If the spotty Wi-Fi connectivity from your current wireless router frustrates you, it may be time to upgrade to a whole home mesh network. Mesh Wi-Fi systems are the latest innovation that use multiple access points to create one seamless, reliable signal through your house.
The two biggest names in consumer mesh networking are Eero and Google Nest Wifi. As an experienced network engineer, I often get asked – which is the better choice? In this comprehensive buyer‘s guide, I’ll compare Eero versus Nest Wifi to help you decide which advanced wireless system fits your home and budget.
Overview: The Advantages of Mesh Network Technology
Conventional wireless routers broadcast Wi-Fi signals from a single point. This leads to frustrations like:
- Dead zones in parts of your home that receive poor coverage
- Slow speeds and buffering when multiple users or devices overload the router’s capacity
- Dropped connections when moving around the house away from the router
Mesh systems take a different approach for faster, steadier Wi-Fi through your entire home. They consist of:
- A main router hub that connects directly to your internet modem. This is the core that controls and manages your network.
- A series of access points, also called satellites or nodes, placed around your house.
These satellite devices plug into wall outlets to expand your network’s wireless coverage. They talk to each other to form a unified, cohesive wifi system or “mesh” blanketing your home.
Benefits of Mesh Networks:
- Consistent signal strength everywhere without slow zones or dead spots
- Faster total speeds and capacity when nodes team up to serve users
- Easy expandability by adding access points – great for larger homes
- Devices roam freely without dropping signal as you move around
Now that you know the upside of mesh systems, let’s see how the flagship options compare…
Eero vs Nest Wifi: Company Histories
Eero released the first mainstream consumer mesh system in early 2015. Founded by startup veterans, their vision was to simplify home networking and banish Wi-Fi headaches once and for all through mesh technology.
Rave reviews quickly propelled Eero as the top whole home Wi-Fi solution. They rode a wave of venture funding that peaked with retail giant Amazon buying Eero for an estimated $97 million in 2019. This corporate backing fuels Eero’s continued dominance as America’s #1 mesh system.
Nest Wifi originated under Google’s networking brand, Google WiFi, in 2016. The search engine titans sought to challenge the upstart Eero’s mesh offering with their own budget-friendly system.
In late 2019, Google rebranded their router division under the Nest smart home label. The 2nd generation “Nest Wifi” emerged featuring sleek new hardware with the Google Assistant virtual helper built-in.
Diving Into The Specs: How Eero and Nest WiFi Compare
Now that we’ve covered the histories behind these mesh giants, let’s dig into exactly how they stack up on the hard metrics networking geeks like me care about.
Features Overview
|| Eero Mesh | Nest Wifi Mesh |
|-|————-|————-|
| Manufacturer | Amazon (Eero) | Google (Nest)
| Mesh Nodes | Routers + Beacons | Routers + Points |
| Wi-Fi Generation | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
|Frequency Bands | Tri-Band (Dual 5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) | Dual-Band (5 GHz + 2.4 GHz)
|Per Node Speed| Up to 500 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 1200 Mbps (5 GHz) | Up to 400 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 867 Mbps (5 GHz)
|Processor | Quad-core processor @ 1.4GHz | Qualcomm quad-core (IPQ4019) @1.4GHz
|Memory | 1GB RAM, 4GB flash storage | 1GB RAM (router), 768MB RAM (points), 4GB Flash |
| Ethernet Ports Per Node | 2 ports – can be configured as WAN and/or LAN | Router – 2 ports WAN/LAN. Points – 1 port WAN |
Comparing the wireless specs, Eero clearly has superior next gen technology with Wi-Fi 6 and added tri-band support:
- Wi-Fi 6 boosts speed, performance and capacity – perfect for the explosion of wireless devices in homes.
- Having a dedicated third 5GHz radio for all the data backhaul communiation between mesh nodes isolates user traffic resulting in faster speeds.
The processing hardware and memory are quite comparable. But a notable difference emerges when looking at the Ethernet situation:
- All Eero devices have two Gigabit Ethernet ports that you can configure as WAN and/or LAN. This offers total flexibity whether to hardwire nodes, connect wired devices, etc.
- Nest Router points only include a single LAN port.
So Eero pulls ahead in wireless capabilities while offering more wired physical connectivity. Next we’ll tackle pricing and how coverage differs.
Performance Factors and Coverage Area
How fast can these systems push Wi-Fi? What‘s their range like? Let‘s break that down:
|| Eero Mesh | Google Nest Wifi |
|-|—————-|——————|
|Combined Speed | Up to 3000 Mbps per node (tri-band) | Up to 1200 Mbps per node (dual-band only)
|Realistic Speed | Up to 500 Mbps | Up to 400 Mbps
|Range Per Node| 2,000 square feet| 2,200 square feet
|System Coverage | 1 node – 2k sq ft
2 nodes – 4k sq ft
3 nodes – 6k sq ft| 1 router + 1 point – 3,800 sq ft
1 router + 2 points – 4,400 sq ft |
You‘ll enjoy some of Wi-Fi 6‘s advanced capabilities with Eero like:
- Multi-user connections serving several devices simultaneously without congestion. Great for high demand homes.
- Up to 9.6 Gbps maximum theoretical throughput across the mesh.
But know that actual average speeds will be closer to 400-500 Mbps for most. That still beats Nest thanks to better technology, despite similar per node coverage areas.
To recap simply:
- Eero faster Wi-Fi with 6, Nest slower with Wi-Fi 5
- Both cover about 2k square feet effectively per node
Setup and Management
All mesh systems excel at quick, simple deployment using smartphone apps to configure and manage your network. But Eero just feels more polished and user friendly.
For example, reviewers rave about Eero‘s reliable auto-updates, robust parental controls, and AI security protecting against threats. Nest offers similar functionality but falls just short of Eero’s stellar ease-of-use.
Which Is Better for You: Eero vs Nest WiFi?
We‘ve covered the networking capabilities at length. But picking the right mesh system involves more than that – it‘s also about finding the best value fit for your budget and home‘s needs. Let‘s compare costs and ideal use cases.
Budget Comparison
As you‘d expect given the upgraded hardware, Eero systems carry a higher price tag than Nest WiFi. Here is how starter bundles roughly shake out:
|| Eero Mesh | Google Nest Wifi |
|-|————-|————-|
|1 Router | $90 | $169
|1 Router + 1 Add-On Node | $199 | $269
|1 Router + 2 Add-On Nodes | $299 | $349
Nest WiFi starter packs provide respectable whole home coverage for cheaper, especially if Wi-Fi 6 isn‘t a must. But remember – Eero‘s better technology does come at a cost.
Let‘s put those price points in context…
Ideal Home and Usage Scenarios
Given the specs and costs above, here is how I recommend mapping these systems to home sizes and internet usage levels:
For small homes and apartments under 2,000 sq ft: Nest WiFi makes more financial sense. The cheaper router plus single add-on node can sufficiently cover 1-2 bedrooms and light usage.
Homes between 2,000 to 4,000 sq ft: Here Nest and Eero both work well depending on internet demands. Nest saves you money for basic needs. Eero smart for many connected devices, streaming/smart homes, or to future-proof.
Large homes and advanced needs: If you have over 4,000 square feet across multiple floors, definitely go Eero. Its robust tri-band Wi-Fi 6 speeds and added nodes will reliably handle high wireless usage from multiple family members or internet connected appliances.
So in summary:
- Nest WiFi excels at delivering solid, budget friendly coverage for small spaces.
- Eero wise for expansive homes or networks under heavier use that warrant paying extra for the latest technology.
I suggest mulling over this context to pick what fits your family, dwelling and budget best long term.
The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways on Eero vs Nest Wifi
Let‘s recap the main comparison points between mesh pioneer Eero and Google Nest Wifi:
- Eero features more advanced networking – WiFi 6, tri-band support and greater throughput. More suitable for expansive / high usage homes.
- Nest WiFi still performs admirably but on mature WiFi 5 standards. Cheaper if you want solid basic coverage.
- Both reputable mesh systems offer set-it-and-forget-it, app-based wireless that simply works. Miles better than old school routers.
- Think carefully about home layouts, device needs, internet patterns and budget when deciding. Pay only for what fits.
I hope mapping out the histories plus diving deep on performance specs clarifies your choice between these two mesh giants. Let me know if any other questions come up! I‘m here to help guide you towards becoming another happy member of mesh networking club.
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