None of us are strangers to the modern-day technology of WiFi. We all find ourselves wanting to be connected, one way or the other.
For some, this option comes with investment in WiFi cards. There are a number of WiFi cards you can pick for the wireless internet connection that you want.
In order to save you the trouble of scouring the internet for the best one, this article will help you figure out which one to get for yourself.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for WiFi Cards
- OUR TOP PICK: ASUS PCE-AC88 AC3100
- TP-LINK Archer T9E AC1900
- Rosewill RNX-AC1900PCE
- TP-Link AC1300
- TP-Link Dual band Wireless 2
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Intel 7260 HMWWB.R
Comparison Chart of the Best WiFi Cards
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Best Budget Option  |
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What is a WiFi Card and What is it Used For?
Some of us might not be completely familiar with the concept of a WiFi card, and how exactly it works. A WiFi card is also known as a Local Area Network (LAN) Card. It is basically a type of adapter card. An adapter card is used by a computer to further add to its capabilities. A WiFi card is used in computers that don't come with built-in WiFi. It allows you to connect to the internet without a cabled connection.
How Do I Choose a WiFi Card?
A WiFi card is a small device with a great function, however, choosing one for yourself may not be such an easy task. There are certain factors and aspects that need to be considered carefully in order to pick the right one for yourself.
Compatibility
Compatibility is the first and foremost factor to be brought under consideration while speaking of WiFi cards. Without the right compatibility, whatever unit you buy will be of no use for you. The WiFi card you invest in needs to be compatible not only with your router but also with the slot on your PC.
If it isn't compatible with the router, then your computer won't connect to the router, and if it is not compatible with the slot, then it won't even fit in there. So, you need to be careful while picking your choice.
Signal Strength
Another important aspect of these adapter cards is their signal strength. If you are investing in a unit, it should be preferably one with good signal strength. This will save a lot of trouble. If the signal strength isn't enough, you will have to ensure the router is placed close to the computer instead of somewhere where the entire house can benefit from it.
Purpose of Use
It may seem irrelevant to consider the use of your WiFi card while purchasing one, but that's not the case. It is very important to consider the purpose that it will serve. Some cards are excellent for online games and smooth streaming of videos, while others not so much. So, you need to be sure about what you want from your WiFi card.
Quick Take - Best WiFi Cards
In a hurry? Below are our recommendations for the best WiFi cards:
Review of the Best WiFi Cards
And now we finally get to what we are here for: picking a WiFi card for yourself. Picking one unit out of a sea of products can be a tricky task. And we've made that task easier for you by picking the best of the abundant products and reviewing them. You just need to find a WiFi card that matches your needs and make it your final choice.
Best Overall:
ASUS PCE-AC88 AC3100
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
If the words of the buyers had to be the final one, then there would definitely be no better unit than this one for anyone looking for a WiFi card. From high performance to easy installation, every aspect has absolutely amazed users, making it their top favorite.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit, being the top product, has a lot to offer to its users, but there's one specific feature that stands out to us. That is the lack of latency issues. Standard cards are rarely free of this problem and users find it to be a great hindrance, but not with this unit. It provides the smooth functioning that we all dream of.
Who Will Use This Most
Since this is the top product on our list, our verdict would be to declare it perfect for all users. But speaking specifically, this WiFi card will provide the best functionality to all the Windows 10 users out there who find the standard cards incompatible with their operating system.
Bottom Line
Regardless of a few drawbacks that all units are bound to have, this product stands to be the best of its type. It provides the perfect speed, paired with ideal coverage. Such a smooth functionality is what really puts it on the top of its game, making it a perfect choice for everyone.
Runner-up:
TP-LINK Archer T9E AC1900
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Almost all the people that have tried this card for themselves have sung its praises. They have been impressed by not one or two, but almost every feature that it is equipped with. Recent buyers find themselves to be greatly amazed by the functionality it has to offer.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The functionality of this unit is indeed outstanding, but what really makes it that good is the great speed it provides. Being equipped with dual bands, this WiFi card will ensure that you experience the best of internet speed, without any interruptions for perfect use.
Who Will Use This Most
Linux is said to be one of the most complicated operating systems and a lot of WiFi cards are not compatible with this operating system. This unit is perfectly designed for all the Linux users who are tired of looking for a compatible WiFi card. It works just as efficiently with this OS as it does with any other.
Bottom Line
If the top product does not quite make it for you, then this one definitely will, as its functionality and performance are very close to the top product, if not completely the same. From ease of use to high performance, you will experience absolutely everything you have wanted with a WiFi card.
Best for the Money:
Rosewill RNX-AC1900PCE
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
For everyone that has recently invested in this unit, its high functionality and outstanding user experience came as a great surprise. All the users have reported being not only highly satisfied but also greatly pleased by how well it performs, given the lower price-point.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Of all the reasons this unit needs to be included in this list, the one that stands out to us most is the Heat Sink Technology, which is unique to this model. With this outstanding feature, you no longer need to worry about your unit wearing out too soon because of overheating.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is one of those that provides you a lot for considerably less. Along with a lower price-point, it offers its users great functionality. This makes it absolutely ideal for anyone that is looking for a WiFi card on a smaller budget, but without any compromises on the features provided.
Bottom Line
Say goodbye to the days where you pay a fortune to get all the features you want. With this particular WiFi unit, you get not only a set of impressive features, but also save a great amount of money. With that said, there should really be no reason for one not to consider this as their final pick.
Best PCIE WiFi Card:
TP-Link AC1300
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Users find a good PCIE WiFi card to be very rare and they claim this is definitely one of them. From its advanced features to the very basic ones, it provides excellence with every one it offers. For this reason, users find it to be one of the best units out there.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit is packed with great qualities, but none of them stand out to us like its Smart TV assistance. It is not a common feature that you'd find in every other WiFi Card, but here it is, for users of this unit. It is one of the features that truly makes it the WiFi card of the next generation.
Who Will Use This Most
A lot of people out there are on the lookout for a good PCIE WiFi Card, but finding the right unit isn't as easy of a task. For all those people, this model will serve to be the perfect solution for all their problems. They no longer need to scour products on the internet to find the right one.
Bottom Line
Still looking for a PCIE WiFi card? This is where your search ends. Waste no more time and get this model for yourself. We assure you there will be no regrets in the end. The great functionality and outstanding features of this unit will ensure you get the best out of it.
Best WiFi Card for PC:
TP-Link Dual-band Wireless 2
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Reading what recent buyers have to say about this unit will convince you to invest in it. Those who have invested in it recently all say the same thing, that it works impressively and without any flaws. The impact of these two simple features makes it one of the top picks.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The reason this card has found its place in this list is due to several different reasons, but one that really stands out to us is the outstanding security it allows. Since it allows users to access advanced security settings, they can rest assured that it is set to protect them completely from any online malware.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is geared with all the right sort of features and outstanding functionality. The two together make it absolutely ideal for anyone looking for a WiFi card for their PC. It has absolutely everything that it takes for a card to work well for a computer, which is why you will not be disappointed.
Bottom Line
You can look at the basic features of this unit or the advantages it has over other models or even the reviews users have left for it. Everything will direct you to invest in it, especially if you are looking for one for your personal computer. It will not only allow you to connect to the internet wirelessly, but will allow you to do so with great security.
Best PCI WiFi Card:
ASUS PCE-AC56
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
For those that have recently invested in this unit, it was definitely an upgrade from whatever unit they were previously using. This proves that most users find it to be better than most of the others of its types. It has won the hearts of users with its great design and functioning.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We could easily choose this unit to be on this list for any of its features, but its Broadcom TurboQAM technology stood out to us like no other. It not only boosts the performance over other standard products, but does so by an outstanding 33%
Who Will Use This Most
Not a lot of PCI adapters turn out to be as efficient as they are advertised to be. If you are looking for a PCI WiFi card that is actually as good as it seems to be, then let us assure you that this product is not fooling you. It will provide you with exactly what you have been looking for.
Bottom Line
To put it simply, this unit is really one of a kind. Everything about it, from its reliable build to its next level technology, is designed to provide you with the best of what you look for. It is a unit marked to perfection in order to ensure no disappointments.
Best WiFi Card for Gaming:
ASUS PCE-AC68 AC1900
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This unit is one of those which presents with almost no bad reviews at all. Almost everyone that has used it has found it to be nothing less than outstanding. Every aspect of it portrays complete excellence, which is why users have highly recommended it to others, as well.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Users have found a number of reasons that make this unit their favorite, but what stood out to us was not its functionality or features, but simply the design that incorporated detachable antennas. The biggest benefit is that users can use these with a cord to place them close to the router for no more signal issues.
Who Will Use This Most
One of the best features of this model is the data prioritization that it allows. With this, background apps are not allowed the greater part of data, which is instead streamed to the actively used applications. Due to this feature, this unit stands to be the perfect choice for all the gaming enthusiasts out there.
Bottom Line
Tired of internet disruptions or disconnections while you are playing online games? Well, you can say goodbye to that pesky problem. With this unit, you can enjoy a smooth run of your game and flawless streaming of even 4k videos. With that outstanding performance, it is hard not to be impressed.
Best Laptop WiFi Card:
Intel 7260 HMWWB.R
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
When it comes to this particular WiFi card, it seems like users have nothing to say other than good things. Some commented about its incredibly easy installation, while others talked about the smooth connection it provides. No matter what feature is being discussed, users are always content with this unit.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit may be a user favorite for a number of reasons, but we believe its true excellence lies in its Intel WiFi Hotspot Assistant. This feature may be a simple one, but it certainly makes all the difference to users, with the ease tit provides for setting up a hotspot connection.
Who Will Use This Most
This product by Intel is truly one of its kind, providing functionality that is unique to itself. The outstanding performance it provides is particularly compatible with different types of laptops. Therefore, we consider this unit to be perfect for anyone with a laptop looking for a WiFi card.
Bottom Line
Make an investment you won't regret. Allow your laptop to experience the best of a wireless internet connection with this unit that is specifically designed for the purpose. It will provide your laptop with a wireless internet connection, and you, with complete satisfaction.
Best WiFi SD Card:
Toshiba FlashAir 4th Generation SD
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Be it for use with a 3D printer, with a camera, or even to simply provide WiFi connectivity, this unit absolutely masters all of its features and impresses its users. Other than a few disturbances in use, users have found nothing to complain about with this unit, which is why it has made it to this list.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The good user reviews are not all that landed this unit a place on this list. What really got it here is its great storage capacity. Standard WiFi cards are not designed to provide users with great capacity. But this unit is obviously different from the rest, providing users about 16 GB of storage space.
Who Will Use This Most
Like we just said, normal WiFi cards are not designed to provide users the best of storage. But sometimes, a little extra storage is all we need. So if you are looking for some extra room for files, along with a WiFi card, then this unit will serve to be the absolutely perfect choice for you,
Bottom Line
Connecting your devices to the internet is no longer a hassle. Whether it's your computer, laptop, camera, or even a 3D printer, this unit is the one for you. With all the storage space anyone could ask for and the right WiFi card features, you can expect it to fulfill all your requirements of a LAN card.
Best M.2 WiFi Card:
Intel 7260.HMW
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
According to users, there is absolutely nothing that can go wrong with this unit. It provides outstanding functionality and great features that users believe are completely worth investing in. Though a few users may argue that it is advertised to be much better, what it actually delivers is also sufficient for beyond-satisfactory use.
Why it Stands Out to Us
One of the reasons we love this unit and find it worthy of being on this list is the outstanding speed it provides. Such a great range of speed makes it suitable for a wide range of tasks. In fact, the provided flexibility and versatility are some of the major reasons why this product has made it to this list.
Who Will Use This Most
This half-size unit may fool many with its compact size, but it still efficiently provides users with all that they need. So, if you are looking for an M.2 WiFi card, you wouldn't find one better than this. All the features that it provides, it excels at, making it a top favorite.
Bottom Line
All in all, what really does justice to this unit is saying it is an absolute 10. From functionality to design, it has everything that you want. And it works with an impressive efficiency that never fails to disappoint its users. We guarantee you will not regret investing in it.
Advantages of Investing in a Quality WiFi Card
If you are still wondering if you should invest in a WiFi card, then let us make the decision easier for you. Yes, you should. A WiFi card provides you with not just one function but a lot of advantages. In order to help you make up your mind, here are a few advantages these provide.
No More Hassles With Wires
A WiFi card allows you to connect your device to the internet with a wireless connection, using your router. Due to this wireless connection, you no longer need to deal with the mess and trouble that come with wired connections. Simply connect with your router and enjoy your internet connection.
A Good Internet Speed
If you have invested in a good quality unit, it will be sure to provide you with great internet speed and a stable connection. These two together greatly enhance a user's experience, making it ideal for online gaming, as well as streaming high-quality videos with no trouble at all.
No More Problems With Signals
Another great advantage you would find with a good WiFi card is a good area of network coverage. With such a unit, you will never have to worry about the router being too far away. It will be sure to reach the signals and provide you with a stable connection, one that doesn't keep dropping.
How to Install a WiFi Card
If you have already invested in a WiFi card, but are not sure of what to do next, then let us help you out. All you need to do is install your card and get going. In case you're not familiar with that, here is how to install your WiFi card.
- Start with shutting down your PC and ensure that it is completely unplugged. This step is usually adopted with a full card, but is still advised for USB connectors as well.
- Open up the front side of your computer. In some computers, you might have to use tools to unscrew connector sticks, while for others, just a pull switch will do the job for you.
- Locate the opening for the card: Look around and try to find the right opening for the WiFi card and make sure that you evacuate the vicinity before you move ahead.
- Put the card in the opening: Once you have successfully located the opening, push your card until it's firmly seated in the opening and attach any screws, if required. Once done, you may close the case again.
- Plug your PC again and use. After following all the above steps, you are now connected to the WiFi card and can enjoy a wireless internet connection.
Conclusion
In the present day, a wireless internet connection is something we all depend upon. It is no longer a new age technology but an essential part of our lives. In order to ensure that our devices are always connected, we have units like WiFi cards. You just need to make the right sort of considerations and pick the one for you.
People Also Ask
Using a WiFi card is not something a lot of us do, which is why users often present with a number of questions. In order to experience the best of these units, it is important to have a complete understanding of them. To help you with any confusion, here are a few questions that other users frequently ask.
Do You Need a WiFi Card for PC?
If you are trying to get an internet connection for your PC, then a WiFi card might be one of your options. Newer models of PCs usually come with built-in WiFi, so a WiFi card may not be necessary. But if you have an older one that features no built-in WiFi, then getting yourself a WiFi card might be your best option.
Is a WiFi Card a NIC?
In simple words, yes. A WiFi card is a NIC. In fact, all WiFi cards are NICs, but not all NICs are WiFi cards. A NIC allows you to connect to the internet through either a wired connection or a wireless one. If the featured connection is a wireless connection, then the NIC can also be called a WiFi card.
Do You Need a WiFi Card for WiFi?
The answer to this question primarily depends upon the type of PC you use. Newer models of computers usually come with built-in WiFi, so getting a one of these may not be necessary. But for older versions, you may need one. It is still not your only option to connect to the internet, as there are a few other ways to connect your PC with WiFi, as well.
Does My Motherboard Have a WiFi Card?
This depends upon the type of device that you use. Newer models of computers and laptops all come with built-in WiFi. These devices will allow you to connect to a wireless network, without any additions. But if you have an older model, you will see no such feature on your device, implying that the motherboard has no WiFi card.
