Cell phone signal boosters can help you stay connected at home, work and in your car. This is essential if your wireless internet service has poor coverage.
Signal boosters are the solution. These boosters are designed to find the closest signal and amplify it to support your devices. These boosters are not plug-and-play, and can be purchased from both third-party manufacturers and carriers. It is not as easy as just dropping the antenna in front of a window and plugging it into.
Signal boosters usually come with three components: an outdoor antenna and a booster to amplify the signal. There are two types of boosters: directional ones that target a particular tower and omnidirectional ones that pull in service from multiple towers owned by multiple carriers. However, they don’t have the same strength as directional ones.
Cell phone signal boosters aren’t exactly the most exciting place on Earth. It’s actually quite slow. These are our top picks to get the best cell phone signal boosters. They cover different uses and cost points. One of these picks can even improve your car’s signal quality.
Which are the best cell-phone signal boosters?
First, there is no “best” cell-phone signal booster. Different options can be used for different purposes due to the nature of technology. We believe that one particular option is the most effective for most people.
WeBoost’s Home MultiRoom is one such option. It uses a directional antenna that delivers the best signal from your chosen carrier. It can cover a medium-sized home measuring 5,000 square feet. SureCall, another well-known brand in signal boosting, has its Fusion4Home omnidirectional solution which is easier to set up.
What if you are happy with your current carrier and don’t plan to change? If this is the case, it might be a good idea to contact your carrier directly to find out which network-specific boosters they offer. Verizon, for example, offers the Verizon Wireless LTE Network Extender that covers approximately 7,500 square feet and supports 16 connected devices simultaneously.
We have compiled a list of the top signal boosters that will help those who are experiencing poor cell phone service.
The best cell phone signal boosters available
1. WeBoost Home MultiRoom
The best signal booster available for most people
Specifications
Support from the network
Type: Directional
Coverage: 5,000 sq ft
Maximum gain: 65 dB
There are many reasons to buy
+Works with all networks+Can support medium-sized homes+Powerful gain
Avoidable reasons
-Expensive-Directional antenna requires more setup
You don’t need a signal booster if you have a weak connection. The WeBoost Home MultiRoom is the right choice if that’s your case. It was also a winner of the Tom’s Guide Ultimate Home Office Awards. Although WeBoost’s directional antenna design makes it more difficult to set up than an omnidirectional booster, the result is a powerful signal with up 65 dB gain.
The Home MultiRoom package, like all WeBoost’s offerings is designed to draw in bands from all networks — Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T, and even US Cellular — on any network, regardless of whether you subscribe to one of these providers or a virtual operator such as Metro or StraightTalk, which piggybacks off one major carrier’s towers. This is great news for anyone who plans on changing carriers or expecting to use the Home MultiRoom for many years. It costs $550 and is not the most expensive.
2. SureCall Fusion4Home
This signal booster is a budget-friendly, simple-to-use option
Specifications
Support from the network
Type: Omnidirectional
Coverage: 2,000 sq ft
Maximum gain: 72 dB
There are many reasons to buy
+Affordable+Works with all networks+Fee-free Omnidirectional Antenna
Avoidable reasons
The range is not very wide
SureCall’s Fusion4Home Omnidirectional Offering doesn’t require you to focus on one tower to improve your home connection. The Fusion4Home omnidirectional antenna works with all network bands and is as easy-to-use as any signal booster. This antenna is an omnidirectional antenna so it won’t make things any better than a directional. This booster is not the right one for you if you have very few bars at home.
The Fusion4Home may be a good option if you need just a little more signal.
3. SureCall Fusion2Go max
The best car signal booster
Specifications
Support from the network
Type: Omnidirectional
Coverage: N/A
Maximum gain: 50 dB
There are many reasons to buy
+Works with all major carriers+Supports multiple devices inside-car+Extended range technology doubles uplink power
Avoidable reasons
-Expensive
SureCall’s Fusion2Go Max cell phone signal booster is perfect for those times when your signal strength is less than ideal. This multi-carrier solution can provide up to 50dB gain to any vehicle and will give you more service for long road trips.
Extended Range Technology by SureCall is used to reduce signal loss. It boosts the signal twice, once at the antenna and again inside the vehicle. This ensures that service is as strong as it can be. The Fusion2Go Max add-on costs $499. However, depending on your location and your work, it may prove to be very useful.
4. SureCall Flare 3.0
An elegant signal booster
Specifications
Support from the network
Type: Directional
Coverage: 3,500 sq ft
Maximum gain: 72 dB
There are many reasons to buy
+Works with all major carriers+Better range than the Fusion4Home+Attractive design
Avoidable reasons
More setup is required for the direction antenna
You don’t need a signal booster to make your home look messy. The SureCall Flare 3.0 is an elegant option that you won’t be embarrassed to show off and that you can make visible to the rest of the world. Although it’s not a masterpiece of art, its small footprint makes it easy to fit on an end table.
There are also some advantages it offers over SureCall’s other products. It has a directional antenna which gives it a greater boost to signal strength, especially when you are near a network edge. The 3,500 sq feet of coverage make it an ideal fit for small apartments and homes. It’s also very affordable at just $400 for this type of directional option.
5. WeBoost Drive Sleek
Another fantastic car solution
Specifications
Support from the network
Type: Directional
Coverage: Single phone
Maximum gain: 23 dB
There are many reasons to buy
+Works with all major carriers+5G Support+Easy, Tool-Free Installation+Secure phone case
Avoidable reasons
-Single device support only -No Band 41 and 71
WeBoost’s Drive Sleek can be used to increase the reception of one phone in your car. It is an affordable, simple-to-use solution that doubles up as a phone charger/cradle. You can also use it as a phone cradle/charger for all major carriers that support 5G. It can only be used on one device, so it is ideal for your navigation/music streaming phone while you are on the road.
The Drive Sleek, like many boosters, does not support Band 41 or 71. This one is for people who want to get the most out of their nearby cell towers while driving. This is especially useful in rural and mountainous areas, where the signal can be less strong.
6. Cel-fi GO X
This is a powerful booster for small and large offices as well as homes.
Specifications
Support from the network
Type: Directional
Up to 15,000 sq. ft coverage
Maximum gain: 100 dB
There are many reasons to buy
+Superb single-carrier coverage+Switchable carrier+Added protection against shock
Avoidable reasons
-Expensive-No 5G
Cel-Fi GO X signal booster is the best on this list. The Cel-Fi GO X packs a massive 100 dB maximum, which means it can provide significant gains in cell phone reception at your home or workplace. The unit can cover approximately 15,000 square feet under optimal conditions, making it ideal for large homes and small offices.
The GO X’s 100 dB power comes from focusing on one carrier. The GO X lets you choose the one that you require for your home or work, and you can change them at any time if you switch carriers. For additional coverage, you can add an antenna.
Protection against shock damage is also included with the GO X. The GO X is not cheap at $1,000. This is the best option if you require maximum power.
7. SureCall EZ4G
Ideal for rentals or apartments
Specifications
Support from the network
Type: Omnidirectional
Coverage up to 2,000 square feet
Maximum gain: 72 dB
There are many reasons to buy
+No antenna installation+Easy moving between spaces+Upto 2,000 sq. ft coverage
Avoidable reasons
-Lower performance than traditional antennae-No5G support
The SureCall EZ 4G is the best option for those who live in apartments or other rentals. You can mount it to your window, and not an external antenna.
You shouldn’t expect to get the same performance as the other entries in this list. However, SureCall claims that you can expect coverage of up to 2,000 sq. feet and up to 72 decibels. This might be the right option for you if you are looking to give your rental property a boost.
The EZ 4G costs only $300, which is quite reasonable for cell phone signal boosters. Because it has low installation costs, it can be easily moved between small and large offices.
A cell phone signal booster is a must-have for anyone.
A signal booster was a must-have for those who had poor signal at home a few years back. Today, Wi-Fi calling is supported by most phone companies and phones. Your home network is used to receive calls, texts and data. There are exceptions to this rule, but the majority of top phones work with the major Wi-Fi calling networks.
You might not need a dedicated signal booster for your cell phone, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need one.
How to find the best cell phone signal booster
Before you start looking for signal boosters, make sure you know what network your phone uses and which bands it operates on. Although all the products on this list are compatible with all networks, not all have universal support. You don’t want to buy a signal booster that only boosts one network. You will need to register any product you purchase with your carrier. This is both because it won’t work elsewhere and because it’s a legal requirement.
It is important to determine what you require from a signal booster. You should consider a directional antenna if you are having trouble connecting. These are more precise and can provide stronger, more consistent connections. An omnidirectional antenna is best for situations that are less severe.
You must also consider how much space you will need. Signal boosters that cover a large area with signal can be more expensive than those that only cover a small area.
A lot of the signal boosters available today are not designed to enhance 5G service. If a booster is listed as compatible with a 5G phone of 5G, it means that it will boost LTE signals that a 5G capablephone can receive and not that it is actually enhancing 5G data. If you are looking for something that is geared towards next-generation networks, you will have to wait.
If you’re committed to your current cellular provider and do not plan on changing, you might consider a first-party signal booster or extender. Verizon (opens new tab), AT&T and AT&T all have products that are specifically designed for this purpose. They’re also uniquely tuned to your network’s infrastructure so they may work better than others.
We compared the top cell phone signal boosters
Tom’s Guide is not equipped to perform lab testing on the top cell phone signal boosters. To create this list, we used third-party testing and specifications from manufacturers. In the future, we hope to have the opportunity to work with signal boosters.
