Fiber internet delivers the fastest speeds — up to 5Gbps. However, you need a router capable of supporting multi-gig speeds to get fiber internet connectivity. With the many options available on the market, picking the best router for fiber internet can be tricky.
I worked with the Cybernews research team to review and compare different routers and give you my recommendations. In this guide, I’ll rank the best routers for fiber internet based on their performance, features, ease of use, and affordability. Keep reading for a rundown of the best fiber optic internet routers in 2025.
Best routers for fiber internet – shortlist
- TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A8) – the overall best router for fiber internet
- NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Router (RAX54S) – best fiber internet router for gaming
- TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router V4 (Archer AX21) – best affordable router for fiber internet
- TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73) – best fiber optic Wi-Fi router for 8k streaming
- ASUS RT-AX3000 Ultra-Fast Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Router – best fiber router for large homes
- NETGEAR 4-Stream WiFi 6 Router (R6700AX) – best fiber-compatible router for enhanced security
- GL.iNet GL-MT6000 (Flint 2) WiFi 6 Router – best fiber optic router for speeds of up to 6Gbps
- Linksys E8450 AX3200 WiFi 6 Router – best fiber optic Wi-Fi router for simultaneous dual-band streaming
The best routers for fiber internet compared
Before I provide detailed reviews of the best routers for fiber optic internet, it would be useful to compare the routers I selected side by side. The comparison table below shows the features, price, and suitability of my top fiber internet routers.
| Model name | Pricing | Best for | Speed and Wi-Fi standard | Key features |
| TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A8) | Affordable | Gaming | Wi-Fi 5 | Beamforming, guest mode, internet security, parental controls, access point Mode, quality of service (QoS) |
| NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Router (RAX54S) | Premium | Security | Wi-Fi 6 | Guest mode, NETGEAR Armor |
| TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router V4 (Archer AX21) | Affordable | Multiple devices | Wi-Fi 6 | Mesh system, Beamforming, QoS, Alexa-compatible, access point mode, WPS, parental controls |
| TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73) | Premium | Streaming | Wi-Fi 6 | Beamforming, QoS, WPS, parental controls |
| ASUS RT-AX3000 Ultra-Fast Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Router | Premium | Security | Wi-Fi 6 | Parental controls, mesh system, AiProtection Pro, adaptive QoS |
| NETGEAR 4-Stream WiFi 6 Router (R6700AX) | Mid-range | Gaming | Wi-Fi 6 | Internet security, WPS |
| GL.iNet GL-MT6000(Flint 2) WiFi 6 Router | Premium | Gaming | Wi-Fi 6 | QoS, access point mode, guest Mode, internet security |
| Linksys E8450 AX3200 WiFi 6 Router | Mid-range | Streaming | Wi-Fi 6 | Guest mode, parental controls |
8 best routers for fiber internet – our detailed list
Now, let’s explore my eight best routers for fiber optic internet in detail:
1. TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A8) – the overall best router for fiber internet
| Wi-Fi standard: | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Frequency bands: | Dual-band |
| Max speed: | 1,900Mbps |
| Best for: | Gaming |
In my opinion, the TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A8) is the overall best router for fiber internet. While it doesn’t support the Wi-Fi 6 standard, you’ll still enjoy fast internet speeds and access many advanced features. This router is suitable for gaming and just about any other online activity.
I love that this router is OneMesh-compatible. In other words, you can use OneMesh extenders to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal throughout your home. This dual-band router delivers speeds of up to 1,900Mbps — 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1,300Mbps on the 5GHz band.
The TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A8) uses Beamforming technology to ensure strong wireless connectivity over long distances. Therefore, you can enjoy reliable fiber internet anywhere in your home.
This fiber internet router has various safety features, including parental controls. These controls block inappropriate content and set daily limits to control how much time your children spend online.
2. NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Router (RAX54S) – the best fiber internet router for gaming
| Wi-Fi standard: | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Frequency bands: | Dual-band |
| Max speed: | 5,400Mbps |
| Best for: | Gaming |
The NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream Dual-Band WiFi6 Router (RAX54S) is another fiber internet router worth considering. This router offers fantastic speeds, broad coverage, and robust security features, so you can play video games, stream, or browse the internet without any connectivity issues.
This NETGEAR router is perfect for big homes, as it covers up to 2,500 square feet and supports up to 25 devices. It also supports fast AX5400 gigabit wireless speeds. Thanks to the router’s Wi-Fi 6 standard, you can expect speeds of up to 5,400Mbps, making it suitable for streaming, gaming, and video calls.
The NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream Dual-Band WiFi6 Router (RAX54S) has four 1-gig Ethernet ports and one USB 3.0 port that can further enhance the fiber internet speeds on your PC, streaming device, game console, and storage drives.
I also like how this NETGEAR router combines performance and security. This router comes with a one-year NETGEAR Armor subscription for real-time protection of your home network.
3. TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router V4 (Archer AX21) – best affordable router for fiber internet
| Wi-Fi standard: | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Frequency bands: | Dual-band |
| Max speed: | 1,800Mbps |
| Best for: | Multiple devices |
The TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router V4 (Archer AX21) is an ideal fiber internet router for users on a tight budget. It has many remarkable features, such as extensive coverage and support for the TP-Link OneMesh system.
This fiber optic router provides speeds of up to 1,800Mbps (1,200Mbps on the 5GHz band and 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band). As a result, you can engage in video games, stream movies, and download large files without any issues.
What’s more, the TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router V4 (Archer AX21) enhances the internet signal in your home by using Beamforming technology, four high-gain antennas, and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset.
To improve your home network security, you can connect a virtual private network (VPN) to this router. The Archer AX21 model supports both Open VPN and PPTP VPN servers, allowing you to configure any VPN that uses these protocols.
4. TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73) – best fiber optic Wi-Fi router for 8K streaming
| Wi-Fi standard: | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Frequency bands: | Dual-band |
| Max speed: | 5,400Mbps |
| Best for: | Streaming |
The TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73) is the best fiber optic router for uninterrupted streaming.
This router can deliver speeds of up to 5,400Mbps. As a result, you can enjoy 8K streaming, faster browsing, HD video gaming, and downloading. The best part is that you can do all of this simultaneously.
This fiber internet router supports MU-MIMO and OFDMA technologies to reduce network congestion. You’ll also enjoy extensive coverage and improved signal strength thanks to its high-power FEM, six antennas, Beamforming, and 4T4R structures.
The TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73) uses TP-Link HomeShield, a premium security service that keeps your home network safe. It also protects your Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
5. ASUS RT-AX3000 Ultra-Fast Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Router – best fiber router for large homes
| Wi-Fi standard: | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Frequency bands: | Dual-band |
| Max speed: | 3,000Mbps |
| Best for: | Business |
The ASUS RT-AX3000 Ultra-Fast Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Router offers broad coverage, making it suitable for large homes and businesses. It also provides high-end network safety and a powerful mesh system.
The ASUS RT-AX3000 router supports 160MHz bandwidth and 1024-QAM. Plus, it delivers speeds of up to 3,000Mbps — 575Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2,402GHz on the 5GHz band.
I like that this wireless fiber internet router covers up to 3,000 square feet. Additionally, it uses OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology, which allows it to communicate with devices more efficiently and provide speeds that are 2.4 times faster than the Wi-Fi 5 standard.
The ASUS RT-AX3000 Ultra-Fast Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Router supports AiMesh technology. Thus, you can count on excellent network stability and seamless coverage even in dead zones in your home.
6. NETGEAR 4-Stream WiFi 6 Router (R6700AX) – best fiber-compatible router for enhanced security
| Wi-Fi standard: | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Frequency bands: | Dual-band |
| Max speed: | 1,800Mbps |
| Best for: | Security |
While the NETGEAR 4-Stream WiFi 6 Router (R6700AX) is not as fast as other routers on this list, I like how this model improves the overall security of the internet experience.
One of the standout features of this router is its wide coverage. It covers up to 1,500 square feet and supports 20 devices. You can expect fast speeds of up to 1,800Mbps, which makes it suitable for uninterrupted streaming, HD video gaming, and web conferencing.
Another thing I like about the NETGEAR 4-Stream WiFi 6 Router (R6700AX) is that it has four 1-gig Ethernet ports. So, you can strengthen your internet connectivity by connecting your PC, streaming device, and game console.
This router also comes with the NETGEAR Armor subscription to protect your home network and IoT devices in real-time, making it perfect for safety-conscious families that want top-notch security.
7 GL.iNet GL-MT6000(Flint 2) WiFi 6 Router – best fiber optic router for speeds of up to 6Gbps
| Wi-Fi standard: | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Frequency bands: | Dual-band |
| Max speed: | 6,000Mbps |
| Best for: | Gaming |
The GL.iNet GL-MT6000(Flint 2) WiFi 6 Router is one of the best fiber routers for gaming, thanks to its fantastic speeds. This is the fastest fiber internet router on my list.
This router has many features that ensure it performs exceptionally well. First is the Wi-Fi 6 standard, which provides speeds of up to 6,000Mbps. This means you can stream, make video calls, or play video games with very low latency.
Also, this gaming router has 8-stream Wi-Fi 6 technology and Flint 2, which ensures you get blazing speeds. You can expect a stable and high-speed internet connection.
The GL.iNet GL-MT6000(Flint 2) WiFi 6 Router comes with AdGuard Home. This feature enables a DNS server that blocks unwanted tracking and filters ads. Thus, you can control your online experience and enjoy clutter-free browsing.
8. Linksys E8450 AX3200 WiFi 6 Router – best fiber optic Wi-Fi router for simultaneous dual-band streaming
| Wi-Fi standard: | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| Frequency bands: | Dual-band |
| Max speed: | 3,200Mbps |
| Best for: | Business |
The Linksys E8450 AX3200 WiFi 6 Router boasts expanded coverage, allowing you to enjoy the full potential of fiber internet at home or work.
This Linksys router can handle 25+ connected devices, allowing you to enjoy fast internet speeds of 3,200Mbps on your phone, gaming console, streaming device, or smart home device. It covers up to 2,500 square feet.
Another thing I like about this router is its simultaneous dual-band streaming option. This helps unclog your network with twice the bandwidth. The wireless signals are transmitted over 2.5GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously, allowing you to prioritize range or performance.
This router also comes with parental controls, allowing you to limit online time and block specific websites on your child’s devices. You can even share internet connectivity with a separate guest network.
How did we select the best routers for fiber internet?
I worked with the Cybernews research team to investigate and review different routers and identify the best Wi-Fi routers for fiber internet. Here’s a glimpse into the criteria I used to pick the best routers for fiber internet:
I evaluated the routers’ Wi-Fi standards, prioritizing routers with Wi-Fi 6 standard as they’re suitable for big homes, provide strong fiber internet connection, and deliver excellent speeds.
I also assessed each router's ease of use, checking how long it takes to set it up and whether technical expertise is required. I even considered whether these routers have native mobile apps that make controlling your settings easier.
Of course, I also considered price. However, I didn’t choose the cheapest options; instead, I focused on the price-to-performance ratio, which is more important.
I investigated each router's security features. While I was primarily interested in firewalls and WPA3 encryption, I also checked for specific security features, such as the NETGEAR Armor.
Additionally, I reviewed numerous customer reviews to ensure each router’s performance is just as advertised. This gave me reliable first-hand information to base my ratings.
I also checked for any special features that are relevant to fiber internet. For example, I looked at whether these routers support wired (Ethernet) connectivity, which allows you to configure LAN and WAN networks for high-speed internet.
Last but not least, I checked each router’s speeds. I focused on whether the routers support gigabit speeds and low latency, which is crucial to get the most out of your fiber internet connection.
What is a fiber optic router?
A fiber optic router is a specialized router that utilizes fiber optic cables to transmit data. On the other hand, regular routers use CAT-5 and CAT-6 cables. The main difference between standard and fiber optic routers is that fiber optic cables transmit light signals using laser-transmitting glass threads. As a result, you can enjoy speeds of up to 10,000Mbps.
Fiber optic routers usually come with innovative new-generation chipsets and ethernet ports capable of supporting fiber internet. While there are different types of fiber internet connections, most network providers only offer fiber to the cabinet (FTTC) and fiber to the home (FTTH).
Others like fiber to the antenna (FTTA), fiber to the node (FTTN), and fiber to the radio (FTTR), are less common and are usually reserved for industrial and commercial operations.
Benefits of fiber internet routers
I’ve mentioned several benefits of fiber internet routers, but let’s sum them up:
- Fast speed. The most significant benefit of using fiber-optic routers is fast internet speeds. Thanks to fiber-optic cables, these routers support stellar speeds and can handle gigabit connections.
- Lower latency. Fiber internet routers boast lower latency, making them ideal for gaming and streaming with minimal delay and interruptions.
- Better security. Fiber-optic routers have security features like advanced encryption and a firewall, which keeps your devices safe.
- Greater reliability. Fiber routers are generally more reliable. They can provide stable internet for multiple users and devices.
How to choose the right router for fiber internet for my needs?
Here are a few tips to help you choose the best fiber internet router for your needs:
- Speed requirements. You need to pick a router that can support the speed of your fiber connection. I suggest going for a router with gigabit Ethernet ports.
- Range. Ensure the router provides suitable coverage for your home’s size and structure.
- Security features. Look for routers with WPA3 encryption, firewalls, secure guest networks, and other security features.
- Wi-Fi 6 support. Consider the standard the router utilizes. If you have many devices or plan to upgrade, choose Wi-Fi 6 for the best speed and efficiency.
- Ease of use. Decide whether you need a router with an easy setup or a more advanced option with customizable features.
A final word on the best routers for fiber internet
A fiber internet router ensures strong and stable internet connectivity in your home or workplace.
However, choosing the best router for fiber optic internet can be challenging, given the many available options. Based on my detailed research, the TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A8) is the best overall fiber internet router. This router is ideal for gaming, and its speeds are also suitable for general use.
If you prioritize streaming, I recommend the TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73), which supports 8K streaming quality.
If you have a small budget, consider the TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router V4 (Archer AX21). It’s reasonably priced, and you’ll enjoy fast speeds and robust features.
The GL.iNet GL-MT6000(Flint 2) WiFi 6 Router is perfect for high-speed internet, providing up to 6,000Mbps internet speeds.
I recommend carefully considering your needs before selecting a fiber internet router to ensure it is suitable for your home or office.
FAQ
What is the difference between a Wi-Fi 5 and a Wi-Fi 6 router?
The main difference between a Wi-Fi 5 and a Wi-Fi 6 router is the speed that routers provide. Wi-Fi 5 routers are slower, while the Wi-Fi 6 standard offers faster speeds.
Can I use any router with fiber internet?
No, you can’t use any router with fiber internet. You need a router that supports fiber internet to connect with your fiber internet provider.
How do I know if my router supports fiber internet speeds?
To know if your router supports fiber internet speeds, look for Ethernet ports and a new-gen chipset.
What is the ideal router for gaming with fiber internet?
The TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A8) is the best fiber internet router for gaming. It supports speeds of up to 1,900Mbps.
Do I need a special router for gigabit fiber internet?
Yes, you might need a special router for gigabit fiber internet because not all routers support gigabit connections.
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