Best Router For Starlink in 2024 (Highly Compatible)

Even though the official Starlink router might be sufficient for some users, getting a third-party router will provide you with better coverage and more features.

The best router for Starlink offers many benefits including greater customization and security, as well as advanced features such as Quality of Service, which improve performance.

The good news is that all third-party routers are compatible with Starlink.

To establish the connection you will need to bypass the Starlink router and purchase a Starlink Ethernet Adapter (we’ve written about this process here).

To ensure that you purchase the best third-party router for your internet plan, you need to ensure it is compatible with the speed and number of connected devices on the plan.

For example, with 250 – 500 Mbps internet plans, we would recommend a router that uses the WiFi 6 standard and can connect to a minimum of 25 devices.

If you live in a large house of greater than 2500 sq ft, you should consider getting a mesh WiFi system to link up to your Starlink plan.

Mesh systems comprise a router and multiple nodes (satellites), which extend the network coverage to every corner of your home seamlessly on a unified network.

We’ve tested 17 routers and narrowed them down to feature the top 6 routers for Starlink internet plans.

Best WiFi Router For Starlink Internet (2024)

Each review includes an explanation of the design, performance, specifications, pros, cons, and user recommendation to help you decide on the right product for your internet needs.

1. TP-Link Archer AX80 (Editor’s Choice)

Design

The TP-Link Archer AX80 comes with a dual-band connection and WiFi 6 technology to deliver lightning-fast internet speeds of 1148 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 4804 Mbps on the 5 GHz band.

To ensure that you get a wider coverage of up to 2500 sq. ft, the Archer AX80 has 8 high-gain antennas that are equipped with Beamforming technology.

Performance

The TP-Link Archer AX80 allows you to connect more devices to the network with lower latency.

The OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies work together to enhance the efficiency and throughput of your network.

The MU-MIMO technology allows the router to deliver several data streams at the same time which hugely increases the number of connected devices while the OFDMA allows the sharing of one data stream between several devices to further improve the efficiency of every data stream.

The Archer AX80 enables the devices connected to the network to access VPN servers without having to install VPN software on each device. We tested this out and can confirm it is straightforward to do.

You can add a range extender that supports OneMesh technology to the Archer AX80 to flexibly create whole-home WiFi.

OneMesh creates one WiFi network between the range extender and your router, allowing you to switch effortlessly between one access point to the other.

TP-Link HomeShield is a premium security service that ensures your network is safe from online threats and attacks using cutting-edge IoT and network protection.

The free security features include IoT Device Identification, Network Security Scan, Weekly/Monthly Reports, QoS, and Basic Parental Controls.

You can pair the Archer AX80 with Amazon Alexa and use voice commands to control your router.

Who It’s For

The TP-Link Archer AX80 is suitable for residential use as it uses WiFi 6 technology to provide strong signals with solid throughput. It also comes with user-friendly parental controls and basic network scans.

Specs

• Speed: 5952 Mbps
• Range: Up to 2500 sq. ft
• Bands: Dual-Band
• Wireless Protocol:11ax, 802.11n, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11ac
• Ports: 5

Pros

• Great parental controls.
• Comes with multi-gig WAN/LAN.
• Easy installation.
• Solid throughput on the 5GHz band.
• Strong and reliable signals.

Cons

• You need a premium subscription for some features.

2. Netgear Nighthawk RAX43 (Runner-Up)

Design

The Netgear RAX43 comes with WiFi 6 technology and delivers speeds of up to 4.2 Gbps so that you can enjoy uninterrupted streaming, web conferencing, HD video gaming, and more.

The unit is designed with a light slim black base with four antennas placed on the back half.

The RAX43 provides a coverage of up to 2000 sq. ft and it can deliver reliability and high performance for up to 25 devices to it at the same time.

Compared to the RAX50 and RAX120, the RAX43 has lower coverage and lower top speeds but it still provides great performance for households with a Starlink internet plan.

Performance

The Netgear RAX43 supports the latest 1 G internet plans. So, just use the ethernet port to connect the internet to the WAN port and start connecting your devices to the network.

The four Ethernet ports allow you to connect devices such as computers, streaming players, and game consoles so that you can have faster-wired connections.

The USB ports create personal cloud storage that you can access from anywhere and share a storage drive with any device that is connected to the network.

Smart Parental Controls ensures that your children have a safe online experience by blocking inappropriate content so that they cannot watch or download it.

NETGEAR Armor uses an automatic shield of security to protect your devices and network.

The Nighthawk App makes setting up your router easy and faster. The app also enables you to get more out of your network by accessing features such as internet speed testing, internet pausing, remote access to WiFi, and more.

Who It’s For

The Netgear RAX43 is recommended for individuals who are looking for a high-performing router that offers faster speeds, wider coverage, and good security features.

Specs

• Speed: 2 Gbps
• Range: Up to 2000 sq. ft.
• Bands: Dual-Band
• Wireless Protocol: 11ax
• Ports: 4 LAN, 1 WAN, 1 USB

Pros

• Allows for simultaneous streaming.
• Reliable and faster speeds.
• Better performance.
• Easy to set up and monitor.

Cons

• You need to pay for more security.

3. TP-Link Archer AX21 (Budget Friendly)

Design

The TP-Link Archer AX21 supports WiFi 6 technology which achieves greater capacity, faster speeds, and reduced network congestion than the previous WiFi 5 technology.

The AX21 unit has a slick design with a slim black rectangular base and two pairs of antennas fixed to the back.

The Archer AX21 delivers speeds of up to 1.8 Gbps (574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz) and is powered by a strong CPU so that you can enjoy more stable, smoother, buffer-free downloading, gaming, streaming, and video conferencing.

Performance

The TP-Link Archer AX21 uses the revolutionary OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology which enables it to send more data to multiple devices at the same time so that your whole family stays connected. 

The Archer AX21 uses 4 high-gain antennas, Beamforming technology, and an advanced FEM chipset to focus signal strength to devices that are far away so that you can have reliable and strong WiFi coverage of up to 2500 sq. ft.

You can set up your Archer AX21 in a few minutes using either a powerful web interface or the intuitive Tether App.

We tested the setup via the Tether app and found it to be one of the most user-friendly apps on the market.

The advanced WPA3 security is the latest WiFi security that protects your network and devices from internet threats.

The Archer AX21 is compatible with all WiFi standards (up to WiFi 6), internet service providers, and devices. 

Another advantage of the Archer AX21 is the OneMesh technology which allows you to create a mesh WiFi network using a range extender and your compatible router.

This allows you to roam seamlessly without dropping your connection or connecting to a new network. Also, it only needs one password and name to connect.

Who It’s For

The TP-Link Archer AX21 is recommended for users looking for a budget-friendly router that eliminates dead zones, allows for smart roaming, provides better coverage, and delivers faster speeds.

Specs

• Speed: 8 Mbps
• Range: 2500 sq. ft.
• Bands: Dual-Band
• Wireless Protocol: 11ac, 802.11n, 802.11ax, 802.11g, 802.11b
• Ports: 5

Pros

• Faster speeds and better performance.
• Connects to more devices simultaneously.
• Easy to set up.
• Better coverage.
• Supports OneMesh technology for seamless roaming.

Cons

• Issues updating firmware.

4. ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 (Best For Gaming)

Design

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 is a dual-band router with WiFi 6 technology and boosts internet speeds of up to 6000 Mbps with 160 MHz channels for better throughput and efficiency.

The GT-AX6000 is powered by a quad-core CPU which allows it to handle the most intensive gaming needs.

It provides 18% more network throughput for accelerating and lightning-fast data transfers to optimize your gaming experience.

Performance

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 comes with dual 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports that support load balancing and link aggregation, which gives you the flexibility to take advantage of ultra-high-speed internet connections or assign massive bandwidth to connected devices.

The WAN aggregation allows you to unlock up to 3.5 Gbps of WAN bandwidth by combining a 1 Gbps port and a 2.5 Gbps port. This bandwidth can be shared through the second 2.5 Gbps LAN port or WiFi 6.

The LAN aggregation creates a 2 Gbps LAN connection by combining two 1 Gbps LAN ports, which is great for providing additional bandwidth to heavy-duty network devices.

The ASUS RangeBoost Plus improves the WiFi performance and coverage significantly by up to 38%.

The AiMesh allows you to create a seamless mesh WiFi network and eliminate dead zones by connecting all ASUS extendable routers.

The Tripple-level Game Acceleration improves your gaming traffic and stabilizes your connections to reduce lag, prevent jitter, lower ping, and increase speed for the best gaming experience.

You only need three steps for configuring port forwarding so that you can join your team quickly and smoothly and say goodbye to complicated and frustrating procedures.

Who It’s For

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000 is suitable for individuals who are looking for a gaming router that provides lag-free, faster, and stable connections.

Specs

• Speed: 6000 Mbps
• Range: 4000+ sq. ft.
• Bands: Dual-Band
• Wireless Protocol: 11ax, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11ac, 802.11g
• Ports: 5

Pros

• Has LAN and WAN aggregation.
• Better throughput.
• Improved coverage and signal.
• Eliminates dead zones.
• Reduces latency and lag for mobile gaming.

Cons

• Requires frequent resets.

5. TP-Link Deco X55 (Best Mesh WiFi)

Design

The TP-Link Deco X55 is a mesh WiFi system that delivers internet speeds of up to 300 Mbps and can eliminate weak signals throughout your home.

You can purchase up to three devices in the package, with one device operating as the router and two as the nodes which can be strategically placed in your home.

The Deco X55 provides seamless WiFi 6 performance and provides coverage of up to 6500 sq. ft, removing dead zones and buffering.

It allows you to connect up to 150 devices, making it better than WiFi boosters and range extenders.

Performance

As an AI-driven mesh system, the TP-Link Deco X55 delivers smart WiFi that follows you around your home without any interruption as it learns your client quality, user behaviors, and network environment.

Each Deco X55 unit has three ethernet ports which ensures you have a total of nine available ports.

This allows you to create wired connections to devices like computers, streaming players, and more. You can use any of the Deco X55 as a WiFi router.

The Quality of Service enables you to assign more bandwidth to certain devices for fast connections and better performance.

The Home Network Scanner ensures that security issues and threats are detected on time.

The Reports feature gives you full statistics and insights about the performance of your WiFi network. Parental Controls manage your time online and block inappropriate content to keep your family safe.

The HomeShield Pro, which comes with a Yearly/Monthly subscription allows you to access advanced security features.

Use the Deco App to easily set up Deco X55. Just remove the Deco from the packaging, download the app, and follow the steps provided.

The Deco app will then finish the setup process and your device will be ready in minutes.

You can control your network using Alexa as it can be paired with the Deco X55.

Who It’s For

The TP-Link Deco X55 is suitable for users who are looking for a mesh WiFi system that delivers stable, faster, and uninterrupted WiFi in a large home, from the backyard to the bedroom.

Specs

• Speed: 3000 Mbps
• Range: Up to 6500 sq. ft
• Bands: Dual-Band
• Wireless Protocol: 11ac, 802.11g, 802.11ax, 802.11b, 802.11n
• Ports: 3 on each pack (9 in total for 3-pack)

Pros

• A good number of ports.
• Reliable and stable speeds.
• Wider coverage.
• Great security features.
• Works with Alexa.
• Easy to set up and manage.

Cons

• Trouble connecting to gaming consoles.

6. Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 (Best WiFi 6E Router)

Design

The Netgear RAXE500 comes with a powerful quad-core processor that delivers exceptional internet speeds of up to 10.8Gbps, which is nine times faster compared to WiFi 5 technology.

It is backward compatible with all WiFi devices on 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands.

The RAXE500 provides coverage of up to 3500 sq. ft and can simultaneously connect to 60 devices.

Performance

The Netgear RAXE500 comes with the 6 GHz band which is dedicated to devices with WiFi 6E technology such as Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, so that you can enjoy 4K/8K video streaming, HD video conferencing, and AR/VR gaming.

Beamforming technology improves performance and range for 6GHz, 2.4GHz, and 5GHz devices.

The automatic firmware provides the latest security patches to your router so that your network and devices are safe.

The Nighthawk app allows you to set up the RAXE500 in minutes. Additionally, you can use the Nighthawk app to manage the WiFi settings at network and device levels, monitor data usage, and test internet speed.

The five Ethernet ports allow you to create wired connections to your devices such as game consoles, computers, and streaming players.

NETGEAR Armor protects your devices and network while Smart Parental Controls ensures that your kids are developing healthy internet habits and protected from harmful online content.

The OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies allow for simultaneous streaming for your connected devices. While the dynamic QoS enables the router to prioritize certain connections for better performance.

You can control your network using Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa Voice Control.

Other security features that ensure your network and devices are protected include WPA2/WPA3 wireless security protocols, DoS, Guest WiFi access, VPN, and Firewall.

Who It’s For

The Netgear RAXE500 is for users looking for a router with WiFi 6E technology that provides improved performance and range and offers better security features.

Specs

• Speed: 8 Gbps
• Range: Up to 3500 sq. ft.
• Bands: Tri-Band
• Wireless Protocol: 11ax
• Ports: 5 Ethernet, 2 USB

Pros

• High performance.
• Easy to set up.
• Great security features.
• Allows for simultaneous streaming.
• Wider coverage.

Cons

• Issues with port forwarding.

Factors To Consider When Looking For The Best Router For Starlink

WiFi Speed & Wireless Protocol 

Matching the available speed on your Starlink internet plan with the wireless protocol is essential to maximize router performance.

The best routers for Starlink operate either WiFi 5, WiFi 6, or WiFi 6e. WiFi 7 will be available in late 2024.

As the protocol was developed in 2014, WiFi 5 (802.11ac) routers are universally compatible with internet devices.

Although they have a theoretical speed of 1.2 Gbps, WiFi 5 routers are dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and are best for lower-speed internet plans of 500 Mbps and below.

WiFi 6 (802.11ax) routers feature the latest technologies such as MU-MIMO and OFDMA to deliver ultra-fast internet speeds.

These routers are more expensive but will maximize speeds with a Starlink gigabit internet plan. WiFi 6e operates on the same protocol but can reach speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps.

The main addition for 6e is the 6 GHz frequency band, which offers greater capacity and faster transmission rates.

WiFi 7 is tipped to be four times faster than WiFi 6e. You’ll need the latest smartphones, PCs, and laptops to access the potential speeds that this wireless protocol has to offer.

WiFi Range 

If you’ve invested in a Starlink internet plan, you want to ensure it reaches every corner of the home. Therefore, reviewing the WiFi range of a router is crucial.

Most quality routers should provide a range of 2000 sq ft, while some specialize in offering a large range over 5000 sq ft.

Do note that the WiFi range offered is theoretical and does not factor in particular nuances within your home.

For example, if your house has thick walls, and many electrical devices such as fridges and microwaves, the WiFi range will be affected.

Also, the placement of your router is key. For it to offer the best coverage, it needs to be located centrally within the home with minimal obstructions.

Advanced Features 

Quality third-party routers for Starlink should include advanced features that enable high performance. We explain each of these features below.

MU-MIMO is ideal when having multiple devices connected to your router. This technology ensures many devices can communicate quickly and effectively with the router to enable smooth access to the WiFi signal and faster internet speeds.

OFDMA increases the number of data carriers within a frequency channel to reduce congestion on the network.

QoS (Quality of Service) is ideal for large households with many simultaneous users. QoS enables connection prioritization, which allows you to give more bandwidth to high-consumption activities.

Beamforming technology provides extra precision to the router antennas. It ensures they eliminate interference and ultimately deliver a reliable, uninterrupted WiFi signal.

Number of Connected Devices 

If you are a household that has many devices needing to connect to the internet at the same time, identifying a router that can handle a large number of connections is key.

Generally, the best routers for a Starlink internet plan offer up to 25 connected devices, but some products offer over 100.

A good tip is to first work out the total number of devices requiring internet connection within your home and then add a 10 % to 20% premium on top, this should reveal the total number of connected devices you need a router to provide.

Do note however that the number of connected devices is theoretical and does not factor in usage type. For example, a router offering 25 connected devices won’t effectively handle 25 simultaneous streaming connections.

Mesh Systems vs WiFi Routers 

With advanced technological features, improved speed, and coverage, the majority of households will only require a classic single router setup.

Larger households that cover over 2500 sq ft may consider a mesh WiFi system instead of a single router setup if they are experiencing WiFi dead zones within the property.

A mesh system connects a router with multiple nodes (satellites) to create a high-speed, unified network throughout the home.

Mesh systems offer favorable performance compared to WiFi extenders as the user does not need to log in to the extended network, but the nodes communicate to hand off connections to each other based on the user’s location in the home.

Mesh systems are a costly investment so should only be purchased if you need to improve coverage within a large home.

FAQs

Can I Use A Third-Party Router With Starlink? 

Technically speaking all third-party routers are compatible with Starlink. The main thing to look out for is whether the router can connect using a Starlink Ethernet Adapter.

A Starlink Ethernet Adapter can be purchased online and typically costs around $25.

How Do I Setup My Own Router With Starlink? 

Follow the steps below to connect your router to Starlink.

1. Bypass the Starlink router and enable third-party routers. To set this up, simply log in the Starlink and navigate the ‘settings’. Once in ‘settings’ switch the ‘Bypass Starlink WiFi router’ on and then select save.
2. Remove existing inputs to connect the Starlink Adapter. Once you’ve removed all previous inputs, connect the Starlink Ethernet Adapter to the router using an ethernet cable. Then, connect the input from the satellite to the adapter.
3. Dish reboot. Once the connection is established, wait for the dish to reboot for a few minutes and your third-party router should be connected.

Should I Use A Router Or A Mesh WiFi System? 

This is dependent on the size of your home. Generally, mesh systems are worth the investment for properties covering 2500 sq ft and above.

Given the technological advances of modern routers, the WiFi speed and coverage offered by these products should be sufficient for the majority of households.

What Features Should The Router Have? 

The best third-party router for Starlink should operate on the WiFi 6 standard, cover up to 2000 sq ft, and include features such as MU-MIMO, OFDMA, QoS, and Beamforming to improve speed and multi-device usage.

A router with these features will enable you to maximize the performance of the gigabit internet plans that Starlink offers.

Final Words

Hopefully, this guide has given you all the information you need to decide which router to buy for your Starlink internet plan.

However, if you are finding it difficult to decide our choice is the TP-Link Archer AX80 as it comes with a dual-band connection and WiFi 6 technology to deliver lightning-fast internet speeds of 1148 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 4804 Mbps on the 5 GHz band.

To ensure that you get a wider coverage of up to 2500 sq. ft, the Archer AX80 has 8 high-gain antennas that are equipped with Beamforming technology.

Remember to refer to the buying guide to understand the features that you need to consider so that you can buy the right router for your internet needs.