7 Best Routers For CenturyLink in 2023 [After Testing 15 Devices]

Finding the best-suited WiFi router for a CenturyLink connection isn’t rocket science. But you must consider a few things. For instance, connection type (Fiber or DSL), subscribed plan speed, number of devices, and more.

You don’t want to get a substandard router with outdated features and expect it to work well. That’s why I took 15 CenturyLink compatible routers, tested them for three weeks in different scenarios, and picked the 7 best options for 2023, as follows:

1. Best For CenturyLink Fiber: TP-Link AX90
2. Best For CenturyLink DSL: Greenwave C4000BG
3. Best For Streaming: Netgear RAX50
4. Best Mid-Range Router: ASUS RT-AX3000
5. Best Mesh Router: Amazon Eero 6+
6. Best For Work From Home: Linksys EA8100
7. Best Budget Option: D-Link DIR-1950-US

Things To Consider When Getting a Router for CenturyLink

• Wireless coverage: Say your place is 2,000 Sq Ft, but the router you’ve picked only has a coverage of 1,500 Sq Ft; then you may experience WiFi dead zones. That’s why you get a router with more wireless coverage than your place.
• Speed Support: Imagine you’re subscribed to a CenturyLink gigabit plan, but the router you’ve picked can only handle speeds of 300 Mbps. Although it’ll work, you won’t get speeds above 300 Mbps.
• Number of devices supported: We live in a smart world that has many non-mobile tech gadgets that are connected to WiFi, such as smart TVs, security cameras, laptops, etc. So calculate your number of devices and ensure the router you’ve picked can handle 10-20% more.
• Routing Technologies: such as OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and beamforming.
• App Support: It just makes managing the router easier. That way, you can reboot, add guest networks, blacklist unwanted users, etc., right from your smartphone.

Many other things, such as ports, wireless standards, etc., may vary depending on the use case. That said, let’s get to the detailed reviews!

1. Best for CenturyLink Fiber: TP-Link AX90

As a networking company, TP-Link has established its reputation in the space by launching cool routers with some advanced and handy features. The Archer AX90 is a similar addition to the list with features like an additional 5GHz band, a multi-gig port, and an additional USB port. It’s basically a souped-up version of TP-Link’s flagship model, Archer AX73.

Why is it suited for CenturyLink?

Archer AX90 boasts a decent combination of hardware and software to deliver a top-tier performance with any high-speed Century-link Internet plan. So, I tested this router with the 2Gig CenturyLink plan and could get excellent throughput speeds. Besides, compared to any traditional router with similar speed output, you’ll get more usable signals, courtesy of the additional 5GHz band.

The short-distance tests on my iPhone over the additional band gave out speeds exceeding 1.8 Gbps and 567 Mbps for downloads and uploads. While taking my device 30 feet away from the router dropped respective speeds up to 30%, valuing to 1.26 Gbps and 425 Mbps. On the other hand, the other 5GHz band clocked speeds at 1.5 Gbps and 450 Mbps, respectively.

Such speeds should be enough for most devices to perform any tasks you like, irrespective of the settings. I played multiplayer online games on my Xbox 360 with my friends for hours without experiencing any hiccups or lags.

Besides, its low-frequency congested band performance was also very surprising. The download speeds raked at around 987 Mbps, while 300 Mbps was the upload speed. I also tested the throughput capacity of its 2.5G WAN port, which added a few hundred Mbps to the wireless speeds, valuing at 2015 Mbps for downloads.

WiFi Coverage and Connections Capacity

Similar to throughput, Archer AX90 performed exceedingly well in the coverage tests. It boasts 8 high-performance antennas to extend your maximum coverage by up to 2,000 Sq Ft, the size of a mid-sized workspace or a large residential space. Besides, it integrates an 802.11k/v roaming technology that ensures you’re connected to the fastest speeds anywhere in the space.

Now talking about its connections capability, the additional 5GHz band provides an additional capacity when there’s an increased load on the network. This is useful, especially when more devices are connected to the busier network. So, I connected 25 devices simultaneously to run bandwidth-hogging tasks on many while browsing emails on some without dropping speeds in any.

Security Features

Archer AX90 integrates the latest WPA3 security, but it shouldn’t be applicable unless you have compatible devices. This security feature keeps your passwords and datasets shared over the network encrypted.

Other than that, there’s a subscription-based TP-Link HomeShield antivirus with advanced features like malware shielding, weekly scanning, and keeping the devices safe. Further, its upgraded Homeshield parental controls give all digital mothers greater control over their families.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Archer AX90 is a great product in terms of network stability and performance. The availability of an additional 5GHz band lets you connect with more devices, and its premium security is no-nonsense and keeps all your devices and network safe. It does belong in the premium price bracket, but the features it boasts give you worth every penny.

2. Best for CenturyLink DSL: Greenwave C4000BG

Greenwave C4000BG, a CenturyLink default router, is a valid choice if you are on a DSL connection. Its powerful 1.6GHz processor works harmoniously with Wi-Fi 6 standard and other technologies to deliver reliable and fast speeds to handle most bandwidth-intensive tasks. This makes the router the best DSL-compatible model, much better than its predecessor, C4000LG.

Why is it suited for CenturyLink?

Greenwave C4000BG is a great option for you with either VDSL, ADSL, ADSL+, or Fiber optic internet. Or in other words, it works great with any high-speed DSL plan.

So, I paired it with the 100 Mbps plan to get download speeds of 90 Mbps and 10-15 Mbps of upload speeds in nearby tests. Besides, moving the device 30 feet away from the router had a respective download and upload speeds clocked at 50 Mbps and 6 Mbps. All these results were obtained with the less congested 5GHz band.

Similarly, the speed test results on the 2.4GHz band were valued at 45 Mbps and 6Mbps for downloads and uploads. This makes the device the fastest for DSL connections, and at that pace, you can play multiplayer games without any lags. Besides, it’s ideal for emailing, streaming, video chatting, and almost any online tasks imaginable.

C4000BG also offers a decent arrangement of ports on its rear panel. With 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 4 LANs, and 1 WAN, you can attain speeds of up to 110 Mbps for downloads, and 20 Mbps for uploads, i.e., a boost in what you achieve wirelessly.

WiFi Coverage and Connections Capacity

Although CenturyLink hasn’t disclosed anything about its maximum range, but as far as my tests go, the device can send strong Wi-Fi signals to an area of up to 1,500 Sq Ft. Aside from that, the device boasts some advanced technologies like Smart connect single wireless network (SSID) and dynamic QoS to enhance your browsing experience.

These further allowed me to connect up to 10 available devices without experiencing any visible lags or latencies.

Security Features

Security isn’t the standout feature of this router, and besides WPA3 security, there’s not much on offer. So, you need to subscribe to a third-party antivirus to get added protection for your devices. Other than that, its parental controls aren’t much advanced. You just get some basic features like pausing the Wi-Fi and monitoring the number of hours your kids are online.

Conclusion

In conclusion, C4000BG  is the best DSL router for CenturyLink out there that sports some handy and functional features to support its highest speed plan. It might not be the fastest out there, but with Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax support, you definitely can get the most out of your IPs. The sole area where it lacks significantly is its security features.

3. Best for Streaming: Netgear RAX50

Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 has shown that you can break the 1 Gbps barrier securely. Its Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax technology combines well with well-built hardware to give high-end media consumers and gamers a lag-free internet-using experience. The customers of RAX40 should precisely understand what additional features it brings with the upgrade that contributes to its high performance.

Why is it suited for CenturyLink?

Boasting a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 setup, RAX50 excelled at transferring massive amounts of data on my iPhone 13 kept close. Testing on the speed test app available on the Netgear app, speeds were recorded at 967 Mbps for downloads and 454 Mbps for uploads with 1 Gbps IP. While taking the testing device 30 feet away, download and upload speeds averaged 654 Mbps and 245 Mbps, respectively.

I obtained all the above-mentioned results on the 5GHz band. Besides, I performed similar tests on the 2.4GHz band, but its range-extending capability didn’t cause a speed dip even when moved a bit far away. So, the respective average speeds for downloads and uploads were 467 Mbps and 167 Mbps.

The throughput was constant even after performing a multitude of tasks like online gaming, video streaming, or conferencing, and even leaving some bandwidth to handle tasks like sending emails or browsing social media.

Aside from wireless speeds, the router performed exceedingly well when I plugged in the devices directly. On my Xbox 360, I downloaded Football Manager in a minute, averaging speeds at 1 Gbps and more. While there were no clunkiness or hiccups when playing the game.

WiFi Coverage and Connections Capacity

I tested this router in a thick-walled 1,500 Sq Ft, 100 years old house, and the device panned out exceedingly well. Its 4-antenna setup with beamforming support accumulated the signals together to give out a solid output to the connected devices. As a result, all existing zero network spots were eliminated, and all nooks had strong network connections.

Additionally, the MU-MIMO technology lets me experience similar speeds on all 15 available devices. The device count could increase further if you’re doing light tasks like emailing or browsing social media.

Security Features

RAX50 matches the ability of most routers on my list by using basic security features like WPA2/WPA3 encryption, Apple’s touch ID, and two-factor authentication. It further takes a few steps forward by integrating a subscription-based Netgear Armor 2.0 with features like malware detection and elimination, weekly scans, and a layered approach to protect your devices.

Besides, it pairs with some handy parental controls to regulate what others are using the internet. Features like website blocking, pausing Wi-Fi, and monitoring online activities are beneficial, especially for digital mothers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, RAX50 might not be the most feature-packed device out there, but considering its features, it’s definitely a worthy purchase for high-speed CenturyLink plans. Besides, its premium security features provide all-around protection to your devices from unwanted threats and let you browse faster in a secure manner.

4. Best for Gaming: ASUS RT-AX3000

If you are on a tight budget with a decent-sized home, then ASUS RT-AX3000 is the way to go. It is a compact mid-range router with the potential enough to deliver excellent performance. And combined with advanced security features, it’s a much better upgrade compared to its older model, Asus RT-AX56U. You are bound to get great performance, coverage, and security.

Why is it suited for CenturyLink?

If you care about overall performance yet don’t want to put a hole into your pocket, this ASUS RT-AX3000 seems like a good deal. Its 5GHz band with a 1 Gbps plan could output around 945 Mbps for downloads and 245 Mbps for uploads. Taking into account the price bracket it belongs to, I think you get an excellent value.

The router measured 545 Mbps for downloads and 115 Mbps for uploads at 2.4GHz. For context, the RT-AX3000 performed admirably and was on par with my other feature-rich recommendations. With that speed, the router can easily handle file downloads, 4K streaming, gaming, and other activities for a family of 3 or 4.

Besides, if you have an Ethernet cable, plug your devices into the Gigabit Ethernet ports to achieve maximum download speeds of 985 Mbps. On the other hand, the upload speeds clocked around 270 Mbps, on par with most feature-packed models.

WiFi Coverage and Connections Capacity

Coverage can be a slight setback for this value-based router, which despite mentioning 3,000 Sq Ft can’t get any close to that, especially if you have a thick-walled house. In my grandpa’s 1,500 Sq Ft house, the router covered the entire space but couldn’t stretch signals up to the garden or garage.

However, advanced technologies like MU-MIMO and OFDMA amalgamate the signals into one to let you experience faster internet. So, there wasn’t a tad drop in speeds even after connecting 15 devices at once. Also, with adaptive QoS, it prioritizes essential activities to ensure you never run out of bandwidth.

Security Features

Security-wise, with a lifetime free AiProtection Pro on offer, it is one of those rare routers with advanced features like malware blocking, weekly scanning, and a VPN server. It allows you to keep your network secure, irrespective of the scenario and doesn’t interfere with your speed.

Apart from that, it includes some parental controls that let you block specific websites under the preset category. So, it needs some improvements in terms of allowing users to block any website they wish to.

Conclusion

ASUS RT-AX3000 is an excellent wireless router that provides good and extremely stable Wi-Fi performance, as well as fast speeds and excellent coverage. The Asus-compatible app gives you complete network control, and its advanced security feature protects your network and device from malicious threats.

However, there’s an issue regarding coverage and parental controls, hence the position.

5. Best Mesh System: Amazon Eero 6+

Next on my list is a mesh system that, besides boasting Wi-Fi 6 support, offers excellent coverage and connection capability. With wider channels and better radios, Eero 6 Plus delivers much more reliable and faster speeds than its preceding model. So, let’s find out what more this budget-friendly mesh system has to offer.

Why is it suited for CenturyLink?

I put through Eero 6+ through the same set of tests that all other routers on my list went through. The speeds might be lower than in the top-notch models, but they do pan out well with the 1 Gbps CenturyLink plan. On the 5GHz band, download throughput speeds averaged 865 Mbps, while 210 Mbps were the upload speeds.

All that makes Eero 6+ a reliable router are the speeds on its low-frequency 2.4GHz band. Download and upload speeds at 465 Mbps and 165 Mbps are higher than my previous recommendation, so I played online games at 120fps. However, despite such speeds, some minor lags and latencies somewhat affected the gaming experience.

Aside from that, you get only 2 GigE ports with each unit, offering limited connections ability. You can only connect a single device to each unit. But the thing is, you can get speeds up to 987 Mbps and 295 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads. And there aren’t many lags, courtesy of minimal interferences or traffic.   

WiFi Coverage and Connections Capacity

Being a mesh router, coverage is its strong suit. Its 2 units act as satellites, which you need to place strategically, and get maximum coverage. I kept one unit in my bedroom and the other in the hallway to get maximum coverage of around 2,500-2,800 Sq Ft. It seamlessly covered my friend’s 2,500 Sq space along with the garden and garage. 

Furthermore, with technologies like MU-MIMO, Eero 6+ offers an excellent connection capability. I could connect up to 40 devices without dropping any speeds.

Security Features

Even though Amazon does not offer much for free, its two-tiered premium security is only $99 per month. With Eero Secure and Secure+, you can protect all of your devices from external threats and virus attacks. Its parental controls also include some basic features like pausing your Wi-Fi and monitoring your children’s online time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Amazon Eero 6+ is a reliable and handy mesh system with Wi-Fi 6 support and a decent antenna setup to get you speeds close to 1 Gbps. So, it would benefit people with decent-size apartments from the coverage it delivers. But inferior speeds, lesser ports, and security features took it down the list.

6. Best for Work From Home: Linksys EA8100

The penultimate product on my list is a budget-friendly Linksys router with handy features like 802.11ac support, powerful hardware, and DNS that cut through interferences and congestion. And the manufacturer has taken a few steps ahead as compared to its predecessor, which has resulted in better performance and coverage.

Why is it suited for CenturyLink?

If you are restricted on budget and don’t have a much larger space to cover, Linksys EA8100 is the way to go. Besides integrating inferior Wi-Fi technology, the router came in at 785 Mbps for downloads on the 5GHz band. At the same time, upload speeds averaged at around 167 Mbps. Similarly, respective speeds on the 2.4GHz band played at 254 Mbps and 67 Mbps.

Distance is not a friend of EA8100, and at 25 feet, the device only measured 157 Mbps for downloads. It is a big hit for such a difference in distance and hence is recommended for smaller homes. And as a budget option, it’s more than enough to cover your basic needs.

However, if you are looking for faster throughput, get your devices connected to the 5 Ethernet ports present on EA8100’s rear panel. My iPhone 13 got 989 Mbps and 375 Mbps for downloads and uploads. Besides, I connected my laptop and gaming consoles to exploit the speeds I got.

WiFi Coverage and Connections Capacity

Similar to other routers, I tested this router in my grandpa’s 100-year-old home but was disappointed with its ability. Despite boasting a 4-antenna setup, there were many network dead zones in the corners and far too many network drops. As far as my tests go, the maximum this router can extend is around 1,200 Sq Ft, the size of a small apartment.

Now, as far as connection capability goes, DNS is the best this router has got.  It detects congestion and automatically switches your network to a less congested channel, so you experience faster speeds every time. I connected up to 10 available devices, and each signal was strong. However, connecting any more could lead to network drops.

Security Features

EA8100, like many of the routers on my list, doesn’t offer much in this category aside from WPA/WPA2 encryption and  VPN passthrough. Besides, there aren’t any options for upgrading to premium security features, so if you need to secure your dataset or connected devices, consider purchasing third-party security software.

The device also hasn’t got much with respect to parental controls apart from pausing Wi-Fi or monitoring the online time of devices connected. Besides, the third-party software comes with advanced features.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Linksys EA8100 is a versatile device that doesn’t boast any of those high-end features, but the integrating ones are functional enough to let you complete the tasks without making any fuss. Speeds are decent comparing the price bracket it comes in, but features like coverage and security are majorly lacking in this device.

7. Best Budget Router: D-Link DIR-1950-US

Now that I’ve reached the end of my list let me present to you the cheapest yet an upgrade over your outdated ISP-rented routers. D-Link DIR-1950-US is an 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 powered device with a maximum speed output of 1900 Mbps and works in harmony with powerful hardware to deliver a better performance.

Aside from that, it’s easy to install, manage and equipped with 5 GigE ports to be tagged as a versatile device, and an upgrade to its older model.

Why is it suited for CenturyLink?

DIR-1950-US got me a decent performance but didn’t break any speed records in my tests. On the 5GHz band, the download speeds maxed out at 629 Mbps while uploading speeds at 75 Mbps. Whereas for the 2.4GHz band, download and upload speeds averaged 325 Mbps and 30 Mbps, respectively. By way of comparison, it performed way better than ISP-rented routers.

So, I took up the initiative and played graphics-intensive games like Red dead redemption 2 and others on my gaming consoles. I experienced some minor hiccups while playing, but the gameplay was smooth.

Aside from that, the router boasts a decent arrangement of ports, including 1 GigE WAN and 4 GigE LAN ports, connecting which got me speeds around 915 Mbps, thanks to limited interferences and traffic. Downloads over the wired connection were smooth, and I could even upload Gigabits of files on dropbox within minutes.      

WiFi Coverage and Connections Capacity

Considering its 4-antenna setup and promised coverage of 1,800 Sq Ft, I tested this router at my friend’s 1,400 Sq Ft space and was slightly disappointed with the results. The device has failed to cover even the entire home, let alone in extremities, like the garden and garage. As far as my tests go, I can assure you that the device spans up to 900 Sq Ft at a stretch.

Other than that, I tested the device’s connection capacity, i.e., the number of devices it can connect at a stretch without dropping speeds by a tad. The maximum capacity of this router extended up to 10 devices which were used for running some graphics-intensive activities like online gaming, 4K streaming, and video conferencing.

The router setup is compatible with D-Link extenders that let you create your mesh network and expand your coverage to up to 2,000-2,500 Sq Ft. It demands some additional investments, but it’s worth it if you’re tired of those dead spots.

Security Features

In terms of security, you only get basic features for free that transfer your data in an encrypted form. Alongside, there’s a VPN server available that lets you anonymously browse websites in any remote settings. It offers parental controls, which are rather basic. You can monitor your connected devices’ online activities and set time schedules and limits.

Conclusion

In short, with DIR-1950-US, you get more than what’s available with your ISP-rented router. Installing it in your setup gets you decent speeds, coverage, and overall performance. However, with features and output much inferior to other routers on the list, it’s placed at the bottom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

That’s all there’s to tell you about some compatible routers for CenturyLink. I hope this helps you to make a viable decision. However, if you still are stuck, here are some of my recommendations:

• If you’re on the lookout for a top-notch router with futuristic features like an additional 5GHz band, advanced security features, top-tier speeds, and coverage, then TP-Link Archer AX90 should be on top of your buying list. Although it costs around $250, it’s compensated by the features it boasts. 
• For greater coverage and reliable speeds, you can stop searching and immediately opt for ASUS RT-AX3000. Costing less than $200, it boasts some handy features like MU-MIMO, future-proof Wi-Fi 6, and AiMesh technology to boost your wireless experience. 
• Lastly, if you have a restricted budget and need a much better upgrade to your outdated router, then go for Linksys EA8100. Costing just above $100, you get features like 802.11ac support, powerful hardware, and DNS to eliminate interferences or congestion. 

If you require a dependable router for your CenturyLink service, I recommend that you do not settle for the cheapest option. Spend the extra money on a future-proof unit with high-speed internet plans. Having said that, I’d like to conclude this guide. Let me know which router you chose in the comments section below. With that, goodbye and good luck!