eero 6+ vs TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router

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 C6 AC1200 Router scores 5.9/10 overall, ahead of the eero 6+ at 4.2/10.

The eero 6+ leads on coverage.

The TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router leads on software and security, wired ports and value.

They score the same on wi-Fi standard and bands.

The biggest difference is software and security, where the TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router scores 7/10 to the eero 6+'s 4/10.

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

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

TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Wireless MU-MIMO Gigabit Router

TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router

5.9/10verdict: good, not the best

The Archer C6 is for anyone replacing an ageing router with a single dual-band Wi-Fi 5 unit and four Gigabit LAN ports. It suits buyers who want a simple setup and a decent feature list, including guest networks, WPA3 and a VPN server. It is a poor fit if you need Wi-Fi 6, multi-gigabit ports or a rated coverage figure.

Typically about £43.78 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	eero 6+	TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router
Wi-Fi standard and bands	25%	5/10	5/10
Software and security	25%	4/10	7/10
Wired ports	20%	3/10	6/10
Coverage	15%	5/10	4/10
Value	15%	4/10	7/10
Overall		4.2/10	5.9/10

Specifications

Spec	eero 6+	TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router
Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), AX3000 rating, 2x2 antenna array	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac/n/a on 5 GHz; 802.11n/b/g on 2.4 GHz)
Bands and speed class	Dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, 2x2 on each band, 160 MHz channels on 5 GHz	Dual-band AC1200: 867 Mbps on 5 GHz, 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz (the same page also gives 400 Mbps for 2.4 GHz, a conflict on the manufacturer page)
WAN port	Two auto-sensing gigabit (1 GbE) Ethernet ports for WAN and/or LAN	1x Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbps)
LAN ports	Shared with the WAN ports; the two 1 GbE ports can be used as LAN; no separate LAN port count published	4x Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbps)
Mesh nodes in the box	1 eero 6+ in the single-unit box; 2-pack and 3-pack sold	0 (one router in the box)
Rated coverage	Up to 1,500 sq ft per router; up to 4,500 sq ft with a 3-pack	not listed
Security and VPN features	Zigbee, Thread and Matter controller; Alexa support; automatic channel selection	SPI firewall, access control, IP and MAC binding, guest networks (one 5 GHz and one 2.4 GHz), VPN server (OpenVPN, PPTP), VPN client (OpenVPN, PPTP, WireGuard), WPA/WPA2/WPA3, parental controls

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router

+ WPA3, guest networks and VPN server included
+ Four Gigabit LAN ports plus Gigabit WAN
+ Owners report simple setup and good value
− No rated coverage figure published
− No USB port, according to owners
− Several hardware revisions share the same name

Skip it if:

Buyers who want Wi-Fi 6 or newer
Anyone needing 2.5GbE or faster wired ports
People who need a USB port for storage or printer sharing

Read the full TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200 Router review ›

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