With more people working from home and utilizing streaming entertainment services, having a fast home network is as important as having a kettle or central heating. The easiest approach to improve your home network speeds is to install Powerline adapters in the areas that require it. It is not necessary to increase speed throughout the home, only in the areas where it is most needed. They are not difficult to install.
What are Powerline adaptors?
Powerline is a simple-to-install digital home solution that can connect devices to your network quicker than Wi-Fi, regardless of whether they are in the same room as your router.
It connects to your home’s main power cables to generate a network connection that is usually quicker than Wi-Fi. It isn’t restricted to devices with an Ethernet port: certain Powerline kits can generate powerful new Wi-Fi hotspots to provide a wireless signal in rooms or locations where your router cannot.
It’s straightforward, easy to set up, and affordable, especially considering how much better your home network will be for streaming HD TV, gaming, and other data-hungry devices and services.
The greatest Powerline adapters are far superior to Wi-Fi extenders or repeaters, which just push a poor signal further around the home. The farther you are from your internet router and the more obstructions (walls, other gadgets), the worse your Wi-Fi reception will be. Distance and obstructions have little influence on speed with Powerline, so you may use an adapter in a power socket anywhere in your home to obtain close to the full capacity of your internet connection.
Powerline connects fast Internet to your smart devices, including your TV, gaming console, Sky, Roku, or Tivo box, as well as PCs and laptops.
Some Powerline adapters include built-in Wi-Fi and will establish a new wireless network in the second room. This means you can have both a strong, fast signal for your laptop, smartphone, tablet, or other Wi-Fi device and a cable connection for smart devices.
If you want great Wi-Fi coverage throughout your entire home (especially larger houses) rather than just a new hotspot in one weak room (Read how to extend your Wi-Fi range), Mesh Wi-Fi is a more sophisticated option for larger homes, but Powerline is the fastest and can come with extra Wi-Fi hotspots built-in—especially useful for smaller homes. Devolo’s Magic WiFi range (seen below) combines Powerline and Mesh technologies and has been upgraded with super-fast Wi-Fi 6.
Here’s how simple it is to set up Powerline adaptors. Plug one adapter into a power outlet near your router/modem and connect it to the router via an ethernet cable.
Then, in the area where you wish to connect a device to the network, put the second adapter into a nearby power outlet and attach another ethernet cable from that to the smart device (TV, Sky/Tivo box, Fire Stick, games console, laptop, etc) you want to connect to the network.
That’s it. It really is plug and play.
Most Powerline adapters come in a Starter Kit of two adapters but can buy “whole home” kits of three. You can also add extra single adapters if you need to have a fast home network in more rooms. Make sure you begin with at least the two-adapter starter kit—one adapter on its own won’t do much for you.
What other features should I look for?
In addition to additional Wi-Fi, consider adapters that include an integrated “passthrough” power outlet and so do not consume a valuable wall socket.
If you need to connect many devices via cables, seek for adapters with multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports.
Best Powerline adapters 2024
TP-Link AV1300 (TL-WPA8631P KIT) – Best Overall Wi-Fi Powerline Adapter
The TP-Link AV1300 Gigabit Powerline Starter Kit comes in two variants, each with two adapters.
The TL-WPA8631P KIT comes with one Gigabit Ethernet port on the base adapter (really the TL-PA8010P) that connects to your router and three Gigabit Ethernet ports on the second-room adapter.
This is an excellent choice if you want to boost the speeds of multiple network devices (such as smart TV, games console, Sky/Tivo box, laptop, etc) with a fast, stable wired connection. Other Powerline adapters have just one or two Ethernet ports, to which you could add an Ethernet Switch for extra wired ports, but this is a much neater solution.
Handily both adapters feature passthrough sockets to save you from losing one at the wall socket when the adapters are plugged in.
This exceptional value for money The AV1300 Powerline Starter Kit has the option to add a new, fast Wi-Fi hotspot in the second room, which is useful if your home Wi-Fi signal weakens as you move away from the room where your router is installed. This should result in much faster wifi speeds for your cellphones, computers, tablets, and other devices.
The Ethernet ports are at the top of the adapter, which is handy if your power sockets are close to the floor line.
Make sure you are buying the two-adapter Starter Kit (TL-WPA8631P KIT) and not just the single-adapter TL-WPA8631P.
Available in the US, UK and EU with appropriate plugs.
TP-Link AV1000 (TL-PA7017 KIT) – Best Budget Powerline Adapter
The TP-Link AV1000 series has several Powerline adapter models, and the entry-level TL-PA7017 KIT is ideal if all you need is one smart device linked up for reliable and fast Internet and network access in a second room remote from your router.
It’s a simple beginning kit consisting of two small Powerline adapters. One connects to your router using the provided Ethernet wire, and the other to the device that requires a rapid download connection in a different room.
Because neither adapter has a passthrough connection, it will occupy a wall socket in each room.
If your home wireless signal is poor, try using a Powerline adaptor to add an extra Wi-Fi hotspot, such as the TL-WPA8631P KIT described above.
Available in the US, UK and EU with appropriate plugs.
Devolo Magic 2 WiFi 6 – Best Powerline for 2,400Mbps speed and Mesh Wi-Fi
In terms of home networking, the Devolo Magic 2 Powerline & Mesh Wi-Fi 6 combo provides the best of both worlds. It has the potential to outperform other Powerline adapters by using the latest G.hn network standard, and with advanced Mesh capabilities (Fast Roaming, Access Point Steering, MU-MIMO, Band Steering, Config Sync, and Airtime Fairness), it should excel in larger homes that require more than one extra Wi-Fi hotspot.
WiFi 6 increases theoretical wifi speeds by 50% to 1,800Mbps, up from 1,200Mbps in WiFi 5. It also includes a slew of new features, like as bi-directional MU-MIMO and OFDMA, which allow for simultaneous bidirectional communication between an access point and end users. Target Wait Time assists devices in conserving power and avoiding channel conflict. And, in high-density situations, Basic Service Set (BSS) Coloring eliminates interference caused by congestion, guaranteeing constant service to many connected devices.
The Magic 2 has a wired speed of 2,400Mbps and may be purchased as LAN alone (no Wi-Fi) or with a built-in Wi-Fi 5 or 6 hotspot, however we prefer the top-end WiFi 6 variant.
The Magic 2 Wi-Fi 6 is filled with capabilities, including Powerline, Mesh, passthrough sockets, and two Ethernet ports, and is the ideal choice for bigger households that want certain devices hard-wired for the highest download speeds, as well as a complex Mesh-based wireless system.
The speeds are high, but because you’re paying for Powerline and Mesh, this is best suited to houses that need more than one additional Wi-Fi hotspot. If you’re looking for a quick Mesh system, this one definitely delivers.
The Magic 2 WiFi 6 Starter Kit still relies on the wireless signal from your router, but the ultimate variant (Magic 2 WiFi 6 Mesh) can take over the router with a full Wi-Fi 6 wireless network. Each adapter in this two- or three-pack beginning kit has two Ethernet ports and a WiFi hotspot, whereas the ordinary Magic 2 WiFi 6 beginning Kit has a single Ethernet port and no WiFi as the base unit. Available in the United Kingdom and the European Union but not yet in the United States.
The Magic 2 WiFi 5 Mesh Starter Kit, which has two Gigabit Ethernet ports and a WiFi 5 hotspot but lacks the best wifi speeds, is nevertheless an excellent Powerline and Mesh combo. This is accessible in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
Tenda PH5 AV1000 – Best budget Wi-Fi Powerline Adapter
The Tenda PH5 AV1000 Wi-Fi is an able performer and extremely well-priced for its two Ethernet ports and Wi-Fi function.
We’d have appreciated pass-through power sockets on each adapter, but at this price, it’s a great starter Powerline kit that offers a new Wi-Fi hotspot in a second room.
The entry-level PH3 lacks the Wi-Fi and one of the Gigabit Ethernet ports, but is even more affordable.
TP-Link AV1300 (TL-PA8033P KIT) – Best non-Wi-Fi Powerline Adapter with Multiple Ports
If you need to connect many items via wired Ethernet (smart TV, Sky/Tivo box, games console, and so on), having multiple Ethernet ports on the second adaptor is really useful.
The AV1300 TL-PA8033P’s second-room adapter has three Gigabit Ethernet ports, and both adapters include passthrough power sockets.
If your Wi-Fi signal is adequate and you don’t mind not having a new hotspot, the TL-PA8033P provides excellent Powerline value.
TP-Link AV1000 (TL-PA7017P KIT) – Best Budget Powerline Adapter with Passthrough Sockets
Our favorite budget Powerline beginning kit is the TP-Link TL-PA7017 KIT, but if you want to save a couple of your home’s wall power sockets, consider upgrading to the TP-Link TL-PA7017P KIT, which includes a passthrough socket on both adapters.
Despite having the same 7017 title, the TP-Link TL-PA7017P KIT has a completely different appearance due to the necessity for a bigger adaptor case to house the passthrough power connector.
Having said that, the adapters are still small and won’t take up much space, and the speed is just as impressive.
There is no additional Wi-Fi hotspot, but this kit is ideal for houses with enough WiFi but who want a fast cable connection for devices such as a smart TV, laptop, or gaming console.
The TL-WPA7617 KIT from TP-Link has the same base adapter as the PA7017P but adds a Wi-Fi adapter for the second room, but it lacks a passthrough connection.
TP-Link AV2000 – Great value 2-port pass-through 2,000Mbps Powerline
The TP-Link AV2000’s real-world performance impressed us, since it scored as high as we’ve seen in our testing.
Pass-through connections on the TL-PA9020P KIT version, as well as two Gigabit Ethernet ports per adapter (on both the TL-PA9020P KIT and the TL-PA9020 KIT), are also welcome additions.
There is no additional Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, but if your home Wi-Fi is adequate, this isn’t the worst absence.
If you want a fast Powerline starting kit with more than one Ethernet port and pass-through, this is a great option at a reasonable price.
Netgear Powerline PLP1000 – No frills budget 1,000Mbps Powerline
Trendnet Powerline 1200 AV2 Wireless Kit – Fast 1,200Mbps Powerline with 3 LAN ports
The Trendnet WiFi Everywhere Powerline 1200 AV2 Wireless Kit (TPL-430APK) features a lengthy name and a huge second adapter with conspicuous antennas to indicate Wi-Fi capabilities.
This beginning kit consists of two adapters: the TPL-421E from Trendnet’s previous non-wireless starter kit and the TPL-430AP adapter, which creates a new Wi-Fi hotspot in the second room.
The performance is excellent, but we were put off by the large adaptor and the lack of a pass-through power connector.
It does provide three Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connecting numerous devices, but we think the TP-Link TL-WPA8630PKIT is a better value for three LAN ports and a Wi-Fi connection.
Can I trust the speed ratings?
The theoretical maximum speeds of all Powerline adapters range from 500Mbps to 2,400Mbps for wired connections and up to 1,800Mbps for wireless connections.
You won’t reach anywhere close to these peak speeds, but they are indicative of the technology within that may be compared.
Tech Advisor evaluates Powerline adapters in real-world scenarios to uncover the genuine performance comparison, so check out our list below for our performance findings and suggestions, as well as links to our Powerline adaptor evaluations for speed ratings and feature descriptions.
Some of the adapters we review here have been around for a few years, but the basic technology hasn’t changed much and these are gadgets that you don’t need to upgrade very often, making them even better value for money. The tech doesn’t move quickly like smartphones.
