10 Best Wi-Fi Extenders

Everything works on the Internet nowadays, and if you don’t have a stable connection around your house, it may be time to think about getting a Wi-Fi extender for your place.

Buying a Wi-Fi extender may not be the simplest of tasks since there are plenty of options in the market. Wi-Fi extenders differ in terms of brand names, speed, connectivity, and prices. When buying an extender, you should know whether it will be suitable for your house or your apartment and whether or not it will support multiple devices, contain external ports, and more. Moreover, you also need to see how tech-savvy you are and whether you can handle the latest technology-laden extender, or you should go for a simple extender with an easy setup.

You can read below to find out for yourself what you should look for when buying a Wi-Fi extender and the types which are available in the market.

What to Look for in a Wi-Fi Extender

Wi-Fi Compatibility

The primary job of a Wi-Fi extender is to improve your router’s signal, and no matter how expensive the extender you buy, it will be of no use if it is not compatible with your router. As such, you need to buy an extender, which can work on your router. On the other hand, if your router is entirely outdated and does not support the latest technology, you may want to consider upgrading your router first!

Single or Dual Band

You have to check whether your router has single bands or dual bands. The dual bands have different speeds, and you should know which one you should get.

Security

Security should always be a priority, especially for your Internet needs. You should get a Wi-Fi extender that has the latest technology of Wi-Fi protected access version. It helps to prevent anyone from logging onto your network.

Top 10 Wi-Fi Range Extenders

Netgear EX3700 Wi-Fi Extender AC-750

This is a low cost and affordable Wi-Fi extender that can plug directly into the wall socket. It is a dual-band type and is also compatible with wireless ac technology. It also offers an excellent performance of throughput of up to 750mbps.

Moreover, it also has two antennas, which are external that help to provide enhanced Wi-Fi coverage, and even an option for creating a new Wi-Fi hotspot of an access point through the use of a gigabit Ethernet port. This is an excellent option if you want to create an entirely separate network for your guests. It also includes the Wi-Fi analytics app, through which you can know what the status is or how well is the strength of the Wi-Fi signal as well as the identify the crowded channels

The setup process is quick and straightforward, and there is also the option of tweaking your setting through your Netgear account, but this is not for those who are new to these things. As per the network performance and the connectivity, it is suitable for smaller homes, and the Wi-Fi extender can hit 750Mbps, as long as your internet provider can support it. The price is also quite affordable.

Specifications

• Weight: 7.2 oz.
• Product Dimensions: 5.63 x 3.9 x 7.01 in.
• Color: White
• Speed: AC750
• Warranty: One year
• IPv6 Compatible
• Number of Antennas: Two
• Number of Bands: Two
• Number of Wired Ports: One

Conclusion

Overall, the Netgear EX3700 Wi-Fi extender ac-750 is an excellent power line adapter, which is compact and offers pretty good connectivity.

Netgear Orbi

This is another relatively affordable Wi-Fi extender that offers three packs of its rounded and tall towers for a competitive price. Why this system is excellent is because of two things, it packs in three bands which gives it increased flexibility, where you can use on only for backchannel networking to the router that it is connected to which helps to avoid any form of congestion that can happen on the other two bands. It also has a range of 5,000 sq feet of coverage for around 1.2Gbps of data good enough for your gadgets, and there is a lot of bandwidth for online gaming, Netflix, and even video conferencing. 

The process of setting it up is very simple, similar to downloading an iOS app and scanning the QR code all you need to do is plug it into the modem, open the Netgear Orbi application and follow the instructions. There is also an android app available. 

While it claims that it can cover 5,000 feet, it was entirely accurate and in line with its performance. The price is undoubtedly quite high than many other mesh routers, but the performance is worth the price.

Specifications

• Weight: 3.92 lbs.
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.11 x 8.89 in.
• Color: White
• Speed: AC3000
• Range: Up to 5,000 feet
• Warranty: One year
• Firewall: Yes
• IPv6 Compatible
• MU-MIMO
• Number of Bands: Three
• Number of Wired Ports: Four per node
• Chipset: Qualcomm IPQ4019
• Parental Controls

Conclusion

The Netgear Orbi is one of the most reliable and also the fastest devices in the market, and it well worth the high price tag due to its exceptional performance and high speed. This is ideal for those who have a large home or office space.

Netgear AC1200 Wireless Range Extender

This is a powerful extender that is not just affordable but also extremely versatile. It can easily support the latest wireless ac standard, and it can also be used as another Wi-Fi access point. Any Wi-Fi extender, that you use, should have dual-band functionality, which means it should be able to stream on both the 2.4GHz as well as on the 5GHz frequency bands. It has 5-gigabit Ethernet ports, which are much faster than the regular ones. It is able to extend Wi-Fi coverage by at least a few hundred square feet.

The setup process is more or less similar to how other wireless devices are set up. All you need to do is pull it out of the box, plug it in, and press the WPS button and you are set. The performance is not spectacular, yet it is adequate for most users. On the other hand, having five Ethernet ports is a great feature, especially when you just need the Internet for a small space.

Specifications

• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Product Dimensions: 9.92 x 6.85 x 1.22 in.
• Color: Black
• Speed: AC1200
• Warranty: One-year limited warranty
• Compatibility:  Needs 2.4 or 5GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi router / gateway
• Firewall: No
• IPv6 Compatible
• MU-MIMO
• Number of Antennas: Two
• Number of Bands: Two (2.4GHZ+5GHz)
• Number of Wired Ports: Five
• Range: Maximum 85 Feet

Conclusion

This Netgear AC1200 Wi-Fi range extender is an excellent option when it comes to mid-range pricing. It has a perfect combination of features and affordable price, which makes it suitable for every user.

Netgear Nighthawk X4 AC2200 WIFI Range Extender

This Wi-Fi extender brings multi user input and multiple output technology to a plug-in Wi-Fi range extender, which is very convenient. Through this, it is possible to communicate with more than one device at the same time; this means the entire family can easily stream without any form of buffering. 

The process of setting up is straightforward and easy and only takes about five minutes. You have to connect it with your existing router and simply press a button and you are done.

Specifications

• Wi-Fi range: 2000 sq feet
• 2200mbps wireless speed
• Number of connected devices: thirty-five
• Bandwidth: dual band up to 2200Mbps
• For Internet speed: Up to 100Mbps
• HD streaming
• Online gaming
• Universal router compatibility

Conclusion

This is an excellent device for the entire family to use on a sharing basis, and you can even connect a wired device nearby, which provides faster speed with uninterrupted connected.

TP-Link AC1200 (RE305)

This is one of the best Wi-Fi extenders for long-range, even though it may not be the faster one in the close range. It has two bands and a high-speed Ethernet port through which you can connect to a wired device as well, which helps to boost your internet stream for the entire place.

It is a great looking design with short antennas and LED lights in front, which indicates connectivity. The set up process is not just quick but also very simple and only takes a few minutes. There is also an installation guide to help you through it. As far as the performance is concerned, it is excellent, and multiple devices can efficiently run on it smoothly. There may be a few drops in connectivity, but usually, speed does not waver. 

Specifications

• Weight: 6.4 oz.
• Dimensions: 3.1 x 3.1 x 2.4 in.
• Color: White
• Speed: AC1200
• Warranty: Two-year limited warranty
• Compatible with any Wi-Fi router
• IPv6 Compatible
• Antennas: Two
• Bands: Two
• Wired Ports: One
• Range: 50 to 75 Feet

Conclusion

It is a fantastic deal to get great features and smooth connectivity at such an affordable price.  It is a no frills Wi-Fi network extender that can easily support the dual band and is equipped with Ethernet for wired connections also. It is reliable for shorter ranges and may not work so well beyond 2,000 square feet.

D-Link DAP 1520 Wi-Fi AC750 Dual Band Range Extender

This can easily plug into the socket of any wall and helps to extend the coverage of your router only at one press of a button. It has wireless ac technology. It can easily save and also restore the settings of any device, which is an excellent idea in case of power outages or factory reset. It can also help to monitor traffic on your network.

Not only is it small, but also it is effortless and straightforward to install. There is no USB, ethernet, or any other audio inputs, and neither are there any network bridging functionality. It is, however, a trustworthy and affordable device for your basic needs. It is merely for extending your Wi-Fi coverage and ideal for people with limited technical knowledge.

Specifications

• Dual-band performance
• AC750 technology
• Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.2×1.4×3.6 inches
• Color: white

Conclusion

The D-Link Wi-Fi extender is an ideal choice if you are looking for a basic device without any frills attached at an affordable price. This will help with extending your Wi-Fi and providing useful connectivity, but you may need to upgrade to a speedier device if you want to connect multiple gadgets.

Netgear Wi-Fi Mesh Nighthawk X6 Range Extender AC2200

This is yet another useful Wi-Fi extender that we have chosen over others to review in Netgear’s Nighthawk line, and just like the others in the same category, it does a great job. It has smart roaming technology, which can connect to your mobile device automatically and to whichever is the most active Wi-Fi connection without any delay or lags. It also establishes an independent and robust connection point to the main router.

The setup is quite essential, which requires a few simple steps that are mentioned in the manual. This device is also quite good looking and has a lot of useful features, and the performance is reliable.

Specifications

• Color: Black
• Speed: AC2200
• Warranty: One-year limited warranty
• Compatibility: Any 2.4 and/or 5GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi router or gateway
• Firewall: No
• IPv6 Compatible
• MU-MIMO
• Antennas: Two
• Bands: 2.4 GHz (1 band) / 5 GHz (2 bands)
• Wired Ports: Two 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports with auto-sensing technology
• Range: 50 to 75 Feet

Conclusion

This is a great looking device, and the performance is also exceptional and reliable. However, the price is a bit expensive when you compare with other Wi-Fi extenders in the same range and features. The features that it has do not make it stand apart from the rest of the competition.

Google Wi-Fi Range Extender

If you do not want an expensive, feature-rich and confusing router, then this is an excellent choice for you. It has three packs of little devices that can easily cover about 1500 square feet and gives a total of about 4,500 sq feet of mesh style and stable Wi-Fi network. This does not, however, have any extenders, which means you cannot have any physical ports connected to this device. However, it is very easy and straightforward to use, and the set up process is also very simple. 

The design is very elegant, and there is built-in network checks, which can check your mesh units and also check the speed of the network automatically.

Multiple gadgets work with convenience on this, and you can easily walk around your house watching videos or playing games without losing connectivity.

Specifications

• Weight: 11.8 oz.
• Dimensions: 4.17 x 4.17 x 2.7 in.
• Color: White
• Speed: AC1200 2×2 Wave 2
• Warranty: One year
• Firewall: Yes
• IPv6 Compatible
• MU-MIMO: No
• Bands: Three
• Wired Ports: Two per node
• Chipset: Qualcomm IPQ4019
• Range: Up to 4,500 feet (three-pack) 1,500 feet (single node)
• Parental Controls

Conclusion

This is an accessible router that can be used by anyone, whether you are tech-savvy or not, or whether you are living in a big house or a small apartment. It provides a great range and doesn’t go down, and the price is excellent for the device.

TP-Link RE220

This is an affordable Wi-Fi range extender, which is excellent for those people who do not want to deal with a tricky or strenuous setup process configuration settings. It provides a unique signal for gaming, HD streaming, and using multiple gadgets or smart home products.

It can be plugged straight into the wall socket, and you can simply manage and customize your Wi-Fi network. The device is also stylish and presentable, which can be placed anywhere in the house and provides excellent performance.

Specifications

• Color: White
• Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Voltage: 120240 volts
• Dimensions: 4.3×2.6×2.2 inches
• Built in Wi-Fi and Ethernet
• Technology: AC750

Conclusion

This TP-Link Wi-Fi extender works brilliantly with multiple gadgets without interrupting connectivity. The best part about this router is its ease of use and setup which can be done by anyone, with a signal click of a button.

D-Link DAP AC1200 Wi-Fi Gigabit Range Extender

This is the ideal Wi-Fi extender if you are looking for a capable and fast yet stylish router. It is priced very competitively as compared to other such extenders in the market, and the performance is also brilliant. It has dual band wireless ac connectivity, which works flawlessly no matter where you keep the device. It is equipped with four-gigabit Ethernet ports, which makes it an excellent choice for putting it next to a smart TV, non-wireless printer, or a wired pc.

The setup is simple and requires a one-touch connection. It is compatible with almost any regular wireless router. The design is also great without the device having any antennas popping out of the extender.

Specifications

• Color: Black
• Style: Multi operation modes / AC 1200
• Wireless compatibility: 802.11 ac
• Built in Wi-Fi, Ethernet
• Voltage: 12 volts
• Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Dimensions: 4.3×3.6×5.7

Conclusion

This is a simple and straightforward device, which has useful features and the latest ac1200 technology, which provides high-speed connectivity. It can be placed anywhere around the house and provides connections to multiple devices simultaneously. It is a good device for the price.

Verdict

We have reviewed the above-mentioned top ten Wi-Fi extenders in terms of their connectivity, style, technology, and performance. We have found that the Netgear EX3700 is the best one in terms of ease of set up. It is excellent for those users who are looking for something which can be, plug, and play.

Next in line is Netgear Orbi Home, which is our second pick, especially in terms of its reliable and fast connection and its extensive range. It is able to provide excellent connectivity to entire house. 

Lastly, our pick for the most budget friendly and value for money Wi-Fi extender is the D-Link DAP 1520, which not only provides excellent range all over the house but the price is also affordable and given the technology and its features, it is also value for money. The Wi-Fi range extenders, which are mentioned above, are some of the best ones in the market, and once you have gone over the reviews, you can decide for yourself which one will be best suited for your requirements.