If you need to cover a larger area with a strong, reliable WiFi signal, a long-range router can save you from many frustrations.
In this article, we are taking a closer look at long-range WiFi routers in general, describing their characteristics, and we also recommend what we consider to be the top 10 best WiFi routers for long range.
A typical WiFi router (such as the one your ISP rents you) is designed to cover only a single room with a wireless signal. Once the signal from the router hits any solid obstacle, its strength decreases dramatically. While you might still be able to connect to the Internet, browse the web, play online games, or chat with friends and family, your experience will likely suffer.
And if you share your Internet connection with multiple people, you may even experience connection drops. To prevent this from happening, you should purchase a long-range WiFi router. Some of the best long-range wireless routers, such as the Asus ROG Rapture GT, the TP-Link Talon AD7200, or the D-Link DIR-895L, are designed to offer expansive coverage in areas up to 5,000 square feet.
These premium routers accomplish this by featuring multiple antennas and special beamforming technology, which allows them to focus the WiFi signal to where it’s needed the most.
If you’re currently unsure whether you need a long-range router, we recommend you download and use NetSpot, an easy-to-use software application for wireless network assessment, scanning, and surveys. NetSpot is available for free, and it can help you visualize your WiFi coverage and discover all areas of signal weakness.
To use NetSpot, you don’t need to be an IT expert or a tech geek; the application has been designed with the latest usability principles in mind, allowing anyone to just pick it up and instantly know how to use it to conduct in-depth wireless site survey, perform WiFi analysis, and troubleshoot common networking issues. We also recommend reading a great article on how to extend the WiFi range for more tips and advice.
The number of available long-range routers has exploded in the recent years. This growth has been fueled mainly by the rise of online gaming and high-definition video streaming. But virtually everyone can benefit from owning the best long-range router on the market, and we know which router that is.
When choosing the best WiFi router for long range, you can pick between traditional single-unit routers and mesh WiFi systems consisting of multiple units that work together to create a single network. Mesh WiFi systems are a boon to people living in large houses because they can reliably cover multiple floors with a strong WiFi signal and make it possible for devices to roam freely from room to room without reconnecting.
The Asus ROG Rapture GT is a beastly gaming router with eight antennas and plenty processing power to handle simultaneous VR gaming and 4K streaming. The router has been designed to offer uncompromised WiFi performance under all circumstances, and it achieves this goal by featuring a top-of-the-line 1.8 GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU that puts many desktop processors to shame.
The Asus ROG Rapture GT router can create three separate wireless networks — two on the 5 GHz band and one on the 2.4 GHz band. With multiple networks, you can separate work from other activities for maximum stability.
Unlike other long-range routers, the Asus ROG Rapture GT has a powerful range-enhancing feature called RangeBoost. Using a combination of hardware and software that increases coverage while also significantly improving long-range throughput, the router is able to cover very large areas with a strong signal.
Besides its excellent wireless capabilities, the Asus ROG Rapture GT also offers eight gigabit LAN ports and two USB 3.0 ports for high-speed access to files on USB storage. Combined with its ease of use and support for VPN, the Asus ROG Rapture GT really stands out as an excellent purchase for anyone who is looking for extra wireless coverage or better speeds over long distances.
The TP-Link Talon AD7200 looks like a router that’s not to be messed with. Its eight beamforming antennas give it both its distinct look as well as its remarkable performance characteristics. The router can run three separate wireless networks: 60 GHz (4600 Mbps), 5 GHz (1733 Mbps), and 2.4 GHz (800 Mbps).
This is handy for two reasons. First, most standard routers run on the 2.4 GHz band, which may result in traffic congestions and issues with signal interference. The simplest and most effective way how to avoid these problems is to switch to a less used wireless band, such as 5 GHz or 60 GHz.
Second, having multiple wireless networks creates the possibility to separate work from play to minimize slowdowns caused by sudden spikes in traffic. In other words, your email client will remain responsive even if other WiFi users stream high-definition content and play demanding online games at the same time.
Inside the TP-Link Talon AD7200 is a powerful 1.4 GHz dual-core processor capable of handling multiple simultaneous connections. Two USB 3.0 ports enable fast data transfer across the network, and four Gigabit Ethernet ports provide ultra-fast wired Internet access to desktop computers, TVs, and other connected devices.
The D-Link DIR-895L has won numerous awards for its unique design and outstanding performance. This tri-band long-range router can deliver fast WiFi speeds of up to 5332 Mpbs (1000 Mbps + 2166 Mbps + 2166 Mbps) over long distances thanks to advanced beamforming technology, a powerful 1.4 GHz dual-core processor and eight high-performance antennas.
The D-Link DIR-895L supports MU-MIMO technology to allow multiple devices to get high-bandwidth Wi-Fi signal at the same time without disturbing one another. By connecting a portable storage device to one of the two USB 3.0 ports on the back of the router, you can distribute data across your home network at the same speed as you would be able to reach by connecting the storage device directly to your computer.
With the router’s Smart Connect technology, WiFi users are automatically connected to the most suitable wireless network for best speeds and strongest signal.
To increase your security and privacy, the D-Link DIR-895L allows you to create a separate guest network with a single click via its easy-to-use web interface. More advanced users can install DD-WRT on the router, which is a Linux-based operating system that offers additional customization and useful features.
The Netgear Nighthawk AX12 is a formidable WiFi 6 router that looks just like Kylo Ren’s command shuttle. But instead of bringing you to the dark side, it will bring a strong WiFi signal and super-fast speeds to every corner of your house or apartment, allowing you to enjoy 4K UHD streaming, gaming, and video conferencing without lag and other annoyance.
Thanks to its support for the latest generation of WiFi standards, the router offers 4-times the capacity of older-generation routers while delivering a 40% increase in data throughput and offering 100% backwards compatibility with devices that don’t support WiFi 6.
In addition to impressive speeds and coverage, the NETGEAR Nighthawk AX12 comes loaded with useful features, such as NETGEAR Armor cybersecurity, which keeps your network and private data safe from online threats. You can configure everything from the Nighthawk app, which runs on iOS and Android devices alike. All this and more makes the NETGEAR Nighthawk AX12 one of the best long range routers.
The TP-Link Archer A7 is a great long-range router for budget-minded individuals who are less than keen on spending hundreds of dollars just to eliminate dead zones and enjoy fast WiFi speeds. For around $50, this unassuming router can simultaneously broadcast 2.4 GHz 450 Mbps and 5 GHz 1,300 Mbps connections for 1.75 Gbps of total available bandwidth.
The router is equipped with three external antennas, and each antenna serves both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band. Because the antennas are not only adjustable but also replaceable, you have plenty of options how to fine-tune the router to deliver satisfactory performance. The router also delivers support for storage sharing with its single USB 2.0 port.
Setup and management are done using the Tether app, which is one of the best-rated companion apps on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The app lets you change all settings, create a guess network, automatically turn off the LEDs at a specific time, and more.
If you’re looking for the best WiFi router for long range, then you can’t afford to miss the ASUS RT-AC88U. While certainly not inexpensive, this premium router is packed with gaming-oriented features whose purpose is to ensure that you’ll never experience lag at the worst possible moment.
For starters, the router boosts speeds up to 3,167 Mbps for low-latency online gaming, and it features 4×4 antenna design with AiRadar universal beamforming for outstanding wireless coverage. Because ASUS knows that hardcore gamers avoid connecting to the internet wirelessly, the ASUS RT-AC88U is equipped with 8 Gigabit LAN ports for extensive wired connectivity.
To maintain satisfactory performance even in multi-user scenarios, the ASUS RT-AC88U Adaptive QoS (Quality of Service) that lets it intelligently and automatically prioritize network packets to prevent latency-sensitive tasks from being negatively affected by low-priority traffic.
The eero Pro 6 is a powerful mesh WiFi system that brings fast connectivity to every room with WiFi 6. With just three units, you can reliably cover up to 6,000 sq. ft., while a single unit can cover up to 2,000 sq. ft. As such, the system is perfect for people living in medium to large homes, allowing them to avoid the hassle associated with WiFi range extenders and multiple WiFi networks.
Because the eero Pro 6 features a built-in Zigbee smart home hub, you can use it to connect compatible devices with Alexa and control everything from lights to locks without the need to buy separate smart home hubs for each.
Just like most other similar mesh WiFi systems, the eero Pro 6 is designed to be easy to install and configure. The eero app runs on Android and iOS devices and lets you change all settings with a few taps. Unfortunately, that’s partly because there aren’t all that many settings to change, so keep that in mind if you’re an advanced user and expect extensive customization.
Google WiFi is an elegant mesh WiFi system intended to provide seamless WiFi coverage throughout your home. In fact, it’s the best-selling mesh WiFi system in the United States, a statistic that Google is more than happy to advertise on its website.
Why are so many people purchasing Google Wifi when there are many similar systems to choose from? Well, there are several reasons. To start with, Google Wifi is remarkably easy to use, and it takes just a few steps to set it up thanks to the Google Home app, which works on any iOS and Android device.
Thanks to its quad-core ARM processor and dual-band (2.4 GHz/5 GHz) WiFi supporting IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, a single Google Wifi unit is able to cover up to 1,500 square feet, which means that the popular bundle of three units offers more than enough coverage to eliminate dead zones in large houses and offices.
Our list of the best WiFi routers for long range wouldn’t be complete without the Netgear Orbi RBK50. This high-performance whole home mesh WiFi system can cover up to 5,000 square foot with just two units, and you can easily extend it by purchasing additional units directly from NETGEAR or just about any major retailer.
Independent tests have confirmed that the NETGEAR Orbi RBK50 is one of the best-performing mesh systems on the market, which probably has something to do with the fact that it’s also one of the bulkiest. Fortunately, the vertically-oriented design makes it easy to position the NETGEAR Orbi RBK50 somewhere where it doesn’t attract too much attention and can still broadcast its signal without physical obstacles getting in the way.
If you’re a geek and appreciate extensive configurability, you’ll love the fact that the NETGEAR Orbi RBK50 can be configured via a mobile app and any modern web browser. Included with the mesh system is a subscription to NETGEAR Armor, a multi-layer cybersecurity solution capable of protecting an unlimited number of devices against online threats.
The Asus ZenWiFi AX is an award-winning mesh WiFi system capable of giving you an incredibly fast and easy-to-use network — if you can afford it. It supports WiFi 6 technology and offers a total bandwidth of up to of 6,600 Mbps, making it up to 2.2-times faster than tri-band AC3000 (WiFi 5) routers. Of course, you also need to own compatible WiFi 6 devices to unlock its full potential, but that goes for any WiFi 6 router or mesh system.
Setting up the Asus ZenWiFi AX is a simple three-step process that consists of turning the Asus ZenWiFi AX on, creating a WiFi network name and an admin account, and waiting a few minutes for the system to automatically configure itself and synchronize your settings across all units.
When you purchase the Asus ZenWiFi AX, you get lifetime access to Advanced Parental Controls that you can use to block access to inappropriate and malicious websites, view each family member’s internet activity, and schedule time periods to block internet access.
WiFi analyzer app runs on a MacBook (macOS 10.12+) or any laptop (Windows 7/8/10/11) with a standard 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax wireless network adapter.
The premium long range routers defy solid obstacles and easily handle a multitude of devices connected to the network. They usually have multiple antennas and feature a special beamforming technology that allows them to bring WiFi signal to where it’s most needed.
Some of the top long range routers, like ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 AX11000, TP-Link AC4000 Smart WiFi Router, or Linksys Tri-Band Wifi Router, can cover up to the impressive 5,000 square feet.
A software like NetSpot can help you understand whether you need a long range router or you are good with what you currently have. NetSpot is a professional app that is excellently suited for beginners too — it is a wireless network assessment, scan, and survey app that offers comprehensive visual heatmaps of WiFi coverage.
Seeing how far your current coverage extends and whether you need more power to extend it even further should help you decide whether your current router just needs some extra signal boosters or you would be better off upgrading your hardware altogether.
Online gaming and high-definition video streaming gave long range routers quite the boost in recent years. However, even if you are not streaming HD videos constantly, you may still benefit from a long range router, thanks to its ability to provide a better signal despite the obstacles and huge spaces. Here are some of the best long range routers out there in 2024:
Featuring eight antennas and immense processing power enough to tackle simultaneous VR gaming and 4K streaming, Asus ROG Rapture GT is an excellent choice. This router allows its users to allocate one of the 5GHz bands to gaming devices exclusively, while other devices can use the other 5GHz band or the 2.4GHz band. Asus ROG Rapture GT offers impressive WAN-to-LAN speeds of up to 1900Mbps.
With its eight external antennas and support for state-of-the-art WiFi technologies, the Asus ROG Rapture GT has the longest range of all single-unit routers described in this article.
That depends on multiple factors, including the materials your home is made of, wireless interference caused by other networks in your area, and the router itself. Genarally, WiFi routers broadcasting on the 2.4 GHz band should be able to cover up to 150 feet.
If you live in a large house, we recommend you avoid traditional single-unit routers and purchase a mesh WiFi system instead. That way, you can easily extend the system to achieve optimal coverage in every single room.
If you want to get more information about Wi-Fi, check out the following articles about Wi-Fi routers, the best apps for wireless networking, WiFi signal, etc.
