With so many of us working from home these days, we now have more apps than ever careening across our household Wi-Fi networks. And some of these require not only a good amount of bandwidth, but a steady amount of bandwidth. When they don’t get it, that chat you’re having with your boss on your company’s voice over IP (VoIP) phone system suddenly sounds like one of you is underwater. The same goes for many consumer-grade apps, especially video streaming services like Netflix, and certainly the latest games.
Most folks figure they need to upgrade their Wi-Fi in that situation, so they either buy a new Wi-Fi router or upgrade their internet service (or both). Well, hang on before you do that, because for well under $100 in most cases you have another option. Chances are, a range extender will get the job done. Aptly named, range extenders pick up your router’s Wi-Fi signal, amplify it, and rebroadcast the boosted signal. Our top-rated models are below, followed by a detailed guide to selecting the range extender that meets the needs of your home.
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TP-Link AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE450)
Best Budget Wi-Fi 5 Range Extender
Bottom Line:
The TP-Link AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE450) delivers some of the fastest throughput scores we’ve seen, and it’s a snap to install.
Pros
- Easy setup
- Very good throughput and range performance in testing
Cons
- Bulky
- No pass-through outlet
Why We Picked It
Although it lacks the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, the TP-Link RE450 offers excellent performance at a very reasonable price. When we tested it in 2016, it delivered very good scores on our throughput and range-performance tests. This means it’s an excellent addition to a network in a larger home that mostly uses older devices also lacking Wi-Fi 6 support. Plus, it’s now heavily discounted from its original $120 price. Expect to pay around half that, which is an excellent deal for a solid-performing wireless range extender.
Who It’s For
Anyone with a large house who needs to add reliable Wi-Fi coverage in areas currently lacking it should take a look at the reasonably priced TP-Link RE450. The only reason you’d want to skip this range extender if you’re in the market for one is if you have many Wi-Fi 6 devices, or you plan to buy more in the near future.
TP-Link AX1750 Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender (RE603X)
Best Budget Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender
Bottom Line:
The TP-link RE603X range extender is easy to install and does a better job of increasing the reach of Wi-Fi 6 thoughout your home than the competition.
Pros
- Solid throughput performance
- Access control settings
- Good signal range
- Easy to install
Cons
- Bulky
- Requires OneMesh router to share single SSID
Why We Picked It
Interested in the TP-Link RE450 above but need the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology? Then you’ll want to upgrade to the RE603X. It’s only about $30 to $40 more than the current price of the RE450, and it offers the same excellent throughput performance while adding the additional capabilities that Wi-Fi 6 offers, including increased connection reliability. As a bonus for networks that already use a compatible TP-Link router, it can be configured to operate as a mesh node, which means a single SSID can be broadcast throughout your home.
Who It’s For
This is the best range extender for people with Wi-Fi 6 devices, offering all the benefits of the RE450 above plus Wi-Fi 6 technology. If you’re certain you don’t need Wi-Fi 6, you can save a bit of cash by opting for the RE450. Otherwise, this is the Wi-Fi range extender to buy.
Netgear Nighthawk X4 AC2200 WiFi Range Extender (EX7300)
Fastest Wi-Fi 5 Range Extender
Bottom Line:
The Netgear Nighthawk X4 AC2200 WiFi Range Extender (EX7300) installs in minutes, is one of the fastest plug-in range extenders we’ve tested, and supports MU-MIMO data streaming.
Pros
- Solid throughput in testing
- Supports Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) streaming
- Easy to install
Cons
- Bulky
- No pass-through outlet
Why We Picked It
A solid alternative to the TP-Link RE450, the Netgear Nighthawk X4 is one of the fastest plug-in range extenders we’ve tested. True, it lacks Wi-Fi 6 technology, but it offers two additional features that budget Wi-Fi 5 range extenders often lack. The first is MU-MIMO technology, which can improve performance if you’ve got many devices with data-intensive streaming needs connected at once. Second, its overall maximum throughput of 2,200Mbps is higher than the 1,700Mbps of extenders like the RE450. As an added bonus, the Nighthawk X4 won’t block the second power plug on a typical wall outlet, and its antennas are internal for a cleaner aesthetic.
Who It’s For
If you know you don’t need Wi-Fi 6, but still need a reliable way to extend a network that sees frequent use from multiple data-intensive streams at a time, the Nighthawk X4 is one of your best options.
Amped Wireless AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE1750A)
Best Wi-Fi 5 Range Extender for Lots of Management Options
Bottom Line:
The Amped Wireless AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE1750A) is a pricey dual-band range model that has lots of I/O ports and management options, and delivers solid 2.4GHz throughput.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Generous port selection
- Lots of management options
- Good 2.4GHz throughput performance
Cons
- Expensive
- Middling 5GHz throughput in our tests
Why We Picked It
If you’re looking for extensive customization options for your extended network, and plenty of ports to connect devices via Ethernet cables, the Amped Wireless RE1750A is a decent extender pick. This Wi-Fi 5 range extender’s web-based management console offers lots of features, including a network map and statistics of your main and extended Wi-Fi networks, including SSID names, IP addresses, signal strength, and security keys for each band. You can even create a guest network, change the channel width, assign security parameters (WPA, WPA2, or WEP), create access schedules, and limit access to specific users. All that makes it almost as customizable as your main router.
Who It’s For
The RE1750A is best for tinkerers who like to have precise control over their extended Wi-Fi network, and who need lots of Ethernet ports to make wired connections to client devices. Those who need Wi-Fi 6 technology or are looking for a smaller wall-plug-style extender should look elsewhere, though.
Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender
Best Wi-Fi 5 Range Extender for Smaller Homes
Bottom Line:
The Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender is easy to install and supports MU-MIMO streaming. While its range performance is middling, it works well in close proximity.
Pros
- Supports Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) streaming.
- Easy to install.
- Solid close-proximity throughput performance.
Cons
- Lacks pass-through outlet.
- Bulky.
- Middling range performance.
Why We Picked It
Sometimes just one or two rooms in your house can’t get a reliable Wi-Fi signal, while every other room is blessed with a strong connection. Or perhaps you live in a building with plaster walls and lead paint, known for killing signals even across relatively short distances. That’s where the Linksys RE7000 can help. This Wi-Fi range extender achieved impressive results in our close-proximity tests (although performance did drop significantly when we moved further away). In addition to strong same-room performance, the RE7000 also offers extensive network customization options.
Who It’s For
Houses or apartments that lack a Wi-Fi signal in just one small area could benefit from the excellent close-proximity performance of the Linksys RE7000.
Netgear AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender (EAX15)
Best Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender for Mesh-Like SSID Sharing
Bottom Line:
The Netgear EAX15 is a plug-in Wi-Fi 6 range extender that delivers good overall performance, but is light on settings.
Pros
- Strong 5GHz throughput performance
- Good signal range
- Shares host router SSID
- Easy to install
Why We Picked It
If your router is having trouble delivering a strong Wi-Fi signal to certain areas of your home but you loathe the thought of switching between differently named networks for different parts of your house, the Netgear EAX15 can help. It’s easy to install, and you can use it to create a mesh-like network without buying a whole new mesh system, since it supports single-SSID naming for seamless roaming. It also supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, and it delivered solid performance on the 5GHz band in our testing.
Who It’s For
Do you hate switching between network names as you move in and out of range? It’s annoying, but if you’ve already got a cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6 router, you’re probably reluctant to ditch it in favor of a whole new mesh system. The EAX15 is a good alternative in this situation, extending the Wi-Fi signal to previously underserved locations in your house while letting you roam seamlessly from room to room without worrying about the name of the network you’re on.
How to Buy a Wi-Fi Range Extender
What makes range extenders so attractive compared with a bespoke mesh system is that they are easy to install and inexpensive. When paired with a budget-priced router, you can build a tandem system that gets coverage that can rival what you’d get from a single high-priced router or mesh system. Range extenders come in various shapes, sizes, and speeds, but they do have their limitations; they are typically half as fast as your primary router, and they create a separate extended network that makes seamless roaming difficult.
Depending on the size and layout of your home, a mid-to-high-end router may provide all the Wi-Fi coverage you’ll need. But for homes built with dense materials like brick, concrete, plaster, and metal, some level of signal degradation is almost a certainty. Likewise, homes with multiple floors and many walls are more susceptible to signal loss than a one-story home with an open floor plan. In some cases, you can relocate your router to a central location to deliver a stronger signal to those dead zones that were previously out of reach. In most homes, however, the router’s location is tied to the room where the internet enters the house, which means relocating the router will likely require running an Ethernet cable to the desired area. Range extenders provide a relatively easy way to deliver Wi-Fi without having to run cables.
(Credit: TP-Link)
When shopping for a range extender, it’s important to find one that matches your router’s specs. For example, if you have a dual-band AC1900 router, get a dual-band AC1900 extender (or better). If your router supports Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, which provides enhanced performance by sending data to compatible clients simultaneously rather than sequentially, look for an extender that supports this technology if you want to extend your MU-MIMO network.
The same goes for the latest Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E technologies, the current fastest flavors of Wi-Fi. If you recently bought a new router that supports these standards, you’ll certainly want to make sure any range extenders support them as well.
Do You Need a Desktop or Plug-In Extender?
There are two types of Wi-Fi range extenders: desktop and plug-in. Most desktop extenders look just like a wireless router and are typically equipped with external adjustable antennas, multiple LAN ports for connecting to devices like TVs and gaming consoles, and USB ports for attaching to peripherals such as storage drives and printers.
Plug-in extenders are much smaller than their desktop counterparts and are inserted right into a wall outlet. Some models have external antennas, while others use internal antennas to present an unobtrusive profile. Due to their size, plug-in extenders usually have only a single LAN port and lack USB connectivity, making them less versatile but more affordable than desktop extenders. If you can’t spare a wall outlet, look for a plug-in model that offers a pass-through outlet.
(Credit: Amped Wireless)
It’s also worth noting that, if you’re having the rather specific issue of connecting a computer to Wi-Fi in a particular part of your home, you might be better served by a USB Wi-Fi adapter. For as little as $15, these adapters are essentially antennas that plug directly into your computer to help it pull in a better Wi-Fi signal.
How to Set Up a Wireless Range Extender
Not very long ago, setting up a range extender required a bit of technical expertise and a good deal of patience to find the best location (ideally halfway between the router and the dead zone). But most of today’s routers and range extenders support Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), which makes pairing the two as simple as pressing a couple of buttons, naming your new extended network, and creating a network password.
Moreover, nearly all manufacturers offer web-based setup wizards and illustrated instructions that will help you configure basic wireless settings. Some (but not all) extenders are equipped with LED status indicators that tell you if the extender is too far from the router. Extenders can also offer advanced router-like features such as guest networking, access scheduling, and media server capabilities.
What Can’t Wi-Fi Range Extenders Do?
While fairly easy to configure, range extenders have their limitations. They often use a separate network SSID that you have to log into as you move through the house, and Wi-Fi speeds are typically half of what you get from your main router. Most dual-band extenders use both radio bands to transmit data to and from the router, which means devices connecting to the extender are competing for bandwidth with the router. To help alleviate network congestion, some manufacturers let you dedicate a band for router-to-extender communications. Netgear’s Fastlane technology and Amped Wireless’ BoostBand technology are good examples.
Still, maybe the fastest possible throughput is what you’re after. That could be because you’re running business applications across your network, or because you’re in the market for a gaming router or especially a Wi-Fi 6 router. If so, be sure to test the connection between your endpoints to ensure you’re getting the maximum traffic speeds you can. PCMag thoroughly tests all routers and range extenders that come through its doors so you’ll have a good idea of what to expect before you buy.
Recommended by Our Editors
(Credit: Linksys)
Wireless Extenders vs. Wi-Fi Mesh Systems
If you’re considering upgrading your network with all new hardware, it’s worth looking into a mesh-based Wi-Fi system before you spend money on a traditional router. Wi-Fi mesh systems are designed to blanket your home with wireless coverage and are made up of several networking components, including a main router and a series of satellite modules, or nodes, that you place throughout your home. They are all part of a single wireless network and share the same SSID and password, which means you can roam throughout your house without having to log into an extended network.
Whereas range extenders 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. Each node serves as a hop point for other nodes in the system, which helps the nodes farthest from the router to deliver a strong Wi-Fi signal as they talk to other nodes and don’t rely on one-to-one communications with the router.
Wi-Fi mesh systems are ideal for users with little or no technical knowledge. They can be installed in minutes and typically come with a user-friendly mobile app that walks you through the installation process with easy-to-follow illustrated instructions. And their prices are coming down, too.
So, Which Wi-Fi Range Extender Should I Buy?
In our wireless-extender review summaries above and our spec comparison chart below, check out our picks for the top extenders we have tested. To get even more from your home Wi-Fi network, also check out our guides to setting up your router, boosting your signal, and protecting your Wi-Fi network.
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