Best AT&T Internet Routers 2023

After looking at dozens of routers and evaluating their features, speed, and performance, we found the Google Nest Wi-Fi to be one of the best mesh systems for those with AT&T internet plans.

We also like the Netgear RAX50 for its extensive parental controls and the TP-Link Archer A8 for its budget-friendly price.

When searching for the best Wi-Fi router for AT&T, we looked for models that could take full advantage of your plan’s speeds, but we also considered each router’s features and specifications. After all, your router is an essential tool tasked with managing your network and much of your Wi-Fi security.

Let’s dig into the specs and see why we picked these five as the best AT&T routers.

If you’re going to purchase your own router for your AT&T internet, it should enhance your experience in some way. We recommend looking for features such as the following:

• Enhanced security that uses WPA2 or WPA3
• Large Wi-Fi coverage area
• Mesh networking capabilities
• Dual- or tri-band technology
• Gaming and streaming enhancement features
• Advanced parental and guest network controls
• Trusted brands like Asus, TP-Link, and NETGEAR
• Enough Ethernet and USB ports to connect your wired devices and printers

Look for router models that offer the latest technologies (MU-MIMO, beamforming, etc.), high-end hardware (a good amount of processing power, ample ports, etc.), advanced security, and user-friendly features.

It’s also important to make sure that your new router has max speeds that exceed your AT&T plan’s max speeds.

Your AT&T service likely includes an equipment rental fee that provides you with a gateway modem-and-router combo.

But to get the best networking features, many people choose to add on a separate router even though the gateway gives them basic Wi-Fi functionality. If you game, stream in HD or 4K, or work from home, you’ll probably find your internet runs smoother when you use your own router.

If you’re a homeowner, we’re guessing there’s at least one room in your home where your devices struggle to keep a strong internet connection. With the Google Nest Wi-Fi, you won’t have to worry about dead zones or slow zones thanks to its mesh system that  provides coverage throughout your entire home.

One Nest Wi-Fi router alone covers up to 2,200 square feet, and you can add additional routers to extend your coverage area even more. (Two routers cover 4,400 square feet, and three routers cover 6,600 square feet.)

A large coverage area isn’t the only benefit to the Nest Wi-Fi system though. It has Google Assistant built in, so you can play music and direct hundreds of devices on your network. If you have a high-end AT&T plan, the system will be able to route network traffic to the least congested band.

The self-healing Nest Wi-Fi system (meaning if one of your routers goes down, your devices automatically get rerouted to the other router) is relatively maintenance free, and it’s more attractive than most routers, with a sleek design that fits in with most decor. It comes in snow, mist, or sand color options.

Unlike pricier systems, the Nest Wi-Fi is only dual-band instead of tri-band, so it’s not as advanced as a system like the latest NETGEAR Orbi. But overall, the Nest Wi-Fi system is an excellent value, and works for anyone who wants to expand their signal range with a mesh system but doesn’t want to shell out too much cash.

Read Google Nest Wi-Fi Review

The Nighthawk RAX50 offers exceptional parental controls, speeds of up to 5.4 Gbps, Wi-Fi coverage of up to 2,500 square feet, and four LAN ports.

On top of all that, you get access to NETGEAR’s Smart Parental Controls, which are some of the best parental controls available. You can manage and monitor just about every aspect of your kids’ online activity, from screen time to internet history to specific device usage. You can even set up specific profiles, filters, bed times, down times, and set rewards for each individual profile.

The RAX50 also boasts Wi-Fi 6. If you have multiple smart devices or if you work from home, it might be worth it to invest in a Wi-Fi 6 router. But if you don’t need optimum network performance, then a Wi-Fi 6 router might be overkill.

This tri-band router by TP-Link is ideal for gamers on high-end AT&T internet plans. In addition to its futuristic aesthetic, the Archer C5400X blankets even a four-bedroom house with a zippy Wi-Fi connection.

With a 1.8 GHz quad-core processor and a Dynamic Optimization Engine, you have enough power and flexibility to play games on all of your consoles and PCs. And you can still optimize network traffic to other devices like smart home gadgets, productivity PCs, phones, and tablets.

While this router will perform well for any household that uses a lot of bandwidth, it’s especially helpful for gamers, with gaming-specific features like the aforementioned Dynamic Optimization Engine.

It’s also Alexa compatible, and it’s pretty fairly priced so you won’t have to spend too much cash to take full advantage of your AT&T internet while gaming on a console or PC.

The TP-Link Archer A8 is a reliable, fast, and durable router that works well with most AT&T plans, yet it only costs around $60 or less at most retailers. (We should note that its 2.4 GHz band supports only 600 Mbps download speeds.)

The downsides? The Archer A8 doesn’t offer some of the perks like Wi-Fi 6 or tri-band technology. But you’ll get a decent Wi-Fi range out of this unit, as well as 4 LAN ports plus beamforming and MU-MIMO technology to improve efficiency and speeds.

The Archer A8 also comes with Smart Connect, which checks to make sure your device is connected to the best Wi-Fi band available. Along with parental controls, these thoughtful features make the Archer A8 an absolute steal.

If you want a router that can do it all, the NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX120 is an absolute beast. Combined with a high-end AT&T plan, the 12-stream RAX120 can manage an entire household full of streaming devices, work-from-home devices, smart devices, and gaming PCs and consoles.

With a 2.2 GHz quad-core processor that’s optimized for Wi-Fi 6, the Nighthawk RAX120 has the latest and greatest technologies like beamforming and MU-MIMO. It also boasts two USB ports, four gigabit LAN ports, and an easy-to-use app where you can manage your network.

Our biggest issue with the RAX120 is its steep price. But if cost is no issue to you and you’d prefer to future-proof your technology, this router fits the bill.

• Google Nest Wi-Fi: For those who want to extend their Wi-Fi range, a mesh system can be an effective solution. The Nest Wi-Fi system is affordable, practical, and it offers Google Assistant built-in for music, voice controlling your network, and easy smart home integration.
• NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX50: Having parental controls at the router level makes it possible for you to control screen time and monitor usage all in one place. The RAX50 is a powerful Wi-Fi 6 router with some of the best parental controls available.
• TP-Link Archer C5400X: Gamers will appreciate the power and gaming features this tri-band router has to offer. Though not a Wi-Fi 6 router, it’s still one of the best options available in its price range for gaming on your AT&T internet.
• TP-Link Archer A8: If you have an AT&T internet plan that’s on the lower-to-mid end of the spectrum, it may not be necessary to spend hundreds on a high-end router. The Archer A8 by TP-Link gives you MU-MIMO and beamforming plus guest network access and parental controls, and you can find it for around $50–$60.
• NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX120: If you want a router that can handle just about anything you throw at it, the RAX120 is the way to go. This NETGEAR unit can handle any AT&T plan, and it boasts the latest and greatest Wi-Fi 6 technologies.

To determine the best AT&T routers, we paid close attention to compatibility, but we also looked at these factors:

1. Price. While it’s true that you get what you pay for, we considered affordability as a huge factor when choosing the best AT&T routers.
2. Speed. If you’re going to go with an aftermarket router, it should be more than capable of maximizing your AT&T plan speeds.
3. Features. We looked for models that could offer perks that you don’t necessarily get with your AT&T wireless modem alone.

Any time you’re considering purchasing a router, it’s best to ask yourself the following questions.

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