The Starlink router you get is sufficient for basic users, but it has limited features, coverage, and is inconsistent at times. Since you are here, I must assume that you’re facing some issues with the box and are looking forward to replacing it with a aftermarket router. But, which one?
Left alone inconsistencies, I felt that the features, coverage, and controls were very limited. If you’re in the same boat and want to replace the Starlink router with your own, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ve ranked and reviewed the 5 best routers that you can use with Starlink’s Satellite Internet.
Contents
Things To Consider When Purchasing [After 3 Weeks of Testing]
I tested these models for over three weeks for their speed, coverage, connectivity, and security features to finally come up with the 5 best options. So, without further ado, let’s dig in!
The router should be compatible with the Internet plan: Starlink provides internet speed between 50-500 Mbps, so make sure you pick a router that offers more than 500 Mbps.
The router should handle be capable of handling all the devices at your place: Count all the devices at your place (also account for 4-5 guest devices) and make sure that the router you’re picking can support all of them.
Get a Starlink-compatible Mesh System if you live in a large/multi-story house: Many people get a long-range wireless router and use wireless access points/extenders to increase the coverage, but that’s not seamless. If you’re living in a house larger than 2000 sq ft or a multi-story house of any size, it’s best to get an aftermarket Starlink mesh system.
Check for other technical features: Make sure the router you’re getting has Beamforming, MU-MIMO, and OFDMA support. Routers that come with these generally perform better than the ones that don’t.
App Support & Parental Controls: Almost every router these days come with app support and parental controls. The app support helps you blacklist, block, check interference, and many other things straight from an app. Also, having parental controls can help you restrict vulnerable sites, etc, for your little ones.
Top-Rated Starlink WiFi Routers [Best, Budget, Cheap]
Although most third-party routers are compatible with Starlink, you need to bypass the Starlink WiFi router (from the app settings) and connect the Starlink ethernet adapter (to be purchased separately from here).
Don’t worry, it is easy to do so, and I have also published a step-by-step guide on connecting third-party router on Starlink.
That said, to give you an overview of the products covered in this list, you’ll find feature-packed models on the top, gradually moving to mid-tier options and then the budget and entry-level ones. This way, I ensured the list caters to different users with different needs and price ranges.
1. Best Overall: TP-Link Archer AX90
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 574 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 4804 + 1201 Mbps
- Coverage: Up to 2,500 Sq Ft
- Number of Devices Supported: 40+
- Processor: 1.5GHz Quad-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: 512MB + 128MB
- App Support: Yes
TP-Link AX90 offers a lot of high-end features compared to its competitors at a great price. Besides, its Tri-Band WiFi, decent range of ports, powerful security, fast speed, and user management make this a great mid-range router and an upgrade over its older model Archer AX60.
Why is it suited for Starlink?
Archer AX90 is one of the most well-designed routers by TP-Link that integrates tri-band Wi-Fi 6 support to deliver up to 2x faster speeds with the Starlink network. Besides, other technologies like OFDMA and MU-MIMO take the router’s performance to a whole new level.
The device delivered strong throughput on my 5GHz tests, but its 2.4GHz performance didn’t impress me much. Paired with Starlink Business, speed scores on the 5GHz band were recorded at 455 Mbps, while the value was 150 Mbps for 2.4GHz. While at 30 feet, speeds dipped by 30%, i.e., 318 Mbps and 105 Mbps for respective bands.
So, transferring a 1.5GB file with 5GHz took mere seconds, while there were no visible lags when playing online games or streaming 4K videos.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
The router comprises eight non-removable high-performance antennas that form a signal-boosting array to cover an area as large as 2,500 Sq Ft. Added to it, its beamforming support ensures no corners of my house are left void of the internet, and my 30 connected devices receive faster bandwidth every time.
Ports & Connectivity
Archer AX90 boasts 1 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port and 4 Gigabit LAN ports, which makes this device a versatile choice. You can connect your devices directly with the ports to experience multi-gigs of speeds, provided you have suitable IP. Although high-speed Gigabit plans aren’t yet available for Starlink, the speed output was much higher than the wireless network.
Security Features
Just like TP-Link Deco X90 mesh, this one also comes with a free HomeShield basic plan for basic network security scans and strong parental controls. With it, you can set age-based website filters, the online time of a user, browsing history, and block any harmful or age-inappropriate websites.
Besides enrolling in its premium subscription, you get extra network security features like DoS protection, malicious content filters, and network security reports. You can also set a schedule for browsing time and allocate bonus online time for kids as a token of reward for doing things like finishing chores or doing homework.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Archer AX90 is a well-equipped Starlink-compatible router that uses Wi-Fi 6 technology to deliver a strong 5GHz signal with solid throughput. Basic network scans and user-friendly parental controls make it suitable for residential use.
- Solid throughput on 5GHz
- Quick installation
- Multi-gig WAN/LAN
- Strong parental controls
- Some features need a premium subscription
2. Best Runner Up: Netgear Nighthawk RAX50
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 574 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 4801 Mbps
- Coverage: Up to 2,500 Sq Ft
- Number of Devices Supported: 25+
- Processor: 1.5GHz Triple-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: 512MB + 256MB
- App Support: Yes
Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 shows that you can access high-speed internet safely, paired with commercial-grade security. Good for online gamers to media consumers, this router ensures you have a powerful network-using experience every time. Besides, the company has made upgrades concerning its processor, range, speed, and ports from its older model, Nighthawk RAX40.
Why is it suited for Starlink?
If you’re in pursuit of a WiFi 6 router for Starlink that supports binge-watching and gaming, then RAX50 is a dependable, smart router you can have. It’s suitable for most Starlink plans, be it residential or commercial. I tested this device with the commercial plan only to get astonished by the output it delivers.
The 5GHz band recorded a download speed of 400 Mbps and an upload speed of 50 Mbps. While on its 2.4GHz band, speeds stayed at 150 Mbps and 25 Mbps, respectively. At 50 feet, the speeds fell by almost 40%, and its throughput was rated at a maximum of 133 Mbps. This makes the router more useful in the same or adjacent room coverage.
Aside from that, it integrates uplink & downlink OFDMA to its improve overall efficiency and capacity. Connecting to the router, I could stream 4K Netflix movies, play online games, and attend video conferences with browsing the web and sending emails parallelly.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
This Starlink-compatible WiFi router is unquestionably a winner in my friend’s 2,500 Sq Ft house because it delivers a large volume of data to 15 devices spread throughout. The integration of 4 high-performance antennas made the device this capable so that I could connect to the internet on all my devices without any hiccups or slowdowns.
Ports & Connectivity
The connection panel of RAX50 has more than enough input WAN to use 5 Gbps streams from the modem. Besides, there are 4 Ethernet ports with which you can connect your devices to experience Gigabits of speed. But none of them supports Link aggregation to get an even higher speed.
Security Features
As with most routers, it has the ability to use two-factor authentication, WPA2 or WPA3 encryption, and Apple’s touch ID. Besides, it takes the security a few steps further with Netgear Armor 2.0, which detects malware and viruses, and creates a firewall to prevent the entry of unwanted threats. This way, you can browse or do anything with peace of mind.
Besides, its smart parental controls are also way ahead of its competitors. You can activate the parental controls to prevent your kids from accessing potentially harmful or explicit websites and pause the Wi-Fi anytime.
Conclusion
To sum up, with Wi-Fi 6 dual-band support, you can carry out most of your bandwidth-intensive tasks with the peace that the devices stay secure. So whether you’re a gamer, a streamer, or someone with any other needs, RAX50 is an optimal router to set up with Starlink. However, the lack of an additional band pushed it to the second position.
- Excellent close-up performance
- Quick setup
- Commercial-grade security
- Consistent throughput
- Some advanced features need a subscription
3. Best Mesh WiFi: Amazon Eero 6+
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 574 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 2401 Mbps
- Coverage: Up to 3,000 Sq Ft
- Number of Devices Supported: 75+
- Processor: 1GHz Dual-Core
- RAM & NAND Memory: 512MB + 4GB
- App Support: Yes
With wider channels and better radios, Eero’s latest offering Eero 6 Plus, is a much better upgrade than its flagship, Eero 6. So, it delivers much more reliable speeds than its preceding system, and costing less than $300 for its three-pack wouldn’t cost you a fortune.
Why is it suited for Starlink?
The only mesh system in my list, Eero 6+, can deliver higher throughput than any Starlink plan. With Wi-Fi 6, this system can easily replace Starlink router, no questions asked. Paired with the commercial plan, the speeds clocked up to 380 Mbps and 100 Mbps for its 5GHz and 2.4GHz band, on par with most high-performing routers on the list.
Amazon Eero 6+ is also a Gigabit-capable mesh WiFi. So you can pair it with plans to deliver speeds of around 800 Mbps. However, note that Starlink doesn’t offer such plans at present. Nevertheless, with available speeds in hand, I could play Destiny 2 with my mates at 90fps for 6 hours straight, without any lags.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
To get a sense of what “plus” we are talking about here, I tested the router in my 1300 Sq Ft home in Louiseville, Kentucky. Thankfully, its four high-performance internal antennas left no network gaps or dead zones in my house. Besides the integration of 4×4 MU-MIMO connections, the aggregate speeds for my 15 connected devices were much greater.
Ports & Connectivity
Each Eero 6+ is one of the few mesh systems with 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports (2 on each unit’s rear panel) and a USB-C power jack. Unlike TP-Link AX90, these Ethernet ports don’t support multi-gig speeds or link aggregation, but you can use them for wired ethernet backhaul.
Security Features
You won’t get much security with this device for free. You can enroll in its $99 yearly subscription, which is not much considering the high-grade and two-fold security it offers with Eero Secure and Secure+. With this, you can keep your devices and network safe from any external threats.
Besides that, Eero hasn’t been lenient in terms of parental controls. It lacks advanced features like online time scheduling, blocking a group of websites, and others, but you can pause the Wi-Fi or monitor the time your kids spend online.
Conclusion
I’ve tried the Eero 6 Plus souffle, and it’s light and fluffy. Aside from the overused metaphors, Eero 6+ significantly improved over Eero 6. Setup is a breeze, and performance shines after several hours of testing. Overall, it is one of the top-rated mesh routers for Starlink that provides excellent value for your money.
For more details, check out my in-depth Amazon Eero 6 Plus review.
- Simple setup
- Decent coverage
- Advanced security
- Minimalistic design
- Parental controls don’t offer much
Alternative Product Suggestion
If the Eero 6+ doesn’t appeal to you with its features, then go for TP-Link Deco XE75. It’s a WiFi 6e mesh system with an extra 6GHz band and 5400 Mbps speed capacity.
4. Best Value for Money: TP-Link Archer AX55
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 574 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 2402 Mbps
- Coverage: Up to 2,500 Sq Ft
- Number of Devices Supported: 25+
- Processor: 1GHz Qualcomm IPQ0518
- RAM & NAND Memory: 512MB + 128MB
- App Support: Yes
TP-Link’s Archer AX55 is a great choice for those looking for an affordable yet reliable router to use with Starlink. With an added Qualcomm chip and improved HomeShield security, it delivers much-improved performance over its preceding model, i.e., Archer AX50.
Why is it suited for Starlink?
AX55 delivers much-improved speed over the model it replaces and a constant throughput, even after stressing the router for some time. On short distance, testing with Starlink’s commercial plan, I could easily obtain speeds up to 320 Mbps on both bands combined. After two walls, speeds were slightly below 150 Mbps on the 5GHz bandwidth.
The speed might sound less, especially in an average-sized house, but it is definitely well-fitted for most of your network-intensive activities like online gaming, 4K streaming and others across two rooms. But there were some occasional network dropouts which potentially affected my task flow.
Not just Starlink, but AX55 is also one of the few affordable routers that work well with Xfinity. So, if you plan to change your satellite internet to a cable-based connection, this should work fine with any cable ISP. Learn the differences.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
Concerning coverage, this router boasts four fixed high-performance beamforming antennas to cover a 2,500 Sq Ft house without much effort. All the network dead zones I had with my Starlink routers are now gone, and I can work on 15 devices concurrently without many issues.
Ports & Connectivity
With 1 Gigabit WAN port and 4 Gigabit LAN ports, you can explore the possibility of Ethernet backhaul. Now you can plug in your devices directly with the device to experience much faster speeds than in wireless connection. Besides, there’s an option to connect devices like printers, scanners and others for faster data transfer.
Security Features
Like Archer AX90, AX55 can configure basic or commercial-grade security features. With an almost $6 per month subscription, you can enrol in Homeshield Pro, which protects your home network and devices from external threats. Plus, its premium parental controls offer features like scheduling online time, blocking websites and pausing WiFi access.
Conclusion
To conclude, AX55 is one of the most reliable wireless routers that work with Starlink. It has decent speed, coverage, and is a great choice for people who are into tasks like streaming, gaming and video conferencing etc.
- User-friendly firmware
- Decent speeds and coverage
- Paid security features are much advanced
- Can handle relatively higher bandwidth-demanding tasks
- Consistency issue
5. Best Budget Option: ASUS RT-AC67P
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- 2.4GHz Speeds: 600 Mbps
- 5GHz Speeds: 1300 Mbps
- Coverage: Up to 3,000 Sq Ft
- Number of Devices Supported: 12+
- Processor: MediaTek MT7762N
- RAM & NAND Memory: 128MB + 128MB
- App Support: Yes
As I have reached the end of my list of routers suitable for Starlink internet, I bring to you a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 router, ASUS RT-AC67P. Despite offering the lowest speeds, it’s one of the most budget-friendly options that works without hiccups.
Why is it suited for Starlink?
When used in conjunction with the Starlink residential plan, it delivers speeds up to 225 Mbps on its 5GHz band while 50 Mbps on its 2.4GHz frequency band. This might sound much less than my previous options, but this router has no consistency issues.
WiFi Coverage & Connections Capacity
The 3 high-performance antennas combine with ASUS AiRadar Beamforming to fine-tune and amplify signals over extended distances. My friend has no complaints regarding dead spots or network gaps in his 2,400 Sq Ft house.
Aside from that, the integration of MU-MIMO technology allows the device to interact with numerous devices simultaneously.
Ports & Connectivity
You can experience high-speed wired connectivity on gaming consoles, PCs, smart TVs or other devices with 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports on the motherboard. Furthermore, you can connect other non-networking devices through a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A connector to share faster data.
Security Features
Security isn’t the forte of this router, and you only get some basic security features like WPA2/WPA3 encryption or VPN-passthrough to keep your passwords or other data safe. I reckon this is suitable for a residential setting, whereas, in a commercial setting, you need to install separate antivirus on your devices.
Conclusion
Asus RT-AC67P is a good router for Starlink that offers numerous upgrades over the standard Starlink router. The coverage is much better thanks to its 3 amplified antennas and other advanced technologies, so you get a reliable and consistent connection on all your devices.
- Excellent coverage
- Decent speeds
- Consistent throughput
- Budget option
- Security features aren’t much advanced
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use any third-party router with Starlink, and many people do so because of outdated features and lesser speed in a Starlink router. Even the ISP router is unavailable even with the simple guest WiFi network option.
Yes, you can use a mesh system with Starlink but not directly. You would need an Ethernet adapter and a cable for the purpose.
First, get an Ethernet adapter from the Starlonk shop to connect between the user terminal and the Starlink router. Then connect the ethernet port to the WAN port of the router. At this point, you have activated dual-LAN, so disable the functionality from the Starlink router by using the app. Once done, you’re ready to experience high-speed internet speeds.
Putting the router in a central location would be the best. In this manner, Wi-Fi signals transmit to every corner of your house and chances of network dead zones will be a bare minimum.
To bridge the Starlink router, start by installing it according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then verify its app’s online status and internet access. Then, connect an Ethernet cable to the RJ45 connection, and move on to the app’s settings tab. Select Bypass Starlink WiFi router and done!
Verdict
That’s all the information about suitable WiFi routers for Starlink. I hope you found the article informative. You can now use this as an anchor to find the device best suits you and your plan. However, if you still can’t decide, here are my favorites:
- My top pick would definitely be TP-Link Archer AX90. Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 can deliver the fastest speeds, coverage, and constant throughput. If budget isn’t a constraint, go for it.
- Now, if you don’t have that much budget to spare, yet need a reliable and quality router compatible with Starlink, then go for Netgear RAX50. At less than $200, it is a value purchase with its speed and coverage.
- Last, ASUS RT-AC67P is an optimal budget option to upgrade your Starlink router.
With that, I’d conclude my detailed review-based guide. I’d like to hear about which model you have gone for.
I understand that you are not able to port forward on the Starlink router. If I use one of the above routers instead of Starlink’s will I then be able to port forward or is the problem somewhere else in the Starlink infrastructure?
Hey Mike,
Yes, Port forwarding is a known issue with Starlink as it uses CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT).
However, you can use a VPN service that offers Port Forwarding Add-On. This addon shall help you bypass the CGNAT and configure Port Forwarding on your desired devices.
Thanks for your review. I have two StarLinks and on the first one I installed ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System (XT8) as the router and plus 5 nodes. Installation was a breeze and speed/range is great.
However on my second StarLink I have not been able to get an internet connection in both regular and bypass mode. If I connect a computer in non bypass mode it has great connection to the internet. I have spent three weeks on this project trying every different combination of equipment and replacement parts. I just can get to the internet with the router. Any ideas would be appreciated. When it works the ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System (XT8) belongs near the top of your list.
Thanks for the help
Lots of Starlink devices now deployed in RVs and boats where sq foot coverage is less of a factor but wall mounting, small size and 12v powering is far more important. I’m going to try the Asus RT-AC67P.
First of all, thanks for providing info on STARLINK .
I have an ASSUS: AC1750, MODEL RT: AC66: B1
Will this router work with the residential standard STARLINK System.
I don’t want to spend $$$ if not needed, but will upgrade if I have to.
My house is only 1800 sq feet, but use outdoors and in my shop that is approximately 100 feet from where my router will be.
Thanks.
Cedie
Hi Cedie,
ASUS RT-AC66 AC1750 is an entry-level router. Yes, you can use it with Starlink Residential. But I recommend getting a new device from the list above if you’ve multiple devices and a gamer in the house. It’ll enhance your experience much better.
Thanks for the input, but do you think I should go with one of the mesh systems or stick with the router. I don’t fully understand the differences in them. I have the standard residential router that came with the Starlink system. I appreciate your advice on this. Thanks again for your response.
Hey Cedie,
I understand your concern. 1,800 Sq Ft isn’t too big, and you don’t need a mesh WiFi system unless there are too many obstructions (like thick walls). The standard wireless router with a WiFi range capacity of 2,500 Sq Ft would suffice your needs.
FYI, a mesh WiFi system is similar to the standalone wireless router but differs slightly. With mesh, you get multiple devices to place at different places in your house. Combined, these devices make a seamless network, and you get stronger signals everywhere. It connects you to the closest possible unit wherever you move.