Whether you’re looking to boost the wireless performance of your old laptop, add wireless capabilities to your old PC which lacks such features, or basically want to declutter your desk or floor from all the crisscrossing cables creating a messy look in your room or apartment, getting the best USB WiFi Adapter is the wisest decision you’ll ever make.

A USB WiFi adapter does a great job boosting the WiFi performance of your old laptop. Because many old laptops support the rather congested and slower 2.4GHz frequency, adding a USB WiFi adapter that is engineered with dual-band WiFi as well as the latest wireless standard, the 802.11ac, you’ll be able to enjoy faster, more stable, and reliable speeds on the less congested 5GHz band.

For an old PC that doesn’t have a built-in WiFi card, a USB WiFi adapter can make all the difference.

That said, if you’re looking for the  USB WiFi adapter that will boost your WiFi performance, extend the coverage, and most importantly, get rid of the messy wires, we’ve got your back. Here are Our Top 12 Picks:

The NetGear Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi USB Adapter (A7000-10000S) lets you upgrade your desktop or old laptop to the faster 802.11ac WiFi standards which deliver blazing fast speeds of up to 600Mbs on the 2.4GHz band and up to 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band.

These dual-band WiFi connection speeds make this USB WiFi adapter an excellent choice for lag-free gaming and HD streaming.

To enhance performance, this adapter also features the Beamforming technology which directs wireless signals to each device’s location.

The result is faster, more stable, and reliable speeds. In addition to the beamforming technology, this adapter also sports the 3 by 4 Mimo design which significantly increases bandwidth capacity for faster download and uploading of data to and from the wireless network.

This simply means that you can stream, download, or transfer large files simultaneously on various connected devices and still achieve great speeds.

Other notable features include a high-speed USB 3.0 port for fast USB connection to your device, 4 internal antennas for improved performance, a magnet cradle for easy, flexible mount on a metal surface, and a NetGear Genie App for hassle-free installation and control of your network.

Overall, the NightGear Nighthawk AC1900 Wi-Fi USB adapter is an excellent option if you’re looking for a performance upgrade on your network.

You can ditch the cables and use this small, compact, sleek adapter which is really simple to install and is quite affordable too.

With the 5GHz band, you get a whopping 1300Mbps suitable for high-speed gaming, streaming, and downloading while the 2.4GHz delivers speeds of up to 600Mbps.

The Archer T9UH USB WiFi adapter uses advanced BeamForming technology that focuses your WiFi signal to connected devices even at further distances.

Coupled with 4 high-gain antennas that provide extended coverage for your network, this adapter is just what you need to boost performance and coverage of your WiFi.

The adapter also features the superspeed USB 3.0 which connects to your PC up to 10 times faster than the older USB 2.0.

With its cable design and portable dock, this USB WiFi adapter adds speed to your wireless connection without adding bulk to your laptop.

It’s fully compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless network standards and works with operating systems such as Windows and Mac.

This unit also has an AC600 model that delivers combined speeds of up to 600Mbps.

Overall, the TP-Link Archer T9UH AC1900 WiFi Network Adapter would be an excellent addition to your laptop or PC if you’re looking for a wireless network boost. It boasts of a sleek design and is even foldable so you can use it just anywhere with your laptop.

This adapter lets you enjoy fast and seamless streaming of your favorite TV shows, movies, videos, games, and even fast downloads.

The adapter lets you achieve speeds up to 1900Mbps on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz dual-band with up to 1300Mbps on the 5GHz and up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz.

The adapter comes with a high-power radio with detachable antennas to increase your WiFi coverage.

It’s also equipped with Beamforming technology that directs strong wireless signals to each one of your device’s specific location. This ensures faster, stable, and more reliable wireless connections.

The unit is also a USB 3.0 type that ensures a faster connection to your PC- it’s 10 times faster than USB 2.0.

Overall, the TRENDNET TEW-809UB AC1900 dual-band USB WiFi adapter is a budget-friendly option if you’re looking to boost your wireless performance without all the messy wires. It works with most types of routers too.

Connecting your devices to the 5GHz band will give you a whopping 1300Mbps and up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.

Coupled with its robust 3×4 MIMO antenna design, your laptop or desktop will be perfectly capable of handling bandwidth-intensive tasks like playing games online, streaming video/movies, downloading content, and even transferring large files.

The USB WiFi adapter is also engineered with the ASUS’s AiRadar Beamforming technology which strengthens your wireless connectivity by focusing the wireless signals to the device’s specific location.

With a stronger signal on your laptop or desktop, you’re bound to achieve much faster, more, stable, and highly reliable data speeds.

The adapter also comes with a desktop cradle that makes it super easy to place in a good position to ensure good reception. This is especially beneficial if your device is stationed in a spot with poor wifi signals.

Other notable features include a USB 3.0 interface that allows this adapter to pair nicely with laptops and desktops and even connect to them at blazing fast speeds.

Overall, the ASUS USB-AC68 is a great choice if you’re looking to add wifi to your old desktop or basically upgrade your laptop’s wireless connectivity while extending coverage. The adapter comes at a budget-friendly price, has a sleek design, and its design allows for increased reception and coverage.

A dual-band WiFi adapter, the Net-DYN offers blazing fast speeds of up to 867Mbs on the less congested 5GHz band for high-speed gaming and smooth video/movie streaming.

The 2.4GHz band offers up to 333Mbps, which is pretty decent, though this is often the more congested band.

Since the 5GHz band is often less congested, you will never experience any lagging or buffering while playing games online or streaming content. Your video calls will also be smooth and seamless– no annoying call drops whatsoever.

The NET-DYN WiFi USB adapter provides wide coverage of up to 100 yards. So whether you’re in the basement, garage, or on the porch, you’ll still be able to surf or stream content at faster speeds than normal.

The adapter also helps to eliminate dead-zones so you’ll never have to suffer low internet speeds ever again.

The adapter also features a USB 3.0 Interface for speedy connections to your laptop or desktop and is also equipped with the latest wireless security protocols such as WEP, WPA, and WPA2 which secure your wireless network, making it impossible for malicious attackers to penetrate.

The adapter does not work with Mac OS Sierra though- it’s only compatible with Windows XP to 10 and Mac 10.7 to 10.8.

The unit is also half as expensive as most adapters in the market, making it an affordable choice if you’re on a strict budget.

Their A610-100PAS AC1200 USB WiFi adapter is one of the fastest adapters in the market, delivering speeds of up to 867Mbps on the 5GHz band and 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.

The adapter uses the fastest 802.11ac wireless technology for faster speeds and is backward compatible with Works with 802.11a/b/g/n and ac devices.

With its high-gain antennas and Beamforming technology, this adapter can transmit the most powerful wireless signals to your devices for a performance and range boost.

You can rely on it for faster and seamless streaming of games and HD movies/videos- simultaneously.

The adapter features a USB 3.0 interface that allows for faster access and is fully compatible with the innovative NetGear Genie App which makes installation extremely easy while letting you easily connect, control, and monitor your home WiFi network.

Like the Net-Dyn USB WiFi adapter, the A6210-100PAS from NetGear is also budget-friendly. Overall, it’s an excellent choice for upgrading the WiFi network on your old laptop or desktop.

It increases your speeds for lag-free gaming and HD streaming, not to mention increasing range for optimal performance.

Coupled with the integrated 802.11n wireless network technology which boosts speed and performance, this WiFi adapter is a truly reliable option for video/movie streaming, high-speed gaming, and even video conferencing or calling.

The adapter comes with dual adjustable 3dBi external antennas that deliver better reception and wireless signal transmission performance.

Better signal transmission means stronger and wider coverage, so you can access fast and stable WiFi connection in every single room in your home or apartment.

The TP-Link high-gain Wireless network adapter also boasts of a desktop-style design that allows for better signal reception, not to mention a long USB extension cable which allows for easy and convenient installation.

As far as security is concerned, this adapter features the latest wireless security protocols to secure your wireless network from unauthorized access and even includes a WPS-button for one-touch wireless security encryption.

Compared to most of the adapters we’ve reviewed, the TP-Link USB WiFi dongle is dirt cheap yet it provides a more than average performance.

Their dual-band WUSB6300 Wireless USB 3.0 Adapter delivers similar performance by upgrading your old laptop or PC to the high-speed next-generation AC WiFi and multi-used MU-MIMO technology so you can enjoy ultra-fast wireless speeds for smooth HD movie/video streaming, high-speed online gaming, web surfing, and other bandwidth-intensive tasks.

The dual-band adapter upgrades your wireless connection speeds up to 867Mbps on the 5GHz band and 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.

For even better performance, this adapter is equipped with Beamforming Technology which focuses WiFi signals to your PC’s or laptop’s specific location.

It basically boosts the performance of your wireless connection for better speeds, increased range, stability, and reliability.

The USB WiFi adapter is fully compatible with all WiFi routers and as a plug-and-play device, it’s super easy to set up on your computer.

Overall, it’s a budget-friendly and convenient option for upgrading your old device’s wireless connectivity while allowing you to eliminate all the messy cables crisscrossing in your house.

It provides maximum wireless transmission rates of up to 300Mbps which makes it ideal for HD streaming, high-speed online gaming, and even voice calls.

The adapter supports devices with wireless networks including IEEE 802.11N b/g/n and even allows you to automatically switch between 802.11n or 802.11g or 802.11b modes based on the network available.

For enhanced performance and range, this adapter boasts of an MU-MIMO design that allows it to comfortably handle bandwidth-intensive tasks such as online gaming and HD streaming.

The adapter also features the SoftAP Mode that turns your wired internet connection to a laptop or PC into a WiFi hotspot.

Overall, the TP-Link TL- WN823N is an ideal choice if you’re looking for better speeds, increased range, and a reliable connection.

The adapter is small and compact so you can simply attach it on your computer and leave it there. It’s also really cheap and affordable compared to most models.