A range extender is a solid lower-cost alternative to buying a new router if you're looking to beef up your Wi-Fi network, with many now supporting advanced features like mesh networking.
Storyboard
The 9 Best Wireless Range Extenders to Beef Up Your Wi-Fi Network
Most folks figure they need to upgrade their Wi-Fi to get more bandwidth and either buy a new router or upgrade their service (or both), but the truth is that you don’t need to do any of that. For well under $100, 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. Here are the best we’ve tested.
Easy Parental Controls
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.
Super-Fast Throughput
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.
Best Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender
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.
Most Ports for the Price
The D-Link AC1200 Dual Band Gigabit Range Extender DAP-1650 is an affordable four-port range extender that also works as a media server and an access point and offers solid 5GHz performance.
Lots of Management Options
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.
Good for Small Homes
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.
Shares Host Router SSID
The Netgear EAX15 is a plug-in Wi-Fi 6 range extender that delivers good overall performance, but is light on settings.
Ideal for Mesh Networks
The Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000 offers the rare ability to use the same network name and password as your router, but other extenders offer better speed and range.
Blacklist and Whitelist Access Control
The RE505X is a plug-in Wi-Fi 6 range extender that delivers relatively strong throughput, but costs the same as another TP-Link model that offers better overall performance.
Join the PCMag Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on the latest tech news, reviews and deals, delivered straight to your inbox.
