Repeaters
Best Wi-Fi Extenders/Repeater/Booster 2021
- Best overall
NETGEAR Nighthawk EX8000- $189.99
- AC3000 Wi-Fi
- 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Best budget pick
TP-Link TL-WA855RE- $17.99
- N300 Wi-Fi
- 1 Fast Ethernet port
- Best for large homes
TP-Link RE450- $69.99
- AC1750 Wi-Fi
- 1 Gigabit Ethernet port
Our top pick: Which Wi-Fi extender is best?
The NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band Wi-Fi Extender can push your Wi-Fi’s range up to 2,500 square feet. It’s a little pricey, but worth the price because of its powerful wireless performance and because it keeps all your devices connected without having to switch networks. (Some extenders create separate Wi-Fi networks instead of simply expanding your current one.)
Best Wi-Fi extenders/repeater/booster comparison
| Best overall | |
| Model | NETGEAR Nighthawk EX8000 |
| Ethernet ports | 4 gigabit ports |
| Antennas | 6 |
| Price* | $189.99 |
| Learn more | View on Amazon |
| Best budget pick | |
| Model | TP-Link N300 TL-WA855RE |
| Ethernet ports | 1 10/100 Mbps port |
| Antennas | 2 |
| Price* | $17.99 |
| Learn more | View on Amazon |
| Best for large homes | |
| Model | TP-Link AC1750 RE450 |
| Ethernet ports | 1 gigabit port |
| Antennas | 3 |
| Price* | $69.36 |
| Learn more | View on Amazon |
| Best for multiple users | |
| Model | Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ |
| Ethernet ports | 1 gigabit port |
| Antennas | 4 |
| Price* | $98.90 |
| Learn more | View on Amazon |
| Best for odd-shaped rooms | |
| Model | NETGEAR EX6120 |
| Ethernet ports | 1 10/100 Mbps port |
| Antennas | 2 |
| Price* | $56.56 |
| Learn more | View on Amazon |
What should you look for in a Wi-Fi extender/repeater/booster?
The two things you should keep in mind while choosing a Wi-Fi extender are wireless standard and ports. These both determine the extender’s connectability.
Look for Gigabit Ethernet ports (as opposed to Fast Ethernet ports, which are slower) if you intend to connect a computer or console to your extender with a wired connection.
As for wireless standard—the higher the better for the most part. But know that getting an extender with a faster standard than your router may be a waste of money since the extender can’t add any speed to your existing network. It can only boost the network’s range.
NETGEAR Nighthawk EX8000: Best overall
$189.99
Protocol: 802.11ac
Standard: AC3000
Ethernet ports: 4 gigabit
Antennas: 6
Bands: Tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 5 GHz)
USB ports: 1 USB 2.0
The NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S Wi-Fi extender doesn’t play around. It sports two bands—2.4 GHz and 5 GHz—for your devices to connect to, plus a third 5 GHz band dedicated to communicating with your router.
You’ll also get MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output) technology with this Wi-Fi extender. This tech lets the NETGEAR Nighthawk communicate with several of your devices at the same time, as opposed to communicating with only one at a time.
We also love that the Nighthawk keeps the same SSID (service set identifier) as your router, so there’s no need to jump from your router’s network to your extender’s network as you move around the house. Yup, you won’t get caught in a Wi-Fi hiccup if you forget to swap over to the extender’s Wi-Fi network when you go upstairs.
Of course, all these features come at a price—but we think it’s worth it if you’re serious about extending Wi-Fi coverage throughout your house.
Pros
- Employs MU-MIMO technology
- Uses the same SSID as your router
Cons
- Large size—8 x 10 x 5 in.
- High price tag
- Comes with only a USB 2.0 port
TP-Link TL-WA855RE: Best budget pick
$17.99
Protocol: 802.11bgn
Standard: N300
Ethernet ports: One 10/100 Mbps
Antennas: 2
Bands: Single-band (2.4 GHz)
USB ports: None
If you’re willing to sacrifice some features for a more basic approach to a Wi-Fi extender, the TP-Link N300’s price is hard to beat.
While it’s missing a gigabit port and only operates on a single 2.4 GHz band, this Wi-Fi extender is still a good value if you’re not aiming for gigabit (1,000 Mbps) speeds and don’t need to connect a lot of devices to Wi-Fi.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find another Wi-Fi range extender close to the TP-Link N300’s price—most run at least double or even triple what it costs.
Pros
- Low price
- Compact size
Cons
- Single band
- No gigabit Ethernet port
TP-Link RE450: Best for large homes
$69.99
Protocol: 802.11ac
Standard: AC1750
Ethernet ports: 1 gigabit
Antennas: 3
Bands: Dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)
USB ports: None
Though it looks a bit ungainly with its three-pronged design, the TP-Link RE450 earned superb reviews on Amazon for its ability to extend Wi-Fi signals through walls to other rooms and even other floors of the house.
While it lacks USB ports, the TP-Link RE450 still offers a gigabit Ethernet port and dual-band connection, so you can hook it up to your PlayStation 4 and destroy Fallen in Destiny 2 or use it to stream Netflix in 4K.
Pros
- Strong signal indicator
- Great Wi-Fi extension to other rooms and floors
Cons
- No USB ports
- Top-heavy design
Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream: Best for multiple users
$98.90
Protocol: 802.11ac
Standard: AC1900
Ethernet ports: 1 gigabit
Antennas: 4
Bands: Dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)
USB ports: None
Just like the NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S, the Linksys RE7000 comes with MU-MIMO technology. But while both of these MU-MIMO Wi-Fi extenders are great for connecting multiple devices at the same time, the Linksys RE7000 comes in at a much lower price point than the NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S.
It’s also much more compact than the Nighthawk, although other plug-in Wi-Fi extenders tend to be less bulky. If you’re prone to klutziness like us, the Linksys RE7000 might prove just enough to catch an unwary shin or snag your vacuum cord.
Pros
- MU-MIMO technology
- Fairly compact size
Cons
- No USB ports
NETGEAR EX6120: Best for odd-shaped rooms
$56.56
Protocol: 802.11ac
Standard: AC1200
Ethernet ports: One 10/100 Mbps
Antennas: 2
Bands: Dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)
USB ports: None
If you have a home office or area around the house that always seems to have a spotty connection, NETGEAR’s EX6120 will make for a quick and cheap solution.
Though it doesn’t beat the TP-Link N300 on price, it’s still one of the most affordable options of the bunch and its AC1200 standard can support much faster speeds compared to the N300.
You’ll want something a little more deluxe if you’re a competitive gamer or have dozens of Bluetooth appliances humming all day long. But this is the pick for you if all you need is to surf the net while lounging in that one comfy spot on the couch where the signal is always dropping.
Pros
- Easy setup
- Low cost
Cons
- No gigabit Ethernet port
- No USB ports
Our verdict
We think the NETGEAR Nighthawk EX8000 is the best Wi-Fi booster, thanks to its MU-MIMO technology, tri-band Wi-Fi, four gigabit Ethernet ports, and six antennas. It’s a connectivity gold mine that can push your network to its furthest limits.