lights and restrict access to the network at certain times to prevent your children from staying online too late at night.
Advantage
- It gives you much faster internet speeds than other routers in the same price range
- It has enough range to cover a large home
- It can function as a range extender as well
- It comes with great security features
- It lets you control the network
Disadvantage
- It cannot be mounted on the wall
- Some people have reported issues with connection
Summary: This router offers fast speed, a wide range, and some excellent security features. It looks to be a great budget router for large households.
2.WISE TIGER R6700 Router
This router has a long range and a fast speed. Additionally, it has security features and wide compatibility. It can also function as a range extender, and it comes with technical support. Its design saves space. The Wise Tiger looks like a great option for a budget router.
Dual Band: This is a dual-band WiFi router. It will give you the same Internet speed as your Internet service, up to 100 Mbps. At 2.4GHz, this router will give you speeds of 300Mbps. At 5GHz, the speed is up to 866Mbps. These speeds will help you to game and stream with a smooth connection.
Long Range and Wide Compatibility: This router has several external antennas to give you WiFi coverage even for larger homes. It uses a wireless standard of 802.11Ac, which is three times faster than routers that use 802.11n. It will give you a better streaming experience when using phones and tablets. The Wise Tiger is compatible with a wide range of devices and is backward compatible with 802.11 a/b/g/n devices.
Security and Technical Support: The security features in this router include WPA2 security, WPA security, firewall, and WEP security. The Wise Tiger offers high-security performance. Additionally, technical support can be contacted about any problems that may arise. There are a phone number and email address included in the instructions for this router.
Advantage
- The dual-band technology gives you fast speeds and a good streaming experience
- It uses a wireless standard of 802.11Ac, which is the best you can get
- It is backward compatible with other devices
- It has good security features
- Technical support can be contacted if you have a problem
Disadvantage
- There have been a couple reports of the router overheating and ceasing to function
- There have been a couple reports of connection issues
Summary: This router looks to be a good, functional budget router. It might be just the thing you were looking for.
3.Netgear WNDR4500-100PAS
This router is Gigabit wired and has dual band technology. It has a range that can accommodate larger homes and offers fast speeds. It has a lot of good features and is easy to set up. This Netgear router might be the one for you.
Speed, Range, and Compatibility: This router will give you fast WiFi, with speeds of up to 900Mbps. The Gigabit wiring will let you game and stream videos in HD. The range has been improved for larger homes. It is compatible with PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
Media Sharing: This router has two USB ports, so you can use USB drives to share media files across devices within your network. You can access and share a USB printer wirelessly. Files from a USB drive can be remotely accessed and shared.
Security and Ease of Use: This router is easy to install and set up. The Netgear Genie app allows you to manage your home network from your phone. You can change WiFi connections with the push of a button, and there is an easy on/off switch for WiFi and power. Parental controls allow you to filter Internet content on all devices, and you can give guests separate and secure network access.
Advantage
- It has Gigabit wiring and gives you fast Internet speeds
- The range can accommodate a larger home
- It has USB ports for easy media sharing
- It is easy to install and user-friendly
- It has good security features
Disadvantage
- Netgear charges money for customer service
- Some people have reported erratic functionality with this router
Summary: This router looks to be a decent budget router with a lot of useful features. At a good price, it might meet your needs.
4.Securifi Almond ALM-BLK-IN
This is the world’s first router that utilizes a touchscreen. Most customers are able to set it up in only three minutes. It can be set up without the use of a computer or CD. It has multiple uses and is compatible with Amazon Alexa. You might like the high-tech features of the Securifi Almond router.
Multi-Purpose Usage: Not only can the Securifi Almond be used as a router, but it can also be a range extender, an access point, or a wireless bridge as well. As a router, it offers speeds of up to 300Mbps. If you already have a router, it can be used to extend the range of your WiFi signal. You can also use it to connect old devices that only have Ethernet to WiFi.
Network Notifications and Alexa Control: This router is compatible with Amazon Alexa. If you have an Alexa device, you can use voice commands to control the Securifi Almond router. You can also manage parental controls and guest network access with voice commands. Additionally, this router allows you to receive network notifications on the device of your choice. You will be easily able to tell when someone has joined or left your network.
Security: The Securifi Almond is fully secure when it comes out of the box. Each model comes with a unique and random SSID and password, and the default SSID has a “no map” tag that prevents Google’s Location Tracking Database from recording the location of your router. You can also block unwanted devices from using your Wi-Fi with a simple tap in the Almond app. Parental controls allow you to manage the amount of time your children spend online.
Advantage
- It uses a touchscreen and can be set up without another device
- It can also be used as a range extender and more
- It is fully secure out of the box
- It is compatible with Amazon Alexa
- It has nice security features and parental controls
Disadvantage
- There have been reports of it not lasting very long
- It doesn’t offer as fast speeds as some other routers
Summary: The Securifi Almond router has the latest technology features and is easy to set up. Not only that, but it comes at an amazing price. It might be the router you were looking for.
5.TP-Link AC1200
With dual-band technology, decent speeds, and a great range, this router looks to be a good one, and it comes at a great price as well. It is secure, compatible, and features parental controls. It is also backed by a lifetime warranty. With all these features, this router looks like a great option.
Improved Speed and Range: Using a wireless standard of 802.11ac, this router has high speeds. It features data speeds of up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, and up to 867Mbps on the 5.8GHz band. Additionally, it features four long-range high-gain antennas to give you an incredibly wide range. You will be able to get a signal, even through thick walls. With great speed and range, this is definitely a good router.
Security and Parental Controls: This router has NAT/NAPT IP sharing as well as WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK security. It also supports 64/128 bit WEP encryption. With this router, your data will be secure. It also comes with a parental control app that allows you to block sites and filter URLs. You will be able to control what your children see on the Internet.
Performance and Warranty: This router is capable of connecting over 30 devices. Using the newest and best wireless standard of 802.11ac, it is also backward compatible with 8.0.11b/g/n standards. It can be used for most home and office networks and has a maximum speed of up to 1200Mbps. Additionally, it is backed by a lifetime warranty, so you don’t have to worry if it malfunctions.
Advantage
- It offers high speeds and the latest wireless standard
- It has a good range
- It has encryption and security features
- It is backward compatible with older standards and can support over 30 devices
- It is backed by a lifetime warranty
Disadvantage
- It has a short cord, and so needs an extension cord to be ideally placed
- Using it to extend an existing network makes the onboard tools useless for managing the router’s settings
Summary: This router has overwhelmingly positive customer reviews. It offers great features at an amazingly low price and could be a great option for a budget router.
6.TP-Link AC1900 Router
This router has a bunch of nifty features. With incredibly fast speeds, beamforming technology, and a powerful processor, it is sure to give you the performance you want. USB ports allow you to easily share information across the network. The AC1900 looks like an amazing router.
Speed Features: Using a dual-band system, this router offers a total bandwidth of 1.9Gbps. The 2.4GHz connection gives you 600Mbps, while the 5GHz connection offers 1300Mbps. This amazing speed will allow you to game or stream in 4k without having to worry about lag.
Processor and Ports: This router uses a powerful 1GHz dual-core processor. The quality processor enables multiple devices to be used without any problems. This includes not only laptops and smartphones but also smart home and Alexa-enabled devices. Also included in this router are a USB 3.0 port and a USB 2.0 port. The ports will enable you to share printers and media files across the network between devices.
Beamforming and Management: The AC1900 uses beamforming technology to send a signal directly to your devices, instead of dispersing it all over the house. This will give you a stronger and more reliable connection. Additionally, you can download the TP-Link Tether app for Android or iOS and manage scheduling, device management, and guest privileges from your smartphone.
Advantage
- It delivers amazingly fast speeds
- A powerful processor can handle multiple devices
- Beamforming technology gives you a stronger signal
- It comes with two USB ports so you can share media across devices within the network
- You can manage settings from your smartphone with the TP-Link Tether app
Disadvantage
- Some people have found it to break quickly
- The warranty support is not accessible
Summary: The TP-Link AC1900 seems to be an amazing quality router and has excellent features for the price. It might be just what you need.
7.Motorola AC1700 Router
This router gives you a wide range and a high speed, for a good price. It is easy to set up and has a lot of user-friendly security features as well as a powerful processor. Support is offered, and it comes with a 2-year warranty. With both great features and excellent technical support, this router might be just the thing you need in your life.
Dual Band WiFi: This router uses a dual-band operation, supporting both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 2.4GHz band has four antennas, giving you the best speed and range. It is the band you should use for anything long range. The way this router is constructed, you get better range and higher speeds than other routers, even ones that are more expensive. It is also really good for apartments where there is a lot of wireless “noise”.
Compatibility: The MR1700 can be plugged into any modem, whether cable or broadband. All your WiFi and Ethernet devices will get high speeds. This router also has four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, so between them and WiFi, you can stream videos to several devices at once.
User-Friendly Features: Designed to be user-friendly, this router is easy to set up and comes with a lot of security features that are easy to use. It comes with a user-friendly firewall, parental controls, and guest network capability. Additionally, it comes with a 2-year warranty and offers excellent technical support.
Advantage
- It has four antennas on the 2.4GHz frequency
- It has four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports
- It has user-friendly security features
- Technical support is offered
- It is faster and has better range than other, more expensive routers
Disadvantage
- It cannot be mounted on the wall
- A few people have found speeds to be lacking
Summary: This router has excellent features and has been compared to more expensive routers. It might be just the thing for you.
The Final Words (Summary)
A lot of factors go into choosing a router on a budget of under $100. You want to make sure it has all the features you want and doesn’t compromise too much on quality. A lot of factors that go into choosing a good router are hard to understand. Hopefully, this article was helpful for you, and you will now be able to better make an informed decision. With this new information, you will be on your way to find the best wireless routers under 100 dollars.
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