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WiFi Connection Boosters: How to Extend a Reliable Signal

A range extender can help where your router signal is usable; placement and backhaul matter as much as the device. Check your setup before choosing.

A WiFi connection booster is usually a range extender that receives your router signal and rebroadcasts it into a nearby weak area. It cannot repair an unreliable broadband connection, and performance depends on the signal it receives. Test a position between the router and dead zone; then compare a plug-in extender, an access-point setup over Ethernet, or a mesh node. Our hub links to model roundups and brand pages.

Our picks

Top picks

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Best for WiFi 6 with wired-device support

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TP-Link RE705X

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Best for adding a node to a compatible NETGEAR setup

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NETGEAR EAX15

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Best for a Gigabit port on a WiFi 5 extender

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TP-Link RE550

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By type

Ethernet connection

Common questions

Questions before you buy

Will a WiFi booster improve my internet connection?

It may improve wireless coverage in a weak area, but it does not increase the speed supplied by your internet plan. The extender needs a usable link back to the router.

Where should I place a WiFi connection booster?

Place it where the router signal remains stable and it can still reach the target room. A location inside the dead zone usually gives it a poor source signal.

Does a WiFi extender work with any router?

Many standard extenders support common Wi-Fi routers, but confirm supported standards, security and mesh features before buying.

Is an access point better than a range extender?

An access point with wired Ethernet backhaul can avoid repeating a weak wireless link. An extender is simpler when running cable is impractical.