Wi-Fi Repeater vs Extender: Which One Should You Buy?

A Wi-Fi Extender and Repeater are essential for boosting Wi-Fi range and coverage.

The Extender creates multiple access points to expand connectivity across larger distances, whereas the Repeater amplifies a signal strength to reach a farther place. Both devices are used to extend the reach of your existing Wi-Fi network. However, they work in slightly different ways.

What is a Wi-Fi Extender?

Have you ever experienced a slow or weak Wi-Fi signal? Then, a Wi-Fi Extender or Repeater would come to your rescue.

A Wi-Fi extender, sometimes referred to as a Range Extender, is a device that extends the range of your present Wi-Fi signal to expand its coverage. Wi-Fi Extender boosts your home’s range and signal strength, bringing fast Internet to all areas of the house without sacrificing performance.

So, this becomes useful when you have quite a spacious home or office, wherein there might be areas where no signals are being received.

Its purpose is to improve or extend Wi-Fi coverage and not necessarily to increase speed directly. It may also be used as a router by connecting it to another network. When the Wi-Fi Extender connects two or more Wi-Fi networks, they can function as one network.

Using a Wi-Fi extender can work wonderfully well in extending the range of your network, eradicating weak or non-existent signal areas, and boosting signal strength in otherwise low spots within your office or home setup.

Most models use web browser or mobile app installation capabilities; plus, they are relatively cheap when compared with replacing routers.

Wi-Fi is a great technology that brings the whole world to your home and workplace. But sometimes, it can be really annoying when we have a poor internet signal that hinders the performance of our work or entertainment. In such situations, A Wi-Fi extender or Wi-Fi repeater shall come as your greatest savior.

For example:

If the Wi-Fi router is on the first floor of a two-story structure and the signal does not reach the second floor, installing a wireless extender on the first floor can improve the wireless signal to the second floor.

Also, due to physical obstructions such as thick concrete walls, basements, and electrical equipment that can interfere with Wi-Fi coverage, Wi-Fi extenders can be deployed in appropriate locations to overcome poor Wi-Fi signals.

The terms’ Wi-Fi extender’ and ‘Wi-Fi repeater’ are used to describe some of the best wireless devices. It’s important to notice that despite their similarity in sound -they are different in operations.

Wireless Extender Pros

• Replaces a weak Wi-Fi signal with a quicker and more dependable signal to reach further distances
• Dead spots can be covered with a strong Wi-Fi signal for extended coverage for home/office
• Pocket friendly
• Compatible with a conventional router
• Overcomes network hogging by prioritizing Wi-Fi signals for different users

Wireless Extender Cons

• Additional throughput requirements may cause latency concerns
• Potential interference issues with other electronic equipment
• Extenders may take some technical knowledge to set up
• They create a second network to bridge the gap and avoid dead spots. Therefore, bandwidth may be cut in half due to the rebroadcast signal.

What is a Wi-Fi Repeater?

A Wi-Fi Repeater is a device that allows you to extend the range of your existing wireless router’s signal by amplifying (boosting) your current Wi-Fi signal to provide better Wi-Fi coverage.

A Wi-Fi repeater extends their current wireless router’s range and coverage. It can boost your signal and improve speed and security with a directional antenna plus an additional optional feature.

Wi-Fi Repeaters provide an effective solution for improving the range and signal strength of any existing network, making them ideal choices for home or office use. Once connected wirelessly to a router, they effectively receive signals from the source before amplifying strength and rebroadcasting over a newly created connection using identical names/passwords – though do bear in mind that speeds may slow with this extra process overhead.

A repeater might help you receive a stronger Wi-Fi connection if you reside in an area where the signal is poor or unreliable. Repeaters record and distribute the signal from a Wi-Fi router using a method known as “densewave.” to capture the signal from a router and broadcast it to the surrounding area. The result is an improved Wi-Fi signal that is stronger and more reliable.  

Both Extender and Repeater are beneficial for expanding a network’s coverage.

Wireless Repeater Pro

• Easy and rapid setup
• Extends the range of your Wi-Fi network
• Eliminates Wi-Fi dead zones
• Improves Wi-Fi signal strength in weak areas
• Relatively inexpensive

Wireless Repeater Cons

• Some routers may not be compatible with Repeater.
• A repeater may not suffice in large homes or residences with multiple floors, as it may drop the signal.
• To cover a broader area, multiple repeaters must be configured.
• The repeater has its own network name (SSID) and password that is different from the router’s SSID.
• Setting up a completely new SSID may necessitate some network understanding.

Wi-Fi Repeater vs Wi-Fi Extender

As Wi-Fi Repeater and Extender sounds similar, they have a few differences. Let’s take a look:

A Wi-Fi extender is perfect for when existing signal coverage isn’t strong enough or you need to improve it in areas far from routers. It’s an ideal solution if wireless interference reduces your connection quality and performance.

A repeater can be used to boost signal strength in a small space, allowing up to a few devices access without interruption or disruption – improving weaker signals throughout any home easily!

When you should use a Wi-Fi Extender:

• Whenever you have to extend your Wi-Fi network across an expansive area
• In case you have many devices connected to your Wi-Fi network
• When the signal of the Wi-Fi in some parts is weak or not present at all

When to use a Wi-Fi Repeater:

• A small area that needs to be covered by the extended network
• You only have very few devices connecting through your Wi-Fi network
• There are specific areas of your home or office that would need improvements in their Wi-Fi signal strength

Best Wi-Fi Extenders and Wi-Fi repeaters

Let’s see some of the best Wi-Fi Extenders and repeaters available in the market in the following section:

NETGEAR Wi-Fi Range Extender EX5000

NETGEAR Wi-Fi Range Extender EX5000 is the perfect solution for home Wi-Fi as it is a simple way to extend your current Wi-Fi network.

This compact plug-and-play device converts any outlet into a Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing you to connect devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops to the Internet from any location in your house or office.

This NETGEAR Extender covers 1500 square feet and connects up to 25 devices at 1200 Mbps super-fast rates so you can enjoy lag-free streaming, super-fast downloads, and online gaming without compromising the security or performance of your wireless network.

TP-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Extender (RE220)

The TP-LINK AX1500 is a dual-band Wi-Fi extender with a Gigabit connector, allowing you to share your Internet connection with multiple connected wired devices. The Extender connects to your existing Wi-Fi network with ease.

It includes four high-gain antennas specifically intended to remove Wi-Fi dead zones and Wi-Fi 6 Speeds for smoother and more dependable streaming, gaming, and downloading.

It has four high-performance amplifiers to amplify the Wi-Fi signal and a Tri-Core 1.5 GHz CPU for efficient extender performance.

Its Wi-Fi dual-band capabilities of up to 1.5 Gbps (1201 Mbps on 5 GHz and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz) allow you to connect more devices that aren’t in range of your main router. They also allow you to connect more devices that aren’t in range of your main router while eliminating poor performance and weak signals.

This extender can establish a seamless Wi-Fi Mesh network and extend the range without switching networks or losing service. Its TP-Link Tether app enables quick and easy network setup and management, including signal strength prioritization and coverage area management.

ASUS AC1750 Wi-Fi Router (RT-AC65)

The dual-core processor of the ASUS RT-AC1750 B1 reduces the performance drops that other routers experience.

Even on the busiest residential networks, HD video streaming is flawless, with low latency for online gaming, VoIP calls, and file downloads unaffected.

Its high-powered amplifiers, AiRadar beamforming, and ultra-sensitive receivers boost Wi-Fi signal mid and long-range, providing unmatched coverage that’s fast, dependable, and stable for all your connected devices, from PCs and mobile devices to game consoles and beyond.

The RT-AC1750 B1 has two USB 3.0 ports for file, multimedia, and 3G/4G sharing and ASUS AiDisk for remote access and rapid content streaming.

The app is feature-rich, allowing you to set up your router, control network traffic, diagnose connection issues, and even upgrade firmware without turning on your computer.

The extender uses professional-grade AiProtection Pro for complete and easy control of each online family member and device via the mobile app, giving you complete peace of mind.

Trend Micro’s official database is used by AiProtection to identify and block known hazardous websites, preventing infection even before you click.

Its Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) guards against all forms of online threats, including virus detection and prevention.

GUNCENG Wi-Fi Extenders Signal Booster

This extender will cover up to 8,500 square feet if you need long-range coverage.

It’s a Dual-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender with a signal that can go through walls and floors to reach every area of your home, as well as the yard, shop, and garage.

The internet speed can be boosted up to 1200Mbps. This extender can handle up to 40 devices, and internet activities such as conferencing, schooling, security cameras, smart speakers, HDTV streaming, and online gaming are all enabled.

By employing powerful WPA/WPA2  security methods, the extender adds an extra layer of security from risks in real-time. Also, it keeps your Wi-Fi secure and stable.

NETGEAR Wi-Fi Range Extender EX3700

The NETGEAR AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender will enhance the wireless signal at your house or workplace.

It has a dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi radio that allows you to connect to the Internet over a longer distance while maintaining good performance and dependability.

It extends the range of your existing network by using patented FastLane(TM) technology to give AC dual-band Wi-Fi up to 750Mbps. It works with any normal Wi-Fi network and is excellent for streaming HD video and gaming.

It’s simple to set up and can cover up to 1,000 square feet with up to 15 devices. It’s perfect for extending your Wi-Fi network to the farthest reaches of your house or acting as a wireless bridge for other Wi-Fi devices.

For greater security during online financial transactions, the extender supports WEP and WPA/WPA2 wireless security protocols. Its discreet design allows it to be conveniently plugged into a power outlet.

BrosTrend AC1200 Wi-Fi Extender 5 GHz & 2.4 GHz

BrosTrend Wi-Fi extender improves and delivers outstanding Wi-Fi coverage across your house or workplace, even out into the yard, due to two high-gain external antennas and integrated power amplifier units.

A powerful AC1200 network dedicated CPU simultaneously produces 867Mbps on the 5GHz Wi-Fi frequency and 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.

This Wi-Fi extender can provide data to up to 20 Wi-Fi devices simultaneously without lag, thanks to the inbuilt MU-MIMO technology.

Among other things, it’s ideal for lag-free online HD video streaming, multiplayer gaming, voice calls, and surfing. In terms of Wi-Fi coverage, it also outperforms Wi-Fi extenders with built-in antennas.

Using the latest Wi-Fi technologies of 802.11ac and n/g/b/a, this Wi-Fi repeater improves the wireless signal of any routers or ISP gateways.

Connect any Wi-Fi devices to the enlarged network, including your smartphone, tablet, iPhone, iPad, TV, game console, PC, MAC, Echo/Alexa devices, and streaming players.

Without modifying any present equipment, you may improve your wireless range 4 times faster than with N300 or nearly 2 times faster than with AC750 with this AC1200 Wi-Fi extender signal booster for the house.

It comes with an Ethernet port to connect your Ethernet-enabled device to Wi-Fi, such as a PlayStation, Xbox, Smart TV, or PC/MAC.

TP-Link AC1900 Wi-Fi Extender (RE550)

RE550 broadcasts Wi-Fi signals in two bands (2.4 and 5 GHz), doubling each band’s performance. Its dual bands of 600 Mbps(2.4 GHz) and 1300 Mbps (5 GHz) let you connect several devices at once.

Three external antennas can be adjusted to provide excellent Wi-Fi coverage and dependable connections.
The device can cover up to 2800 square feet and 35 devices. Its Adaptive Path Selection technology ensures that your network runs at optimal speed by automatically identifying the fastest connection path to the router.

Simply connect an Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port to turn your wired internet connection into a 3×3 MIMO dual-band wireless access point.

To create a Wi-Fi signal mesh, simply connect RE550 to a OneMeshTM router. Using the TP-Link Tether app on your smartphone, set up and control your Wi-Fi, including TP-Link routers and range extenders (Android, iOS). With TP-Link Mesh Technology, creating a Mesh network with a single Wi-Fi name for seamless whole-home coverage is straightforward.

ASUS AC750 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Repeater & Range Extender (RP-AC51)

ASUS RP-AC51 is a Wi-Fi repeater that works with any router to increase range and coverage and eliminate dead zones.

It’s the ideal addition to your existing 802.11ac network, extending Wi-Fi to all corners of your home for all of your devices.

Its dual-band technology enhances Wi-Fi coverage across your home, and two exterior antennas provide fast Wi-Fi coverage in every room.

The extender gives a continuous Wi-Fi signal over a 2000-square-foot area. With an LED indicator, the device suggests the best location for setup.

On the 5GHz band, the new 802.11ac chipset allows for ultra-fast wireless-AC speeds of up to 433Mbps, which is nearly 1.5 times faster than normal Wireless-N!

You may experience ultra-smooth gaming, faster web browsing, and other bandwidth-intensive applications without a wired connection—the WPS buttons on the RP-AC51 and the ASUS extender app help for PC-free and rapid automatic setup.

TP-Link AC1200 Wi-Fi Extender (RE315)

This Extender transmits Wi-Fi signals in dual bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), twice the performance of each band.

Its twin bands of 300 Mbps 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps 5 GHz allow you to connect multiple devices simultaneously.

The extender covers 1500 square feet and supports 25 devices, while Adaptive Approach Selection helps to select the most efficient method to connect to your network.

The RE315 supports the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, which is three times faster than ordinary 802.11n connections and can deliver up to 1200Mbps for workloads like 4K streaming, online gaming, etc.

Because of the intelligent signal indication, determining the ideal location for your RE315 to achieve the best signal strength is straightforward.

You can set up and manage your Wi-Fi network with the TP-Link Tether app on your Android or iOS mobile device and also take control while you’re not at home.

Rock Space -Wi-Fi Extender

With the Rockspace latest version AC2100 Wi-Fi extender, which has a total speed of up to 2100Mbps, you can extend your home Wi-Fi coverage to a broader and more reliable area.

This AC2100 Wi-Fi signal booster may improve the Wi-Fi signal in your bedroom, balcony, study, garden, and other areas, allowing you to access the web uninterrupted.

On the 5GHz frequency, it offers network speeds of up to 2100Mbps, 1734Mbps, and 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.

It allows you to alter the SSID and set it to the same as your home router. It may be used with smart home devices, computers, and smartphones.

The Rock Space AC2100 Wi-Fi signal amplifier, unlike other N300 Wi-Fi range extenders, can concurrently expand 2.4GHz and 5GHz signals.

The AC2100 Wi-Fi signal booster has a Gigabit Ethernet port for more robust connections, such as connecting wired devices such as PCs, game consoles, and televisions. Lossless network speed is provided through the gigabit port.

Final words

The first step in determining whether you require a Wi-Fi extender or a Wi-Fi repeater is to determine what you require.

Is it more important to have a device that can fill in the coverage of a dead Wi-Fi Spot or one that can repeat and strengthen the signal from your primary router?

Wi-Fi Extenders are more dependable than Wi-Fi Repeaters because they create a new wireless access point. Extenders are more difficult to install than Wi-Fi Repeaters.

Repeaters are plug-and-play devices, so you don’t need to be a computer whiz to set them up, whereas Wi-Fi Extenders require technical know-how. Extenders provide a more stable and quicker Internet connection than Repeaters.

How do you know which extender or repeater is ideal for you when there are so many on the market? The answer is straightforward: it depends. When picking the perfect extender or repeater for your needs, consider several aspects, including cost, range, speed, and other characteristics. The ideal extender or repeater for your needs is one that gives you the most bang for your buck.

You may also want to look at these best cell phone signal boosters for home & office.