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

Let’s talk about two crucial technological devices that we use every day: the Wi-Fi  Repeater and the Wi-Fi  Extender.

Wi-Fi is an amazing technology that allows us to connect to the internet from our homes and businesses. However, it can be annoying when the signal is weak, and we don’t have enough internet to do what we want or need to do. A Wi-Fi extender or Wi-Fi repeater can help with this.

Wi-Fi extender and Wi-Fi repeater are phrases used to describe some of the best wireless devices. It’s vital to notice that they have differences despite their similarity in sound.

A Wi-Fi extender extends the range of your present Wi-Fi signal, whereas a Wi-Fi repeater amplifies (boosts) your current Wi-Fi signal to give better coverage. A Wi-Fi  Repeater is a gadget that allows you to extend the range of your existing wireless router’s signal.

A directional antenna and a few additional optional features are used to accomplish this. They can be used to improve your wireless network’s range, speed, and coverage and strengthen security.

In simple words, a Wi-Fi repeater is a device that duplicates the Wi-Fi signal to increase the range of the network, while a Wi-Fi extender is designed to increase or improve Wi-Fi coverage, not to directly increase speed.

Another distinction is that a Wi-Fi Extender can connect to another network and operate as a router. In contrast, a Wi-Fi Repeater can only connect to the router and amplify the signal.

Both are beneficial for expanding a network’s coverage, but a Wi-Fi Extender is more adaptable. A Wi-Fi Extender connects two or more Wi-Fi networks together, allowing them to function as a single network.

Wi-Fi Repeater and Wi-Fi Extender applications

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 Wi-Fi router and broadcast it to the surrounding area. The result is an improved Wi-Fi signal that is stronger and more reliable.  

Extending Wi-Fi signal between floors:

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.

Long-distance and overcoming obstacles:

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

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 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.

Wireless Repeater pros:

• Easy and rapid setup
• Boosts existing Wi-Fi signal to different locations

Wireless Repeater cons:

• Some routers may not be compatible with this device.
• 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.

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.

It works with any wireless router, gateway, or cable modem. The device is protected by WEP and WPA/WPA2 wireless security protocols.

TP-Link AC750 Wi-Fi  Extender (RE220)

TP-Link is a global leader in the Internet of Things solutions, focusing on smart home technology. The RE200 is the newest member of the AC750 family, designed to increase the range of your home Wi-Fi network while minimizing performance impact.

It is a high-powered dual-band Wi-Fi extender that ensures a consistent Wi-Fi connection throughout your home.

It has the highest customer satisfaction rating in this Wi-Fi category.

The RE220 uses 11AC Wi-Fi technology, which is dozens of times faster than prior versions of 802.11.

It connects to any regular Wi-Fi router and produces stronger dual band connections in difficult-to-reach regions, giving you seamless wireless coverage throughout your house or workplace.

The extender uses Adaptive Path Selection technology to dynamically select the optimum backhaul connection between 2.4/5G/5G2 to ensure the best connection between the extender and the router, resulting in improved overall Wi-Fi performance.

It is compatible with both 2.4GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi Routers, Gateways, and Access Points.

Its Ethernet port allows you to connect devices such as a Blu-ray player, game console, or smart TV to your wired Internet connection.

When used in conjunction with the Archer A7 Router, the RE220 extender creates a OneMesh network for smooth roaming.

Linksys RE9000: AC3000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi Extender

Linksys RE9000 is a high-end tri-band Wi-Fi extender that includes a wireless access point and a range extender.

It has four gigabit Ethernet connections and is compatible with any wireless router, allowing you to extend the range of your existing wireless network.

With Tri-Band Technology, an extra 5 GHz Wi-Fi band provides dedicated backhaul for communication between the router and range extender, ensuring full-strength Wi-Fi with no degradation.

Its cutting-edge tri-band technology provides everyone in your household with Wi-Fi speeds for uninterrupted 4K/HD connection, online gaming, and wandering around very instantly, even in hard-to-reach regions like the garage or garden.

Users will also benefit from 3X faster speeds than when using Dual Band range extenders.

Its innovative spot finder technology automatically links to the strongest signal for optimal placement and performance. It works with a variety of routers, including Multi-User MIMO Routers. Its Frequency steering feature moves devices to the least crowded Wi-Fi frequency available.

TP-Link AX1500 Wi-Fi Extender Internet Booster (RE500X)

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 that are specifically intended to remove Wi-Fi dead zones, as well as 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, its HD video streaming is flawless, latency is low for online gaming and VoIP calls, and file downloads are 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.

Tri Five Wi-Fi  Extender Signal Booster

This extender will cover up to 6,000 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 to 1.2 Gbps using twin 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands with an Advanced Central Processor.

With LED light signals, finding the strongest and most dependable signal position is quick and easy.
This extender can handle up to 30 devices, and internet activities such as conferencing, schooling, security cameras, smart speakers, HDTV streaming, and online gaming are all enabled.

It has a two-core central processor that can support up to 50 devices. By employing powerful WEP/WPA/WPA2 security methods, the extender adds an extra layer of security to commercial and personal financial transactions.

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 1000 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 extenders 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 GHz 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)

RE315 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 and 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 and 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.

Conclusion

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 can also look at some of the best Wi-Fi Routers and best mesh Wi-Fi systems.