Best wi-fi extenders and wi-fi mesh systems to boost your network

If your wi-fi router isn't giving you a strong and reliable signal into the far reaches of your home, where wi-fi extenders and wi-fi mesh systems could help.

A wi-fi mesh system is an advanced, whole-house solution that creates an expansive and seamless net of wi-fi throughout a wider space. A wi-fi extender is a simpler and cheaper option that increases the reach of your router to a particular, targeted area.

In this guide we'll delve into the specific differences between the two, so you know which is the right option for your needs. We'll also highlight the best and worst from our expert lab testing, including models from Amazon, Netgear and TP-Link.

The best wi-fi extenders from our tests

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The best wi-fi mesh systems from our tests

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The wi-fi extenders and wi-fi mesh networks we tested

All the wi-fi extender and wi-fi mesh systems we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best extenders and best mesh systems from our tests.

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Netgear EAX12

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Most recently tested November 2023

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi extender

Security concerns None

Need to know One ethernet port

Netgear EX6110-100UKS 

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Most recently tested May 2023

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 5

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi extender

Security concerns We found no issue with the device itself, but we wouldn't recommend using the app because it only works with older Android phones that are no longer supported by security updates.

Need to know No ports

Netgear Nighthawk X6 EX7700-100UKS

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Most recently tested February 2021

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 5

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi extender

Security concerns None

Need to know Two ethernet ports

TP-Link N300 Universal Wi-fi Range Extender TL-WA854RE

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Most recently tested June 2020

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 4

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi extender

Security concerns Firmware updates aren’t applied automatically, so you’ll have to check when they become available and download them yourself. Not doing this could leave you vulnerable to newer security threats.

Need to know No ports

TP-Link RE200

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Most recently tested November 2023

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 5

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi extender

Security concerns None

Need to know One ethernet port

TP-Link RE315 

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Most recently tested November 2023

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 5

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi extender

Security concerns None

Need to know One ethernet port

TP-Link RE505X - Wi-fi 6

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Most recently tested March 2021

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi extender

Security concerns None

Need to know One ethernet port

TP-Link RE605X 

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Most recently tested January 2022

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6 (only compatible on 5GHz frequency)

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi extender

Security concerns None

Need to know One ethernet port

TP-Link RE705X 

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Most recently tested February 2024

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi extender

Security concerns None

Need to know One ethernet port

TP-Link RE815XE 

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Most recently tested February 2024

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6E

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi extender

Security concerns None

Need to know One ethernet port

Upgrading to a new router can make an enormous difference to your wi-fi signal strength and speed. Check out the best wi-fi routers for our top picks

Amazon Eero Pro 6E (3-pack)

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Most recently tested February 2024

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6E

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi mesh system

Security concerns None

Need to know Two ethernet ports

Asus ZenWifi AX Mini XD4 (3-pack) 

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Most recently tested May 2023

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi mesh system

Security concerns None

Need to know Two ethernet ports (one ethernet port on satellite nodes)

Asus ZenWifi XD5 (3-pack) 

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Most recently tested July 2023

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi mesh system

Security concerns None

Need to know Two ethernet ports

Linksys Velop MX5300

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Most recently tested May 2023

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi mesh system

Security concerns None

Need to know Five ethernet ports

Netgear Orbi RBK763S-100EUS Wi-fi 6 (3-pack) 

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Most recently tested July 2023

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi mesh system

Security concerns None

Need to know Four ethernet ports

Netgear Orbi RBK853 Mesh Wi-fi 6 (3-pack)

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Most recently tested July 2023

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi mesh system

Security concerns None

Need to know Five ethernet ports

TP-Link Deco X20 (3-pack) 

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Most recently tested May 2023

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi mesh system

Security concerns None

Need to know Two ethernet ports

TP-Link Deco X50 Wi-fi 6 PoE (3-pack) 

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Most recently tested July 2023

Wireless standard Wi-fi 6

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi mesh system

Security concerns None

Need to know Two ethernet ports

TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro Mesh Wi-fi 6E (3-pack) 

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Most recently tested July 2023

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6E

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi mesh system

Security concerns None

Need to know Four ethernet ports

Vodafone Ultra Hub

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Available from vodafone.co.uk, packages vary

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Most recently tested February 2024

Wireless standard Wi-Fi 6E

Extender or mesh system Wi-fi mesh system

Security concerns None

Need to know Three ethernet ports, DSL port, 10Gbps SFP module, two telephone sockets, one USB-A port, one USB-C port

How we test wi-fi extenders and mesh systems

The score for each model is:

• 90% performance
• 10% ease of use

Although the score is broken down in the same way for routers, extenders and mesh systems, each type of device is evaluated in a slightly different way. This means the scores for each type of device are comparable within that category, but not across the three.

How good is wi-fi coverage and speed?

• We test how well the extender or mesh system copes with different multimedia devices, including streaming 4K Netflix, YouTube, audio and online file transfer, running simultaneously around the home. This gives us our first indication of the coverage you'll get, and whether it will be possible to do a few things at once.
• Coverage is also assessed by measuring exact speeds all around the test house. This shows whether you'll get decent speeds, even at hard-to-reach corners of the home.
• We assess how well the extender or mesh system will cope when there are lots of devices connected, all requiring a lot of bandwidth. This tells us how well it's suited to homes with a lot of devices, and whether it will conk out if you're trying to put it under a lot of stress.

Is it easy to set up?

• We note what instructions come with the extender or mesh system, and then assess how easy it is to set up for a beginner and whether it has more technical settings for advanced users.
• As many extenders and mesh systems now have easy set-up instructions on accompanying apps which are free to download, or from web interfaces - if applicable, we assess how friendly these methods are (whether through visual or video walkthroughs) in helping you set it up.
• We also look at how easy it is to set up a local network and apply parental controls and any other useful features.

Are there any security issues?

• Data encryption - we check that the most important data, such as your personal details, is encrypted and where it’s going, particularly if it goes abroad. If we spot anything out of the ordinary, we’ll raise an alert and investigate the issue.
• Data transparency - when setting up online, and if available, on both the Android and Apple app (there can be differences between the versions of the app) - we check what permissions are requested (such as your location and access to the camera) and the reasoning behind it, to make sure everything you’re giving away really is necessary.  
• Decommissioning - our test looks at how easy it is to reset the product and get rid of all of your data. This is important when disposing of your old extender or mesh system (whether to recycle, giveaway or sell). We also make sure to check there are no remnants of the previous user’s data, too.
• Firmware - out-of-date or poorly maintained firmware can mean there are gaps that could allow a hacker to access your device. We check for any software vulnerabilities.
• Man-in-the-middle attacks - this is when a hacker acts as an eavesdropper, trying to catch information passing to and from your router. We run tests on every model to see if it could be susceptible to this kind of attack and if it is, we’ll make sure not to recommend the product.
• Other types of attacks - new hacking threats are constantly emerging, so we make sure to keep on top of the latest risks and update our test programme as necessary.
• Password policy - we assess whether password policies are strong. If they're visible on the box or easily guessable, both of which could allow people into your network to potentially access your data, we'll flag this in our reviews.

We regularly revisit the wi-fi extenders and mesh systems available to see if there are any more popular models that need testing and when we find them we do. 

Find out more about how Which? is not influenced by product manufacturers or retailers and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent. 

What's the difference between an extender and mesh system

Wi-fi extender

A wi-fi extender (or wi-fi booster) is used to amplify and repeat the wireless signal from your router to extend its coverage. It helps to re-broadcast the signal to where the wi-fi may be weak or non-existent. In some cases, using an extender can reduce your network speed, and you may find speeds are slower than when you're connected to your router.

Some extenders create a separate extra network that your device will connect to when in range, while others increase the range of your existing router network. The latter is better because you don't need to switch between two networks, so it's behaving more like mesh.

You should choose a wi-fi extender if you only have one area of your home where you lose signal and you don't necessarily need the very best speeds in that area. Otherwise a wi-fi mesh system is likely a better option.

Wi-fi mesh system

A wi-fi mesh system is made up of a series nodes, effectively extra routers, that sit around your home. One of the nodes is connected to your router, or can take the place of your router in some cases, and all the other nodes act as a repeater.

It's like a daisy chain that creates a net of wi-fi to cover your whole home. In theory you could continuously add extra nodes to make a huge net, but most people will only need two or three to get a solid signal throughout a two-storey home.

Each node doesn't create an individual network, it just boosts the range of your router's network. Therefore, you don't need to log onto a different network as you move into the connection radius of each node, which makes the expanded wi-fi coverage seamless.

You should choose a mesh network if there are several areas in your home which are struggling to get wi-fi, and you don't want to have to connect to different networks as you move into different parts of your home.

What is a powerline adaptor

An alternative option is a powerline adaptor. Although we don't test these devices, if you have the right wiring in your house, they may be a good option to expand wi-fi coverage to a more distant location in your home.

Powerline adaptors send internet through your home's electricity cabling. You plug in one adaptor near your router and connect it with an ethernet cable, and plug the other adaptor where you want internet.

The second adaptor will have ethernet ports, so you can connect devices in a different room out of reach of your router. There are some that have wi-fi capabilities, too, so they work like an extender.

Powerline adaptors won't work in every house - their success will depend on the state of the electrical wiring in the property and how long the wires are that connect the two sockets you use for the adaptors. Electricity cabling can snake all over your home before reaching another socket, and there's no real way of knowing how long the internet's journey from one powerline adaptor to another will be.

Both of these things can affect the speed of the signal, or determine whether you'll get any internet at all. 

Single-band, dual-band and tri-band routers explained

Wi-fi routers can operate on a number of frequencies (bands):

• 2.4GHz - offers further wi-fi coverage range but has slower speeds.
• 5GHz - offers faster speeds but has reduced range. 
• 6GHz - offers even faster speeds than 5GHz, but has weakest range of all frequencies.

Single-band routers operate on one wireless frequency only (the 2.4GHz band). While it works well for surfing the internet, this frequency can get overly congested, making it weaker for high-bandwidth tasks (such as streaming videos) and when many devices are connected at once.

Dual-band routers are the most common, providing less interference and faster speeds. They transmit data over both the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz bands. This allows you, for example, to browse the internet on the 2.4GHz band while streaming HD films on the faster 5GHz band, with neither band getting overloaded.

Tri-band routers add an addtional frequency to help further reduce congestion - especially useful in tech-heavy households. Some offer an extra 5GHz band, while those models with Wi-Fi 6E and 7 capabilities add a 6GHz band.

Wireless router standards and Wi-Fi 6

If you hear the term 'wireless standard' – for example 802.11ac or 802.11ax – take it to mean 'speed'. The first generation of wireless routers was ‘b', followed by ‘g', ‘n', 'ac', ‘ax', and now 'be'. 

Each version offers improved performance, such as; faster speeds, longer range, greater efficiency when dealing with connected devices, less interference and reduced congestion.

Since the release of 'ax', wi-fi standards have been renamed; starting at Wi-Fi 4 (n). These are the current wireless standards in use:

• Wi-Fi 4 (n)
• Wi-Fi 5 (ac)
• Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E (both ax)
• Wi-Fi 7 (be)

However, it's important to understand that to benefit from the latest standard, both your router and your connected device (ie your laptop, tablet or games console) will need to support the same technology. Otherwise, the wi-fi connection will drop back to using an older, less powerful standard.