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Sure, maintaining smooth Wi-Fi performance and throughput for video streaming, gaming, and linking up smart home devices is important. But now that so many folks are working from home, you also need to consider how crucial work applications and different modes of work communication (especially video conferencing) perform over your home network. If your job or your children’s education rely on robust connectivity, strong, whole-house wireless coverage goes from a nice-to-have to a must.
That’s where Wi-Fi mesh router systems come in. These kits blanket your home in a consistent web of Wi-Fi signal. Let’s take a look at the best Wi-Fi mesh systems we’ve tested, followed by tips for understanding the features to consider before you buy one.
The Best Wi-Fi Mesh Network System Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8)
Best Wi-Fi Mesh System for Most People
Why We Picked It
The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh system that delivered speedy throughput scores in testing. It’s a two-piece system that offers plenty of coverage for medium to large homes (up to 5,500 square feet) and can be paired with other Asus devices that support AIMesh technology. It’s a snap to install and manage thanks to a user-friendly mobile app, and it comes with free lifetime parental controls and network security software.
Who It’s For
The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is a solid choice for anyone looking for an easy way to eliminate wireless dead spots. Its robust parental controls and anti-malware software make it an ideal choice for families that want to monitor and limit online activities while providing secure Wi-Fi 6 coverage to all corners of their home. It’s also a great choice if you plan on making wired connections, as its 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN port lets you take advantage of high-speed internet plans and provides speedy connectivity to NAS devices.
PROS
- Easy to install
- Excellent performance
- Lifetime parental controls and network security tools
- Multi-gig LAN port
- USB connectivity. User-friendly app
CONS
- Pricey
- Some advanced settings require web console
Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi System
Best Budget Wi-Fi Mesh Network System
Why We Picked It
At just under $60, the Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi System is the most affordable three-piece mesh system we’ve tested. It’s not a superstar performer, and it uses older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) technology, but it is very easy to install and manage, offers good range, and comes with parental controls that let you schedule internet access times and allow or disallow internet access for any device.
Who It’s For
If you need to fill in Wi-Fi dead zones but don’t have the money for a mesh system that uses the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, the Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi system will get the job done. We don’t recommend this system for users who do a lot of 4K video streaming or those who download large chunks of data, but it is more than suitable for everyday web surfing and basic home networking duties.
PROS
- Very affordable
- Easy to install and manage
- Basic parental controls
CONS
- Uses older technology
- Lacks malware protection and QoS settings
- Middling throughput performance
- No USB ports
Netgear Orbi RBKE963 WiFi 6E Mesh System
Best Wi-Fi Mesh Network System for Very Large Homes
Why We Picked It
The Netgear Orbi RBKE963 is a three-piece mesh system that employs the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology to access the relatively uncrowded 6GHz radio band. This wildly expensive system delivered very fast throughput speeds in our performance tests, and it offers excellent signal range. It’s loaded with high-end components and is easy to configure.
Who It’s For
People with very large dwellings (up to 9,000 square feet) and very large bank accounts who want to blanket their home in the latest Wi-Fi technology should take a look at the Orbi RBKE963. This beefy mesh system offers multi-gig WAN and LAN ports and comes with basic parental controls, but you can subscribe to Netgear’s Smart Parental Controls if you require age-based web filters, detailed browser history reports, and internet time rewards.
PROS
- Blazing performance
- Supports 6GHz Wi-Fi
- Easy to install and manage
- Multi-gig connectivity
- Excellent signal range
CONS
- Very expensive
- Some features require a subscription
- Lacks USB ports
Asus ZenWiFi ET8
Best Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System
Why We Picked It
Speedy throughput performance, strong signal strength, and the ability to access the 6GHz radio band earned the ZenWiFi ET8 our Editors’ Choice award for Wi-Fi mesh systems. It’s expensive, but it uses the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology, and is equipped with multi-gig ethernet ports and USB ports. It also comes with Asus’ AiProtection software, which provides free lifetime parental controls and network security tools.
Who It’s For
There may not be that many 6GHz clients out there right now, but they are coming. If you want to future-proof your network, the ET8 mesh system will let you take advantage of all that uncrowded bandwidth. It’s also an excellent choice for users who don’t mind spending extra for a system that is expandable and easy to manage.
PROS
- Easy to install
- Strong throughput performance
- Multi-gig WAN and USB connectivity
- Strong anti-malware and parental controls
- Very good signal range
CONS
- Pricey
- Some advanced settings require web console
Eero 6+
Best Expandable Wi-Fi Mesh System
Why We Picked It
Amazon’s Eero 6 Plus is more than just a stylish three-piece Wi-Fi 6 mesh system. Sure, it delivers fast wireless throughput and strong signal transmissions in homes of up to 4,500 square feet, but it also has hidden talents. It functions as a home automation hub that controls Zigbee devices such as cameras, smart plugs, and thermostats. And of course, it works with Alexa voice commands and routines.
Who It’s For
The Eero 6 Plus is a good fit for those who use Amazon Alexa to control their smart home devices. It uses sleek, low-profile nodes to bring Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and home automation control to every room in the house, and it can access 160MHz channels. It comes with a thoughtfully designed mobile app that lets you control everything from your phone, but you’ll have a pay a bit more for parental control and network security software.
PROS
- Excellent performance
- Easy to install and manage
- Controls home automation devices
- Supports 160MHz channels
CONS
- Pricey
- Lacks USB connectivity
- Some features require a subscription
Eero Pro 6E
Best Wi-Fi Mesh Network System for Easy Setup
Why We Picked It
As with the Eero 6 Plus, the Eero Pro 6E delivered fast throughput scores and strong signal strength in our performance tests. Both also offer the ability to control home automation devices and easy setup. But in return for a slightly higher price, the Eero Pro 6E adds multi-gig connectivity and support for Wi-Fi 6E. As more and more compatible client devices become available, this mesh system will let you take advantage of the relatively un-crowded 6GHz radio band without missing a beat.
Who It’s For
If you want a Wi-Fi 6E powered mesh system that is easy to set up and manage, the Eero Pro 6E is worth a look. As every high-end mesh system should, it supports 160MHz channel bandwidth for optimal throughput speeds. A USB port or two would be nice, and it’s unfortunate that parental controls require an optional subscription, but if easy setup and strong performance are your main concerns, the Eero Pro 6E will fill the bill.
PROS
- Easy to install
- Support for Wi-Fi 6E
- Speedy throughput performance
- Wide signal range
- Built-in Zigbee radio
- Multi-gig WAN port
- Stylish, low-profile nodes
CONS
- Pricey
- Parental control and network security software not included
- No USB ports
Google Nest Wifi
Best-Looking Wi-Fi Mesh System
Why We Picked It
Designed to be placed out in the open, the Google Nest WiFi is a two-piece Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) mesh system that also serves as a Google Assistant smart speaker. It delivered impressive throughput scores in our tests and was easy to install. It can be expanded with up to five nodes for larger homes and offers easy-to-use parental controls that allow you to pause internet access, create access schedules for family members, and restrict access to websites that contain adult content.
Who It’s For
With the Google Nest WiFi mesh system, you get impressive Wi-Fi 5 performance and three stylish nodes that pull double duty as Google Assistant smart speakers. That makes it a great choice for people who want a router and smart home hub all in one device to listen to music, place hands-free calls, and control certain smart products such as lights and cameras.
PROS
- Solid throughput performance in testing.
- Stylish design.
- Easy to install.
- Built-in Google Assistant voice technology.
CONS
- Lacks dedicated backhaul band.
- No anti-malware tools.
- Advanced settings require a separate app.
- No USB ports.
Motorola Q11 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System
Best Wi-Fi Mesh System for App-Based Management
Why We Picked It
While not the fastest mesh system we’ve tested, the Motorola Q11 can be managed using a mobile app that’s user-friendly and makes it easy to apply web filters to every device in the house or assign specific rights to individual devices. This system also turned in respectable scores in our throughput tests and did a good job of providing a strong Wi-Fi signal throughout our test home. As tested, it’s a serviceable three-piece system that employs most of the latest Wi-Fi 6 technologies to provide wireless coverage in homes of up to 5,500 square feet. For smaller spaces, you can buy a single node for $129.99 and get 2,000 square feet of coverage.
Who It’s For
The Q11 is a solid choice for those looking to bring relatively fast, secure Wi-Fi 6 connectivity to all corners of a medium or large home, and control network settings from a phone or tablet.
PROS
- Easy to install
- Small footprint
- Includes network security and parental control software
- Solid performance
CONS
- No multi-gig LAN ports
- No USB ports
- No QoS or bandwidth configuration options
TP-Link Deco W7200 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System
Best Wi-Fi Mesh System for Medium to Large Homes
Why We Picked It
Any Wi-Fi mesh system worth its salt is easy to use, delivers good performance, and comes with parental control software that allows you to monitor and limit internet usage. The TP-Link Deco W7200 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System checks all these boxes. It installed in minutes using the intuitive Tether mobile app and performed admirably on our throughput and signal strength performance tests. It uses most of the latest Wi-Fi 6 technologies, but as is the case with most similarly priced mesh systems, it doesn’t support 160MHz channel bandwidth.
Who It’s For
If your current Wi-Fi router is unable to bring a strong wireless signal to every room in your two-to-three-bedroom house, the Deco W7200 can help. It’s a moderately priced two-piece system that covers up to 5,500 square feet and comes with free basic network security and parental control software. It’s also easily expandable using any compatible TP-Link Deco component, making it a good choice if you plan on moving to a larger home in the future.
PROS
- Easy to install and manage
- Strong throughput and signal performance
- HomeShield security software included
CONS
- No USB ports
- Lacks multi-gig connectivity
- Does not support 160MHz channel bandwidth
TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro Tri-Band Mesh System
Best Wi-Fi Mesh System With Multi-Gig WAN
Why We Picked It
The TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro adds two key features not found on the TP-Link Deco W7200: Wi-Fi 6E and a multi-gigabit WAN port. The latter is especially useful if you’re one of the growing number of people with access to internet speed plans of 1Gbps or greater.
Who It’s For
The XE75 Pro’s relatively high price makes it mainly suited to people who already subscribe to the fastest internet tier their ISP offers, or plan to do so. Otherwise, the Deco W7200 is a less-expensive alternative that will serve people who don’t need Wi-Fi 6E or multi-gig ports just fine.
PROS
- Easy installation
- Wi-Fi 6E support
- HomeShield parental control and security software included
- Multi-gig WAN
- Solid performance
CONS
- Pricey
- No USB ports
- Some HomeShield features require a subscription
Buying Guide: The Best Wi-Fi Mesh Network Systems for 2023
Many late-model wireless routers can project strong signal to most rooms of a typical medium-size house. But larger homes and dwellings with dense walls, multiple floors, metal and concrete substructures, and other material impediments may require additional components to bring Wi-Fi to areas that a single router can’t reach. Range extenders can help fill dead zones, but most provide only half the bandwidth that you get from your main router. Access points, meanwhile, offer more bandwidth than range extenders, but they require a wired connection to the main router. And both solutions typically create a new network SSID that you have to log in to as you move from one area of the house to another.
If you’re new to networking, you might be worrying that all of the above will leave you sitting on the floor surrounded by a lot of router documentation and questioning your life choices. Fortunately, there’s another alternative: a mesh Wi-Fi system.
What Is a Wi-Fi Mesh System?
Also known by popular brand names like Google Nest Wi-Fi, mesh systems are designed to blanket your home with wireless coverage. These systems are a hybrid of sorts, made up of several networking components. There’s a main router that connects directly to your modem, and a series of satellite modules, or nodes, that you place throughout your house. They are all part of a single wireless network, and they share the same SSID and password. Unlike range extenders, which communicate with the router via the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio bands, most Wi-Fi system satellites use mesh technology to talk to the router and to each other.
Setting up and maintaining a traditional wireless home network can be daunting, even if you’re tech-savvy. Wi-Fi mesh systems, on the other hand, are geared toward users with little or no technical knowledge and can be installed in minutes. They typically come with a user-friendly mobile app that walks you through the installation process with easy-to-follow illustrated instructions. The app tells you where to place each node for maximum coverage and chooses the best Wi-Fi channel and radio band for optimal throughput performance, so you can maintain a strong wireless connection as you move about the house.
(Credit: TP-Link )
Wi-Fi mesh systems are easy to expand (with no current limit on the number of nodes you can add) and manage using your smartphone. From an app, you can disable Wi-Fi access to specific devices with the press of a button, or give certain devices network priority without having to log in to a complicated network console.
What Should I Look for in Wi-Fi Mesh System Design and Features?
Most Wi-Fi mesh systems look nothing like a traditional setup with a router and range extender. The router and nodes use internal antennas and are almost always tastefully designed so you can place them out in the open rather than in a closet or under a desk. (Don’t expect to find a lot of flashing LED indicators—these systems are designed to blend in with your home’s décor.) They usually have at least one LAN port for connecting to devices like TVs and gaming consoles, but USB connectivity is a rare feature at this point.
(Credit: Netgear)
Similar to modern standalone routers, mesh systems are multi-band networking devices that operate on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands. Some models offer support for Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology, which streams data to multiple compatible wireless clients simultaneously rather than sequentially. Most Wi-Fi systems use band steering to automatically select the least-crowded radio band for the best performance and offer easy-to-use parental controls, guest networking, and device-prioritization options. While designed for ease of use, they usually let you configure port forwarding and wireless security settings but lack the advanced network-management options such as individual band control, firewall settings, and wireless transmission rate settings that you get with a traditional router. Nor can you use third-party WRT firmware to customize the system for enhanced performance and network monitoring.
Do Wi-Fi Mesh Systems Support Wi-Fi 6?
Some do, yes, and you should insist on it in a new mesh system if you own client devices that support it. Wi-Fi 6 (also called 802.11ax) is an evolution of 802.11ac technology that promises increased throughput speeds (up to 9.6Gbps), less network congestion, greater client capacity, and better range performance courtesy of several new and improved wireless technologies, including Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). OFDMA improves overall throughput by breaking Wi-Fi channels into sub-channels, allowing up to 30 users to share a channel at the same time.
Additionally, 802.11ax takes advantage of previously unused radio frequencies to provide faster 2.4GHz performance and uses MU-MIMO streaming, too. Some Wi-Fi 6 devices can also communicate on the less-crowded 6GHz band, which was recently opened for Wi-Fi and is known as Wi-Fi 6E. For more on the benefits of the 802.11ax protocol, check out our speed tests and primer What Is Wi-Fi 6?
Which Is Better: A Wireless Mesh System, or a Range Extender?
If you’re worried what these systems might cost, don’t sweat it; aside from a few pricey contenders, most mesh systems are only slightly more expensive than a router/range extender combination. Wi-Fi systems range in price from around $150 for a single-node system to around $500 for a multi-node setup.
(Credit: Amazon)
The pricing looks higher with these systems because, in most cases, you’re paying for at least two devices, the router and a router node that forms the mesh. Most systems, in fact, come with two nodes, so you’re buying three devices in total. If you break it down per device, you’ll most often find that they cost only a little more than you’d pay for a similarly powered router and range extender solution. That’s especially true now that we’re seeing prices coming down on mesh systems, even the newer models compatible with Wi-Fi 6.
Also remember: Wi-Fi systems are all about ease of use. They are a snap to set up and manage, offer whole-house coverage via a series of attractive nodes, and provide seamless room-to-room roaming over a single network. If you want total control over your network and require the best possible throughput performance and connectivity options, stick with a traditional router solution. If you don’t want to deal with things like assigning radio bands and logging in to different networks as you move throughout your home, however, a Wi-Fi system makes sense. (For more about the differences between these two technologies, check out our explainer Wi-Fi Range Extender vs. Mesh Network: What’s the Difference?)
So, What Is the Best Wi-Fi Mesh System to Buy?
We’ve laid out our top mesh picks in the detailed spec breakout chart below. For even more detail, you can click through to our full reviews of the best Wi-Fi systems we’ve tested. Need some more help getting all your devices up and running their fastest? Check out our tips for troubleshooting your internet connection. And once you’ve picked out the best product for your home, read our primer on how to set up a mesh Wi-Fi system.
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