Netgear vs. Asus Router: A Complete Comparison Guide in 2023
Netgear and Asus are the top router manufacturers in the market. If you’re looking for a router, I’m sure these are the first two brands that will come to mind. But which one is better?
Before choosing between Netgear vs. Asus routers, you need to know your needs and preferences.
Netgear is well-known as a powerful router suited for large homes and offices. Meanwhile, Asus is well-known for gaming and incredibly efficient gaming features.
Both router brands make a very sound investment. But we’ve prepared a comparison guide to help you make an informed decision. Let’s go!
Table of Contents
Netgear vs. Asus Router: In a nutshell
Netgear is a well-known router and mesh system producer, and its products are popular among large homes and businesses. Their routers are known for their reliability and performance. Plus, their mesh systems are designed to provide excellent coverage.
Netgear offers a wide range of features and options. It makes it easy to find a product that meets your specific needs.
Their products include
Meanwhile, Asus is well-known for gaming routers and their top-of-the-line features. Some of the best gaming routers come from Asus, which continues to innovate in this area.
Asus routers offer excellent speeds and range and are packed with features that appeal to gamers.
They manufacture a lot of products, including
- Routers
- Mesh Wi-Fi systems
- Laptops
- Netbooks
- Motherboards
- Mobile phones
- Computer cases
Their gaming routers are some of the best on the market and are perfect for gamers who want the best possible performance.
Both Netgear and Asus have a wide range of networking devices that are compatible with all major internet providers. This means that no matter who your internet provider is, you’ll be able to use Netgear products without any issues.
This is a huge advantage for customers like you. It means you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues when choosing Netgear or Asus products.
Netgear vs. Asus Router: Performance and Features
| Netgear | Asus | |
| Security Features | Netgear Armor | AiProtection |
| Built-in Technology | MU-MIMO Technology Beamforming OFDMA | MU-MIMO Technology Beamforming OFDMA |
| Wireless Standards | Wi-Fi 4 Wi-Fi 5 Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 4 Wi-Fi 5 Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E |
Netgear and Asus produce routers and mesh Wi-Fi systems that are equipped with advanced built-in technologies and high wireless standards like Wi-Fi 6.
Each model has different sets of features and specs, but their devices offer excellent speeds and range. These features make them ideal for providing strong Wi-Fi signals for gaming, homes, and businesses.
In addition, both brands offer comprehensive security features to keep your Wi-Fi network safe from intruders. Netgear offers Netgear Armor, while Asus has AiProtection.
Netgear Armor
Netgear Armor is a security software package offered by Netgear. It is powered by Bitdefender and provides a one-stop internet security solution for your home or small office.
The software protects any device connected to a Netgear router, including PCs, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Netgear Armor also includes a bundled bonus of award-winning protection for any device connected to a Netgear router.
It provides a wide array of features, including
- Bitdefender VPN
- Parental Control
- Anti-Phishing
- Anti-Fraud
- Antispam
- Complete Real-Time Data Protection
Some models already come with a year of free subscription to Netgear armor.
With Netgear Armor, you can rest assured that your network is safe from malware, phishing attacks, and other online threats.
AiProtection
Asus routers are known for their performance, and their security software is no different. AiProtection is a powerful security solution that helps to protect your network from a variety of threats.
It includes a firewall that can block incoming and outgoing traffic. It also comes with an intrusion detection and prevention system to detect and stop malicious activity.
AiProtection is easy to use and configure and provides a high level of protection for your Asus router. It includes other features such as
- Network protection
- Parental controls
- 24/7 Auto Update
- Protected Connections
- URL Filter
- Firewall
- Guest Network
- Malicious Site Blocking
AiProtection is a security solution that is compatible with selected routers. It offers a lifetime subscription, so you don’t need to pay any additional fees.
Netgear vs. Asus Router: Best Uses
Netgear is an excellent choice for both homes and offices because it offers fast Wi-Fi speeds and higher capacity. This makes it perfect for streaming 4k videos, gaming, and other high-bandwidth activities.
Additionally, the router is compatible with a variety of devices, including smartphones, laptops, and desktop computers.
Asus routers are an excellent choice for online gaming and heavy streaming. They have high-speed processors, powerful external antennas, and advanced networking technologies.
These features combine to give Asus routers the edge they need to keep up with the demands of online gaming.
In addition to great specs and features, Asus routers have a stylish and modern design that complements any gaming setup. Their edgy and futuristic look will turn heads and make your gaming setup look even more impressive.
Netgear vs. Asus Router: Pros and Cons
When it comes to routers, there are a few things you need to take into consideration before buying them. First, you need to know your needs. How fast is your internet connection? What’s the price limit?
Once you know what you need, you can start looking at the different models of either Asus or Netgear routers.
Netgear and Asus have their own advantages and disadvantages, so here’s an overview of their pros and cons.
Netgear: Pros and Cons
In terms of sheer specs and features, Netgear routers are some of the best on the market. Their products offer solid performance and are packed with features that make them ideal for both home and small office use.
Additionally, Netgear routers come with robust security features. These make them a good choice for those who are looking for a reliable and secure router.
Pros
- Offers high-end and affordable routers.
- Has a wide range of products and models to choose from.
- Very powerful routers and mesh systems provide reliable and stable internet connections.
- Very flexible and versatile as it can be used for homes, offices, and even gaming.
Cons
- High-end models like the Orbi Pro are really expensive.
Overall, Netgear is an excellent router manufacturer, and its products are well worth considering for both home and small office use.
Asus: Pros and Cons
If you’re looking for a gaming router that can handle online gaming and streaming, Asus is an excellent choice. Their routers are designed to deliver fast, reliable performance, and they offer a wide range of features to choose from.
Whether you need support for 4K streaming or gaming at high speeds, Asus has a router that can meet your needs. Plus, their routers are easy to set up and use, so you’ll be up and running in no time.
Pros
- Plenty of products to choose from, whether it’s a mid-range to high-end model.
- Edgy and well-planned design that suits any gaming setup.
- Some models are AiMesh-compatible, so expanding wireless signals is easy.
Cons
- The management system isn’t as effective and easy to use as other brands.
- The parental controls aren’t as robust and comprehensive as Netgear Armor parental controls.
Netgear vs. Asus Router: Best Products
If you’re looking for a high-quality router, you can’t go wrong with Netgear or Asus. Both brands offer a wide collection of models to suit any budget and need.
Here are our top 3 picks from each brand:
Best Netgear Routers
Best Overall: Netgear Orbi RBK852
With this router, you can cover up to 5,000 square feet and enjoy blazing-fast WiFi speeds of up to 6Gbps. You can also stream games, and video calls on 100+ devices simultaneously without any lag or buffering.
Best Budget: Netgear R6080
The R6080 delivers Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1000 Mbps. You can improve performance for up to 15 devices and cover an area of 1000 square feet.
The $40 dual-band router has 4 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 2 external antennas. For its specs and price, it’s quite a steal.
Best Gaming: Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR1000
The Nighthawk XR1000 Gaming Router is designed to provide every gamer with superior connectivity and dramatically lower ping rates by up to 93%. WiFi 6 also offers 4x the capacity and 40% faster speeds.
Additionally, the DumaOS software provides a suite of tools for a better online gaming experience. It includes prioritizing applications and devices, wiping out network congestion, and more.
Best Asus Routers
Best Overall: Asus RT-AC86U
The Asus RT-AC86U is the best overall Asus router for several reasons. Firstly, it provides an Ultimate gaming experience with its powerful processor and ultrawide coverage.
Secondly, its Ultrafast Wi-Fi speeds and Aimesh support make it the perfect router for gaming and streaming. It supports up to 2.9 Gbps of Wi-Fi speeds.
Finally, its ultrawide coverage means that you’ll never have to worry about losing your connection.
Best Budget: Asus RT-AX55
Asus’s RT-AX55 is a next-generation WiFi router that supports the latest WiFi standard, 802.11AX (Wi-Fi 6). It offers fast WiFi speeds of up to 1800Mbps.
The router also features MU-MIMO and OFDMA for simultaneously efficient communication with multiple devices. Additionally, the RT-AX55 is compatible with the ASUS AiMesh WiFi system for seamless whole-home coverage.
Best Gaming: Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000
The AX11000 Tri-band WiFi 6 Gaming Router supports ultra-fast internet speeds of up to 11Gbps. It is compatible with the PS5 and has a 2.5G port for faster speeds.
It also has DFS band support for better range and performance. The router also includes an Adaptive QoS feature that automatically adjusts the network speed to ensure smooth gaming. The router also includes AiMesh for a mesh wifi system and free network security.
Our Verdict: Netgear
You really can’t go wrong between a Netgear vs. Asus router. But, Netgear is our top pick for a router brand.
If you’re looking for the best performance, then a Netgear wireless router is the way to go. Their Nighthawk line of routers is some of the fastest and most reliable on the market.
But, if you want faster speeds for your gaming activities, then Asus is the better choice. Their routers come with a lot of features that allow you to customize your network to your specific gaming needs.
