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TP-Link Archer AX18 vs eero 6+

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems at a similar price

The TP-Link Archer AX18 scores 5.7/10 overall, ahead of the eero 6+ at 4.2/10.

The TP-Link Archer AX18 leads on wi-Fi standard and bands, software and security, wired ports and value.

They score the same on coverage.

Archer AX18

TP-Link Archer AX18

5.7/10verdict: good, not the best

The Archer AX18 suits people who want a plain Wi-Fi 6 router for a small to average home on a gigabit connection or slower. It covers the basics: WPA3, guest network, parental controls and automatic firmware updates. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs multi-gig ports, a VPN server, VLANs or a mesh system.

Typically about £50.21 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

eero 6+

eero 6+

4.2/10verdict: skip

The eero 6+ is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh router for a home that wants smart home control built into the router. It suits buyers who connect few wired devices and mainly want wireless coverage. It is a weaker fit for anyone who needs several wired ports, network segmentation or free content filtering.

Typically about £139.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightTP-Link Archer AX18eero 6+
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%6/105/10
Software and security25%6/104/10
Wired ports20%5/103/10
Coverage15%5/105/10
Value15%6/104/10
Overall5.7/104.2/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Archer AX18eero 6+
Wi-Fi standard802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), backward compatible with 11a/b/g/n/ac/axWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), AX3000 rating, 2x2 antenna array
Bands and speed classDual-band: 1201 Mbps on 5 GHz (11ax) and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz (11n)Dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, 2x2 on each band, 160 MHz channels on 5 GHz
WAN port1x Gigabit WAN (1 Gbps)Two auto-sensing gigabit (1 GbE) Ethernet ports for WAN and/or LAN
LAN ports3x Gigabit LANShared with the WAN ports; the two 1 GbE ports can be used as LAN; no separate LAN port count published
Mesh nodes in the box1 router; no extra nodes (not sold as a kit)1 eero 6+ in the single-unit box; 2-pack and 3-pack sold
Rated coveragenot listedUp to 1,500 sq ft per router; up to 4,500 sq ft with a 3-pack
Security and VPN featuresnot listedZigbee, Thread and Matter controller; Alexa support; automatic channel selection

Strengths and weaknesses

TP-Link Archer AX18

  • + Wi-Fi 6 with WPA3-Personal support
  • + Guest network, parental controls and access control included
  • + Firmware listings run into September 2026
  • − Gigabit-only wired ports, no 2.5GbE
  • − Dual-band only, with no 6 GHz
  • − No VPN server, and VLAN support not published

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want 2.5GbE or 10GbE wired ports
  • Anyone needing a router-hosted VPN server or published VLAN support
  • Households needing mesh nodes or a published coverage rating for a large home
Read the full TP-Link Archer AX18 review ›

eero 6+

  • + Thread, Zigbee and Matter controller built in
  • + 160 MHz channels on 5 GHz
  • + Rated for up to 4,500 sq ft with a 3-pack
  • − Only two gigabit ports, shared between WAN and LAN
  • − No 6 GHz band; dual-band only
  • − Content filters and ad blocking need a paid plan

Skip it if:

  • Homelabbers who need several wired gigabit or multi-gig ports
  • Admins who need VLANs, guest networks or a VPN server
  • Buyers who want content filtering without a subscription
Read the full eero 6+ review ›

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