Centurylink is a Wi Fi provider that powers the homes of countless people across America. As we continue into an age where everyone is streaming online and using the internet, you’re going to notice your speeds slow down dramatically. That’s why you should upgrade your modem router combo, and that’s why I’ve put together a list of the best router for Centurylink that you should upgrade to.
What I’m Looking For
While I was looking for Centurylink compatible modems and routers, there were a few different criteria that I was looking out for. First, I made sure that all of the routers I’ve compiled are actually Centurylink compatible. Centurylink has a list on the official website of all compatible modem and router combos, so don’t worry about any routers on this list not actually being compatible with your internet package.
High Speed
Once I made sure a router was compatible with Centurylink, I checked out what kinds of speeds it offered. Having a high-speed internet connection is vital to day to day life these days. You have kids on Netflix, people on Zoom calls, PlayStations, Xboxes, and everything in between. One of the better ways to immediately improve your internet is to get a faster modem and a router for better internet speed, so that’s what I prioritize these entries with. Faster speeds mean that your download speeds are skyrocketed, ensuring you have a stable connection to anything that you might be doing, whether that be watching a show or conducting a business meeting.
Gigabit Ethernet Ports
After ensuring that the internet speeds were up to scratch, I checked out what the ethernet port situation with the router was. Ethernet ports are the slots in your router that allow you to use a weird internet connection. At a minimum, I was looking for routers that had four ports. The more, the merrier, obviously, but four tends to be the benchmark number. As well as ethernet ports, I also checked for USB ports. You want at least one USB 2.0 port and one USB 3.0 port on most modern high speeds routers.
Easy Setup
Despite how integral an internet plan has become to the lives of countless people across the planet, wireless internet services can still be unreasonably complicated to actually set up. With how streamline wireless technology is becoming, there’s no excuse for an overly complicated layout, user interface, or connection method. There is no speed or price worth the level of frustration that you’re going to endure while trying to set up wireless routers that just don’t seem to work.
Therefore, I was looking for ease of access to the customization options of the routers, as well as other features such as parental controls, smart home integration, tech support, and more. If a router is easy to set up, then that’s an indication that the manufacturer knows what it’s doing.
Technical Stats
I’m not going to bore you with all of the technicality involved with shopping for a router, but be aware that the technical aspect is there. I checked for things like tri-band versus dual-band routers, 2.4ghz versus 5ghz, bonded DSL technology or Centurylink fiber, and more. All of the Centurylink router models on my list have been technically analyzed to ensure that the hardware that the router is packing is up to scratch.
Price
Lastly, I also had a look at the price of the Centurylink router. Whether we like it or not, the best Centurylink modem and router combination is going to be expensive. There is a massive level of technical prowess and infrastructure powering these devices behind the scenes, so you’re going to need to pay for that. With that being said, not all great high-speed router models have a massive price tag. There are plenty of worthy models that have a very affordable budget price. When I was deciding what to put on the list, I weighed the price of the router with speed, the Centurylink uses, features, dual band, and more. That way, I was able to deduce what routers are going to give you the most band for your buck.
Disclaimer
Before we get started, I need to give you a bit of a disclaimer. There are two different types of internet packages that Centurylink compatible modem router combinations fall into. You either have Centurylink DSL modem compatibility or Centurylink fiber optic. These two options have different Centurylink modem models, as well as different router options.
I am going to identify which router on the list is for which in terms of speed packages. If your Centurylink package is 100mbps and under, then some of these routers are going to work for you, likewise, if you have a 1 gig plan.
Netgear Nighthawk X6
The Netgear Nighthawk X6 is one of the most affordable Nighthawk models out there. Nighthawk router models are notorious for delivering a level performance that is unrivaled by all other brands of internet router manufacturers, so the X6 is among the best value for money models that you’re going to find. It hasn’t got the fastest speeds in the world, but for the price point, it is still a great option. The router comes with all of the other features you would expect like parental controls, security customization, and more.
The X6 is compatible with the Centurylink fiber 1 gig plan.
Asus AC2900
Alongside Netgear, Asus is known for making some of the best wireless routers in the world. The AC2900 is one such router that has been designed with streaming and gaming in mind. It’s only a dual and Wi Fi router, which is a shame, but that doesn’t really matter when it is capable of streaming in 4k with little to no latency issues. It also happens to be incredibly affordable, delivering a Wi Fi performance that far exceeds the price point that the AC2900 sits at.
Just be aware that this router is also for Centurylink compatible modems that are on the 1 gig plan, so it’s unlikely your Centurylink DSL modem is going to work with this router.
Netgear WNDR 4300
This is the first Centurylink DSL modem router combo option on this list so far. The WNDR 4300 is a powerful piece of hardware that has a great range for a Centurylink modem router that runs on DSL technology. That being said, it’s not the best modem option in terms of speed. The price you’re going to pay for this router for the speeds you’re getting compared to those compatible with Centurylink modems on fiber is irritating. Having a non DSL technology Centurylink modem is going to allow you access to faster routers at a cheaper price point.
However, for those on Centurylink DSL under 100mbps, this is one of the best Centurylink internet routers you’re going to get.
Linksys E1200
If you’re on a strict budget when looking for the best modem for Centurylink internet that’s running off of DSL, then the Linksys E1200 is going to be the best router you can buy. It is ludicrously cheap, and I truly mean that. However, you need to be aware that the performance you get from it is going to reflect that price. The signal strength isn’t great, nor is the speed. On top of that, you might experience interference from other households if you live in something like an apartment complex.
This wireless model is going to work with Centurylink DSL on 2.4 GHz, but if you have any better internet service than that, then consider getting a higher-end model.
Linksys AC3200
Lastly, we’re talking about a non DSL wireless router from Linksys that is for Centurylink internet that has a wireless speed above 100 Mbps. If you’re not on DSL internet, then the Linksys AC3200 is one of the best router models that money can buy. It’s one of the faster modems for Centurylink ISP options, despite being priced incredibly moderately. If you need a router for your modem router combo on non DSL Centurylink, then consider picking up the AC3200.
Conclusion
Despite all of these router models being the third party, there is a list of modem router options available on the Centurylink website that list off some Centurylink options that work well with your packages. This list includes the likes of:
- Zyxel C1100Z
- Technicolor C1100t
- Zyxel C3000Z
- Actiontec C3000a
- Technicolor C2100t
- Actiontec C1900a
- Zyxel PK5001Z
- Actiontec C1000a
- Technicolor C2000t
- Actiontec PK5001a
- Zyxel PK5000Z
- Zyxel q1000z
- Calix C844g
All of these wireless modems are capable of delivering good performances with DSL Centurylink internet, with the Zyxel C3000Z working particularly well with DSL wireless modems. Having said that, I didn’t include any of these modems on the list because opting for a modem and router from your ISP provider tends to yield worse results than purchasing one from an established brand.
With all of that out of the way, the question of which is the definitive best router for your DSL and fiber internet remains. Regardless of my option, you need to make sure you’re getting the right router for your internet. For DSL users, the Netgear WNDR is your only real option, in my opinion. It doesn’t suffer from interference and delivers speeds that are far superior to the other DSL models.
For fiber users, the Asus AC2900 is my go-to pick. It’s an affordable router that gives you a performance that far exceeds how much the router is actually going to cost you.
