The best powerline adapters 2022 may seem like a trivial consideration, but they’re able to extend your range of coverage in a way that most other network solutions can’t, making them an absolute must-buy for anyone experiencing poor wireless at home. That’s due to the fact that they work a little bit differently than routers or mesh Wi-Fi systems.
You just need to connect one directly to an ethernet cable that hooks into your router and plug it into an available power outlet. You can then plug a second (or more) unit into an outlet where you're experiencing low speeds and as long as they share the same power grid connection, you'll see that the connection is vastly improved.
Though there are other network solutions to try, if they don’t work, the top powerline adapter might be the answer to your internet problems, especially if you’re dealing with networks that just can’t reach certain areas of your home or office. Depending on the model, they can even broadcast their Wi-Fi signal.
To help you upgrade your network, we’ve rounded up the best powerline adapters here for you to choose from. And, considering they have speeds close to wired connections, this might be the perfect way to go. You'll also need one of the best Ethernet cables to set up your powerline adapter, so it makes sense to pick one up before you get started.
- Looking for the best Wi-Fi extenders instead?
Easily the best powerline adapter you can buy today, the Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6delivers fast speeds and all the benefits of mesh Wi-Fi technology. These kits aren’t cheap, but the combination of powerline and Wi-Fi connectivity will be ideal for homes that have thick walls that block the Wi-Fi signal.
You can manage everything via the Devolo app on your phone, giving you control over both the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands providing download speeds of 100Mbps with the Ookla speed-test, and 12.5MB/s for Steam downloads. If you need to get some wiFi signal into a tricky location in your home, this is the new gold standard.
Read the full review: Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6
Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 is only available in the UK. For US and Australian consumers, check out the D-Link Powerline Adapter AV2 on Amazon.com (opens in new tab).
While it looks very similar to the above listing, this isn't actually the same product as the Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6. Instead, this older offering still delivers fast speeds and all the benefits of mesh Wi-Fi technology, making it very worthy of second place. It’s an excellent jumping off point for the new G.hn standard, bringing to the table noticeable improvements to network speeds. It’s pricey and it’s not backwards-compatible, but those are hardly deal-breakers especially for the benefits you’re getting. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to install
Read the full review: Devolo Magic 2 WiFi (opens in new tab)
Devolo Magic 2 WiFi is only available in the UK. For US and Australian consumers, check out the D-Link Powerline Adapter AV2 on Amazon.com (opens in new tab).
The TP-Link AV2000 takes the award for fastest power line adaptor, with a maximum speed of 2000Mbps - though of course actual speeds will be lower. Still, it offers fantastic speeds, along with built-in dual band wireless ac networks and a pass through socket.
In the starter kit you'll get two adapters, one has a single Ethernet port, which you should use to connect to your modem or router, and the second one has two Ethernet ports for connecting wired devices.
Extend your network through thick walls and into the furthest corners of your home or office with the Devolo Mesh WiFi 2. Boasting both mesh Wi-Fi features and versatile powerline connectivity, this device can even follow you and your mobile devices around, automatically switching you to the closest adaptor and the fastest Wi-Fi band. It even has three adaptors that give you five Gigabit Ethernet ports for fast, wired connections. This is the best powerline adapter for games consoles, smart-TVs and other devices that work best with wired connections.
Read the full review: Devolo Mesh WiFi 2 (opens in new tab)
Asus may not be the first company that comes to mind when you think about networking devices, but it makes some very good products - such as the Asus 1200Mbps AV2 1200 Wi-Fi Powerline Adapter.
As the name suggests this is a very fast powerline adaptor that is also able to broadcast a Wi-Fi network as well. Unlike other powerline adapters with Wi-Fi, the Asus 1200Mbps AV2 1200 Wi-Fi Powerline Adapter has external antennae, which allow you to angle them for increased coverage - though it does mean the units themselves look a little bit ugly compared to some of its competitors.
If you're looking for a nice, cheap but reliable powerline adaptor, than the TP-LINK AV600 is a great choice. It's a lot less money than many of the adapters on this list, but it still manages to offer plenty of features.
For example, it can broadcast Wi-Fi, and with a Wi-Fi clone button, you can easily extend your existing wireless network. it also features two Ethernet ports, and the second adaptor in the set includes a pass through socket so you don't lose out on a power socket when using the adaptor. While the 600Mbps top speed isn't as high as others on this list, it's still enough to transfer big files and stream media around your home.
The Devolo dLAN 1200+ WiFi ac is one of the fastest powerline adapters on the market, able to reach speeds of 1.2 gigabits a second - though you should note that you won't often get those kinds of speeds, as there are numerous factors that can affect powerline speeds.
Still, this is a very fast powerline adaptor, and the fact it can also broadcast dual-band wireless ac networks makes this a very versatile powerline adaptor. The adaptor also has a pass through power port, which means you won't lose a power socket - just plug other devices into the adaptor itself.
This is an excellent entry-level power adaptor that does a very good job at transmitting your network traffic over your powerlines. It doesn't boast the highest speeds, nor does it have Wi-Fi or a passthrough socket, but it does the job well considering the price, and its low cost means it's easy to add adapters to your network in the future.
- Also check out our list of the best wireless routers (opens in new tab)
