Best Cheap / Budget Wireless Routers 2018

A time will surely come when you will need to upgrade your home network whether you want to or not. New wireless technologies, along with the new breed of consumer gadget that they are bound to create, will soon make your existing network obsolete and unable to cope up with their increasing WiFi requirements of these modern-day tools.

Thus, you’ll soon find yourself shopping for a suitable wireless router. But, this task becomes more difficult if you have a very strict budget to work with.

This is where this list of the best cheap / budget routers 2018 comes in. We’ve curated the most promising products currently available on the market to come up with this hand picked list. All of these routers are priced below $50 and half of them are even priced below $20.

It’s true that you’ll also likely find a good wireless router if shock around yourself but you likely don’t have the time to do such time-consuming task. Use this list instead and you’re guaranteed to come up with a cool new high-performing router even on a budget.

The D-Link router can deliver fast wireless speeds of up to 300 Mbps, a bandwidth that is sufficient for everyday web activities. For comparison, such speed is way better than Wireless G models as the DIR-605L can deliver network speeds 14 times faster than those older routers.

Network maintenance activities are also very easy with the D-Link Wireless N 300 router. Its configuration and settings are accessed via a cloud-based app, allowing you to view real-time browsing history, connect or disconnect wireless devices from the network remotely, or implement time scheduling of internet availability – a useful way to make sure your children’s internet use stays within allowed time limits.

The D-Link router also comes with security features to help combat against threats from the internet. There is an SPI firewall as well as WPA2 to bar intrusions to your network.

For wired connections, there are four LAN Ethernet ports. This ensures that even your wired devices will get the same seamless internet access.

We know that as far as speed is concerned, this router can’t really match up against high-end AC routers. However, the TEW-731BR still delivers an amazing 300 Mbps, which is still a pretty fast wireless speed and definitely sufficient for online activities such as streaming, especially if your network does not have a lot of users, to begin with.

The TRENDnet Wireless N300 router is very easy to set up making it ideal for those users who don’t want to fuss over tech stuff. Joining the network is very easy as well with its One Touch Connection feature which connects gadgets securely with a touch of the WPS button.

The network is pre-encrypted for security. There are parental controls to better manage the network, and GREENnet technology to reduce power consumption by up to 50 percent. This router has IPv6 network support as well.

Wired gadgets can connect via the router’s 4 fast Ethernet LAN ports. WiFi coverage for wireless gadgets, on the other hand, is sufficient for an entire average-sized home.

The Linksys boasts of a spectacular data transfer rate of up to 900 Mbps which is just 100 mbps shy from the 1 Gbps mark. It is the best-in-class Wireless N speed and is fast enough to deliver lag-free gaming, video streaming, and other net activities.

Compatibility is not a problem with the Linksys EA4500 App-Enabled N900 Dual-Band Wireless-N Router with Gigabit and USB (Certified Refurbished). It supports 802.11a/b/g/n wireless protocols which means it basically works with any WiFi certified device.

For network security, it has VPN support and a firewall. Its WiFi range is good, thanks to its 6 internal antennas giving it the capability to deliver a strong and stable wireless signal while reducing dead spots.

There are 4 Gigabit LAN Ethernet ports for wired devices. There is also a USB port which can be used as storage or printer connection. The router is certified refurbished by the manufacturer and carries a 90-day warranty.

The Netis router might seem to be just your regular N300 router until you experience its magic first-hand. Yes, that magical Turbo button had fans raving about it on Amazon’s comments section. With one push, you’ll activate its turbo mode which increases signal strength and, consequently, enhances WiFi range to a distance you never thought possible for a budget router.

Not that its non-turbo mode is bad. In fact, you can already get a pretty good signal range in regular mode thanks to its 3 external high gain 5dBi detachable antennas – it can even cover up to 5,000 square feet of space or the size of a large home. This detachable description needs to be stressed since it will allow you to swap antennas if you want it upgraded.

Wireless speeds can reach up to 300 Mbps. Yes, it’s not too shockingly fast but it should keep you satisfied with video streaming, gaming and the like. Such bandwidth is actually good for homes with lesser occupants and wireless gadgets.

The router supports multi-SSIDs that you can assign to family members. If you want, you can set up 3 separate networks for visiting friends for added layers of security.

There are 4 LAN Ethernet ports for wired devices. Unfortunately, there is no USB port for printers or network storage.

This is an 802.11ac router after all which means that its biggest advantage over less technologically advanced competitors is its wireless speed. With dual-band feature, it can reach astonishing combined data speeds of up to 1167 Mbps, a combination of the 300 Mbps from the 2.4 GHz band and another 867 Mbps from the 5GHz band.

Such speed leaves competitors in the dust and would ensure that devices connected to your network will enjoy lag-free gaming, 4K video streaming, and other bandwidth-heavy activities. Given its price, it truly is the way to go when it comes to upgrading your network without straining your budget.

The router also gives the user a lot of customization options for the network. Its QoS allows you to tinker with bandwidth control as you may allocate bandwidth limits to each device connected to the network. Customization options also allow you to add additional wireless networks for access control and you can limit your children’s exposure to the web via parental controls

The router’s design is minimalist - a small white box with two external antennas that looks clean and won’t offend any design elements no matter where it might be placed in your home. It certainly jives well with any Apple product as they seem to share the same aesthetic approach.

There is a WAN and 2 LAN Ethernet ports.

For its price, the TP-Link N300 router offers a reliable, stable performance perfect for your home network. Its speed, which tops at 300 Mbps, is fast enough for regular video streaming, online gaming, and other online activities.

Its signal stability and range are greatly enhanced by its two high-quality 5dBi antennas. There is an IP-based QoS for setting up limits, bandwidth management, and other network configurations. Children can be protected and internet usage monitored via parental controls.

Backwardly compatible with older WiFi devices, you’ll be able to use your time-tested but well-loved favorite gadgets. There are 4 LAN Ethernet ports to connect wired devices.

If you belong to the second group of uses, then the Tenda N381 N300 router is perfect for you. And because of its incredibly low price, we’ve also included it in best cheap / budget wireless routers for 2018 list.

It’s a Wireless N router with speed up to 300Mbps making it ideal for streaming, online gaming, VoIP, and regular web browsing. The router’s range and signal stability are enhanced by two 5dBi antennas. You can also implement parental controls and some bandwidth management.

Not everyone is talented with tech matters and, thankfully, the Tenda N301 does not require any talent at all when installing the router aside from the basics like knowing where to plug which wire. Installation is super easy and fast.

There are three LAN and WAN ports available. However, the router lacks a USB port.

Of course, part of the explanation why it is incredibly priced is that its certified refurbished. But that does not take away the fact that it is an AC1200 router. WiFi combined speeds can reach up to 1167 Mbps, a combination of 867 Mbps from the 8 GHz band and 300 Mbps from the 2.4 GHz.

There are 4 LAN Ethernet ports for gadgets that require to be wired. In addition, there is a USB port for printer, file sharing or additional storage.

You can filter content via its Norton-powered filtering feature. There are there types of content that you can block but customizing it is not possible. QoS is present where you can prioritize voice chat, video streaming, and online gaming.

As you can see from this list, there are wireless routers that deliver a solid performance without breaking the bank. Ultimately, however, it will depend on you as a buyer to choose which router really fits your needs. Meanwhile, you can use this list as a guide in your shopping adventure.