The best Wi-Fi extenders

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We've tested and used more than a dozen of the best Wi-Fi extenders to help you fix your Wi-Fi dead spots and boost signal strength to every corner of your home. These small and inexpensive Wi-Fi signal boosters provide a quick solution for weak wireless signal and spotty coverage.

We rigorously test every Wi-Fi extender we review to get a clear picture of how well each device performs. This testing is performed in our testing facility and our reviewer's suburban home, in addition to hands-on use. Overall, our rating criteria include design, range, throughput,  setup, and which settings you can adjust. In the final analysis, though, it all comes down to value — which extender provides the most for the lowest cost.

We use Ixia's IxChariot testing software to measure throughput at a variety of distances and environmental conditions. This includes testing with the extender placed at 50 feet and 75 feet from the router. The software simulates traffic in a busy wireless network while measuring data flow back and forth. The results are shown in megabits per second (Mbps) at a distance from the extender, with higher numbers indicating better performance.

See all of the best Wi-Fi extenders below.

Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band WiFi Extender

(Image credit: Netgear)

Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band WiFi Extender

Specifications

Antennas/Removable: 6 internal/No
Wi-Fi Spec: AC3000 802.11ac tri-band
Ports: 4 gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0
Size: 8.9 x 6.7 x 3.7 inches

Reasons to buy

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The best Wi-Fi extender overall

The Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band Extender emerged as the best Wi-Fi extender we've tested by a large margin, with faster data speeds and an enormous range.

The Nighthawk X6S uses a desktop design that's much larger than the average plug-in signal booster, but that size allows for more antennas (six in total) and beefier hardware that offers tri-band coverage out to 168 feet. You can even use multiple X6S extenders to create a mesh network for larger homes. It's big and expensive, but it's worth every penny.

TP-Link RE650 AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender

(Image credit: TP-Link)

Specifications

Antennas/Removable: 4 external/No
Wi-Fi Spec: AC2600 802.11ac dual-band
Ports: 1 gigabit Ethernet
Size: 6.3 x 3.0 x 1.8 inches

Reasons to buy

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Best Wi-Fi extender for large homes 

The TP-Link RE650 takes a top position as the best plug-in range extender we’ve tested, and our pick Wi-Fi extender for big homes. It packs a lot of power, and delivers great speeds at up to 75 feet.

That performance came second only to our top overall pick, but the TP-Link RE650 offers competitive speeds in a handy plug-in design. With four external antennas and dual-band wireless-AC support, the TP-Link RE650 is a great choice for large homes. You can also set up and monitor your extended network with TP-Link's handy Tether app, which puts advanced settings and security tools right on your phone or tablet.

Netgear EX6200 Dual Band AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

(Image credit: Netgear)

Netgear EX6200 Dual Band AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

Specifications

Antennas/Removable: 2 external/Yes
Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac dual band
Ports: 5 Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0
Size: 9.7 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches

Reasons to buy

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Best Wi-Fi extender value for large homes

The Netgear EX6200 gets a nod as the budget-friendly alternative for large homes, offering a less expensive alternative to the TP-Link RE650 that gets our top recommendation. It lacks a few features, most significantly a dedicated backhaul channel for data, but it balances that omission with a great price. On top of that, you'll get excellent performance, great range, and a flexible setup that can position the extender horizontally or vertically.

Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender

(Image credit: Linksys)

Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender

Specifications

Antennas/Removable: 4 external/No
Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac dual band
Ports: 1 Gigabit Ethernet
Size: 4.9 x 3.2 x 1.7 inches

Reasons to buy

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A great Wi-Fi extender with a low profile

Need to beef up your Wi-Fi network but don't want an extender that stands out? The Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi range extender is compact and low-profile, with a design that won't block other outlets or stand out as a garish tech product. But aside from the subtle design, the Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ offers solid performance and set-up assistance that helps you find the right spot for optimal performance.

D-Link DAP-1720 Wi-Fi AC1750 Range Extender

(Image credit: D-Link)

Specifications

Antennas/Removable: 3 external/No
Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac dual band
Ports: 1 Gigabit Ethernet
Size: 6.4 x 3.3 x 1.5 inches

Reasons to buy

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Best for two-story homes

D-Link's DAP-1720 is easy to set up, provides a mobile app and can help fill a home with Wi-Fi, but it serves up patchy performance and is so large that it risks blocking adjacent AC outlets. Despite some irregular performance, the D-Link DAP-1720 does particularly well when pushing signal to a floor above or below, making it a smart choice for multistory homes.

Maximize your range

Measuring the throughput at various distances also lets users determine the effective range of the extender, giving you a better understanding of how well a device will do in covering the farthest corners of your home.

Based on our rigorous evaluations, which include in-depth lab tests and hands-on usage in a real home, the best extender on the market is the Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000. It offers fast speeds, excellent reach and an array of features that make it easy to use. Our top value pick is the Coredy E300 Mini WiFi Range Extender, which gives you a Wi-Fi boost for a great budget.

Brian Westover

Brian Westover is currently Lead Analyst, PCs and Hardware at PCMag. Until recently, however, he was Senior Editor at Tom's Guide, where he led the site's TV coverage for several years, reviewing scores of sets and writing about everything from 8K to HDR to HDMI 2.1. He also put his computing knowledge to good use by reviewing many PCs and Mac devices, and also led our router and home networking coverage. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he wrote for TopTenReviews and PCMag.