The best routers for Verizon FiOS let you take complete advantage of your internet package and home devices. Models with dual or tri-band let you assign devices to specific bands to keep traffic moving even during heavy use. Gaming routers may have settings that enhance your gaming experience or prioritize certain devices.
The size of your home, the specifics of your internet service provider (ISP) package, and how you use the internet all impact the type of router you need. You don’t need a model with 6E technology if you don’t have any 6E devices.
However, if you have a large home, you might need a tri-band mesh WiFi system with one band dedicated to connecting the router with several satellites. We’ve compiled a list of the best routers for Verizon FiOS, from the budget-friendly to the gaming elite to help you get the right router for ISP package and home.
— Best Overall: TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 Smart WiFi Router
— Best Modem-Router Combo: ARRIS SURFboard Dual Band WiFi Router
— Best Mesh: Netgear Orbi Home Tri-band Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK852)
— Best for Gaming: ASUS AX6000 WiFi 6 Gaming Router
— Best Budget: TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Router
How We Picked the Best Routers for Verizon Fios
We evaluated compatible routers based on their installation ease, their wireless protocol, number of bands, speed, and extra features.
Installation Ease: Routers with apps or instructions that take users through setup step-by-step make getting your network up and running simple and fast.
Wireless Protocol: The wireless protocol determines compatibility, speed, and performance. Not everyone needs 802.11ax routers, while others like gamers or graphic artists need the latest technology, so we made sure to include both.
Number of Bands: Most people need two bands, the 2.4GHz, and the 5GHz, to reach every corner of their home. However, an added third or even fourth band lets you control traffic for more people and devices.
Speed: We looked for models that could handle current Verizon FiOS packages so that you every last benefit from your package. We also looked for models with features like link aggregation or band allocation to let users customize their usage based on their internet habits.
Extra Features: Parental controls, Quality of Service (QoS) settings, and options to set up guest networks are just a few of the extras we considered in the best routers.
The Best Routers for Verizon Fios: Reviews and Recommendations
Best Overall: TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 Smart WiFi Router
Why It Made The Cut: The AX3000 has impressive throughput and signal strength that’s made better with the easy installation, making it the best router for Verizon FiOS.
Specs:
— Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
— Bands: 2
— Range: Approximately 2,300 square feet
Pros:
— Excellent parental controls
— Includes anti-malware protection
— Link aggregation
— Strong signal strength
Cons
— File transfer speeds aren’t as impressive as other features
The AX3000 is the best router for Verizon FiOS because it offers the best balance of features and performance for the price. It’s far from a budget model, but it won’t break the bank of the average household. This dual-band router offers impressive throughput speeds and signal strength for streaming, gaming, and general surfing.
This model has high-tech features that you’d normally only expect in more expensive models. For the price, you get link aggregation, beamforming, and beam steering. As an added bonus, it comes with TP-Link’s HomeCare, which offers nice parental controls, anti-malware, and QoS (quality of service) settings that let you assign devices based on how you use your internet.
As great as the AX3000 is, the file transfer speeds don’t live up to the rest of the features.
Best Modem-Router Combo: ARRIS SURFboard Dual Band WiFi Router
Why It Made The Cut: The SBG10’s easy installation, capacity, and coverage of areas below 2,000 square feet makes it a solid choice for the best modem router combo.
Specs:
— Wireless Protocol: 802.11ac
— Bands: 2
— Range: Under 2,000 square feet
Pros:
— Easy installation through the app
— Strong signal in spaces under 2,000 square feet
— Provides 16 downstream and 4 upstream channels with good speed for the average user
Cons:
— Longevity has been an issue with some units
— Poor app functionality
The ARRIS SURFboard SBG10 gets bonus points for the ease of installation and speeds right out of the box. It has a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem and an AC 1600 dual-band WiFi router with a two-port gigabit ethernet router. In truth, it’s a three-in-one rather than a two-in-one model.
It’s not a complicated modem router combo, and users love the easy installation with the app. Using the app, you can set a few limitations and rules for basic parental controls, like blocking certain websites at certain times of the day or restricting access to specific URLs or keywords.
Designed for Verizon packages under 300 Mbps, it can handle up to 16 concurrent downstream and 4 upstream channels with excellent speed, especially when in close range. It can cover a 1,500 to 2,000 square-foot space, though you might experience slower speeds in distant corners of the home.
The SBG10 has a couple of weaknesses. While installation is easy, some users have issues with the app for other functions. There have also been some longevity and durability issues with certain units. Here are more of the best modem router combos.
Best Mesh: Netgear Orbi Home Tri-band Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK852)
Why It Made The Cut: The Orbi RBK852 offers easy installation through the app, can expand with an additional satellite, and offers lightning-fast speeds.
Specs:
— Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
— Bands: 3
— Range: 5,000 square feet (expandable)
Pros:
— Fast, easy installation through the app
— Covers 5,000 square feet with the option to cover an additional 2,500 square feet per added satellite
— Three bands with one dedicated to maintaining the connection between satellites and the router
Cons:
— Limited security without a paid Bitdefender subscription
The RBK852 comes at a price that might make your jaw drop, but it’s one of the best mesh systems available. It comes in a two, three, or four-tower kit (one router with satellites). Each satellite adds an additional 2,500 square feet of coverage.
This tri-band router dedicates one band to maintaining the connection between the router and satellite(s). That leaves one 2.4GHz band and one 5GHz band for all of your devices. The router and each satellite have four-gigabit ports where you can plug in TVs, gaming consoles, and computers, too.
Installation goes through the Orbi app, which is easy to navigate with step-by-step instructions. Through the app, you can see which devices are connected to which band. The RBK852 has some but not robust parental controls. For example, you can disconnect a device or set up a guest network to limit access to your home network.
On the downside, the RBK852 is on the pricey side. It has a few built-in security features, but if you want full protection, you’ll have to pay for a Bitdefender subscription. For more options, here's our guide to the best Netgear routers.
Best for Gaming: ASUS AX6000 WiFi 6 Gaming Router
Why It Made The Cut: The AX6000 provides lots of network ports for multiple gaming consoles and plenty of speed to up your game.
Specs:
— Wireless Protocol: 802.11ax
— Bands: 2
— Range: Over 3,000 square feet
Pros:
— Eight LAN ports
— Powerful QoS settings
— Speedy performance
— Easy, fast installation
— Good built-in anti-malware protection
Cons:
— Expensive
Gamers, if you’re looking to increase your speed, the ASUS AX6000 WiFi 6 Gaming Router (ASUS RT-AX88U) is for you. First, there are the eight LAN ports for connecting multiple gaming consoles, TVs, and anything else that you want lightning-fast speeds. It supports MU-MIMO technology so you can have multiple users accessing your network at the same time without increasing latency. We also like that this router can connect with the ASUS AiMesh WiFi system to expand the coverage area if needed.
Despite its high-tech build, the AX6000 is easy to install. There are many QoS settings available in the app, including the ability to streamline performance based on your usage habits. For example, you can enhance gaming or media streaming based on the QoS settings. The AX6000 has powerful built-in anti-malware protection, too.
It has all of those features, and it’s fast. You can expect excellent speeds to cut lag when you’re gaming, working, or surfing. However, this fully packed router also comes with a high-performance price. For other options, check out the best gaming routers.
Best Budget: TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Router
Why It Made The Cut: The AC1750 provides great speeds at close range and has four gigabit LAN ports to connect more devices.
Specs:
— Wireless Protocol: 802.11ac
— Bands: 2
— Range: Approximately 2,500 square feet
Pros:
— Easy installation
— Excellent close-range performance
— Four gigabit LAN ports
— Affordable price
Cons:
— Lackluster long-distance performance
The AC1750, also known as the TP-Link Archer A7, will bring excellent close-range speeds to your home for a bargain price. While it doesn’t have the latest and greatest technology, for a home with a few streaming devices, light gaming, and general surfing, it has plenty of speed and power. It also includes four LAN ports to connect devices for greater speed.
Through the TP-Link Tether app, you can access basic parental controls, USB settings, and the option to set up a guest network. At close range, this model offers excellent speeds.
However, you’ll start to see the effects of the lower price the further you get from the router. The signal quickly loses strength and speed with greater distance.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Router for Verizon Fios
Your Verizon Internet Package
You want a router that’s appropriate for your internet package. If you’ve got the fastest internet package and a budget router, you’re probably not getting the speeds for which you’re paying.
For general streaming, you need at least 25Mbps. However, the average home may have several streaming devices and gaming consoles going at once, which seriously increases your usage. If you’ve got a FiOS gigabit connection, you’ll need a router that will let you use those gigabits with gigabit LAN ports.
Number of Bands
How many bands do you need? The 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands are the standard options. The 2.4GHz band penetrates objects and walls better than the 5GHz band, but the 5GHz band offers faster speeds and doesn’t compete with as many household objects, which is why you usually need both.
Dual-band models have one of each, while tri-band models have a 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands. Mesh models, which are a router with one or more satellites to extend the coverage area, may have one band dedicated to keeping the createdr and satellites connected. Quad-band routers have more bands for more devices, preventing latency on any one band.
Dual-band routers give you the benefit of both bands. Some models allow you to assign specific devices to each band. This type of feature lets you customize your network based on how you use it. For example, you could assign a gaming console to the faster 5GHz band and leave the 2.4GHz band for devices located further from the router.
Wireless Protocol
Routers have a wireless protocol that determines the speed, bands, and technology with which the router works. WiFi 5 uses the 802.11ac, which is plenty of speed and technology for most modern households. This band operates on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, maxing out at 5,400Mbps in ideal lab conditions.
The 802.11ac protocol can operate Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology that’s used to send and receive up to eight spatial streams at a time. These routers may also send signals to a specific location instead of sending them out in all directions, a technology called beamforming.
Some 802.11ac routers may also downstream using Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO). This feature allows several devices to access bandwidth at the same time rather than accessing bandwidth sequentially. It speeds up the signal for simultaneous users. Keep in mind that any MIMO and MU-MIMO technology must be in the router and the connected device for the technology to work.
Newer WiFi 6 routers use the 802.11ax protocol. These routers have higher speeds, larger capacity, larger range, and less congestion. They allow more users on the router at once and are more efficient with their own battery and the battery of devices connected to the router. This type of router can also uplink or downlink with MU-MIMO streaming.
FAQs
Q: How much does a router cost?
Routers can cost anywhere from $50 to over $1,000. For the average household with a few streaming devices and a gaming console or two, a router that costs between $150 to $300 will probably do. When you’re ready to upgrade, here’s how to recycle electronics.
Q: Do I need a modem for Verizon FiOS?
You need either a modem or a modem router combo with any internet provider. The modem demodulates incoming carrier waves to create a digital signal that connects to your router. The router then connects all of your devices to the internet. You can think of the modem as a digital translator that makes it so your router can communicate with the ISP provider's signal. From there, the router connects all of your devices to the internet.
Q: How much does it cost to rent a router for Verizon FiOS?
You can usually rent a router for $15 per month, which is added to your monthly bill. For other options, here are the best Netgear routers. If you're looking to upgrade, here's how to recycle electronics.
Q: Can I use my own router with Verizon?
You can use your own router with Verizon as long as the router is compatible. Check the product’s description for Verizon compatibility. Or you can go to the Verizon website and check for compatibility there.
Q: How do I connect my Verizon FiOS router?
Each router will come with installation instructions. Some models do all of the installation through an app, while others have step-by-step instructions included in the package.
Q: Is Orbi compatible with FiOS?
Most Orbi mesh WiFi systems are compatible with FiOS. However, always check the specifications or contact Verizon before buying to make sure the model you want is compatible.
Final Thoughts on The Best Routers for Verizon Fios
— Best Overall: TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 Smart WiFi Router
— Best Modem-Router Combo: ARRIS SURFboard Dual Band WiFi Router
— Best Mesh: Netgear Orbi Home Tri-band Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK852)
— Best for Gaming: ASUS AX6000 WiFi 6 Gaming Router
— Best Budget: TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Router
The TP-Link WiFi 6 AX3000 Smart WiFi Router earned the top spot for speed, parental controls, and anti-malware software. This model will work for households that put their router to the test with several streaming devices or gaming consoles going at once. If you’re looking for a bargain, take a look at the TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Router. This model is light on parental controls and customization features. However, it has great close-range speeds and includes four gigabit LAN ports.
Why Trust Us
Let’s get one thing out of the way: Online shopping is hard. Search for any product and you’ll be confronted with dozens (if not hundreds or thousands) of choices. Our mission at Futurism, where we cover the latest technology, is to simplify this experience by researching, testing, and continuing to evaluate products so we only recommend choices that are actually worth your time.
This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurism’s owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.
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