Millions of Americans rely on Xfinity as one of their only internet options, and with some of the best average download speeds in the country, it’s also one of the best options for many people. Xfinity uses copper coaxial cables for most of its customers meaning you’ll need a DOCSIS compatible modem in order to use your own modem. While you can get a router-modem combo that does it all, a standalone router and modem gives you the most flexibility moving forward.

Finding the right router for your Xfinity connection isn’t about getting the fastest router possible but finding one that matches your needs. With Wi-Fi 6, customers with slower internet connections may only need a budget model to get the most out of their connection. However, if you’re thinking about upgrading to a faster internet package, it pays to be prepared.

Stop paying rental fees with a new router for your Xfinity connection

The Archer AX72 Pro from TP-Link is a solid mid-range router that can be the perfect fit for an Xfinity customer thanks to its solid wireless speeds and 2.5Gbps Ethernet port. Xfinity’s fastest download speeds of 1.2Gbps and 2Gbps are both faster than a standard gigabit Ethernet connection, so if you’re looking for the best possible speeds from this cable ISP, you’ll need a router that supports multi-gig Ethernet.

On the wireless side, this router supports AX5400 Wi-Fi 6 speeds, which break down to 4804Mbps at 5GHz and 574Mbps at 2.4GHz. Most of your high-performance devices, like phones, game consoles, and PCs, will use the faster 5GHz band with 2.4GHz, which really only makes sense for older Wi-Fi devices and smart home tech. The 5GHz band supports 160MHz connections, so you should be able to get your full internet speed over Wi-Fi.

TP-Link makes setup easy with its tether app walking users through the setup process, and a web browser interface is available for adjusting more in-depth settings. TP-Link includes basic parental controls for free that allow you to use filters to block certain sites so you don’t have to hover over your children as much when they’re using their tablets. If you want some extra features like time scheduling, rewards, and enhanced security, a subscription to TP-Link HomeShield is available for $5.99 per month.

If you have a small home and/or not many close neighbors, you don’t need a high-end tri-band router for your Xfinity internet connection. If you have the 800Mbps plan or slower, this router is a great fit with its AX3000 connection offering plenty of overhead to keep up. The connection breaks down to 574Mbps at 2.4GHz and 2402Mbps at 5GHz. While these speeds may seem like overkill, it’s a good idea to have a little overhead, so speeds can stay strong through walls, furniture, and appliances in your home. It also means the router will be able to handle more connections at once without slowing down. On the back, there are four gigabit Ethernet ports for wired devices and four antennas.

Technically, this router could work with the 1000Mbps plan, but in practice, you’ll rarely, if ever, get the full gigabit speeds over Wi-Fi with it. Asus makes the setup process easy and quick with the ASUS Router app, which can guide you through the process and ensure you get updated. Asus also allows you to complete this process in a web browser if you don’t want to use your phone.

Asus’ software is some of the best with a ton of settings available to users who want them in the web browser and a simplified experience available in the app for everyone else. You can set up AiMesh in the app as well which allows you to use multiple Asus routers to build a mesh system. While this isn’t as simple as one of the best mesh systems, setting up an AiMesh system only takes a few minutes and works with a ton of models.

Gateway rental fees from Xfinity can add up quickly at a fairly steep $15. Xfinity’s gateways do the job of a modem and a router, so you’ll need to get both to replace one, but if you pick the right modem and router, you’ll be able to save over time. Just be sure to pick an approved modem for your internet speed and an affordable router like the Asus RT-AX1800S. It has a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 connection with 574Mbps at 2.4GHz, 1201Mbps at 5GHz, and four gigabit Ethernet ports on the back.

The RT-AX1800S is a simple router and lacks some of the software features of more expensive ASUS models, but it still supports VPN Client connections, AiMesh expansion, and basic parental controls. AiProtection Classic comes with some basic security improvements, but the upgrade to AiProtection Pro on higher-end Asus routers will be worth it to those looking for better security and robust parental controls.

Asus makes setup and management quick and easy with the Asus router app, though you can also connect using the web browser for advanced settings. Whether you just want a simple system you can plug in and forget or want to dig into the details, the Asus RT-AX1800S is a good pick.

It’s hard to overstate just how good the Asus RT-AX88U Pro is with its strong AX6000 connection, fast hardware, and robust software package. This router is ready for Xfinity’s fastest current speeds with support for 2.5Gbps Ethernet for your internet connection. The AX6000 dual-band connection doesn’t look special but with 160MHz support and 4804Mbps of capacity, it can handle a full family of devices with ease. On the back, there’s a 2.5Gbps port for a gaming PC or a fast NAS plus three gigabit Ethernet ports.

Our RT-AX88U Pro review found that this router also has strong average speed results with reliable software. Speaking of software, Asus packed the RT-AX88U Pro to the gills with easy NAT profiles for a ton of different games, a QoS for prioritization, VPN Fusion, and AiProteciton Pro. VPN Fusion really takes advantage of the powerful quad-core 2.0GHz CPU by allowing you to connect to up to two VPNs at once and specify which devices you want to use each one. You can also pass your gaming connection directly through for the lowest possible ping.

This router doesn’t have RGB lighting or red translucent details on the antennas like an ROG model, but it still has all the features needed to keep up with the most demanding competitive gamers, including streamers. If you’re a serious gamer who doesn’t need the RGB gamer aesthetic in every room, the RT-AX88U Pro is a great choice.

With compact nodes and an easy-to-use app, the Eero 6+ is an excellent mesh system with plenty of speed for up to Xfinity’s 1000Mbps plan. Each Eero 6+ node has an AX3000 connection with support for 160MHz connections. That breaks down to 2402Mbps at 5GHz and 574Mbps at 2.4GHz, though some of that speed will be used to link the nodes. Still, with a strong connection, you should be able to get near gigabit speeds, even connected to the remote node.

Each Eero 6+ router has two gigabit Ethernet ports and a single USB-C port for power. On the main Eero, you will have one Ethernet port available for a wired device, and up to two on the remote nodes. These compact routers use all internal antennas and have a very compact footprint at just 3.8 inches wide and 3.9 inches deep.

Eero makes setup easy with the Eero app walking you through every step of the process. The app and an Eero account are required to use the system, and settings are kept simple. If you’re looking for advanced settings, Eero is not the solution for you. If you want more features, Eero Plus offers features such as historical data, a VPN, ad blocking, VIP support, antivirus software, and more for $9.99 per month.

Mesh systems and gaming typically don’t mix with even the best meshes adding at least a millisecond or two of latency to your connection. While it’s always advisable to game over Ethernet if possible, your gaming machine may be out of reach of everything but Wi-Fi or you might prefer to game on a phone or tablet. The ROG Rapture GT6 is an impressive AX10000 mesh kit with a tri-band connection. This mesh uses the mostly vacant 5.9GHz spectrum for its backhaul to help avoid congestion and keep speeds high. Compared to 6GHz, this 5.9GHz spectrum allows the system to operate at a higher power level with less interference.

On the back of each node, you’ll find a single 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and three gigabit ports. That makes this system ready for Xfinity’s fastest speeds, and it’s even ready for faster multi-gig speeds. Each of the 5GHz bands has a capacity of 4804Mbps with 160MHz support, so you have plenty of overhead for the best speeds possible. If you’re trying to stream your gameplay, for example, you’ll want to make sure you have as solid a connection as possible since Xfinity’s slow upload speeds don’t leave a ton of breathing room.

Since it’s an ASUS product, you get set up via the ASUS Router app or in a web browser with access to all the advanced settings most people want. You also get AiProtection Pro with strong parental controls as well as the ability to prioritize your game’s connection. You can also expand your mesh using AiMesh, so you can use other models from Asus as nodes.

If you live in an apartment building or have multiple close neighbors, your Wi-Fi speeds may struggle. While Wi-Fi 6 has been designed to deal with congestion with features like OFDMA and 1024-QAM, you still may see lower-than-expected speeds if there are a lot of neighboring connections. The Wi-Fi 6E connection on the Archer AXE75 adds wireless capacity using the 6GHz band, which is still largely vacant and has many more channels available than 5GHz. While only newer tech supports 6GHz Wi-Fi, moving over some of your devices can free up bandwidth for older 5GHz-only tech.

The AXE5400 connection breaks down to 2402Mbps at 6GHz, 2402Mbps at 5GHz, and 574Mbps at 2.4GHz. Both the 5GHz and 6GHz bands support 160MHz connections, so your devices could connect at those full speeds. That being said, this router is only equipped with gigabit Ethernet ports, so the fastest speeds you’ll ever see are 1000Mbps. Still, for most homes, that’s plenty and comes with Xfinity’s fastest upload speeds, 35Mbps, so one or two people could even stream.

Like other TP-Link Archer routers, setup is handled by the Tether app or a web browser. TP-Link HomeShield is included, with extra security and parental controls available for $5.99 per month. Finally, EasyMesh support is included, so you can expand your coverage with a mesh later if needed.

Stay in control of your home network with your own router

Xfinity’s 10G network means a top download speed of 1200Mbps or 2000Mbps and upload speeds up to 35Mbps for most customers on current equipment. This slow upload speed is one of Xfinity’s greatest weaknesses, and the company knows it with plans to offer faster symmetrical speeds with the upgrade to DOCSIS 4.0. For most people, however, DOCSIS 3.1 will be the mainstay for a bit longer, and having your modem and router separate means you can upgrade to a DOCSIS 4.0 modem without needing to replace your router when the time comes.

It’s also worth mentioning that the rental XFI Advanced Gateway XB8 is quite good, with a Wi-Fi 6E connection and 2.5Gbps Ethernet. You’ll also get better customer support from Xfinity if something goes wrong, and you’ll have access to other xFi services if you’re interested. With these gateways, however, you give up most of the advanced network controls. You’ll also miss out on brand-specific software like Asus AiMesh and AiProtection or TP-Link’s strong smart home integration.

While you can plug a router directly into an Xfinity gateway, it’s not recommended as you can experience double-NAT issues which can cause issues with matchmaking in video games. You would also still have to pay the rental fee on the XFI gateway. When you’re buying your modem, make sure to get one that’s approved by Xfinity at the speed you want. For example, Xfinity’s supported speed may be lower than the potential top speed of a modem due to the way it distributes its channels.

For most Xfinity users, the TP-Link Archer AX72 Pro is a great fit for nearly all Xfinity users. This router supports dual-band AX5400 speeds and is equipped with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, so you can use it with the best Xfinity speeds in your area. If you pay for 1200Mbps, you'll want to be able to use all of it, after all. You can even use it in a mesh if you find you need more coverage thanks to EasyMesh support.