Best DD-WRT Routers Under $50
When you start out to acquire the very best DD-WRT router, you’ll quickly discover that the majority of these devices are prohibitively costly. The primary reason for this is due to their technical specifications. DD-WRT routers require powerful CPUs, storage, and RAM, which makes it very difficult to manufacture a low-cost device that meets the requirements of the protocol. However, this does not rule out any other possibilities for you. This list of the best DD-WRT routers under $50 is the result of a thorough investigation into hundreds of the cheapest DD-WRT routers available, allowing you to get started with custom router firmware on a shoestring budget.
Before we show you our suggestions, we want you to know that we’ve done our best to locate and offer the genuinely best DD-WRT router for under $50 that we could find on the market. Despite the fact that some of the following alternatives come with significant trade-offs, they all offer tremendous value for the money. Our advice would be to first determine the maximum speed of your Web connection and then filter down the list of DD-WRT routers based on the maximum bandwidth that they support, if available. Then look into other aspects of the product to ensure that you’re receiving the most for your investment.
Continue reading this post to learn about the four best DD-WRT routers under $50 to buy in 2023, each of which is appropriate for a varied budget and a variety of purposes. So, let’s take a look at what we have.
Read more: Best Wifi Router
Best DD-WRT Routers Under $50 In 2023
1. Linksys WRT54GL
In case you weren’t aware, the Linksys WRT54GL is one of the most reasonably priced DD-WRT Routers Under $50 currently available on the market. Although this is true, it does not imply that it is less capable than its competitors. Even though this gadget is over a decade old, you might be surprised by what it has to offer. It’s not only one of the cheapest, but it’s also one of the most established routers of its sort, having managed to establish and maintain an image as a fantastic entry-level DD-WRT router for years.
If you want to learn more about custom firmware installation, this is the option we highly recommend you try first. Because it is based on Linux, DD-WRT should function without any issues. The sole disadvantage of this router is that it only supports network speeds of up to 54Mbps. Consequently, you will be able to browse the web and even stream Netflix in high definition. 4K video streaming and online gaming, on the other hand, are unfortunately not possible with this model.
2. Linksys N300 (E1200)
Who says that DD-WRT routers don’t have a visually appealing appearance? The Linksys N300 (E1200) is here to demonstrate that you can obtain great specifications and a well-designed body – all at an inexpensive price – with a wireless router. With a 300Mhz CPU, 4MB of Flash ROM, and 32MB of RAM, this DD-WRT Routers Under $50 is a powerful performer. Additionally, it supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connections with data rates of up to 300Mbps. I’m sure it’s becoming increasingly apparent why this is one of the best DD-WRT routers under $50, aren’t you?
For those searching for a very inexpensive DD-WRT router, we feel that the Linksys N300 is an excellent choice. In terms of performance, it isn’t the quickest choice on this list, nor does it have the most advanced specifications. It does, however, come with a simple-to-use software package that allows you to customize your user experience. Of course, if you want even greater flexibility, you may even install a custom DD-WRT firmware image.
3. Linksys E2500
Take a look at the Linksys E2500 if you’re searching for a truly nice-looking router that offers a plethora of intriguing functions without breaking the bank. With this dual-band router, you’ll get incredible coverage as well as a plethora of helpful features and choices.
Getting started with this unit will take you no more than a few minutes of your time. After you’ve installed the Cisco Connect software, you’ll be able to explore the router’s extensive feature set. The installation of custom DD-WRT firmware is, of course, a viable option as well. There are four Gigabit Ethernet ports and one Wide Area Network (WAN) port on this system. Unfortunately, there are no USB ports on this gadget, which is arguably its most significant drawback. However, it should not be overlooked that this is an excellent choice for both high-bandwidth streaming and gaming. Having said that, this is not only one of the best Linksys routers, but it is also one of the best DD-WRT routers in general, according to our testing.
4. GL.iNET GL-AR150
We’re confident that the look of this router – as well as its affordable price – will pique your interest. And you’re probably thinking if there’s a catch to this deal. It turns out that there is such a thing. Rather than serving as a conventional home router, this device is intended to serve as a portable DD-WRT Routers Under $50 for travelers. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket and be carried around with you. If you want to convert a wired connection at your favorite coffee shop (or hotel room) into a wireless connection, this is how you can do it (which can be highly secure, by the way).
The GL-AR150 is an open-source device that may be customized. It is pre-installed with Open-WRT by default, and it also includes an OpenVPN client that can be used to connect to the internet. But you have total freedom to change any of these with the sort of firmware that you choose to run on your device. In addition to 16MB of Flash ROM, you’ll get 128MB of RAM in this configuration. Overall, you can anticipate a plethora of incredible features from this router, all at a very reasonable price.
FAQ
Can You Get a Decent DD-WRT Router Under $50?
Yes, it is possible to get a DD-WRT router for less than $50 that will fulfill all of your requirements. You must, however, evaluate your own requirements and wants, as well as your own expectations, and make any adjustments. There are numerous reasonably priced routers available that may significantly improve your Web browsing experience, despite the fact that you won’t receive the latest technology or high-end capabilities.
Are DD-WRT Routers Under $50 Even Worth the Money?
There is a good chance you’ve heard that DD-WRT routers are prohibitively costly. This is accurate – at least when compared to the ‘simple’ routers that do not have any sophisticated features at all. However, as our guide has demonstrated, you can still get some quite powerful routers for less than $50, as we hope our recommendations have demonstrated.
Every one of the routers discussed in this article has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Our strong advice would be to create a list of the most important features that you will require before proceeding. Take into account the speed of your Internet connection while deciding whether or not you require dual-band connections. Anything beyond these is up to you to investigate and limit down your list of available options, as these are the most fundamental functions that each DD-WRT router has to offer.
What to Expect from DD-WRT Routers Under $50?
If you have a $50 budget in mind, you may anticipate a competent router that can support extremely high broadband connection speeds. As you can see from the table above, the maximum bandwidth of all of the routers discussed in this article is restricted to 300Mbps. Because higher-priced DD-WRT routers may handle Web connections of up to 1.7Gbps and more, this is arguably the most significant restriction of inexpensive DD-WRT routers.
If your Internet connection speed does not surpass 300Mbps, any of the solutions provided below are viable possibilities to consider. After that, you can consider more sophisticated features. For the money, you may have a router with dual-band wireless connectivity, USB ports that allow you to quickly transfer data across devices in your house, and the ability to experiment with the DD-WRT configuration software, which has an unlimited number of options.