The Best USB Wi-Fi Adapters in 2024

This is an extremely cheap adapter that’s as small as they get and that comes with dual-band and Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) support. The maximum transfer speed is 433Mbps over the 5GHz band and 200Mbps over the 2.4GHz band. Not amazing but for this price these speeds are more than enough. There aren’t extra features here but it isn’t as if we’ve expected any at this price.

The TP-Link Mini AC600 is great for both desktop and laptop devices since it has humble dimensions so it won’t block other ports. Having no external antennas leads to a limited range but you should be fine in all cases except when your router is on the completely opposite part of your household.

The EDUP LOVE EP-AC1675 doesn’t break the bank while offering an external antenna, excellent speed, lots of features, and an external cradle. First of all, the design is similar to other USB Wi-Fi adapters that come with foldable antennas. That means the adapter is chunky and it will most likely cover adjacent ports when used on a laptop.

The magnetic cradle is there in case you’re using the adapter with a desktop PC, and it can be very handy allowing for better range and simple installation. Instead of breaking your back trying to hook it up to the rear I/O of your motherboard, just use the cradle and seamlessly switch the adapter between a PC and a laptop.

When it comes to speeds, you get 600Mbps over the 2.4GHz band and up to 1300Mbps over the 5Ghz band. The router comes with Wi-Fi 5 support and it also supports features such as Beamforming and MU-MIMO. The adapter uses USB 3.0 standard and it can be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Overall, this is a very capable Wi-Fi adapter that offers almost all features of high-end models for a noticeably lower price.

The Cudy WU1300S is another very affordable USB Wi-Fi adapter that comes with dual-band support. Max speed over the 2.4Ghz band is 400Mbps and over the 5Ghz band, you can achieve speeds up to 867Mbps.

These are great numbers considering the price but while the max speed is pretty solid the adapter lacks advanced features such as MU-MIMO or Beamforming. On the flipside, the adapter is quite compact and it shouldn’t block adjacent ports on your computer like larger models tend to do.

Overall, the Cudy WU1300S is an affordable Wi-Fi adapter for users who need the basics, don’t care about extra features, and don’t need a long-range adapter.

The Nighthawk A7000 is an expensive USB wireless adapter but it’s very compact and features an external antenna, Wi-Fi 5 support, and dual-band capability. The performance is excellent. You get max speed of 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300Mbps on the 5Ghz band, which is more than most users need.

The adapter comes with extra features such as MU-MIMO enabling better transfer speeds for connected devices in case you use this adapter as a Wi-Fi hotspot. The beamforming feature improves the precision of the wireless signal resulting in a better connection.

The adapter is a bit large and can block adjacent ports on your laptop. It comes with a USB cable and magnetic cradle so it’s perfect for desktop PCs since it can be placed on your desk, thus not blocking adjacent USB ports on your motherboard.

This won’t really work with a laptop except if you plan on using the Nighthawk A7000 inside your home since the cradle is pretty large for users to carry it around with them. But if you need a relatively compact USB Wi-Fi adapter with a foldable external antenna, excellent performance, and dual-band support the Nighthawk A7000 is the one to get.

The Archer T9UH is very similar in features and design with the Nighthawk A7000. It comes with dual-band capability; it offers up to 600Mbps on the 2.4Ghz band and up to 1300Mbps on the 5Ghz band. It also has a foldable external antenna, Wi-Fi 5 support, beamforming, and comes with a magnetic cradle.

Its only disadvantage over the Nighthawk A7000 is the lack of MU-MIMO technology. That doesn’t have to affect you in any way if you don’t plan on using this adapter as a Wi-Fi hotspot. If you do, know that when multiple devices get connected, they will have lower speed since MU-MIMO improves connection quality when multiple devices use a wireless network at the same time.

The BrosTrend 1200Mbps Long Range USB WiFi Adapter is a relatively affordable USB Wi-Fi adapter that comes with two high gain wireless antennas. These antennas should provide strong, and more importantly stable connection, even over a long range. The two antennas make this adapter an excellent choice for gamers who need reliable wireless signal when playing online multiplayer titles.

The size and design prevent this adapter to be used comfortably in combination with laptops but if you have a desktop PC, this is an excellent choice. Wi-Fi 5 support and the dual-band are here and the max speed is 867 over the 5GHz band and 300 over the 2.4GHz band. Not the best around but more than enough for most users.

The Techkey USB WiFi Adapter is a pretty affordable USB Wi-Fi adapter that comes with an external antenna. If you need one, this is the adapter to buy. It’s pretty cheap and comes with dual-band and Wi-Fi 5 support. Speed is rated at 867Mbps on the 5GHz band and 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. Standard but pretty good for the price.

The antenna can be rotated and it’s slim enough for this adapter to be used with laptops. The body of the adapter is also very slender so you don’t have to worry about it blocking adjacent ports, something that cannot be said about other adapters on this list that feature external antennas.

Overall, this is a cheap adapter that doesn’t offer extra features but one that boasts a great range and more than solid performance for the price.