Best WiFi Extenders in 2022

NETGEAR Nighthawk Mesh X4S WiFi Extender

If you want a simple solution to your WiFi woes, take a look at the Netgear Nighthawk X4S. Configuration requires little to no technical knowledge, but there’s a significant amount of power packed into this WiFi extender. Its compact frame can plug into any standard wall outlet, making it highly adaptable to your home regardless of your circumstances, and all you have to do is tap on the WPS button to sync it directly to your WiFi network. There’s not a lot to analyze here. The frame is slim and understated, and a simple array of LED lights along the top of the device let you know everything you need about your current connection.

But if you’re looking for more robust configuration options, you can make use of the Netgear Genie to achieve your needs. It’s a device simple enough for amateurs but capable of accomplishing more if you need.

NETGEAR Nighthawk EX8000 X6S WiFi Extender

If you’re looking for a more powerful extender and you’re willing to pay a little more and sacrifice the compactness of the X4S, you may want to make an upgrade to the X6S. The design resembles that of a traditional router in terms of design, shape, and size, but it can be freely moved around your home to get the perfect WiFi reception. The most notable advantage over the X4S is the inclusion of a huge range of ports that include four ethernet outlets and a USB 2.0 Type-A. That means that in addition to extending your wireless connection, you can get all the advantages that come from connecting your device directly to a modem.

But setup is equally as easy as with the X4S. It utilizes the same Netgear Genie software for more detailed configuration, but you can also just tap the WPS button for automatic adjustment.

TP-Link RE220 WiFi Range Extender

The TP-Link RE220 isn’t just one of the cheapest options on the market. It’s also potentially the best WiFi extender if you’re looking to expand your internet connection to every corner of your house. The small size, affordable price tag, and ability to plug into any wall outlet means that you can cheaply outfit even the biggest homes with quality WiFi service without having to spend a fortune or take up too much space.

The universal compatibility means that the RE220 can power everything from your Alexa to your gaming console, and while it can be automatically configured with a single press of the WPS button, you’d be doing yourself a disservice taking that approach. The TP-Link mobile app is incredibly intuitive and surprisingly versatile, allowing you to not just oversee general management issues but also to set up schedules for your internet activity.

Linksys RE9000 Wi-Fi Range Extender

Where the earlier entries in our guide are designed to minimize their profile as much as possible, the Linksys RE9000 is a serious looking gadget. Resembling a gaming router more than its peers, this wired wifi extender is fortunately more than just intimidating posture. It has the practical power to back up its aesthetics. Four separate antennas provide a more extensive coverage area, and the RE9000 has MU-MIMO technology built in so you can get quality coverage even if you have multiple devices connected to the internet at the same time. It’s also a tri-band device, so you can expect it to work exceptionally well regardless of your situation.

Further enhancing the quality of your connection is the fact that the RE9000 uses beamform and band steering technology. The latter ensures that you’ll get a tighter and more reliable connection for each device, while the latter can cut through congestion.

TP-Link RE650 Wifi Extender/Repeater

The AC2600 may be another extender that can plug right into a socket, but it’s a heavy duty piece of hardware. As far as plug-in extenders go, it’s in the top of its class. The four antennas that extend from its sides give it a superb level of reach, and configuration can be handled through TP-Link’s superb mobile app (the same one that powers the RE220). Just keep in mind that this is a big extender, and it could very well put your entire outlet out of commission.

The indicator lights are clear, visible, and easy to read, but they can easily be turned off manually or put on a schedule if they become a nuisance. That’s a relief considering how bright they can be. The inclusion of the Intelligent Processing Engine lets this device automatically find the most efficient path for data to travel.

Belkin AC750 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender

Belkin’s AC750 is a dual band WiFi extender that’s ideal for diverse households that use their internet connection for a wide range of purposes. The ability to split your bandwidth between a 2.4 GHz band for low traffic needs like web surfing and emails and a 5.0 GHz band for gaming and high-end streaming allows you to more effectively control your traffic flow, and this Belkin router supports PerfectPoint Locator technology so you can find the perfect place to set it up without having to possess any technical knowledge.

The sleek design is one of its better selling points. While many plug in extenders have WPS buttons right on the front of the device, the Belkin moves it to the side, keeping it out of sight and out of mind. The result is an unobtrusive but relatively powerful extender that performs well on tests across the board.

ASUS RP-N12 N300 Repeater

Whatever you need your extender to do, the ASUS RP-N12 can accomplish it. Packed with multiple configuration modes, this long range WiFi extender can work as a media bridge, a wireless access point, or a more traditional WiFi repeater. It’s also one of the more compact plug-in extenders available, so it will be easy to tuck it away strategically and not worry about it interrupting the feng shui of your room.

The compatible ASUS driver software handles all of the operations for this extender, and it can even be used to adjust the settings for the two bands or even outright disable one depending on your preferences. The design itself is as simple as could be: consisting of a tiny white box with three basic LED indicators, a single ethernet port, and reset and WPS buttons. It’s a quiet little extender that can get the job done with little fuss.

NETGEAR EX7000 WiFi Extender

The Nighthawk EX7000 is the fastest WiFi extender Netgear has produced, and that’s not just because it supports a mesh network for less data loss in the transfer. With a top speed of 600 Mbps at 2.4 GHz and 1,3000 Mbps at 5.0 GHz, it’s one of the best options in the business. But if that wireless connection isn’t enough for you, there’s a whole treasure trove of wired connections here as well. You can connect up to four devices to the hub via ethernet, and this is also a USB WiFi extender. That’s a nice little perk if you’re looking to share files through a thumb drive or connect a printer. All told, this is easily one of the most powerful wireless WiFi extenders on the market and a good choice if you want the best of the best. But for casual users, the ethernet bank may be overkill.

D-Link DAP-1520 Wireless Range Extender

Linksys RE6250 Wi-Fi Booster

The Linksys RE6250 impresses with its boring consistency. It’s a strong extender with a lower mid-range price that doesn’t make bold promises or offer compelling new technology but instead offers quality performance and the full gamut of features at the price you’d expect. It’s potentially the best all-around extender on the market in regards to value for pricing, and it hits the perfect middle ground between simple budget extenders like the RE9000 and beasts like the Nighthawk X6S which will probably be too much muscle for most consumers.

You get access to Beamform technology to ensure a stronger signal from the extender to your devices, and Spot Finder technology makes finding the right position for the device incredibly seamless. Like most extenders, it can be set up easily through the front facing button or through the use of a dedicated app.

TP-Link RE580D Wi-Fi Range Extender

This TP-Link router offers comparable speeds on both bands to the top shelf EX7000, and while it doesn’t support mesh networks, it’s a positively top notch choice if you’re looking for a more traditional wireless extender. Resembling a modem, the RE580D is unobtrusive and designed so it can sit either horizontally or vertically at your desk. A bank of five separate ethernet ports makes it a great choice if you’re looking to set it up in your media room or office, and the LED monitoring lights are simple and easy to read. The browser-based interface is equally as intuitive while still offering a decent diversity of configuration options.

D-Link Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Extender

The first thing you’ll notice about the DAP-1650 is that it doesn’t look like any other extender on this list. The cylindrical design is bright, bold, and sci-fi oriented. Where most extenders work hard to remain out of sight, this option puts itself out there for better or worse. But where it really sells itself is on its versatility. The DAP-1650 offers some of the widest configuration options around, being able to serve not just as a traditional extender but also as an access point or a media bridge, and it consistently provides quality throughput across the 5.0 GHz band regardless of the mode you set it to.