For a multi-gig plan, choose the router by its internet (WAN) port first:
- Plans of 5 Gig and faster need a 10 Gbps internet port: the ASUS RT-BE88U (most multi-gig wired ports) or the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S (adds 6 GHz Wi-Fi).
- Plans of about 2 Gig need at least a 2.5 Gbps port: the ASUS RT-BE58U for a smaller home, or the NETGEAR Orbi 770 mesh system for a larger one.
We haven’t tested these products ourselves. They were picked from the manufacturers’ port specifications, which are facts you can check, against the rules below, and each one’s US regulatory status was matched to the FCC’s latest approvals.
Which port your plan needs
A router can’t pass more internet speed than its internet port allows. Here’s how one provider’s guidance lines up with plan speeds. gFiber recommends a 1 Gbps WAN port for its 1 Gig plan, a 10 Gbps WAN port with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 for its 2, 3 and 5 Gig plans, and a 10 Gbps WAN port with Wi-Fi 7 for its 8 Gig plan. In between 1 and 10 Gbps sit 2.5 and 5 Gbps Ethernet, defined in IEEE 802.3bz.
| Your plan | Minimum internet port | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 Gig | 1 Gbps | Any current router |
| About 2 Gig | 2.5 Gbps | gFiber recommends 10 Gbps for its 2 Gig plan, for headroom |
| 3 to 5 Gig | 10 Gbps | A 5 Gbps port is too tight for a 5 Gig plan |
| 8 Gig and above | 10 Gbps | Plus Wi-Fi 7 for the fastest wireless devices |
This table is Router Academy’s reading of the port speeds, using gFiber’s guidance as the benchmark.
Where multi-gig speed actually shows up
Intel’s rating is the source for that figure.
The picks by plan tier
| Pick | Internet port | Multi-gig LAN ports | Wi-Fi | Plan tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS RT-BE88U | 10 Gbps | 10 Gbps SFP+, three 2.5 Gbps | Wi-Fi 7, 2.4 + 5 GHz | 5 Gig and faster |
| NETGEAR RS700S | 10 Gbps | One 10 Gbps | Wi-Fi 7, 2.4 + 5 + 6 GHz | 5 Gig and faster |
| ASUS RT-BE58U | 2.5 Gbps | None (other ports 1 Gbps) | Wi-Fi 7, 2.4 + 5 GHz | About 2 Gig, smaller homes |
| NETGEAR Orbi 770 | 2.5 Gbps | 2.5 Gbps on router and satellites | Wi-Fi 7, 2.4 + 5 + 6 GHz, mesh | About 2 Gig, larger homes |
Port specifications are the manufacturers’: ASUS for the RT-BE88U and RT-BE58U, NETGEAR for the RS700S and the Orbi 770, which also offers a 2.5 Gbps wired backhaul option between units.
All four come from manufacturers with a current FCC Conditional Approval for these product lines: ASUS’s RT series until 6 March 2028, and NETGEAR’s Nighthawk RS and Orbi series until 1 October 2027, as of the FCC’s notice of 9 September 2026. See the FCC router rule explained.
For router choices beyond port speed, see the best Wi-Fi routers and How to choose a Wi-Fi router. If you need several units, the best mesh Wi-Fi systems and mesh backhaul explained cover keeping multi-gig speed across the home. If your provider supplied a gateway, check Modem vs router vs gateway for how to connect your own router.
