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.
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 Picks |  TP-Link AC750 WiFi Extender |  TP-Link AC1750 WiFi Extender |  JOOWIN AC300 WiFi Extender |  Linksys AC1900 Range Extender |
| Wireless Standard | 802.11a/ac/b/n/g | 802.11ac/b/n/g | 802.11n/g/b | 802.11b/g/k |
| AC WiFi Speed | Up to 750Mbps | Up to 1750Mbps | Up to 300Mbps | Up to 1900Mbps |
| WPS Setup | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web based setup | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bands | Dual | Dual | Dual | Dual |
| External Antennas | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Multiple Users | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MIMO | Yes | – | Yes | Yes |
| USB Ports | – | 1 | – | – |
| Wired Ethernet Ports | 10/100M port | 1 Gigabit port | 1 ethernet port | 1 Gigabit port |
| Where to get | On Amazon for $34.99 | On Amazon for $69.99 | On Amazon for $35.99 | On Amazon for $99.97 |
TP-Link AC750 WiFi range extender
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy setup
- Strong 2.4GHz Performance
Reasons to think twice
- Average 5GHz performance
TP-Link AC1750 WiFi range extender
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 Extender | TP-Link AC2600 WiFi Extender |  Netgear WiFi Extender EX7300 | Netgear WiFi Extender EX6250 |
| Wireless Standard | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 5.8 GHz Radio Frequency, Bluetooth | 5.8 GHz Radio Frequency, 2.4 GHz Radio Frequency | 802.11ac |
| AC Speed | Up to 750Mbps | Up to 1733Mbps | Up to 2200Mbps | Up to 1750Mbps |
| WPS Setup | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web based setup | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bands | Dual | Dual | Dual | Dual |
| External Antennas | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Multiple Users | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MIMO | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| USB Ports | – | – | – | – |
| Wired Ethernet Ports | 1 Gigabit port | 1 Gigabit port | 1 Gigabit port | 1 Gigabit port |
| Where to get | On Amazon for $197.66 | On Amazon for $119.99 | On Amazon for $159.99 | On 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
TP-Link AC2600 WiFi range extender
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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