Best routers for fiber internet in 2024 – our top picks

If you are looking for the best router for fiber internet, then we have you covered right here. Fiber-optic routers are great if you want a fast, secure, and reliable internet connection for your house or business. This is because, compared to traditional copper wires, fiber-optic cables deliver faster speeds, so you can expect high-speed bandwidth. Plus, fiber connections do not need you to get a modem, which saves money as well as space.

With that being said, there are quite a few options on the market that can fit all your requirements. To make your search easier, we have done the research and picked out some of the best routers for fiber internet. 

Products at a glance

How we picked the best router for fiber internet

For this guide, we took a good look at several routers from different manufacturers, compared them, and used our expertise to select the ones we thought were the best. While choosing the routers, some of the main things to take into consideration are the key specs, including speed, frequency bands, security, and other things that make fiber internet more reliable than traditional broadband connections. Of course, we also dived deep into and weighted market sentiment and user views, to ensure our choices are in line with what users experience from these products: across the board, we’ve chosen routers that have Amazon reviews of higher than 4.4 stars.

Furthermore, we’re always looking for new products to add to our guides and keep them updated – so check back here again for new updates and fresh products to consider. For a truly reliable router for fiber internet, you might find a suitable choice out of the ones listed below, but we’ve got you covered with your other router needs with our wide range of buying guides. For example, we’ve taken a punt at finding the best WiFi router for multiple devices, as well as the best router for gigabit internet if fiber isn’t available to you yet.

Best routers for fiber internet in 2024 – our top picks

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NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (RAX50)

Specifications

• Standard: WiFi 6
• Frequency bands: 5 GHz
• Max speed: 5.4 Gbps
• LAN ports: 4 x 1 Gbps

Reasons to Buy

• 5.4 Gbps speeds
• 2,500 sq. ft. coverage
• Connect up to 25 devices

Reasons to Avoid

• You have to pay for security services
• Have to install the Netgear app to set up the router

• Shop on Amazon

If you want the best fiber internet with a reasonable price tag, then you should check out the Netgear Nighthawk 6-Stream router, which we think deserves to be one of the best WiFi 6 routers out there.

The WiFi 6 router gives you up to 5.4 Gbps speeds, which should deliver buffer-free streaming, gaming, and virtual conferencing. The router covers about 2,500 sq. ft. of area, and you can connect up to 25 devices, which means you should be able to keep smart home devices connected.

As far as compatibility goes, the router is compatible with most internet providers, which includes fiber, DSL, and cable – so you’d be able to replace your older router with this one without much difficulty.

Coming to wired connectivity, the router offers four 1G Ethernet ports, which should let you plug into computers, consoles, and other devices. Plus, you also get a USB 3.0 port, in case you need to use it.

For security, Netgear offers Netgear Armor and Netgear Smart Parental Controls, which protect your connected devices and promote healthy internet habits, respectively. And while they are useful, they only offer a 30-day free trial, and later you have to pay for the subscription if you wish to continue.

What users say

With an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, it’s fair to say that user reviews of the Netgear Nighthawk 6-Stream are generally pleased with their experiences of setting up and using this router. One user goes as far as to say that this product has “completely transformed my home network experience…I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my internet connection reliability and speed”. Another user praises its versatility and customizable settings, saying that “the QoS (Quality of Service) options enable us to prioritize specific devices or applications, ensuring smooth performance for crucial tasks”. 

If you want to get a premium WiFi router, then you should check out the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 router.

The quad-band comes with four bands – 6GHz, 5GHz, 5GHz, and 2.4GHz, which offer up to 16000 Mbps speeds. Plus, it has that 6GHz band, with which you’d experience high speeds and less congestion. For wired connections, the router offers two 10G LAN/WAN ports as well as a 2.5G WAN port, which should give you speedy, reliable connectivity.

Further, the router provides good coverage, so you should be able to get a stable WiFi signal throughout your house. Plus, the router has Asus RangeBoost Plus, which promises to tweak the overall coverage. And if you want to extend coverage, then this router is AiMesh enabled, so you just have to add router units.

Much like some of the best gaming routers, this router offers triple-level game acceleration, which is something you can take advantage of if you are into serious gaming.

What users say

According to users on Amazon, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 doesn’t disappoint when it comes to gaming scenarios, with one user in particular praising how “the quad-band WiFi 6E offers incredibly fast and stable connections, which is crucial for online gaming”. Another user attests to this, saying how “it delivers lightning-fast speeds and ultra-low latency, ensuring smooth and responsive gaming sessions even in the most demanding multiplayer environments”.

If you want a budget router for fiber internet, then you should check out the TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router, which we think deserves to be on the best routers under $100.

The router comes with two bands that are capable of speeds up to 1.8 Gbps, so you should be able to enjoy a stable connection for streaming, gaming, downloading, and more.

Further, the router has four external antennas, which promise to give you decent coverage. Plus, you get beamforming technology, which should deliver steady internet speeds throughout your house. And with OFDMA, you should be able to connect multiple devices simultaneously.

As far as security is concerned, you get basic protection with the TP-Link app. And for added privacy, the router is compatible with VPN servers.

What users say

According to Amazon’s user reviews, this router is a strong contender for being one of the best budget routers available, with the majority of reviewers awarding it with 5 stars. One user in particular praised its speeds and ease of setup, saying that “compared to my older router, the AX21 delivers noticeably faster Wi-Fi speeds, especially on my newer Wi-Fi 6 devices”, and further that “setting up the router was a breeze using the smartphone app. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, you shouldn’t have any trouble”.

How to pick the best router for fiber internet

Here are a few things to consider –

Wifi technology

As you will be using your new router for quite some time, you should invest in one that has the latest WiFi standard. At the moment, you can get WiFi 6, which is one of the latest WiFi standards, and also one of the most widely used, so most of your devices will be compatible. 

Coverage

Good internet coverage will mean that your devices will receive good reception throughout your home/office. The further a device is from the source of Wifi, the lesser the signal. However, good coverage can ensure that the signal remains strong even if you’re far from the source.

Security

Good fiber optic internet systems often come with robust security systems. This can protect from malware, as well as provide customers with security options such as parental control and internet time limits.