Routers · Head to head

Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro vs TP-Link Archer AX21

Full Routers comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Asus and TP-Link sites.
2026 verdict
The TP-Link Archer AX21 is the winner here on pure value, taking both price and owner rating against the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro, a router built for an entirely different kind of buyer.
TP-Link Archer AX21
Winner
TP-Link Archer AX21
$54.99$89.9939% OFF
Buy on Amazon USA
The GT-BE98 Pro is Asus's quad-band Wi-Fi 7 gaming flagship, with two separate 6 GHz radios, eight external antennas, a roughly 30 Gbps combined rating, seven ports including two 10G and four 2.5G connections with link aggregation, full NAS-grade USB storage support and dedicated ROG Game Boost tools, backed by a longer three-year warranty against the Archer AX21's two. The Archer AX21 answers with a single Gigabit-class Wi-Fi 6 design that still packs a dedicated IoT network, router-level VPN and parental controls into a fraction of the price. This is a mismatch in scope more than a close fight: the price and rating that decide the overall verdict reflect what a budget router owner expects for the money, not raw capability. Buy the Archer AX21 to replace an ISP gateway cheaply; buy the ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro if you are a serious gamer or power user who needs quad-band Wi-Fi 7, multi-gig wired ports and NAS-ready USB storage.
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FeatureAsus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 ProTP-Link Archer AX21Winner
Price$587.99$54.99TP-Link Archer AX21
Rating4.24.4TP-Link Archer AX21
Warranty3 years2 yearsAsus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)YESNOAsus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)YESNOAsus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
Max Wi-Fi Speed30 Gbps1.8 GbpsAsus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
LAN Port Count74Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
LAN 2.5 Gbps RJ45 Ports40Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
WAN & FailoverMulti-WAN, WAN FailoverNoneAsus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
USB StorageFTP, Samba, Time Machine, Media SharingNoneAsus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
VPNVPN Client, VPN Server, OpenVPN, PPTP VPN, L2TP/IPSec VPN, WireGuard VPN, DDNSVPN Client, VPN Server, OpenVPN, PPTP VPN, WireGuard VPN, DDNSAsus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
MLO (Multi-Link Operation)YESNOAsus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall, the TP-Link Archer AX21 or the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro?

The TP-Link Archer AX21 wins this comparison on price and owner rating, the two categories the overall verdict weighs. The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro only wins on warranty length, but it is by far the more capable router on raw specs, so gamers and power users needing that capability should still consider it despite losing the overall verdict.

What is the biggest difference between the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro and the TP-Link Archer AX21?

Scope and generation. The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro is a quad-band Wi-Fi 7 gaming flagship with two 6 GHz radios and multi-gig ports, while the TP-Link Archer AX21 is a budget Wi-Fi 6 router meant to replace a basic ISP gateway.

Which one has more wired ports and USB storage support?

The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro, with seven ports (including two 10G and four 2.5G) plus USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports that support FTP, Samba, Time Machine and media sharing. The TP-Link Archer AX21 has five Gigabit ports and no USB port at all.

Which router has a longer warranty?

The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro, at three years against the TP-Link Archer AX21's two years, the only category besides price and rating that separates them.

Who should buy the TP-Link Archer AX21?

Budget shoppers who just need to replace an ISP gateway with dependable Wi-Fi 6, router-level VPN and parental controls should buy the TP-Link Archer AX21.

Who should buy the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro?

Serious gamers, networking enthusiasts and power users with fast multi-gig internet who want quad-band Wi-Fi 7, top-tier wired ports and NAS-ready USB storage should buy the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro, despite its higher price.

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