There are lots of free services on the web that'll let you check your speed, but the most popular (and the one I use when I'm testing routers out at home) is the Ookla Speed Test. The Ookla Speed Test is a quick and easy diagnostic tool for your home network's health. Other options are available for even less.
And the best model I've tested thus far is the TP-Link RE505X, which can be had for $80. Wi-Fi range extenders are the best cheap option for smaller spaces. How do you choose which is best for you home? Well, for starters: Your best bets: Wi-Fi range extenders or maybe a mesh router with its own, range-extending satellite devices, called nodes. I've already outlined some of the initial steps you can take to boost your connection without buying anything, but in a lot of cases, eliminating dead zones like those will require a hardware upgrade. Perhaps you've become painfully familiar with those limitations - including the spots where signal drops off and your device can't hold a speedy connection. You're working, you're homeschooling your kids, you're video chatting with friends and family, you're binge-watching The Mandalorian - and you're pushing your home's Wi-Fi network to the limit. Let's suppose, for some reason, that you've been spending a lot more time at home. Do you need a brand-new mesh router, or will a simple Wi-Fi range extender suffice?