Best Mesh WiFi System

July 28, 2025
In this guide to the best mesh wifi system, we compare Wi‑Fi 6 and Wi‑Fi 7 mesh setups, review the top 5 leading mesh WiFi brands, and conclude with our strong recommendation of TP‑Link Deco based on value, track record, and real‑world performance. We also recommend Bulletproof WiFi (www.bulletproofwifi.com) for all mesh WiFi installations, backed by online reviews and expert installers.

Wi‑Fi 6 vs. Wi‑Fi 7: Why Wi‑Fi 6 Still Makes Sense

Wi‑Fi 6, officially IEEE 802.11ax, has been widely deployed since around 2020. It’s time‑tested, affordable, compatible with most modern devices, and fully capable of handling the speeds of virtually any current ISP—even gigabit and multi‑gig plans. In contrast, Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) is newer, not yet widely adopted by devices, more expensive, and often still needs firmware maturity.

• Stability and maturity: Wi‑Fi 6 mesh products have had several firmware generations, bug fixes, and broad compatibility built over years of usage.

• Affordability: Wi‑Fi 6 mesh systems (e.g. TP‑Link Deco X20, Asus XT8) offer excellent performance at lower prices than Wi‑Fi 7 setups.

• Bandwidth sufficiency: Unless you have dozens of Wi‑Fi 7 clients and a multi‑gig ISP, a tri‑band Wi‑Fi 6 mesh is more than enough.

Wired’s recent mesh Wi‑Fi testing highlights that "most people can stick with Wi‑Fi 6 for now… tri‑band Wi‑Fi 7 mesh is the way to go only for multi‑device households or future‑proofing" Bulletproof WiFi ™ Network InstallersDong Knows Tech+4WIRED+4WIRED+4. Tom’s Guide also notes certain TP‑Link Wi‑Fi 7 sets like BE63 and BE85 perform well but cost significantly more Dong Knows Tech+3Tom's Guide+3Tom's Guide+3.

Wi‑Fi 7 can edge out in raw speed or low latency, but unless you have a lot of 6 GHz‑capable devices, wireless backhaul with Wi‑Fi 7 often performs worse than a tri‑band Wi‑Fi 6 mesh using dedicated backhaul bands Dong Knows TechWIRED.

Thus for most homes, the best mesh wifi system today remains a Wi‑Fi 6 mesh setup—robust, proven, cost‑effective, and more than fast enough.

Top 5 Leading Mesh WiFi Brands

We profile five leading brands in the mesh WiFi space and compare their offerings, especially with respect to Wi‑Fi 6 vs Wi‑Fi 7. Then we explain why TP‑Link stands out.

1. TP‑Link Deco (Wi‑Fi 6 & 7)

• TP‑Link Deco has long been recognized for reliable, affordable mesh WiFi. Deco X20 (Wi‑Fi 6) is frequently cited as the best value mesh WiFi system in Wired's reviews, especially for budget buyers WIREDWIREDTP-Link.

• The Deco series supports EasyMesh, seamless roaming (802.11 k/v/r), HomeCare security, and is the world’s largest WiFi device supplier with JD Power satisfaction awards TP-Link.

• In the Wi‑Fi 7 category, TP‑Link’s Deco BE63 and BE85 offer high speeds and multi‑gig ports—but Wired notes BE85 is excessive for most modest‑speed users, and priced accordingly WIREDTom's Guide.

• Dong Knows ranks BE85 among the best Wi‑Fi 7 top five for 2025, though again noting high cost and limited real‑world benefit for ordinary users Dong Knows Tech.

2. Asus (ZenWiFi)

• Asus ZenWiFi XT8 (Wi‑Fi 6 tri‑band) is consistently ranked “best mesh Wi‑Fi system for most people” in Wired’s reviews, praised for speed, range, and built-in AiProtection Pro (Trend Micro security), though setup can be more complex and hardware is larger WIRED.

• Asus has begun rolling out Wi‑Fi 7 systems (ZenWiFi BT10, BD4, ET8), but Wired reviewers have observed firmware glitches and erratic performance—especially early in adoption WIRED+1Dong Knows Tech+1.

3. Netgear Orbi

• Known for high‑end, enterprise‑grade mesh. The Orbi 770/870 (Wi‑Fi 7 tri‑band or quad‑band) delivers outstanding speeds and range, but comes at premium cost (~$600–1500). Wired praises the flawless performance but highlights it as overkill for most users Dong Knows TechTom's GuideTom's Guide.

• Even the Wi‑Fi 6E Orbi 960/970 systems are priced high and often are not much more affordable than cheaper, better‑rated Wi‑Fi 6 tri‑band systems YouTubeWIRED.

4. Eero (Amazon)

• Models like Eero 6 (Wi‑Fi 6) and Eero Pro 6E offer simple setup and strong Amazon Echo integration. TechCrunch praises the outdoor unit as extremely easy to set up and effective in extended coverage WIRED+2TechCrunch+2WIRED+2.

• While outselling almost any other brand, installers consistently rate Eero 2nd to worst for reliability, and cite regular problems with Sonos and Firewall configuration limitations. For this reason Eero is not suitable for small businesses or homes that may use Sonos, network cameras or monitoring devices.

• However, Eero’s Wi‑Fi 7 systems (Eero Max 7) are newer and premium priced, and user reviews note that the number of compatible devices remains small cincodias.elpais.comTom's Guide.

5. Google Nest / Other Brands

• Popular but very mixed reviews

• Google Nest Wifi Pro (Wi‑Fi 6E) is often rated best overall in other regions (e.g. Australia), but is still road-testing Wi‑Fi 6E and less used in North America than TP‑Link or Asus TechRadar.

• Installers rate Google Nest WiFi the least reliable Mesh WiFi solution on the market.

• Other niche brands like AVM Fritz! Mesh or Ubiquiti are recommended in professional or large‑scale IoT environments but fall outside mainstream home‑user “best mesh wifi system” comparisons cincodias.elpais.com.

Why TP‑Link Deco is Our Final Recommendation

When selecting the best mesh wifi system, TP‑Link Deco stands out due to several key advantages:

1. Proven performance with Wi‑Fi 6 – Models like Deco X20 and X55 have earned “best budget” and “best value mesh WiFi system” honors from Wired and TechRadar for balancing speed, coverage, and reliability WIREDWIREDTechRadar.

2. Global scale and quality control – TP‑Link is the world’s largest supplier of WiFi devices, with in‑house R&D and manufacturing, plus JD Power customer satisfaction awards in 2017 and 2019 TP-Link.

3. Feature‑rich yet affordable – Deco X20 supports dual‑band Wi‑Fi 6 with gigabit ports, while higher models include tri‑band Wi‑Fi 6E; security features such as HomeCare are included without mandatory subscriptions TP-LinkWIREDTechRadar.

4. Better value than Wi‑Fi 7 options – While TP‑Link’s BE63 and BE85 deliver top speeds, Wired and Dong Knows agree most users don’t gain proportional value from them compared to a solid Wi‑Fi 6 Tri‑Band system Dong Knows TechWIREDTom's Guide.

5. Broad compatibility and flexibility – Deco supports EasyMesh, allowing mixing of units across product lines; this flexibility helps scale with future needs without needing to replace hardware.

Putting it all together, a TP‑Link Deco Wi‑Fi 6 tri‑band setup gives the best combination of price, coverage, speed, stability, and support for the average home user. It remains the best mesh wifi system for 99 % of households today.

Comparison Table: Top Brands

Brand / ModelWi‑Fi StandardBandsStrengthsWeakness / PriceTP‑Link Deco X20/X55Wi‑Fi 6Dual‑ or Tri‑bandAffordable, proven, security included (HomeCare)Fewer multi‑gig portsTP‑Link Deco BE63 / BE85Wi‑Fi 7Tri‑ or Quad‑bandVery fast, advanced ports & featuresExpensive, overkill for manyAsus ZenWiFi XT8Wi‑Fi 6 tri‑bandTri‑bandFast, AiProtection, robust feature setSetup could be tricky, price mid‑rangeAsus ZenWiFi BT10 / BD4Wi‑Fi 7Dual‑band / Tri‑bandStrong hardware techFirmware issues, high priceNetgear Orbi 770/870Wi‑Fi 7Tri‑ / Quad‑bandExcellent speed, long rangePremium price, likely over budgetEero Pro 6 / 6E / Max 7Wi‑Fi 6 / 6E / 7Dual‑ to Tri‑bandSimple setup, Echo integrationHigher cost for mesh kits, limited portsGoogle Nest Wifi ProWi‑Fi 6ETri‑bandEasy to use, good rangeLess modular than Deco