The Best Wi-Fi Extenders in 2022

Having a good wi-fi connection isn’t just about having the best speeds possible inside your home. The speed needs to be consistent all throughout the area as well. No matter how good your router is, there’s only so much room it can reach without compromising the speed of your connection. If your connection is lagging in some parts of your home, it might be time to invest in a wi-fi extender.

As the name suggests, a wi-fi extender is a device that will help increase the signal of your wi-fi connection. It’s a good solution if you have spotty connection in some parts of the house. There are lots of wi-fi extenders to choose from, but if you’re looking for the best of the best, then here are some that you should consider getting right now.

The TPLink RE650 is an amazing plug-in range extender from a trusted brand. It’s designed to connect directly to an AC outlet wherever you want it placed. It’s bigger than most other products it competes with because it has a total of four large external antennas.

These may look a bit ugly, but our tests show that the WiFi works very well. There is an easy-to-find WPS security button right on the front panel to assist in the setup process. There is also a status light that tells you when the setup is officially completed.

If you want something a bit more sophisticated, you should check out the more expensive Range Extender, which offers a more sophisticated “Roaming” feature that automatically switches devices between the router and the Range Extender as you “roam” from room to room. The RE650 offers an excellent balance between these ease of use and affordability. The Range Extender can be a bit tricky to set up, as it usually creates its own WiFi network.

This means that you will have to put in a little effort to set up the connection in your router in both the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands. This can take a considerable amount of time. Most home office setups have very unstable WiFi and can be completely disconnected. However, when the RE650 is plugged into an outlet just outside the location of the router, the WiFi speed jumped from the usual 18 Mbps to 78 Mbps, which is normal (and suitable for Netflix) in the slow 2.4 GHz band. The 5 GHz band has been further improved from 60 Mbps to 283 Mbps. Additionally, the WiFi speeds are not only fast, but also smooth and consistent.

This is just as important when playing games online or streaming music or video. This kind of performance is very impressive for range extenders in this price range. Therefore, the RE650 is an excellent, affordable option for those who need to enhance WiFi in hard-to-reach places, such as upstairs bedrooms or outside the garden.

Pros

• Good performance
• Easy to set up
• Comes with app

Cons

• Bulky design

Specification

• Price $89.99
• Wi-Fi Spec AC2600 802.11ac dual-band
• Ports 1 gigabit Ethernet
• Data Transfer Rate 2600 Megabits Per Second

If you have room for a large WiFi extender, we recommend the Netgear EAX20. The device sizes up at 9.5 x 6.7 x 2.5 inches. This is about the same size as a full router or bound book, it fits snugly on a bookshelf, desk, or floor.

The downside is that it’s impossible to mount on the wall and is huge compared to devices such as the Netgear EX2800, Rock Space WiFi Range Extender, or other wall plug style extenders. More importantly, it requires its own power supply. Designed around WiFi 6, the Netgear REAX 20 is a one-of-a-kind WiFi extender that can extend 802.11ax signals deep into your home.

Benchmark tests show that it works well with the TPLink Archer C5400X router in 802.11ac mode, but it worked better on the Netgear RAX80 in its native 802.11ax mode. Using the Ixia’s IxChariot Network Performance Benchmark and RAX80 Router, the EAX20 sends 375.2 Mbps to the receiving system at 15 feet, making it one of the best performing extenders ever. It has more than double the output of its relative, the Netgear EX2800 (170.9 Mbps) and Rock Space WiFi Range Extender (175.4 Mbps).

It was a leader in the 95-foot range. If the Extender is located on the same floor far away from the location of the router, as well as the receiving system, the EAX20 will function at 124.2 Mbps, more than double the bandwidth of the Lockspace AC1200 WiFi Range Extender (50.0 Mbit). / s). The NETGEAR EAX20 is a clear standout in one field, however. It’s about expanding your network faster and longer than your competitors.

As the first of a brand new line of WiFi 6 extenders, the EAX20 is definitely a cut above the other extenders from the company, as seen from both the performance of the Netgear EX6200 and Nighthawk X6S Extender. You can also see it in the performance of the TPLink RE650 data transfer feature. 

Pros

• Wi-Fi 6 support with 802.11ax operations
• Built-in security
• Mesh compatibility with netgear

Cons

• No USB ports

Specification

• Price $92.99
• Wi-Fi Spec AX1800 802.11ax dual band
• Ports 4 gigabit Ethernet
• Data Transfer Rate 1.8 Gigabits Per Second

The Rock Space AC1200 is a high-performing but average-looking WiFi extender. The only difference is that it’s black instead of the white and light gray you see from most extenders. Two external antennas pop up, below which is one Ethernet port (10 / 100Mbps RJ45), a WPS button, and a status light for a regular signal, WPS, and power.

The chassis is about the same as the chassis of the Tenda A18, and the web UI for setting up this good extender is virtually the same as well. The datasheet claims that both Rock Space AC1200 WiFi 5 antennas are compatible, and testing confirms this claim. These WiFi extenders do seem to look like they have similar appearances but this one from Rock Space is very different. You can easily pair everything via WPS. This can be done by simply holding the WPS button on both the router and the Rock Space AC1200, but the best option is through it’s dedicated software.

Once the extender’s SSID appears in the list of available wireless networks on your device, your browser. If you need access to the Rock Space AC1200 control panel, you can assign an administrator password from there. You can then select your network from the list that appears and enter your main network password. Once this extender connects to your router, it’s very easy to rename the new SSID.

The Rock Space AC1200 is very affordable and easy to set up. For it’s price, you’re getting exactly what you pay for. However, you might want to hold your money and spend it on more convenient things like the TPLink RE505X. 

Pros

• Small design
• Two adjustable antennas

Cons

• Subpar performance

Specification

• Price $17.77
• Wi-Fi Spec AC1200 802.11ac dual band
• Ports 1 gigabit Ethernet
• Data Transfer Rate 1200 Megabits Per Second

Need to expand your Wi-Fi network’s reach but don’t want to use a visible extender? The Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi range extender is small and low-profile, so it won’t obstruct other outlets or look like a gaudy gadget. It’s easily the greatest Wi-Fi extender we’ve seen for folks who prefer a sleek look over an antenna-laden brick that blocks nearby outlets.

Apart from its understated appearance, the Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ provides decent throughput speeds. It also features easy-to-understand setup assistance to help you select the best location for optimal performance. The overall performance is decent, but the set-up aid makes it an excellent pick for anyone who needs a little help getting everything set up properly.

The extender connects to almost all wall outlets without blocking access to other sockets. However,  there is no pass-through outlet available with the Linksys RE6700 AC1200Amplify Dual Band WiFi Range Extender. There is one Gigabit LAN port located directly at the bottom of the extender, and a WPS and reset button on the right. The RE7000 utilizes the amazing and helpful Spot Finder technology to help you assess and look for the best plug-in locations.

The LED indicator on the front of the extender lights green if the extender is connected to the router, turns orange if the connection is weak, and flashes orange if it is disconnected. If the green light does not come on when you place the extender, unplug the extender and plug it into an electrical outlet near your router. The Asus RP-AX56 is an amazing router that can be used for various purposes as well. It’s an all-around extender that won’t fail you.

Pros

• Simple design
• Dual-band operations
• Easy software

Cons

• Heating problems

Specification

• Price $79.79
• Wi-Fi Spec 802.11ac dual band
• Ports 1 Gigabit Ethernet
• Data Transfer Rate 1.9 Gbps

The D-Link’s DAP-1720 extender is a large, powerful, easy-to-set-up product. It can fill in Wi-Fi lifeless zones and may be monitored with the help of its amazing cellular app. Of the satisfactory Wi-Fi extenders we have got reviewed, this low-profile version is the best suited for taller, multistory houses.

While it makes use of a traditional plug, the extender doesn’t block adjoining AC outlets. However, it suffers from choppy performance. Similar to the very popular Motorola MX1200, the DAP-1720 makes use of a two-prong plug constructed into the extender’s returned in preference to a three-prong plug. This setup is similar to the TP-Link RE650’s. However, keep in mind that this may result in issues in houses with vintage electric wiring.

The front of the device has 5 LEDs: The one at the top indicates that the tool is on and connected, whilst the other 4 function as a signal-electricity indicator to assist manual your placement. Based on its classic and tested dual-band design, the DAP-1720 can rebroadcast statistics in each of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels. It’s also capable of three x three statistics streams; this product can basically flow as much as 450 Mbps and 1.3 Gbps over the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Additionally, it also incorporates an AC1750 throughput score. Overall, the device peaked with a complete impressive throughput. 

Pros

• Comes with sturdy plug
• Good for multi-story properties
• Easy to set up

Cons

• Spotty performance

Specification

• Price $41.28
• Wi-Fi Spec 802.11ac dual band
• Ports 1 Gigabit Ethernet
• Data Transfer Rate 1750 Megabits Per Second

Asus has also joined the Wi-Fi extender line of products with its own amazing offering. As expected from the brand, Asus delivers an amazing extender that is fit for gamers. That device is none other than the Asus RP-AX56.

The Asus RP-AX56 is an amazing extender that comes packed with everything you need to increase the signal of the connection in your home. The only problem that we have with this device is that it’s one of the priciest extenders out there. Moreover, for its price, you’ll be able to get something that’s even more top of the line. If you’re a gamer, however, the Asus RP-AX56 does come with a few caveats that are hard to overlook.

What’s great about the Asus RP-AX56 is that even at great distances, it is able to extend signals at a fast speed. If you’re a gamer, this is very important along with stable bandwidth connectivity as well. These key features combined make the Asus RP-AX56 one of the best extenders for gamers right now. While pricey, it’s certainly worth the investment as well.

Pros

• Fast average speed
• Easy to set up

Cons

• Pricey

Specification

• Price $136.99
• Wi-Fi Spec 802.11ax
• Ports N/A
• Data Transfer Rate 18000 Mbps