TP-Link Wi-Fi Extender or Powerline Adapter: Which Fixes Your Wi-Fi?

Weak Wi-Fi in one room? There are two cheap fixes: a Wi-Fi extender, which repeats your router's signal, or a powerline adapter, which sends your broadband through your home's electrical wiring. This guide explains which one to choose, and which TP-Link model suits your home.

Zenith Security Co is an official TP-Link VAR Partner with UK stock.

Wi-Fi extender or powerline adapter?

	Wi-Fi extender	Powerline adapter
How it works	Picks up your router's Wi-Fi and rebroadcasts it	Sends your broadband through the mains wiring to another plug socket
Best when	The weak room is near an area with decent Wi-Fi	Thick walls, long houses, extensions, loft rooms or garden offices
Wired port for a TV, console or PC	Some models	Yes
Setup	One plug, set up from a phone	Two plugs, usually press-to-pair

For whole-home coverage with no weak spots at all, a mesh system is better than either. See our TP-Link Deco mesh guide.

TP-Link Wi-Fi extenders

TP-Link RE200: AC750 dual-band extender with OneMesh. Dual-band makes it the better choice for streaming.
TP-Link TL-WA850RE: compact 300Mbps extender, a simple fix for browsing and email.
TP-Link TL-WA855RE: 300Mbps with external antennas for better reach.

Tip: put an extender halfway between the router and the weak room, where it still gets a good signal, not inside the weak room itself.

TP-Link powerline adapters

Powerline with Wi-Fi (wired and wireless in the far room)

TL-WPA4220 KIT: AV600 powerline Wi-Fi starter kit, our most popular way to fix Wi-Fi in a far room.
TL-WPA4220: an add-on Wi-Fi unit for an existing powerline network.
TL-WPA4220 TKIT: 3-pack for two far rooms.

Wired powerline kits (for a TV, console or PC)

TL-PA4010 KIT: Powerline 600, the entry-level kit.
TL-PA4010P KIT: the same, with a passthrough socket so you don't lose a plug.
TL-PA7017 KIT and TL-PA717 KIT: AV1000 gigabit, for faster broadband and 4K streaming.
TL-PA7017P KIT and TL-PA7027P KIT: AV1000 with passthrough, and the 7027P adds a second port.
TL-PA8010P KIT: AV1300 with 2x2 MIMO for longer runs and busier wiring.
TL-PA9020P KIT: AV2000, 2-port, our fastest powerline kit.

Powerline tips

Plug adapters straight into a wall socket, not an extension lead or surge-protected strip, which can weaken the signal.
Both adapters need to be on the same electrical circuit, which is normally the case within one home.
Choose a passthrough ("P") model if sockets are scarce.

FAQs

Which is better, a powerline adapter or a Wi-Fi extender?

Powerline is usually better for distant rooms, loft conversions and garden offices because it isn't blocked by walls. An extender is cheaper and simpler when the weak room is close to where Wi-Fi is still good.