Mesh Router or Wi-Fi Extender: Which Is the Wireless Internet Champion?

CNET

a day ago

Wireless internet has come a long way over the years, but figuring out the best option for you isn't always cut and dry. A Wi-Fi router can deliver internet through your home, but depending on the building materials in your home, it might deliver a weak or slow connection to certain areas. Adding a Wi-Fi extender can help to expand your coverage, while a mesh router can extend its own range with satellite devices (nodes).
I've tested both, and after multiple tests, I found that Wi-Fi range extenders are the best cheap option for smaller spaces. The best model I've tested so far is the Linksys RE7310, which costs $100, but there are cheaper options available, too.
On the other hand, I've found that mesh routers are unequivocally the best for whole-home coverage,though they tend to be more expensive. We have a handful of recommendations if you're looking to upgrade to a mesh system, including the TP-Link Deco W7200 and the Eero 6 Plus -- both available for around $200 for a two-pack.
While a Wi-Fi extender is the simpler and cheaper option -- you just plug it into an outlet and connect it to your existing router -- a mesh router does a much better job of boosting speeds throughout your entire home. There are also some initial steps you can take to boost your connection without buying anything, but in many cases, eliminating dead zones in the house will require a hardware upgrade.
That's the quick overview, but here's how I got there.
Locating local internet providers
Watch this: Mesh Wi-Fi or range extenders? Pick the best option for you
05:11
The quality of your Wi-Fi comes down to three things: location, location, location. Whether you choose range extenders or mesh extenders, you can only put out a network signal as strong as the incoming wireless signal from the router -- minus whatever penalty you're paying for connecting at a distance.
So, if you can't connect in a particular place in your home, the best approach is to run speed tests in different rooms to find the spot closest to your dead zone where the router's incoming signal is strong. That'll ensure that the range extender or mesh point can put out the best possible network and cover your dead zone. From there, it's just a matter of finding the right hardware for the job.
There's a lot to think about as you upgrade your home network; here's a quick rundown of what you should know.
Read more: Best Wi-Fi router in 2025
Start with a speed test
When you aren't feeling well and you go to the doctor, that doctor will start by asking you questions before running some tests to figure out what's wrong. That's the same diagnostic approach you need to take when you're trying to improve the quality of your home network. Your secret weapon on that front? Speed tests.
Enlarge Image
The Ookla Speed Test is a quick and easy diagnostic tool for your home network's health.
Screenshot by Ry Crist/CNET
Running them is really easy. There are lots of free services on the web that'll let you check your speed, but the most popular (and the one I use when I'm testing routers out at home) is the Ookla Speed Test. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) It'll pair you up with one of several nearby servers as soon as you load the page -- from there, just click the big "GO" button and wait about a minute to see your current upload and download speeds, as well as the connection's latency. Also, make sure you're connected to your home network while you do this, preferably from whatever device you use online the most. If you're using a phone, disable cellular while you run this test.
You'll want to move around in your home, running a few speed tests at a time in each room where your Wi-Fi connection matters. If you want, you can repeat this process at different times of day. When you're done, average those download speed results in each room to get a sense of where your connection is and isn't up to snuff. If you're seeing speeds that are less than half of what you get when you're close to the router, then that's an area where you might be able to boost your signal (and if those close-range speeds aren't close to what your internet plan allows, then you should call your provider).
At this point, you'll want to run through the basics. Try moving the router to different spots (out in the open is best, preferably as high up and as centrally located as possible). You might also be able to eke out small speed improvements by repositioning the antennas. If none of that works, then it's time to evaluate your hardware.
If you can find it in stock, the TP-Link RE220 is a great range extender value pick. It's easy to use, it provides a steady, workable connection with surprisingly good range, and you can get it for less than $30.
Ry Crist/CNET
Wi-Fi range extenders: A good fix for small dead zones
If you've just got one or two rooms with poor connection, then a simple Wi-Fi range extender might be all you need. You've got a lot of options, but the best value that I've tested is the TP-Link RE220, a Wi-Fi 5 plug-in extender that you can find online at various retail outlets for as low as $15. If you're willing to spend a little more, go with the TP-Link RE605X, which adds faster, more robust speeds and support for Wi-Fi 6 for $85. (A major caveat: TP-Link routers are under investigation by the US government over security concerns and could be banned in the US this year. Read CNET's reporting for more information.)
Range extenders like these are a cinch to use. You'll plug it in, press the WPS button to put it into Wi-Fi Protected Setup mode, and then press the WPS button on your router to pair the two together. Wi-Fi extenders won't boost your existing home network, but they will use that connection with your router to broadcast its own network. In most cases, you'll see it listed as the existing network name with "_EXT" tacked onto the end.
Enlarge Image
In my tests, the RE220 was able to boost the speeds in this back bathroom from single digits up to about 80Mbps.
Ry Crist/CNET
And don't worry too much about the brand. Range extenders like these are typically designed to work no matter what kind of router you're using. Just double-check that your router has a WPS button (almost all do) and you'll be fine.
Extenders like these are unlikely to hit your network's max speeds, mind you. In fact, most of the cheap, plug-in models that cost $50 or less won't connect much faster than 50Mbps, and they'll offer only enough range to cover a couple of rooms at best. When I tested a few of the top value picks out in my home, the RE220's 5GHz band could sustain speeds of about 75Mbps throughout my entire test area, with a radius of about two rooms (or roughly 40 feet). That might not sound like much, but it's fast and steady enough to support video chats, high-quality streaming and even basic online gaming, if needed. That's terrific performance for the price, especially if it means the difference between a steady connection and no connection.
Just keep in mind that location matters a lot with these things, because they can only put out a network that's as strong as the incoming wireless signal from the router. The best bet is to take a look at your speed test data and find the room closest to your dead zone that has a strong signal from the router. That'll ensure that the extender is able to put out the best possible network, and that it'll be able to cover your dead zone.
Most of today's options also include signal strength indicators on the device or in the app that'll let you know if you've picked a good spot -- make sure to pay attention to those.
We like Google's Nest Wifi the best for its fast, steady connection, impressive range, and sophisticated software. You've got lots of good mesh router options right now, though.
Chris Monroe/CNET
Mesh routers: Best for whole-home coverage
If your problem is bigger than a single room where you can't connect -- say, an entire floor where your speeds are spotty -- then your best move is almost certainly to upgrade to a mesh router. With multiple devices spread throughout your home, a good mesh router can sling a speedy signal from room to room, and you won't have to juggle multiple networks like you will with a range extender -- you'll just connect to the same network throughout your home (or two networks, if you're splitting the 2.4 and 5GHz bands into their own separate connections).
There's a bit of a mesh router renaissance underway these days, with lots of new, second-wave options hitting the market. Many of them cost a lot less than in previous years, but you should still expect to pay at least $150 for an entry-level system with multiple devices, and hundreds more than that for something top-of-the-line.
One thing to keep in mind as you shop: Software makes a huge difference with these things, because mesh routers are constantly using algorithms to calculate the best way to route your connection depending on where you are in your home. The best systems will always know when to connect directly to the router and when it's better to route your connection through one of the satellites, but others with less sophisticated software might get tripped up and route you incorrectly, which can needlessly slow your connection down.
In my tests, the brands that do the best job of routing your connection around drops or slow-downs are Google, Eero and Asus. Netgear and TP-Link have each performed pretty well too, though not without a couple of hiccups with certain systems.
Enlarge Image
It didn't make much difference upstairs, but that third Eero device, located downstairs, had a huge impact on signal strength in the CNET Smart Home's basement (blue is bad, green is good, and yellow is best here -- look for the boost in the basement when that third device comes into play).
Steve Conaway/CNET
If you live in a large home, then a three-piece system is definitely a worthy investment. Nest is nice, but Eero, another option with strong software chops, currently offers three-piece setups for $200, complete with support for Wi-Fi 6.
That Eero 6 system wasn't quite as sharp as Nest at steering my connection when I tested, but adding a second satellite to any mesh setup will make a noticeable difference in the strength of your connection. For example, when we tested a three-piece Eero setup at the 5,800-square-foot CNET Smart Home, we placed the second satellite down in the basement and measured the signal strength throughout the entire house. It made a clear impact, as that heat map indicates.
Wired connections can help
One last thing worth remembering: Wireless speeds are all well and good, but a wired, Ethernet connection will always give you speeds that are as fast as possible. If you have a home office that's far from the router, for instance, then placing either a plug-in range extender or a mesh router's satellite in the room and wiring your computer to it can guarantee speeds that are faster and steadier than what you'd get if you tried to connect wirelessly from afar.
Another range-extending option worth considering is a powerline extender. Like a plug-in extender, a powerline extender uses two plug-in devices that pass the connection back and forth through your home's electrical wiring, which is typically a speedy way to do it. Just plug one near your router and connect it with an Ethernet cable, then plug the other wherever you've got a dead zone.
Powerline extenders can also be a nice option if you have pesky physical obstructions between your router and your dead zone that would stress the wireless connection between the router and the extender. A good powerline extender will use your home's wiring like a shortcut to get around obstacles like those.