Noticed that your Wi-Fi isn’t quite able to reach certain points in your home or garden? Worry not, as a decent Wi-Fi extender will help and we’ve reviewed a bunch of the best picks.
Also known as a Wi-Fi Booster or a Wi-Fi Range Extender, a Wi-Fi extender is used to expand your Wi-Fi’s network range within your home and even out to your garden.
It might sound complicated, but in reality an extender is usually pretty easy to set up and can make a huge difference. You just need to ensure that it’s placed somewhere that’s in-between your router and the area where your Wi-Fi doesn’t reach.
With so many options available, from surprisingly cheap plug-ins to more powerful and feature-packed alternatives, it can be difficult to know which Wi-Fi extender to go for. That’s where we come in.
We’ve tested a huge number of different Wi-Fi extenders over the years and, regardless of price, subject each one to the same rigorous review process. We test speed, overall performance and reliability, while determining how easy each one is to configure. Only the best performers make it into this guide.
Before you jump in, we should point out that a Wi-Fi extender might not suit all households. For example, if you have a larger home that needs more areas covered then you’ll likely be better off with a mesh system instead. If you’re not sure whether this applies to you, then visit our Wi-Fi extender vs mesh guide for a detailed breakdown.
We’ve also put together a guide to the best routers currently on the market, which is worth considering if you’re using an old, default router supplied by your broadband provider when you first signed up. Otherwise, keep reading to see our list of the best Wi-Fi range extenders.
Best Wi-Fi Extender at a glance
- The best overall Wi-Fi Extender: TP-Link RE700X
- The best budget Wi-Fi extender: Mercusys ME30
- The best Wi-Fi extender for speed: Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400
- The best mid-range Wi-Fi extender: Netgear EAX12 Wi-Fi Range Extender
- Best Wi-Fi extender for Asus routers with AiMesh support: Asus RT-AX59U Extendable Router
How we test Wi-Fi extenders
Testing Wi-Fi extenders is all about seeing how they perform in a variety of situations. For that reason, we test them all with a Wi-Fi 6 router. First, we measure throughputs with our router, when connected in different rooms. Then we connect the Wi-Fi extender in different parts of our home, and retest connection speeds to see what improvement we can get.
When rating routers, we take into account price and performance: if you just want to boost Wi-Fi to usable speeds, a cheaper extender will do; if you need to improve the quality of your network for multiple devices that use a lot more bandwidth then a higher-end model will be required.
We test all extenders to see how easy they are to configure, and how easy they are to manage, too./h
What type of extender do you want?
Traditional extenders give you a new wireless network, then connect wirelessly to your router. They’re easy to set up, but you’ll have two networks to manage. A mesh extender works with your existing network, using the same name. They’re more expensive, but a more elegant solution.
Do you need Ethernet ports?
Having wired Ethernet ports on your extender lets you plug in devices that don’t have Wi-Fi built-in, or gives a more stable connection when you have a device that has slightly flaky wireless properties.
Would Powerline help you?
A Powerline-based Wi-Fi extender works by running data over your home’s mains power, rather than using a wireless connection. Performance can vary hugely between homes, but these devices can work in houses that have thick walls or suffer from a lot of interference.
What version of Wi-Fi do you want?
Wi-Fi 5 (also known as 802.11ac) is a good, well-supported standard, with products available at a decent price. This will likely suit most people, particularly those with older routers. Wi-Fi 6E is the latest standard and can help you upgrade your network in preparation for new wireless devices, but you’ll pay a little more for these devices.
What speed do you need?
We’ve listed the speeds that manufacturers list, although they’re not indicative of the speeds you’ll actually get, as it’s the connection to your router that governs the overall speed. The newer (and faster) your main router is, the faster the extender that it will take, so use your router’s age as a rough guide.
The post Best Wi-Fi Extender 2026: 5 excellent picks that’ll solve your issues appeared first on Trusted Reviews.
