Although routers are useful, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a decent one. Many of the best-performing routers are available with an almost limitless supply on the market. You’ll have to dig around for a deal that is friendly to your wallet. Fortunately, discovering wireless or wired routers for your gaming purpose isn’t difficult. What you have to do is just know where to look for one. You’ve come to the right place if that’s what you’re searching for.
Although routers are useful, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a decent one. Many of the best-performing routers are available with an almost limitless supply on the market. You’ll have to dig around for a deal that is friendly to your wallet. Fortunately, discovering wireless or wired routers for your gaming purpose isn’t difficult. What you have to do is just know where to look for one. You’ve come to the right place if that’s what you’re searching for.
Best 5 Routers Under $50
TP-Link AC1200
- Upgrade to AC WiFi with speeds up to 1200 Mbps (N300+AC900)
- Fast Ethernet ports, ideal for homes with up to 100 Mbps internet plans
- Stream in 4K on multiple devices while reducing buffering
- Supports Amazon Alexa (router cannot be voice-controlled by Alexa) and works with all WiFi devices, AC and older
- TP-Link Tether app - Easily set up and manage your home network
We’ll start off this list with the TP-Link router, which is by far our best router at a reasonable price. Firstly, when it comes to speed, this router would undoubtedly be on the faster side. It can carry an Ethernet of 4 gigabytes and provides a fast connection.
The configuration is also pretty swift, thanks to a Tether App which simplifies setup and operation. In short, this device is without a doubt the best-rated AC router at an affordable price. If you want to get the full benefit of streaming videos and gaming without any interruption, this router will be just right for you.
The dual-band processing offers a speed of 1200 Mbps, making it the fastest router on the list.
Pros
- Can connect multiple devices
- Gives good performance
- Affordable
Cons
- Not durable
ASUS N300
- Multiple 3 in 1 Router/Access Point /Range Extender wireless modes
- 4 SSIDs help manage bandwidth allocation and access control
- Powerful Online Multi tasking, throughput up to 300Mbps
- 2 detachable 5dBi antennas for more powerful and wider coverage
- Operating Frequency: 2. 4 GHz
The ASUS wireless router is the second fastest model on the list, and for a valid reason. This router is for you if you’re fed up with routers that take hours to stream video. Connecting to the network takes just 30 seconds.
It’s still the highest-range router under $50 thanks to a 3-in-1 battery pack. If you need a router to expand your wireless network, this is the one for you.
Pros
- Covers a wider range
- Provides better security protocol
- Contains multiple modes
Cons
- Setting up the device can be complicated
Linksys N300
- Enjoy the benefits of Wireless-N300 (802.11n) in your home ideal for surfing the web, emailing and printing wirelessly
- Connect your computers, wireless printers, smartphones, and other wireless devices at up to 300 Mbps transfer speed
- Enjoy broad wireless coverage provided by MIMO antenna technology
- Use four Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) ports to directly connect wired devices
- Keep your network protected with customizable security settings, including WPA/WPA2 Personal and SPI firewall protection
Every gamer desires a router that can do more at less cost. What easier way to find the right cheap gaming router than to give this beast a shot? Linksys includes a variety of security settings and also a number of useful features. It’s made for everybody, but it has a lot to offer to every gamer.
The first feature you’ll notice about this router is its wide variety of networking options. From your laptop to your tablet, mobile, and every other wireless gadget, you can hold them aboard.
Pros
- Allows to connect many Wi-Fi points
- Set-up is easy
- Strong network position
Cons
- Requires frequent rebooting
- Might lose connection once in a while
TP-Link N300
- ✅ Wireless N speeds up to 300Mbps, ideal for video streaming and gaming online
- ✅ Detachable external antennas for easy alignment and upgrading
- ✅ Sleek housing enables wall-mounting or horizontal placement on a table or desk
- ✅ Set up a secure, WPA-encrypted connection with a push of the WPS button
- ✅ Parental controls help restrict Internet access for children
When talking about speed, you should invest in a router that can handle the task. The TP-Link N300 not only does the job with ease but also comes with an easy installation process.
Another feature we like is the price-to-quality ratio. As a result, it was named one of the best routers with a reasonable price on the list. The 5dBi antennas on this router can be the first feature that catches your eye. If you’d like a reliable and secure link, these come in handy.
Pros
- Antennas ensure faster connection
- Easy to set up
- Has good control of your network
Cons
- As distance increases, the signal gets weaker
Tenda AC1200
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Last but not least, we have the Tenda AC1200 that seems to have it all, whether you’re looking for a router for your home or workplace. Its network connectivity allows you to share your server with others in a safe manner.
However, you also have complete power over how and who will connect your network. Nonetheless, it provides us with sufficient justification to name it the best router for business and home.
Pros
- Can connect up to 20 devices
- Has the most recent Wi-Fi protocols
- Reliable protection and management
Cons
- Can get disconnected after months of usage
How to Choose the Best Router?
First and foremost, we are all familiar with how troublesome and stressful it can be to contend with slow connections. But before you go slamming your laptop, tablet, or smartphone against the wall in frustration, think about this first. You may be able to find a reasonably priced router that has enough power to get you a connection of good speed.
These routers are fast, easy to use, and strong enough to cover the whole house. Simply ensure that the router you choose has the appropriate stability, speed, antenna, and protocol. Overall, you should get the perfect combination of all these features. As a result, you can aim for a brand that sells a low-cost gaming router for a reasonable price.
We spent a few hours delving into the details and comparing choices before compiling a list of the 5 best routers under $50 for you. Furthermore, we took into account a few factors to weigh before you throw your money at risk. We’ve got quite a lot to look out for, so let’s jump right in.
Buying Guide
When it comes to upgrading your router, you wouldn’t want to make the same mistakes you did in the previous one. Be just a bit careful and consider a couple of things first. The following features are
Wireless Protocols
The way that your electronic devices communicate with the server is regulated by the most current network protocols. These protocols are standardized after five years, so keep an eye out for the more recent versions. 802.11ac, or just AC, is the most recent protocol.
The advantage of such a protocol is just that it provides a quick connection. To get some benefit from this protocol, you must ensure that it is available in both the system and your router. More surprisingly, because the AC is already available for so long, it would almost certainly be present on all of your Wi-Fi networks.
External Antenna
If you’d like a strong link, external antennas are indeed an unavoidable suggestion. It’s tough enough to get a good signal through walls or windows. If that’s the case, you might have looked for the best wireless router at a low cost for gaming.
An antenna, on the other hand, is still a wonderful addition to a wireless router. You can greatly improve the effectiveness of your computer by using an antenna. Few routers come with built-in antennas, but these aren’t powerful enough to give you the range you need.
Dual Band
Most routers can fit best in the 2.4 GHz band, but you may need more at times. Sadly, almost all household devices, such as cell phones, remote controls, also Bluetooth devices, use the same wavelength.
When you use these in the very same place, they might easily degrade the performance of your router. This might not be a deal-breaker; you can still invest in a dual-band network to get the most out of your router. For a speed boost of around 5 GHz, you can be certain to get a speed demon on your hands.
USB Ports
Another aspect of your router to inspect is its USB ports. Other gadgets would often need to be connected to the router. This is critical if you want to share information via wireless communication on the network.
It’s interesting to think of because not all routers seem to have a USB port. There are some which also have a modem, while others may not, so double-check before you order.
Connection Security
The connection speed security of your router is by far one of the most important considerations. It’s crucial to have the ability to manage who has access to your link. One thing is certain: protection protocols vary from device to device. WPA, WPA2, and WEP, are just some of the options.
If you are in search of a gaming adapter for your Xbox, for example, look for one that supports the WPA2 protocol. This is the most popular, and you’ll find it in the majority of modern routers. If you have children, you can also consider purchasing a router that has parental control feature, as you would need it.
Speed
There’s really no getting around the fact that the speed of a router is unavoidable. Though one thing is certain, this feature is relative to various router models. The speed usually varies from 300 Mbps to about 900 Mbps on average. Nonetheless, you can hope to get a speed of about 1900 Mbps with the right gaming adapter router set.
This pace, on the other hand, represents the best-case scenario results. However, if the router can provide half the frequency of everyday usage, it’s worth the investment. In fact, the efficiency of internal networking is more important than the speed of a router.
This is true for the right router used for gaming purposes and downloading, as both require high speeds. The speed of the router has very little to do with your internet service provider. The router is primarily responsible for this in most cases.
Number of Devices Connecting to a Router
Another factor to remember when buying a router is how many devices would be connected to it. Along with your own devices, you can consider your family members or your roommates who might use your Wi-Fi.
The speed of your router is determined by how many devices you attach to it. The more devices you have, the higher your router’s performance would be to keep the speed as fast and stable as possible
However, the number of devices you can attach is limited. A high-end router can connect about fifty gadgets.
Bottom Line
An inexpensive gaming router is easy to come by. When it’s time to replace that old router, you’ll find a variety of the best routers listed here. So, depending on your preferences, budget, or ideal design, you should choose the correct option for you.
All of these devices have something interesting to offer. It is in the gap that you’ll find something that suits your requirements. The best thing about most of the routers above is that they are very easy to set up. And further, they have a number of authentication precautions and controls.
You can easily update your router to get the most out of it. It just comes down to making the best internet access possible while gaming or watching videos online.