Working from home by day, gaming and streaming by night? Defeating Wi-Fi dead zones is more important than ever. A mesh network system can help, and these are the best we’ve tested.
Having smooth Wi-Fi is critical for video streaming, gaming, and linking up smart home devices. But with the rise of telecommuting and digital home-based learning, it matters even more that your home network can ace productivity applications and video conferencing, too—upstairs and down. Strong, whole-house wireless coverage is a must, and a solo router may no longer suffice. That’s where getting the best Wi-Fi mesh router system comes in: Kits like these blanket your home in a wide web of Wi-Fi signal, with the help of multiple physical pieces of transmitting hardware. In our tests of today’s best Wi-Fi mesh systems, our top overall pick is the eero Pro 7. We stand behind it and our other recommendations below. All are drawn from reviews backed by our rigorous testing and decades of expertise. Whatever your budget and precise needs, our pick list has a mesh system that’s right for you.Why We Picked It
The eero Pro 7 rounds out the company’s Wi-Fi 7 mesh family, sitting firmly between the entry-level eero 7 and the four-figure eero Max 7. Unlike its little sibling, the eero Pro 7 is a tri-band mesh system that offers 6GHz connectivity and support for 320MHz channels. You’ll have to pay extra for parental control and network security, and you don’t get any USB ports for connecting to external storage devices, but this system supports Thread networking, works as a Matter controller, and has a Zigbee radio for controlling smart home devices such as cameras, door locks, and more. Throw in stellar performance, and you’ve got our top recommendation for mainstream Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems.Who It’s For
Anyone who needs to improve their Wi-Fi coverage: If you’re looking for a whole-home mesh solution that offers impressive Wi-Fi 7 performance and supports the latest home automation tech, look no further than the eero Pro 7.
Smart home enthusiasts: Embedded circuitry offers support for Thread, Matter, and Zigbee wireless technologies that allow the system to serve as a home automation hub. It also supports Alexa voice commands.
People who want a system that looks good and just works: As with all eero systems, the eero Pro 7 uses aesthetically pleasing nodes that are easy to configure and manage.Why We Picked It
At $549.99 for a two-pack, the BE63 is not cheap, but it’s more affordable than many of the Wi-Fi 7 mesh kits we’ve reviewed and an easy Editors‘ Choice winner for the category. It brings the latest 6GHz Wi-Fi 7 technology to your home—every inch of your home—with superb throughput and signal strength. Who It’s For
People who need reliable Wi-Fi throughout their entire home: Strong throughput performance and wide signal coverage are compelling reasons to consider the BE63 mesh kit for your whole-home networking needs.
People who need to connect hard drives or printers: The BE63 is a great choice for connecting hard drives, printers, and other non-Wi-Fi-enabled devices to your network, since it’s one of the few mesh systems that includes USB ports on each node.Why We Picked It
The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh system that delivered speedy throughput scores in testing. It’s a two-piece system that offers plenty of coverage for medium to large homes (up to 5,500 square feet) and can be paired with other Asus devices that support AIMesh technology. It’s a snap to install and manage thanks to a user-friendly mobile app, and it comes with free lifetime parental controls and network security software. Who It’s For
People who need to eliminate dead spots: The Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is a solid choice for anyone looking for an easy way to eliminate wireless dead spots, thanks to its ability to provide secure Wi-Fi 6 coverage to all corners of a home.
Families: Its robust parental controls and anti-malware software make it an ideal choice for families that want to monitor and limit online activities.
People with gigabit internet plans: It’s also a great choice if you plan on making wired connections, as its 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN port allows you to take advantage of high-speed internet plans and provides speedy connectivity to NAS devices.
Budget-minded buyers: At $399 for a two-pack and frequently available on sale, its current pricing is less than it was when we tested it, making it still expensive but potentially more attractive to people who want to maximize their networking budget. Why We Picked It
Amazon’s eero 6+ is more than just a stylish three-piece Wi-Fi 6 mesh system. Sure, it delivers fast wireless throughput and strong signal transmissions in homes of up to 4,500 square feet, but it also has hidden talents. It functions as a home automation hub that controls Zigbee devices such as cameras, smart plugs, and thermostats. And, of course, it works with Alexa voice commands and routines. It does all this for a reasonable price ($239.99 for a two-pack; $299.99 for a three-pack) that is frequently discounted. Who It’s For
Amazon Alexa users: The eero 6+ is a good fit for those who use Amazon Alexa to control their smart home devices, since it has built-in support for the popular voice assistant.
People who like sleek devices that blend in with their decor: It uses sleek, low-profile nodes to bring Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and home automation control to every room in the house.
People who use apps for everything: The eero 6+ comes with a thoughtfully designed mobile app that lets you control everything from your phone, but you’ll need to pay a bit more for an eero Plus subscription to access parental control and network security software.Why We Picked It
As with the eero 6+, the eero Pro 6E delivered fast throughput scores and strong signal strength in our performance tests. Both also offer the ability to control home automation devices and an easy setup procedure. However, in return for a slightly higher price, the eero Pro 6E offers multi-gigabit connectivity and support for Wi-Fi 6E. As more and more compatible client devices become available, this mesh system will enable you to take advantage of the relatively uncrowded 6GHz radio band without missing a beat.Who It’s For
Newbies who need easy setup: If you’re looking for a Wi-Fi 6E-powered mesh system that is easy to set up and manage, the eero Pro 6E is worth considering.
People with congested networks and lots of devices: Like every high-end mesh system should, this eero kit supports 160MHz channel bandwidth for optimal throughput speeds, even during periods of congestion.Why We Picked It
Reasonably priced among mesh systems, the Wyze Wi-Fi 6E Mesh Router Pro delivered speedy 5GHz throughput in testing, is easy to manage, and offers multi-gigabit and USB connectivity.
