A Wi-Fi card is a cost-effective way to add or upgrade wireless connectivity on your desktop PC. These PCIe adapters offer varying performance and features based on the Wi-Fi standard, from budget-friendly older models to cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 for lightning-fast multi-gigabit speeds.
TP-Link Archer TX3000E
Best Overall
$45 at Amazon
ASUS PCE-BE92BT
Best Premium
$90 at Amazon
TP-Link Archer T5E
Best Budget
$27 at Amazon
GIGABYTE GC-WBAX210
Best Wi-Fi 6E Card
$47 at Amazon
TP-Link Archer TXE75E
Best for Gaming
$55 at Amazon
Best Overall Wi-Fi Card for PC: TP-Link Archer TX3000E
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The TP-Link Archer TX3000E might not support the latest Wi-Fi 7 protocol, but it still delivers respectable speeds and improved efficiency over older Wi-Fi cards. With support for a theoretical bandwidth of up to 2402Mbps and advanced technologies like OFDMA and MU-MIMO, it's a great choice for high-bandwidth tasks like 4K streaming or online gaming.
With Wi-Fi 6 now mainstream, it's easy to get a good Wi-Fi 6 router that can take full advantage of this card's capabilities. Additionally, the Archer TX3000E adds Bluetooth 5.0 support to your PC, and its external, multi-directional antennas ensure excellent reception even with distant routers. Your PC won't support the new 6GHz band, but you'll still get excellent performance on the 5GHz band for a lot less money.
TP-Link Archer TX3000E
Best Overall
$45 $60 Save $15
The TP-Link Archer TX3000E is a solid, reasonably priced pick for upgrading to the mainstream Wi-Fi 6 standard. It equips your PC with fast wireless speeds, low latency, and robust Wi-Fi security. Whether using your PC for basic everyday tasks or demanding work like gaming and 4K streaming, this card can do it all.
Pros
- Excellent speeds and performance
- More affordable than the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 cards
- Long range coverage
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 cards cost more but have fast, reliable speeds
$45 at AmazonSee at B&HSee at Newegg
Best Premium Wi-Fi Card for PC: ASUS PCE-BE92BT
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Wi-Fi standards can be a little confusing, but if you want the latest and greatest upgrade, the ASUS PCE-BE92BT is an excellent choice. Based on the newest Wi-Fi 7 standard, this card utilizes the same 6GHz band as Wi-Fi 6E devices, but it offers much higher reliability and even faster speeds, up to 5764Mbps, thanks to Wi-Fi 7's extremely high throughput.
The PCE-BE92BT is meticulously designed to deliver sustained high speeds, making it perfect for long gaming sessions. It can keep up with a multi-gigabit Internet plan, and the freestanding receiver makes it easy to find the perfect position for optimal signal reception. In addition to Wi-Fi, this card also upgrades your PC with the latest Bluetooth 5.4, enabling stronger connections for your keyboards, mice, headphones, and other wireless peripherals.
ASUS PCE-BE92BT
Best Premium
The ASUS PCE-BE92BT brings the future of wireless connection to your PC, offering previously unseen wireless transfer speeds of up to 5764Mbps. This Wi-Fi 7 card is perfect for hardcore gamers and power users.
Pros
- Fastest Wi-Fi card available
- Supports the latest Bluetooth 5.4 for new wireless peripherals
- WPA3 network encryption
Cons
- Overkill for most people
$90 at AmazonSee at Newegg
Best Budget Wi-Fi Card for PC: TP-Link Archer T5E
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Splurging on the latest or most expensive Wi-Fi card won't automatically make your PC connection faster. You'll also need an Internet plan that can take advantage of the higher speeds. For gamers or users with a sub-gigabit internet plan (300 or 500 Mbps), an affordable Wi-Fi 5 card like the TP-Link Archer T5E offers the sweet spot between performance and price.
The Archer T5E boasts excellent speeds, topping out at 867Mbps on the 5GHz band, which is plenty for online gaming, video streaming, and working from home. It is also compatible with existing routers, making it even more attractive for those on a tight budget. However, if your home has many smart devices or you plan to upgrade to a gigabit plan, spending more on a Wi-Fi 6 PCIe card may be the better long-term option.
TP-Link Archer T5E
Best Budget
$27 $40 Save $13
The TP-Link Archer T5E is a perfect option for users who aren't looking for cutting-edge transfer speeds but rather decent performance for streaming media, online meetings, and casual gaming. It's very affordable and might not require a new router, unlike the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 cards.
Pros
- Reliable performance despite lower price
- High-gain antennas for long-range coverage
- Included low profile bracket
- No need to buy a new router
Cons
- Not future-proof
$27 at AmazonSee at NeweggSee at B&H
Best Wi-Fi 6E Card for PC: GIGABYTE GC-WBAX210
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GIGABYTE offers an excellent upgrade for serious gamers and productivity pros in the GC-WBAX210. Powered by an Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 chipset, this adapter opens up more bandwidth and connects your PCs to the less-congested 6GHz band. This translates to blazing-fast real-world speeds and ultra-low latency, perfect for competitive gaming and other real-time tasks.
The GC-WBAX210 is priced competitively compared to most Wi-Fi 6E cards while maintaining fast, reliable performance. You'll have to use an older Bluetooth 5.2 version, but that shouldn't be a dealbreaker if Wi-Fi performance is your main concern. GIGABYTE rounds off this incredible offering with an external, adjustable antenna to help eliminate dead zones and ensure smooth gaming and streaming.
GIGABYTE GC-WBAX210
Best Wi-Fi 6E Card
If you're looking to take advantage of the newly available 6GHz band, the GIGABYTE GC-WBAX210 is one of the few Wi-Fi cards that supports it. It's slightly more expensive than traditional Wi-Fi 6 cards, but it makes up for it with superior real-world speeds, low latency, and overall reliable performance for real-time tasks like streaming, video calling, and online gaming.
Pros
- Reliable Wi-Fi 6E speeds for cheap
- Faster real-world performance
- Low latency
Cons
- Other cards have better coverage
$47 at Amazon
Best Wi-Fi Card for Gaming: TP-Link Archer TXE75E
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If you're tired of your network slowing to a crawl in the middle of a competitive match, the TP-Link Archer TXE75E is the perfect upgrade for your rig. This Wi-Fi card falls into the same category as the GIGABYTE GC-WBAX210, but its beefy heatsink provides longer sustained performance, ensuring consistent high speeds even during extended periods of heavy network use.
The Archer TXE75E can reach blazing-fast speeds of up to 2402Mbps on both the 5GHz and 6GHz bands when connected to a powerful Wi-Fi 6E router. Connecting to the 6GHz band unlocks more bandwidth and keeps latency as low as possible for buttery-smooth gaming and streaming. It also has high-gain antennas for better range and signal strength and adds the latest Bluetooth 5.3 for connecting wireless peripherals.
TP-Link Archer TXE75E
Best for Gaming
$55 $80 Save $25
The TP-Link Archer TXE75E is designed for heavy network usage. In addition to supporting the 6GHz band, ultra-low latency, and WPA3 security, it can maintain consistent high speeds for longer periods compared to other Wi-Fi 6E cards. You cannot go wrong if you want a super-reliable card with excellent performance.
Pros
- Better sustained performance
- Supports the less crowded 6GHz band
- Solid Wi-Fi security
- Excellent coverage and signal strength
Cons
- Needs a firmware update to enable Bluetooth 5.3
$55 at AmazonSee at NeweggSee at B&H
FAQ
Q: What does a Wi-Fi card do?
A Wi-Fi card is a hardware device that allows a PC with no built-in Wi-Fi to connect to a wireless network. The best Wi-Fi cards can also upgrade a PC with slow, older Wi-Fi to the latest and fastest Wi-Fi standards.
Q: Can you use Wi-Fi without a Wi-Fi card?
A Wi-Fi card is one way to connect a PC to a Wi-Fi network, but it's not the only way. It's possible to use Wi-Fi without a Wi-Fi card by using other solutions like a USB Wi-Fi adapter.
Q: What is the difference between a Wi-Fi card and a Wi-Fi adapter?
Wi-Fi cards and Wi-Fi adapters are often used interchangeably, but there's a subtle distinction. A Wi-Fi card typically refers to a device that installs directly into a PCIe slot on your PC, while a Wi-Fi adapter is a more general term for any device that adds Wi-Fi connectivity to a computer, including USB Wi-Fi adapters as well as internal PCIe cards.
Q: What's the difference between Wi-Fi and Ethernet?
The main difference between Wi-Fi and Ethernet is that Wi-Fi transmits data wirelessly using radio waves, while Ethernet transmits data over a physical cable plugged into your device.
