Wifi/Routers

Spotty internet? It may be time to upgrade to mesh WiFi — here’s why

Whether you need whole home WiFi coverage or just a reliable connection for video calls and streaming shows, these are some of the best mesh WiFi systems you can find.
By Nicole Bonaccorso  on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Is there anything more frustrating than unreliable internet? If you're someone who works from home, likes to scroll while streaming your favorite shows (we’re multitaskers okay?) or simply has a lot of housemates eating up the internet at any given time, then a mesh WiFi system is the solution you probably didn’t even know you needed.

Fortunately, we’re here to help you discover what a WiFi mesh system is, how it can help you out, and which mesh WiFi router options will work best for your needs.

What is a WiFi mesh system?

Designed to blanket your entire home in uninterrupted connectivity, WiFi mesh is a wireless internet system comprising a main router and several nodes or WiFi points strategically placed throughout the household to provide maximum coverage and reduce spotty service.

The aforementioned nodes help to cover areas the main router can’t reach, making it the ideal solution for large homes and properties. A WiFi mesh router system can also help out in areas that struggle with WiFi connectivity, boosting your existing connection while ensuring that even the furthest corners of your home have a flawless connection. Mesh keeps all the nodes within a single wireless network — with the same SSID and password — so you’ll be able to seamlessly walk from room to room without losing your service. (This is in contrast to WiFi range extenders that need multiple network names and passwords.)

Another bonus when it comes to mesh WiFi systems is that they’re easily expandable; just purchase additional nodes or WiFi points as needed to extend WiFi coverage out to the backyard, garage, basement, attic — truly wherever. When they say “whole home WiFi” coverage, they mean whole home!

Do I really need a mesh WiFi system?

These days, we use the internet for everything: streaming entertainment, video calls, gaming, and all sorts of work, like homework, school work and work work. And with smart home tech at its peak, we have so many more devices that demand reliable connectivity from our home's internet router; it's not just laptops, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs, but also smart home hubs, game consoles and all the various tech they're connected to. (And that's not even considering all the demanding devices that enter our homes when we have guests over.) So yeah, don't scoff when you see a mesh WiFi system that says it can handle dozens upon dozens of devices — they really do add up!

In order to ensure optimal performance across all of your devices throughout your home — from attic to basement, front porch to backyard — you'll want the reliability of a mesh WiFi router and a system of nodes you can place wherever needed to eliminate dead zones and simultaneously improve your wireless internet speeds. (And if you're looking for top speeds and less bandwidth congestion, be sure to seek out a mesh router that’s compatible with WiFi 6.)

An expandable and scalable mesh WiFi system would also come in handy for businesses, whether you run a small one from your home or manage a larger office space with a team of employees.

How to choose a mesh WiFi (or whole-home WiFi) system

The best mesh WiFi options have a multi-node system and feature security software, smart home compatibility and, most importantly, spotless connectivity throughout your space. WiFi mesh is usually a bit more tastefully designed than your typical router as well.

The most important thing to keep in mind when switching to mesh WiFi is the size of your home or the space you’re looking to connect. Most WiFi mesh systems will advertise how big their coverage area is. Some come in two, three or even six-packs, offering several nodes to place throughout your home or workspace, with each node offering additional square footage to the network. 

Depending on the size of your home, however, a multi-pack may be overkill, and you might wind up spending more than you need even if it seems like a really great deal. Most systems allow you to purchase additional nodes to add to your mesh WiFi system, though, so you can always expand down the road. 

With that in mind, it’s best to start out with a system that advertises a coverage roughly equivalent to your home’s size, and then adjust from there with additional nodes if needed. 

What is the best mesh WiFi option?

Whether you’re working from home or just want a better connection for your family’s myriad devices, mesh WiFi is sure to improve your network. (Though if you’re big into online gaming, you may want to seek a more dedicated mesh WiFi for gamers.) Whatever your need, these are some of the best mesh WiFi options out there to give you flawless internet connection throughout your working or living space.

The best part of Nest WiFi is that it’s easy to set up via an app. The app also allows you to set priority devices for faster speeds, set parental controls, and manage screen time for kids. This two-router pack can cover up to 4,400 square feet, but you can easily add more satellite routers to extend your network. Each router can also handle up to 200 devices, with the ability to stream multiple 4K videos at once. Even better, this mesh WiFi system works intelligently behind the scenes and automatically updates to keep your internet fast and secure. 

The Good

The Bad

Details

If you’re looking for the best connection money can buy, this mesh WiFi 6 system is a top contender. It’s got some of the fastest speeds clocked on mesh WiFi — with top speeds of nearly 900 Mbps at close range and remaining at 666 Mbps at a distance of 75 feet — so you can stream, game, and work uninterrupted.

The system is more expensive than other WiFi mesh routers and extenders — and it may be a bit overkill for just normal internet use — but for gamers and heavy internet users, this is the best of the best.

The Good

The Bad

Details

You don’t have to break the bank to switch your household to mesh WiFi. With this two-pack, you’ll be able extend coverage up to 4,000 square feet and support more than 150 devices. Or, if you need to, extend your whole home WiFi coverage with extra nodes. 

This mesh WiFi system pairs with Alexa, so you’ll be able to ask the smart assistant to pause the internet, set screen time limits, and turn the guest WiFi on and off via voice command. The system also allows you to set parental controls and is easily managed from an app. 

The best part of this system is that it's easy to set up. All you’ll have to do is plug it in and follow the simple instructions.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Since it’s a three-pack — a router with two nodes — this is one of the best mesh WiFi systems for a larger home or a home with several floors. Setup will take less than 10 minutes, and you’ll be able to easily manage devices and screen time via the app. It even has a built-in smart home hub to easily connect compatible devices on your network with Alexa. While eero may not make a huge difference in your internet speed, it does support up to 500 Mbps and 75 connected devices with WiFi 6. You’ll also feel safe with eero’s security features, which will conduct threat scans, give your family content warnings, and provide ad-blocking software.

The Good

The Bad

Details

This dual-band mesh WiFi system is a sleek, handsome system that is powerful, reliable and ideal for larger homes. With two extender nodes, you’ll be able to expand your network to the furthest reaches of your living space, ensuring top speeds throughout. It can cover up to 10,000 square feet (!!!), so you’ll have as much internet connection in your basement as you have on your main floor. 

The router has an easy-to-use touchscreen display — a rare feature for routers — and the intuitive, straightforward AmpliFi app should have you up and running in about five minutes. The app also features configuration options, powerful reporting metrics, parental controls, remote access and easy guest access. 

The Good

The Bad

Details

Banish your dead-zones with this mesh system that will cover up to 5,500 square feet, or six or more rooms. This is a very powerful system, but is also one of the most expensive options on the market. 

One of the best features of this system is that it includes a lifetime of free network security powered by Trend Micro, ensuring privacy on connected devices. While other systems have a subscription-based security system, this one has security included.

You’ll also love how easy setup is— just three steps to connecting your entire home. You also have the option to set up one or two networks using the 2.4 and 5GHz band. 

The Good

The Bad

Details

With a great low profile and three nodes, this system will support up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. You can even change the color plates to make these devices better match your decor.  

You’ll be able to set up your whole home mesh WiFi coverage within minutes with the easy-to-use app, where you can also access parental controls, set schedules and manage any device. Flawless WiFi connectivity and coverage allow users to stream 4K and HD video and games throughout the home. You can also add nodes, expanding your network coverage as needed.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Working seamlessly with WiFi 6, this system connects up to 3,000 square feet of space and will support more than 25 devices. It offers four powerful streams, which deliver up to 1.8 Gbps of speed for reliable streaming of HD video gaming or internet surfing and downloads. 

This two-pack comes with a router and satellite node, each of which have ethernet ports. The guest network allows you to provide internet access to friends and family without sharing your password.

While you will most likely see a speed improvement, WiFi 6 is capable of much higher speeds than this mesh system carries. However, those systems will also come with a much higher price tag. 

The Good

The Bad

Details

With intelligent and powerful WiFi 6 mesh coverage, this easy-to-set-up system allows you to send and receive multiple streams of data — up to a whopping 2,400 Mbps —  simultaneously for lag-free streaming, calling, gaming and more. It provides more than 8,000 square feet of coverage for 120 devices, and you can tell it to prioritize a specific device (so your kid's online gaming habit doesn't kick you out of your important Zoom meeting, for example). You also have the ability to set a multitude of parental controls, such as pausing access on specific devices, setting usage schedules and blocking certain websites. Plus, it has automatic firmware updates and separate guest access to keep everything safe and secure.

The Good

The Bad

Details

This wireless mesh WiFi system provides blazing fast internet speeds and seamless coverage up to 6,000 square feet. Its simple installation via the Gryphon app takes just a few minutes, but if you run into any issues, they offer support seven days per week to help you out. It boasts loads of parental controls including set bedtimes, content filtering, safe search, screen time limits and more. Not only does it keep your children's internet usage reigned in, but it provides great security for the whole family by keeping all connected devices safe from malware, ransomware and hackers, and it will even let you know of any vulnerabilities or weak passwords.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Just because you need a signal boost doesn't always mean you need a ton of coverage. For those with smaller homes or office spaces that need a reliable connection, this single Google WiFi point will keep you streaming, browsing and Zooming at fast and efficient speeds. (However, it is scalable so you can easily add more WiFi points in the future as needed.) It's easy to set up in just a few minutes, and it allows you to prioritize devices, set parental controls and create a guest network, too. Best of all, it can be added to any existing Nest WiFi system.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Frequently Asked Questions


If you have an existing internet router, you could use a WiFi extender to expand your WiFi network. However, while mesh WiFi systems can also be used alongside your current router, they're often used as a full replacement for your existing router and WiFi network. 

WiFi mesh satellites (also referred to as nodes or points) act as the mesh extenders in this case, effectively creating a seamless wireless mesh network that's scalable to the size of the space that you need to cover with reliable internet connectivity.


A whole-home mesh WiFi system is super easy to set up. All you need to do is plug your WiFi router into your internet provider’s modem to get your mesh WiFi network started. (Oftentimes, the mesh WiFi system will come with an easy-to-use smartphone app that makes this process even simpler.) Then, place the mesh WiFi satellites around the rest of your home to extend the wireless mesh network wherever it is needed.


Prime Day

Score fitness equipment on sale thanks to early Prime Day deals and Fourth of July sales


Prime Day 2023 isn't here yet, but the deals aren't waiting

So many sex toys are on sale ahead of Prime Day

Recommended For You
DoorDash expands grocery access through SNAP and EBT payment options

Money talks: How to negotiate a salary informed by pay transparency


How to stop caring what people think about you

Google added a few nifty features to Password Manager

More in Tech
The best last-minute Father's Day gifts

Unique gift ideas for Dad that are way better than a tie
By Mashable Shopping

Seckton's low-tech digital camera is the best $40 you’ll ever spend as a parent

All the best folding and inflatable kayaks that we tested and loved


Trending on Mashable
Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for July 1

Spectacular Webb telescope image reveals things scientists can't explain

Twitter now blocks visitors from viewing tweets, and profiles unless they're logged in

Want to try swinging? Here's a beginner's guide.

Elon Musk claims Twitter login requirement just 'temporary'
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use(opens in a new tab) and Privacy Policy(opens in a new tab). You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!