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 ~650 Mbps 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 1 Gbps 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 it directly from AmpliFi's website is significantly cheaper than buying it from retailers like Amazon.

One of the best ways to improve the overall range of your Wi-Fi network is to use a mesh system with multiple access points, and the best long-range mesh Wi-Fi system we've tested is the eero Pro 6E. It's a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router with a sleek design and a conveniently small footprint, so it won't clash with the decor in your living space. Performance-wise, it has great range, and since it's designed to be easily expandable, you can buy additional units for an even better range. It also delivers impressive speeds that can take advantage of a gigabit internet connection no matter where you are in your home, making it a great pick if you're downloading lots of large files in an office far from where your internet cable comes into your house.

Another strong suit of eero routers is their ease of use. The eero app lets you get your network up and running very quickly. You can configure and monitor your network, see how many devices are connected, and even manage smart home devices since it has a built-in Zigbee hub and supports Thread and Matter. However, the lack of a web interface means you have to do all network management and settings via the app, which has limited customization options. Many features included on other routers, such as parental controls, data monitoring, content filtering, and advanced security, are locked behind a frustrating monthly subscription.

The TP-Link Deco X5000 is the best long-range router we've tested at a mid-range price point. It's 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 800 Mbps, 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 750 Mbps 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.