WiFi range extender reviews: 8 best wireless range extenders for 2021

Are you having trouble getting a strong, reliable WiFi signal in some areas of your home? A WiFi range extender could be the solution for you.

WiFi extender, also called WiFi repeater is a device used to extend a WIFI’s range of coverage. It is a reliable cheaper alternative to a new WiFi router.

Given the ongoing pandemic that has seen most people working or schooling from home, there is a high chance that your home WiFi network has become slower at peak hours. More especially, you may find that you don’t get strong signals at far end corners of your home farther from the WiFi router.  The good news is that this challenge can be solved with a good WiFi range extender.

The best WiFi range extenders will give your WiFi network a boost by obtaining the wireless signal from your main router and amplify it farther out into your home.

Beginners guide to choosing the best WiFi Range Extender

Just before we dive into giving you the list of the best WiFi range extenders for outdoor or indoor, let us quickly run through some important points for beginners to bear in mind when buying an extender.

Finding the right extender for your router

It is important to consider compatibility of your WiFi router with the range extender you intend to buy. Select a WiFi range extender that matches your WiFi router’s specs. As an example, a dual-band AC1900 router should not go with anything less than a dual-band AC1900 range extender.

Types of WiFi range extenders

Two types of range extenders include; Desktop and Wall plug-in.

On one hand, the desktop extenders resemble a regular wireless router. They usually are built with LAN ports to connect other devices like gaming consoles and TVs, and may have USB ports for attaching peripherals like printers and storage drives.

On the other hand, wall plug-in range extenders are smaller in size when compared to the Desktop ones, and are plugged directly into a wall outlet. A fair number of them are equipped with external antennas, while the others may have internal antennas to give an unobtrusive profile. They are usually less versatile and cheaper than the desktop range extenders.

TP-Link AC2600 WiFi Range Extender
netgear wifi range extender review

WiFi range extenders setup

Good news today is that you don’t have to be very technical to be able to set up a wifi range extender. Generally, WiFi range extenders are simple to set up today. All you have to do is to pick a good position, plug it in and push the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button to sync it with your main router. Then you can name your new network and create a network password. More so, most manufacturers, like the ones in our list, offer web-based setup with illustrated installation instructions.

Knowing the limitations of range extenders

Although range extenders are relatively easy to configure and are also a good alternative to buying multiple routers, they have their limitations. Notably, WiFi extenders use a different network name (SSID) and require a separate password created for them. You will have to access that separate SSID to use your extender.

Further, the speeds are usually half of the main router’s speed. Most dual-band range extenders leverage both radio bands in transmitting data to and fro the router. This will mean competing devices straining the router’s bandwidth. Manufacturers like Netgear solve for this through their Fastlane technology that allows you dedicate a radio band just for router-to-extender transmissions. Ensure to test the connection of your endpoints to make sure you’re getting the highest traffic speeds possible.

The Best Wireless Range Extenders for 2021

Depending on the square footage and design of your home, you may need a router extender to combat signal degradation of your WiFi connection. Moreover, even if you move your router to a central location, you may still have some dead zones where WiFi signal will be weak or non-existent. A solid wireless WiFi range extender is quite useful in delivering connectivity without having to run Ethernet cables.

In this section, we have curated the best WiFi boosters with focus on their specs, pros, reasons to think twice before buying and reviews.

Under $100: Specs Compared

Our Top PicksTP-Link AC750 WiFi Range Extender
TP-Link AC750 WiFi Extender 
TP-Link AC1750 WiFi Range Extender
TP-Link AC1750 WiFi Extender
JOOWIN AC300 WiFi Range Extender
JOOWIN AC300 WiFi Extender 
Linksys AC1900 Range Extender
Linksys AC1900 Range Extender 
Wireless Standard 802.11a/ac/b/n/g802.11ac/b/n/g802.11n/g/b802.11b/g/k
AC WiFi SpeedUp to 750MbpsUp to 1750Mbps Up to 300MbpsUp to 1900Mbps
WPS SetupYes YesYesYes
Web based setupYesYesYesYes
BandsDualDualDualDual
External Antennas 0320
Multiple UsersYesYes YesYes
MIMOYesYesYes
USB Ports1
Wired Ethernet Ports10/100M port 1 Gigabit port1 ethernet port1 Gigabit port
Where to get On Amazon for $34.99On Amazon for $69.99On Amazon for $35.99On Amazon for $99.97
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Easy setup
  • Strong 2.4GHz Performance
Reasons to think twice
  • Average 5GHz performance

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Easy and intuitive setup
  • Coverage of up to 2,00 sq.ft
Reasons to think twice
  • Intermittent connectivity issues

JOOWIN AC300 WiFi range extender 

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Easy setup for non-techies
  • enhanced and relatively stable signal
Reasons to think twice
  • Lower range of coverage.

Linksys AC1900 WiFi range extender 

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Simple setup
  • Great performance
  • relatively stable signal
Reasons to think twice
  • Range coverage is not the best for a big house

Under $200: Specs Compared

Our Top Picks netgear AC750 wifi range extender
NETGEAR AC750 WiFi Extender
TP-Link AC2600 WiFi Range Extender
TP-Link AC2600 WiFi Extender
netgear wifi range extender
Netgear WiFi Extender EX7300
netgear wifi range extender review
Netgear WiFi Extender EX6250
Wireless Standard802.11a/b/g/n/ac5.8 GHz Radio Frequency, Bluetooth5.8 GHz Radio Frequency, 2.4 GHz Radio Frequency802.11ac
AC SpeedUp to 750MbpsUp to 1733MbpsUp to 2200MbpsUp to 1750Mbps
WPS SetupYesYesYesYes
Web based setupYesYesYesYes
BandsDualDualDualDual
External Antennas2 400
Multiple UsersYesYesYes Yes
MIMOYesYes
USB Ports
Wired Ethernet Ports1 Gigabit port1 Gigabit port1 Gigabit port1 Gigabit port
Where to getOn Amazon for $197.66On Amazon for $119.99On Amazon for $159.99On Amazon for $119.99

Netgear AC750 WiFi range extender

Pros
  • Durable
  • Great performance
  • Very easy Setup
  • Range coverage is great
  • Good speed
Reasons to think twice
  • Relatively expensive
  • Customer service support could be better

Pros
  • Presence of phone app
  • Great performance
  • Easy Setup
  • Good speed
Reasons to think twice
  • Relatively expensive

Netgear WiFi range extender EX7300

Pros
  • Excellent range coverage of up to 2000 sq.ft
  • Excellent speed
  • Easy Setup
  • Good value for money
Reasons to think twice
  • Customer service support could be better

Netgear WiFi range extender EX6250

Pros
  • Good speed performance
  • Fairly simple installation
  • Good coverage range
  • Relatively stable connectivity
Reasons to think twice
  • Customer service support could be better

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