To get great Wi-Fi coverage, opting for a high speed connection isn’t enough. There could be annoying dead zones, spotty coverage and inexplicable signal drop outs. If you’re plagued by any of these issues, the problem might lie with your router—and more importantly, its range. However, if you don’t want to replace the router, it’s time to add a Wi-Fi extender. The best Wi-Fi extenders enhance the range of your existing router and typically fix common Wi-Fi problems, and are often a budget-friendly solution.
The best Wi-Fi extenders boost your Wi-Fi signal so you have a speedy, smooth connection in every ... [+] corner of your home.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
Some extenders, including our top pick, the Linksys RE7000, can boost your range by up to 2,500 square feet. To help you sort through the many Wi-Fi extenders and pick the best one for your needs, we’ve rounded up some of the best units you can currently buy to help solve your internet problems.
Best for: Easily boosting Wi-Fi coverage within your home up to 2,500 square feet.
The Linksys RE7000 Wi-Fi Extender uses multi-user MIMO technology so all of the smart devices and Internet users throughout your household will have access to the strongest internet speeds possible. It’s designed to work with all routers, but offers seamless integration and easy setup when used with the Linksys Max-Stream Router (sold separately).
It’s not the fastest Wi-Fi extender on the market, but is great for streaming Netflix, surfing the internet and more. Using this Wi-Fi extender, using all of your favorite apps and streaming high-quality content should become a smoother process from wherever you are within your home.
Best for: A home with a bunch of Wi-Fi users and many smart home devices.
While it may be significantly larger than other extenders on this list, what you get with the Netgear Nighthawk AX8 AX6000 is a multitasking powerhouse of an extender. It supports up to eight devices at once and more than 30 devices overall, and the 64-bit 1.8GHz dual core processor allows for seamless wireless 4K video streaming and ultra-smooth gaming. You also get the ability to plug four devices directly into the Nighthawk via Ethernet cables. And while it’s a dual-band extender, it automatically selects the fastest band available for every device you connect for a speedy, seamless connection.
Pros:
Works with more than 30 devices (eight simultaneously)
The TP-Link AX1500 Wi-Fi Extender works with up to 25 devices, covers 1,500 square feet and is compatible with all Wi-Fi enabled devices and routers. It's designed to increase Wi-Fi coverage within a home, but not directly increase Internet connectivity speed. Using the TP-Link Tether app, setup is easy. The app will even help you pinpoint the ideal location within your home to place this device. Thanks to its dual band support, the AX1500 works nicely when streaming or gaming—even when multiple users are relying on the same Wi-Fi signal. Using OneMesh and a compatible router, you’re able to tap into the Wi-Fi signal anywhere in your home without having to switch networks.
Pros:
Easy setup using the Tether app (iOS/Android)
Supports Wi-Fi 6
OneMesh compatible
Cons:
Requires a OneMesh-compatible router to support one SSID
Best Budget Wi-Fi Extender
Better Wi-Fi Without Spending A Fortune
Amazon
TP-Link AC1750
Range: 2,000 square foot | Band: Dual band | Speed: 1,740Mbps | LAN Ports: 1 | Antennae: 3
Best for: Expanding your Wi-Fi coverage without spending a fortune.
The TP-Link AC1750 supports up to 32 devices within your home and enhance the Wi-Fi signal coverage area—eliminating dead zones and providing a lag-free Internet connection for wireless devices. Like all devices of this type, it’s designed mainly to expand the Wi-Fi signal coverage area in your home—not boost Internet connection speed. This particular model uses three adjustable and external antennas. It’s easy to install and plugs into a standard electrical outline.
Pros:
Easy setup
Supports up to 32 devices
Cons:
When plugged into a two prong electrical outline, second prong will be blocked
Best for: Travelers who need to expand a Wi-Fi network in a hotel room or elsewhere.
Most Wi-Fi range extenders are designed to set up shop in your home or office and pretty much never move, forever filling in known dead spots in your wireless coverage. Sometimes, though, you need a portable extender that you can take on the road. The TP-Link AC750 Nano Travel Router is exactly what it sounds like: It’s a portable device that acts as a travel router or a range extender. It’s small, lightweight and able to go anywhere with you.
In fact, this is a versatile little gadget that works in a variety of modes. You can configure it as a standalone router, as a Wi-Fi hotspot or as a Wi-Fi extender. The dual-band radio delivers AC750 speeds and can be powered with an AC adapter for plugged into a laptop or other USB connection.
A Wi-Fi extender works by taking the Wi-Fi signal from your existing router and amplifying it, which helps it reach the far corners of your home where you’re probably having connectivity problems. Ideally, you position the extender halfway between the router and the problem spots. That way it can receive a solid Wi-Fi signal and amplify it for the rest of the journey.
Because it needs to be compatible with your router, check if the Wi-Fi extender you’re choosing is compatible with your router or not. You need to make sure that it supports the same Wi-Fi standards (such as 802.11ac or 802.11ax) and frequency bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz).
Make sure you opt for a extender that offers your required data transfer speed. For instance, tasks like streaming 4K content and online gaming require higher speeds than browsing. Also, check the coverage area provided by the extender, so it’s suitable for your home. The good news: All of the routers we chose on our list can boost speeds at least 1.8GHz, so you’ll get a speedy boost for your home’s needs.
Does Wi-Fi Extender Improve Both The Range And Speed Of My Wi-Fi Network?
A Wi-Fi extender is primarily meant for enhance the coverage area of your wireless network. To make sure it gives you the best output, you need to place it in weak Wi-Fi signal zones. While it won’t increase the speed of your network, it will improve the signal strength to provide connection to areas where there was weak Wi-Fi with poor speed.
Notably, an extender would use part of its bandwidth to communicate with the router and the other part to communicate with devices, which could reduce the overall network speed.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted tech team strives to offer accurate and trustworthy product assessments that are the result of intensive research and hands-on testing. Our writers and editors have years of experience writing and testing a wide range of consumer tech products including Wi-Fi extenders for this particular story. They have the background and expertise to help you make the best buying decisions possible. In particular, this story was written by contributors Jason R. Rich and Prakhar Khanna, both accomplished writers, journalists and experienced product testers. Jason has accumulated hours of in-depth product research and has conducted firsthand testing, including for the writing of this story.
In addition to covering dozens of tech topics, Prakhar has been in the tech industry since 2015 and has been covering mobile tech for over six years. His bylines include Digital Trends, CNET and more. Over his career, he has accumulated hours of in-depth product research and has conducted firsthand testing, including for the writing of this story.
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