For laptops and desktops that lack a good connection, USB Wi-Fi adapters provide the simplest way to connect to the internet seamlessly.  

Now, choosing the best USB Wi-Fi adapter is not an easy job. There are many options in the market today.

Some are designed with the home-gamer in mind, while others are better suited for providing a stable and seamless connection for that crucial Zoom presentation. Even better, some feature a tri-band and dual-band technology, giving you the best of both worlds in a small package.

Below is a list of the best USB Wi-Fi adapters for 2021, perfect for a smooth connection at home, office, travel, and anything in between.   

• TRENDnet AC1900 High Power Wireless USB Adapter (Best range)
• EDIMAX EW-7833UAC (Great Reliability)
• Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 (For the gamers)
• Linksys Dual-Band AC1200 Adapter (Fast speeds)
• Net-Dyn AC1200 (Best Dual-Band USB Wi-Fi Adapter)

TRENDnet AC1900 High Power Wireless USB Adapter

• USB Standard: USB 3.0
• Supported Frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
• Supported Standards: Up to 802.11ac
• Excellent range
• Great speeds

Let’s say you want a USB Wi-Fi adapter, and you reside in a large house. You have tried countless solutions, but you are constantly out of range and struggling with dropped connections. What should you do?  

Of course, you get this bad boy. The TRENDnet AC1900 High Power Wireless USB does not resemble a wireless adapter in the least. It appears more like a small router in its own right, with four conspicuous antennas.

The four antennas result in precisely what you’d expect: better performance and range, particularly when compared to less expensive alternatives. Actually, we are pretty confident that this Wi-Fi adapter has the best range of any USB Wi-Fi adapter on the market, thanks to its quad antenna design. 

Well, the absence of MIMO support may lead to some speed loss; however, if range is your main concern, this is perhaps the best Wi-Fi adapter for you. 

EDIMAX EW-7833UAC 

• USB Standard: USB 3.0
• Incorporates 3 Internal and I External Antennae
• Frequencies 2.4GHz+ 5GHz
• Compatible with Windows, Mac OS 10.7-10.13, and Linux Kernel

With its unquestionably remarkable speed and range, the Edimax EW-7833UAC USB Wi-Fi Adapter has been designed to delight its users. It’s the ideal solution for streaming your favorite movie or downloading that game, thanks to its 11 ac Wi-Fi speed.

Beam Forming Technology provides excellent directional signal assistance, ensuring that no signals are wasted and that the overall Wi-Fi experience is fantastic, with good range, higher throughput, and coverage.

This device is a front-runner in the segment, thanks to the clever positioning of three antennae (3T3R MIMO technology).  They act as a transmitter and, as a result, receive signals better for greater performance. What makes this feature even more interesting is the fact that the external antennae are adjustable to 180 degrees.   

Lastly, with a weight of just 4.2 ounces and dimensions of 8 x 5.5 x1.5 inches, its portability can be vouched for.

Netgear Nighthawk AC1900

• USB Standard: USB 3.0
• Supports up to 1300Mbps
• Frequency: 2.4GHz + 5GHz
• Dual Band Connectivity

The Nighthawk AC1900 is a brilliant performer.  If speed and range are your priority, the Nighthawk is a perfect choice. With Dual-Band Wi-Fi support, excellent coverage, and speeds of up to 1300Mbps, this certainly deserves a spot on this 2021 list.

In a word, the Nighthawk AC 1900 ensures that you are getting a stable and robust connection at all times – an essential aspect for online gamers. 

Linksys Dual-Band AC1200 Adapter

• USB Standard: USB 3.0
• Supported Frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
• Supported Standards: Up to 802.11ac
• MIMO support

The Linksys Dual-Band AC1200 Adapter is among the most popular USB Wi-Fi adapters available on the market today, and for a good reason.

Don’t be fooled by the lack of a conspicuous antenna: this baby is fast. Unlike many other small form factor (SFF) USB Wi-Fi adapters, Linksys Dual-Band AC1200 adapter boasts of MU-MIMO support. Notably, this allows it to attain faster upload and download speeds, provided that the router is connected to support MU-MIMO technology as well. 

Net-Dyn AC1200

•  Dual-band 802.11ac
• USB Standard: USB 3.0
• Supported  Frequencies: 2.4GHz, 5GHz
• Windows and Mac compatible.

The Net-Dyn also earns a spot on this list. It is known to achieve a perfect balance of size and speed. It can remarkably reach up to 100 meters without the speeds being affected! More so, it is USB 3.0, which ensures low latency at greater speeds.

What’s more, Dual-Band connectivity is available, with rates of up to 867Mbps at 5GHz and 300Mbps at 2.4GHz.

Final Words

And that’s it!

Those are our five best picks for USB Wi-Fi adapters. We hope that our analysis will help you make your next USB Wi-Fi adapter purchase more effortless.

Which one was that for you?