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RouterMag

Best Dual-Band Routers

Two bands, 2.4 GHz for range and 5 GHz for speed: plenty for most homes and usually the cheaper option.

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97 routers

Is a dual-band router enough?

Most homes don’t need more than two bands. A good dual-band router covers an apartment or a small house and keeps up with typical internet plans.

Within dual-band, compare the 5 GHz speed and channel width (160 MHz roughly doubles speed for devices that support it), the WAN port, and coverage. For mesh, dual-band kits share 5 GHz between your devices and the link between units.

More devices or a mesh setup? See tri-band routers.

Frequently asked questions

What does dual-band mean?

The router broadcasts on two bands: 2.4 GHz for range and older devices, and 5 GHz for speed. Most routers let both share one network name.

Who should buy dual-band?

Apartments, smaller homes and anyone on a plan under 1 Gbps. Dual-band routers are simpler and usually cost less than tri-band ones.

Are there dual-band Wi-Fi 7 routers?

Yes. They get Wi-Fi 7 features like MLO on 2.4 and 5 GHz, but without a 6 GHz band they miss out on 320 MHz channels.