Best Routers for Fiber Internet in 2023

With the expansion of its network, fiber internet has become the golden standard of internet connectivity. And while the quality of this connection is undeniable, an outdated router can drastically reduce its speed. Routers are the common fixtures in our houses, and we expect a reliable connection from them but not every internet provider offers the best router for fiber internet. So, what should you consider before buying a router for your home internet?

The best routers for fiber internet are those that can support its high internet speeds while also handling your ever-growing list of connected devices. To maximize the potential of your fiber internet, it is thus advisable to choose models with Wi-Fi 6 technology. Read on to find the 10 best routers for fiber internet. 

ASUS CMAX600 – Best Router Overall

CMAX600 is our top pick for the best routers for fiber internet. In addition to being compatible with the most recent Wi-Fi standard, this modem/router gateway has excellent connectivity features, including network prioritization and multi-channel connectivity. CAMX600 is an ideal solution for users wanting to access fast internet across a congested home network.

This dual-band router fully supports Wi-Fi 6 with OFDMA and MU-MIMO and, hence, delivers a speed of up to 6000 Mbps. It features four gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing you to connect your most essential devices directly. With its compact and attractive design, the CMAX6000 can easily fit in a business environment or a gaming space. Plus, it’s 100% Passive Cooling with a fanless design that keeps it and gives you a noiseless experience, allowing you to enjoy the best Wi-Fi experience without any distractions in your home or apartment. It works well with the speed tiers of Xfinity and Spectrum.

TP-LINK Archer AX600 – Runner Up

Although more costly than the Archer AX21, the Archer AX6000 is another excellent router for fiber internet. It is also a dual-band router with the capability to deliver higher internet speeds of up to 5952 Mbps by utilizing the 10214-QAM feature (4804 Mbps on 5 GHz and 1148 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band). Its OFDMA feature, on the other hand, increases the average throughput by four times during network congestion, allowing you to connect and use more devices simultaneously.

Archer AX6000 also features 9 ports, a built-in security system, parental controls, and beamforming technology. Additionally, it prioritizes data for certain devices and offers the best possible speeds thanks to the Quality of Service (QoS) technology and Smart Connect feature. The Archer AX6000 is an ideal router for fiber internet connections and works with all the major fiber internet providers.

TP-Link Archer AX21 – Best Affordable Router

The Archer AX21 optimizes the potential of your fiber-optic home internet and thus ranks third on our list of best routers for fiber internet. The dual-band router with Wi-Fi 6 technology supports new features, including OFDMA 1024-QAM, delivering better speeds and reduced latency to a busy network with many connected devices. The router can support speeds up to 1.8 Gbps (1200 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band).

The Archer AX21 covers every corner of your home by using Beamforming technology, four high-gain antennas, and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset. Additionally, it has five ports to accommodate your high-speed needs, enabling direct connection to any device, like a laptop or desktop. This router is compatible with most fiber internet providers, including AT&T, Frontier, Verizon, and Xfinity. Overall, it is an excellent router for those with small to medium-sized households.

ASUS RT-AX86U – Best for Gaming

If you are a gamer, you might already be familiar with ASUS. Over the years, this electronic company has built a solid reputation with its game-centric devices. Its routers are worthwhile due to their impressive specifications despite being more expensive than others.

The ASUS RT-AX86U is one of the best gaming routers for fiber internet because it offers top-notch performance, minimal latency, and advanced controls while delivering ultra-fast speed of up to 5700 Mbps. Although it lacks the glitzy color-changing lights found on all other gaming routers, it is packed with features like 2.5 gigabit WAN and the ability to assign an Ethernet port as a dedicated “gaming” port. The best thing about RT-AX86U is that it provides all the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 and works efficiently with your existing devices.

With this impeccable router, you can get rid of any obstacle that gets in the way of your gaming. Plus, its AiMesh support enables you to use compatible routers to build a seamless and flexible whole-home mesh network. The router is packed with advanced technology like QoS, Beamforming, Mobile Game Mode, parental controls, and more, making it an excellent option for gamers with multi-gigabit internet plans. 

TP-LINK Archer AX50 – Best Cheapest Router

The Archer AX50 might be the least expensive router for fiber internet on our list, but it does not make it any less effective. It provides fast performance and has reliable features that are on par with most high-end routers. Archer AX50 has four gigabit Ethernet ports, and it supports link aggregation. This feature allows you to combine two-gigabit ports to achieve a 2 Gbps connection.

In comparison to a typical Wi-Fi 5 router, this dual-band router with Wi-Fi 6 technology offers three times faster speed and 75% less latency. However, keep in mind that it only has a range of up to 2,500 square feet, making it unsuitable for larger residences. In case of interferences due to other devices, you can experience a speed as low as 500 Mbps. So, remember to place it in an optimal position.

Like every other Wi-Fi 6 router, it supports OFDMA technology, which reduces latency and transmits more data to more devices. Overall, considering its impressive features like enhanced security, parental controls, and QoS technology, the Archer AX50 is not a terrible choice. This router for fiber internet works well with the speed tiers of AT&T, Verizon, Spectrum, Frontier, and more.

NETGEAR R6700AX – Best Gigabit Router

If you have upgraded your network to a gigabit speed, then NETGEAR R6700AX is an incredible router for your fiber internet. This Wi-Fi 6 router makes the most of your high-speed internet by supporting up to 1.8 Gbps bandwidth. The supported speed is not as high as some other routers on our list, but it is fast enough to offer uninterrupted streaming, gaming, and web conferencing.

Talking about the specifications, R6700AX has some incredible features. Besides fiber internet, this router is also compatible with any provider that offers speeds up to 1 Gbps, including DSL and even satellite internet. It has four gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing you to set up a dedicated port just for your computer and game consoles. NETGEAR provides an easy setup of this router, so you don’t have to spend money on a professional. Plus, you can manage it easily through the Nighthawk app. With one year warranty, this router provides parental controls and NETGEAR Armor to promote a safe and healthy internet experience.

ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600 – Best Mesh System

Mesh systems are appropriate for big homes and workplaces since they increase the range of your original router’s signals without requiring a connection to conventional routers. So, if your house is larger than 2,500 sq. ft., a mesh system is the best option for connectivity.

ZenWiFi AX is the best mesh system on the market right now, with incredible features for days. You don’t need to connect to a different network each time you leave the room because each node on this system functions as a router and has an 80-foot range. Besides its extensive coverage, the ZenWiFi AX also sustains a decent speed throughout your home, offering a total wireless speed of up to 6600 Mbps. 

With technologies like OFDMA and MU-MIMO, this tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh network ensures quicker and more consistent data transmission even when several devices are connected. The extra band of this router helps to free up network traffic. One of the priciest alternatives on our list, this mesh system is worth your attention because it includes excellent elements like AiProtection Pro, QoS technology, and hassle-free control.

TP-LINK Deco X68 – Best Affordable Mesh System

Are you looking for an affordable mesh system? The TP-Link Deco X68 earns a spot on our list as the reasonably priced mesh router for fiber internet users. It’s an appropriate choice for large homes as its multiple devices operate together like a team to transmit quicker and more reliable signals across your home more efficiently than a single router can.

At just $279.99, Deco X68 is a tri-band model that supports Wi-Fi 6 to provide a dedicated wireless connection of up to 3600 Mbps speed. The system uses its additional band as a specialized wireless backhaul link between the main router and its satellites to free up more space. In addition to providing seamless coverage, Deco X68 allows you to connect up to 150 devices thanks to its revolutionary OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology.

Additionally, this AI-driven mesh network solution delivers the best Wi-Fi signals by carefully studying your home’s network environment. Deco X68 is globally compatible with all Wi-Fi generations and functions well with any fiber internet provider. Although it is already loaded with excellent free features like network security, basic parental controls, QoS technology, and monthly reports, additional paid service like IoT Device Identification HomeShield Pro adds more protection.

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 – Best for Professional Gamers

Are you a gaming enthusiast or a professional gamer? In both cases, Rapture GT-AX11000 is an excellent router for your fiber internet plan. This tri-band router delivers top-notch performance as it enables you to use the extra band for your gaming devices, so they don’t compete with others for bandwidth. This dedicated band, therefore, lowers the latency rate, enabling you to react more quickly in your games.

As ASUS is a reputable name in the gaming industry, it is understandable that its routers contain a ton of game-friendly features. Some of those tools include Fame Boos and GameFirst V, which analyze and optimize the network traffic to prioritize your gaming data.

Overall, Rapture GT-AX11000 is a powerful router that provides a seamless gaming environment with a dedicated 2.5 G gaming port and keeps you secure with AiProtection. You can use this router with all the fiber internet providers.

NETGEAR Orbi AX6000 – Best Premium Mesh System

High-end mesh systems like the Orbi AX6000 are renowned for their outstanding features and quicker speeds. However, it is excessively pricey at $700 for two packs, so you should not consider it if your internet plan is not faster than 1000 Mbps. It is one of the best routers for fiber internet connections with multi-gigabit internet speed.

Although pricey, Orbi AX6000 outperforms many other mesh options since it has a faster processor and an additional 5 GHz band that function as a backhaul link between the router and its satellites to maximize the performance of your fiber internet. It is significantly more impressive with the new features of Wi-Fi 6, speeding up your data transmission even when you are away from the main router.

Its other high-end feature is the 2.5 Gbps WAN port that can perfectly support your multi-gigabit internet plan’s speed. In short, the Orbi AX6000 mesh system is a perfect router for large families since it connects over 100 devices and lets you stream, video talk, and play games simultaneously. If the high price makes you skeptical, we have also mentioned less expensive mesh alternatives.

Final Words

While fiber-optic internet does not use a modem like DSL or cable internet services, it does need a good router to maximize its capabilities. As this wired internet service is becoming more common, internet service providers are coming up with faster tiers, but this speed could become useless in the face of an outdated router. We thus hope that our list of the best routers for fiber internet can assist you in selecting the optimal option if you intend to buy your own device.