The 4 Best Long-Range Wi-Fi Routers - Fall 2024

The AmpliFi Alien is the best long-range Wi-Fi router we've tested. It's a consumer tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router from Ubiquiti, a company primarily dealing in commercial-grade wireless equipment. It has a unique design with a 4.7-inch touchscreen on the front that displays network statistics and lets you adjust settings directly on the router itself. While we tested it as a standalone router, it's designed to be easily expanded into a mesh network with additional units. It's available as a standalone router or in a multi-pack with either another router or the Alien Meshpoint, which is a mesh access point with only one Ethernet port and no external screen.

Performance-wise, the Alien delivers range that's out of this world. Despite testing it in standalone mode, it had better range than most mesh systems we've tested, with speeds averaging ~650Mbps from 40 to 100 feet away, making it an outlier among standalone routers. This means you'll have consistently fast speeds, even if you're far from your router. It uses the AmpliFi app for setup and configuration. It's easy to use and has myriad features, including a guest network, gaming and streaming priority modes, HomeKit compatibility, a VPN service that allows you to connect to your home network while you're away, and more.

That said, this router isn't quite perfect. It's only Wi-Fi 6, so it doesn't have the faster 6GHz band for your newer Wi-Fi 6E and 7 devices to take advantage of. Also, it only has 1Gbps networking ports and lacks USB ports altogether, so your high-speed networking options are limited. If you have Wi-Fi 6E devices already, the eero Pro 6E, our mesh option below, is the better choice. Also, note that buying the AmpliFi directly from AmpliFi's website is significantly cheaper than buying it from retailers like Amazon.

If you need to extend your Wi-Fi coverage across a large area, using a mesh system is one of the most effective ways to do it. The eero Pro 6E is the best long-range mesh Wi-Fi system that we've tested. With tri-band Wi-Fi 6E technology, it provides very good coverage throughout your home. Its compact, modern design blends into any space without drawing much attention to itself, while its mesh capability allows you to expand coverage by adding additional nodes as needed. Whether you're streaming in the living room or working in a far corner of the house, this system delivers great speeds—even for gigabit internet connections.

The eero Pro 6E is designed for simplicity. Setup and network management are handled through the eero app, which provides a user-friendly interface for monitoring connected devices and integrating smart home gadgets. Thanks to its built-in Zigbee hub and support for Thread and Matter, it's also a great option for smart home enthusiasts. However, the app-only management means there's no web interface, and customization is limited. Features like parental controls and advanced security frustratingly require a subscription, which is a pitfall compared to other systems with more included features.

The eero Pro 6E offers the best value when on sale—often priced at $300 or less for a 2-pack. At its full $400 MSRP, TP-Link Deco BE63, a Wi-Fi 7 mesh system, is a better deal. The Deco BE63 delivers faster speeds, especially on the 6GHz band, and is the better option if you're planning to upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 devices in the future.

The TP-Link Deco X5000 is the best long-range router we've tested at a mid-range price point. It has a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh system with surprisingly small access points, making it easy to place discretely in your living space. It offers impressive range and speed, providing strong coverage throughout multi-story homes with speeds reaching up to 800Mbps, making it great for a house full of devices simultaneously streaming content or taking video calls. Its compatibility with other TP-Link Deco models allows for easy expansion if needed.

Setting up this router using the Deco app is straightforward, which makes managing and monitoring your network simple. The app lets you see connected devices and configure settings, ensuring a user-friendly experience. However, the system has only two networking ports, so you may need an external switch for multiple wired devices. Also, it's only Wi-Fi 6, so your devices capable of Wi-Fi 6E or higher can't take advantage of a 6GHz band, which can have significant performance benefits, especially if you live in a congested wireless environment.

Finding a router that can deliver great range on a budget is tricky since it requires more powerful hardware. This is why the TP-Link Archer AX55 is a little more expensive than what we'd typically consider "budget." Still, it's a great dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with a conventional design and a small footprint that won't take up too much space wherever you decide to place it. This router really shines in its range and speed performance. At close range, it can saturate an internet connection up to 750Mbps and maintain consistently fast speeds up to nearly 100 feet away. With speeds like that, it has no problem handling high-speed downloads and multiple users browsing and watching 4k content simultaneously.

While its range is impressive, it's still just a standalone router. If your home is especially large and you can't place the router centrally because of where your internet cable enters the house, don't worry—it's compatible with both OneMesh and EasyMesh, meaning you can create a mesh network with compatible routers and range extenders. Its biggest drawback is that since it's Wi-Fi 6, it doesn't have a 6GHz band, so if you have cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6E or 7 devices, they can't reach their top speeds.