Most households have some kind of streaming services these days, with Netflix as the clear winner and most popular streaming service.
But in order to stream effectively, you will need to have the best wireless router for streaming Netflix to TV, smartphone, or any other device that you might be using.
You will need to know what to look for in a router to get the best streaming performance possible.
This includes knowing what features you should have, the size of your network, and how many devices will be streaming, beyond your TV.
What Features Should The Best Router For Netflix Have
MU-MIMO & Beamforming
Having MU-MIMO and Beamforming for your home router will certainly improve your router’s ability to stream Netflix. MU-MIMO allows more than one device to be streaming at the same time. This is common in households where people prefer to watch different shows.
Likewise, Beamforming extends the powerful reach of your router to prevent connectivity from slowing down. If you do not have these features, you can expect more interference and delays with streaming.
Dual-Band or Tri-Band
Having a single band router is not the best choice for streaming. Dual-band allows you to have a 2.4 GHz band and a 5 GHz band. The 2.4 GHz is the standard and most-used, but it also can travel the farthest.
For streaming for your home, however, the 5 GHz band is ideal since it will have less traffic and give you more uninterrupted coverage. Tri-band further improves this by giving you a second 5 GHz band to work with.
QoS
Quality of Service, or QoS, can be so important with the modern home network. It will allow you to indicate which devices should be given the best bandwidth, uninterrupted.
When it comes to streaming Netflix from your TV, you can indicate that your TV should be the device with the best coverage. That way, if another device hops on and tries to hog the bandwidth, the primary bandwidth will still go to the devices that you indicated.
Speed & Wireless Standard
Finally, you should consider the speed and the wireless standard of your router. The speeds of your router will always be limited by your internet package, but you should still aim to have the best speeds possible, preventing your devices from buffering when they are streaming.
The wireless standard also matters when it comes to your bandwidth. You really need to have an 802.11n standard to stream effectively and make use of the MU-MIMO technology.
5 Best Wireless Routers For Streaming Netflix to TV
Device | Speed | Ports | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Netgear R7000 Editor's Choice | 1900 Mbps | 4 Ports | 100% | |
2. Asus ROG AX11000 High Performance | 11000 Mbps | 4 Ports | 99% | |
3. TP-Link Archer A9 Budget Friendly | 1900 Mbps | 4 Ports | 95% | |
4. Google WiFi Mesh Extended Coverage | 1900 Mbps | 2 Ports | 98% | |
5. Motorola MG7550 Modem Router | 1900 Mbps | 4 Ports | 97% |
1. Netgear Nighthawk R7000 Smart WiFi Router
Best Wireless Router For Streaming Netflix To TV
The best router for streaming Netflix is the Netgear Nighthawk R7000. This is a versatile router that comes with many features that you might be hoping for.
Design
To begin with, the R7000 has a standard router design. It is a horizontal router with three high-gain antennas that you can point them toward the devices that need them the most. This design can be harder to conceal than vertical designs, because it is a little bit bulky, so make sure that you have a dedicated space for it.
You will also get the OpenVPN Connect App, which allows you to have access to the network remotely, though not all of the settings can be accessed or adjusted through the app.
Another great design features is the ReadySHARE Vault that provides an automatic backup to your USB 3.0 port. Beyond the USB 3.0 port, you will get 4 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports to hardwire in anything that you need to.
Performance
Looking at the router’s performance, the R7000 has a dynamic QoS, so you can prioritize which devices should get the best bandwidth, ensuring that the devices that cannot afford to have buffering or signal loss will have a reliable connection.
The R7000 also has a 1 GHz dual-core processor that should offer enough power to reach all of your devices while still streaming Netflix effortlessly. The Beamforming+ feature also adds more power to your antennas, while extending the reach of your network.
Perhaps one of the best features that you can get from this router is the fact that you can have up to 30 devices connected at the same time, which is ideal for the average home.
2. Asus ROG Rapture AX11000 Router
High Performance
If you are looking more for a router that is capable of better performance and can still stream Netflix well, take a look at the Asus Rapture AC11000. This is an impressive router that is probably unlike any other that you have seen.
Design
Let’s start with the design of the AX11000. It is entirely unique, but also might be a bit of an eyesore. It is very large and takes up a lot of space. The router sits flat on a surface and has 8 high-powered antennas, extending from every side of the router. This makes the reach more impressive.
The router also has a 2.5 G gaming port, which allows for ultimate, high-speed performance. Add that to the Asus AiProtection security and you will find that this router has thought of everything.
As an added bonus, the Gaming Center interface is ROG-themed, which provides an easy point-and-click control over everything that you need to set up or do with your router.
Performance
This router is made for performance. Beyond just streaming for Netflix, the AX11000 offers triple level game acceleration as well as game package and game server prioritization.
The triple level acceleration will boost game traffic while lowering the ping rate and reducing the game latency, for an overall better experience. This is a great choice if you or anyone within your network does a high amount of gaming.
All of those great gaming features do carry over for reliable and fast connectivity to your TV. You should be able to have no interference when it comes to streaming, especially since this router is a tri-band, with 1 2.4 GHz band and 2 5 GHz bands.
3. TP-Link Archer A9 Smart WiFi Router
Budget Friendly
A budget friendly choice of router that will still stream Netflix well is the TP-Link Archer A9. Don’t be fooled by the low price, this router is still capable of a lot.
Design
Looking at the design of the Archer A9, you will find that it is a pretty standard router. It is flat, sitting horizontally, with a black casing and three high-gain antennas coming out of the back of it. It comes with 1 WAN and 4 LAN Gigabit Ethernet ports to help deliver wired speeds to the devices that need the added security.
The Archer A9 has its own VPN server to help with your network’s privacy. It also has a guest WiFi option as well as Alexa voice control, which can help you connect your devices even when you are not right next to it.
Also of note, the A9 has built-in parental controls as well as a firewall, which can help you lock down the network and keep it as safe as possible.
Performance
The Archer A9 comes with MU-MIMO technology, which is ideal for networks that like to stream Netflix from more than one device at a time. It does run the risk of lags, but as long as it has been configured correctly, you should be good to go.
The Archer A9 also has three simultaneous data stream to help your devices achieve optimal performance. This is done by increasing the efficiency of communication from the devices to the router.
4. Google WiFi System Mesh Router
Extended Coverage
If you are working with a larger space and need a router that has a bigger reach, we suggest the Google WiFi System. This is a mesh router setup that should work well with your network.
Design
Looking at the Google system’s design, you will notice that the design of the Google System is white and has no external antennas, making it easier to conceal than other routers.
Because of the nice size and shape of the access points, you can easily add onto it without worrying that each point will become more obvious.
The system comes with three individual WiFi points that can be placed to eliminate dead spots throughout your network, but you can purchase additional points if you need to extend your coverage even further, making this ideal for large spaces.
The coverage for this system is infinite as long as you add new points.
Performance
With the three points that come with this system, the Google WiFi system can cover up to 4,500 square feet without dead spots, cutting around corners or going through walls.
The Google router system also has network assist technology to ensure a strong signal from point to point.
The Google system gives you prioritized coverage, so you can determine which devices should be given the most bandwidth if another device hops on and starts streaming.
Gigabit Ethernet ports in each point, giving you endless options to directly wire in a device at any point, ensuring that your devices can be as connected as you need them to be.
5. Motorola MG7550 Modem Router
Modem Router Combo
The best modem/router combo for streaming Netflix is the Motorola MG7550. You get the best of both worlds with this router, so prepare to be impressed.
Design
The MG7550 is an upright tower design, which can be a big space saver as well as helping keep your modem nice and cool.
The tower designs are also easier to conceal and blend in with your décor, making it seem like it was meant to be wherever you placed it. This router also does offer good securities, including a reliable firewall.
The MG7550 comes with four Gigabit Ethernet ports so that you can plug in any device that cannot risk being kicked off your WiFi as well as any device that you would like to be accessed from any device within the network. This includes an HDTV if you want to hardwire one in for uninterrupted streaming.
Performance
The MG7550 comes with a dual-band router so it runs both the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz bands, allowing you to choose which band you would like to use for which device. Since the 5 GHz band is not as commonly used as the 2.4 GHz, you are more likely to have better luck streaming on the 5 GHz without interference.
Also with this modem/router combo you will get the Motorola Power Boost feature with the MG7550. This increases the overall coverage of the network and with speeds up to 650 Mbps, you should have enough power to effortlessly maintain signal throughout your network.
The only downside that we found for this modem/router combo is that the setup is not intuitive and can be difficult to do on your own.
Connecting To Netflix With A New Router
While most routers will let you stream Netflix without any trouble, some have security measures in place that interfere with your ability to stream. You might need to adjust your firewall settings in your router’s settings to allow Netflix in, preventing any denials.
Ensuring that your security settings are correct and current with your router is also important. If there are any issues with your security key, you will not be able to access the Netflix stream.
If you are connecting your router to a TV to stream Netflix, just follow the settings instructions that came with or are on your TV.
Final Words
Our choice for the best wireless router for streaming Netflix to TV is the Netgear Nighthawk R7000. This router can handle 30 devices connected to it at once without causing any kind of slow down or lag.
If your network has different needs, you might need to get a more powerful router, like the AX11000, which but can certainly handle anything that you throw at it. Likewise, a larger network might do better with the Google Mesh System that can extend your network as large as you need to go.
Know your network’s needs before you decide which the best router is for you.
Hey, it’s James here. I’m the founder and editor here at RiverstoneNet.com. I’m a network engineer during the day and a blogger at night. Let me know if I can help you with choosing a new modem/router or troubleshooting your Internet connection.