The 8 Best Wi-Fi Range Extenders of 2023

Best Overall

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

4.5

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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.

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.

_{Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AC2200 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: Yes | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 1}

Best Value

Netgear EX3700 AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender

4.2

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If you’re 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.

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.

_{Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AC750 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 1}

Best Wi-Fi 6

TP-Link RE505X AX1500 Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender

4.2

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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.

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. The catch is that your router and your devices also need to support Wi-Fi 6 or you won’t see any benefit.

If you have one of these Wi-Fi 6 devices, get the TP-Link RE505X so you can take advantage of its faster speeds.

_{Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AX1500 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: Yes | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 1}

Best for Backyards

Netgear Orbi RBS50Y Outdoor Satellite Wi-Fi Extender

4.5

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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 your 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.

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.

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.

_{Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AC3000 | Bands: Tri-band | MU-MIMO: Yes | Beamforming: Yes | Wired Ports: None}

Best Performance

Netgear Nighthawk EAX80 AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender

4.2

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The Netgear Nighthawk EAX80 is fast, but expensive. This would likely be our pick for the overall 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.

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.

_{Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AX6000 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: Yes | Beamforming: Yes | Wired Ports: 4}

Best Range

TP-Link RE650 AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender

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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.

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 simultaneous coverage because 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.

_{Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AC2600 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: Yes | Beamforming: Yes | Wired Ports: 1}

Best Powerline

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

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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.

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.

_{Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AC1000 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 1}