Mesh routers promise dependable Wi-Fi throughout your home, and most follow through, but finding the best mesh router for the job can be tricky. Instead of a single router to wash your home in Wi-Fi connectivity, a mesh system combines the main router with one or more nodes that appear as a unified Wi-Fi network. Your devices will automatically connect to the nearest option for the best speeds.
Most of us are stuck with placing our router in a less-than-optimal spot, depending on where the internet connection comes into our home. You can extend Wi-Fi coverage by placing a second or third node where needed. Whether you want to fix dead zones, deliver a stronger signal into the back bedroom, or have great Wi-Fi in the backyard, a mesh system could be the answer. The Asus ZenWiFi XT8 is our top pick for most people, but I have many alternatives to suit different homes and internet connections.
Before you dive into our lineup, it’s a good idea to consider whether a mesh system is right for you. Our guide on how to choose a router will help you answer that question and figure out what features you need. If you don’t want to switch to a new system, I also have advice on upgrading your existing Wi-Fi and, as always, ways to secure it and protect your home network.
Updated April 2025: We’ve added some details to our top pick, changed our recommended Eero system, and added the Eero 7. We’ve also added the Asus ZenWifi BT8 mesh and an Avoid section with a few entries, including the Acer Predator Connect T7.
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Things to Consider When Shopping for a Mesh System
Here are a few points to keep in mind when you are buying a new mesh Wi-Fi system.
Wi-Fi standards: Many devices support Wi-Fi 6E now. (Many of the best laptops and phones do, and it’s only growing more common.) Support for Wi-Fi 7 is also growing (the iPhone 16 range supports it). All the mesh routers I recommend as main picks support at least Wi-Fi 6, and they are backward compatible with older Wi-Fi standards. If you have a lot of new devices, consider Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7. Our router shopping guide goes into more depth.
Internet speeds: There are many ways to upgrade your Wi-Fi, but your internet speed is limited by your internet service provider (ISP). If the maximum speed of data coming to your modem is 100 Mbps, that’s the fastest possible connection that any router can provide.
Bands: The top speed that router manufacturers claim on the box is all of the bands added together, which is disingenuous since you will only ever connect to one band at a time.
Coverage: While it’s good to have an idea of a router’s coverage and speed, understand that your mileage may vary. The construction materials in your house, your neighbors’ proximity and Wi-Fi networks, the devices you have with wireless connectivity, and the position of routers and nodes in your home are just some of the factors that can impact the performance of your Wi-Fi.
Backhaul: Backhaul channels are reserved for one mesh router or node to talk to another. It’s common for mesh routers to have a fast backhaul channel, enabling the main router to provide speeds as close to your full internet speed as possible to any node. This is also important for local network speed and may impact the performance of network-attached storage (NAS) systems, remote console play, and how quickly you can copy a file from one wireless device on your network to another.
QoS: Quality of Service, allows you to prioritize specific activities and their related apps. You can use it to ensure gaming, streaming, or video calls take precedence, which can be very handy in any household with limited bandwidth.
Ports: Ports and cables can help establish more stable connections. They may be essential if you have smart home hubs for lights and security cameras or network-attached storage that needs to plug into your main router. But they can also be useful on nodes to plug in streaming devices or game consoles and get the full benefit of any dedicated backhaul channel speeds your chosen system might offer.
Mesh vs. router: Although mesh systems are tempting, many homes will be better served by a single, well-placed Wi-Fi router. Check out the Best Wi-Fi Routers for options. Some of the routers I tested in my two-floor 1,600-square-foot home performed just as well or better than mesh systems.
Security: Most routers come with optional subscriptions for security, parental controls, and sometimes other extras like VPN service. You don’t need these subscriptions, but they can be handy and provide peace of mind. Just make sure you factor in the cost or opt for a system from a manufacturer like Asus, which offers them for free.
Wait for sales: Mesh systems tend to be very expensive when first released and are often buggy. By waiting a few months, you can expect deep discounts (50 percent is not unusual) and firmware updates that ensure more stable performance. I am considering revising review scores based on initial pricing and performance for mesh systems that are now more affordable and stable, but I will always add a note to indicate when I have done this.
To test these mesh systems, I use each one for at least a week (usually longer) in a busy family home of four with lots of video streaming, gaming, and video calls. I run speed tests (downloads and uploads). I transfer files on the network on multiple devices (including iPhones, Android phones, Windows PCs, and MacBooks) from different spots around my home, including files from devices connected to the main router to devices connected to nodes. I use NetSpot to survey signal strength throughout the house and create heat maps for comparison. I run the TamoSoft Throughput Test, and I turn the power and modem off and on to find out how each system recovers. I also test the mobile apps and web interfaces to see how easy it is to change settings, set up parental controls, and access security features.
Best Mesh Router Overall
The combination of speedy performance, impressive range, and lots of extra features earns the Asus ZenWiFi XT8 the top spot as the best mesh Wi-Fi system. (Even if it’s a bit of a mouthful.) I tested the two-pack, and the straightforward setup through the mobile app took minutes, though you have to keep the node close by during setup and then move it. This is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system with one 2.4-GHz band and two 5-GHz bands (one is reserved for wireless backhaul). Available in black or white, these units are fairly large, but they’re unobtrusive and look classy, with side vents to help dissipate heat. Each router offers three gigabit Ethernet ports, which is generous, as well as a 2.5 gigabit WAN port and a USB 3.1 port.
At short, medium, or long range, the XT8 was consistently one of the fastest systems I tested, and speeds never dropped. The inclusion of AiProtection Pro, which adds anti-malware and parental controls powered by Trend Micro, is very welcome, especially since it doesn’t require a subscription, unlike most competitors. Just remember that using AiProtection means sharing your data with Trend Micro, so you might want to read its privacy policy. I like the parental controls, too. You can set up and reuse profiles, schedule bedtimes, filter by age group, and review activity. The Quality of Service (QoS) option lets you prioritize activities like working from home, gaming, or streaming, and you can limit bandwidth for specific devices.
The mobile app has a wealth of options, and the web interface is even more in-depth. It’s easy to split bands or set up a guest network. I also found that the app recognized most devices correctly. (Sometimes it’s difficult to identify devices from the attributed hardware names in router apps.) There’s support for AiMesh, which means you can easily add other Asus routers to expand your Wi-Fi system. The dedicated backhaul channel—the way the router speaks to its nodes and vice versa—is extremely fast, ensuring you get the full speed of your internet connection even from that node you placed near the backyard.
The major caveat with this mesh is that it can take some tinkering to get it working well for your home. If a failed firmware update is your idea of hell or you can’t face trial and error with settings, pick one of the systems below. My XT8 node initially refused to update its firmware, which took a couple of attempts to fix. I also had an issue with my Sonos speakers disappearing, which required a factory reset. Overall, using the XT8 has been a smooth experience. With a little patience and research, it’s easy for just about anyone to operate, but the depth of options will satisfy power users. You can find open source firmware if you want to go down the rabbit hole.
I also tested the slightly upgraded version of this mesh, the Asus ZenWiFi XT9 ($285). It appears identical but offers a few upgrades beneath the hood. Firstly, the 5-GHz band you can connect to has a 160-MHz channel width (theoretically double the XT8’s bandwidth), the processor is slightly more powerful, and there’s support for link aggregation. On the downside, just like with the XT8, I had some teething troubles with the XT9 that required a firmware upgrade and some tweaks to the settings. It’s slightly better than the XT8, so if you see it at a similar price, I would go for the XT9 instead.
Best Budget Mesh Router
Note: The US government is reportedly mulling a TP-Link router ban after reports that vulnerabilities in the Chinese firm’s routers were exploited in high-profile attacks linked to the Chinese government. According to The Wall Street Journal, the US Commerce, Defense, and Justice departments are investigating TP-Link, though no evidence of any deliberate wrongdoing has yet emerged. TP-Link president Jeff Barney told WIRED the company is cooperating with the investigation, has a transparent supply chain with manufacturing in Vietnam, not China, and is now headquartered in California, having split from TP-Link Technologies, which focuses on mainland China. TP-Link is not the only brand targeted by malicious actors; Cisco and Netgear devices have also been infected in suspected Chinese state-sponsored attacks. I’ll monitor this situation as it develops before deciding whether I need to reconsider recommendations.
The Deco X20 is an affordable Wi-Fi 6 mesh that delivers decent coverage and performance, with optional parental controls and antivirus protection, making it ideal for an average family home. I tested the three-pack, and it was very easy to set ’em all up. The three routers are small and sport a cylinder design that blends in well. This is a dual-band system (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). There are two gigabit Ethernet ports on each router.
Coverage and speeds are OK, falling well short of the Asus XT8 but beating systems like the entry-level Eero 6. The app is straightforward, and it’s easy to set up a guest network. Originally released with the free HomeCare software, this has since changed to a HomeShield system, and TP-Link has updated its HomeShield and parental control subscriptions. You get basic network security (router scan, guest network, QoS) and parental controls (create profiles, pause internet, block, and filter) included for free, but everything else requires a subscription.
HomeShield Security+ costs $5 a month or $36 a year and adds web and intrusion protection with notifications and reports. Total Security costs $70 a year and adds antivirus for devices, VPN service, and a password manager. Advanced Parental Controls costs $3 a month or $18 a year and adds time limits, downtime scheduling, rewards, app time limits, safe search, insights, and reports. While this granularity enables you to pick and choose what you need, it might be confusing for some, and I’m not keen on subscription creep. That said, most families will likely want the Security+ and Advanced Parental Controls, which will come in at $54 for the year ($1 cheaper than the HomeShield Pro it replaces).
The Quality of Service feature lets you prioritize activities like gaming or streaming, or set priority devices. Importantly, you can split the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands to show as two separate Wi-Fi networks. This is handy, as some smart home devices only operate on the former band. Similarly, there’s a mixed mode for WPA2 and WPA3 security. Some devices don’t work with the newer WPA3 standard, and some routers force you to choose one or the other, which can lead to issues. This mode ensures all your gadgets are on a compatible standard.
The web interface is basic and doesn’t add much, so I preferred using the easy-to-use app. However, it’s a little slow to update, and settings are limited. It didn’t recognize many devices and listed obscure hardware manufacturer names, making it tough to know which devices to add to my kid’s profiles.
It wasn’t the speediest performer, but this system is fast and dependable enough for the average home. If you have a connection that’s 500 Mbps or better, it might be worth upgrading to the Deco X55 or Deco X60.
Best for Simplicity
Amazon’s Eero mesh systems are some of the easiest to set up, offer fairly wide coverage, and deliver stable connectivity. The Eero Pro 6E (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is an elegant system, available as two or three identical routers. The Eeros blend in easily on a table or shelf, sport a USB-C port for power, and two Ethernet ports rated at 2.5 Gbps and 1 Gbps. This tri-band system supports Wi-Fi 6E, offering the 6-GHz band alongside 2.4- and 5-GHz, and is designed to be a hands-off, set-and-forget mesh system.
The Eero Pro 6E was impressively fast in my tests; there were no drops, and it proved adept at sharing bandwidth. The mobile app is straightforward, giving you an overview of connected devices with the option to pause the internet and set up a guest network. I could also create profiles, group devices, set schedules, and fix bedtimes. Unfortunately, content filtering, other parental controls, advanced security, ad blocking, and activity insights require an Eero Plus subscription at $10 per month or $100 per year.
Eero is an Amazon company, and its routers come with Alexa support. Enable the Eero skill, and you can pause the internet with a voice command through your Echo device, which is handy when your child won’t get off the computer to eat dinner. The Eero Pro 6E supports Matter and Thread and can pull double duty as a ZigBee smart-home hub in the same way Echo devices can, allowing you to directly connect some smart lighting, smart locks, and other ZigBee devices.
Two other tricks make Eero systems attractive. An Echo (4th Gen), Echo Dot (4th or 5th Gen), or Echo Dot with clock (4th or 5th Gen) smart speaker can act as a Wi-Fi extender, offering an extra 1,000 square feet of coverage at speeds up to 100 Mbps for up to 10 devices. Eero also offers an Internet Backup option, so you can add multiple backup networks (Wi-Fi or hotspot) to keep you online if your main wired network goes down.
Eero’s simplicity will appeal to anyone who hates digging into settings, but there’s a cost. You won’t find any Quality of Service features for prioritizing activities, and you can’t separate bands. One final con with basic Eero systems is comparatively slow transfer speeds, though this was not an issue for the Pro 6E and other higher-end systems I tested.
A few Eero systems on the market are worth considering, offering a broadly similar experience. The first two are dual-band systems (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). Although the basic Eero 6 ($200) was one of the slower systems I tested, particularly at longer distances, it’s likely enough for folks with internet connections up to 500 Mbps and modest needs. If you have a faster connection, up to 1 Gbps, and your home is smaller than 4,500 square feet, then the Eero 6+ ($300) might suit.
If you want a Wi-Fi 7 system and have a small home or limited demand, consider the Eero 7 ($350). It’s another dual-band system, so you don’t get the faster 6-GHz band, but you get the other advantages of Wi-Fi 7, including MLO and enhanced security. The Eero 7 performed respectably in my tests, with solid 2.4- and 5-GHz band speeds, but range and throughput are limited, meaning it won’t be a good pick for everyone. It has a 2.5 Gbps port, but I’d pick something else if your connection is faster than 1 Gbps. The Eero 7 only did slightly better than the 6+ and was significantly outperformed by the Pro 6E. Considering that a three-pack of the Pro 6E frequently drops to $400, it’s a better buy.
Anyone with larger properties or above-average demands (lots of devices and people simultaneously using the internet) might consider the Eero Pro 7 ($700)—I’ll be testing it next. Or the top-of-the-line Eero Max 7 ($1,360) (7/10, WIRED Review), which boasts four Ethernet ports, two rated at 10 Gbps and two at 2.5 Gbps, though it will be overkill for most people. If you want a stronger signal in your backyard this summer, you can also snag an Eero 7 Outdoor ($400) to pair with any of these systems, though I have not tested it yet.
All Eero systems are compatible with each other, which makes it easy to expand your network. You can dig deeper into the differences in our Eero buying guide. But whichever model you choose, keep an eye out for frequent discounts.
