4 of the best routers with more than 4 ports

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An entry-level router can provide good enough Wi-Fi coverage for the simplest setups, but many home networks require more. We’re talking about dual- and triple-band connectivity, especially if your house or apartment is full of internet-connected devices. The ability to assign specific devices to specific bands can help reduce bottlenecks, but the best way to avoid Wi-Fi-related issues altogether is to take advantage of Ethernet ports.

Most routers, whether a standalone unit or a multi-node mesh system, include both WAN and LAN ports. And while wide area network (WAN) is typically a modem-only connection to an upstream Internet connection, local area network (LAN) is for components like gaming consoles, streaming devices, smart TVs, and more. When connected via Ethernet, these devices stop competing with the Wi-Fi-only hardware in your home, often resulting in a stronger, more reliable network.

Believe it or not, there aren’t many routers with more than four LAN ports, but what if that’s not enough for your wants and needs? You can always purchase an Ethernet switch that interfaces with your router, but we know that purchasing another component isn’t always feasible. To that end, we dug around and were able to find three standalone routers with more than four LAN ports. We’ll also recommend a mesh Wi-Fi system for those who need a standalone alternative.

Unfortunately, sometimes the best tool for the job is also the most expensive. The $630 Asus RT-BE96U is one of the company’s premium tri-band routers, and even if our bank accounts hate us, our online gaming is going to be amazing. The RT-BE96U has a total of five LAN ports, one of which can also be configured for WAN tasks. Here’s the best part: one of these LANs supports up to 10 Gbps. All other ports are 1Gbps connections, ideal for wiring PCs, gaming consoles and smart TVs.

Although it’s a bit bulky, the RT-BE96U packs a quadruple heatsink; that’s a chassis sacrifice we can sustain. Setting up the router is quite simple and can be done via a web browser or the Asus Router app. The latter is an intuitive interface with many features and settings, as well as the ability to monitor network traffic and connected clients. The RT-BE96U also performed well in Wi-Fi testing, and you’ll be able to choose between the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands.

PCMag praised the router’s overall performance and 10Gbps capabilities. Best Buy customers also love this product; more than 145 users wrote, earning the RT-BE96U four out of five stars. The majority like the speed and user-friendliness, but we’ve read a few reviews reporting occasional dropouts.

Space-saving designs are hard to find when looking for multiport routers, and unfortunately the $330 TP-Link Archer BE800 is no exception. But if you’re looking for a great Internet hub that will power your next gaming session or an intensive Internet workflow, look no further. Let’s start with wired connectivity: the BE800 has five LAN ports, four of which are capable of reaching speeds of 2.5 Gbps. The other port supports up to 10Gbps and you will also get 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz Wi-Fi bands.

According to TP-Link, the BE800 maxes out at 11,520 Mbps (6 GHz) and offers features like multi-link operation, 4K QAM, and 320 MHz performance. Tom’s Guide reports “excellent short-range throughput,” which bodes well for Wi-Fi devices that live near your router. We also like that the BE800’s eight antennas are internal; no alien-looking plastic towers on the exterior! The router is also mesh compatible, allowing you to configure it as a node for larger TP-Link networks.

On Amazon, the BE800 has earned four out of five stars, based on more than 500 user reviews. Most individuals appreciate the router’s fast speed, easy setup, and 2.5 Gbps connectivity. One thing to be aware of: A handful of users have reported a dead or dying BE800 after only several months of use. This doesn’t seem like a bigger quality control issue, but rest assured the BE800 comes with a two-year limited warranty.

Then there’s another standalone TP-Link router, and this one offers six LAN ports for all your wired needs. The $300 TP-Link Archer AXE300 is a quad-band Wi-Fi 6E router with two 5GHz bands, as well as 6GHz and 2.4GHz connections. TP-Link claims you’ll get up to 4,804 Mbps using the 5GHz and 6GHz bands, but the actual bandwidth is provided by LAN connections. Two of the ports support speeds up to 10Gbps, while the other four are rated for speeds of 2.5Gbps.

We have it on good authority that setting up the AXE300 is a breeze, especially when using the TP-Link Tether app. Monitoring and customizing your network is quick and intuitive, thanks to a well-optimized interface that prioritizes Wi-Fi essentials. You’ll also enjoy features like TP-Link’s OneMesh technology (configure router as a node) and HomeShield software. However, the latter locks a number of advanced settings behind a subscription paywall.

Android Central gave the AXE300 a near-perfect 4.5 stars out of five, and Best Buy shoppers felt just as positive. While only 19 user reviews were available at the time of writing, the router still earned 4.9 stars out of five. One user wasn’t a big fan of the price, but $300 isn’t too bad for a great router; maybe they bought the AXE300 when it was still $600.

We wanted this roundup to focus primarily on standalone routers, but we also wanted to highlight a mesh Wi-Fi system for larger homes and businesses. We chose the $300 Eero 6+ (3-Pack) because, between the main unit and two satellites, the system offers five 1Gbps LAN ports. A handy auto-detect feature also recognizes when you connect a modem, so you shouldn’t have to configure anything manually.

The Eero 6+ offers dual-band connectivity, and Amazon says the three-pack provides enough Wi-Fi coverage for a 4,500 square foot property. The system also provides other networking essentials, including WPA2/WPA3 encryption, MU-MIMO support, and a wired link option. PCMag gave the Eero+ a solid review, but made a good point: There are no USB ports to speak of. This isn’t really a problem, but even some of the most basic routers have at least a USB 2.0 port.

The feedback on this system is, however, quite interesting; more than 10,400 Amazon customers wrote in, earning the triple pack a 4.4 out of five star rating. One user shared the opinion that the Eero+ system does a poor job of automatically switching between Wi-Fi bands and doesn’t have the most responsive app.

As the title of our list suggests, all routers that made this list were required to have a minimum of five LAN ports. Three of the four products met this criterion, while the fifth offered a sixth configurable LAN/WAN port. Since most people who buy more than four ports are likely power users in one way or another, we’ve also tried to highlight routers with high bandwidth performance. Where available, we referenced how-to reviews from industry publications and also read user reviews on Amazon and Best Buy’s sites.

From these third-party sources, we evaluated the speed of these wired connections, current prices, supported Wi-Fi bands and standards, and performance reported in hands-on reviews. Because advertised wireless speeds represent theoretical maximums, actual performance will vary depending on factors such as home layout, interference, connected devices, and distance from the router.