While shopping for a home Wi-Fi system, we often overlook the do-it-yourself (DIY) options and opt for a purpose-built solution, such as one of these popular canned home Wi-Fi systems. And that can be a grave oversight.
This post features five highly customizable DIY Wi-Fi mesh systems encompassing multiple Wi-Fi standards. These systems will give you super-fast speeds, reliable performance, and the option to tailor the hardware to meet your specific needs. In most cases, you start with a router and seamlessly scale up Wi-Fi coverage as your needs grow.
Dong’s note: I first published this post on January 18, 2023, and last updated it on April 3, 2025.
DIY Mesh Wi-Fi systems: The top-five list
It’s important to note that DIY Wi-Fi systems are not meant to be easy. All of the Wi-Fi ecosystems below will require some work, and to get the best performance out of them, you should get your home wired.
But in my experience, none of the options below are too complicated, either. They all share the same principle, so knowing one likely means you’ll be able to take on the rest.
Building a DIY mesh Wi-Fi system gives you the best control over the hardware and, hence, the performance, features, and, most importantly, the cost. I’ve used all of the options below in various configurations and locations, with great success. The list is sorted by the level of recommendation, with the most recommended on top.
1. Ubiquiti UniFi: The most advanced all-in-one ecosystem for all users
By design, UniFi is Ubiquiti’s enterprise hardware family. However, with the low pricing and friendly design of the latest consoles, it has slowly found its way into the home.
A UniFi mesh system is best-in-class in customizability and features. In return, the ecosystem requires a certain level of networking know-how to configure.
Additionally, networking is just one of the many things UniFi consoles can do. Their other functions include support for VoIP phones and IP cameras. So, depending on the situation, each can be the center of an entire ecosystem with multiple hardware categories.
Pros
Excellent and reliable performance with seamless support for UniFi hardware of multiple categories (Network, Protect, Talk, Access, etc.)
Tons of helpful networking features, a comprehensive web user interface, and a mobile app
Practical and aesthetically pleasing hardware design, no vendor account required
Cons
No AP mode as a system, most Wi-Fi-integrated consoles can only work in the primary router role
Some helpful features (teleport VPN, automatic backup, convenient remote access, etc.) require a vendor-connected login account
2. Asus’s AiMesh: The most versatile ecosystem
AiMesh is by far the most flexible of custom-built home mesh Wi-Fi systems, thanks to the sheer number of available hardware—virtually all Asus Wi-Fi 6 and later routers support this feature.
Consequently, AiMesh has been one of the most versatile mesh approaches in terms of hardware. There are countless mesh combos, and since an Asus router generally has comprehensive network settings and features, an AiMesh system is also feature-rich.
However, hardware flexibility and versatility also translate into a significant shortcoming: the overwhelming amount of options and the likelihood of unexpected bugs. To avoid those, it’s crucial to pick the correct hardware combo and set it up properly.
Alternatively, you can also consider Synology Mesh, which is an enterprise-class mesh built on home-grade routers. Unfortunately, Synology mesh has limited hardware options, with no Wi-Fi 7 routers to date.
Pros
The most flexible way to build a robust, scalable home Wi-Fi mesh system
Excellent performance, top-notch feature set
Built-in online protection
No vendor login is required, nor are there other privacy risks
Cons
Certain router combos can be buggy or have issues with new major firmware releases.
Mixing hardware of different Wi-Fi tiers, standards, or numbers of bands could be problematic
3. TP-Link Omada: A robust access point-based mesh with lots of hardware options
Omada is a family business access point. To manage multiple units as a robust mesh Wi-Fi system, you can use a controller—a standalone hardware controller, a computer running controller software, or a cloud-based controller.
Like EnGenius FIT below, this approach is standard in business and enterprise Wi-Fi applications and is available in known brands such as Cisco’s Meraki, Netgear’s Insight Managed, or Zyxel Nebula.
What sets Omada apart is its affordability—the hardware tends to cost significantly less than similarly specced equipment from competing vendors. Additionally, the Omada family has access points to all popular Wi-Fi standards, including Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and the latest Wi-Fi 7.
Generally, it’s cheaper to use Omada than any canned system. Most importantly, you won’t need to pay a subscription fee to use all of its features.
Pros
Excellent Wi-Fi coverage, fast performance
Affordable; easy setup option; no additional cost for management
Lots of mesh features and settings
Many APs include mounting accessories and PoE or power adapter
The system can be managed via a local web user interface, a useful optional mobile app
Cons
A controller is needed; the hardware controller can’t work as a router, nor does it include a power adapter or PoE injector
Networking knowledge is required to set up and maintain
4. TP-Link EasyMesh
TP-Link EasyMesh is a relatively new option that allows you to use multiple Archer standalone routers to build a relatively flexible system, similar to Asus’s AiMesh. Additionally, you can use a router and an extender combo.
Pros
Relatively easy to set up and use
Flexible wireless and wired backhaul (with applicable hardware)
Responsive web interface with optional Tether mobile app
Cons
Minimum control of the satellite; no wired backhauling for extenders with a network port
Wireless backhaul can be complicated, especially with Wi-Fi 7
Seamless hand-off reliability could be better
5. EnGenius FIT: A flexible access point-based mesh approach
The EnGeinus FIT is a newcomer in the router + access points mesh crowd. It shares the affordability with TP-Link’s Omada above.
All you need is two or more access points to form a mesh system, thanks to the cloud-based management built into the hardware’s FitXpress firmware. Additionally, it has a hardware controller option that offers better performance, more features, and a larger-capacity network.
Pros
Flexible hardware and software options with enterprise-class Wi-Fi and network customization; built-in cloud-based management with a hardware controller option
Comparatively affordable; easy setup option; no additional cost for management
The system can be managed via a local web user interface or cloud-managed, with a useful optional mobile app
Cons
FitXpress has interface-to-hardware lag and doesn’t support multiple sites of distinctive Wi-Fi needs; the FitCon100 controller is a bit confusing and tedious to set up
For now: No 160MHz Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E support, no Multi-Gig PoE switches, generally performance is limited at Gigabit
No support for WPA or older security; most PoE access points and controllers don’t include a power adapter or PoE injector
Extra: Amazon’s eero PoE hardware—the easiest way to get multi-Gigabit performance at a cost
The combo of eero’s latest PoE hardware, including the Amazon eero PoE Gateway and the eero PoE 6 access point, qualifies as a robust router + access points mesh approach.
While individually, each is greatly overpriced and limited, when working together, they become the easiest way to create a modern network with multi-gig wired backhauling. But as hardware from eero, this approach is poor in customization and includes lots of big and small unpleasant surprises, ranging from subscription nags to accessive heat to severe privacy risks.
Make sure you read their reviews to be aware of the catches before making the purchase.
Pros
Two auto-sensing 10GBASE-T ports and eight PoE++ 2.5GBASE-T ports on the router and a 2.5GBASE-T POE port on the access point to deliver true multi-Gigabit wired performance
Compact design, easy to use
Good coverage, reliable performance
Cons
Expensive with extremely limited customizability and privacy risks
No web user interface (or desktop app) or command line support; no common business features, such as VLAN; all useful features (Dual-WAN, VPN, QoS, Parental Controls, etc.) require the eero Plus subscription
The router’s internal fan is a tad noisy; runs very hot
The takeaway
If you choose any of the options above, you will get a mesh Wi-Fi system far better than any canned option at a similar price point.
And the fact that you can say you build and maintain it yourself is a satisfying bonus.
