Routers · Head to head

Asus RT-BE88U vs TP-Link Deco X55

Full Routers comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Asus and TP-Link sites.
2026 verdict
The TP-Link Deco X55 wins this comparison on price and owner rating, up against the Asus RT-BE88U, a standalone Wi-Fi 7 router built around an unusually deep wired port layout.
TP-Link Deco X55
Winner
TP-Link Deco X55
$65.94$79.9918% OFF

Last recorded price

The RT-BE88U carries a three-year warranty, a year longer than the Deco's two, plus a spec sheet aimed squarely at wired-first setups: ten ports in total, including a 10 Gbps RJ45 port and a 10 Gbps SFP+ cage, USB 3.2 storage with FTP, Samba, Time Machine and media sharing, WireGuard VPN, a command-line interface and dual-WAN failover, none of which the Deco X55 offers. The X55 keeps things simpler instead, an expandable mesh system that spreads Wi-Fi 6 coverage through a house at a lower price and a higher owner rating, even a full Wi-Fi generation behind the newer RT-BE88U. Buyers who want to wire a NAS, a switch and a gaming PC at multi-gig speed from one router should choose the Asus RT-BE88U; buyers who mainly need reliable whole-home Wi-Fi coverage without heavy wired hardware should save money with the Deco X55.
vs
Winner
TP-Link Deco X55
18% OFF
Prime exclusive deal
$65.94
$79.99

Last recorded price

Also sold in packs

  • Pack of 214% OFF$119.98$139.99$59.99 per unitYou save $11.90Buy
  • Pack of 323% OFF$149.97$195.29$49.99 per unitYou save $47.85Buy
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FeatureAsus RT-BE88UTP-Link Deco X55Winner
Price$319.99$65.94TP-Link Deco X55
Rating4.34.4TP-Link Deco X55
Warranty3 years2 yearsAsus RT-BE88U
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)YESNOAsus RT-BE88U
Max Wi-Fi Speed7.2 Gbps3 GbpsAsus RT-BE88U
LAN Port Count103Asus RT-BE88U
LAN 2.5 Gbps RJ45 Ports40Asus RT-BE88U
WAN & FailoverMulti-WAN, WAN FailoverNoneAsus RT-BE88U
USB StorageFTP, Samba, Time Machine, Media SharingNoneAsus RT-BE88U
VPNVPN Client, VPN Server, OpenVPN, PPTP VPN, L2TP/IPSec VPN, WireGuard VPN, DDNSVPN Client, VPN Server, OpenVPN, PPTP VPN, L2TP/IPSec VPN, DDNSAsus RT-BE88U
MLO (Multi-Link Operation)YESNOAsus RT-BE88U
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)NONOTie
9% OFF
Prime exclusive deal
$319.99
$349.99

Last recorded price

  • + Warranty: 3 years
  • + Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be): YES
  • + Max Wi-Fi Speed: 7.2 Gbps
  • - Price: $319.99 vs $65.94
  • - Rating: 4.3 vs 4.4
Winner
18% OFF
Prime exclusive deal
$65.94
$79.99

Last recorded price

  • + Price: $65.94
  • + Rating: 4.4
  • - Warranty: 2 years vs 3 years
  • - Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be): NO vs YES

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Asus RT-BE88U
  • TP-Link Deco X55

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Asus RT-BE88U or TP-Link Deco X55?

The TP-Link Deco X55 wins on price and owner rating, while the Asus RT-BE88U counters with a three-year warranty and a far richer set of wired ports and features.

What is the biggest difference between the Asus RT-BE88U and the TP-Link Deco X55?

Form factor and ports. The Deco X55 is an expandable Wi-Fi 6 mesh system with three Gigabit ports per unit, while the RT-BE88U is a standalone Wi-Fi 7 router with ten ports, including a 10 Gbps port and a 10 Gbps SFP+ port.

Does either router have a 6 GHz band?

No. Both are dual-band; the Deco X55 is Wi-Fi 6 and the RT-BE88U is Wi-Fi 7, but neither uses the 6 GHz band.

Which one supports USB storage and WireGuard VPN?

Only the Asus RT-BE88U. It has a USB 3.2 port with FTP, Samba, Time Machine and media sharing, plus WireGuard VPN, which the Deco X55 does not offer.

Who should buy the TP-Link Deco X55?

Buyers who want simple, affordable whole-home mesh Wi-Fi coverage and do not need a heavy wired port layout or USB storage.

Who should buy the Asus RT-BE88U?

Wired-first homes or small businesses that want multi-gig ports, USB network storage, WireGuard VPN and a longer warranty from a single standalone router.

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