Wi-Fi extender or mesh system: Which do you need?

A Wi-Fi extender suits most single-storey homes and apartments where one room has weak signal. A mesh system is a better option if you have dead zones in many rooms.

It also helps in two-story homes. It works well in homes with brick or concrete walls. Not sure what the problem is? Read our guide on how to fix Wi-Fi dead zones and weak signal before buying hardware.

Is mesh Wi-Fi better than extender? Well, if you move around your home during calls or video and your device drops connection when switching networks, mesh is the best fix. If you just need coverage in one room, an extender will do the job at a fraction of the cost.

You should be able to rely on your Wi-Fi plan for the best internet connection. However, sometimes the strength of that connection or the location requires a Wi-Fi booster to get you the right speed.

The best Wi-Fi extenders available in Australia

The products below were assessed based on:

• Wi-Fi generation
• Real-world coverage
• Setup ease
• Availability at major Australian retailers including JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys.

Do Wi-Fi extenders work?

Yes! They're easy to set up, perfect for large homes and they work to extend your Wi-Fi properly. You deserve the best wireless network connection possible. It's easier to do that when you have an extender for the coverage area.

Many people ask themselves: do Wi-Fi extenders reduce speed? Realistically, no, they're going to help you to get the speed that you signed up for instead.

TP-Link AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender (RE605X)

Best for: Homes with Wi-Fi 6 routers wanting to extend coverage without speed loss.

The RE605X supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), handling multiple connected devices more efficiently than older extenders. It rebroadcasts on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands and sets up in around five minutes via the TP-Link Tether app. Average review score: 4.8 out of 5.

TP-Link AX3000 Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender (RE700X)

Best for: Larger homes where the extender needs to cover a significant area from a single unit.

The RE700X delivers up to 3,000Mbps combined across both bands. Particularly useful for households that stream 4K on multiple devices or run a home office with video conferencing. Average review score: 4.8 out of 5.

TP-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE220)

Best for: Budget buyers needing basic coverage extension in a small home or apartment.

At around $30-$40, the RE220 is the most affordable option worth buying. Covers basic browsing and streaming on one screen. Not suitable for gaming or 4K streaming at the extended location. Average review score: 4.5 out of 5.

Netgear PowerLINE Wi-Fi 1000 Range Extender

Best for: Homes where Wi-Fi signals cannot pass through thick walls or floors.

The Netgear PowerLINE uses your home's electrical wiring to carry the signal rather than relying on wireless backhaul. More reliable in homes with reinforced concrete floors where a standard extender loses too much signal. Average review score: 4.4 out of 5.

Mesh Wi-Fi: When an extender is not enough

Several Australian nbn® providers now include mesh router bundles when you sign up for a plan. Tangerine offers a pre-configured mesh bundle that avoids the complicated setup of third-party mesh systems.

Signing up to a new nbn® plan and your home has persistent coverage issues? It may be worth looking at a mesh bundle.

Mesh nodes use a dedicated wireless backhaul to talk to each other. Your devices move smoothly between nodes without dropping the connection. Extenders rebroadcast the same signal, which halves available bandwidth at the extended location.

Does your nbn® plan affect Wi-Fi extender performance?

Your extender can only rebroadcast what your nbn® plan delivers. If your plan is too slow for your household, extending the signal will not fix slow speeds. It will just spread them further around your home.

Before buying an extender, run a speed test at your router. If wired speeds match your plan but Wi-Fi drops away from the router, an extender will help. If speeds are low at the router too, compare nbn® plans at your address first.