While almost every laptop on the market today has a built-in Wi-Fi card, not all desktop PCs have the same luxury. If you’re putting together a gaming PC, you might be surprised to learn that many of the best USB WiFi adapter in 2021.
Even those that do provide Wi-Fi frequently have a cheaper version that does not. Wi-Fi add-in cards are an option, but the best USB WiFi adapter is by far the most convenient way to give computers a wireless connection.
Generally, these the best USB WiFi adapters are a plug-and-play solution. All you have to do is plug them into a USB port on your computer (and possibly install a driver), and your computer will be connected to the internet.
The majority of the best USB WiFi adapter are fast, and some even support dual-band wireless for connections to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. You’ll want to pair a high-speed the best USB WiFi adapter 3.0 port or higher to get the most out of it, ensuring maximum bandwidth for a fast and stable internet connection.
Top 10 Best USB WiFi Adapter
We’ve compiled a list of best USB WiFi adapter options for speeding up your computer, so you can choose which one best suits your setup and needs in 2021.
Asus USB-AC68
When it comes to gaming, you can’t afford to have a poor internet connection. The Asus USB-AC68 takes things to the next level with dual-band Wi-Fi, high throughput, and a lot of flexibility. You’ll want to use the USB adapter’s 5GHz band, which can support speeds of up to 1,300Mbps, for the fastest connection. That way, you’ll be able to get the most out of your internet connection by reducing lag while playing and downloading games and updates at maximum speeds.
The Asus USB-AC68 uses a the best USB WiFi adapter 3.0 connection to support those higher speeds. The adapter can be plugged directly into the USB port on your laptop or desktop computer. It could then use the two large antennas built in to get a good signal, but Asus offers another option. There’s a cradle with an extension cable that you can use to connect this USB Wi-Fi adapter to a location where it’ll get a better signal and thus more stable gaming connectivity.
Net-Dyn AC1200
The Net-Dyn earns a spot on this list by achieving a perfect balance of size and speed. It can travel up to 100 yards without losing much speed. It’s also the best USB WiFi adapter 3.0, which ensures low latency at higher speeds (as long as your computer supports it). Dual-band connectivity is also available, with speeds of up to 867Mbps at 5GHz and 300Mbps at 2.4GHz. Both Windows and Mac are supported.
Netgear Nighthawk AC1900
Netgear’s Nighthawk AC1900 the best USB WiFi adapter is a one-stop-shop for all your Wi-Fi needs. In an ideal world, you’d be able to upgrade your laptop’s Wi-Fi adapter or add a PCIe-based wireless networking card to your desktop, but this isn’t always possible. In those cases, the USB-based Nighthawk AC1900 can fill in, and you won’t notice much of a difference.
The Nighthawk AC1900 has a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 connection, allowing you to connect on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. This means you’ll be able to get some seriously fast speeds, with the 2.4GHz connection capable of 600Mbps and the 5GHz connection capable of 1,300Mbps. It can help ensure a strong signal with an optional dock, beamforming, and an adjustable antenna array with four antennae inside. Just make sure you’re using USB 3.0 to connect this beast to your computer, or you’ll be sacrificing performance.
TP-Link Archer T3U Plus
If you’re looking to spend a little money on a capable the best USB WiFi adapter that you can slap on the back of your PC and forget about, the TP-Link Archer T3U Plus is the one to get. Despite the fact that this upgrade is only $30, it can provide you with a reliable Wi-Fi connection for everyday use. Because the USB portion of the device is about the size of a standard flash drive, it won’t protrude too far from your computer.
However, TP-Link has added a long and adjustable antenna to the adapter to improve reception. The Archer T3U Plus features dual-band AC wireless, allowing you to connect to 2.4GHz networks for speeds up to 400Mbps or 5GHz networks for speeds up to 867Mbps, making it capable of handling just about anything you throw at it.
TP-Link N150 USB WiFi Adapter
If your wireless networking needs are simple, the TP-Link N150 USB Wi-Fi Adapter is the one to get. Perhaps your gaming PC is already hardwired to the router and you only need to connect wirelessly on occasion, or perhaps you simply have a fried Wi-Fi chip in a laptop and need a quick fix. In either case, the TP-Link N150 can provide it for less than $10 and takes up virtually no space.
The TP-Link N150 is extremely small, with the best USB WiFi adapter connection taking up the majority of its space. As a result, it’s a plug-and-forget solution that you can simply leave in place. Its internet connection is a little out of date, with a simple 802.11n wireless connection on the 2.4GHz band and maximum speeds of 150Mbps, but if you’re using a small router and don’t have a premium home internet plan, it might suffice. For the record, 150Mbps is plenty for streaming HD video, and Netflix only requires 25Mbps for 4K HDR video.
D-Link USB WiFi Adapter
You can also change your internet speed to around 867Mbps by switching to the 5GHz bandwidth. High-quality visuals like these are meant to be enjoyed in their entirety, whether it’s movie night or game night. This includes lag-free HD video streaming as well as crystal-clear video and audio calls. That’s why I decided to put the D-Link USB WiFi Adapter to the test to see how powerful it is.
When you install the D-Link USB is the best USB WiFi adapter in your home, you’ll get super-fast internet that you can use on all of your devices. Thanks to AC1300 wireless technology, you can easily achieve high speeds of 867Mbps on the 5GHz band and 4000Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.
If you are a frequent traveller who is constantly on the move, you will appreciate the D-Link USB WiFi is the best USB WiFi adapter. Even though it appears to be quite small, it is extremely efficient because all you have to do is plug it into a USB port and turn it on.
D-Link DWA-192
You don’t have to let your PC’s lack of a built-in Wi-Fi card prevent you from connecting to high-speed networks. Whether you connect over the 2.4GHz band or the 5GHz band, the D-Link DWA-192 can deliver some impressive speeds. This is a dual-band the best USB WiFi adapter, to be precise. The D-Link DWA-192 is a miniature Death Star that connects to your computer via USB.
It comes with a long USB cable so you can place it wherever you want to get the best signal reception. The 2.4GHz network can reach speeds of 600Mbps at its best, which is more than enough for most of us to do on our computers, whether it’s gaming or 4K streaming. The 5GHz network is capable of speeds of up to 1,300Mbps. That’s so fast that most of us won’t be able to access it because our ISPs don’t have enough bandwidth.
TP-Link Archer T4U Plus
If you have limited space behind your computer or are concerned about signal quality, the TP-Link Archer T4U Plus provides the flexibility you need at a reasonable price. This USB Wi-Fi adapter connects to your computer via the best USB WiFi adapter 3.0, but the bulk of the device is actually a special base station that you can place out in the open thanks to the three-foot cable.
The base station has two large antennas that you can adjust to get the best reception. The Archer T4U Plus, like its smaller sibling, has dual-band AC wireless. This will support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity, allowing you to choose between range and speed. The Archer T4U Plus offers up to 867Mbps on a 5GHz network, which should suffice for even 4K video streaming.
Netgear A6150 AC1200 WiFi USB Adapter
You don’t need a bulky USB dongle to add Wi-Fi to your computer. The A6150 AC1200 the best USB WiFi adapter from Netgear is about as small as they get. This adapter is only five grammes in weight and will barely protrude from your USB port, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally damaging it or your USB port. The Netgear AC6150 adapter, despite its small size, is capable of high speeds.It has dual-band connectivity, allowing you to connect to either 2.4GHz or 5GHz networks, with the faster band capable of speeds of up to 867Mbps. Beamforming and MU-MIMO connections are also supported by this adapter. If you’re trying to use this far away from a router in another room, the size of the adapter may not provide the best reception, but for shorter-distance connections where you don’t want a tangle of cables, this will suffice.
EDUP HOME AC600M Wireless Adapter
At first glance, purchasing a good wireless adapter may appear to be a simple task. However, it is only once you begin searching that you will realize it is not as simple as it appears. The good news is that the EDUP HOME AC600M the best USB WiFi adapter can’t go wrong. Here are my thoughts on the subject.
The dual high-gain Wi-Fi antenna on this model is the first highlight, and it can give you internet speeds like you’ve never had before! Whether you’re doing intensive tasks like gaming or streaming your favourite movies, or more simple tasks like online shopping, the internet’s speed will be unaffected!