Going for the best Asus router to suit your needs is a good decision if you’re seeking a reasonably-priced powerful device for your internet connectivity. Known for its productivity, gaming laptops and peripherals, the brand is a well-established name in the tech world. But did you know that Asus makes great routers as well?
While many of the company’s routers are geared towards gamers and their priorities, there’s a lot of overlap with those who have general Wi-Fi needs, meaning they’ll work just as well for those people. And many of its offerings are among the best wireless routers so you can rest assured of their quality and performance.
Whether you need to download very large files or need the best gaming router to give your favorite esports game the necessary bandwidth, the best Asus routers are more than capable. You can get rock solid performance and fast speeds, and there are also more basic budget-friendly options, as well as routers that can handle many devices at once.
We’ve tested our fair share of routers over the years, with our experts putting them through their paces so we know which models to recommend. So, we’ve applied our expertise and figured out the best Asus routers to consider for every type of user.
While we think just about any entry here will more than meet your needs, if you want to cover an especially large area, check out our best mesh Wi-Fi system list instead.
The Asus RT-AX58U is a cut above other Wi-Fi 6 routers – the models you want to be looking at in terms of workhorse routers these days – in the value stakes. This is an affordable option that delivers a fast dual-band Wi-Fi 6 performance, and it’s just the ticket for the average consumer looking to upgrade their network. One other thing that makes it an excellent choice for most people is that it’s easy for less tech-savvy folks, but also offers a web browser interface for more advanced users.
During testing, it performed impeccably. When used in the same room as our existing 802.11ac router, it was able to squeeze a little extra Wi-Fi speed, increasing it from 55Mbps to 59Mbps. Meanwhile, our back office, which often gets neglected by a typical router, enjoyed a steady and reliable speed of 58Mbps.
That’s excellent news for multi-user, multi-device, medium households. And, those who have young kids will also enjoy the benefits of its commendable parental controls. If you’re looking for the best Asus router for most people, this is the one to pick.
Read our full Asus RT-AX58U review
The Asus RT-AX55 is an impressive piece of kit if you’re looking for something even more affordable. It isn’t the fastest Asus router out there – at least not compared to some of the more expensive routers on the market. But it’s still going to be a good upgrade for web browsing, streaming music and video, and even casual gaming.
During our tests, we found its 5.0GHz band delivering top Wi-Fi speeds of 100Mbs with Ookla and 12.5MB/s for Steam downloads to a room that struggles to get decent connection. Even its 2.4GHz band performed fast enough for streaming video and routine web browsing.
Features are a strong point, as well. The Asus RT-AX55 may be simple to use for most users, but a web browser interface is also on hand for more experienced users who need more than the basic features provided by the app. It also can be used with other Asus routers as part of a more extensive mesh Wi-Fi network, in case you need to expand your network later on.
Read our full Asus RT-AX55 review
While the Asus RT-AX59U may be a little basic in terms of features, this Wi-Fi 6 router still has a lot going for it that makes the device an easy recommendation, especially if you’re looking for a futureproof router that you might want to expand later on as your family grows and you move into a bigger house.
It’s a dual-band only option, which is why although it isn’t a cheap buy, it’s still a pretty affordable one. However, it does more than enough to see you through your online browsing and streaming needs – exactly what families are looking for.
You’re not going to get top-of-the-range speed, but the RT-AX59U proved capable of handling anything that our 150Mbps office broadband threw at it, as well as expanding our current network’s reach during testing. And its signal never faltered during testing either.
We wouldn’t call it the most attractive option of the bunch, but its compact design, great port selection and expandability makes the RT-AX59U a formidable choice.
Read our full Asus RT-AX59U review
While it may not be a massive upgrade to its predecessor, the Asus ZenWifi XT8, the Asus ZenWifi XT9 does provide a few key improvements that will make a difference in your daily usage – including its upgrade to a 7.8Gbps top speed – while staying at relatively the same price point.
Much like its predecessor, this is a powerful Asus router with an expansive range, making it perfect for large homes and spaces. This might be overkill for most people, but this router is worth its steep price for those who need its range and speeds. During testing, with one Asus ZenWifi XT9 connected to our router and the second located halfway along our corridor, we are able to get smooth, steady speeds of 150Mbps and 19Mb/s for Ookla and Steam – even on the slower 2.4GHz band.
Design-wise, the XT9 won’t feel like it’s encroaching on your space or your aesthetic with its slim and compact design and black and white colorways. And despite being powerful, it’s actually very easy to set up and use, thanks to its intuitive app. As a bonus, you get good parental controls without having to pay extra, unlike other expensive routers. So you’re getting really great value for your money.
Read our full Asus ZenWifi XT9 review
If you’re a gamer looking for an Asus router, they don’t come any better than the ROG Rapture GT-BE98. Granted, they don’t come any pricier than the ROG Rapture GT-BE98, either – but you do get your money’s worth if you want the absolute best experience for PC gaming.
For starters, this Asus router comes equipped with Wi-Fi 7, the very latest wireless standard for supremely speedy performance. We’re talking 24.4Gbps over quad-band Wi-Fi 7, which represents an astonishing pace, frankly – your only problem might be ensuring you have a fast enough broadband connection to hook up to the GT-BE98 to do this router justice.
For those not gaming via Wi-Fi, the wired connections here are also highly performant: the router provides two 10Gb Ethernet ports – one of which is a dedicated ‘gaming port’ that has top priority for performance – and those are backed up with 2.5Gb Ethernet connectors.
The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 also offers plenty of features – for example, parental controls – and the only real fly in the ointment is the asking price. It’s a very expensive router, which isn’t surprising given Wi-Fi 7 is a new standard – but over time, expect the asking price to ease somewhat. Meanwhile, if you want the best router for gaming, this is very clearly the Asus device to buy, if your pockets are deep enough (and your broadband beefy).
Read our full Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 review
The Asus ZenWiFi AX Hybrid XP4 solves a common problem many older homes and buildings face. By combining a conventional mesh Wi-Fi system with wired powerline connectivity, it allows you to extend your network to cover a larger space that’s hampered by thick walls and other obstacles.
Rather than being connected by a Wi-Fi signal, the Asus ZenWiFi AX Hybrid XP4 routers can use powerline technology to transmit data over your existing mains wiring in the building. On test, both router units performed impressively, maintaining a smooth and steady 100Mbps with Ookla and 12.5MB/s with Steam.
It isn’t the fastest mesh system around. However, it has its place in the world and is perfect for users experiencing network blues due to thick walls and the like. Just bear in mind that the initial setup process might be a little complicated – especially with the QuickStart guide throwing around a lot of jargon.
Read our full Asus ZenWiFi AX Hybrid XP4 review
If your budget won’t stretch to a Wi-Fi 7 router – which are very much cutting-edge, and prices reflect that – but you want better than Wi-Fi 6, you could always check out a good Wi-Fi 6E model like the Asus RT-AXE7800.
This router reaches a top speed of 7.8Gbps and is relatively affordable (certainly compared to Wi-Fi 7 offerings, anyway).
While it doesn’t belong to Asus’ family of gaming routers, it looks like one with its six external antennas that you can also retract for portability. And it supports three frequency bands with the addition of the 6GHz one.
During testing, it delivered impressive performance levels, giving our devices located in the same room as the router up to 150Mbps speeds on the Ookla test and 19MB/s on Steam – the top speed our home office broadband allowed. That’s not to mention the fact that it effortlessly expanded our network’s reach while maintaining excellent speeds.
Setting it up is incredibly straightforward as well. And you’re getting enough ports to see you through the day, including three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, plus a USB Type-A port that you can connect to an external storage drive in order to allow the rest of the devices on your network to access the files on that drive.
Read our full Asus RT-AXE7800 review
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Testing Asus routers is fun as a majority of them are gaming routers, which means we have to play online games to see how well they can handle them. Of course, it’s not all fun and games. We also check the range and strength of coverage, perform the usual Ookla speed and file download tests, and of course, test them against real-world scenarios like having multiple devices connected at once.
We take a look at the design as well, naturally. We make sure that there are enough ports for wired connectivity, see just how easy (or hard) initial setup is, and check that the overall look doesn’t turn off the target market.
We then take all that information we’ve collected from each Asus router we test and set it against the price to determine whether or not the router is a great value to consumers. That’s when we finally decide whether or not it’s worth our recommendation.
