Best Budget WiFi Routers: Affordable Options to Upgrade Your Home Network

Looking for a powerful WiFi upgrade without overspending? The latest budget-friendly WiFi 7 routers deliver blazing speeds, better range, and future-proof features—at prices that won’t break the bank.

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WRITTEN BY

NETGEAR Team

Since the launch of WiFi 7 in 2023, cutting-edge technology has become more accessible, bringing faster speeds and stronger connections to budget-conscious buyers. Whether you’re streaming, gaming, or just need rock-solid connectivity throughout your home, NETGEAR’s latest lineup of affordable routers and mesh systems offers top-tier performance and security at every price point.

Why You Don’t Have to Break the Bank for a Good Router

Router performance has progressively improved from WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 dual-band routers to tri-band WiFi 6E routers, and the latest standard tri-band and quad-band WiFi 7 routers. NETGEAR’s best WiFi routers include the comprehensive Nighthawk and Orbi systems ranges with WiFi 7 wireless router technology, designed for homes and properties of all sizes.
WiFi 7 routers perform far better than older routers and range extenders. For performance on a budget, check out entry-level routers like the dual-band Nighthawk RS100 router with strong WiFi 7 signal performance for smaller homes and fewer devices. If yours is a medium/large sized home, the Orbi 770 mesh system 2-pack or 3-pack will tick all the right boxes.

Advantages to your home network include:

  • Future-Proof Connectivity: NETGEAR budget-friendly routers include WPA3 encryption, VPN support, WiFi 7’s faster speeds, better multi-device connectivity, and reduced interference.
  • Affordable Mesh Systems: Solutions like the Orbi 770 Mesh Network Series provide whole-home high-speed coverage at a lower cost compared to high-end models.
  • Upgrade Potential: Budget routers are a great starting point, and as your needs grow, upgrading to mid-range or premium models is an easy process. Base-model Orbi 2-pack systems can be easily upgraded with additional satellites to add range and connectivity as needed.

Best Budget-Friendly Routers from NETGEAR

Nighthawk RS300: A Step Up for More Devices and Speed

The perfect blend of speed, reliability, and affordability. This WiFi 7 router includes a 2.5 Gig internet port plus 2.5Gbps & 1Gbps Ethernet ports that unlock unbeatable speed and reliability.

Why It’s Ideal:

  • WiFi 7 speeds up to 9.3 Gbps, suitable for homes with 20–30 devices. Seamless connectivity for up to 100 Devices.
  • Advanced features like Tri-band WiFi 7 and access to the powerful 6Ghz WiFi channel make it a solid upgrade from the RS200 and RS100.
  • Perfect for HD video streaming and moderate gaming setups.
  • Includes a 30-day trial of NETGEAR Armor with essential cybersecurity features to help protect your entire WiFi home network.
  • Shop RS300 Router

Nighthawk RS200: Reliable WiFi 7 Router

Are you looking for a great budget router for small home or apartment, with outstanding reliability and upgraded device capacity? Look no further than the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS200.

Why It’s Ideal:

  • Dual-band WiFi 7 speeds up to 6.5 Gbps, perfect for smaller homes with 15–20 devices, but can support up to 80 devices.
  • The RS200 is a compact and affordable router with a slender chassis design, making it a great step into WiFi 7 technology.
  • Includes a 30-day trial of NETGEAR Armor with essential cybersecurity features to help protect your entire WiFi home network.
  • Shop RS200 Router

Nighthawk RS100: Reliable Entry-Level WiFi 7 Router

Are you looking for the best budget router for small homes, with outstanding reliability and good device capacity? Look no further than the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS100.

Why It’s Ideal:

  • Dual-band WiFi 7 speeds up to 3.6 Gbps, perfect for smaller homes with 10–15 devices, but can support up to 50 devices.
  • The RS100 is a compact and affordable router with a slender chassis design, making it a great first step into WiFi 7 technology.
  • Includes a 30-day trial of NETGEAR Armor with essential cybersecurity features to help protect your entire WiFi home network.
  • Shop RS100 Router

Compare Nighthawk Models with our Buyer’s Guide

Orbi 770 Series: Affordable Whole-Home Mesh Solution

Experience flawless whole-home coverage and secure connectivity with Orbi 770, the affordable Mesh WiFi system. Connect with multi-gigabit Ethernet ports or via add-on router satellites with 360° antennas with beamforming. Perfect as a content streaming and gaming router.

Why It’s Ideal:

  • Tri-band WiFi 7 with speeds up to 11 Gbps, providing seamless coverage up to 8,000 sq. ft. (3-Pack) Includes a 2.5 Gig internet port plus 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports and a 2.5Gbps wired backhaul option.​
  • Great for medium-sized and large homes with multiple rooms. Eliminate WiFi dead zones so everyone can have their own online space for work or play.
  • Budget-friendly router for HD streaming compared to premium Orbi models, with a focus on delivering great WiFi 7 value. Set up in minutes, monitor your system, and run speed tests with the handy mobile app.
  • Includes a 30-day trial of NETGEAR Armor with essential cybersecurity features to help protect your entire WiFi home network.

Compare Orbi Models with our Buyer’s Guide

Features That Make NETGEAR Routers Great for Budget-Conscious Buyers

WiFi 7 improvements include 4K QAM, preamble puncturing, and multi-link operation (MLO) for superior quality of service (QOS). These WiFi 7 router features deliver stronger internet connections, long-range signal strength, faster internet speeds, and the opportunity to create a home network, guest network, and smart home IoT network with up to 200 concurrently connected devices. The best existing technologies such as MU-MIMO are retained. Advantages of budget-conscious NETGEAR routers and mesh systems include:

1. WiFi 7 Technology: Even entry-level options like the RS200 bring faster speeds and better device handling in comparison to older WiFi standards.

2. Coverage That Fits Your Home: NETGEAR’s new router range has been designed for homes of every size.
RS200 and RS300 are ideal for smaller homes or apartments.
Orbi 770 provides whole-home coverage for those needing an expansive WiFi mesh system.

3. Affordable Security: All models include built-in security such as WPA3 encryption and regular firmware Updates. These routers include a NETGEAR Armor 30-day free trial, ensuring your network is protected without additional costs.

4. Upgrade Path: Start with the RS200 or RS300 and transition to higher-end models as the number of your connected devices and your networking needs grow.

Why Choose WiFi 7 Even on a Budget?

WiFi 7 routers are a future-proof investment that uses the 2.4GHz band, 5GHz band, and optionally a 6GHz band for faster throughput, eliminating lag and latency issues. WiFi 7 ensures compatibility with the latest WiFi network devices and streaming platforms. NETGEAR WiFi 7 routers are also backward compatible with older legacy devices. NETGEAR Nighthawk and Orbi WiFi 7 systems are the secret behind advanced 4K/8K streaming, online gaming and AI applications.

Why Choose WiFi 7?

  • Advanced WiFi 7 Security features such as NETGEAR Armor and parental controls to ensure your network users are safe from cybercriminals.
  • Improved streaming and gaming capabilities. Faster speeds and lower latency provide a better experience, even with budget routers.
  • Seamless multi-device support to handle more connected devices without lag, perfect for households with multiple users.
    Multi-gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, WAN ports, and USB ports to accommodate all your WiFi devices.

TIP: Bring your own Cable Modem for savings and performance

Consider upgrading your internet service provider (ISP) plan to 500mb to 1gig+ and using a powerful modem like the Nighthawk CM3000 for optimal home WiFi network performance and savings on equipment rental fees.

FAQs

1. Is it worth investing in a budget WiFi 7 router?

Yes, affordable WiFi routers like the RS100 WiFi 7 router offer significant performance improvements over older models at an affordable price.

2. What’s the difference between the RS100 and RS300?

The RS100 is ideal for smaller homes with fewer devices, while the RS300 offers faster speeds and better range for medium-sized setups. RS300 includes the 6Ghz WiFi channel for better connectivity in crowded WiFi environments.

3. Can I use a mesh system on a budget?

Absolutely! The Orbi 770 Mesh Router Series provides additional bandwidth, expanded functionality, and affordable whole-home coverage with WiFi 7 speeds.

4. Are budget routers secure?

Yes, all NETGEAR routers, including budget WiFi router models, come with built in WiFI 7 security and can activate optional NETGEAR Armor for robust network protection. The NETGEAR range includes secure and affordable WiFi 7 routers for small spaces.

Conclusion: Affordable Solutions for Every Budget

Are you wondering which is the best budget router for 2025? NETGEAR’s budget-friendly routers, like the Nighthawk RS100 and RS300, and the NETGEAR Orbi 770 Series Mesh System, deliver exceptional value and performance for real-time gamers, live streamers, and multi-user networkers. With the NETGEAR range of routers to fit your budget, you can start with a reliable, affordable router and upgrade as needed. Explore NETGEAR’s value WiFi 7 router lineup to future-proof their home network without breaking the bank.