Eero
Fits anywhere
Pros
- Whole-house coverage
- Easy setup
- Compatible with other Eeros
- Two Ethernet ports on base units
Cons
- Relatively low top speed
- Only dual-band
An Eero mesh is a great way to expand your network through your entire home with several options for expansion, including adding more Eeros, Eero Pros, and Beacons depending on how much speed you need and how much room you have.
Google Wifi
The name you know
Pros
- Whole-house coverage
- Easy setup
- Two Ethernet ports on each unit
Cons
- Google collects data
- Only dual-band
- No faster option
Google Wifi is simple to use, easy to set up, and inexpensive; you can even run a cable to a switch should you need to do it. Consistent automatic updates ensure your network is secure and functioning well. You can add more Google Wifi nodes to expand the network as well.
Both Google Wifi and Eero are excellent entry-level mesh Wi-Fi systems and each delivers on their main promise — better Wi-Fi throughout your home. Eero takes the lead thanks to having a wider variety of expansion options as well as competing directly within Google Wifi's price point.
The need to know details
Internally, the Google Wifi units and Eero units have similar hardware. The quad-core ARM CPU and 512MB of RAM don't seem like much, but it's more than sufficient to keep your Wi-Fi network running smoothly and send the information where it needs to go. Eero doesn't disclose the exact speed of its routers but in the real world, the performance will be very similar between the two products.
Both devices offer the basic networking control you'll need for your home network.
Both systems are "prosumer" devices — designed and marketed to the average household with an eye towards the tech-lover. They offer all the basic networking control you'd need for your home network and have additions like access control, easy-to-share passwords, guest networks, and device prioritization and pausing.
Wireless standards are quite similar with Google Wifi supporting 802.11AC, or Wi-Fi 5, in a dual-band configuration. While Google confidently states AC1200 speeds, Eero leaves that detail out but based on the hardware you should be able to expect similar speeds.
| Google Wifi | Eero | |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless | AC1200 2X2 2.4GHz and 5Ghz dual band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Beamforming Bluetooth Smart |
2X2 MU-MIMO 2.4GHz and 5Ghz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Beamforming Bluetooth LE 5.0 |
| Ports | 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports per unit | 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports per unit |
| Processor | Quad-core ARM CPU at 710MHz | Quad-core ARM CPU at 700MHz |
| Memory | 512MB RAM | 512MB RAM |
| Dimensions | 4.17 x 2.7 inches (diameter x height) | 3.86 x 3.86 x 2.36 inches |
| Features | Network check Family Wi-Fi Guest network Basic smart hub integration Prioritize, group, and pause devices |
Family profiles Access control Guest network Prioritize and pause devices Alexa support |
You can't go wrong with either option
Each system comes highly recommended; you can't go wrong here and we can't stress that enough.
The newest generation of Eero offers similar performance to Google Wifi and the prices are similar as well with Google Wifi coming in a bit cheaper for the three-pack. Even so, Eero's compatibility with the rest of the Eero product line, including the compact Eero Beacon and more capable Eero Pro, makes it more versatile.
You can't go wrong with either system.
Both a single Eero and a single Google WiFi will cover approximately 1,500 square feet in a home. While this can seem significant, it's not 100% efficient and will broadcast more of a sphere around the router. Your secondary router will need to be within range of this signal and will perform better with a fairly unobstructed line of sight. Luckily both of these systems will support many additional routers to improve your mesh.
You'll need the Android or iOS app in order to set up either of these networks. Make sure to grab the Google Wifi app on Android or iOS or the Eero app on Android or iOS before disconnecting your old network,
Expanding Google Wifi
Expanding your Google Wifi mesh is a simple as it could be. Simply add in more Google Wifi routers and set them up in the app. You don't need to buy three every time and you can actually buy a single Google Wifi router to add more coverage as needed. As long as you have a connection to the rest of the mesh you are good to go. This can also be accomplished with an Ethernet cable if your home is already wired or you can run one further strengthening your mesh.
The Eero family
Left to right: Eero, Eero Pro, Eero Beacon
The Eero family is three strong with the base Eero and the Eero Beacon offering similar levels of performance. The best part is that they are all compatible with each other. To that point, the older Eero routers are also compatible with the newer models. Naturally, if you're building a mix and match Eero network, there are some things to keep in mind.
You'll want to be sure that the fastest of your routers is at the core of your network — that is, it needs to be connected to the modem. The fastest and most capable device from Eero is the Eero Pro which has tri-band Wi-Fi and will allow it to handle more devices and maintain a faster connection with the other mesh routers. It also has two Ethernet ports like the standard Eero.
Alternatively, the Eero Beacon has no Ethernet ports and similar wireless capabilities to the standard Eero. The lack of Ethernet means that the Beacon can never be the center of your network and will always require another Eero router to function. Still, it has a low profile and mounts directly to a power outlet, allowing it to fit in places that the other routers, or a Google Wifi for that matter, wouldn't fit. It also has a built in night light which is a lovely detail for a hallway or staircase deployment.
Eero competes on price and wins on flexibility
Really, it's quite possible to build a great mesh network with both Google Wifi as well as Eero. In this situation, Eero's added flexibility thanks to the other Eero products makes it a more versatile router and a better value. With Eero, it's even possible to upgrade to a tri-band setup later on if your needs change and the package still retains its simple and attractive appearance.
Fits anywhere
Eero
Affordable mesh with tons of expansion
Eero can form a great mesh on its own but working with the rest of the Eero routers, it can be customized for any home. A simple design helps it blend in.
The name you know
Google Wifi
A simple mesh backed by Google
Google Wifi blankets your home with Wi-Fi coverage simply and securely. Set up additional points with the app to make the network as big as you need it.
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