What are Powerline adaptors?
Powerline is a simple-to-install digital home technology that can provide faster speeds than Wi-Fi for connecting devices to your network, regardless of whether or not they’re in the same room as your router. It uses your home’s mains power wires to create a network connection that—in most cases—is faster than Wi-Fi. It isn’t limited to gadgets that have an Ethernet port: some Powerline kits can create powerful new Wi-Fi hotspots to give you a wireless signal in rooms or areas your router can’t reach. It’s simple, easy to set up, and inexpensive given that it will greatly improve your home network for streaming HD TV, gaming and other data-hungry devices and services. The best Powerline adapters are a much better bet than Wi-Fi extenders or repeaters that merely push a weak signal further around a house. The longer the distance from your internet router and the more obstacles (walls, other devices), the weaker the Wi-Fi reception. With Powerline, distance and obstacles have a minimal effect on speed so you get close to the full potential of your broadband connection anywhere in your home with an adapter in a power socket. Powerline physically wires fast Internet into your smart devices, such as your TV, games console, Sky, Roku or Tivo box, plus PCs and laptops. Some Powerline adapters also have built-in Wi-Fi and create a new wireless network in that second room. This means you can get a strong, fast signal for your laptop, smartphone, tablet or another Wi-Fi gadget as well as a wired connection for smart devices. If you just want great Wi-Fi coverage across your entire home (especially larger houses) and not just a new hotspot in one weak room, a more sophisticated alternative for larger homes is Mesh Wi-Fi (see our Best Mesh Wi-Fi Kits roundup), 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 (see below) marries Powerline and Mesh technologies and has been updated to include super-speedy Wi-Fi 6. Here’s how easy it is to install Powerline adaptors. Plug one adapter into a power socket near your router/modem and attach it to the router with an ethernet cable (usually supplied with the Powerline kit—or check out the best ethernet cables in our separate roundup). Then go to the room where you want to hook up a device to the network, plug the second adapter into a nearby power socket, and connect another ethernet cable from that to the smart device (TV, Sky/Tivo box, Fire Stick, games console, laptop, etc) you want to get online. 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?
As well as extra Wi-Fi, you should consider adapters that have an integrated “passthrough” power socket and therefore don’t take up a valuable wall socket. And if you need to connect multiple devices using cables look for adapters with more than one Gigabit Ethernet port.
Best Powerline adapters 2022
Can I trust the speed ratings?
All Powerline adapters are marketed with the theoretical maximum speeds, from 500Mbps to 2,400Mbps for wired connections and up to 1,800Mbps for wireless.
Fast Easy Three Ethernet ports Wi-Fi Passthrough sockets
Quite large adapters
The TL-WPA8631P KIT features one Gigabit Ethernet port on the base adapter (actually a unit called the TL-PA8010P) that connects to your router and a generous 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 top-end value-for-money AV1300 Powerline Starter Kit includes the ability to add a new, fast Wi-Fi hotspot in the second room, which is a great help if your home Wi-Fi signal gets weaker the further you are away from the room that your router is set up in. This should significantly increase wireless speeds for your smartphones, laptops, 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. Available in the US, UK and EU with appropriate plugs. Read our full review of the TP-Link AV1300 Powerline range.
Fast Easy Affordable Compact
No passthrough sockets No Wi-Fi hotspot option
It’s a no-frills starter kit of two tiny Powerline adapters. One connects to your router via the included Ethernet cable, and the other in a second room to the device that requires a fast download connection. There’s no passthrough socket on either adapter so it will take up a wall socket in each room. If your home wireless signal is weak instead consider a Powerline adapter that can add an extra Wi-Fi hotspot. Available in the US, UK and EU with appropriate plugs. Read our full review of the TP-Link AV1000 Powerline range.
Very fast Easy Wi-Fi-6 Passthrough sockets Two Ethernet ports Wi-Fi and Mesh options
More expensive than most Quite large adapters
WiFi 6 boosts potential wireless speeds by 50% to 1,800Mbps, compared to 1,200Mbps for WiFi 5. It also adds a bunch more benefits, such as bi-directional MU-MIMO and OFDMA that enable simultaneous bidirectional communication between an access point and end-users. Target Wait Time helps devices conserve power, and prevents channel contention. And Basic Service Set (BSS) Coloring reduces interference due to congestion, ensuring consistent service to multiple connected devices in high-density environments. The Magic 2 is rated at 2,400Mbps for wired speed, and can be purchased either as LAN only (no Wi-Fi) or with a Wi-Fi 5 or 6 hotspot built-in, but here we recommend the top-end WiFi 6 model. With Powerline, Mesh, passthrough sockets and two Ethernet ports, the Magic 2 Wi-Fi 6 is loaded with features and is the best choice for larger homes that need some devices hard-wired for the best download speeds plus a sophisticated Mesh-based wireless system. Speeds are fast, but you’re paying for Powerline and Mesh so this is best suited to homes that require more than one extra Wi-Fi hotspot. If you’re after a fast Mesh system this one really delivers. The Magic 2 WiFi 6 Starter Kit still relies on your router’s wireless signal, but the ultimate model (Magic 2 WiFi 6 Mesh) can take over from the router with a full Wi-Fi 6 wireless network. Each adapter in this two- or three-pack starter kit features two Ethernet ports and a WiFi hotspot—whereas the standard Magic 2 WiFi 6 Starter Kit features a one-Ethernet-port, non-WiFi adapter as the base unit. Available in the UK and EU but not yet in the US. The more affordable Magic 2 WiFi 5 Mesh Starter Kit has two Gigabit Ethernet ports and WiFi 5 hotspot, doesn’t boast the fastest wireless speeds but is still an impressive Powerline and Mesh combination. This is available in the US, UK and EU.
Fast Easy Two Ethernet ports Wi-Fi option
No Passthrough sockets
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.
Fast Easy Passthrough sockets Three Ethernet ports
No Wi-Fi option Quite large adapters
The AV1300 TL-PA8033P boasts three Gigabit Ethernet ports on its second-room adapter, and both adapters have passthrough power sockets. If your Wi-Fi signal is acceptable and you can live without a new hotspot, and the TL-PA8033P represents great Powerline value. Read our full TP-Link AV1300 Gigabit Powerline Adapter review.
Fast Easy Affordable Compact Passthrough sockets
No Wi-Fi hotspot option
Although it bears the same 7017 title, the TP-Link TL-PA7017P KIT looks very different because of the need for a larger adapter case to host the passthrough power socket. That said, the adapters are still pretty dinky and won’t dominate your room, and the speed is just as admirable. Read our full review of the TP-Link AV1000 family of Powerline adapters. The inclusion of pass-through sockets on the TL-PA9020P KIT version and two Gigabit Ethernet ports per adapter (on both the TL-PA9020P KIT and TL-PA9020 KIT) are also welcomed. There’s no extra Wi-Fi hotspot function but if your house Wi-Fi is acceptable this isn’t the worst omission. If you want a fast Powerline starter kit with more than one Ethernet port plus pass-through this is highly recommended, and is at a decent price too.
Affordable Passthrough sockets
Just one Ethernet port per adapter No Wi-Fi option
While found lacking in features, it will still make a huge difference to your home network and PC or entertainment download speeds.
Fast: Wi-Fi option Three Ethernet ports
Large second adapter lacks passthrough socket
This starter kit is actually two different adapters, the TPL-421E in Trendnet’s other non-wireless starter kit and a TPL-430AP adapter that builds you a new Wi-Fi hotspot in the second room. Performance is impressive, but we were slightly put off by the giant adapter and its lack of pass-through power socket. It does boast three Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connecting of multiple devices, but we find the TP-Link TL-WPA8630PKIT a more affordable option for three LAN ports and a Wi-Fi connection.
Fast Easy Three Ethernet ports Wi-Fi Passthrough socket on the base adapter
Wi-Fi could be faster Large second adapter without passthrough
This second adapter is also pretty large and therefore is less discreet than most adapters we’ve tested. The PL-AC56 is expensive (more than the Trendnet TPL-430APK and the TP-Link TL-WPA8631P KIT), but does boast all the bells and whistles (three Gigabit Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi, and a passthrough socket on the base adapter) of the latest Powerline starter kits, and so suits the top-end networking market well. You won’t actually get anywhere near these top speeds, but they are indicative of the technology inside that can be compared against each other. To really find the true performance comparison, Tech Advisor tests Powerline adapters in real-world environments, so check out our list below for our performance results and recommendations, along with links to our Powerline adaptor reviews for speed scores and feature explanations. 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. Powerline adapters are a great solution, but there may well be other ways to speed up your home network. Simon was Editor of Macworld from the dark days of 1995 to the triumphant return of Steve Jobs and the launch of the iPhone. His desk is a test bench for tech accessories, from USB-C and Thunderbolt docks to chargers, batteries, Powerline adaptors and Fitbits.
