Expert Tested The 9 Best Wi Fi Range Extenders In 2023

If you’re having a problem getting Wi-Fi in every room of your house, our experts say you should probably just buy the Netgear Nighthawk X4 EX7300, as it offers the path of least resistance. It has the coverage, speed, and compatibility most people need, with a straightforward app-based setup process.

Range extenders like the Nighthawk work by connecting wirelessly to the router you already have in an area where your Wi-Fi signal is strong, and rebroadcasting that signal to parts of your house where the signal is weak or nonexistent. With a Wi-Fi range extender, you can boost a weak Wi-Fi signal, and even bring high-speed wireless connectivity to parts of your house that previously had no coverage.

If you’re happy with the overall performance of your router and just want better Wi-Fi coverage, the Netgear Nighthawk X4 will get the job done. This is our favorite Wi-Fi extender because it provides excellent performance and coverage for a decent price, and it isn’t too difficult to set up.

Best Overall

Netgear Nighthawk X4 AC2200 Wi-Fi Mesh Extender (EX7300)

Great wireless performance
Simple to use
Blocks power outlet
App setup is a bit clunky

This extender has a range of up to 2,000 square feet, which makes it great for extending a network to a different floor or the distant corners of a large home. It’s also able to handle a lot of devices at once. The AC2200 part of the name means it can deliver 2.2Gbps of bandwidth at once (we’ve got an explanation of what that actually means here), which is enough to stream Netflix in 4K, video chat on FaceTime, and maintain a competitive edge in online games, on several devices all at once. Realistically, your internet connection won’t be this fast, but if you pay extra for a super fast connection, it’s worth bearing in mind this unit will support it.

It’s designed to plug directly into a wall socket, and it supports WPS push-button setup, which makes it really easy to set up and use. It doesn’t have an outlet pass-through, so it does take up one outlet, but it leaves the other free.

If you have any devices that don’t have Wi-Fi, this extender has you covered there as well. The Nighthawk X4 includes an Ethernet port that allows you to use a network cable to connect a smart TV, game console, or anything else requiring a wired connection.

I set up my Netgear Nighthawk X4 using the iOS app, and while the process is straightforward, the Nighthawk app itself was a bit wonky. I had to try connecting to the router’s setup network several times before it went through, and it just seemed inconsistently responsive throughout. Ultimately, however, I was able to finish the setup process. The Nighthawk X4 worked as advertised, delivering strong speeds, improving upon the signal available from the router in the further corners of my house, and even holding a 5GHz signal pretty well when a fair distance away from the extender. Even though I paired it with a TP-Link router, the Nighthawk X4 maintained the same network names as my router uses. My smartphone and laptop automatically switched to the stronger signal when plugged in. Online gaming was also smooth across the board with the Nighthawk X4. — Andrew Hayward, Product Tester

If you’re working on a budget, the Netgear EX3700 is worth a look. It doesn’t have the range or speed offered by many of the other extenders on this list, but it’s a great option if you just need a little extra range to connect a handful of wireless devices.

Best Value

Netgear EX3700 AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender

Enhanced Wi-Fi coverage and signal strength
Wi-Fi Analytics app for all status updates
Difficulty connecting to 5GHz band

The ideal scenario for this extender is expanding a spotty wireless network into a guest room or home office where you expect to connect only a few devices at a time. It can provide a maximum of 1,000 square feet of coverage, and it can handle about enough bandwidth to stream in 4K, video chat, and download big files on a couple devices at once without a lot of slow down.

If you have smart home devices that have trouble connecting to your network, this extender can help with that as well. Smart home devices require a connection to your network, but they don’t use up a lot of bandwidth.

This extender has a small size to go along with its low price, and it’s designed to be plugged directly into a power socket. It leaves the top outlet free for your other electronics, but it does use up the bottom one as it doesn’t have a pass-through. It does include a single Ethernet port though, which makes it a great option for your home office if you have a computer that doesn’t support Wi-Fi.

Unlike other competitors’ svelte designs, the EX3700 has a bit of a bulky body and casing. The antenna placement is some of the worst we’ve seen on power line devices. Whether flipped all the way up or hanging on either side of the device, they don’t always stay put when arranged just so and don’t feel particularly sturdy. The browser-based setup procedure is simple and efficient. When putting the EX3700 through its paces, we simultaneously connected several devices to the same network: a Google Nexus 6 phone, iPhone X, iPad Pro, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. After setting up the extender in the bedroom, we experienced a strong and reliable wireless signal. Plugging in with the Ethernet port is the best option for devices like TVs and game consoles, though we didn’t have a problem using them on Wi-Fi either. At 10 feet to around 80 feet away from the router in our 2,100 square foot home, the signal rarely, if ever, wavered. There were a few drops here and there, but they only happened when large amounts of data were passing through. Beyond 80 feet, signal strength degraded. This is a pretty mediocre range as far as an extender goes. — Brittany Vincent, Product Tester

If you have a blazing-fast internet connection and like to buy all the latest gadgets and devices, then the TP-Link RE505X offers one key feature you absolutely need: Wi-Fi 6. The latest and greatest Wi-Fi technology, also known as 802.11ax, offers theoretical speeds almost three times faster than Wi-Fi 5. The catch is that your router and your devices also need to support Wi-Fi 6 or you won’t see any benefit.

Best Wi-Fi 6

TP-Link RE505X AX1500 Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender

Advanced Wi-Fi 6 Technology
Intelligent Signal Indicator
Can be used as a wired Access Point
Optimal performance requires Wi-Fi 6 devices

Jargon aside, what this means is that Wi-Fi 6 is both faster and more efficient than Wi-Fi 5, which means it allows more devices to connect at once without experiencing slowdown. Devices also use less power when connected to Wi-Fi 6, which can translate to longer battery life. Apple brought Wi-Fi 6 to their phones starting with the iPhone 11, and it’s also supported in the latest laptops, game consoles, and other devices.

If you have one of these devices, get this - The TP-Link RE505X lets you enjoy the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 throughout your home, instead of just in the immediate vicinity of your router.

The overall build quality of the TP-Link RE505X is exceptional, and you can feel this is a high quality, well-built device. I tested the RE505X in my home, which is located in the Raleigh/Cary, NC, area. I have Spectrum as my internet service provider, and my Wi-Fi speeds max out at 400 Mbps. My home is two levels, and at 3,000 square feet, it’s large enough to experience dead zones and slow zones with shorter range routers. The RE505X is supposed to be able to handle up to 25 devices. I connected two PS4s, one gaming PC, three FireTV devices, three laptops, and two iPhones. Speeds remained steady at around 80 to 100 Mbps on the 5 Ghz band, and at around 20 Mbps over 2.4 Ghz. The RE505X is supposed to be able to extend signal range by around 1,500 square feet. I found this to be an accurate representation. I was able to get the extended signal all over my house—in every bedroom, closet, and even outside in the backyard. — Erika Rawes, Product Tester

Any range extender can technically spread a Wi-Fi signal outside, especially if you place it near a window, but very few are rugged enough to actually brave the elements. If your goal is to cover a large outdoor area with Wi-Fi, the Netgear Orbi RB50Y is the best option. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s weather-resistant, works with just about any router, and has three data bands which means it can handle a lot of connections at once with ease.

Best for Backyards

Netgear Orbi RBS50Y Outdoor Satellite Wi-Fi Extender

Weather-resistant
Works with almost any router
Expensive
Some features require an Orbi system

The Orbi RBS50Y has a durable IP66 rating, which means it’s capable of withstanding high-pressure jets of water from multiple directions. You could technically hit this extender with your garden hose without interrupting the Wi-Fi signal, so a little rain and wind is unlikely to phase it. Just avoid knocking it into the pool, and you’ll be fine.

In addition to being weather-proof, the Orbi RBS50Y also provides great connectivity. It can cover up to 2,500 square feet, has three data bands, and has 3Gbps of bandwidth to share among your devices. With those specs, your network is likely to be just as strong and fast outside as it is inside.

Previously, my home network offered fair reception within about 20 feet of my house. However, once I added the Orbi RBS50Y that area ballooned to cover a decent chunk of the small farm where I live. The Orbi RBS50Y offers a coverage area of up to 2500 square feet, which seems to be a fairly accurate estimate. I found myself crossing my yard, driveway, the fenceline into the goat pasture, through a patch of woods all the way to the edge of the marsh where the signal started to cut out. Roughly estimated, that’s about 140 feet through trees and parked vehicles. Network speed does drop off gradually as you go farther from the router. Within 30 feet I was able to take advantage of my full network speed, within 100 feet that declined by about 20 percent, and at the limit of its range I was able to get about 60 percent of my total network speed. — Andy Zahn, Product Tester

The Netgear Nighthawk EAX80 is fast, but expensive. This would likely be our pick for the best range extender if it wasn’t for the price, which is on the high side. But if you’re looking for the best range extender to slot into a high-speed, high-traffic Wi-Fi network, this is it.

Best Performance

Netgear Nighthawk EAX80 AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender

Can add Wi-Fi 6 to your existing network
Solid range
Four Gigabit Ethernet ports to plug in TVs, consoles and other devices
Expensive

This extender blankets an area of up to 2,500 square feet with a high-speed Wi-Fi 6 network. Its capabilities rival many high-end, standalone routers, which means you can expect the same speeds and strong connections from devices connected to this as devices connected to your main Wi-Fi network.

The AX part of the name refers to Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, while the 6000 means this extender can handle up to 6Gbps of data at once. It also supports beamforming, which allows compatible devices to form a stronger connection, and has four Ethernet ports for connecting devices via a cable—something you’ll ideally want to do for the best speeds for devices like a streaming TV or console.

It’s very fast, but bear in mind you may not need or be able to use that extra speed. Your connection speeds will depend on your internet connection and main router, but this extender is ready to handle just about anything you can throw at it.

The Netgear’s Nighthawk EAX80 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender is not only the largest and heaviest Wi-Fi extender I’ve tested at 10 inches tall and nearly two pounds, but it’s also one of the oddest-looking. Once through the hassle of setup, the Nighthawk EAX80 really did deliver strong performance. I tested the connection in my office, which reliably sees reduced 5GHz reception from my router due to obstructions in between, and saw a noticeable boost in both reception and speed. The Nighthawk EAX80 also performed pretty well in distance testing. That 5GHz signal dropped down to 77Mbps at 25 feet, 74Mbps at 50 feet, and 56Mbps at 25 feet—still pretty speedy from the farthest edge of my property. Given the high max speeds, it wasn’t surprising to see strong gaming performance, as well. — Andrew Hayward, Product Tester

If you have a big house with several rooms, or even whole floors, that are out of range of your main router, then you probably want to prioritize range over everything else. The TP-Link RE650 is a range extender that puts the emphasis on range, with a maximum coverage area of up to 2,800 square feet. It also has plenty of bandwidth and supports beamforming for especially strong connections.

Best Range

TP-Link RE650 AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender

Four antennas offer great range
Fast throughput
Gigabit Ethernet port
A bit bulky

This is a good extender to choose if you need to extend Wi-Fi to a busy part of your house, or you have a large house with several rooms that need coverage. It has better overall range than the other options, and it’s capable of handling a lot of data at once. That makes it a good fit for covering a family room or busy home office, with a bunch of devices all connected at once. It also has a single Ethernet port, which is great for connecting a computer or game console.

While the TP-Link RE650 is powerful and lets you extend your Wi-Fi over a large area, it’s also very easy to use and set up. It uses an app-based setup procedure that walks you through the process with on-screen prompts, and even includes a signal indicator to take all the guesswork out of choosing where to install the extender. That means you don’t need to worry about trying to get the best connection, even if you don’t have a lot of experience with networks.

Most range extenders work by capturing the Wi-Fi signal from your main router and rebroadcasting it, but that isn’t always possible. If you’re trying to extend Wi-Fi to part of your home where the signal is blocked by something like brick walls or appliances, then a powerline extender like the Netgear PowerLINE 1000 can solve your problem.

Best Powerline

Netgear PowerLINE 1000 + Wi-Fi Range Extender (PLW1000)

Powerline technology offers extended range
Includes Gigabit Ethernet port
Performance is dependent on quality of home electrical wiring

The Netgear PowerLINE 1000 sends a network connection through the electrical wiring in your house to an adapter, which creates its own Wi-Fi network at the other end. Devices that connect to the network are then connected to your main router through the electrical wiring in your house. It supports up to 1Gbps of bandwidth, which makes it a good solution for spreading a Wi-Fi signal to a small home office or guest bedroom where a connection would otherwise be impossible.

In addition to creating a remote Wi-Fi network that connects back to your router through the electrical wiring, the PowerLINE 1000 also includes an Ethernet port for connecting a smart TV, game console, or computer that doesn’t support Wi-Fi. You can also add up to 16 adapters to the system to bring both wired and wireless connectivity to different parts of your home.

The TP-Link TL-WR902AC is a travel router that’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Its main purpose is to provide a strong Wi-Fi signal on the road, but it can pull double duty at home as a personal, portable Wi-Fi extender. If you travel a lot and also have a room or two in your house that could benefit from a stronger Wi-Fi signal, this extender could solve two problems at once.

Best Portable

TP-Link TL-WR902AC AC750 Travel Router

Dual-Band Wi-Fi
Solid Performance
Versatile with five wireless modes
Not ideal for a large number of Wi-Fi devices

Unlike most Wi-Fi range extenders, the TL-WR902AC is really small. In fact, it tips the scales at about 8 ounces. It’s also powered through a micro-USB port, which means you don’t need to pack a special power adapter. It will run off just about any USB power supply, like your phone charger, or even a portable power pack.

This extender’s range and bandwidth are on the low end, which means it doesn’t extend Wi-Fi very far, and you can’t connect too many devices at once. It has plenty of bandwidth to stream in 4K though, if you connect it to a fast-enough internet connection, and portability is the bigger concern anyway if you’re just trying to stream Netflix in a hotel. Then when you get home, you can use it to boost the Wi-Fi signal in your house as well.

The small size and light weight of the TP-Link TL-WR902AC is a definite boon to frequent travelers. It’s so small that it easily fits in my pants pocket, making it diminutive enough to go with you wherever you go and however little you’re able to carry. The TL-WR902AC works effortlessly as a travel router; it’s basically plug and play. It took me less than ten minutes to get it up and running the first time in router mode, and subsequent installations were of truly inconsequential length. I never experienced any issues with speed or reliability when using this router. I also appreciated that this router packs in dual-band capability despite its small size. Range was just OK, but by no means terrible for such a diminutive device. I was able to use it throughout a medium-sized house and around the yard beyond up to about 100 feet. — Andy Zahn, Product Tester

If you don’t need to connect a lot of devices, or speed isn’t really important, the TP-Link RE200 is a budget option that still gets the job done. The TP-Link RE200 comes with an extremely attractive price tag, it’s easy to set up and use, and has plenty of bandwidth for multiple devices to casually surf the internet, or more intense use on a single device. It doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it’s the best option if you have fairly basic requirements.

Best Budget

TP-Link RE200 AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender

Dual-band Wi-Fi
Ethernet port
High speed mode
No Gigabit Ethernet cable ports

This extender plugs directly into a power outlet, but it’s quite small, so it doesn’t block the other outlet. It also supports WPS for one-touch connections, or you can have the TP-Link app walk you through the process if you prefer.

The TP-Link RE200 has plenty of bandwidth to stream high definition video, download big files, and play games, as long as you don’t need to do all of those at once on a bunch of different devices.

I tested the TP-Link RE200 primarily in my office in my house, where I routinely see slower and sometimes inconsistent Wi-Fi speeds than when in closer proximity to my router. The RE200 clearly had an impact on both the speed and steadiness of the connection, with both my 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks showing full bars and typically delivering up to double the speed or more compared to my router’s own networks. The 5GHz performance was a bit underwhelming, though, with other tested extenders better able to maintain the faster speeds allowed by the Wi-Fi band. You usually see less range but faster speeds with 5GHz networks, and distance testing showed that the 5GHz connection became much less consistent the farther I pulled away from it. When it came to gaming, I saw pretty smooth performance while playing Rocket League over both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. There is one big annoyance with the TP-Link RE200: If you don’t have a compatible TP-Link router, then the extender will create separate versions of your networks. — Andrew Hayward, Product Tester

What to Look For in a Wi-Fi Extender

Whether it’s just a proliferation of laptops, tablets, and smartphones or a full smart home ecosystem, today’s homes have more Wi-Fi connected devices than ever before. Think about how many devices in your home use your wireless network—TV streaming boxes, game consoles, smart TVs, smart home devices, Echo or Google Home speakers, security cameras, phones, tablets, and computers. It can easily add up to dozens of devices all vying for a piece of your home’s Wi-Fi signal. This makes it more essential than ever before to have a reliable signal in every corner of your home. A Wi-Fi extender can provide a more stable connection in areas where your router can’t deliver a powerful enough signal on its own.

If you have a multi-level home, a large amount of square footage, or you simply have areas in your home that don’t get a good signal for one reason or another, a Wi-Fi extender can help improve your coverage. They’re also handy for pushing a signal to your backyard or deck, where coverage is often weaker due to interference.

About Our Trusted Experts

Jesse Hollington is a freelance writer with over 10 years of experience writing about technology and three decades of experience in information technology and networking. He’s installed, tested, and configured just about every type and brand of router, firewall, wireless access point, and network extender in places ranging from single-family dwellings to office buildings. university campuses, and even coast-to-coast wide-area network (WAN) deployments.

How do you know if you need a Wi-Fi extender?
Do you have any “dead zones” in your house where the Wi-Fi doesn’t work, or rooms where the signal is so weak your phone won’t stay connected? If you do, then a Wi-Fi extender can help bring the Wi-Fi from an area where it’s fairly strong to those areas where it doesn’t work very well. The best Wi-Fi extenders can even speed up your Wi-Fi connection in areas of your house where it’s weak and slow.Just keep in mind, Wi-Fi extenders are designed only to fill in one specific area. Think of it like your router creating a bubble of Wi-Fi, and then the extender creating a second bubble near the edge of the original one. If you’re having coverage problems in multiple areas in different parts of your home, you’ll need multiple extenders or a long-range router.
What causes Wi-Fi dead zones?
Think of your Wi-Fi signal like a radio playing- it gets quieter as it travels and goes through walls, doors, and floors. If you play music in one room, and then travel to the opposite side of your home or go downstairs to the basement, you may only be able to hear the music faintly (or not at all). When you turn the radio on, you can hear the sound with less interference on certain channels, and it may even play a bit louder on a specific channel. If you think of your Wi-Fi signal in the same way, you’ll realize it’s also going to weaken as it travels over longer distances, especially as it goes through doors, walls, floors, appliances, and other obstacles.
What is the difference between a Wi-Fi extender, a mesh Wi-Fi system and a Wi-Fi repeater?
In most cases, Wi-Fi extenders, Wi-Fi repeaters, and Wi-Fi boosters are all simply different names for the same type of device. All serve the same goal of increasing the range of your wireless network, although it’s important to keep in mind that not all Wi-Fi extenders work quite the same way or offer the same features. For example, while most Wi-Fi extenders connect to your main router over Wi-Fi, some connect through your home’s electrical wiring. So be sure to read the fine print and check the system requirements when picking a Wi-Fi extender for your particular needs. A mesh Wi-Fi system is also known as a whole-home Wi-Fi System. It uses a central router that connects to the modem and one or more satellite routers (or nodes) that all act as access points for the Wi-Fi signal. This way, you can place the different nodes around your home and extend your coverage far beyond the range you’d get if you only had a single router.
Do Wi-Fi extenders work with any router?
Unlike mesh Wi-Fi systems, Wi-Fi extenders are designed to work with almost any router, in much the same way as any other wireless device. If you’re concerned about performance, make sure the extender supports the same version of Wi-Fi as your router. For example, if your router supports Wi-Fi 6, getting an extender that supports Wi-Fi 6 will provide the best experience.
How big an area will an extender cover?
In the product’s description, you’ll often find a square footage amount that indicates the extender’s coverage range. If you opt for an extender, you can expect to extend coverage by about 1,200 square feet.If you purchase an extender with 1,200 square feet of coverage, that coverage is in addition to your router, so if your router provides 2,000 square feet of coverage, you can expect about 3,200 square feet of total coverage—assuming you place the Wi-Fi extender at the very edge of your existing router’s range. In most cases, you’ll likely end up with some overlap.

Do you have any “dead zones” in your house where the Wi-Fi doesn’t work, or rooms where the signal is so weak your phone won’t stay connected? If you do, then a Wi-Fi extender can help bring the Wi-Fi from an area where it’s fairly strong to those areas where it doesn’t work very well. The best Wi-Fi extenders can even speed up your Wi-Fi connection in areas of your house where it’s weak and slow.

Think of your Wi-Fi signal like a radio playing- it gets quieter as it travels and goes through walls, doors, and floors. If you play music in one room, and then travel to the opposite side of your home or go downstairs to the basement, you may only be able to hear the music faintly (or not at all). When you turn the radio on, you can hear the sound with less interference on certain channels, and it may even play a bit louder on a specific channel.

In most cases, Wi-Fi extenders, Wi-Fi repeaters, and Wi-Fi boosters are all simply different names for the same type of device. All serve the same goal of increasing the range of your wireless network, although it’s important to keep in mind that not all Wi-Fi extenders work quite the same way or offer the same features. For example, while most Wi-Fi extenders connect to your main router over Wi-Fi, some connect through your home’s electrical wiring. So be sure to read the fine print and check the system requirements when picking a Wi-Fi extender for your particular needs. A mesh Wi-Fi system is also known as a whole-home Wi-Fi System. It uses a central router that connects to the modem and one or more satellite routers (or nodes) that all act as access points for the Wi-Fi signal. This way, you can place the different nodes around your home and extend your coverage far beyond the range you’d get if you only had a single router.

Unlike mesh Wi-Fi systems, Wi-Fi extenders are designed to work with almost any router, in much the same way as any other wireless device. If you’re concerned about performance, make sure the extender supports the same version of Wi-Fi as your router. For example, if your router supports Wi-Fi 6, getting an extender that supports Wi-Fi 6 will provide the best experience.

In the product’s description, you’ll often find a square footage amount that indicates the extender’s coverage range. If you opt for an extender, you can expect to extend coverage by about 1,200 square feet.

Andrew Hayward is a Chicago-based writer who has been covering technology and video games since 2006. His areas of expertise include smartphones, wearable gadgets, smart home devices, video games, and esports. He reviewed several of the WiFi extenders on our list.

Brittany Vincent writes for a variety of publications including Complex, IGN, Tom’s Hardware, CNN Underscored, Mic, Mashable, GamesRadar, Destructoid, Kotaku, and GameSpot. She reviewed some of the WiFi extenders featured on our list.

Erika Rawes has written for Digital Trends, USA Today, Cheatsheet.com, and more. Previously a personal finance writer and freelance tech writer, Erika has tested more than 50 consumer technology products, ranging from kitchen gadgets to WiFi extenders, cameras, and more.

Andy Zahn has been writing for Lifewire since April 2019. He is a consumer technology expert who has tested several of the products on this list.

What to Look For in a Wi-Fi Extender#

About Our Trusted Experts#

What to Look For in a Wi-Fi Extender

About Our Trusted Experts