Fiber-optic routers are great if you want a fast, secure, and reliable internet connection for your house or business. This is because fiber-optic cables deliver faster speeds compared to traditional copper wires so you can expect high-speed bandwidth. Plus, fiber connections do not need you to get a modem, which saves money and space.
That said, there are a ton of options out there from different manufacturers, such as NETGEAR, ASUS, TP-Link, and more. Selecting a single router can be challenging as there are most likely many that fit the requirements you want.
So, to help you streamline your buying journey, we took the liberty of doing the research for you and putting together this in-depth guide that lists multiple options, their details, reviews, and pros and cons. This should help you make an informed decision. So, let’s get right into it.
Products at a glance
- Best router for fiber internet overall
Netgear Nighthawk RS700S WiFi 7 (BE19000)
- Standard: WiFi 7
- Frequency Bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz
- Max Speed: 19Gbps
- LAN Ports: 1x 10Gbps, 4x 1Gbps
- Best budget router for fiber internet
GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX)
- Standard: WiFI 6
- Frequency Bnads: 2.4GHz, 5GHz
- Max Speed: 1800Mbps
- LAN Ports: 2x Gigabit
- Best gaming router for fiber internet
ASUS ROG Rapture Wifi 6E Router (GT-AXE16000)
- Standard: WiFi 6E
- Frequency bands: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz-1, 5 GHz-2, 6 GHz
- Max speed: 16000 Mbps
- LAN ports: 2x 10Gbps (WAN/LAN), 4x 1Gbps
How we picked
To find the best router for fiber internet, we used our expertise to select items based on key specs, such as speeds, coverage, wireless standards, security, weight, and additional features. We’ve also delved into and weighted market sentiment and user views to ensure our selections align with users’ experiences with these products.
However, we don’t rely solely on specifications and reviews that anyone can read. We conduct in-house testing to check their signal strength, speed, and file transfer speed. If you’re interested in learning more about our process, check out our How We Test Routers guide for a more in-depth understanding.
Our top picks
- Standard: WiFi 7
- Frequency Bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz
- Max Speed: 19Gbps
- LAN Ports: 1x 10Gbps, 4x 1Gbps
- WAN: 10Gbps
- CPU: Quad-core 2.6GHz
- Memory: 512MB NAND Flash and 2GB RAM
- USB: 1x USB 3.0 Type-A
- Dimensions: 281.7 x 124.0 x 142mm (11.1 x 4.9 x 5.6in)
- Weight: 1.635kg (3.61lb)
- It is easy to set up using the application
- Plenty of high-speed Ethernet ports to handle gigabit and multi-gigabit internet plans
- A smart design that makes it a good option for homes and offices alike
- It comes with an expensive price tag
- The Wi-Fi 7 standard isn’t widely adopted right now
Fiber internet can deliver lightning-fast speeds, and a capable router is needed to take full advantage of that. That said, we recommend giving the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S a shot, as it supports the Wi-Fi 7 standard and has plenty of gigabit Ethernet ports. On top of that, in our RS700S review, it had excellent range and performance, which gave it the top spot on our list.
For starters, this router has impressive specifications such as a 2.6 GHz quad-core CPU, 2 GB RAM, 10G LAN and WAN ports, and four 1G LAN ports. What this means is that it comes packed with everything needed to handle gigabit and multi-gigabit fiber internet plans and disperse them over a wired or wireless connection without compromising performance.
Moreover, it supports LAN aggregation, which enables you to combine LAN ports for faster speeds. This only works with dedicated ports, but according to NETGEAR, you should be able to get up to 2 Gbps speed through this.
It doesn’t have any external antennas but eight powerful internal antennas that work well to cover the advertised 3,500 sq. ft. area. We checked the range of its 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands and weren’t disappointed. 2.4 GHz reached the 60ft mark, while 5 GHz went beyond that and connected at the 90ft mark.
Certainly, the router isn’t going to be the limiting factor, as with the latest WiFi standard and fastest ports it is a good-term solution as we doubt even ISPs will supply it with enough internet anytime soon.
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As for its performance, the 2.4 GHz frequency delivered download and upload speeds of 103, 78.4, 5.6 Mbps, and 62, 50, and 22 Mbps at 10, 30, and 60 ft, respectively. As for 5 GHz, it managed download speeds of 273, 269, 117, and 25.5 Mbps and upload speeds of 239, 227, 131, and 8 Mbps.
These speeds are impressive and should be enough to accommodate a wide range of activities, such as 4K streaming, online gaming, or other bandwidth-intensive tasks. It also comes with NETGEAR Armor and Smart Parental Controls, which automatically start when you sign in and register.
Overall, this router has the latest technologies, plenty of Ethernet ports, can support up to 200 devices, and excellent coverage. These factors make it one of the best routers for fiber internet. While it may cost more than many would like to pay, you don’t replace a router after a year, and it is a long-term investment.
What user say
According to Amazon reviews, this router has excellent performance, impressive range, and many useful features. However, some reviews complain about said features locked behind a paywall. One reviewer said: “This device excels right out of the box, delivering exceptional performance that easily sets it apart in its class.” followed by, “In Netgear’s ecosystem, what many consider a fundamental function has been rebranded as part of parental control, which may not sit well with all users.”
- Standard: WiFI 6
- Frequency Bnads: 2.4GHz, 5GHz
- Max Speed: 1800Mbps
- LAN Ports: 2x Gigabit
- WAN: 1x Gigabit
- CPU: IPQ6000 1.2GHz Quad-core Processor
- Memory: DDR3L 512MB / NAND Flash 128MB
- USB: 1x USB 3.0
- Dimensions: 125 x 82 x 36mm
- Weight: 245g
- It provides excellent value for the price point
- It has a good range and performance
- Great for a fiber internet connection due to the gigabit Ethernet ports
- The USB connection isn’t the fastest
- It can get a bit hot after a while
- The lack of multi-gigabit ports could be a deal breaker for some
Not everyone has the budget to spend hundreds of dollars on a new router, and if you’re operating on a budget, the GL.iNet Slate AX should serve you well. In our GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX) review, it had a good range and delivered decent upload and download speeds via wired and wireless connections.
This router is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and 512 MB of DDR3L RAM. It has a maximum speed of 1800 Mbps, dual-band functionality, two gigabit LAN ports, and one gigabit WAN port. What these specifications mean is that it has decent hardware that should be enough to cater to various entertainment and professional needs.
If you have a gigabit internet connection, you can experience its full capabilities via an Ethernet connection. That said, its wireless performance was pretty decent as well. The 2.4 GHz band delivered download speeds of 119 to 8.9 Mbps and upload speeds of 95.1 to 2.5 Mbps. The 5 GHz band’s download speeds were 271 to 197 Mbps, and upload speeds were 293 to 137 Mbps.
On top of that, the 2.4 GHz was able to connect at the 90ft mark while 5 GHz could only manage till the 60ft mark. So, the 8.9 and 2.5 Mbps download and upload speeds mentioned above were what we got at the furthest distance.
Selling itself as a portable router, it holds up well against standard gaming router options, which we wouldn’t expect from something designed on the go.
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The Slate AX managed 278.9 Mbps download and 285.5 Mbps upload with a wired connection. So, the main takeaway from these tests was that you should be able to have a seamless gaming, streaming, and working experience with this router powering your network.
A neat aspect of this router is that it can be used as a repeater for other networks, extending their range. It also has plenty of security options, such as VPNs like OpenVPN and Tor. You can also enable AdGuard, which protects all the devices connected to your network.
While it may not have a multi-gigabit WAN or LAN port, we need to keep its price in mind and for that, it brings a lot of value to the table. Also, it has MU-MINO technology, which allows it to transmit data to multiple devices. That said, this router can support up to 120 devices simultaneously. So, if you have a fiber internet connection with a high bandwidth, this should make for a great option for small to medium houses or offices.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this router is easy to set up, has good GUI and hardware, and performs exceptionally well. One reviewer said: “We are pleasantly surprised that this device delivers a steady T-Mobile 5G HS speed, and the WiFi signal reaches farther, which is much better than what we have with AT&T fiber internet.”
- Standard: WiFi 6E
- Frequency bands: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz-1, 5 GHz-2, 6 GHz
- Max speed: 16000 Mbps
- LAN ports: 2x 10Gbps (WAN/LAN), 4x 1Gbps
- WAN: 1x 2.5Gbps, 2x 10Gbps (WAN/LAN)
- CPU: 2.0GHz quad-core processor
- Memory: 256MB NAND flash and 2GB DDR4 RAM
- USB: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 2.0 Port
- Dimensions: 354 x 354 x 193mm
- Weight: 2425g
- It has quad-band functionality and Wi-Fi 6E
- It is easy to set up
- It has excellent range and performance
- It has an aggressive design that won’t be suitable for professional settings
- It has a relatively expensive price tag
Gaming is a part of every household, and to get the best in-game experience, you need a lag and interruption-free internet connection. For that, we recommend the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 router, as it has good wireless and wired connectivity options that should ensure you’re getting the bandwidth necessary for seamless gaming.
We also thoroughly tested this router in-house and were pleased with its coverage, signal strength, and latency. It features two 10G WAN/LAN ports, four 1G LAN ports, and one 2.5G WAN port. So, in terms of performance, you should be able to have multiple wired connections and experience fast speeds across them all.
When we tested for its LAN speed, we got 262.4 Mbps download and 266.5 Mbps upload which is pretty good as we have a 300 Mbps internet connection. On top of that, it has quad-band functionality, meaning you get a 2.4 and 6 GHz band and two 5 GHz bands.
This adds a layer of accessibility as you have extra frequencies to use as a backhaul or dedicate them as a guest network or for your IoT devices. This should reduce congestion and interruption issues and you can use the 6 GHz frequency for wireless gaming as it has the highest bandwidth and should have the lowest latency.
The ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000 is quite the monster of a WiFi 6E router. Although it might not be the latest tech anymore, it’s still plenty fast, and with a lot of features.
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Its wireless performance was also decent. 2.4 GHz managed download speeds of 71.4 to 0 Mbps at 10 and 90ft and upload speeds of 66.3 to Mbps at the same distances. Unsurprisingly, 5 GHz had better performance. It delivered download speeds of 244 to 47.9 Mbps and upload speeds of 280 to 9.8 Mbps.
It isn’t surprising that the speed dropped the further away from the router we moved, but if you’re close by, then it’s a whole other ball game. That said, for gaming, a wired connection is recommended as signals, particularly the 2.4 GHz band, are prone to interruption from other electronics and their waves. An Ethernet doesn’t face this issue and would keep your gaming experience smooth.
Lastly, this router comes with triple-level game acceleration, which prioritizes your gaming device and directs the maximum bandwidth towards it. It also prioritizes game data packets and connects to the game server with the shortest route possible to decrease latency. This should also enhance your gaming experience.
Overall, given its specifications and wired and wireless performance, it is one of the best routers for fiber internet, and if gaming is your main goal, it shouldn’t disappoint.
What users say
The Amazon reviews of this router are filled with praise for its coverage, performance, and versatility. One reviewer said: “I must say, this router has not only met but exceeded my high expectations, perfectly complementing my ASUS-centric gaming setup.” They continued, saying: “One of the standout features of this router is its exceptional range and coverage. The signal strength is strong and consistent, even in the farthest corners of my home. This is particularly important as I often move around with my gaming laptop.”
How to select the best router for fiber internet
Picking up the best router for fiber internet isn’t just about going to the market and choosing one of the best wireless routers. Instead, you need to carefully look at its specs, performance, and the type of security features it offers. Here are a few things to consider before making a purchase.
Budget
The first factor you need to consider is your budget. This will help you filter through the options and give you a list of routers that are affordable and meet most of your requirements.
There is no point in getting a $700 router because that will come with the latest Wi-Fi standard, multi-gigabit ports, and various other new technologies you may never use. So, it is always recommended to operate within your budget unless you plan to upgrade your devices to use the latest technologies.
Ports
Opt for a router with at least one gigabit bit LAN and WAN port. This will ensure that you can get the full bandwidth of your high-speed internet plan via Ethernet. Of course, more ports are always better as they’ll enable you to have more than one wired connection.
A multi-gigabit WAN port will ensure you can upgrade the internet plan to your heart’s content. Another aspect to look for is LAN aggregation. This allows you to merge two LAN ports together for faster speeds. For example, you can merge two-gigabit ports to get 2 Gbps speed, whereas the individual ports could only manage 1 Gbps
Wi-Fi standard
Make sure the router you’re choosing supports the Wi-Fi standard and is compatible with your devices. This will avoid potential compatibility issues while ensuring a high-speed wireless connection to your devices.
