Is the Archer AX21 right for you?

The Archer AX21 is a weird one because you’d think a newer model would be better than the previous one, right? But it’s not. In fact, TP-Link took a step back with this revision that makes it less of a value. It’s not a bad router by any means—it even provides more Wi-Fi channels than the one before it. But if standout features are what you want, the Archer AX20 is a better buy.

Fastest internet plans for the Archer AX21

The Archer AX21 uses Gigabit Ethernet internet connections, so it’s not compatible with plans 1,000Mbps and faster. To see if you have the best internet speeds for the AX21, run our speed test first:

Download our speed test app to find out how fast your internet is.

You don’t need the fastest plan to enjoy this router. But If you’re shopping for an internet upgrade, here’s a list of the best plans you can get.

Archer AX21 standout features

TP-Link removed many of the notable features seen with the Archer AX20 model, so the list isn’t quite so impressive.

Compare the Archer AX21 to the competition

We haven’t tested a lot of budget Wi-Fi 6 routers, so our comparison list is rather limited. The Reyee RG-E5 is your best bet for long range based on our tests, but it costs a little more than TP-Link’s router and the NETGEAR one. None of them support multi-gig wired or wireless speeds, so you may want to look elsewhere if that’s what you need—especially if you have a 1,000Mbps internet plan or faster.

If you need a budget router with VPN tools, the Archer AX21 is your best choice of the three. It comes with a built-in VPN server you can use to surf the internet when you’re off the local network. The NETGEAR model has a VPN server, too, plus a VPN client you can only use with the PureVPN subscription service. There are no VPN tools built into the Reyee router.

See our full coverage of the best budget routers.

Our Archer AX21 scoring breakdown

* out of 5 points

Like its predecessor, the Archer AX21 has really good speeds for the money. It’s on par with nearly every inexpensive router we’ve tested, like the NETGEAR R6700AX and the Reyee RG-E5—at least at close range. The Reyee model outperformed the other two at long range in our testing, with a 330Mbps average versus 223Mbps with the Archer AX21 and 203Mbps with NETGEAR’s router.

However, we didn’t see an uptick in performance with the AX21 over the older Archer AX20 model. Both had similar speeds up close and at long range. Also, neither one supports 160 MHz channels or has the multi-gig port to back them up, so the most Wi-Fi speeds you’ll ever see will be under 940Mbps anyway.

If you need more speed, take a look at TP-Link’s Archer AX3000 Pro and AX5400 Pro routers, although they’re almost double in price. Both routers have multi-gig internet ports and 160 MHz channels.

If you want more value for your money, the older AX20 model is a better deal feature-wise. You get media streaming and file sharing, which the newer AX21 model lacks. You also get a built-in VPN client, which the newer model also lacks. If none of these matters to you, ignore our complaint and go with the newer model. Case closed. Thank you and have a nice day.

But here’s the deal: The older AX20 model supports TP-Link’s free HomeCare suite of security tools and parental controls. The AX21 uses HomeShield, which now splits its premium features into three optional subscriptions—two for security and one for parental controls. So, expect to pay more over time for the AX21 model if you want to use everything it offers.

What we wish the Archer AX21 did better

• Better free parental controls
• File sharing

The AX21’s free parental controls are limited. You can create a user profile, add connected devices, block and allow specific websites, set daily internet use limits for weekdays and weekends (up to eight hours each day), and create daily use windows, like 5–8 p.m. on Tuesday. You can’t filter out content and applications or reward kids with extra internet time without a subscription.

As for file sharing, other TP-Link routers with a USB port allow you to share files across your local network and the internet using a USB drive. You can also stream media from a connected USB drive or back up your Mac using Time Machine. The Archer AX21 doesn’t have a USB port, so you’ll need a NAS device connected to an Ethernet port to have similar services.

We don’t expect much from a router under $100, but we can call out the differences between this router and the earlier model, the Archer AX20.

The big difference between the two is the AX21’s lack of a USB port, which removes some of the features that made the AX20 model a good value, like local media streaming and file sharing. There’s none of that here unless you connect a NAS to one of the router’s Ethernet ports.

On the other hand, the AX21 supports all the non-DFS 5 GHz wireless channels, so you have more options for steering your Wi-Fi network away from interference caused by neighboring networks flooding the area. The older AX20 model supports only the lower 5 GHz channels.

But both routers limit your data stream count, so you may want to look elsewhere if your home generates a lot of network traffic on your side of the modem or ONT. The more streams you have, the better a router can support lag-free simultaneous downloads.

We’ve said the TP-Link setup process could be a bit more streamlined, and the Archer AX21 setup is no exception. You can click the autodetect button to detect your internet connection, but you can’t do the same with the time zone. Instead, you have to manually choose it. You must also select your router’s MAC address type, which may leave novice users scratching their heads.

The setup process would be better if it were split into Basic and Advanced options like we see with ASUS routers. Advanced would include the MAC address step and additional steps for setting security questions. A basic option would be ideal for those who want to get the network up and running quickly—they can deal with the more technical settings later.

There’s little to report here. The web interface is one of the best we’ve used on a TP-Link router, and the company does an excellent job cramming most of what you need into the Tether app. Both are easy to use and even easier once you get the hang of where everything is.

But all the blue and white can get rather hard on the eyes, especially when managing your home network in dim lighting. TP-Link provides a dark interface on its Archer AX11000—why can’t we get something similar across the board? At least give the Tether app a dark mode option, since most users will probably use it as their primary interface.

That said, we’ve given this category a score of “3” in past TP-Link router reviews featuring this same interface and app layout, but maybe we’ve been a bit too harsh. It is easy to use, after all—we just want one single, easy-to-read interface. Is that asking too much?

Are there any additional costs?

TP-Link now separates its premium parental controls from its premium security services. We provide detailed pricing for HomeShield Secure+, Total Security, and Advanced Parental Controls in our FAQ.

Our Archer AX21 review: The verdict

The Archer AX21 is a revision of the AX20, and we’re not sure why it’s even a thing. On one hand, TP-Link increased the channel count on this model to better avoid interference creeping in from neighboring networks. That’s a good thing. You want access to the higher, less-used wireless channels because the lower ones have become as crowded as Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

But TP-Link removed the USB port for this model, so you don’t get the file sharing and local media streaming features offered on the older Archer AX20. If you don’t care about those things, or you generally use a NAS device for sharing, then the newer AX21 model is the better choice, hands down.

Overall, the Archer AX21 is a great budget pick. It provides decent speeds, even at long range. Plus it supports both EasyMesh and OneMesh, so you can easily add other routers, extenders, and powerline adapters to extend your Wi-Fi network throughout your house.

Get the TP-Link Archer AX21

FAQ about the Archer AX21

Methodology

We test router speed by setting up each router in an office and connecting it to a local test server. Then, we transmit test data between our wireless devices and the server, taking numerous measurements to account for fluctuations in Wi-Fi speeds.

The first tests occur close to the router, without obstructions—so the Wi-Fi is as strong and fast as it’s gonna get. We repeat the process straight out at 10, 20, and 30 feet, with only a glass door obstructing our view of the router. The same glass door and an exterior door blocks our path when we test outside at 40 and 50 feet.

We also run tests in a hallway to the left of the TV room and office—where there’s a glass door, three walls, and an air handler unit blocking our view of the router. The dining room, another testing point, sits to the right of the kitchen, TV room, and office—two walls and a glass door block the path in this test.

To test video streaming, we connect a fast storage device to the router and stream a 4K video to six wireless devices simultaneously—two phones, three tablets, and a laptop—connected to the same wireless band.

Client devices used in testing

Archer AX21 benchmarks (5 GHz only)

Disclaimer