Home > Computers and Accessories > Networking, Wi-Fi and Blutooth > Best Wi-Fi Extender

Best Wi-Fi Extender Reviews 2021

The biggest problem with Wi-Fi signals is that there often aren't enough of them around. Luckily for information age enthusiasts, though, some clever people have found a way to make the beloved Wi-Fi signal omnipresent! (Or at least strong enough to cover your living room, bathroom, and maybe also pantry, for good measure.) If you'd like to improve your signal, check out our list of five of the top Wi-Fi extenders and find the best model for your needs!
TopProducts may earn commissions when you purchase through links on our site. Learn More.
Overview
PROS
CONS
SPECS
Speed
Ports
Frequency
Weight
Warranty
Our Top Choice
Linksys Dual-Band Wireless Range Extender
Linksys Dual-Band Wireless Range Extender
Coming from Linksys is this wonderful range extender. With easy setup, the Linksys AC1200 is a sure number one pick for many wishing that extra range when surfing the net at home!
Great range. Easy to set up. Comes from a well-known brand.
A bit more expensive than its competitors.
Up to N300 + AC867 MBPS
4 ports
Dual band 2.4 and 5 GHz
5.6 ounces
None
Best Value
TP- Link Powerline Extender Starter Kit
TP- Link Powerline Extender Starter Kit
Come check out a great value product—the TP-Link AV500 Range Extender kit. This device provides excellent range without losing much signal strength and providing good speed!
Easy to install. Good range. Excellent value for the money. Good signal transference without much loss of the signal strength.
Some reports that speed is falsely advertised.
Up to 300 MBPS
2 ports
2.4 GHz
15.2 ounces
2-year limited
D-Link AC2600 Wi-Fi Extender
D-Link AC2600 Wi-Fi Extender
If you’re in the market for a powerful range extender, go with DAP-1860—you’ll hardly find a better product out there!
Powerful. Good range. Easy to set up.
The device is a bit large.
800 and 1733 MBPS
4 ports
Dual band 2.4 and 5 GHz
1.2 lbs
None
Securifi Almond Wi-Fi Range Extender
Securifi Almond Wi-Fi Range Extender
Coming to us from a crowd-funded company, Securifi, the Almond is the way to go with its performance and innovative design that incorporates a touch-screen for ease of setup!
Innovative design with a touch-screen. Multifunctional. Unlimited technical support.
Average performance at a distance of 25 meters.
Up to 300MBPS
1 LAN + 1 WAN port
2.4 GHz
2.9 lbs
1-year limited
Netgear Essential Wi-Fi Range Extender
Netgear Essential Wi-Fi Range Extender
Powerful and compact, the NETGEAR N300 Essential Edition Range Extender is a perfect tool to cover dead spots in your home!
Easy to set up. Very compact. Provides good signal strength with very little speed lost.
2.4 GHz connection isn’t as fast as 5 GHz featured on some top-notch products.
Up to 300MBPS
Single port
2.4 GHz
0.22 lbs
1-year limited

Related Reviews
Best Usb Drive
in Computers and Accessories
Best External Hard Drive
in Computers and Accessories
Best Motherboard
in Computers and Accessories
Best Computer Mouse
in Computers and Accessories

What is the Best Wi-Fi Extender?

If your Wi-Fi signal isn't strong enough to support your browses and uploads in even the remotest parts of your respectable dwelling, what you need is the plucky range-extending contraption better known as a range extender! Since these devices are rather plentiful on the market in this day and age, our TopProducts team of browsers made a list of five of the best Wi-Fi extenders currently on sale, so you can make an easier choice.
Our Top Choice
Linksys Dual-Band Wireless Range Extender
The Linksys AC1200 easily covers 10.000 square feet! It is also a walk in the park to set up, making this range extender one of the most favored pieces of tech equipment on the market! However, if you don’t need something quite so powerful (and wouldn’t mind saving a few bucks), check out the Linksys Powerline AV Wireless Network Extender instead!

Linksys Wi-Fi Gigabit Range Extender / Repeater – Available with or without High-Gain Antennas


Features
Linksys is a company with a longstanding tradition of excellence. Founded in 1988, Linksys has been in the networking equipment business for a long time and they are known for producing high quality products consistently. They are easily the most trusted and the most widely regarded manufacturer, which is why the customers usually go to them for high-quality equipment.

That being said, the LINKSYS AC1200Range Extender is one of their best feet forward, so to speak! This device is designed to increase the range of your Wi-Fi adapter and facilitate incredible speed. It has two high-end antennae which do a superb job at extending the range of your Wi-Fi signal—the range extender can easily cover 10.000 square feet of space, leaving almost no dead spots. Naturally, the device is very easy to install, as you don’t need a CD guide or anything similar.

You also have the option of an audio jack so you can connect speakers or a stereo to the range extender. This allows you to play music wirelessly via your phone or computer. The extender is compatible with Windows OS, XP through 10.
Here is a short list of the features:
  • A product from a respected brand
  • Impressive range and coverage (10,000 square feet)
  • Audio jack for speakers or stereo
  • Very easy setup
  • Up to N300 + AC867 MBPS speed
All in all, a plucky little piece of tech-supporting equipment from Linksys! It will do its job noiselessly and efficiently, so much that you'll forget it's even there. Also, since the range is so great, make sure that you secure your connection well. Actually, just move to Nunavut, Canada! Who needs humans when you've got a heavy-duty Wi-Fi extender? The local deer will not steal your internet as often as your neighbors used to, that's for sure!
Not right for your home? No problem; check out the full range of Wi-Fi extenders from Linksys here!
Best Value
TP- Link Powerline Extender Starter Kit
Coming from TP-Link, the AV500 extender kit is one of the best products on the market, price- and performance-wise. The extender has a solid range of 300 meters and is very affordable, making it the best value product you can find! If your budget won’t allow for this one, try the TP-Link AC750 Dual Band Wi-Fi Range Extender which comes in 11 speeds/styles to choose from.

TP- Link Wi-Fi Range Extender Powerline Edition – Available in 4 Speeds & Different Kits


Features
Our second product comes from one of Linksys’ strongest competitors, TP-Link. This company was founded in 1996 by two brothers, and since then they've been constantly growing. TP-Link may be younger than Linksys, but it in no way produces equipment of lower quality. Their motto, “Reliably Smart” stands as testimony of their commitment to creating reliable and easy-to-use products that will certainly hold great appeal for the customers!

The AV500 Dual Bandwidth extender is one such product. It is made according to the highest standards of TP-Link, and it performs marvelously. The device is easy to use and set up—just plug the main adapter into an electrical socket and connect it to the router, and then plug in the extender adapter to where you want the internet.

The adapters supposedly sport a speed of 300 Mb/s, but, since they are using 10/100 Ethernet cables, you won’t get the speed up more than 100 Mb/s. This is a common misconception, as these speeds are theoretical, while the real internet speed is lower. Even so, TP-Link’s extender does a great job at increasing the range of your Wi-Fi signal, and at very little expense of signal strength!
And here’s a quick list of features:
  • Easy to set up
  • Clones your SSID and password
  • 1000 Mb/s speed
  • 300 meter range
  • Two 10/100 Ethernet cable sockets
All in all, this is a wonderful extender that will be really worth every penny you’ve put into it. Luckily, you won’t be putting in much, as this one is very affordable, making it one of the best products with a superb price-value rations on the market! 'Reliably Smart ' indeed!
Not the right extender for you? Browse the rest of the options from TP-Link and find the right one.
D-Link AC2600 Wi-Fi Extender
A powerful range extender from D-Link, the DAP-1860 is a must have if you have dead spots in your home. Just plug in this little device, and keep on scrolling! If you don’t need an extender quite so powerful, why not take a look at the D-Link Wireless N 300 Mbps Compact Wi-Fi Range Extender, also available in different sizes but in more compact shells.

D-Link Wireless Range Extender and Access Point with 1 Gigabit Port – Available in 3 Sizes


Features
Our next product is a product from D-Link. This company was founded in 1986, two years before Linksys, but was renamed to its present day name only in 1994. Even so, D-Link has been dominating small to medium businesses, and in 2008 became the largest networking equipment retailer by holding 33% of the market. To this day it remains the 9th overall best IT company in the world!

With a recommendation like that, there is no way you could distrust their DAP-1860AC2600 Wi-Fi range extender! This is a simple to use and powerful device. Its SmartConnect system automatically seeks out the closest network to connect to. The only thing you need to do is to plug the thing into the socket and press the WPS button on the extender and your router. If your router doesn’t have a WPS button, you can just go to the link provided and manually configure the router.

Like we said, this is a powerful device. It delivers data at very high speed, up to 1.732 Mb/s. This is due to the 5 GHz connection the device boasts. It also has the less powerful 2.4 GHz connection. The extender even has an LED light indicating the optimal spot for all-inclusive coverage. The device reproduces the Wi-Fi signal with very little loss of signal strength.
Here’s a short list of features:
  • Very easy setup through a single button press
  • LED light indicating optimal location
  • Manual setup through a wizard or mobile app
  • 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz connection speeds
  • Very little loss in strength
All in all, this is a fine product with a pedigree. The top-notch connection speeds combined with relatively small losses in signal strength make it a desirable little extender both for high-tech squads AND ordinary laypeople! It is powerful and easy to use, traits that are most certain to endear DAP-1860 to you!
If you’re still undecided; why not browse through the other Wi-Fi extenders D-Link has to offer?
Securifi Almond Wi-Fi Range Extender
Coming from a rather young manufacturer, Securifi’s Almond is the way to go in the modern age. It is quick to set up and boasts good characteristics, so we warmly recommend that you check this one out! If you like the style and design of this extender, but want something that packs more of a punch, try the Almond 2015: (3 Minute Setup) Long Range Touch-screen Wireless Wi-Fi Range Extender instead!

Securifi Almond - (3 Minute Setup) Touchscreen Wi-Fi Wireless Router / Range Extender / Access Point / Wireless Bridge


Features
Next up, it’s the Almond range extender. This baby is the brainchild of Securifi, a rather new company crowd-funded on Kickstarter. The company, despite its greenness, shines with brilliance and fine and innovative products at speed!

So, what’s so innovative about the Almond? Mainly, the touch-screen. Unlike other extenders, the Almond features a neat, 2.8’’ touch-screen. This allows you to directly set up the device, without having to download an app, or by fiddling with the wizard. The extender offers good performance as it uses a 2.4 GHz connection. This enables it to provide you with speeds of around 46 Mb/s at 1 meter and around 42 Mb/s at 10 meters. However, the speed plummets at range over 25 meters.

In addition to being easy to set up thanks to its touch-screen, a modern wonder of tactile gentility, this range extender hides another surprise! It is multifunctional and can serve as an extender, the main adapter, the primary router or an access point, making this device one of the most ubiquitous models on the market!

Now, here’s a short list of the Almond’s features:
  • Neat touch-screen allows setup within 3 minutes
  • 2.4 GHz connection
  • Versatile and multipurpose
  • Compatible with Widows, Mac, Linux, iPad and iPhone
Even though the company is young, there is no reason to distrust the Almond. It has proven itself a powerful and reliable tool, able to handle the often tangled issues of internet connection as well as a Linksys or D-Link product. And the device’s ubiquity is sure to win some points with you, so do check it out!
Not sure this is the right one for you? Try browsing through Securifi’s other Wi-Fi extenders until you find the right one.
Netgear Essential Wi-Fi Range Extender
Coming from NETGEAR, a domestic manufacturer, this compact but effective range extender is the device you want to get if you have dead spots at your home! If you need a Wi-Fi extender with more advanced features, check out the Netgear Nighthawk X4 Wi-Fi Range Extender instead.

Netgear Essentials Edition Wi-Fi Range Extender – Available in 4 Speeds


Features
Our final product today comes from a domestic manufacturer. We’re talking about NETGEAR Essentials Edition N300 range extender. NETGEAR is a company with an excellent track record, founded in 1996. Since its inception, this global manufacturer produced thousands of world-class models, leaving millions of customers more than satisfied.

This is their goal with this device as well. The NETGEAR Essentials Edition sports a very compact design with two antennae for a greater range and better signal. The device is simply plugged into a wall socket and begins its operation promptly. Of course, you’ll need to set it up first, which can be easily done by pressing the WPS button, both on the device and on the router. This links up the two, and from there on the extender triplicates the signal.

The device operates on a standard 2.4 GHz connection and enables a maximum speed of 300 Mb/s, which is rather good for a device as small as this one. It is also compatible with any standard router.
Here’s a list of the extender’s features:
  • Easily set up by a single press of the WPS button
  • Standard 2.4 GHz connection
  • Speed up to 300 Mb/s
  • Works with all standard routers
  • Two antennae for better signal strength
Featuring a curious sci-fi design that appears like it just fell off a passing spaceship, this NETGEAR N300 range extender both looks and sounds like a device you'd rather have working for you than against you! Isn't it nice that this little contraption will actually NOT destroy you, but enable you to quickly load cat videos from afar? You must have it—it is seriously cool-looking!
Not sure on this particular product? Check out the full range by Netgear before you make a decision.

How Do I Choose the Best Wi-Fi Extender?

Have you ever wished for a way to expand your Wi-Fi signal so that it can reach the areas of your home that you deem woefully Internet-less? Do you ever dream about dinosaurs coming back to life, but also fear that they will be exceptionally violent and the small green ones utterly "unpettable"? Well, if the answer to these questions is "yes," we've found a bunch of top-tier Wi-Fi extenders, and would like to share this information with you! (About the dinosaurs, we regretfully inform you that so far, little progress has been made in this particular scientific area.)

Let's start with the actual area that range extenders can cover, as this is arguably the most important property of a Wi-Fi extender. Since these devices are often made for different uses, from enlarging the reach of a home-based Wi-Fi router, to organizing a sizeable workplace where every employee needs an Internet connection, you can find these extending devices in a variety of different signal-emitting strengths. Some models, for example, have been set to cover some 1000 square feet, while some of the more powerful ones are capable of delivering your Wi-Fi signal to an area of about 10,000 square feet! The latter versions are typically used for larger businesses or warehouses and large open areas. Another option is to buy a bunch of waterproof cables (for warehouses) and a couple of Wi-Fi modems and set up a "wire-based" Internet environment of your own.

The frequency at which an extender works is also an important factor. The standard speed for these devices is around 2.4 GHz, regardless of the range they're capable of covering. That being said, there are also versions of this device that can cover larger areas, and their functional frequency stands at 5 GHz. The connection speed, measured in Mb/s, determines how efficiently the signal of your original router is going to be transmitted around the targeted area. Most of the models in circulation nowadays feature speeds from 300 Mb/s to up to 1000 Mb/s, and these speeds can do a great extending job within the designated area!
Price
Since Wi-Fi extenders belong to the category of computer, and more specifically Internet-based, items, the fact that their price ranges aren't exactly bargains shouldn't come as that much of a surprise. However, you can still find a pretty decent model at an agreeable price, if you know in advance which features you desire and which ones you could do without. For example, if setting up isn't really a problem for you, you can get a model with a notoriously tricky setup process, but which is otherwise great. Ease of setup has become a proper factor in the sale of these contraptions recently, and Wi-Fi extenders that can be jump-started with a press of a single button typically cost a bit more than those without this convenience.

The amount of money you'll have to dish out for one of these devices, generally speaking, ranges from about $30 to $150. Aside from the ease of setup, features such as the speed and frequency of the device all add to the overall price. Cheap Wi-Fi extenders may not do the job properly. With a bit of preplanning, you can strike a great deal and save a couple of bucks as well!
Features
Wi-Fi extenders are high-tech accessories that can be confusing to decipher at times. They're brim-filled with scores upon scores of green boards, wires, and hard-to-pronounce technical components, Worry not, however, because we're here to prop you up with an exceptional list of the most important features that these devices have to offer!

The essential features to consider in Wi-Fi extenders include:
  • Range
  • Work frequency
  • Data transfer speed
  • Audio jacks for speakers or stereo
  • Ease of setup
  • Ethernet cable sockets
  • LED indicator
  • Touch-screen operation
  • Compatibility with various operating systems
If you've got multiple computers with different operating systems that you'd like to connect via a single extender, getting a model with the built-in support for these systems can be a great way to kill several flies with one signal-emitting stone!
Construction and Design
Design-wise, Wi-Fi extenders typically assume the shape of a thin box with a bunch of buttons and ports sticking out of it. You can see the most variation in the way the manufacturers have resolved the question of button-pushing. There are models with standard sets of buttons, and ones that use touchscreen technology. This feature doesn't really bring much to the table, but if you'd like to have a good-looking device to complement your existing arsenal of Internet-related hardware, a Wi-Fi extender with a touchscreen option can be the right way to go!
Performance and Ease of Use
While setting up a Wi-Fi extending configuration can present a bit of a pain in the neck at times, once you get it up and running, you should enjoy a strong and reliable signal even in the remotest sections of your abode! As far as ease of use of the already set devices is concerned, the drill is quite straightforward. Turn it on, perhaps connect an Ethernet cable or two (if you're using those), and you've got yourself a steady stream of download and upload signal! Just make sure not to leave it turned on for days on end, in order to lengthen its life expectancy a notch, and you should be a-okay!

Go back to the start of the reviews

Get the Best Wi-Fi Extender of 2021!

You know those signs in front of random pubs that say "No Wi-Fi 'round here, talk to other customers for leisure"? Well, gobbledygook in poorly-written chalk form, we say! We here at TopProducts have a glorious goal: selling some Wi-Fi range extenders -- and we won't let warm human contact come between us and our potential customers! Joking aside, a Wi-Fi extender can be a great addition to your home or workplace Internet system, as it makes the entire area in question equipped with the capacity to access the Internet at great speeds! (For the record, we're all for having a pint and chatting with folks, too.)

Our Top Choice
Linksys Dual-Band Wireless Range Extender
Linksys Dual-Band Wireless Range Extender
Best Value
TP- Link Powerline Extender Starter Kit
TP- Link Powerline Extender Starter Kit
D-Link AC2600 Wi-Fi Extender
D-Link AC2600 Wi-Fi Extender
Securifi Almond Wi-Fi Range Extender
Securifi Almond Wi-Fi Range Extender
Netgear Essential Wi-Fi Range Extender
Netgear Essential Wi-Fi Range Extender

Go back to the start of the reviews
Get exclusive content, advice, and tips from TopProducts delivered to your inbox.
Stay Updated
About Us    Scholarship    Blog   Categories   Sitemap



© 2020 TopProducts.com All Rights Reserved                           Contact   Privacy Policy   Terms and Conditions   Disclaimer   Accessible View   Do Not Sell My Info  
TopProducts.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com