Spotty WiFi at home is a major bummer. We’ve rounded up the best WiFi boosters for indoor/outdoor use, basements and brick walls, as well as households with multiple streamers, gamers, and/or Zoomers.
Poor WiFi is such a bummer. Whether you’re sick of your binge watching sessions being interrupted with infinite buffering, or your colleagues keep calling you out for your poor Zoom connection (nobody wants screenshots of your face frozen on screen, least of all you), a WiFi booster is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to improve your internet connection without forking over a ton of cash on more premium priced solutions.
What makes investing in a WiFi booster a great solution for most people is just how easy they are to install and immediately put to work. All you need is an existing router and an available wall outlet and you’re in business. The best part? Many people have great success with a WiFi booster alone, even when paired with an older router that doesn’t have the best signal or coverage.
What is the difference between WiFi booster and WiFi extender?
A WiFi extender works by pulling signals from your router before relaying it to your devices — thus allowing you to use your WiFi more effectively from every corner of your home. In doing so, your home will be split into two different networks — the original router and the extension. This can be an issue for most folks who are looking to make connecting to the internet as seamless as possible.
WiFi boosters, on the other hand, take a weak or poor reception and amplify the signals in order to experience a stronger overall connection. While doing so, they also extend the coverage without splicing the networks, which makes for a much easier overall user experience.
Think about it like this: if you have a WiFi booster, you can easily add on a WiFi extender if you still need the extra coverage, but a WiFi extender likely won’t work very well without a booster (unless you already have an incredibly strong WiFi signal as it is).
Do WiFi boosters really work?
WiFi boosters really do work—if you have the right booster for your specific lifestyle or household needs. Essentially, a WiFi booster extends your existing network coverage by boosting your signals. It actually pulls your existing WiFi from your transmitter or router, amplifies the signals and broadcasts the WiFi throughout your home, extending its reach and strength to multiple floors and even outdoors.
What is the best WiFi booster?
While there are a lot of great WiFi boosters on the market at a variety of affordable prices, if you’re looking for a real workhorse that will ensure you never run into endless buffering or video chat issues again, look no further than the TP-Link AC2600. This premium piece of tech checks off all the right boxes when it comes to a great WiFi booster: it’s compact, easy to install, and promises to boost your signal up to 2600 Megabits per second (Mbps).
That said, depending on your budget and lifestyle, we’ve pulled together some of the absolute best WiFi boosters to accommodate all types of internet users. Whether you’re looking for something compact that will boost the signal in your apartment for streaming your shows, or you need a serious workhorse that will ensure you and your roommates or family members can take your respective Zoom meetings without worrying about having an adequate connection, these are the most reliable boosters on the market.
TP-Link RE650 AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Booster
It may not be the cheapest booster on the market, but it promises high-speed internet in every nook and cranny of your household.-
Range:
1,200 square feet -
WiFi Spec:
2,600 Mbps -
Size:
6.42 x 3.40 x 2.63 inches
With nearly 9,000 positive reviews on Amazon, the TP-Link RE650 booster is a safe bet. While it does look quite bulky for a plug-in device, the impressive WiFi booster is equipped with all the bells and whistles to offer the best WiFi signal achievable by way of a booster—including a quad antenna design, smart placement indicators, and a Gigabit Ethernet port that can connect directly to devices for an extremely fast connection.
Amazon reviewer Anthony Pauley was pleasantly surprised by the range of the TP-Link RE650, which was more than enough to supply his entire home.
“I bought this wifi extender with low expectations. I have a 3200 square foot house and thought I may need one for each floor,” he explained. “However, I am super happy I decided to try one at a time. Despite what I have read on some reviews, setting this thing up was a breeze and took maybe 10 minutes. I set it up for both bands. Then, I plugged it in on the same floor as my router and the range covers my entire house. No more dead spots and the speeds are much faster too. I couldn’t be happier. As an added benefit, my wifi now extends far into my yard as well. Very happy.”
SETEK Superboost WiFi Extender Signal Booster
If you’re looking for a no-frills solution to extend your WiFi or give it a little boost, you’ll love this budget-friendly choice.-
Range:
2,500 square feet -
WiFi Spec:
300 Mbps -
Size:
8.2 x 5 x 2.2 inches
While the price tag may suggest this WiFi booster might not reach as far as you’d like, in reality it will go beyond your expectations for the price. The Superboost boasts a fast, strong, and stable signal that extends up to 2,500 square feet, allowing multiple people in your household to enjoy a stable, reliable connection at the same time—whether that means streaming Netflix or getting some work done.
Amazon reviewer StParsonsDay tested out the Superboost with the intention of no longer having to divide up WiFi time between other members of the household—and it worked.
“Absolutely fantastic device. Very easy to use. I required no technical support in order to operate it. I merely hit the “WPS” button on my router then touched the small button on the bottom of my repeater and they paired in less than 30 seconds. I relocated the device to a low coverage area of my home and things are moving much more quickly now. I no longer yell through the house for people to disconnect devices so I can watch TV.”
Linksys AC750 Boost Range Extender
If you’re sick of dealing with the dead zones that often come with a larger home, you’ll love the impressive range this booster offers.-
Range:
6,500 square feet -
WiFi Spec:
750 Mbps -
Size:
4.4 x 1.5 x 2.6 inches
This WiFi booster scores high marks because of its clean, compact design and impressive WiFi range that will easily service larger homes or duplexes.
The most talked about feature of this WiFi booster is just how far it will extend and amplify your connection—despite its surprisingly compact size and affordable price tag. The 6,500 square foot range and 750 Mbps speed makes it an ideal option for homeowners who spend a lot of time entertaining in the backyard or anyone trying to get usable reception in a basement apartment or attic space.
NETGEAR AC1200 WiFi Signal Booster & Repeater
Looking for a decent mid-range device to help power your workdays and binge sessions? This powerful WiFi booster fits the bill thanks to its unbeatable price-to-quality ratio.-
Range:
1,200 square feet -
WiFi Spec:
1,200 mbps -
Size:
7.09 x 5.71 x 3.98 inches
While you may already have great WiFi connection for HD streaming or online gaming, if you’re part of a multi-person household trying to set up a usable home office, you’ve probably run into connection issues as you navigate working alongside family members or roommates full time. This mid-level WiFi booster will solve all of those WiFi sharing woes thanks to its 1,200 square foot range and 1,200 mbps connection.
Amazon reviewer JimmyJoeBob had tried multiple WiFi boosters in the past, but had no luck getting a strong enough single to use in their house extension—until now.
“I didn’t expect much as I had tried different ways to extend wifi range to a detached building about 150-200 ft away. All have proved not effective as advertised and not worth using. The Netgear AC1200 was a breeze to set up. I took it to the building, changed my network to the AC1200 and bam 100% signal strength.”
Linksys RE7000 AC1900 Gigabit WiFi Booster
This sharp looking option offers coverage up to 10,000 feet, so you can enjoy solid internet connection inside, outside, and even into guest houses.-
Range:
10,000 square feet -
WiFi Spec:
1,900 mbps -
Size:
1.81 x 3.18 x 4.96 inches
While Linksys is already a trusted name in tech, the RE7000 WiFi booster is particularly well-loved—with over 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Featuring an impressive 10,000 square foot range, this WiFi boosting heavy hitter ensures your entire household will have ample connection to stream HD content, online game, and sign into Zoom meetings all at once, without worrying about a broken connection or slowed down speeds.
Amazon reviewer Kyle had no luck with previous WiFi boosters but particularly appreciated this one for its impressive speeds and seamless range,
“I was skeptical of how well this extender would work, but not only can I move from room to room with my tablet and laptop, but my speeds are also better than i had anticipated. I can access a full strength signal on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz.”
GALAWAY WiFi Booster G1208
If you’re looking for a good WiFi booster that can penetrate thick walls, this brick wall-friendly booster is a safe bet.-
Range:
1,200 square feet -
WiFi Spec:
1,200 mbps - Size: 7.6 x 3.7 x 2.4 inches
You’d be hard pressed to find a WiFi booster with such an impressive price-to-quality ratio. This budget-friendly booster features a laundry list of great assets that make it a fantastic option for anyone looking for an extra connection boost, including four adjustable antennas, dual band technology, and an intelligent signal indicator LED ring that ensures you find the best spot to set up for better WiFi.
Amazon reviewer Sharon O’Sullivan particularly loved how well the GALAWAY booster worked in her backyard, making it easy to enjoy her shows without having to tap into her wireless network.
“This has exceeded my expectations for range. I have a firepit outdoors about 80 feet from the house and get 2/3 signal strength all around the fire. I can now set up a tv and watch hockey while having a whiskey by the fire. The setup and instructions are very clear and easy. I am not a big computer guy, and found it very simple. I would recommend this to anyone I know.”
Whether you’re looking for something to reach the corners of your basement or attic or you’re simply fed up with your slow internet speed, this impressive booster by Netgear works with any type of router to ensure outstanding internet speed across 2,500 square feet—which is more than enough for most apartment units or townhouses.
“I had the new Spectrum modem and separate router installed yesterday to replace my Ubee after almost 3 years. However WiFi was always hit and miss because my equipment is in my basement where my office is,” explains BestBuy reviewer Irbrenda. “I was sure nothing would ever bring the signal up to par on my main and upper floors and my apartment over the garage! Well my signal has never been better!!! So far outstanding speeds.”