Top Budget-Friendly WiFi Extenders Under R1000

You need to kill Wi-Fi dead zones, but your budget is tight. Scrolling through WiFi extenders leaves you stuck: they all promise to end buffering, but the specs look like a foreign language. How do you choose the right one under R1000 without accidentally buying a dud? This guide cuts through the noise, comparing two of South Africa’s most popular budget-friendly boosters, helping you pick the perfect one for your home, your needs, and your wallet.

Cudy AC1200 Dual Band Wi-Fi Mesh System - 3 Pack / 10/100Mbps Ethernet Ports + 2 Internal Antennas / 867Mbps on 5GHz and 300Mbps on 2.4GHz / M1200-3PACK

R1299.00In Stock

TP-Link Deco M5 AC1300 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System - 3 Pack / Wi-Fi dead-zone killer / TP-Link HomeCare / Enhanced 11AC speeds / Connects over 100 devices / Seamless Roaming / NET-TL-DECO-M5-3PK

R3499.00In Stock

CUDY 3 Pack Home Mesh WiFi System – Up to 4500 Sq.ft. Coverage for 3-Pack/ 1× 1000/100/10 Mbps WAN Port / 2× Internal Omni-Directional Antennas / Seamless Roaming / Connect up to 100 Devices / M1300-(3-PACK)-EU

R1599.00In Stock

TP-Link Deco X50 AX3000 Whole Home AI-Driven Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System, Dual-Band with Gigabit Ports, Coverage up to 4,500 ft2, Connect up to 150 devices, 1 GHz Dual-Core CPU, HomeShield Security, Pack of 2 / NET-TL-DECO-X50-2PK

R4199.00In Stock

TP-Link Dual-Band WiFi 7 BE3600 Whole Home Mesh System (Deco BE25), 2.5 Gbps Wired Connections, 3.6 Gbps Dual-Band WiFi, AI-Roaming, Multi-Link Operation (MLO), HomeShield / NET-TL-DECO-BE25-3PK

R5999.00In Stock

Cudy AC1200 Dual Band Wi-Fi Mesh System - 1 Pack / 10/100Mbps Ethernet Ports + 2 Internal Antennas / 867Mbps on 5GHz and 300Mbps on 2.4GHz / M1200-1PACK

R499.00In Stock

Head-to-Head: TP-Link RE190 vs. Cudy RE1200

Here’s a direct look at what you get for your money. These two popular models are champs in the sub-R1000 category, but they excel in slightly different areas.

🔗 TP-Link RE190 AC750 – See price 🔗 Cudy RE1200 AC1200 – See price

The Verdict: Which Booster is Right for You?

Choosing between these two really comes down to your specific needs and home setup. Both are excellent budget-friendly WiFi extenders, but here’s our recommendation:

Cudy Mesh Kit 1201Mbps+574Mbps AX1800 3Pk / 2 Gigabit Ethernet Ports + 4 Internal Antennas / PPTP/L2TP/OpenVPN/WireGuard/IPSec/Zerotier / M1800(3-PACK)-EU

R2299.00In Stock

TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi AXE11000 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh Network System(Deco XE200) - Replaces Wireless Internet Router and Extender, 10Gbps Ethernet Port, Compatible with Alexa, 2-Pack / NET-DECO-XE200-2PK

R13999.00In Stock

TP-Link Deco AX3000 WiFi 6 Mesh System - Covers up to 4500 Sq.Ft, Replaces Wireless Router and Extender, 3 Gigabit Ports per Unit, Supports Ethernet Backhaul (Deco X55, 2-Pack) / NET-TL-DECO-X55-2PK

R4499.00In Stock

TP-Link Dual-Band WiFi 7 BE3600 Whole Home Mesh System (Deco BE25), 2.5 Gbps Wired Connections, 3.6 Gbps Dual-Band WiFi, AI-Roaming, Multi-Link Operation (MLO), HomeShield / NET-TL-DECO-BE25-3PK

R5999.00In Stock

TP-Link Deco X50 AX3000 Whole Home AI-Driven Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System, Dual-Band with Gigabit Ports, Coverage up to 4,500 ft2, Connect up to 150 devices, 1 GHz Dual-Core CPU, HomeShield Security, Pack of 2 / NET-TL-DECO-X50-2PK

R4199.00In Stock

Cudy AC1200 Dual Band Wi-Fi Mesh System - 1 Pack / 10/100Mbps Ethernet Ports + 2 Internal Antennas / 867Mbps on 5GHz and 300Mbps on 2.4GHz / M1200-1PACK

R499.00In Stock

For the Student or Apartment Dweller…

Go for the TP-Link RE190. Its AC750 speed is more than enough for streaming Netflix in HD, attending online lectures, and ensuring your phone and laptop have a solid connection anywhere in a smaller space. It’s incredibly compact, reliable, and the price is often unbeatable. It’s the definition of a simple, effective fix. 🎓

For the Family in a Double-Storey Home…

The Cudy RE1200 is the clear winner here. The faster AC1200 speeds and high-gain antennas give it more punch to push a stronger signal upstairs or through thicker walls. This extra performance is crucial for handling multiple devices at once—like a smart TV streaming 4K Showmax, a console downloading a game update, and someone on a video call. It’s the better choice for more demanding households. 🏡

Ultimately, you can't go wrong with either. They represent the best of what you can get for less than a grand to finally solve those frustrating dead spots.