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Best Mesh WiFi of 2017 Credit: Reviewed.com / Brendan Nystedt

The Best Mesh Wi-Fi Systems of 2024

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Best Mesh WiFi of 2017 Credit: Reviewed.com / Brendan Nystedt

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Editor's Choice Product image of Google Nest Mesh System
Best Overall

Google Nest Mesh System

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This kit is a breeze to install and provides a stable connection from all distances. It can even view 4K streaming video without glitches. Read More

Pros

  • Simple install
  • Good WiFi speeds
  • Includes Google Assistant voice control on satellite router

Cons

  • No Ethernet ports on satellite routers
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Eero Mesh WiFi System
Best Value

Eero Mesh WiFi System

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One of the first systems on the market, the hassle-free Eero is simple to set up and fast to use. Read More

Pros

  • Small, discrete footprint
  • Simple install

Cons

  • Extra features require a monthly subscription
3
Product image of Linksys MX10 Velop AX

Linksys MX10 Velop AX

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This WiFi 6 system is loaded with extra bandwidth and features and easy to install. Read More

Pros

  • Fast
  • Four gigabit Ethernet ports for connecting non-WiFi devices

Cons

  • Expensive
  • WiFi 6 doesn’t offer many benefits to most users yet
4
Editor's Choice Product image of Eero Pro + 2 Eero Beacons

Eero Pro + 2 Eero Beacons

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The Pro version of the popular mesh system adds support for extra frequency bands, but that doesn’t increase the speed much. Read More

Pros

  • Tri-band support offers more bandwidth for multiple devices
  • Simple install
  • Small beacon devices plug into wall sockets

Cons

  • Not much faster than the standard Eero
5
Product image of TP-Link Deco M9 Plus V1

TP-Link Deco M9 Plus V1

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This is a fast, long-range mesh system, but the design leaves something to be desired. Read More

Pros

  • Speedy
  • Good coverage over the whole test area

Cons

  • Protruding cables ruin the smoke detector-like design
  • Best Overall Google Nest Mesh System
  • Best Value Eero Mesh WiFi System
  • Other Mesh Wi-Fi Systems We Tested
  • How We Test Mesh Wi-Fi Systems
  • What You Should Know About Mesh Routers
  • How to Choose the Best Mesh Wi-Fi
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

Unlike a traditional wireless router that broadcasts a single Wi-Fi signal to your tablet, laptop, or smart home devices, a mesh Wi-Fi router system leverages multiple hardware access points located around your home to ensure complete Wi-Fi coverage. More extensive coverage means fewer Wi-Fi dead spots!

To find the best mesh router system for your home network, we researched and tested the leading products on the market, and discovered the Nest WiFi (available at Amazon for $211.96) is the best mesh Wi-Fi system for your home because it is fast, flexible, and easy to set up in a two-story home. The mesh routers also have a hidden trick up their sleeve: They work as Google Assistant speakers, so they can play music or control your house by voice.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative or want to cover a larger area, we recommend the Amazon Eero Mesh (available at Amazon).

Google Nest WiFi mesh router
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Google's Nest WiFi is the best mesh router system you can buy.

Best Overall
Google Nest Mesh System
  • Frequency Band: Dual-band (2.4GHz, 5.0GHz)
  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Internet speed: Up to 1.2Gbps
  • Security Protocol: WPA2-Enterprise
  • Ports: Two Ethernet (per node)

The Google Nest Wi-Fi system is simple to set up, fast, and easy to use. Although it isn’t quite as fast as the WiFi 6 Linksys Velo AX, it is fast enough for most users, covering our test house in speedy Wi-Fi with Internet download speeds of just over 400Mbps at five feet from the router down to 100Mbps at about 75 feet away.

At all distances, we found that the connection was stable enough to view 4K YouTubestreaming video without glitches.

The system is a breeze to install as it is done through the Google Home app, which comes pre-installed on Android devices. iPhone or iPad users will need to install the app from the App Store.. Android users will need to download the app from the Google Play store.

This fairly inexpensive kit comes with one Wi-Fi router and one mesh point, but extra mesh points can be purchased, and you can install a maximum of five. The Router and mesh points both share the same clean, white design and are about the size of a roll of toilet paper.

The main router includes two ethernet ports hidden underneath the body: one for connecting to your modem and one for connecting a non-Wi-Fi device. The mesh points that spread the base station’s Wi-Fi signal don't include these ports. That said, Nest Wi-Fi has an extra trick up its sleeve: it works as a Google Voice Assistant speaker.

That means you can ask it to do things, such as play tunes from Spotify while you cook, or control smart devices. That could be a pro or a con depending on how you feel about things talking to you: personally, with three meowing cats and a barky dog, I have enough things in my house talking to me without Google joining in.

You should know that thanks to a recent firmware update, this mesh system will also work great with slower internet connections as well.

Pros

  • Simple install

  • Good WiFi speeds

  • Includes Google Assistant voice control on satellite router

Cons

  • No Ethernet ports on satellite routers

$211.96 from Amazon

$99.55 from Walmart
Amazon Eero mesh router
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Amazon's Eero is an affordable, easy to use mesh router system.

Best Value
Eero Mesh WiFi System
  • Frequency Band: Dual-band (2.4GHz, 5.0GHz)
  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Internet speed: Up to 350Mbps
  • Security Protocol: WPA2
  • Ports: Two Ethernet (per node)

The Eero was one of the first mesh Wi-Fi systems, and that long experience shows. The system is simple to install and fast in use. It includes a kit of three mesh devices, each about the size of an egg timer, with two ethernet ports and a power input on the back. One of the ethernet ports is used to connect to your modem, the other can be used to connect a device without Wi-Fi. A single, dim LED on the top of the device shows the status.

Including three devices means that you can cover a slightly larger area than the two device kits: Eero claims it can cover up to about 5000 square feet. That depends on the shape of the house and what it’s made of, but extra mesh devices don't cost too much, so adding more won’t break the bank.

Installing the Eero is a simple process with the Eero app, available for iOS and Android devices. It takes you through a step-by-step process, including testing the spot you put the devices to make sure they can all talk to each other. The app also notifies you if any of the devices go offline or have other issues.

The Eero wasn’t the fastest of the devices we tested, managing a download speed of about 330Mbps within a few feet of the device and about 56Mbps at 75 feet away. That’s still a respectable speed, though, and was fast enough to watch a 4K video without significant glitching.

Pros

  • Small, discrete footprint

  • Simple install

Cons

  • Extra features require a monthly subscription

Buy now at Amazon

$195.49 from Walmart

Other Mesh Wi-Fi Systems We Tested

Product image of Linksys MX10 Velop AX
Linksys MX10 Velop AX
  • Frequency Band: Tri-band (2.4GHz, 5.2GHz, 5.8GHz)
  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
  • Internet speed: Up to 5.3Gbps
  • Security Protocol: WPA2-PSK
  • Ports: Five Ethernet (per node)

The Linksys Velop AX is composed of two Linksys MX10 routers, imposing white towers with a single LED on top. At just under ten inches tall, they look like a pair of cubist sculptures. That might be fine if you live in an art gallery, but it doesn’t blend in well with most home decors, especially with several network cables poking out of the back of the case.

Although they stand out, we found the installation process pretty low-key—just plug one of the routers in and connect to your modem and then, run the Linksys app and step through the install process. The app uses Bluetooth to detect the router, so you don’t even have to enter a long product name or code.

When the second router is ready to go, you just plug it in and run the app again. The process of connecting the two to form the mesh is handled by the app. The two identical routers also offer four-gigabit ethernet ports that can be used to connect non-Wi-Fi devices, even across the mesh network. Connect a non-Wi-Fi device to the second router and it behaves as if it was wired into the network directly.

The same, easy-to-use app allows you to monitor the mesh, prioritize traffic from certain devices, create a separate guest network, and other admin tasks.

The Velop system is fast as well. Close to one of the routers with a Wi-Fi 6-equipped laptop and phone, I measured the speed of the Internet connection at over 350Mbps, and at a very respectable over 100Mbps in my yard and second floor, spots that a single router was previously unable to reach.

That’s a little bit faster than the other routers we tested, thanks to Wi-Fi 6, which increases the maximum speed of the network by squeezing more data into the same radio signals as older types.

You are paying a lot for a little more, though. Its price for a two-router package is more than double the price of our top pick, the Nest Wi-Fi system. But it is fast and easy to use, and the multiple gigabit ports would make it a good pick if you need to connect multiple devices to the network as well, such as desktop PCs.

Pros

  • Fast

  • Four gigabit Ethernet ports for connecting non-WiFi devices

Cons

  • Expensive

  • WiFi 6 doesn’t offer many benefits to most users yet

Buy now at Amazon

$209.99 from Walmart
Product image of Eero Pro + 2 Eero Beacons
Eero Pro + 2 Eero Beacons
  • Frequency Band: Tri-band (eero Pro 2.4GHz, 5.2GHz, 5.8GHz,), Dual-band (Beacons 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz)
  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Internet speed: Up to 350Mbps
  • Security Protocol: WPA2
  • Ports: Two Ethernet (eero Pro only)

The Pro version of the Eero offers all of the features of its cheaper sibling, plus support for the 6GHz Wi-Fi band. That didn’t make much difference in our tests: I found that the speed of the Eero Pro was comparable to the other dual-band devices.

It doesn’t support the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, but it provides a bit more bandwidth if there are a lot of devices in your home, a feature that we didn’t test. The kit that we tested uses one Eero Pro and two Eero beacons, small devices that plug straight into a wall socket.

Installation is simple, using the same Eero app that the model base model Eero uses. This takes you through the step-by-step setup process, including testing the spots you place the devices, to make sure they can all talk to each other and notifying you if any of the devices go offline or have other issues. The app also tries to upsell you on the Eero Secure service.

Although the Eero Pro has all of the good features of the Eero and a few extra bits, it is more expensive. We tested a kit that included three devices: one Eero Pro and two Eero beacons, which costs almost twice as much as Amazon’s base model Eero (our Best Value Pick). The benefits it offers aren’t worth the added expense.

Pros

  • Tri-band support offers more bandwidth for multiple devices

  • Simple install

  • Small beacon devices plug into wall sockets

Cons

  • Not much faster than the standard Eero

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Netgear Orbi Wifi 6 System (RBK852) AX6000
Netgear Orbi Wifi 6 System (RBK852) AX6000
  • Frequency Band: Tri-Band (2.4GHz. 5.2GHz, 5.8GHz)
  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
  • Internet speed: Up to 2.5Gbps
  • Security Protocol: WPA2-PSK
  • Ports: Four Ethernet (per node)

The most expensive mesh router setup we looked at, by far, was the Netgear Orbi RBK852. It’s composed of one router and one satellite device, each of which supports tri-band Wi-Fi and four-gigabit ethernet ports. The router device also includes a 2.5-gigabit ethernet port, so it will work with multi-gigabit Internet connections, as well as four-gigabit ethernet ports.

We tested it with a gigabit connection from Verizon FiOS and found it capable of achieving a top download speed of 436 Mbps close to the router and a very impressive 170Mbps from a distance of 75 feet away. That is significantly faster than the other mesh router systems, especially at a distance.

While it's super-fast and has excellent range, it's unfortunately very expensive. At $699 for the two device setup we tested, it is way more expensive than others. For comparison, you could buy a Google Nest Wi-Fi setup with a maximum of five Wi-Fi points that it supports for the same. There isn’t a way to justify this cost, except perhaps where the market is positioning Wi-Fi 6 systems.

Pros

  • Very fast access across the whole test range

  • Four gigabit ethernet ports for connecting non WiFi devices

  • 2.5Gb connection for very fast Internet access

Cons

  • Expensive

$499.99 from Amazon

$624.99 from Walmart
Product image of Google Wifi (3-Pack)
Google Wifi (3-Pack)
  • Frequency Band: Dual-band (2.4GHz, 5.0GHz)
  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Internet speed: Up to 1.2Gpbs
  • Security Protocol: WPA2
  • Ports: None

The Google Wi-Fi mesh router system has been replaced by Google's Nest Wi-Fi (our current Best Overall winner). However, it can still be found on Amazon as a factory refurb. With its easy setup and respectfully fast data speeds, it's still worth your consideration.

Pros

  • Easy to setup

  • Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports in each node

Cons

  • Discontinued

  • Google's Nest WiFi is a more capable product

Buy now at Amazon

$299.00 from Walmart
Product image of Netgear Orbi WiFi System (RBK50) AC3000
Netgear Orbi WiFi System (RBK50) AC3000
  • Frequency Band: Tri-band (2.4GHz, 5.2GHZ, 5.8GHz)
  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
  • Internet speed: Up to 500Mbps
  • Security Protocol: WPA2-PSK
  • Ports: Four Ethernet (per node)

While the Netgear Orbi Wifi System (RBK50) isn't the most recent or speedy model in Netgear's current hardware lineup, it does offer several interesting features. With each node containing Harmon/Kardon speakers, it can be used to stream audio to any room where a node has been placed—although a mid-range Bluetooth speaker streaming content from your smartphone or computer will likely provide superior audio quality. Setting up the RBK50 is completed entirely using a free iOS/Android companion app.

Pros

  • Easy management via smartphone app

  • built-in speakers for music streaming

Cons

  • Long in the tooth

  • Slower than some more recent products

  • Can't match the sound or utility of a good Bluetooth speaker

Buy now at Amazon

$224.45 from Walmart

How We Test Mesh Wi-Fi Systems

The purpose of a Mesh Wi-Fi network is to extend the coverage of a Wi-Fi network by adding smaller mesh routers. By coordinating with each other, this mesh of routers creates a single network that can cover a larger area than a single one.

We installed each mesh W-Fi system in a typical two-family suburban house with a gigabit internet connection from Verizon Fios in the basement. With a conventional, single Wi-Fi router in the basement, the Wi-Fi never quite worked on the deck at the rear and on the second floor. So, we installed these mesh routers as the manufacturers recommended, putting one in the basement and one on the first floor.

Next, we tested how well the mesh worked by performing speed tests throughout the property. These tests included three Speedtest.net tests and streaming an HD video file. These tests were performed on a Dell XPS 13 laptop and a Samsung Note 10+ smartphone and were repeated in different locations and times to see how well each mesh system worked under stress.

The older products in this guide from our first round of testing were evaluated in a four-story apartment building located in a busy metropolitan area with lots of other business and home wireless networks nearby. Testing was performed on floors one, two, and three. The building is made of stone and plaster and has a lot of metal doors and fixtures—a very challenging Wi-Fi environment.

We used a Spectrum cable broadband connection with a service level of 400Mbps download speed and 20Mbps upload and our tests were monitored on a Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 Laptop/Tablet combo, a Samsung Galaxy S9 phone with the latest version of Android, and an LG smart TV with wireless connectivity.

What You Should Know About Mesh Routers

What is a Mesh Wi-Fi Router?

Mesh routers aren’t that different from traditional routers, and if you have used the Wi-Fi at a coffee shop, airport, school, work, or hotel then you’ve already used one. Basically, instead of having one main router that broadcasts the signal for your entire network, it’s broken up into multiple access points and (with some tri-band mesh routers) multiple bands your devices can all share.

This lets your network broadcast from multiple places, but with a single sign-on and ID. The system (and your devices) then decide which access point is best and shuffles you around accordingly, without you having to do anything. While this may seem more complicated, in practice it’s much easier. Mesh routers usually have simpler screens for setting up your network, companion apps that make your initial installation a breeze, and come pre-paired out of the box.

Mesh systems are superior to Wi-Fi repeaters, which only boost the existing signal. Instead, mesh systems add new signals that spread the bandwidth further than simply boosting it.

Though there are setups where a repeater can do nearly as good of a job as a mesh system (such as if you have a low-speed internet plan or your repeater is wired directly into your router by an ethernet cable), in most cases you’ll be better off with a mesh Wi-Fi system, which can give you the Wi-Fi coverage you need in a system designed to handle it.

Wi-Fi terms

Man reading from a tablet
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

A mesh router system allows you to enjoy the internet, anywhere in your home.

The following terms are important in understanding how to choose the best mesh Wi-Fi systems for your home:

Wi-Fi 6: Released in 2019, this is the most common Wi-Fi standard next to Wi-Fi 5. The new standard increases both the amount of data that can be sent over a Wi-Fi network and the number of devices that can join a network.

The speed is increased to a theoretical maximum of 11 megabits per second (Mbps) from the 3.5Mbps of the older 802.11ac standard that most modern devices use. More devices can also be connected, which makes managing mesh networks that include large numbers of devices easier.

Dual and Tri-Band: All of the Wi-Fi mesh systems that we tested are dual-band, meaning that they support signals in the 2.4Ghz and 5.0GHz signal bands. Some of them, including the Linksys Velop, are tri-band, meaning that they also support additional signal bands in the 5.0GHz range.

That doesn’t mean that you automatically get to use the extra band, though: Most Wi-Fi devices can only use the 2.4 and 5.0GHz bands. Instead, the 5.0GHz signal is used by the mesh routers to talk to each other, so they can share data without using up valuable signal space.

MIMO: Multiple In, Multiple Out. Modern routers use multiple antennas that can send and receive multiple signals at the same time. They can increase the amount of data sent when synchronized.

The amount of antennas and signals that can be sent and received at once is usually described by two numbers, which indicate how many of these synchronized signals they can send and receive.

The Eero Pro, for instance, uses 2x2 MIMO, so it can send and receive 2 signals at once. The latest Wi-Fi 6 routers expand this further with MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multi-In Multi-Out), which allows multiple users to use this technique at the same time.

How to Choose the Best Mesh Wi-Fi

How much coverage does a mesh system offer?

Mesh Wi-Fi systems are ideal for homes that are 2,000 square feet or more, especially multi-level homes. The more routers you have in your system, the larger the area you can cover; Many mesh systems can cover up to 6,000 square feet.

What kind of internet speed do you need?

There is no required internet speed for mesh systems. As long as your internet speed doesn’t exceed the amount of bandwidth your router can handle, you’ll be fine. For instance, if your internet speed is 400Mbps and your router can handle up to 1Gbps, you shouldn’t run into any issues because the router is capable of handling all that throughput.

What generally affects internet speed once the data is flowing into your house is the number of devices connected to and actively using the same network, but a mesh system can help mitigate that.

How many ports do mesh routers have?

This depends on the mesh router or mesh system you are purchasing. Always check a device's specifications list to ensure you are buying one with enough ports for your needs. Having a couple of USB and Ethernet ports is usually more than enough for the average household.

Is It worth getting Wi-Fi 6?

One interesting thing that our tests revealed is that the long-awaited Wi-Fi 6 routers are not much faster than their older cousins. Although manufacturers tout increased speed as a reason to upgrade, we found that the Wi-Fi 6 Netgear Veloop AX10 Wi-Fi router wasn’t significantly faster than the other systems.

It did have a slight edge in our tests at the longest distance between router and device, though: it achieved higher data rates at a distance of about 75 feet from the main router on the edge of the property. The difference wasn’t huge, though, and the connection on the other Wi-Fi mesh routers was still very usable.

At the moment, it seems that Wi-Fi 6 is more about creating a future-proof network than a quantum leap in performance, and it isn’t worth the extra cost for most users.

Meet the testers

Richard Baguley

Richard Baguley

Contributor

@@rbaguley

Richard Baguley is a veteran writer who has written about technology ranging from Alphabet to Zip file utilities. He has contributed to pretty much every major tech publication, including Amiga Format Magazine, PC World, Wired, CNET, Toms Guide, Forbes, and many others. He lives in the Boston metro area with his wife, dog, and an indeterminate number of cats.

See all of Richard Baguley's reviews
Samara Lynn

Samara Lynn

Contributor

Samara Lynn is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

See all of Samara Lynn's reviews

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