Best mesh Wi-Fi systems 2024

Eero 6+
(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)

The best mesh Wi-Fi systems are networking versions of working smarter, not harder. Compared to a traditional router, mesh systems use several smaller Wi-Fi routers placed around your home to cover you from multiple angles and dodge things like thick walls that can kill your signal. So whether you want top speed and customizability or simplicity and consistency, there's a mesh system that will work in any home. Our top pick goes to eero 6+, which hits all of the sweet spots of a Wi-Fi system in a small, understated housing that loses obtrusive articulating antennas.

Affordable and easy-to-use mesh Wi-Fi systems

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eero 6+ review

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)
Compact with full 160MHz performance

Reasons to buy

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Easy to expand with other eero nodes
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Small and easy to place
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Solid AX3000 speeds with 160MHz
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Two Ethernet on each unit
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Great Android and iOS app

Reasons to avoid

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Limited "power-user" settings
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Tri-band would have been better for mesh performance

Eero has been around for a few generations now and the company continues to raise the bar when it comes to simplicity paired with performance. The eero 6+ isn't the fastest eero you can buy it's not far off given its size and price. Sharing its physical design with the eero 6, eero 6+ has a quick AX3000 dual-band Wi-Fi 6 connection with 160MHz support. Adding 160MHz doubles the potential bandwidth per device from 1201Mbps on eero 6 to 2402Mbps on eero 6+. That means that you can get closer to full gigabit internet speeds in a congested area.

As we saw in our eero 6+ review, this mesh kit has more than enough speed for most usage including large downloads and 4K streaming. Despite this, eero's greatest strength has always been the reliability and easy-to-use software, so it's a big bonus when it can also deliver speeds that compete with some of the fastest Wi-Fi 6 systems you can buy. Keep in mind that you'll be giving up some of the advanced settings you might find in a standalone router or a mesh from ASUS. But if you're the type of person that likes to set up your router and then forget about it, eero is a strong pick.

When it comes to expansion, you can use any eero you like to add coverage including some newer Amazon devices with eero built-in, like the latest Echo Dot smart speakers. One thing to keep in mind about expansion is that while these devices can technically be part of your mesh, they'll never be as fast as a dedicated device. For the best results, stick with an eero with 160MHz support like eero 6+ or eero Pro 6E when expanding your system.

ASUS ZenWiFi XD4 AX1800 mesh router on table

(Image credit: ASUS)

ASUS ZenWiFi AX Mini (XD4)

Cheap Wi-Fi 6 mesh coverage

Reasons to buy

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Solid AX1800 dual-band connection
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Easy coverage expansion with AiMesh
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Compact nodes are easy to place
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Available in white, black, or wood finishes

Reasons to avoid

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AiProtection Classic lacks parental control options of the Pro version

The ASUS ZenWiFi AX Mini is a compact mesh Wi-Fi system with AX1800 dual-band Wi-Fi 6 speeds. This isn't fast enough to fully utilize a gigabit internet connection, but many people don't need that much speed anyways. If you have an internet connection of 500Mbps or less, the ZenWiFi AC Mini system will have no trouble keeping up, even when you're connected to one of the remote nodes.

The nodes can be had in white, black, or with a wood finish so you can find one that fits the decor of your house. Each node has two gigabit Ethernet ports on the back so you can keep your wired devices online. And with 4,800 square feet of coverage with a three-pack, you should have no trouble covering your entire home. If you need more coverage though, AiMesh allows you to add just about any ASUS router from the last few years to the mesh, including ROG routers.

One other thing that's nice about ZenWiFi is the software. While the version of AiProtection Classic that's included isn't anything special, this mesh system gives you more control than mesh Wi-Fi from just about any other company. With an app for simple setup and settings or a web UI that lets you get into the advanced settings, this ZenWiFi kit is a good fit for new and experience users alike.

Nest Wifi router held in one hand

(Image credit: Android Central)
Stylish design with smart speaker nodes

Reasons to buy

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Each router has two Ethernet ports
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Expands with other Nest Wifi routers or points plus Google Wifi
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Excellent Google Assistant integration
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Fast security updates
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Up to date security with WPA3

Reasons to avoid

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Google collects analytical data
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Most settings require an active internet connection
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Nest Wifi points lack Ethernet

Nest Wifi starts where Google Wifi left off with a subtle circular design that takes the internal specifications to the next level. The speed gets an upgrade to dual-band AC2200 speeds in the 802.11s standard created for mesh networks with 3,800 square feet of coverage from a router and point. This helps a remote Nest Wifi system connect to the strongest possible path, whether direct to the base router or through another mesh point. As we found in our Nest Wifi review, coverage was very strong, even in a modern condominium.

WPA 3 support is included with backward compatibility for older devices. Nest Wifi is managed with the Google Home app, which also maintains your other Nest devices. Each Nest Wifi point also comes with a built-in smart speaker with Google Assistant. It's a great bonus for someone deeply invested in Google's ecosystem.

You can expand your Nest Wi-Fi system with additional Nest Wifi routers, the fastest option with the most reliable coverage. You can also connect Nest Wifi points or Google Wifi points in areas that don't need as much speed. The Nest Wifi points are significantly slower with an AC1200 connection and don't offer quite as much coverage at 1,600 square feet. If you want wired Ethernet ports on your node, you will need to use a Nest Wifi router or Google Wifi as the Nest Wifi point does not have any Ethernet ports.

TP-Link Deco X55 mesh router

(Image credit: TP-Link)
Affordable but powerful Wi-Fi 6 mesh

Reasons to buy

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Solid AX3000 connection is suitable for most families
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Three Ethernet ports per node
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Works with other Deco models
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Supports 160MHz connections
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Free HomeShield has solid parental controls

Reasons to avoid

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Subscription required to make the most of HomeShield
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Fewer data streams than some other AX3000 systems

TP-Link's Deco series has continually been one of the best values regarding raw performance in mesh systems. The Deco X55 continues to evolve TP-Link's offerings with a dual-band AX3000 connection. Unlike the earlier Deco X60, this mesh system supports 160MHz bands for improved speeds on compatible devices. This model also adds an Ethernet port for three per node.

This Deco, like other Decos, is designed to work with all other Deco models so if you start with this system and find that you need more coverage down the line, you have a lot of upgrade options. While not everyone's devices can make the most of Wi-Fi 6 just yet, a mesh system has the side effect of increasing the link speed between nodes, leading to better performance.

TP-Link ships many of its new routers with a software package called HomeShield. HomeShield is a subscription service that comes with improved security and parental controls. Even so, if you don't intend to subscribe, you get access to HomeShield's QoS and solid parental controls with profiles and easy filtering categories.

Student uses a PC with an eero 6

(Image credit: Eero)

Amazon Eero 6 (3-pack)

A simple Wi-Fi 6 upgrade

Reasons to buy

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Wi-Fi 6 enables faster speeds on new devices
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AX1800 speeds are plenty for most people
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Compact size
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Easy setup and expansion with the Eero app
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Eeros work with all other Eeros

Reasons to avoid

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Extender doesn't have any Ethernet
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Advanced security requires a subscription

Not everyone needs a gigabit-capable home network so if you like eero but want to save a little money, the next step down is eero 6. Eero 6 has plenty of speed for internet connections of up to 500Mbps. This makes it a good pick for fixed wireless homes internet connections like T-Mobile's 5G home internet or Starlink. Two Ethernet ports on the main router allow you to connect a single wired device if needed. This can be a network switch if you have multiple wired devices, though it somewhat ruins an eero setup's simplicity.

Mesh expansion will mainly be handled by the eero 6 Extender featuring identical wireless capabilities to the eero 6, but it lacks any Ethernet ports. The reduced cost compared to the router will make the Extender an excellent choice for most people. You can also buy another eero 6 router for expansion if you need the Ethernet ports somewhere, such as a home office. All other eeros can be used for expansion if you already have them.

Eero 6, and all eeros for that matter, can set up eero Plus, a subscription service that adds improved security, parental controls, technical support, and some other software bonuses. While this feature is optional, some people, like the parents of a teenager, may find the parental control and scheduling feature to be worth every bit of the $9.99 monthly fee.

Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien displaying Wi-Fi information

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
Great AmpliFi design and software with Wi-Fi 6 speeds

Reasons to buy

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Wi-Fi 6 with 16 streams
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Tri-band with up to 7685Mbps total speed
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Four Ethernet ports for expansion
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Color display
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Great software, including AmpliFi Teleport

Reasons to avoid

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No multi-gig Ethernet
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Only expandable with other Alien routers or points

The AmpliFi Alien is a great mesh system, even if it's a bit expensive. Even so, you get fast Wi-Fi 6 speeds with eight 5GHz Wi-Fi 6 streams delivering 4803Mbps and four more 2.4GHz streams for another 1148Mbps. There is also a third 5GHz Wi-Fi 5 band with 1733Mbps thanks to four streams which can make the most of the fastest Wi-Fi 5 devices. Four Ethernet ports around the back mean you're not giving up any functionality either. Remember that the WAN port is limited to gigabit speeds, so there's no multi-gigabit wired support here.

The AmpliFi Alien has a great, thoughtful design that puts the permanent connections, WAN, and power on the bottom of the device, allowing for a clean Wi-Fi-only setup. Remember that the Alien can only be expanded with other Alien routers or an Alien extender included in a two-pack. Unfortunately, there aren't any cheap mesh expansion options available, but at least your mesh speeds will remain high.

This mesh router system only comes in matte black with a color display on the front, informing you about your network performance. So if you're the type of user that likes to keep on top of your network's performance at all times, Alien lets you stay informed without opening the app. There's also AmpliFi Teleport, a software feature that allows you to connect to your home network from any internet connection, a feature that our AmpliFi Alien review found to be genuinely useful.

Asus ZenWiFi ET8 Wi-Fi 6E mesh system

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)
The best Wi-Fi 6E mesh solution

Reasons to buy

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Fast and balanced AXE6600 speeds
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Three LAN Ethernet ports per node
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2.5Gbps WAN ports on each node
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5GHz or 6GHz wireless backhaul

Reasons to avoid

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The 5GHz band is a bit slow
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Very expensive for these speeds

The Asus ZenWiFi ET8 is an upgrade to Asus' older Wi-Fi 6 ZenWiFi XT8. This model supports 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E as well as 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections for older devices. Wi-Fi 6E, for the most part, is the same as Wi-Fi 6 with access to additional Wi-Fi bands at 6GHz. The extra real estate at 6GHz allows for many more simultaneous 160MHz connections without overlap so speeds can stay high in a congested area.

The connection breaks down to 4.8Gbps at 6GHz, 1.2Gbps at 5GHz, and 600Mbps at 2.4GHz. The 5GHz band links the nodes by default thanks to its higher power levels and superior penetration compared to 6GHz. This allows you to connect your 6GHz devices to the node at full speed with enough capacity for a gigabit connection. In our ZenWiFi ET8 review, we found consistently high speeds at both 5GHz and 6GHz.

Asus' software is top-of-the-line, with AiProtection Pro included for advanced security. This also includes parental controls, which are configurable for each family member with simple content filters and time controls all managed in the Asus Router app. Finally, AiMesh allows you to expand your ZenWiFi mesh with nearly any Asus router.

Improve your coverage with a mesh

The best mesh Wi-Fi system really comes down to your home. Mesh systems are designed to provide consistent coverage all over and as such will need to be able to communicate with one another. If your home has thick walls, you may need more nodes than the coverage estimate makes it seem. It's also worth keeping in mind that the nodes must communicate with one another so if you're trying to keep speeds higher enough for a gigabit connection, it may be worth starting with the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems. If you have a lot of wireless congestion in your area, you could also go with one of the best Wi-Fi 6E mesh systems.

Overall, eero 6+ manages to offer the best total package. It has plenty of speed for those with quick internet connections and the capacity to handle an entire family. Beyond that, eero is one of the easiest meshes to explore with tons of options for nodes including some you may already have like some of the most recent Echo smart speakers. The software is also a great bonus with new features like eero internet backup being added to some of the newer models. If you don't mind giving up some advanced options, eero is a great pick for reliable home Wi-Fi.

Samuel Contreras

When Samuel is not writing about networking or 5G at Android Central, he spends most of his time researching computer components and obsessing over what CPU goes into the ultimate Windows 98 computer. It's the Pentium 3.