In this day and age, living without fast internet is extremely difficult. However, there is one thing more annoying than having no internet. It is to have very slow internet. Browning the websites could become insufferable.
Keep in mind that paying your ISP more money and getting faster internet won't solve the issue. You have to change up your router too and get something compatible with the modern internet.
For that, we have gathered all the high-quality CenturyLink compatible routers. That way, you'll never have to bother with extremely slow internet that'll make you want to rip your hair off.
Benefits of Having CenturyLink Compatible Router
Internet is improving every single day, and your devices must keep up with it. That way, you'll always experience the best. There's no point in paying for fast speeds if your old router can't support it.
Speed
This one is pretty obvious, but having a compatible router will highly increase your internet speed. It will support more devices too. Getting a reliable option will make your experience bufferless, and everything will operate much more smoothly.
Coverage
A good router also provides you with better coverage. If your house has many walls and rooms, it can get challenging to transfer the signals through them. That's why you end up with poor reception. Thankfully, these routers are perfect for solving that issue.
Security
Getting new routers means that you will have better security against any harmful attacks. As technology improves, cyber-attacks are getting nastier. You never know when they might use your network too. That's why it is always wise to go for something highly-secured.
Saving Money
Plenty of ISPs will tell you to get their routers for the best performance. However, renting something like that becomes too expensive in the long run. Plus, most of the time, the routers they give you are mediocre at best.
Top 10 CenturyLink Compatible Routers
There're so many of these routers available in the market, and choosing the best one becomes pretty difficult. That's why we gathered all the information and created a review of the best ones available.
1. Linksys MR9600 Mesh WiFi Router
Are you tired of not getting good reception? Well, that means that your router can not transfer the signals well through the walls. For that, you need something that will provide you adequate coverage. That way, you'll get a good reception no matter where you are in the house.
The best product you can get for that is the Linksys MR9600. It can give you coverage up to 3000 square feet. That's more than enough for most people. Other than that, it comes with the latest WiFi 6 technology. That way, if your device is compatible, you'll get the best speed out there.
It does a great job in dynamically increasing the internet speed and removing any dead zones in the house. So, the connection stays the same everywhere. Setting up the router is also fairly simple. All you have to do is quickly download the Linksys mobile app and set the whole thing up in less than 2 minutes.
You can even manage all the devices with Alexa. Life will never get any simpler than this. If you need better network coverage, you can always get theory other mesh products and quickly set them up. That way, the whole networking in your house will be seamless.
Along with compatibility with CenturyLink, its latest WiFi technology helps you stream anything in 8K or 4K. So, future-proofing should never be an issue. You can also connect around 40 devices and still get good internet. It's safe to say that it will be more than enough for heavy users.
For the price, getting a better product will get pretty rough. You are getting many convenient and top-of-the-line features in this product, and the overall build quality makes sure that it can last you for years to come.
2. NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 Smart WiFi Router
Getting a high-quality router is pretty expensive, and not everyone can spend that much. Well, living with slow internet is also a problem. So, if you want the best budget option, you will have to look very hard. Since most affordable products have significant drawbacks, finding the right one becomes a pain.
Well, don't worry too much because we are here. When it comes to the perfect affordable option, you might want to check out the Netgear Nighthawk X6. For the price, this product has a lot to offer. Firstly, let's talk about the most prominent feature, which is its coverage.
This product can cover up to 3500 square feet, which is a lot. The signal strength of this product is surprising. No matter how many walls or rooms you have in your house, you can expect excellent connectivity from it. You can connect up to 50 devices too.
The router achieves a speed of 3200 Mbps because of its 1 GHz dual-core processor and six amplified antennas. You also get Beamforming+, Dynamic QoS, and even Alexa voice controls. The Netgear Armor protects you from any type of cyber threats and attacks too.
If you want parental controls on the internet, you can opt-in for a monthly subscription. You can also easily set up your cloud storage with USB ports. Setting up the router is also pretty straightforward. You even get guest WiFi access, VPN, and a firewall.
For the price, you are getting plenty of features. It is safe to say that you will have a tiny place to complain about when you get the product. And as expected from a CenturyLink compatible product, network coverage is excellent, and the speeds are impressive.
3. TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A9)
When it comes to budget routers, TP-Link is the first thing that comes to mind. They are one of the most popular router manufacturers out there, and for good reasons too - they give you superb quality for the price, but not all of them are good.
If you want something that will keep up with today's internet, then check out their Archer 9. This product provides you with 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. Other than that, there are some handy features too.
It's an MU-MIMO Gigabit router that gives you three simultaneous data streams. That gives you optimal performance and makes the whole process much more efficient. There are plenty of security features too. Unlike some other networks, it gives you full parental control over the internet.
You also get a VPN server, guest WiFi, access control, and WPA3. It has a smart connect feature that helps users connected to a less congested band. That is a huge plus point if you are a gamer or a streamer. You'll be getting fantastic speed from this router.
The only biggest downside is that the product doesn't have proper coverage. Many users complain about the overall longevity. However, if you can keep the router clean and check up on it frequently, you can prevent it to some degree. Overall, for the price, it is a fantastic product.
For a high-quality bang for the buck option, this one will be a great option. There are thousands of happy customers too. You can also set it up quickly with the TP-Link Tether app. If you don't want to spend too much on a router, consider this one with your eyes closed.
4. MOTOROLA VDSL2/ADSL2+ Modem + WiFi AC1600 Gigabit Router
Renting a router is one of the worst decisions you can make because you'll have to spend hundreds of dollars every year on it. With that money, you can get a top-of-the-line router of your own. So, don't worry too much and rent the VDSL2/ADSL2+ router from your ISP.
For that, you can check this one out from Motorola. This company is already famous for their phone and other products, but they're killing it in the connectivity game too. Firstly, before discussing the features, make sure to talk with your ISP before getting this model. Make sure that you always have the right connection for it.
This router comes with VDSL2/ADSL2+ modem with a full-featured AC1600 gigabit router. That way, you will be getting outstanding connectivity. The product has 4 Gigabit-Ethernet ports and full IPv4 and IPv6 support. There are some other nifty little features too.
Like other routers, you get terrific security too. You have a VPN server, and you can put a storage drive into the USB 2.0 port, which supports DLNA media sharing. Storing the router is also easy. There aren't too many wires to deal with, and setting up the router is effortless.
You get an installation wizard for fast and easy installation. It can also deliver speeds up to 100 Mbps, mainly depending on your VDSL and ADSL connection. The coverage is pretty decent, and it can easily cover a 2000 square feet house. Another great thing about getting this product is that you get friendly customer service.
It is a very reliable product, and the manufacturers are good at their jobs. You will not be experiencing any ups and downs. So, the internet always stays pretty consistent.
5. Zyxel C1100Z
People with a big house know just how difficult it is to get a proper internet connection sometimes. Most routers cannot send the signals through walls properly. That way, you get lousy reception even when you are one or two rooms away. So, what do you do to solve that issue?
Well, you can consider getting this model by Zyxel. The company is top-rated, and they are extremely good at what they do since they have been making these routers for decades now. This product has great coverage over your whole house.
That way, you'll never need to buy other mesh systems to amplify the existing network. Other than that, you get incredible speeds too. This one has the latest DSL technology inside, which is VDSL2. That helps you a lot in reaching speeds up to 300 Mbps.
The connection is always stable. Unlike other products out there, it does not give you ups and downs. The speeds always stay the same, which is great if you are streaming something. It comes with an impressive build quality. The body has a durable build to it.
So, you can expect this thing to last for years to come. On top of everything, the price tag makes the whole product a fantastic deal. This router runs on the 802.11n wireless standard, which will instantly detect CenturyLink. That just takes a lot of heavy load off of your chest too.
Overall, this is a solid product. You are getting fast speeds and coverage. Plenty of rooms and a big house will never be a problem. The price tag is more than affordable, and the build quality is very durable. If you're looking for a fast yet stable connection in a budget, look no further, this is the right router for you.
6. TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System(Deco M5)
The problem with big houses is keeping the network stable from room to room or floors. Having a CenturyLink connection isn't enough to alleviate that issue. You require a mesh system, which puts various repeaters in your house to maintain consistency.
So, here is another budget option for your home WiFi, if the previous one couldn't cover well. This one is a mesh system by TP-Link. At this point, you know how efficient they are in a budget. Well, this one is no different, either.
You get three units that you have to put in three different spots in your house. The devices will connect seamlessly and give you fantastic coverage up to 5,500 square feet. This mesh system is much better than getting any extenders because you would require setting up different names and passwords.
It also comes with automatic adaptive routing technology, which helps the router connect to the fastest path all the time. Another good thing is that you also get a lifetime subscription to their HomeCare facilities. That's great because you get robust security, Anti-Virus, QoS, and full parental controls.
Setting up the devices is also pretty easy. All you have to do is quickly download their app and connect your system. It will guide you through the whole thing. Overall, it's an excellent product for the price. Not only does it look good, but you never have to worry about your internet's stability.
High-quality mesh products can get stupidly expensive. That's why this one will be the perfect choice for you. On top of that, you are getting terrific performance out of it. So, if you are suffering from inadequate coverage, get this one to save all your issues.
7. NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR700 WiFi Router
Getting the best of the best is always important if you are a serious gamer. If you get a high-performance machine, then you will never have to worry about your ping dropping or messing up your stream. So, what is the best router for a gamer? Well, we are glad that you asked.
The Nighthawk Pro is a beast when it comes to sheer performance. It's a product with little to no compromises either. This product comes with six 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports. That way, you can forget about lag and maximize your ping. It also has a 1.7 GHz quad-core processor inside to give you more efficiency.
One of the best parts about this high-end product is that it can speed up to a whopping 7.2 Gbps. So, regardless of the bandwidth that you are getting from CenturyLink, you'll never have to worry about bottlenecks. This product also puts your traffic in a designated space to avoid any congestion, jitters, or lag.
You can also properly monitor your devices and check which one is sucking up most of the bandwidth. So, what are the security features? Unlike other products, you don't get parental controls, but you get a secure gaming VPN server. That's a great way to keep your identity and information protected.
When it comes to the build quality, it has your typical gamer aesthetics, but sadly no RGB. The materials feel premium, and they can give you support for a long time. Its custom dashboard is helpful if you want to check up on the performance or navigate the features.
Well, the biggest bummer is that this product is stupidly expensive. However, it makes sense if you need it. It's the perfect product for people who want the best out there.
8. Turris Omnia 2020
This product is for people who want outstanding performance but still don't want to spend too much. Getting high-performance routers can cost a pretty penny, but they are important if you have many people in the house or work a lot. Well, finding a good-quality budget option isn't too easy.
Since manufacturers have to cut costs somewhere, you end up with a subpar product. Thankfully, that is not the case with this option by Turris. It is jam-packed with incredible hardware, and the performance is through the roof. Firstly, it's a nice open-source router that works well in your home too.
It comes with a 1.6 GHz dual-core Marvell Armada CPU., which is more than enough for an average user. On top of that, it comes with 2 GB RAM and 8 GB eMMC for a much smoother performance. It can simultaneously operate both the 5 GHz and the 2.4 GHz network without any lag.
The router gets updated automatically. So, you are always getting the best browsing experience and fixes. Plus, you get a large amount of integrated software. If you love to play around with your devices, then this one will be a great choice.
It has a unique attack detecting system. The router can also collect this suspicious information and send it to the HQ for a solution if you enable the feature. There's also a built-in virtual server, which helps you use various software without risking the central system.
Overall, it is a cool product, and you are getting fantastic performance out of it. The build quality is relatively simple, and it doesn't stand out. If you're looking for a very powerful device with CenturyLink compatibility on a budget, this one will be the perfect option.
9. NETGEAR Nighthawk 12-Stream AX12 WiFi 6 Router
Performance might not be the only thing you look for in a router. What about the looks? If you're actually willing to spend big for a high-performance option, then it might as well have a sleek design too. For that, we have the perfect product for you.
This one by Netgear not only has outstanding performance but a beautiful futuristic design too. Firstly, let's talk about technology. It has WiFi 6, so you are getting the best what the world has to offer. However, the greatest thing about this router is its compatibility.
It will support almost any ISP out there. No matter if you have DSL, satellite, fiber, or cable. So, you can rest easy with anything you have. Setting up the connection isn't difficult either. You can easily set up the connection with the Nighthawk app. It gives you tons of convenient features too.
Besides only setting it up, you can also do stuff like checking your speeds, history, and control all the devices. When it comes to speeds, it can deliver up to a whopping 10.8 Gbps speed. That's going to be more than enough, no matter how many devices you have in your house.
It can support up to 4 times more devices and run 12 simultaneous WiFi streams. So, when it comes to sheer performance, there is no room to complain. As you may have guessed already, this product might cost an arm or a leg for some people. However, it is perfect for those who want the best out there.
There are some cool parental controls and important security features too. So, you'll never have to worry so much about any cyber threats. If you want to keep up with technology and get the best there is, this one will be worth every penny.
10. NETGEAR High-Speed Broadband DSL Modem
By far, most of the options we mentioned are either too expensive or more powerful than necessary. So, what if you have didn't require so much Gbps or features? Getting an affordable product with stable high-speed is totally understandable. That's why here is something you might really like.
You more or less know how powerful and impressive Netgear routers and modems are by now. This one is no different either. It connects to high-speed VDSL/ADSL internet access, and it can always give you a stable speed of 100Mbps. That's is more than enough if you only have casual use.
Plus, it will connect directly to a computer or a router. It has easy CD-less installation with its SmartWizard features. That way, you'll never have to worry too much about the installation. For a modem, it has great compatibility. It can efficiently work with VDSL, VDSL2, ADSL, ADSL2, & ADSL2+.
You are also getting good coverage. So, you can expect a decent network no matter where you are in the house. For security features, it will provide you with Denial-of-service (DoS) attack prevention. That'll be more than enough for the average user.
For DSL networks, this will be an awesome product. It will not cause you too much hassle, and you will get good internet speeds too. Overall, it is a good enough product that will give you all the convenient features you need.
Sure, it does not have many top-of-the-line features, but you can't complain when you look at the price. It is pretty affordable and nothing too flashy. Plus, you are also getting a durable build quality. So, you can use it with easily for years to come.3
What to Look for Before Buying?
Now that you know which products to get, it would be wise to know more about their features. That way, you can choose the perfect router with compatibility for CenturyLink yourself.
Speeds
Routers are mainly about speed. In case it can't provide you with good enough internet speed or keep up with your ISP, there is no reason to get it. If you have plenty of devices connected at home and always want fast internet, consider getting a router that will give you both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bandwidth.
That way, you can choose and keep the rarely used devices connected to the 2.4GHz one and frequently ones on 5GHz. That way, the two connections will never overlap, and you'll always get incredible speeds.
Also, go for a product that won't make you deal with too much traffic. You can get much faster speeds if you avoid congested lines.
Coverage
You can face this issue if you live in a big house or setting up internet in a large office. One of the easiest ways to solve this issue is getting a router with powerful antennas or getting a mesh system.
Mesh systems will give you the best results. However, it is always better to avoid any third-party repeaters because they require separate IDs and passwords. Plus, setting them up can be a hassle too.
Other Features
Some routers will provide you tons of different features. So, why not look for them too?
Parental Control
This feature will give you full access to the network. You can easily monitor the devices. Plus, you can also block some websites and see your history too.
Installation
Try to go for a product that will always give you an easy installation. It is still easy to set up your connection with an app. And it can guide you through the whole process.
Security Features
Cyber threats are getting very vicious these days. So, getting a highly-secured product is never a wrong choice. Try to go for a router that has VPN features. It's the best way to keep your information safe from hackers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will WiFi 6 work with older devices?Sadly, no, to take advantage of this latest technology, you'll have to use a device that is WiFi 6 capable.
2. Are USB ports necessary in a router?Yes, if you want to store something on the cloud or host a server, USB ports are essential.
3. Why does the 5GHz network have lousy coverage?Unlike the 2.4GHz option, this one can not go through walls well. The signal isn't too strong, and that's why you get bad reception.
4. Are mesh systems a waste of money?No, mesh systems are amazing if you want full coverage in a large place. It will keep the signal strength strong. So, you get a high-speed connection no matter where you go.
5. Do I need a VPN in my router?It is always better to have a feature you won't currently use than later regretting not having it. VPNs are important in a router if you take the security of your information seriously.
Final Words
Getting a high-performance router is necessary for this day and age. It can always give you a stable network and fast speeds. So, if you want high-speed internet, consider our review of these CenturyLink compatible routers. These products will make sure that you are having a relaxing time streaming and browsing the internet.
