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You shouldn't have to deal with poor WiFi signals or dead spots on your own network. We bought and tested 8 of the most popular WiFi extenders to help you find the one that will give you a stronger connection in your home or office.
At GearLab, we know what it's like to live a fully internet-centric life. Whether we're at work, socializing, playing games, or just browsing, a reliable connection is always a must. We were able to develop a thorough plan for testing WiFi extenders because we've felt the stinging frustration of slow internet when it matters most — and our team leveraged its experience from thousands of product tests and reviews to ensure we accounted for everything.
We monitored each extender's throughput at 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz frequencies, measured their signal ranges, and then evaluated stability as well as ping and jitter. The TP-Link RE315 AC1200 is the best option for situations when you just need to extend your signal to one more room. The Netgear EAX17 AX3000 is our favorite WiFi extender because of its high level of compatibility with just about any router. The TP-Link RE220 AC750 is a great budget option for small-scale extensions, while the Netgear EXS27 BE5000 is a more expensive extender that can handle many connected devices at once.
WiFi extenders can be effective solutions when you just need your signal to reach a bit further in one direction. If you're using an old router, you might be surprised how much more range and stability you can get from the top WiFi routers on the market today. We also recommend considering a WiFi mesh system if you need a signal that can truly cover a large area or a multi-story home.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on December 4, 2025, after testing a brand new lineup.
The TP-Link RE315 AC1200 gets our stamp of approval for its solid performance at an extremely reasonable price point. If you just need your signal to reach that one awkward place in your home, this extender is a very practical solution. It's also a notable step up from the TP-Link RE220 AC750 and can handle heavier use. The RE315 is a slightly more capable extender that is better equipped to handle more devices for longer periods.
Our tester commented, “It was weird that I first needed to plug in the extender next to the router for the setup, then I could move it to a new spot,” though this quirk only added a minute or less to our setup time. The only real drawback is that this extender runs on WiFi 4 and 5, whereas modern devices typically run on WiFi 6 or 7. What this means for everyday use is that it has limited connection speed throughput, and its 2.4 GHz frequency is more likely to experience the occasional dropout.
The adjustable antennas of the TP-Link RE315 AC1200 make it perfect for conveying a signal to that hard-to-reach area of your home. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Netgear EAX17 AX3000 is on the expensive side compared to other WiFi extenders, but you're paying for a great deal of versatility. Most extenders work seamlessly with routers from the same manufacturer, but become way less reliable when you mix and match — the latter is hardly an issue with the Netgear EAX17 AX3000. We tested with routers from other brands, such as TP-Link, and this Netgear extender didn't take any noticeable hit to performance. We measured a very strong signal and even managed to connect at a distance of 110 feet from the extender. Our tester was even able to make use of the “roaming” feature, which dynamically connects a device to the most optimal access point, regardless of what type of router was used.
The Netgear EAX17 AX3000 isn't the bulkiest WiFi extender we tested, but it certainly still has a design that might block other plugs on your outlet. Another possible downside to keep in mind is its channel width. It has an 80 MHz channel, which is somewhat narrow by modern standards. This means it can transmit data quickly, but not as much data at once. Our tester asserts, “I would be hesitant at times with this, especially if you live in a WiFi-congested area, or plan to connect many devices to the extender at once.” In those cases, we recommend checking out the Netgear EXS27 BE5000 or the TP-Link RE715X AX3000 for their 320 MHz and 160 MHz channels, respectively.
The Netgear EAX17 AX3000 has 3 internal antennas, making it somewhat more discreet compared to certain other extenders. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The TP-Link RE220 AC750 is an extremely affordable WiFi extender, and one that gets the job done surprisingly well at such a low price point. It admittedly won't boost your signal very far — at 60 feet from the extender, we noticed heavy stuttering and pixelation during a video call, as well as frequent connection dropouts even during low-intensity tasks. Even so, it's a perfect low-cost way to extend WiFi to an extra room. If you have an IoT device that your router's signal can't quite reach, like a smart security camera or thermostat, for example, then this handy little extender can give you that bit of extra range you need.
We push each extender to its limit in our testing by monitoring performance under a heavy load. With that said, our tester emphasized that the TP-Link RE220 AC750 is “not intended for heavy use,” meaning that it won't handle more than a handful of connected devices without running into issues. Use it to power a couple of low-intensity always-on devices, do some browsing while sitting on your outdoor patio, or send a bit of a signal to your garage, but don't expect it to provide stellar connection speeds or support an entire home office setup.
The TP-Link RE220 AC750 works great in a space where you might do some casual browsing to pass the time. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Netgear EXS27 BE5000 is the most feature-rich WiFi extender we tested. It's fully compatible with the latest WiFi 7 technology. You can use this extender with an older router, but if you have a modern WiFi 7 router, you can take full advantage of 320 MHz communication frequencies that are capable of sending way more data at higher speeds, and that's just one example of advanced WiFi 7 features. Like other Netgear extenders, the EXS27 BE5000 also has impressive range and versatile smart roaming capabilities. Even if you're using a router from a different manufacturer, this extender will make sure you're connected to the most optimal access point as you “roam” throughout your home or office. Our tester explained the process, saying, “When connected under all the same SSID, it was a pretty seamless transition, and it switched much earlier when the 5GHz from the router signal was getting weak.”
Unfortunately, being the most advanced WiFi extender in our lineup also means that the Netgear EXS27 BE5000 is the most expensive. It also has an inconveniently large body to contain its three internal antennas and all the components to make its advanced features possible. Ultimately, though, this is undoubtedly the best WiFi extender if you have a WiFi 7 router and want to make sure you have the accompanying features throughout your whole building.
The Netgear EXS27 BE5000 can make the rest of an outlet very difficult to use. Credit: Matt Lighthart
OneMesh roaming feature only works with TP-Link routers
No dedicated backhaul
The TP-Link RE600X AX1800 is a capable WiFi extender that's easy to set up and capable of solid performance even when several devices are connected at once. Like most extenders, you can use the RE600X AX1800 with practically any router, but you will have a more seamless experience if the brands match up. This is among the best extenders to use with modern TP-Link routers because it is easily compatible with TP-Link's “OneMesh” roaming feature. This means that your connected device will dynamically switch between receiving a signal from the router, extender, or any other meshed access points based on which one is sending the strongest signal to your particular location in the building, all without interrupting your activity. Overall, it's not quite as capable as the TP-Link RE715X AX3000 if you're in a congested WiFi area, but it gets the job done at a lower price.
Being compatible with TP-Link's OneMesh feature means that the TP-Link RE600X AX1800 is perfect for letting you roam through the network area with a phone or tablet without disconnects. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The ASUS RP-AX58 AX3000 is a powerful WiFi extender with an impressive 160 MHz channel that offers great connection speeds, especially when you're close to the extender itself. It's an ideal extender to use with an ASUS AiMesh router because it not only boosts the signal range but also allows you to create a true mesh network that supports smart roaming. However, it struggles to play nice with routers from other brands unless the entire network can share a single SSID. It can also be difficult to manage your extended network, considering that this extender only features a single indicator light to show you whether or not there's a connection — it doesn't tell you which frequency is being used for the connections, nor any other information for that matter. Even so, there's no doubt that this is one of the better extenders to use with your ASUS router, especially if it includes AiMesh features.
The ASUS Extender companion app is full of useful information, but we found it confusing and difficult to navigate compared to similar apps. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The TP-Link RE715X AX3000 is on the expensive side of WiFi extenders, but it's got the capability to match. It's extremely similar to the less expensive TP-Link RE600X AX1800, and in fact, we would recommend that option for the vast majority of use cases. However, the RE715X AX3000 does perform better in congested areas. If you're looking for an extender to use in a home or business where many devices will need to connect to it, then the extra cost may be well worth it.
Keep in mind that the TP-Link RE715X AX3000 is extremely bulky, especially with its external antennas that give it an even wider silhouette. It's entirely possible that you'll need to dedicate an entire outlet to this one device. Credit: Matt Lighthart
The JoyLantern WiFi Extender might seem like an appealing WiFi extender due to its low price and the fact that it's often available for an even steeper discount. However, its outdated WiFi 4 technology and lack of a standard 5 GHz channel make it difficult to justify even that price by a modern evaluation. The only viable use case we found in our testing was a niche situation where you specifically need a 2.4 GHz frequency from far away with a long enough Ethernet cable to actually make the JoyLantern into an access point. For all other situations, it's much easier to recommend a more modern budget extender like the TP-Link RE220 AC750.
The placement of the JoyLantern WiFi Extender's plugs also makes it nearly certain to block other sockets on an outlet. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Why Trust GearLab
Our testing process at GearLab starts by thoroughly researching the best and most popular products on the market. We bought 8 of the top WiFi extenders ourselves and evaluated their capabilities in our own testing environment. Our team of tech gurus, hardware enthusiasts, and veteran product reviewers devised a method that helped us find out which WiFi extenders are actually the most useful in everyday situations. We wanted to know which ones are actually worth using in our own homes, because we know that's the best way to give you meaningful buying advice.
To rate these WiFi extenders in an objective yet relatable way, we examined each one through the lens of five crucial rating metrics:
5 GHz Throughput
2.4 GHz Throughput
Range
Stability
Ping/Jitter
Austin Palmer is a Senior Review Analyst at GearLab, and he led the testing process for our WiFi extender review. He brings the experience of thousands of product tests to bear when designing a methodology and making sure each item gets its chance to shine. He's also a tech junkie even in his free time, giving him the personal edge when it comes to understanding what makes a WiFi extender tick and why its functions are so important for the prospective buyer. This review is written by Jonathan Sayers, a full-time writer who is equally invested in making sure that people of all kinds can find great advice for setting up efficient internet solutions in the home or office.
Not only do we test WiFi extenders for a variety of performance attributes, but we also test them in various rooms and locations to see how external factors affect their usefulness.
Analysis and Test Results
It goes without saying that the sole purpose of a WiFi extender is to boost the signal range of a WiFi router. To test how well they accomplish this, we had to break the process down into its simplest components. Routers commonly transmit a signal over two possible frequencies: the long-range, wall-penetrating 2.4 GHz frequency, and the short-range but more powerful 5 GHz frequency. Our analysis took a close look at the performance and reliability of each product over both frequencies.
5 GHz Throughput
To test how fast our connection speed is when connected to a WiFi extender, we connect our device and observe the connection using the iPerf3 software. We recorded our average connection speed while positioned directly next to the extender, then at 30 feet and 60 feet. At the 5 GHz frequency, we expect to get high speeds while we're close to the extender, but we expect it to fall off quickly at a distance due to the limited range of this band. The Asus RP-AX58 AX3000, TP-Link RE600X AX1800, and TP-Link RE715X AX3000 were all standouts in this test, consistently maintaining a throughput of over 200 Mbps at the extender.
An extender with a capable 5 GHz channel will definitely have enough throughput for gaming and other high-intensity tasks. Credit: Matt Lighthart
2.4 GHz Throughput
When testing an extender's 2.4 GHz throughput, we expect to see lower numbers compared to the 5 GHz test, but we also expect those numbers to be more consistent over a longer range. This band can travel farther and is better at traveling through walls and other obstructions, so connecting from another room should be less of an issue. The TP-Link RE600X AX1800 was the most capable 2.4 GHz extender in our lineup by far. It was able to maintain a throughput of 55+ Mbps at 30 feet from the extender, which is more than adequate for streaming 4K videos or watching livestreams.
An extender with a reliable 2.4 GHz band could, for example, send a usable signal from the kitchen to the next room over. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Range
For our range tests, we went beyond the 60-foot distance that we used as the upper limit in our throughput tests. Instead, we pushed the extenders to their absolute limits to see just how far we could go before we could no longer get a usable signal at all. The Netgear EAX17 AX3000 and Netgear EXS27 BE5000 demonstrated very impressive signal range during our tests. Both were able to support streaming 4K video with minimal loading at 130 feet from the extender, making them quite useful for everyday tasks, even when you are extremely far from the main router.
The Netgear extenders proved to have a capable range, making them suitable for heavy tasks like video calls, even if you need to use a room far away from the router. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Stability
We judge stability based on the number of dropouts, slowdowns, and long-lasting dips that take place over a 30-minute test period. The most stable extenders we tested were the Asus RP-AX58 AX3000, TP-Link RE600X AX1800, and TP-Link RE715X AX3000, which all also happen to have the best 5 GHz throughputs in our lineup. They were all stable and experienced very few dropouts, even in the 2.4 GHz frequency, which is more prone to interference issues.
A connection dip that lasts for more than 10 seconds will likely interrupt video streaming, Zoom calls, and most any other online activity, so we kept a close eye on network status during testing. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Ping/Jitter
Ping is a measurement of how long it takes a data packet to travel to and from its destination, while jitter measures the variability between pings. You can think of this metric as the “consistency” of a WiFi extender's performance. The Netgear EAX17 AX3000 and Netgear EXS27 BE5000 were very consistent in terms of ping and jitter, on top of being the best long-range extenders we tested as well. Using iPerf3 software, we were able to see that the Netgear routers rarely, if ever, experienced more than a millisecond of jitter.
Ping and jitter are the natural enemies of video calls, so it's important to use a consistent extender if you plan to have important business meetings. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Conclusion
WiFi extenders are a specialized solution to a very specific problem. You already have a functional router, but it just won't reach that one particular spot. It's frustrating, and that's why you probably just want to resolve the issue as quickly and conveniently as possible. Researching and comparing products takes time — time you shouldn't have to spend just to enjoy the internet throughout your whole home. We bought the most popular WiFi extenders and tested them ourselves to assess throughput, range, and stability, so you can get the answers you need without hassle. If you're looking for other WiFi solutions for your home or workplace, check out our reviews on WiFi routers or WiFi mesh systems.
