A standard router is a single device that you'll typically place near your internet modem. Mesh routers have additional access points that connect wirelessly to the primary router which, again, will be placed near your internet modem.  I recommend a standard router for most people. A modern Wi-Fi 6 router, like the top-rated TP-Link Archer AX73, can provide excellent coverage for a typical two-story, 2,000 square foot house. It can handle larger homes when placed in a central location with no nearby obstructions.  Mesh routers can improve reliability by using multiple access points to get around objects that cause Wi-Fi dead spots, like a large appliance or a concrete brick wall. Just don't expect higher maximum performance: in my tests, mesh routers didn't impress relative to their price.  Ease-of-use is often touted as a perk for mesh routers, but that's not true in 2023. Router companies have brought app-based router controls to all their products. The TP-Link routers we recommend have an excellent app experience that's often even more straightforward than a mesh system, since you don't have to set up or manage additional access points.