If your router is just not up to the task, you should invest in one of the best Wi-Fi extenders so you can get signal into every nook and cranny of your home. With these Wi-Fi extenders, you ensure that there’s a robust, uninterrupted signal no matter where you are in your area of coverage. That way you don’t have to worry about having your signal drop when moving to different areas of your personal or business space.
Considering how much time we spend online, both personally and for work, there’s no excuse for living with a mediocre internet connection. Instead, make sure you have a quality connection with one of the best Wi-Fi extenders. Essentially, they take the signal from your router and boost or “extend” the boundaries of coverage so that your entire home or office is covered, not to mention help coverage for an overly crowded network.
We’ve collected our picks for the best Wi-Fi extender of 2021 to help you find the one that will solve your network woes. That way, you can improve your network and have the kind of connection to the rest of the world that you want.
If you need a more complete solution for a large or crowded network, consider replacing your current router with one of the best mesh Wi-Fi routers available.
1. Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band WiFi Extender
The best Wi-Fi extender in 2021
Specifications
Bands: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4/5GHz simultaneous
Connectivity: 4 x RJ-45 10/100/1000M LAN ports
Features: Tri-band
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Superb performance+Easy setup
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive-Large
If you’re after a Wi-Fi extender that provides best-in-class performance for expanding your wireless network throughout your home, then the Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band WiFi Extender is the one for you. You can use this extender to create a mesh network, so you have a single, large, Wi-Fi network, rather than smaller separate ones. This allows you to easily roam your house, and your device will seamlessly keep connected. It’s expensive, but it’s the best Wi-Fi extender you can buy right now, offering fast speeds and dependable network coverage throughout your home.
2. Netgear Nighthawk X6 EX7700 Mesh Range Extender
The best affordable Wi-Fi range extender
Specifications
Bands: 802.11ac 5GHz and 2.4GHz
Connectivity: 2 x Ethernet
Features: Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPS), Mesh connectivity
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Small design+Easy to use
Bring the power and convenience of a mesh network to your home with the Netgear Nighthawk X6 EX7700. Not only does this extend the area of your Wi-Fi network, but it creates a seamless Wi-Fi network throughout your home or office – so you don’t need to switch networks while moving around.
Thanks to the powerful hardware inside the Netgear Nighthawk X6 EX7700, you can stream 4K content, play games and hook up all kinds of devices to your Wi-Fi network without a hitch. The included Ethernet ports are also a nice addition for bringing your network to wired devices.
3. TP-Link RE650 AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender
Simple and easy to use
Specifications
Bands: 802.11ac 5GHz and 2.4GHz
Connectivity: 1 x Ethernet
Features: Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPS), LED shows connection strength for easy placement
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Easy to use+Good performance
TP-Link is a Chinese networking company that has been steadily gaining popularity in the west, and for good reason. With devices like the TP-Link RE650 AC2600 Wi-Fi Range extender, it’s easy to get why: this extender – among the best Wi-Fi extenders you can buy right now – does the job well, and it’s affordable. It’s not going to be the fastest Wi-Fi extender out there, but with the range this extender provides at the price it’s available at, it’s a steal. Finally, thanks to an LED signal indicator on the front, installation is a breeze.
4. Devolo Mesh WiFi 2
All-in-one PowerLine and mesh networking kit
Specifications
Bands: 802.11ac 5GHz and 2.4GHz
Connectivity: 4 x RJ-45 10/100/1000M LAN ports
Features: multi-user MIMO technology, future-proofed G.hn Wave 2 standard, access point steering
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Mesh Wi-Fi networking+Two Gigabit Ethernet ports on each adaptor
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive-Unhelpful app and documentation
Extend your network through thick walls and into the furthest corners of your space with the Devolo Mesh WiFi 2. Boasting both mesh Wi-Fi features and versatile powerline connectivity, this device can even follow you and your mobile devices around, automatically switching you to the closest adaptor and the fastest Wi-Fi band. It even has three adaptors that give you five Gigabit Ethernet ports for fast, wired connections. This is the best Wi-Fi extender for games consoles, smart-TVs and other devices that work best with wired connections.
Read the full review: Devolo Mesh WiFi 2
5. Netgear Orbi Whole Home Mesh WiFi System
Fast, affordable, tri-band mesh Wi-Fi
Specifications
Speed: IEEE 802.11ac dual-band with 1x 2.4GHz (400Mbps), 1x 5GHz (866Mbps)
Connectivity: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet
Features: Beamforming implicit and explicit for 2.4GHz/5GHz bands
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Affordable dual-band mesh Wi-Fi system+Good performance
Reasons to avoid
-Free parental controls are limited-Only one Ethernet port for wired connections
The tri-band Orbi Whole Home AC1200 offers solid performance at a reasonable price, and will be a good choice for most small and medium-size homes that need to improve their Wi-Fi coverage. It’s simple to set-up and use for newcomers, although Netgear’s decision to use Disney’s subscription-based Circle service for parental controls is discouraging, considering that rival routers and mesh systems have often provided better parental controls for free. The lack of Ethernet ports for wired connections as well as more advanced features in the Orbi app might turn off experienced users as well.
6. Linksys Velop Wi-Fi extender
Layman’s mesh Wi-Fi comes at a cost
Specifications
Bands: 802.11ac 5GHz and 2.4GHz
Connectivity: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet per unit (1 WAN and 1 LAN each)
Features: App-based setup; dual-stream (2×2), 802.11ac networking; 716MHz quad-core ARM Cortex A7 processor, beamforming
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Fully modular mesh network+Inconspicuous design
Reasons to avoid
-Pricey in comparison-Performance too dependent on position
The Linksys Velop offers a solid argument for a wireless mesh network’s ease of setup. Looking to replace both your router and your now-antiquated range extender, the Velop comes at a time when companies like Google and Netgear are trying to accomplish the same thing. The main way Linksys hopes to stand out from its competitors in the wireless mesh networking space is with a user-friendly setup that anyone with a smartphone can easily do. With just a visit to the App Store or Google Play marketplace, you’ll have the Linksys Velop up and running in a matter of minutes. It’s certainly a worthy addition to our list of the best Wi-Fi extenders.
Read the full review: Linksys Velop
7. Trendnet Wi-Fi Everywhere Powerline 1200 AV2
Two birds with one stone
Specifications
Bands: : 802.11n (up to 300Mbps) 802.11ac (up to 866Mbps)
Connectivity: : 3x Gigabit LAN ports
Features: : 300m range over electrical power lines, Auto-connects to other TRENDnet powerline adapters, QoS Management support
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Easy to set up+Three LAN ports
Reasons to avoid
-Wide Wi-Fi band-Flawed Design
If you need a great way to upgrade your network so you can have fantastic coverage anywhere in your house, a powerline adapter is a remarkable option. Not only do they offer the same functionality as the best Wi-Fi extenders, but the Trendnet Wi-Fi Everywhere Powerline might just be a dream come true.
It’s not exactly visually pleasing, and the price tag may be a bit much. However, this unit more than makes up for those issues with sheer performance. And, unlike other powerline adapters, the Trendnet Wi-Fi Everywhere features a clone button that will clone the SSID and WPA key of your network so that it can double as a Wi-Fi extender.
Read the full review: Trendnet Wi-Fi Everywhere powerline 1200 AV2
This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Linksys Velop
8. Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender
Another great compact Wi-Fi extender
Specifications
Bands: : 802.11ac dual-band
Connectivity: : 1x Gigabit LAN ports
Features: Seamless roaming, deadspot finder
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Easy to set up+Compact size
Reasons to avoid
-Can run hot-Not the best performance
If you want a small, discrete, Wi-Fi extender that will reliably spread the coverage of your network throughout your home or office, then the Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender is a great choice. It’s small enough that it won’t block other power outlets (like some larger Wi-Fi extenders can do), and it offers pretty good performance for a nice low price. Best of all, it comes with a ‘dead spot’ finder that allows you to locate where your network strength is the weakest. By installing it there, you should see a nice boost to your Wi-Fi.
ProductPlume SuperpodsNetgear AC1200 WiFi Range Extender EX6150D-Link Wi-Fi Dual Band Range Extender DAP-1520TP-Link RE350 AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender5. Linksys RE6500 AC1200 Dual-Band Wireless Range ExtenderD-Link DAP-1320 Wireless N300 Range ExtenderLinksys Velop Wi-Fi extenderTrendnet Wi-Fi Everywhere Powerline 1200 AV2Bands802.11b/g/n/ac802.11ac 5GHz and 2.4GHz802.11ac 5GHz and 2.4GHz802.11ac 5GHz and 2.4GHz802.11ac 5GHz and 2.4GHz802.11n 2.4GHz802.11ac 5GHz and 2.4GHz802.11n (up to 300Mbps) 802.11ac (up to 866Mbps) Connectivity2x Gigabit LAN ports1x Gigabit LAN portsN/A1x Gigabit LAN ports4 x Ethernet, Audio JackN/A2 x Gigabit Ethernet per unit 3x Gigabit Ethernet ports
Round up of today’s best deals
