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Best Wireless Access Points

Updated May 2022
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Ubiquiti Networks Unifi
Ubiquiti Networks
Unifi
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Bottom Line

Long range, good coverage and fast — the best on the market.

Pros

Weatherproof design, long range, and fast enough to handle several devices pulling down a lot of data at once. Easy setup.

Cons

Manufacturer advises using only devices it makes for power, but can be powered by just about any PoE switch or an injector.

Best Bang for the Buck
Securifi Almond
Securifi
Almond
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Bottom Line

Incredible price and a very flexible unit. Not strictly a wireless access point, however, so that limits its use as one.

Pros

Ridiculously easy to set up, and it is a flexible unit — range extender, wireless access point, wireless bridge, and router.

Cons

It's not strictly a wireless access point, so that means mounting options are limited and range is not as far as some competing products.

TP-Link Omada AC1750 Gigabit Wireless Access Point
TP-Link
Omada AC1750 Gigabit Wireless Access Point
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Bottom Line

This small yet mighty wireless access point provides solid coverage for large areas such as hotels and offices.

Pros

Beamforming technology directs bandwidth where it is needed most. Easy to install. High speed dual-band WiFi. Free cloud management app. Compact design.

Cons

No significant complaints to note.

Netgear WAC540 Wireless Access Point
Netgear
WAC540 Wireless Access Point
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Bottom Line

This high-end model is an excellent wireless solution for extra-large and densely populated spaces.

Pros

Easily supports up to 600 users per unit. Simple installation. Users seamlessly roam throughout your WiFi network. Instantly meshes with other units.

Cons

Setting up the initial network may get a little pricy.

Linksys AC2600 Dual-Band Cloud AC Wave 2 Access Point
Linksys
AC2600 Dual-Band Cloud AC Wave 2 Access Point
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Bottom Line

If you need to blanket your business with a speedy WiFi network for employees and guests alike, then this pricy option is worth a look.

Pros

Dual wireless bands provide a secure WiFi connection. Business-protecting security features. Control network via companion app. Simple installation.

Cons

Such an impressive WiFi speed comes with a high price tag.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

32
Models
Considered
162
Consumers
Consulted
14
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best wireless access points

WiFi has become an essential part of life: It brings our social networks, our jobs, as well as movies and TV to our mobile devices. As we live more of our lives online, having stable, dependable WiFi at home has become a necessity – so what can you do about dead spots where you get no signal?

Wireless access points are the perfect solution for any home that has a few problem areas where better WiFi is needed. A single wireless access point, when connected to your primary wireless router, acts as a secondary broadcast location for your same network. With a wireless access point installed, you get more of the network your devices need without the need for configuration changes to any of them.

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Wireless access points are different from range extenders (aka “repeaters”). Wireless access points connect to the main wireless router and provide a unique additional point of access. Range extenders take an existing WiFi signal and rebroadcast it.

How wireless access points work

There are a variety of ways to establish or improve a WiFi signal in your home, and there are many different devices that approach wireless networking differently. Before you pick out a wireless access point, make sure you understand the competing technologies and what your connectivity options are.

Wireless access points, or WAPs, work in partnership with a wireless router – their primary function is to extend the reach and speed of an existing WiFi network. They connect to a wireless network through either a wired Ethernet connection or by joining it wirelessly. Wireless access points are particularly effective in situations where you need to increase WiFi coverage in multiple areas: they’re completely scalable, so increasing your WiFi network’s reach and speed is simply a matter of adding more WAPs. Wireless access points are also ideal for people who have WiFi “dead spots” in their home.

"If you’re not sure how many wireless devices you have, download a network analysis app to your smartphone. Many apps are able to show you a complete list of all the devices connected to your network."
STAFF
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Mesh networking devices represent an entirely different method of boosting a WiFi network’s speed and range that is often confused with wireless access points. A mesh network is one in which multiple identical broadcast nodes work together to provide WiFi coverage – every node is involved in every data relay, providing it to your devices as quickly as possible. Mesh networks are considered more resilient than networks using wireless access points (if one node has a problem, the others self-correct), but because most mesh networking kits include multiple nodes, they’re significantly more expensive than a single wireless access point. Mesh networks are ideal for larger homes or homes with multiple low-coverage areas.

Location, location, location

Wireless access points are only as effective as where they’re placed – and in general, the higher the better. Most wireless access points are designed to be set up in one of three locations:

  • Ceiling- and wall-mounted wireless access points are typically the size of a smoke detector, and ideal for covering entire rooms. Keep in mind that wherever you mount your wireless access point, it will need both power and, ideally, a wired internet connection.

  • Standalone wireless access points sit on any surface and look just like a typical wireless router. These offer the most flexibility, as you can place and move them as often as needed.
  • Outdoor wireless access points are designed to withstand the elements and are ideal for situations where web access is necessary outside the walls of your home.
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Expert Tip
You can test the WiFi coverage in your home by downloading a speed-testing app to your phone and running speed tests at various locations. As you identify areas of particularly low signal, keep a list and plan on placing one or more wireless access points accordingly.
STAFF
BestReviews

Wireless access point pricing

When it comes to the cost of wireless access points, there are two price ranges to be aware of.

  • In the $50 to $100 range, you’ll find options best suited for small apartments or dorm rooms. If you’re only trying to deliver WiFi to one area (like a specific room), there’s no need to spend more than this. Also, be wary of knock-offs. Instead, go with trusted brands and models that have more than just a few hundred reviews.
  • In the $100 to $200 range, expect high-end features (like a wall-mounting kit) and long-term durability. Get a wireless access point in this price range if you expect it to be a high-traffic area for WiFi. WAPs in this price range are ideal for use in a shared office environment.

 

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Expert Tip
Not all homes are ideal for wireless access points. If you find that a wireless access point isn’t the right solution for your space, consider a powerline networking kit, which transmits data over your home’s electrical power lines.
STAFF
BestReviews

Tips

As you’re looking for a wireless access point, consider these tips.

  1. Some wireless access points only support older, outdated wireless protocol standards. Make sure the wireless access point you choose supports the 802.11ac wireless protocol (the fastest standard currently). If it doesn’t support 802.11ac, don’t get it.

  2. Once you’ve set up your WiFi network, use your wireless access point software to set up a separate guest network. Using a guest network allows you to provide WiFi to friends and family when they visit without granting them unsecured access to your entire network.

  3. Although you can connect a wireless access point to your existing network wirelessly, it will provide much faster access to other devices if connected to your network via a wired Ethernet connection.
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Most wireless access points are backwards-compatible with older devices. For example, if you have an old tablet that uses 802.11n WiFi, it will still be able to connect to a wireless access point that uses 802.11ac.

FAQ

Q. Should I get a wireless access point that’s made by the same manufacturer as my existing router? Will it still work if they’re not the same brand?
A.
Wireless access points are agnostic for the most part, and brands and product lines can be mixed and matched based on your needs. However, there are some significant advantages to using complementary products from the same brand – for example, if you get a wireless access point made by the same manufacturer as your wireless router, you may be able to manage both devices from a single interface.

Q. Can I use a wireless access point with the wireless router I rent from my internet provider (ISP)?
A.
It depends on the specific model of wireless router provided to you by your ISP. Most ISP-provided wireless routers support third-party wireless access points, but it’s worth a call to confirm. If your rented wireless router doesn’t support adding a WAP, you might consider getting a wireless access point that does – and save yourself those pesky rental fees while you’re at it!

Q. Do I have to be a technical person to set up a wireless access point? How complicated is it?
A.
If you’ve already been through setting up your WiFi network, adding a wireless access point isn’t much more difficult – it’s typically a matter of connecting the WAP to your network and configuring the included software. If you’re not comfortable with technology, you may need to ask a friend for help, or consider a mesh networking setup, which will be much easier to set up and administer.