The 7 best WiFi repeaters to increase the Internet signal at home

In today's post we are going to take a look at a topic that I have been wanting to address for a long time: WiFi repeaters. Which repeaters are the best value for money? Are there 5GHz amplifiers? What is a WiFi PLC? Is one of these devices worth buying?

My house is about 100 square meters or so, and the router is placed in a place that makes the WiFi signal reach the living room quite weak. This was a hassle because it prevented me from watching Netflix smoothly, I couldn't play online properly, and many other inconveniences. Something that I was able to solve last year with a WiFi repeater that barely cost me about 25 euros.

The 7 best value-for-money Wi-Fi repeaters of 2019

Be careful, if your house is more or less like mine, you don't need a PLC with WiFi. PLC devices are devices that many people confuse with repeaters, since they essentially do the same thing.: take the Internet to places where the WiFi does not reach with enough intensity. The WiFi PLCs are "little toys" that connect to the router, collect the Internet signal and distribute it through the electrical wiring of the house so that it reaches all the rooms.

PLCs are an excellent tool to extend the signal via cable or WiFi in a more secure way, but they are also considerably more expensive. If our house is not too big, probably with a WiFi repeater we will have more than enough. That said, let's take a look at some of the most prominent signal boosters that we can find on Amazon currently at a good price.

Note: A little further down we will also recommend a PLC or power line current adapter for those who need to cover areas a little more extensive than those of a simple flat or apartment.

TP-Link TL-WA850RE - Wifi network repeater

We start with the TL-WA850RE model from TP-Link. This is the wireless range extender I currently use, and so far I can't fault it. It's really easy to set up (perfect for low-skill users) and works with both WPS and non-WPS routers. The best quality-price WiFi repeater on the market "At least as far as I'm concerned."

• It has an Ethernet port (10 / 100Mbps).
• Transfer speed up to 300Mb per second.
• 2.4G signal.
• Signal quality LED indicator.
• Easy to configure.
• WiFi repeater awarded with the “Amazon’s Choice” seal.

Approximate price *: € 19.18 (see in Amazon)

TP-Link TL-WA860RE

A signal amplifier practically identical to the one we have just discussed. It is very similar in terms of specifications, but it has a couple of advantages. On the one hand, it has 2 antennas to improve coverage. On the other, it has an integrated plug to continue taking advantage of the outlet where we install the device. It is slightly more expensive, but it is completely justified. Currently, the best-selling WiFi range extender on Amazon.

• It has an Ethernet port (10 / 100Mbps).
• 2 antennas to improve the quality of the WiFi signal.
• Transfer speed up to 300Mb per second.
• Integrated power socket.
• 2.4G signal.
• Signal quality LED indicator.
• Easy to configure.
• Includes AP (Access Point) mode.

Approximate price *: € 24.99 (see in Amazon)

COMFAST 300Mbps WiFi Amplifier

Although TP-Link dominates this small sector with an iron fist, there are also alternatives. One of the best valued on Amazon is the COMFAST proposal, a WiFi extender with a double outdoor antenna. Comes with 3 configuration modes: AP, router and repeater. It is available in black, and has a really attractive value for money.

• 802.11b / g / n WiFi
• 2.4G signal.
• 300Mbps connection speed.
• Compatible with any router (WPS or without WPS).
• 3 modes: AP, repeater mode and router mode.
• Ethernet LAN port.

Approximate price *: € 23.99 (see in Amazon)

TP-Link AC 5G WiFi Repeater

This other repeater is a notch above previous TP-Link devices. In this case we have a dual band extender (2.4G / 5G), it has 3 external antennas for better coverage, WiFi AC and a maximum speed of 1750Mbps via Ethernet.

• Compatible with the wireless standard 802.11.ac.
• Speeds of 450Mbps in 2.4G and 1300Mbps in 5G.
• Ethernet port for wired connection.
• Compatible with any router (WPS or without WPS).
• Signal LED indicator.
• AP (wireless access point) mode.

Approximate price *: € 64.95 (see in Amazon)

PIX-LINK WiFi Amplifier

One of the most complete WiFI repeaters that we can find on Amazon today. It costs around 20 euros and has a good set of functionalities. 4 antennas, 2 input ports (WAN / LAN) and up to 5 modes of use.

• 2.4GHz connection with speeds of up to 300Mbps.
• 4 external antennas for greater coverage.
• 5 modes of use: router, client mode, repeater mode, Access Point mode and WISP mode.
• It has 2 WAN / LAN ports.

Approximate price *: € 22.98 (see in Amazon)

Tenda NOVA MW3

This is a device a little different from the rest of the WiFi repeaters. These are 3 small adapters that connect to the power outlet and offer coverage for 300 meters. Easy to install (Plug & Play), with 2 Ethernet ports, WiFi AC and 2.4GHz and 5GHz dual band.

• Includes 3 adapters.
• 5 GHz: speeds up to 867 Mbps.
• 4GHz: up to 300Mbps.
• Supports 802.11v / r.
• MU-MIMO technology (up to 40 devices connected simultaneously).

Approximate price *: € 99.00 (see in Amazon)

Aigital WiFi Network Extender

The last network extender on the list comes from the manufacturer Aigital. It is a device that stands out for its good reviews on Amazon, and basically, because It is a little cheaper than the rest of the WiFi repeaters on the market. A signal amplifier that works at 300Mbps in 2.4GHz and with specifications very similar to the cheaper TP-Link models.

• 2 external antennas.
• 802.11b / g / n WiFi
• 300Mbps wireless speed in 2.4G band.
• 2 LAN / WAN ports.
• Connection LED indicators.
• Support for Access Point mode.

Approximate price *: € 20.99 (see in Amazon)

Other alternatives: WiFi PLC adapters with power line coverage

If we want to extend the signal and with a repeater we don't have enough, we can opt for a PLC. These devices transmit the signal through the electrical installation, something that can come in handy if we live in a house with several floors or the walls are very thick.

TP-Link TL-WPA4220 KIT

This is a kit of 2 adapters that offers optimal coverage up to 300 meters of line. We only have to connect one of the adapters to the router, and the other to any other electrical outlet in the house. It offers speeds of 600Mbps for cable connections and 300Mbps if we connect through WiFi.

• AV 600Mbps + 300Mbps WiFi.
• Easy setup (Plug & Play).
• Adapter with 2 Ethernet ports.
• 128-bit AES encryption.

Approximate price *: € 49.94 (see in Amazon)

TP-Link TL-WPA8630P KIT

A kit made up of 2 adapters, but in this case, much more powerful. Each device includes a plug to continue taking advantage of the power outlet. A PLC with a 5G WiFi connection that can reach up to 1300Mbps.

• AV 1300Mbps + 1300Mbps WiFi.
• 2 × 2 MIMO with Beamforming.
• Plug & Play configuration with WiFi clone.
• 4 GHz with transfer speeds of 450 Mbps.
• GHz with speeds of 867 Mbps up to 1300 Mbps.

Approximate price *: € 110.41 (see in Amazon)

Note: The approximate price is the price available at the time of writing this post in the corresponding online stores, in this case, Amazon Spain.