5 Best USB Network Adapters in 2024

Gone are the days when Ethernet cable is the only mean of connecting to the internet.

Luckily, there is an advancing technology that has come to our rescue, known as USB Network adapter.  USB network adapters are incredibly convenient for hooking up to your local network wirelessly.

However, with a variety of wireless adapters available in the market, it’s a little difficult to find the right one for you.

So, here, we’ve compiled a list of best USB network adapters to help you make the right choice.

1. Panda Wireless PAU06

If you want a robust USB adapter for a successful video streaming and gaming experience, Panda Wireless PAU06 is the one for you. Combination of backward compatibility and reasonable price, this adapter can turn your old PC new by offering browsing speed of 300 Mbps.

Moreover, this wireless adapter is compatible with multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS, Ubuntu and more. However, it doesn’t work well with older Windows OS including Windows 7, 8, etc.

Additionally, this adapter is backward compatible with the 802.11g standard on the 2.4 GHz band. You could also get a nice speed of 245 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz range.

With plug-and-play functionality, you can easily set the adapter up within seconds. Also, the adapter consumes very less battery power on your PC and runs quietly in the background.

Pros

• Affordable
• Backward compatibility with 802.11g standard
• Compatible with Fedora, Linux, Windows, and Mac

Cons

• Not quite fast
• Sudden signal drop
• Motherboard detection problem

Click here for the price.

TP-Link USB Network Adapter

If you want an adapter compatible with almost every device, TP-Link USB Network Adapter is your pick. The adapter works well with both Mac (10.9-10.15), Windows (11/10/7/8/8.1/XP/) and Linux Kernel 2.6.18-4.4.3. 

The adapter features dual-band to supports 2.4 GHz bands and offers up a theoretical speed of 150 Mbps. Additionally, the adapter offers strong wifi  coverage  giving you a chance to surf the internet from anywhere in the house.

Additionally, this wireless adapter is compatible with all WLAN, i.e.  WEP, WPA/WPA2, WPA psk/WPA2 psk.

The set up is also a breeze; you just need to plug in the adapter, install the drivers and connect to the internet.

Pros

• Single connectivity
• Affordable price
• High compatibility with routers

Click here for the price.

3. Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 Wi-Fi USB Adapter

Looking for an adapter with decent speed? If yes, Netgear Nighthawk is one of the fastest and most effective products that offer a dual-band 802.11n connection. It delivers a speed of up to 1300 Mbps on 5 GHz and 600 Mbps on 2.4 GHz.

The Wi-Fi adapter is compatible with both Mac OS and Windows. However, for Linux, you will have to install additional drivers.

Moreover, the adapter boasts a 3×4 MIMO design for better bandwidth capacity. It is important for uploading and downloading data from and to a wireless network. It also includes magnetic cradle and explicit beamforming. If you add a 3.0 USB port to this, you’ll get an adapter that offers great speed and performance.

The next worth-mentioning feature of this adapter is its ability to both connect it directly to your laptop as a USB and the ability to use an included extension cable and put it in a vertical position as an antenna to enhance the signal.

Pros

• 3×4 MIMO design
• Dual-band connectivity
• Offers great peed for gaming
• Beamforming technology

Cons

• Big size may damage adjacent ports

Click here for the price.

4. Linksys Dual-Band AC1200 WUSB6300

If you’re gamer or want a portable and lightweight wireless adapter, Linksys Dual-Band AC1200 is the one for you. Linksys adapter is known for its exceptional performance and lightning fast gaming speed. The device delivers a speed of up to 300Mbps on the 802.11n 2.4 GHz band or up to 867Mbps on the 802.11ac 5GHz.

The dual-band adapter comes with a 2×2 MIMO antenna configuration. But, the antennas are internal making the device compact. It also connects to a USB 3.0 port and supports WPS.

The adapter also supports up to 128-bit encryption through WPA, WPA2 and WEP standards. Further, the device is compatible with all Windows platforms such as Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7.

The only drawback of this adapter is that the latest firmware has proved to be unstable and has slowed down its speed comparatively.  However, it maintains a consistent ping even when playing games for long hours.

Pros

• Portable
• Lightweight and affordable
• USB 3.0 connection
• Powered by 802.11ac standard
• Supports dual band

Cons

• No external antenna
• Old AC1200 standard USB adapter
• Not quite speedy in 2.4 GHz band

Click here for the price.

5. Glam Hobby 600 Mbps AC600

Be it a long gaming session, surfing the net or hosting an online video conference, the Glam Hobby dongle is an ideal pick. With plug-and-play setup, this device offers exceptional speed capabilities. You could get a nice throughput of 433 Mbps in the 5 GHz band and great speed of 150 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz range.

Not only this Adapter by Glam Hobby is the most affordable but is also the smallest one. This accessory is an excellent value for money and a good pick for binge gaming sessions and HD video streaming.

Moreover, the adapter features an omnidirectional antenna to cover all the corners of your house. For compatibility, it works with both Mac OS and Windows 10.

The next unique feature of this device is that it creates a Wi-Fi hotspot for multiple devices whenever there’s a wired internet connection.

Pros

• Compact design
• Quite affordable
• Single antenna with beamforming technology
• Can reach a good speed
• Windows and Mac compatibility

Cons

• The antenna is too big
• Weak signal strength
• Network lag in 5 GHz band

Click here for the price.

Final Thoughts

So, these are the best USB networks adapters in 2024. Just go through this list, weigh the pros and cons, and find the one that suits your needs the best.