Get Rid Of Your Home's Dead Spots For Good With These Mesh Wi-Fi Systems

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To stream 4K video smoothly or play the latest online games without interruptions, a single router won't cut it—especially in a household where multiple devices simultaneously demand network activities like these. What you need is a mesh Wi-Fi system.

This arrangement consists of a base router with multiple satellites placed throughout your home. Each hub outputs strong wireless signals overlapping to form a seamless network. This also maximizes coverage and speed performance by directing connected gadgets to the closest node to avoid congestion. Whether you're on the hunt for something compact and attractive for your apartment or have a multilevel house that requires more expansive coverage, here are the best mesh Wi-Fi systems we tested and recommend.

Best Mesh Wi-Fi Systems

• Best Overall: Eero 6+ Dual-Band Mesh Wi-Fi System

• Best Performance: Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E

• Best Wi-Fi 6 System: Asus Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System

• Best Value: Google Nest Wi-Fi Mesh Router (3-Pack)

• Best Mid-Price: Netgear Orbi Mesh Wi-Fi System

What to Consider

Ditch the Wi-Fi Extender

While extending your existing router’s coverage with a Wi-Fi extender is possible, this works by repeating signals which jams up the network, lowers speeds, and leave gaps in service. There are several benefits to upgrading to a mesh network if you’re eking by with a single-router setup. Mesh nodes fully blanket your home. You can expect the same fast speeds throughout your property—be it the corner of that upstairs bedroom or your office on the far side of the house. And with equal bandwidth distribution, you can reduce network outages and choppy performance.

Check Your Internet Speeds

Before deciding on a mesh Wi-Fi system, you should take your internet plan’s speeds into account. While a pricey top performer may reach gigabit speeds, that doesn’t matter much for homes whose speeds are capped below 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps), which cannot take advantage of it. If you have a gigabit plan, you’ll want a higher-end network rated for theoretical bandwidth speeds of AC2300 or above. For homes with speeds of 500 Mbps or less, you can look at systems as low as AC1200. These still push those smaller plans to the limit without being overkill.

Location

Placement is king when it comes to the performance of mesh Wi-Fi systems. If possible, keep your hubs high in an open area with less than two walls between each node. Confined spaces are a no-go, as they further block signals that must be powerful enough to reach through walls and ceilings. Speaking of added resistance, keep your nodes away from electronics, as even appliances like fridges and microwaves can create substantial interference.

Other influencing factors may include whether you’re tied to a particular smart-home ecosystem and if your setup requires multiple ethernet ports. Remember that your internet service and the age of your devices can also factor into which system works best for you—particularly if you’re looking at ones with next-gen Wi-Fi 6E technology.

How We Selected and Tested

We called in the most promising mesh Wi-Fi systems based on prior experience testing older devices in their lineup, customer reviews (verified by Fakespot), and their speed ratings. Once our units arrived, we tested each system in a multi-level 1,400-square-foot home. This consisted of a third-floor loft (where we put the modem and base router), a second-story living room (the location of the second satellite), and a ground-level garage just below the secondary node separated by multiple walls and subflooring. To ensure each system was tested under equal conditions, we set down floor markers for our tester to stand on while gathering speed readings from the same distance. We also placed each system's main router and satellite in the same spot.

To get a realistic baseline of speeds while in use, we measured while simultaneously streaming a 4K movie to a 65-inch TV and running a Microsoft Teams video call on a laptop. We used Ooklas SpeedTest app for iPhone to measure the average network download and upload speeds in Mbps across three marked points on each level. Lastly, we tested range performance by standing at an outdoor marker 150 feet away from the home to check for signal strength and speeds.

In addition to combing through customer reviews, we consulted expert sources and publications. When making our selections, we considered everything from price to speed, ease of setup, app user experience, and design. We also looked at the most notable features across the board, including the number of ethernet ports and square footage of coverage.

6+ Dual-Band Mesh Wi-Fi System

The Eero 6+ operates on the Wi-Fi 6 standard to simultaneously handle the increased bandwidth needs of multiple connected devices. Amazon weaved Thread and Zigbee mesh protocols into each Eero unit to serve as a hub for controlling smart-home gadgets.

We found that Eero’s app’s slick visual-heavy interface offered the most significant amount of control, with advanced features like blocking ads or even specific apps. On top of that, it provides Amazon Alexa support so that you can use voice controls.

We didn’t experience a single drop in speed or bandwidth throughout a week of use. The base and one satellite cover up to 3,000 square feet. They did exceptionally well juggling dozens of Wi-Fi smart-home devices like cameras, smart plugs, and light bulbs while meeting the demanding needs of online gaming and streaming. The 6+ topped out at a maximum speed of 700 Mbps.

Though this mesh Wi-Fi system casts a far signal, the Wi-Fi speed slowed to just 51 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads during our range test. While that’s more than capable of streaming video on an outdoor TV in your backyard, multiple devices at this range would likely find the Wi-Fi strained fast.

Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E

Google’s Nest Wi-Fi Pro performed the best of the mesh Wi-Fi systems we tested. This tri-band model consistently hit the highest speeds across each floor and from a distance. If you have a gigabit network plan, this is the best option to make the most of it.

After you plug the Nest Wi-Fi Pro into your modem, it instantly pops up on the Google Home app. With a click, you give the system a network name and password for a fast setup that takes under 3 minutes. Managing the router is straightforward; there are no sub-menus to get lost in, and you control the system via toggle switches, which can activate a setting like pausing Wi-Fi or prioritizing higher bandwidth gadgets for streaming or gaming.

There’s not as much depth as the Eero offers, like blocking specific apps or ads, but Google’s UI cuts the bloat to serve as the most organized interface we used.

Unlike the compact Eero 6+ pucks above, the Nest Wi-Fi Pro nodes are large and glossy capsules. These dimensions are necessary to house the more powerful antennas, which provide up to 2,200 square feet of coverage per node. While standing on the same floor as the base router, we saw download speeds of 803 Mbps.

The Nest’s powerful signal strength blankets huge spaces—perfect if you want to extend Wi-Fi to a finished basement or backyard, as you likely won’t have to buy an additional node for these areas.

Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System

If you haven't already taken the Wi-Fi 6 plunge (and don't have a Google smart home), your best bet for a mesh Wi-Fi system is the Asus ZenWifi AX. It delivers an excellent lineup of features and offers serious value for the price.

With up to 5,000 square feet of coverage, the two-device, tri-band system is warp-speed fast and supports the most advanced encryption technology. Another standout feature is the ability to customize the backchannel and control the network via its app. It also has three-gigabit ethernet ports and setup is a snap.

Nest WiFi Mesh Router (3-Pack)

Google Nest strikes the perfect balance between form, function—and price point. Its clean design and inconspicuous size, matched with top-notch performance and versatility, make it a mesh Wi-Fi system that’s tough to beat.

It’s lauded for its ultra-easy setup, plus it’s a great choice whether you live in a one-bedroom apartment or a sprawling, multilevel house. The router provides 2,200 square feet of coverage, and if you suddenly find yourself in more spacious digs, each “point” adds an extra 1,600 square feet, potentially totaling up to 5,400 square feet of stellar signal strength.

If you already have a Google smart home ecosystem and want to spend less than the Nest Pro, this mesh Wi-Fi system is the way to go: It can be used as smart speakers to access Google Assistant and for music if paired with an app.

Orbi Mesh Wi-Fi System

Netgear is a brand name that’s practically synonymous with routers, with more than 20 years under its belt producing innovative networking products. This mesh Wi-Fi system offers great overall range and speed, and superb streaming capabilities for fast, hiccup-free Wi-Fi.

Orbi has four gigabit ethernet ports (more than most), supports Alexa, and gets high marks for easy setup and installation. The two-pack offers coverage for up to 5,000 square feet; for larger spaces, a third satellite gets you an additional 2,500 square feet. The color-changing rings on top indicate signal strength, which is an excellent design feature.

While it’s a powerful mesh system and hard to find fault with its performance, its size may be a drawback for some. The towers are nearly nine inches high—fine if you plan to stash it on a media center shelf, but tricky to hide on a desk or side table.

Orbi Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System

For the fastest mesh Wi-Fi system out there, all eyes are on the Netgear Orbi AX6000—but brace yourself for sticker shock, as its price point hovers around $600.

With speed that tops every competitor, the tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system has a supercharged signal to penetrate multiple floors and effectively service homes with complex configurations. The security is impressive, too: It comes with built-in malware protection and uses touch ID and two-factor authentication.

The set includes a router and satellite, giving you roughly 5,000 square feet of coverage. It’s available in three- and four-packs for larger homes that cover 7,500 and 10,000 square feet, respectively.

Like earlier models, the main drawback is its size. It’s pretty massive compared to other mesh Wi-Fi systems.

Deco S4 Mesh Wi-Fi System (3-Pack)

The Deco mesh network, which covers up to 5,500 square feet, guarantees no dead zones. For further convenience, this system lets you use a single network name and password, no matter how many networks are paired.

It’s a fantastic value for the price and checks boxes across the board: Range, speed, built-in malware safeguards, and solid parental controls are all part of the mesh package. Plus, it’s a snap to set up and has a user-friendly, intuitive control panel.

With fast AC1200 connectivity, your devices automatically switch between Decos as you move around. It's easy to control with Alexa, and parents appreciate that they can control a network profile for each child.

Mesh Wi-Fi System (3-Pack)

TCL’s three-node system is surprisingly robust for just north of $60. Its interior living space speeds adapt to keep up with much pricier routers. There are some minor sacrifices, such as the nodes’ large plasticky bodies, which feel a bit cheap. And there’s limited range outside of the home. But overall this offers the best bang for your buck in smaller properties or those with internet plan speeds of 500 Mbps or slower.

Setting up each device takes just one small extra step of connecting directly to the node’s own Wi-Fi network (a name and password is printed on the bottom of each one). Once connected, you open up TCL’s Wi-Fi app and assign your network a name and password. This software is bare bones—not great for those who extensively tweak settings but perfect if you want a quick overview of your system status or to quickly enable a guest network or prioritize traffic. It has just two tabs: a “My Wi-Fi” area where you see your network and nodes locations with signal health along with a list of connected devices, and “Settings” for self maintenance, reboots, guest networks, and parental controls.

Throughout the week, the system experienced two drops, but neither was during prime networking hours. Our speed test on the same floor as the base node showed it put out 401 Mbps down, 317 Mbps on the nodes below, and just 79 Mbps down in the ground floor garage. That’s pretty good considering the rapid speeds held up during multi-tasking. Despite having the extra third node (lacking from both options above), TCL’s range is limited. Its signal struggles to penetrate through walls as effectively. While we still picked up a connection during the range test, its download speeds were just 19 Mbps with just two out of three Wi-Fi strength bars showing on our test iPhone.

If you live in an apartment or sub-2,000-square-foot home, this is a great option that won’t break the bank. You’ll get fast and reliable speeds. But if you want a router with extensive customization and features, spend a bit more.

Velop Home Mesh Wi-Fi System (3-Pack)

The Linksys Velop mesh Wi-Fi system consists of high-performance mesh nodes and a compact footprint, though they are quite tall. This set can cover up to 5,000 square feet with high-quality wifi.

Each Linksys Velop node packs tri-band and dual-band Wi-Fi technology. Setting up the Velop Wi-Fi system requires a simple app for iOS and Android. It allows you to adjust your router's settings, monitor your network, set parental controls, and test its speed.

Overall, the Linksys Velop is widely considered one of the best mesh Wi-Fi options. It's slightly pricier than some competitors, but it's well worth it if you're looking for the ultimate performance.

Dual-Band Mesh Wi-Fi System

The AmpliFi HD mesh Wi-Fi system consists of a cube-shaped main router and plug-and-play mesh points, which require a power outlet. The router has a built-in touchscreen that can display essential network performance data, or simply act as a cool digital clock.

Setting up the AmpliFi HD requires a smartphone app, which allows you to monitor all activity on your network, tweak the settings of the Wi-Fi system and update it, and set parental controls on network-connected devices of your choosing.

A complete AmpliFi HD system can cover an area of up to 20,000 square feet — that's significantly more than any of its competitors. For smaller homes and apartments, a sole router should be more than sufficient.

Key specs of the AmpliFi HD router include dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 ac and 3 x 3 MIMO support, a quartet of Ethernet connectors, and a USB port. Lack of ports in the mesh points is something to consider when you shop for a full AmpliFi system. For the time being, it also lacks smart home integration.

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