Top 10 Best Wi-Fi Extenders [2024]

Having a Wi-Fi extender in your home could be just what you need to put an end to slow internet and dead zones. A Wi-Fi extender works by connecting to your current Wi-Fi and broadcasting a new network name, effectively boosting your signal.

What To Look For in a Wi-Fi Extender

Setup and Usability

Setting up a Wi-Fi extender is very simple to do. There are often instructions available with the packaging or online alongside illustrations that are easy to understand.

A lot of models can be set up by just pressing a few buttons to pair the extender with your router. Then all you need to do is give your new extended network a name and a secure password. Some extenders are equipped with LED lights that can show you if its too far away from your router, and other extenders come with features such as guest networks and access schedules.

Frequency

Most Wi-Fi extenders work on a single band 2.4GHz frequency, but more expensive and higher-end extenders work on a dual-band frequency and support 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

If your Wi-Fi router has a dual-band frequency, you may benefit from having an extender with the same frequency support. It isn’t essential for you to do this, and you may save some money buying a single frequency model, but if you’d like the added benefits of having a dual-band model, then paying the extra expenses will be worth it.

Performance and Speed

The performance and speed of your Wi-Fi extender is very important to consider.

You can easily identify the performance and speed of an extender by looking and its bandwidth. For example, a bandwidth of AC1750 comes with a dual-band frequency that delivers a maximum data transfer rate of 1750Mbps. You can get a maximum speed of 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and a maximum speed of 1300Mbps on the 5GHz.

Depending on the model and the brand you choose, a Wi-Fi extender can boost your internet signal range by 800 square feet or even by over 2,000 square feet. To benefit the most from a Wi-Fi extender, you should consider where it needs to be positioned in your home. This could be a room where you have the weakest signal or where the internet feels the most unstable.

Security

Most modern Wi-Fi extenders support the WPA2-PSK security protocol, which is one of the most secure protocols available for home Wi-Fi users. The WPA2 security protocol uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for reliable encryption that can keep your information safe and secure.

Design

There are two main types of extenders available: desktop and plug-in.

Desktop extenders look just like your regular Wi-Fi router. They are often equipped with a number of external antennas that can be easily adjusted to get the strongest signal, plus multiple Ethernet and USB ports for easy connections to devices such as gaming consoles, TVs, and printers.

Plug-in extenders can be plugged into almost any wall outlet and are often smaller than desktop extenders. Depending on the model, some plug-in extenders have external antennas, but many have internal antennas instead of giving them more of a discreet look. Because of the small size, plug-in models often only have one Ethernet port and may not have any USB ports.

The Top 10 Best Wi-Fi Extenders

Tp-link N300 Wi-Fi Extender

The TP-Link N300 Wi-Fi Extender is compatible with any Wi-Fi router, gateway, and Access Point for up to 800 square feet of coverage.

With anAC750 bandwidth, this extender broadcasts on a single band 2.4GHz frequency and can provide you with great speeds of up to 300Mbps. To make sure you get the best positioning possible, this extender is equipped with a smart indicator light.

The setup has been made quick and easy. With just two quick taps, the extender will be ready to connect to your router. Once connected, you can setup schedules for when the extended network is on or off, and you easily control which devices are connected.

Being a plug-in extender, the design is sleek and compact and can blend in nicely with your walls and décor. It also comes equipped with two external antennas for more signal range and one Ethernet port for wired device connectivity.

Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender EX6120

The Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender EX6120 has universal compatibility, which allows it to work alongside any router, gateway, or cable modem with Wi-Fi. This extender will provide you with up to 1,200 square feet of coverage.

Using an AC1200 bandwidth, this extender broadcasts on a dual-band frequency and can provide you with up to 1200Mbps in speed. This performance is ideal for video streaming and regular online gaming.

If you’re looking for a wired internet connection for your online gaming, this extender is equipped with one Ethernet port that can be connected to any computer or gaming console.

The extender is very easy to get set up. With just one button press, you can have this extender up and running within five minutes.

Designed as a plug-in extender, this model is very unobtrusive when plugged into your wall outlet, plus the white color and small size make the extender appear almost invisible.

Tp-link AC750 Wi-Fi Extender

The TP-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Extender can extend your Wi-Fi coverage by up to 1,200 square feet within your home. It’s compatible with any router, gateway, an access point for your convenience.

The bandwidth of this extender is AC750 with a dual-band frequency. Its performance allows the extender to reach fast speeds of up to 300Mbps on 2.4GHz, and up to 433Mbps on 5GHz.

Just like the TP-Link N300, this extender has a super easy setup process. The extender can be connected to your router with just two taps. Once it’s connected, you can use the TP-Link Tether app to manage your extended network.

This plug-in extender is designed to be small and compact. It features one Ethernet port for a wired connection to any device, a patterned casing that allows it to fit nicely into any room, and it does not have any external antennas for a more discreet look.

Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender EX3700

The Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender EX3700 can provide your home with up to 1,000 square feet of coverage. It also has universal compatibility, which allows it to work with most routers, gateways, and cable modems with Wi-Fi.

This plug-in extender features an AC750 bandwidth that broadcasts on a dual-band frequency. It can easily provide your home with up to 750Mbps in speed.

As a plug-in extender, it’s designed to blend in with the rest of its surroundings. The design features one Ethernet port so you can directly connect to any nearby wired device and has two external antennas to be able to pick up the signal with ease.

Just like the Netgear EX6120, this extender can be up and running within five minutes. Its simple setup process only needs one button press to get started, then you can begin to connect your devices to your new extended network.

Tp-link AC1200 Wi-Fi Extender

The TP-Link AC1200 Wi-Fi Extender can boost your Wi-Fi coverage by up to 1,500 square feet, making it perfect for a larger-sized home. This extender will get rid of those Wi-Fi dead zones within your home with such a huge coverage.

This extender features an AC1200 bandwidth with a dual-band frequency, giving it a maximum data transfer rate of 1200Mbps. On the 2.4GHz frequency, it can reach speeds of up to 300Mbps, and on the 5GHz frequency, the maximum speed is 867Mbps.

Setting up this Wi-Fi extender is super easy to do. It comes with a secure one-touch connection that allows your extended network to be ready within minutes, and the TP-Link Tether app can also assist and help you manage your network. A smart indicator light is included with the extender to show you where the best location is for the strongest possible connection.

Nextbox Wi-Fi Extender

The Nextbox Wi-Fi Extender is universally compatible with any router or access point for easy Wi-Fi expansion and can boost your network range by up to 3,000 square feet. This amount of coverage is one of the highest amounts mentioned in this list.

This extender runs on an AC1200 bandwidth with a dual-band frequency. For each frequency band, the extender can reach up to 300Mbps on 2.4GHz, and up to 867Mbps on 5GHz, for an overall data transfer rate of 1200Mbps.

To get the extender to connect to your Wi-Fi router, simply press the WPS button for around eight seconds. Further information about the setup process can be found on the web-based setup page.

The design of this plug-in extender is fairly compact, allowing it to be positioned anywhere. It also features two external antennas for a fast and stable internet connection and is equipped with one Ethernet port for a direct-wired connection to any device.

Urant Super Boost Wi-Fi Extender

The URANT Super Boost Wi-Fi Range Extender can boost your Wi-Fi signal by up to 1,300 square feet of coverage and is compatible with any router, gateway, an access point for hassle-free installation.

Setup for this extender is simple and easy. To connect the extender to your router, all you need to do is press the WPS button for around eight seconds. Positioning the extender in the best possible location has been made easier, too, with the smart indicator light that can suggest where it should go.

Although the bandwidth is not mentioned in the product description, this extender can reach a maximum data transfer rate of 1,200Mbps, so you can say goodbye to buffering and hello to a lag-free connection.

The design features one LAN port for a direct connection to any nearby wired device and comes with four adjustable external antennas that can easily be positioned for much stronger coverage within your home.

Foscam Wi-Fi Range Extender

The FOSCAM Wi-Fi Range Extender can extend the Wi-Fi coverage in your home by up to 1,200 square feet. For ease of access, this extender is compatible with many modern Wi-Fi routers and gateways.

Broadcasting on a dual-band frequency, this extender can reach a high speed of up to 1,200Mbps. To get the extender connected to your router, simply press the WPS button, or you can follow the instructions that are available online. A smart signal indicator can help you find the ideal location for the best Wi-Fi coverage.

For extra security whilst browsing online, this Wi-Fi extender supports multiple protocols, including WPA2, the most secure protocol.

As a plug-in extender, this product can be connected to any available wall outlet. The design features four external antennas in order to achieve the most stable wireless connection possible and comes with one Ethernet port for a direct-wired connection to any Ethernet-enabled device.

Nextbox [Upgraded 2020] Wi-Fi Extender

The Nextbox [Upgraded 2020] Wi-Fi Extender is advertised as an upgraded version of the other Nextbox model mentioned earlier, but it feels more like a single band version.

Just like its counterpart, this extender can provide your home with coverage of up to 3,000 square feet and is compatible with any Wi-Fi router. Broadcasting on a single band frequency, it can reach speeds of up to 300Mbps without any issues.

Installing this Wi-Fi extender is super simple, just press the WPS button for around eight seconds to connect it to your home Wi-Fi router. Additional information can be found online if any problems do occur.

The design is small and features two external antennas that can be easily adjusted for the strongest signal possible. Plus, for a direct-wired connection to any of your devices, this extender is equipped with one Ethernet port positioned on the bottom to avoid damaging your cables.

Carantee Wi-Fi Range Extender

The final product in this list is the Carantee Wi-Fi Range Extender. This extender can extend your Wi-Fi signal by up to 1,300 square feet of coverage and is compatible with any standard Wi-Fi router or gateway.

This extender can be easily paired with your Wi-Fi router by pressing the WPS button. You can also set up the extender by following the instructions on the website.

Broadcasting on an AC1200 bandwidth, this extender comes with a dual-band frequency that can reach up to 300Mbps on 2.4GHz, and up to 867Mbps on 5GHz, for a total data transfer rate of 1,200Mbps. These fast speeds are perfect for streaming, online gaming, and quick files transfers.

The design of the extender features four adjustable external antennas for optimal signal coverage. There are also cooling holes on each side to prevent overheating and two Ethernet ports for a wired connection to any of your devices.

Final Thoughts

There are many things to consider before buying a Wi-Fi extender. It would definitely be an advantage to have one if your home has any dead zones, but be sure to check how much coverage you will need to get and what type of extender would fit best in the room that has the weakest Wi-Fi signal.