4 Underrated Router Brands That Can Rival Netgear

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Netgear products consistently rank among the best Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems you can buy. However, reviewers have noted that Netgear’s high-end models, like the Nighthawk M7 5G, can be prohibitively expensive. Many people might feel pressured to buy an overpriced Netgear router. After all, you wouldn’t want to buy one of Netgear’s budget models; These are generally cheap routers that should be avoided if you want good value for money. Fortunately, there are several router brands that can compete with Netgear, allowing you to choose a viable alternative at the price you want.

What makes a router competitive with one of the best-known names on the market? Above all, it must provide competent support for the latest Wi-Fi 7 features. There are many reasons why you should upgrade your router to Wi-Fi 7, and we’ve reached a time where even lesser-known brands should meet these demands. Here are some underrated router brands worth considering if you want an alternative to Netgear.

Ubiquiti is the company behind the UniFi line of Wi-Fi routers. The UniFi Dream Router 7 has received praise from RTINGS for its ability to deliver very high peak speeds, even in multi-story homes, making it suitable for heavy gaming or high-resolution streaming. Likewise, the Netgear Nighthawk RS90 works well in multi-story homes, making the two products fairly direct competitors of each other. The Dream Router 7 is a bit more expensive, however, with a starting price of $279 in the UniFi Store.

Ubiquiti touts its products as “cutting-edge hardware,” a sentiment supported by Reddit users who say UniFi devices really are “that good.” The company markets its products to businesses and “prosumers,” making UniFi an underrated name in the home networking market. This is partly because Wi-Fi 7 routers like those in Ubiquiti’s latest lineup still have drawbacks. However, if you want to create an enterprise-grade network in your home with fully scalable Wi-Fi 7 capability, UniFi products could be a logical step forward.

The Zyxel brand recently faced some challenges when the FBI identified certain routers targeted by a massive malware operation. A total of nine end-of-life Zyxel router models were found to be vulnerable to the malware. The malware targeted end-of-life devices that had not received security updates for some time. So it shouldn’t let you ignore some of the powerful products in the Zyxel range.

TechRadar reviewed the Zyxel FWA510 router and found that the company’s 5G-ready routers are excellent at providing the versatility some homes need. At the time of writing, however, the FWA510 costs over $500, making it an excessively high-end model that’s difficult to recommend to most people.

A review from Dong Knows Tech highlighted the Zyxel NWA130BE as a solid Wi-Fi 7 hotspot at an affordable cost. At $79.99, this hotspot is a reasonable buy if you already own a Wi-Fi 7 router and want to expand coverage without spending a fortune. Reddit users also praised Zyxel’s wireless hotspots for home use, but some also warned that Zyxel tends to stop supporting older devices without warning.

Linksys is a well-established name in the router industry, but it’s sometimes overshadowed by brands that favor flashy designs, gamer-centric aesthetics, and premium features. As modest as they are, Linksys produces inexpensive routers that Amazon users swear by. The Linksys AX2200 is a remarkable Wi-Fi 6 router that gets a very respectable 4.5-star customer rating and will only cost you $40.

You can also find affordable Wi-Fi 7 routers at Linksys. The Linksys Velop Micro 7 mesh system is competitive with the Netgear Nighthawk RS300 Wi-Fi 7 router and comes with three nodes for $319 – or a single router node can be purchased individually for as little as $115. Professional reviews of Linksys’ previous product, the Velop Pro 7 router, were harsh, with PCMag citing “disappointing performance and a distinct lack of high-speed LAN ports.” However, users have been much kinder to the new Velop Micro 7 mesh system; a customer review on Amazon highlights the simplicity and flexibility of the product.

GL.iNet is one of the most underrated router brands. Although a relatively unknown name in the United States, Reddit users have described their products as “phenomenal routers,” with one commenter claiming, “I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about them.”

The company’s newest router is the GL.iNet Slate 7, which distinguishes itself as a “travel router.” It features a compact form factor and built-in VPN services for better protection when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. RTINGS reviewed the Slate 7, praising its connection speed and range while criticizing its lack of mesh support and absence of a 6GHz band.

GL.iNet routers can compete with Netgear in both innovation and price. For $170, the Slate 7 acts as a Wi-Fi 7 hotspot that you can use anywhere and configure on the fly with an on-device touchscreen. Granted, these are similar to the features you’ll find in Netgear’s rival mobile router, the Nighthawk M7 5G, but for almost a third of the price and without 5G cellular technology.

To highlight underrated router brands, we looked at the respective “Best Routers of 2026” lists from PCMag, RTINGS, and Tom’s Hardware and only considered manufacturers whose products didn’t appear more than once in those three lists. We also wanted to make sure the routers we chose could compete with the best and most modern products from a powerhouse like Netgear, so every brand mentioned above has a potentially upgradeable Wi-Fi 7 router among its latest offerings.

We’ve also ensured that recent routers from selected brands consistently maintain good user ratings on Amazon, with no major flaws noted in customer reviews. If you’re looking for a reliable alternative to a Netgear router, the general sentiment from professional reviewers and everyday users suggests that these brands can give you what you’re looking for.