10 Best Routers for Live Streaming in 2023 | 4K streaming routers

In our lives today, you will find that our houses have more than 10 digital devices including streaming devices. However, for the love of live streaming of movies, games, forex, news, and others, we need excellent internet. Therefore, we will explore the best router for live streaming and 4K streaming.

Imagine you are streaming an online movie, and then one of your family members starts gaming. Your streaming begins to hang; the sound and video quality become of very poor quality. This is a clear indication that you need a good router for live streaming.

Acquiring a good specific router for live streaming ensures that you enjoy high-quality content every time you are watching. You also enjoy without getting any minor interruptions from anyone.

For the best streaming experience, you can get the best smart TV for streaming. These TVs are special in that they have all the features that make streaming better. The TVs will be an excellent match for the best router for live streaming.

We have therefore compiled some of the best routers you can use for streaming 4K HD video and other videos. Have a look below.

Best routers for live streaming

RouterBest forFeaturesCheck it out
Asus RT-AC88U Dual Band Gigabit routerBest router for live streamingDual-band,
Speed: Up to 3,100Mbps
Ethernet ports: 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports,
Range: Up to 5,000 sq. ft,
Devices: Up to 30
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Gryphon advance security AC3000 Triband routerBest parental control Mesh router for live streamingSpeed: Up to 3000Mbps
Bands: Tri-band
Devices: Multiple
Range: Up to 3,000 sq. ft.
Ethernet ports: 3 Gigabit LAN
Special: Advanced parental controls
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TP-Link AX6000 Wifi 6 router eight-streamBest for many wired devicesDual-band,
Speed: 6000 Mbps,
Range: 2,500 sq. ft,
Devices: Up to 50,
Ethernet ports: 8 Gigabit LAN Ports
WiFi 6 technology
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Netgear nighthawk cable modem wifi router C7800Best modem router for streamingDual-band
Speed: up to 2600Mbps
Devices: up to 45 devices
Range: up to 2500 sq. ft.
Ethernet ports: 4 Gigabit LAN
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Asus RT-AX92U Triband wifi 6 mesh routerBest Wi-Fi 6 router for live streamingSpeed: Up to 6100Mbps
Range: Whole-home coverage.
Devices: Multiple.
Frequency bands: Tri-band.
Ethernet ports: 4 Gigabit LAN
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Tenda AC1200 Dual-band wifi routerBest budget router for live streamingDual-band,
Wi-Fi speed: Up to 1200Mbps,
Devices: Up to 20,
Range: Up to 2000 sq. ft,
Ethernet Ports: 4 LAN ports
Budget router
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Linksys EA7500 RouterBest for modest homesDual-band,
Speed: Up to 1900 Mbps,
Devices: up to 15,
Range: Up to 1,500 sq. ft,
Ethernet ports: 4 Gigabit LAN
Excellent price
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Netgear Nighthawk AX12 RouterFastest Wi-FiTri-band,
Speed: Up to 10.8 Gbps,
Range: Up to 2,500 sq. ft,
Devices: Over 50
Ethernet ports: 4 Gigabit LAN
Wi-Fi 6 technology,
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D-Link Exo Router (DIR-882-US)Best value for moneyDual-band
Speed: up to 2,600Mbps
Devices: Up to 15,
Smart Connect
Ethernet ports: 4 Gigabit LAN
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Linksys WRT3200ACM RouterBest DD-WRT router for streamingDual-band,
Speed: Up to 3200Mbps,
Range: Up to 2600 sq. ft,
Devices: Multiple,
Ethernet ports: 4 Gigabit LAN
Technology designed for tweaks
CHECK IT OUT

Choosing the best router for live streaming (Buyer’s guide)

It is not every router that makes an ideal choice for streaming. When choosing a router, you will need to do thorough research and ensure your 4K streaming router has a majority of the following features:

Dual or triband

Routers for live streaming must either have a dual or a triband. Single bands support only the 2.4GHz while dual and triband support the 5GHz and 2.4GHz hence can allocate devices to a band that will support them best.

Tri-band routers will give you a better performance as compared to dual-band routers. However, most of the dual-band routers give a strong performance and therefore are excellent for streaming too.

Number of devices supported

In most homes currently, there are a number of internet-enabled devices that require an internet connection. As you consider your best router for live streaming, it is important to check the number of smart devices in your home and get a router that can support that number of devices.

There are several excellent routers for several devices in the list above and therefore, as you get your good router to choose one among them. This way all your other devices will be covered with high-speed internet.

 Performance features including MU-MIMO and Beamforming

Performance features are such as MU-MIMO technology, Beamforming technology, security features, and many others. These play a crucial role in maintaining the performance and speed of the internet.

Multi-user, multiple-input, and multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technology enable your router to get consistent communication with all the devices in your network. This ensures that your router is able to handle more than one device seamlessly. Thus with your MU-MIMO router, you can conduct different activities simultaneously.

Beamforming on the other hand ensures that you get more powerful and meticulously directed signals to your devices. This means that for streaming, the streaming device gets the best signal instead of having a blanket signal movement.

Both Beamforming and MU-MIMO give you enjoyable Wi-Fi usage while also making streaming worthwhile. A good router for 4K streaming should have exceptional performance features. The reviewed routers have all these features and much more.

Wifi standards

The latest wifi technology is the most ideal for live streaming. When you get a router with 802.11ac and 802.11ax, you will love the speed at which they manufacture data. They are, therefore, the best routers for live streaming.

All the above good routers for streaming have the current Wi-Fi standards. These standards ensure that your router can serve you well every day.

Quality Of Service (QoS)

The quality of service (QoS) is important for an excellent live streaming router. It is a feature that enables you to give priority to devices connected to your network.

This is because some devices require more bandwidth as compared to others. For example, 4K streaming or gaming require more bandwidth as compared to routine browsing.

Therefore, with QoS, you are able to set priorities on your router for your devices depending on their bandwidth need. In our case, you can give the highest priority to the 4K live streaming device in your network.

Processor/ CPU

In most instances, a faster processor should be your first preference as compared to a slower processor. This is because for streaming internet speed and the ability to conduct several activities simultaneously are important.

All our reviewed routers have excellent processors to ensure you get the best streaming experience.

The processor speed determines a lot of things but for your live streaming router, you can first check the internet speed before checking the different processors in different routers. Since the success of the router is determined by the channels and bands more than the processor, analyze these factors first in the router you are picking.

Antennas

If your router has external or internal antennas, it is one of the most important features of a router. The external antennas can be replaced if detachable whereas the fins-contained internal routers may be irreplaceable.

Therefore, as you are choosing the router, you should check the strength and reach of the antennas. The high-gain antennas will cover your home fully with Wi-Fi. In addition, high-gain antennas also ensure that all the devices can communicate effectively with the router.

Ports- USB ports and Ethernet ports

Ethernet ports are important in a 4K live streaming router. We recommend connecting your streaming device to the router via an Ethernet cable where possible. You can even connect the TV to the router via an Ethernet cable.

Therefore, you should get a router with 1 G or 2 G Ethernet ports for the best streaming experience. However, ensure that you also get a high-quality Ethernet cable for streaming.

Likewise, we recommend a router with USB 3.0 to connect with your storage devices. This enables you to access the stored content wherever you are in the network.

However, you should plan ahead and ensure you get a router with ports that will support your needs.

Which is the best router for streaming?

Asus RT-AC88U Dual Band Gigabit router (Best router for live streaming)

Asus RT-AC88U router: Best Asus router for live streaming and range

Asus routers are high-performing routers that are produced by one of the best brands when it comes to internet networking. This router is set for gaming but has an excellent performance when it comes to streaming a 4K HD video and other videos.

It has excellent features and technologies that make it a perfect choice for multiple usages.

Enjoy high speeds of up to 2100 Mbps for the 5GHz band and 1000Mbps for the 2.4GHz band. It is loaded with the 1024 Qam technology. The router will deliver excellent and uninterrupted services with a great firmware restoration.

More about this router is that it has an antenna design perfect for coverage of extended ranges. It covers 5000 square feet with all its connected devices enjoying a high and stable connection.

Featuring in the router are 8 Gigabit LAN ports that allow connection of up to 8 wired devices at a time. The most interesting thing is that even when the devices are connected and actively using the internet, the speeds of streaming and the quality get maintained.

Moreover, the router has an excellent MU-MUMO technology that allows the simultaneous use of devices. It is also responsible for maintaining a stable connection for both streaming and gaming. A 1.4GHz core processor makes the functionality of the router excellent.

You will also love how the router uses smart connect to select the best band for your streaming and gaming. If you want to share content and save it on the cloud, the router will offer you 100MBs speeds and quick sharing via the USB cable.

Finally, the router has perfect security. It makes use of the trend micro to enhance the safety of your online activities. Your gadgets, children, and other users are therefore protected from online predators and malware.

What makes the Asus RT-AC88U stand out for streaming?

The Asus RT-AC88U is the prime router for streaming. This is because it is one of the best parental control routers out there with its wide range of features that will keep you and your family safe. This device comes equipped for speed, sporting 8 Gigabit LAN Ports to ensure high transfer rates between devices or across networks! Thus you can use it for streaming on WiFi or wired connections.

For added convenience, it has multiple USB ports so users can quickly plug in external storage as needed without needing another dedicated peripheral instead just like many other routers on the market today do.

With MU-MIMO technology built right into this model’s design, it provides blazing fast WiFi wherever wanted while providing coverage all over their home because both bands are covered equally well. You will love the fact both 2.4GHz band throughput and 5GHz throughput are excellent. Even more exciting for streaming is that the 5GHz WiFi offers unparalleled WiFi speeds.

Pros

  • High internet speeds
  • Smart connect technology
  • MU-MIMO technology
  • Stable internet connections
  • Very safe internet

Cons

  • Slightly expensive

Recommendation

The Asus RT-AC88U is a high-quality 4K streaming router that provides the best parental controls, including time scheduling and app filtering. With 8 Gigabit LAN ports as well as multiple USB 2.0and USB3.0 3rd party device slots it’s an excellent choice for any household with growing needs! You will off course fall in love with the throughput that was quite remarkable in our testing. From our tests, the 5GHz band throughput at proximal and at a distance was the best among the peers. It also had excellent 2.4GHz speeds making it the best router choice for streaming.

Gryphon advance security AC3000 Triband router (best parental mesh router for streaming)

Gryphon AC 3200 Mesh router: The best Mesh parental control router

The major threat is online predators and malware when it comes to live streaming of 4K HD videos, other videos, and other online activities.  However, you will love using this best parental control router because of the guaranteed safety and the ability to detect and freeze malware even before reaching your devices.

Gryphon AC3000 comes with a very simple setup and management process. You will download the Gryphon app that has very simple steps to follow for setting up the router. Managing parental controls and your devices is also via the router.

More about this model is that it has the ESET technology that is ideal for protection. For the first year, it is free then followed by affordable annual subscriptions. Harmful sites get automatically blocked, all devices get scanned, and security updates get generated daily.

The performance of the router is another excellent thing you will always enjoy. It comes with the MU-MIMO technology that allows you to stream content, surf, download, upload, and play games simultaneously.

Featuring is also the beamforming technology, which makes the range expandable and the connections very stable. Therefore, you will enjoy your steaming despite the distance between you and the router so long as the connection is stable.

The triband router has a range of 3000 square feet and has the latest wifi technology. It, therefore, has great compatibility with wifi devices.  An opportunity gets provided by the router to ensure that you can easily extend the connection using additional units.

Smart parental controls are another property of the router that makes its performance excellent. You will use the smartphone app to set timelines for internet usage, enforce safe streaming, safe searching, and suspend the internet.

Through the search history, you will also be able to know what the internet was used for. Finally, the router comes with an awesome design that makes it attractive for every home.

What makes Gryphon AC3000 router stand out for live streaming?

Gryphon AC3000 Tower Mesh WiFi offers a beautifully designed, and incredibly functional system. It’s easy to use with its thoughtfully designed mobile app that opens up into the dashboard where you can access your internet on demand or pause it for any devices in management mode using just one button! The company does not believe in web consoles for security reasons.

Gryphon’s AC3000 router parental controls can pause managed devices internet plus Bedtime parental controls (allows parents to shut down access at a specific time) and Homework Time, (gives them an opportunity for online learning).

Finally, the router is excellent for streaming because of the assured internet speed on the 2.4GHz band and 5GHz bands from our throughput testing. The speeds and performance are supported by the latest networking technology with its 4×4 MU-MIMO, beamforming and automatic band steering to guarantee optimal performance.

Pros

  • It has beamforming technology for best range and support for devices
  • Very secure internet
  • Gryphon AC3000 has a whole home coverage
  • It gives you good internet speeds supported by a powerful CPU
  • This router is easy to set up and manage using the smartphone app
  • It offers excellent parental controls
  • Can connect multiple devices due to MU-MIMO
  • It is a Tri-band router
  • The router is compatible with all ISPs and devices
  • The App dashboard has a button to control managed devices (Pause the internet)

Cons

  • For advanced security features, you require to subscribe
  • It does not provide advanced configuration settings
  • It is pricey

Recommendation

Gryphon AC3000 Mesh WiFi Router is the perfect addition to any household. With its intuitive mobile app and parental controls, it’s easy for parents like you keep an eye on what their children are up too! Gryphonestore users have access ESET antivirus subscription built into the router itself so they never need another device in order get malware protection without having buy additional software or services from 3rd parties.

With its simple to install, use intuitive mobile app for managing your home network or connect directly through remote access from any internet connected device like smartphones! Finally, Gryphon’s AC3000 can pause managed devices internet plus Bedtime parental controls and Homework Time.

TP-Link AX6000 Wifi 6 router eight-stream

TP-Link Archer AX6000: The best Wi-Fi router for streaming

Featuring is an excellent performer designed for effective and reliable streaming of HD videos among others. The router comes with an awesome design that has eight perfectly placed antennas for extended range coverage.  High performance gets accompanied by design to make it a great router.

More about the router is that it has a dual-band speed that gets boosted by 1024QAM.  It will therefore deliver excellent speeds of 4804+1148 Mbps for the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, respectively. Even at the farthest end of the range, the speeds get perfectly maintained.

Another interesting feature of this router is the efficiency that gets backed up by OFDMA. It offers four times high density hence having most devices using the internet at the same time.

To deliver latency-free streaming, the router has a powerful processor. The 1.8GHz CPU ensures that high performance is maintained and the streaming is stable. The range is also long and perfectly served.

Moreover, the router has BSS color technology that plays an excellent role in doing away with neighbors’ interferences. The beamforming technology complements it by ensuring that the network reaches the far end. Range boost also works with beamforming technology.

TP-Link AX6000 Router: For fantastic streaming

Connections of wired devices have not been denied a chance in this router. It has 8 Gigabit LAN ports and a single 2.5Gbps WAN port that ensures your devices are connected. The USB port helps in sharing content between the router and your storage hence an awesome performance.

Finally, the router is highly compatible with all wifi devices and those that support wifi 6. It also has perfect security with parental controls

Pros

  • Excellent speeds for streaming
  • Lovely and attractive design
  • High compatibility with devices
  • Easy to set up and manage

Cons

  • Security features may be complicated to set

Netgear nighthawk cable modem wifi router C7800

Netgear Nighthawk C7800 modem/ router combo: Best modem router combo for live streaming

This model makes the best when it comes to live streaming of HD videos and other videos. It has excellent compatibility with ISPs such as Xfinity, Comcast, spectrum, and cox. The wifi speeds are excellent hence ideal for both streaming and other high internet using devices.

One unique thing about this router is that it has a modem. It will, therefore, help a great deal in reducing the monthly rental fees. It will also provide cable plans for up to 2 Gigabit speeds hence a perfect choice for high internet devices.

More about this router model is that it has an extended range of 3000 square feet. It can support up to 45 devices that will use a speed of 3200Mbps. While within the range, all devices will have concrete support of their browsing speed and network stability.

Apart from live streaming using wireless devices, you can also use wired devices connected to a computer, gaming devices, storage drives, etc. It has 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports and dual 3.0 USB ports.

The modem technology is ideal for maintaining high speeds and perfect service. A 32×8 channel makes it for bonding and DOCSIS 3.1. The design has antennas that work together with beamforming technology to ensure that the wireless range is widespread and the connections are reliable.

Finally, the router also boasts of excellent security. It has smart parental controls and excellent support for WEP. It also adheres to WPA/WPA2 security protocols. You, therefore, have a guarantee for the safety of both your devices and users.

Pros

  • excellent design
  • awesome range coverage
  • Perfect security
  • Powerful processor

Cons

  • Not compatible with Verizon

Asus RT-AX92U Triband wifi 6 mesh router

Asus RT-AX92U Triband wifi 6 mesh router: Best Wi-Fi 6 router for live streaming of 4K videos

Featuring is another model of Asus that also boasts of excellent safety. The router comes with a powerful mesh system that is ideal for maintaining stability, hence limited chances of backhaul and latency-free 4K streaming.

More about this router is that it has the latest and the most compatible wifi technology. It also has the MU-MIMO technology that makes streaming and doing other online activities simultaneously possible.

Other technologies that make the functionality of the router perfect are OFDMA and the AI mesh. They both ensure the faster and stable transmission of the internet, even when several devices are being used.

You will have special amazement with this router because of its connections. It supports most operating systems and comes with both wired and wireless connections. You will love the presence of the 4 LAN ports, a 3.0 USB port, and a 2.0 USB port.

The flexibility of the router is another interesting thing you will love. It directs your devices to a band that will make them perform the best. When live streaming, the device in use is connected to a stable band that will make its connection stable.

Furthermore, the internet has a very safe network. It will therefore offer perfect safety to your family and all devices it serves. It has air protection that allows you to manage internet usage and implement parental controls easily.

Finally, the router comes at a higher-end with great compatibility. It has adaptive parental control. The design also adds up to the aesthetics of your home hence looking greater.

Pros

  • Excellent design
  • Easy to set up and manage
  • Latest wifi technology
  • Excellent speeds

Cons

  • It is pricey

Tenda AC1200 Dual-band wifi router

Tenda AC1200 Dual-band wifi router: budget router

When buying streaming routers, pocket-friendliness is one of the factors you may be looking for. In such a case, this model is the best in terms of affordability. It is also loaded with technologies to ensure that it delivers the best.

This model comes with speeds of 1200Mbps, which is a combination of both bands. It will therefore deliver good speeds for your devices and when live streaming. The speeds also ensure that the quality of the images and sound are perfect.

More about this model router is that it can support at least 20 devices. MU-MIMO technology enhances simultaneous sharing between the devices. You will, therefore, enjoy streaming, browsing, and uploading content at excellent speeds.

Furthermore, the router has four antennas that work with beamforming technology to ensure that the range is perfectly extended. Within a coverage of 2000 square feet, the router will deliver stable and reliable internet. The antennas are omnidirectional.

Enjoy managing your internet at any point using the Tenda wifi app. The app allows you to monitor the activities of the network and manage parental controls. You will monitor the browsing history and also set limits for internet usage.

Moreover, the router also boasts of security. It is secured with WPA/WPA2 and perfect password encryption that makes the gadgets and users safe. Observation of the WPA security protocols by the router I excellent.

To enjoy live streaming, the router is also compatible with major ISPs and has several plans available. You can therefore use Comcast, Verizon, Spectrum, and many more.

If you use wired devices, the router makes an ideal choice for them. It has 4 LAN ports that allow secure connections to wired devices and stable internet connectivity.

Pros

  • Comes at an affordable price
  • Easy to set up and manage
  • Excellent compatibility
  • Perfect security measures
  • MU-MIMO and Beamforming technology

Cons

  • Not ideal for many devices

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What internet speed is needed for live streaming?

Live streaming requires download speeds of more than 3Mbps depending on the definition of the materials being streamed. For standard definition, download speeds of more than 3Mbps will give you an enjoyable time. However, note that internet speeds are affected by other devices using the internet. For High Definition (HD) download speeds of more than 5Mbps are recommended. However, for 4K streaming (HDR), download speeds of more than 25Mbps are recommended.
For live streaming, the streaming device and the ISP are very important in determining the internet bandwidth needed. This is because some ISP’s internet service fluctuates and you have no control over it.

Is WiFi fast enough for 4k streaming?

As stated above, 4K streaming requires download speeds of at least 25Mbps. This is availed by most Wi-Fi connections availed by good routers in our home depending on the internet plans you have subscribed for. However, to get such internet speeds, you will require a good router for live streaming. For better performances, aim to get at least a dual-band router for your internet connection.

Is 30 Mbps good for live streaming?

Getting download speeds of 30Mbps will be good enough for live streaming on standard definition, high definition, and 4K streaming. However, to ensure that you get the best streaming experience especially why you have multiple devices at home, aim for a connection with higher download speeds such as 200Mbps or more.
For the best experience, combine these speeds with a dual-band or triband router.

Will a better router help with streaming?

A better router will give you a better connection to multiple devices, better range, higher processor speeds, and generally better performance. A dual-band router will have a 5GHz band that is generally faster thus will give you a better streaming experience at close range. In addition, it will have a better range because of the 2.4GHz band. In addition, a better router will have technologies like QOS that help to prioritize channels that are not congested.
In addition, a better router will have Gigabit Ethernet ports which will give you a better streaming experience.

Wi-Fi vs Ethernet For 4K live Streaming?

An Ethernet Internet connection is simply faster than Wi-Fi. Therefore, we recommend connecting your streaming device to the router via an Ethernet connection where possible. This is because if you are streaming on a tablet, smartphone, or some TVs without an Ethernet port, you will not be able to use Ethernet for streaming in these instances.
In addition, Wi-Fi gives you the convenience of being able to move around with your devices. However, if you are streaming on TV or using a streaming device, we recommend using an Ethernet connection for lag-free 4K streaming.

Which are the best router settings for streaming?

There are several router settings tweaks that you can make for the best streaming experience. You can use the 5GHz band to connect your streaming devices if you have a dual-band or tri-band router rather than the 2.4GHz band which is slower. In addition, connect the streaming device to the router via an Ethernet cable. Ethernet cables offer a more reliable and faster internet connection as compared to Wi-Fi. Moreover, you can prioritize the streaming devices on QoS. There are other tweaks that can be made on the web console dashboard for the best streaming experience.

Final verdict

The best routers for live streaming come with different amazing features that make their performance ideal. After close consideration of your budget and the knowledge, we have provided, getting the best router should no longer be confusing.

The best router for live streaming is the Asus RT-AC88U router closely followed by the Gryphon AC3000 router.

Getting a good router for 4K streaming makes sure that you will have no lags when watching your favorite show online. You should consider the frequency bands, performance features, ports, and antennas among others as you make your choice.