The best cell phone signal boosters help banish weak signal areas by supporting calls and data from your mobile carrier. Boosters work by feeding off the service you already have.
These devices use larger, additional antennas in addition to the ones included with your phone or other mobile devices.
Keep in mind that a signal booster helps when the signal is weak. Unfortunately, a booster is ineffective in a dead zone where there’s no cell signal.
If you’re looking for a reliable booster that can serve a modestly sized home or office, works with 4G LTE frequencies, and allows multiple people to connect, the SureCall Flare Cell Phone Signal Booster Kit is the perfect solution.
Best Overall
SureCall Flare Cell Phone Signal Booster Kit
Reach of 2,500 square feet
Compatible with 4G LTE frequencies
Supports up to eight simultaneous users
Limited to mid-sized spaces
This booster is ideal for a home or office as it can cover up to 2,500 square feet. Irrespective of the setting, you’ll be able to connect to all 4G LTE frequencies in the United States. Specifically, the Flare Kit will support major cellular carriers such as AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile for your voice, text, and data needs.
Up to eight people can use the booster and increase their respective signals at any one time. To increase or decrease signal strength, you can make manual gain adjustments to boost a particular wireless band.
Unlike most networking equipment, the Flare Kit is equally functional and sleek. The booster’s plastic shell adds a clean look that makes it inconspicuous, whether on a bookshelf or in a corner. On the other hand, the same can’t be said for the Flare Kit’s outdoor omnidirectional antenna. Although designed to be functional over all else, it doesn’t take away from the overall look of the booster. Once activating the Flare Kit, users praised the reduction in dropped and missed calls.
Coverage Size: Up to 2,500 square feet | Compatible Carriers: All North American carriers | Compatible Devices: 4G, 5G
SureCall’s Fusion4Home Yagi/Whip Kit shares most of the Flare Kit’s notable characteristics. The Yagi/Whip Kit offers a clear and consistent signal across 4G LTE networks, boosting your signal for calling, texting, and data on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and more. Not only will you have fewer dropped calls and fewer texts not getting through, but you’ll also reduce waiting for Netflix or your favorite podcast to buffer.
Best for Medium Spaces
SureCall Fusion4Home Yagi/Whip Kit
Suitable for medium-sized homes and offices
Clear and consistent signal boosting
Sturdy, durable design
Not suitable for large outdoor spaces or homes
Expensive
Unlike the Flare Kit, the Fusion4Home Kit covers an additional 500 square feet, providing a range of 3,000 total square feet for a medium-sized home or office. However, the added square footage will cost you, as this booster will set you back anywhere from $400 to $500.
The Fusion4Home Kit is equipped with two different antennas for accuracy. For example, the outdoor directional Yagi antenna provides hyper-precise signal grabbing, while the indoor Whip antenna transmits the signal inside. SureCell incorporated a 50-foot RG-6 coax cable and an AC power supply to connect and power up the booster.
The Fusion4Home Kit was created to be efficient and long-lasting, considering its sturdy metal design. The booster’s construction collects the outside signal via the Yagi antenna and sends it inside to the Whip. The design also works in reverse when you need a strong signal sent out. The Fusion4Home Kit funnels data through the Whip, out to the Yagi, and back to the cell tower to send a signal out. For extra support, the booster comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty if something goes wrong.
Coverage Size: Up to 3,000 square feet | Compatible Carriers: All North American carriers | Compatible Devices: 3G, 4G, 5G
If you need to place your signal booster throughout your home, weBoost’s Home Multiroom Cell Phone Signal Booster Kit is the answer to your problem. The Home Multiroom Kit is perfect for improving wireless signals for homes in rural areas. This signal booster is strategically designed for multi-room accommodation and can enhance signal strength in three large rooms or up to 5,000 square feet. The Home Multiroom Kit’s impressive reach makes it one of the best indoor ranges among competitors.
Best for Multiple Rooms
weBoost Home Multiroom (470144) Cell Phone Signal Booster Kit
Works with all leading carriers
Attractive design and easy to mount
Range of 5,000 square feet
Multiple power outlets required
You can take advantage of the booster’s reach for voice, text, and data needs across prime U.S. mobile carriers. weBoost promises a 21dBm increase in uplink output power and a 12dBM increase in downlink output power. The uplink and downlink elements allow users to maximize reach to the nearest cell phone towers, thus maximizing cell phone service coverage.
Unlike most booster units, the Home Multiroom Kit is nicely designed and not too bulky. weBoost also incorporated a feature that allows the units to be mounted. In any case, you must place the equipment in different locations throughout the house. As such, if your home has limited outlets, installation of the booster may be an issue.
Coverage Size: Up to 5,000 square feet | Compatible Carriers: All U.S. carriers | Compatible Devices: 4G, 5G
Not everyone is trying to boost the signal for their cell phones. Some people want an improved signal strength to be directed to other devices such as routers, hotspots, and modems. The weBoost Signal 4G M2M Direct-Connect kit, the earliest five-band direct-connect booster introduced to the market, is designed for those needing a connection to devices other than phones.
Best Multi-Purpose
weBoost Signal 4G M2M Direct-Connect Kit
Bypass failover feature
Modest price tag
Attractive, small, resilient design
Inconsistent performance
For roughly $300, the M2M Direct-Connect Kit, which is compatible with all U.S. wireless carriers, advances 3G or 4G LTE signal before directing it to another device. One of the most impressive features of the direct-connect signal booster is the passive RF bypass failure. If power is lost, the M2M Direct-Connect Kit activates to bypass the amplifier. In turn, the booster’s external antenna can preserve a connection to the receiving device. This feature is ideal for devices such as gates or security equipment.
weBoost’s M2M Direct-Connect Kit design makes it easy to place within various settings. For instance, the compact form allows the booster to fit discreetly in a closet or room, and the rugged design ensures its contents are thoroughly protected. Although the booster looks appealing, users have complained that the signal remained unimpressive.
Coverage Size: N/A | Compatible Carriers: All U.S. carriers | Compatible Devices: 2G, 3G, 4G
There’s nothing worse than being on the road and hitting an area with poor cellular service or no cellular service. With weBoost’s in-vehicle Drive Reach cell signal booster, you can focus on getting to your destination without worrying about your cell service. The provided 50dB of gain is the maximum permitted amount for vehicle boosters per the FCC.
Best for Vehicle
weBoost Drive Reach Vehicle Cell Phone Signal Booster
Portability, great for travelers
50dB of gain
Uplink and downlink power
Limited phone placement to be effective
Pricey
Additionally, weBoost greatly enhanced its uplink and downlink power from the Drive 46-X. Specifically, uplink power increased by 5bDm, and downlink power increased to more than 5bDm on each band. Even with the perks for the booster being limited to your vehicle, the $500 price tag may seem excessive.
Before you start your road trip, you won’t have to take too much time to set up your Drive Reach Booster. The kit comes with the booster, a magnetic antenna, a slim, low-profile antenna, and a power supply rapid charge USB-A port. For non-steel vehicles, the included special mounting equipment makes the Drive Reach easy to install. Overall, the booster takes only minutes to install, even without any tools.
After installation, be mindful of where you place your phone. For the Drive Reach to be effective as possible, the phone must sit upright directly against the in-vehicle antenna. The Drive Reach can provide up to two hours of talk time without being plugged into its power source.
Coverage Size: N/A | Compatible Carriers: All U.S. carriers | Compatible Devices: 4G, 5G
What to Look For in a Cell Phone Signal Booster
Wireless vs. Cradle
Not all cell phone signal boosters are wireless. Some boosters use a cradle. You’ll likely pay more with a wireless model than if you purchased a cell phone signal booster. Conversely, wireless models can provide a stronger signal to multiple devices. Cradle signal boosters will only amplify the signal to one connected phone but will be easier on your pockets.
Band Coverage
Cell phone carriers, small and large, use many bands with different frequencies in providing cellular service to customers. With distinct bands and various frequencies, you need a booster that can sustain your particular cellular provider. The best cell phone signal boosters cover five bands in addition to 4G. Depending on your carrier and phone, selecting a signal booster with less coverage is acceptable as long as the bands align to provide the requisite coverage.
Signal Strength
Cell phone signal boosters on the market have high-gain and low-gain antennas. Look for one with a high-gain antenna. With a high-gain antenna, you’ll want at least 5dBi if you live in a rural area without nearby cell towers. If you live in a more urban area, your signal will likely be obstructed by terrain or builders. City dwellers will be satisfied with a lower-gain antenna.
Our Trusted Experts
Nicky LaMarco has been writing and editing for more than 15 years for consumer, trade, and technology publications about many topics, including antivirus, web hosting, backup software, and cell phone signal boosters.
Hayley Prokos wrote for Lifewire and reviewed several products, from cell phone signal boosters to MacBook cases and projectors. She praised the weBoost Home for its strong signal-boosting abilities and reasonable price.
- What is a signal booster and do you need one?
- The FCC defines a signal booster as “devices that can help cell phone users improve their coverage in areas where they do not get a good signal.” In other words, if you live in a rural area or anywhere with spotty coverage, signal boosters can help fill that gap. These boosters can extend network coverage into dead zones like tunnels or subways.
- Can a signal booster interfere with other wireless networks?
- Older signal boosters tended to disrupt conflicting wireless signals, including the signals that handled emergency and 911 calls. However, a 2014 ruling by the FCC improved cell phone signal booster designs so they won’t interfere with other wireless networks. While modern signal boosters have mostly eliminated this problem, there is still a slim chance that it could interfere with existing signals.
- Do you need to register your signal booster with the FCC or your wireless provider?
- In short, yes. All modern signal boosters come packaged with labels by the FCC stating that you must register this device with your wireless provider. These labels will have a series of guidelines that must be adhered to within the legal statutes of the FCC.
The FCC defines a signal booster as “devices that can help cell phone users improve their coverage in areas where they do not get a good signal.” In other words, if you live in a rural area or anywhere with spotty coverage, signal boosters can help fill that gap. These boosters can extend network coverage into dead zones like tunnels or subways.
Older signal boosters tended to disrupt conflicting wireless signals, including the signals that handled emergency and 911 calls. However, a 2014 ruling by the FCC improved cell phone signal booster designs so they won’t interfere with other wireless networks. While modern signal boosters have mostly eliminated this problem, there is still a slim chance that it could interfere with existing signals.
In short, yes. All modern signal boosters come packaged with labels by the FCC stating that you must register this device with your wireless provider. These labels will have a series of guidelines that must be adhered to within the legal statutes of the FCC.
