TP-Link vs Netgear. Which Router Brand to Choose?
TP-Link and Netgear are two of the most popular WiFi router brands currently out there. You’ve probably heard of both but aren’t too sure which one is best at the end of the day. Well, this TP-Link vs Netgear comparison review will make sure to brief you on the most important details.
You’d be surprised by how similar both of these brands and their products are. However, there are a few crucial differences that are important to know. We will discuss some of their best products, features, and anything else worth knowing before you finally decide which one to go with.
TP-Link vs Netgear – Which Brand Is Better?
Even though they’re different brands, there are many similarities between the two. They offer many routers with similar features and specs. The quality and service you get from both brands are also not too far apart as well. The main differences between TP-Link are in router design and price.
If you want to look at cheaper options, then TP-Link has a wider catalog. They do feature high-end and more expensive routers, but you can also find many cheaper ones as well. Netgear, on the other hand, is more focused on making high-end routers that offer quite rewarding features and benefits in terms of speed, WiFi signal strength, and overall quality but can often be pricier.
TP-Link Overview
TP-Link is where you’ll find some of the best routers under $100 that are worth having in your home. TP-Link may be less popular than Netgear but they are still an established brand that’s quite successful. Their routers are perfect for mid-sized homes looking for decent and reliable WiFi.
TP-Link’s product catalog is quite diverse. They feature a lot of products for different uses that can help you create a smart home. You can easily find any of the following products on the TP-Link website:
- WiFi Routers
- Mesh WiFi
- Range Extenders
- Security Cameras
- Smart Plugs
- Business Switches
- Adapters
- and Countless Accessories
Netgear Overview
According to Google Trends, Netgear is the more popular brand of the two. This is not just in the US but actually worldwide. Netgear also offers a wider variety of high-end products but they still include cheaper models that are perfect for everyday home use.
When something like gaming or high-end business needs are in question, Netgear would be the obvious choice thanks to a few of their routers such as NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000. Netgear is more qualified when it comes to heavy-duty products and systems that significantly increase WiFi range, speed, and strength.
When you look at Netgear’s product catalog, you will also find a wide variety of products that include the following:
- WiFi Routers
- Home Mesh WiFi
- Range Extenders
- Cable Modems
- USB WiFi Adapters
- Network Storage
- Wireless Access Points
- Business Routers
TP-Link vs Netgear: Detailed Comparison
The choice of which brand to choose is always left up to you. However, it’s crucial that you’re aware of a few important factors such as customer service, pricing, quality of products, and similar when making your decision.
Customer Support
TP-Link: The brand features more than one way to contact their support in case of any issues. TP-Link also includes a support page where a decent amount of content is published that relates to the most common problems users may experience. In addition, there are also plenty of videos explaining various solutions and a TP-Link support community page where customers can help each other out.
Netgear: With Netgear, you have more features and services when it comes to customer service and support. They have several different support plans for various users. You can choose to pay for extra fast support and even for a staff member to fix any issue for you. They also feature a large database full of information on all of their devices, ordered by device type and model.
Reliability
Neither TP-Link nor Netgear became two of the most popular computer networking brands by not being reliable. Both companies are exceptional when it comes to reliability and customer care. TP-Link and Netgear have an extensive history of providing reliable and high-quality products. In any case, it’s always worth researching their products a bit more before buying to ensure you don’t buy something you don’t need.
Pricing
When it comes to pricing, it depends highly on what you’re looking for. It’s normal for everyone to want a lower price but you have to look at the features. If you’re searching for cheaper options that are perfect for basic home use, then TP-Link will be your best choice. On the other hand, if you want a wider product catalog filled with high-end gaming routers, powerful long-range WiFi routers, and HD streaming routers, then Netgear will almost certainly have what you’re looking for.
Return Policy
Even though both brands do offer returns, TP-Link does not offer free returns or exchanges of products. Netgear does offer free returns. Netgear’s return policy requires that you send back the product within a maximum of 30 days for a refund. With TP-Link, customers are required to pay for the shipping fees of their returns.
Final Verdict
To sum up our entire comparison of these popular brands, here’s what you need to know.
TP-Link has a wider catalog of products with decent prices and perfect for standard home use. If you’re looking for cheaper Wi-Fi routers that will still offer fast internet speeds and strong signals, then TP-Link is more than suitable.
With Netgear, you still have similar routers that are decently priced and offer enjoyable features. However, Netgear also features much better high-end routers that can more than offer smooth gaming and high-quality video streaming.
Depending on what exactly you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong with either of these reliable and trusted brands. When it comes to TP-Link vs Netgear, you can rest assured knowing that both of these brands will have what you’re looking for.
Don’t forget worldwide TP-Link is the #1 networking brand in the world and has been for almost a decade. They also do not charge for support and offer at 2-year manufacture warranties.