7 Best WiFi Extenders for Home in 2023 [Top Picks]

If you live in a fairly large house with multiple physical obstructions or thick walls, the large home WiFi routers won’t be sufficient. You must need a WiFi range extender.

Whether your bedroom TV keeps buffering or you can’t get enough signals in the backyard or kitchen, the WiFi extenders aimed at home use should come to your rescue. But too many options might confuse you.

Worry not, as a networking reviewer, I’ve used and tested most wireless extenders available in the retail space. Some of them were sent by manufacturers for the testing purpose, and some, I bought myself.

Nevertheless, the home WiFi extenders listed below are handpicked choices that have been passed through various tests across multiple aspects.

1. Best Overall: TP-Link RE650
2. Best Runner-Up: Linksys RE7000
3. Best for Gaming: ASUS RP-AX56
4. Best Value for Money: TP-Link RE550
5. Best Mesh Extender: Netgear EX7300
6. Best for Outdoors: WAVLINK AC1200
7. Cheapest Option: Netgear EX5000

7 Best WiFi Extenders for Home Use in 2023

Please be aware that while some brands may have sent me devices, all opinions expressed are entirely my own. I assure you that my recommendations and rankings are solely based on their performance.

Whether you have a large, medium, or small house, you’ll find a device that just fits your needs and budget. So, without further ado, let’s get in!

1. Best for Large Homes: TP-Link RE650

If you reside in a villa or a large house with a backyard and garage, and your router leaves a couple of dead spots, then adding TP-Link RE650 is a smart thing to do.

Its four-antenna setup comes with a maximum coverage of 14,000 Sq Ft and an above-par speed rating to stay miles ahead of its predecessor, TP-Link RE550.

WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity

Coverage-wise it is one of the longest-range WiFi extenders and so you can trust it to eliminate the dead spots or weak zones in your space, irrespective of its size.

I had it installed on the ground floor of a 3,700 square feet two-story house and it seemed overwhelmed with the performance I got.

The standalone extender could transmit signals to a distance as far as 3,600 Sq Ft, as displayed on the NetSpot WiFi analyzer app.

Besides, with beamforming support and OneMesh tech, signals were strong in most areas and I could access four-bar signals in my garage to even play online games and stream 4K content with ease.

Added to it, there’s an MU-MIMO tech that works to maintain stable signal strength on the connected devices. The router handled up to 36 devices without any jiffy or lags.

Wireless & Wired Speeds

Aside from its excellent coverage, this home WiFi extender stays ahead most in terms of throughput capacity. Its maximum value stands at 2600 Mbps, which is split over its two bands as follows:

5 GHz: 1733 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 800 Mbps

In my home network with TP-Link Archer AX90 router and Xfinity Gigabit plan, the RE650 at 15 feet delivers 196 Mbps as a download and 21 Mbps for upload. Now, the 30-foot test managed to churn out speeds at 139 Mbps down and 15 Mbps up.

That’s a better result than most traditional extenders, courtesy of its OneMesh tech. Rather than using a different channel, it forms a mesh-like network and uses the same channel as the router to carry the datasets from source to user’s device. What it means is, now you can sit in the garage and enjoy your favourite content in 4K.

Conclusion

TP-Link RE650 is the top WiFi extender for homes with unstable connectivity and multiple network dead zones. It delivers great throughput and range, while doesn’t cost you a fortune.

Plus, advanced technologies like MU-MIMO, beamforming, and OneMesh signals in farther distances don’t fall off, and you can move on with your internet-bound task without any issues.

2. Best for Medium Homes: Linksys RE7000

Linksys RE7000 stays just behind my top recommendation with a potential drop in overall range. Still, its two-antenna setup and other networking technologies let you access signals in far-off bedrooms or garages.

And compared to its predecessor, RE6300, it comes with multiple upgrades in most aspects to make it a much better option.

WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity

Coverage-wise, the figures aren’t as high as TP-Link RE650 but it has a ballpark figure of 2,500 Sq Ft. In real-time, the signals travel an additional area of up to 2,200 Sq Ft.

This paired with any decent router covers most parts, including the backyard and garage. I had access to two-bar signals in my garage and I could complete my office-based tasks without any issues.

And with MU-MIMO, I could attend video calls, play games, stream TV, and download large files on the PC. Around 26 devices were connected at once without any issues.

Wireless & Wired Speeds

In my assessment, the Linksys RE7000 with a speed rating of AC1900 performed well with the Linksys MR9610 router. The speed cap on each band is as follows:

5 GHz: 1300 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps

With Cox 500 Mbps plan and a testing device located 15 feet away from the extender, the download speed was valued at around 96 Mbps, while 16 Mbps were the upload speed. And the 30 feet test could churn out respective speeds of 53 Mbps and 11 Mbps.

Plus, if you have a Linksys router, you can make use of “smart mesh roaming technology”. With this feature, the devices can automatically connect to the best possible network and I could stay online throughout the day.

Aside from that, there’s an Ethernet port that records download speeds of 175 Mbps, which makes it a perfect fit for wired connectivity.

Conclusion

Linksys RE7000 is a great range extender to use in the garage. At just around $50, it’s a steal deal. The lack of external antennas saw a considerable range drop at a distance but roaming technology ensures you’re always connected to the best possible network.

3. Best for Gaming: ASUS RP-AX56

ASUS RP-AX56 although stays a tad behind my previous recommendation in terms of range but compensates for it with multiple upgrades like AiMesh and Wi-Fi 6, making it one of the best range extenders for gaming.

Its ability to create a mesh-like network and deliver undroppable signals throughout the space makes it worthy of every penny you pay for it.

WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity

On paper, Asus RP-AX56 seems like a good device with its 2,200 Sq Ft range. Although the value is much less than my top recommendations, it stays true with the promise of eliminating dead and weak network spots across the space.

With a 1,900 Sq Ft of practical range, my home office and kitchen were filled with solid and stable signals.

Now with Aimesh tech, the mesh mimics your router and the signal is enhanced/pushed instead of simply repeating. In this manner, signals mostly stayed strong as opposed to traditional WiFi repeaters designed for home use.

Besides, the MU-MIMO resonates well with it to handle multiple devices and at a stretch, I can connect up to 30 devices without any lags or latencies.

Wireless & Wired Speeds

Asus RP-AX56 comes at a speed rating of AX1800, which operates on its two frequency bands as follows:

5 GHz: 1200 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps

With Cox Gigablast and ASUS RT-AX86U connected, the extender outputs a strong download speed of 186 Mbps on a device kept 15 feet away from the extender.

At the same time, the 30 feet test yields download and upload speeds of 91 Mbps and 15 Mbps, respectively. Yes, you saw it right, and all credits go to AiMesh tech support.

Now you can stream high-quality movies on your smartphone, seated in your garage, or attend video conferences dipping half inside the pool. And in close proximity, you can even play online games at lesser ping and frame rates.

Apart from this, there’s an Ethernet port with a Gigabit speed capacity, which yields a maximum download speed of 421 Mbps, suitable for wired gaming.

Conclusion

The RP-AX56 from ASUS is a perfect fit for any household network setup that needs an inflow of stable signals throughout the day. Its AiMesh tech forms a mesh network that delivers undroppable signals throughout your space and you can stream in HD.

But the lesser range and more expensive than Linksys RE7000 has pushed it down to the third position.

4. Best Value for Money: TP-Link RE550

Younger sibling to my top recommendation, TP-Link RE550 also shares a OneMesh tech for seamless whole home coverage, provided you have OneMesh compatible router to pair it with.

Apart from that, it boasts an excellent signal range to eliminate most of your dead or weak spots, so you can stream movies in your garage lag-free.

WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity

The three-antenna setup of TP-Link RE550 boasts a theoretical range of 2,800 Sq Ft, which paired with any decent router covers most of your three-bedroom apartment with ease. Houses with a backyard and a garage also shouldn’t be worried about weak signals anywhere in their area.

I am not just blabbering, but my test results confirm these. The standalone extender had a coverage of 2,400 Sq Ft which combined with my TP-Link Archer AX90 encased my entire space with signals.

Most importantly, the signals were stable even in the far corners, due to the OneMesh tech it instills.

Alongside, there is an MU-MIMO tech that kept most devices in my house up and running with a decent internet connection. The numbers got as high as 25, depending on the intensity of the tasks.

Wireless & Wired Speeds

TP-Link RE550 boasts a maximum throughput capacity of 1900 Mbps, and the share amongst its two frequency bands is as follows:

5 GHz: 1300 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps

With my staple TP-Link router and Xfinity Gigabit plan, the connected device managed to clock downloads at 182 Mbps and uploads of 18 Mbps at 15 feet.

At the same time, respective speed values at 30 feet distance stand at 81 Mbps and 10 Mbps. The speed does fall over distance but signals don’t drop and so your streams are smooth.

Aside from streaming video content, I could play casual online games, trade stocks, and attend video conferences, even in your garage.

Conclusion

Honestly, the TP-Link RE550 offers great value for numerous homeowners due to its reasonable price, satisfactory WiFi and Ethernet data transfer rates, and exceptional coverage.

5. Best Mesh Range Extender: Netgear EX7300

Netgear EX7300 just hits the right spot when it comes to wireless extenders for homes and delivers speeds and range suitable for homeowners subscribed to Gig internet.

Besides, compared to EX7000, it has improved in areas like coverage, speed, and device handling capacity, basically the antennas are more powerful.

WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity

The mesh extender by Netgear comes at a stated range of 2,300 Sq Ft, which in my tests turned out to be around 1,900 Sq Ft. Such additional wireless coverage is more than enough for any decent-sized home.

Installing it near my front door, it even covers my basement, detached garage, or backyard. Moving on, the antennas entail an MU-MIMO tech that’s there to support multiple connections on a single bandwidth.

In a decent networking ecosystem with around 32 devices, this extender is a perfect addition. I could stream multiple UHD movies at the same time while attending video conferences over Zoom or Skype.

Wireless & Wired Speeds

Netgear EX7300 actually improved over my previous recommendation in this respect, with a maximum throughput capacity of 2200 Mbps. The two bands share the speed amongst themselves, as follows:

5 GHz: 1733 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 450 Mbps

On paper, the wireless extender seems pretty fast, and it was truly reflected in its performance.

With Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 and Cox 1 Gbps plan, the extender managed to ooze out download and upload speeds of 171 Mbps and 17 Mbps at 15 feet. And at 30 feet, respective values fared at around 79 Mbps and 10 Mbps.

The WiFi performance of EX7300 is outstanding and stays on the top half of the extenders I have tested. And the ability to form a mesh-like network indicates the stability of signals even in the far-off corners.

Conclusion

Netgear EX7300 is an excellent device that combines mesh tech and powerful antennas to deliver seamless, fast, and consistent speed on most of your connected devices. Its range is decent enough to cover most of your house.

But it comes at a massive price tag of around $140, and the features it presents are available in other WiFi extenders good for home use that cost half its price.

6. Best for Outdoors: WAVLINK AC1200

Do you want a better signal strength outdoors rather than indoors? Then this IP65-rated weatherproof and heat-resistant Wavlink extender should be an ideal pick.

Its decent arrangement of antennas makes sure none of the corners has weak signals or is left blank. Besides, its multiple operation modes add to the convenience of users.

WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity

The Wavlink AC1200 as advertised can transfer data to far corners of the house (around 1,700 Sq Ft). I had it installed on the outside of my front door, just in between the garage and my TP-Link Archer AXE75 router.

The signals however not as strong in the corners as with previous recommendations, but is capable to handle most of your internet-bound activities.

Aside from that, handling as many as 37 devices is a piece of cake. These include smart lights, Ring cameras, doorbells, and others.

Wireless & Wired Speeds

In terms of speeds, this wireless extender comes at an AC1200 rating, which is shared between the two frequency bands as follows:

5 GHz: 867 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps

Despite its lower rating, the speeds turned out to be just fine. Before I reveal the scores, let me tell you something first. Wavlink AC1200 comes with multiple operation modes: AP, repeater, mesh, and bridge mode.

Unfortunately part of it is, the mesh mode is compatible only with devices having Wavlink EasyMesh tech, which I am sure most of you don’t have.

I also am on the same boat, so the speeds are recorded with the repeater mode on. The 15-feet speed test with the Cox 500 Mbps plan and TP-Link Archer AXE75 router stayed at around 92 Mbps down and 9 Mbps up.

Increasing the distance to 60 feet clocked the respective speeds of 31 Mbps and 7 Mbps. With the traditional extender, speed drop over a distance is quite natural, but you can count on it to send emails and stream HD audio without any issues.

Conclusion

Although the Wavlink AC1200 may not deliver outstanding speed performance, it is one of the most reliable outdoor WiFi extenders for hard-to-reach places such as the garage, attic, basement, and backyard.

Its multi-operating modes offer versatility in connectivity options, and its resilience to harsh weather conditions is an added advantage. However, its slower speeds and relatively high cost may detract from its overall appeal.

7. Cheap Yet Good: Netgear EX5000

Now that I have reached the end of my list, it’s time to suggest a cheap yet reliable wireless extender to use at home. Netgear EX5000, with Wi-Fi 5, pairs with any router to get most parts of your small house filled with decent signals so you can work or listen to music in peace.

Also compared to EX3700, it gets you a much better performance, courtesy of the upgrades it brings.

WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity

Coverage-wise, EX5000 ranks at the bottom with its theoretical coverage of 1,500 Sq Ft. Although the number seems fine when compared to those extenders suitable for large homes, this paired with any decent router covers the entirety of your three-bedroom apartment with ease.

My tested result of around 1,250 Sq Ft is good enough for any small house. The lack of MU-MIMO tech mostly lets it down. And the connections weren’t too stable once I exceeded 20 devices.

Wireless & Wired Speeds

Netgear EX5000 despite operating on Wi-Fi 5 standard, comes at a speed cap of 1200 Mbps, split between its two bands as follows:

5 GHz: 900 Mbps

2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps

The wireless extender lacks any mesh tech so you can expect speeds to drop over distances, and the results were in accordance with that only.

At 25 feet with Cox’s 500 Mbps plan, the connected device yields download and upload speeds of 75 Mbps and 11 Mbps, respectively. At the same time, at 50 feet, respective speeds stayed at around 39 Mbps and 7 Mbps.

Despite being slower, the signal strength remained good throughout the area, and I was able to send an email to my client within a second. But if you feel the need to play online games, there’s an Ethernet port for that.

Conclusion

Netgear EX5000 may not be your go-to WiFi extender with whole-home coverage, it should suffice for small homes or detached garage. While it performed decently in testing, there were some occasional interruptions and delays when more than 20 devices were connected, largely due to the lack of MU-MIMO.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

I hope with this, you find the savior that sends the signals to farther areas of your house. If you still can’t decide, read through the list of best options:

• If you reside in a large house and need an extender to deliver stable signals to each corner, get the premium TP-Link RE650.
• If you need a considerably cheaper extender with decent coverage, opt for Linksys RE7000.
• Finally, if you need an entry-level extender for a similar router for your two to three-bedroom apartment, Netgear EX5000 is a worthy pick.

Before wrapping up, I’d remind you to act smart and invest in a future-proof device that stays relevant for many more years to come, and you don’t need to upgrade it over and over again. I will see you another such informative article.