eero vs. Google WiFi: Which mesh WiFi system should you choose?

If your router leaves weak spots around the house, a mesh WiFi system can help. Multiple nodes work together to create a seamless network that hands off your connection as you move, so coverage stays consistent from room to room.

If you don’t yet have Astound’s Whole Home WiFi and are exploring which mesh system to bring into your home, two of the most popular options are eero and Google WiFi, along with Google’s newer Nest WiFi and Nest WiFi Pro models.

In this guide, we’ll compare eero vs. Google WiFi across performance, coverage, setup, ecosystem, value and home size fit to help you decide what’s right for your space.

When choosing between eero and Google WiFi, performance comes down to the details: wireless standards, range and how each system manages traffic between nodes. Below is a breakdown of how they differ in speed, coverage, real-world results and connection flexibility.

One of the biggest differences between eero and Google WiFi comes down to the wireless standard each system uses.

Which WiFi standard does eero use? Most of the eero current lineup, including eero 6+, eero Pro 6E and eero Max 7, runs on WiFi 6, WiFi 6E or WiFi 7. These upgrades deliver faster peak speeds, improved efficiency across multiple devices and stronger performance at range.

The original Google WiFi and Nest WiFi operate on WiFi 5. The latest Nest WiFi Pro moves up to WiFi 6E, giving access to the 6 GHz band and improving performance for compatible devices. However, its 1 Gbps Ethernet ports still limit wired throughput, compared to the eero multi-Gig models.

Coverage and throughput depend on your home’s layout, wall materials and how many devices share the network, but each brand offers general guidance.

According to eero, a single eero 6+ unit can cover up to 1,500 square feet. while the eero Pro 6E extends that range to about 2,000 square feet per unit. The latest eero Max 7 pushes performance even further, supporting multi-Gig speeds and stronger long-range stability for large or multi-story homes.

Google WiFi lists coverage of about 1,500 square feet per router. The newer Nest WiFi Pro increases that slightly to about 2,200 square feet per router, depending on placement and line of sight between nodes.

Both mesh systems automatically balance connections across multiple bands to maintain speed, but the eero tri-band and WiFi 7 models handle heavier streaming and gaming loads more efficiently over distance, and when supported by a Gig internet plan from Astound.

User feedback consistently points to eero having smoother setup and steadier performance at range.

A comparative write-up in r/GoogleWiFi describes being “very very pleased with eero” after long-term frustrations with consistency on Google WiFi.

Another user who replaced four Google Nest WiFi nodes with three eero 6+ units reported that “speeds improved dramatically everywhere” and that setup was noticeably faster through the eero app.

At the same time, many users continue to praise Google WiFi for its simple setup and straightforward management within the Google Home app. However, some describe less stable long-range performance on WiFi 5 models and drop-offs in multi-story homes. In one thread, a former Nest WiFi owner called the system “frustrating” for inconsistent speeds until upgrading to an alternative mesh system.

Overall, everyday reviewers suggest both systems handle typical streaming and work from home needs well, but the eero newer WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 models tend to deliver steadier connectivity for larger or more complex homes.

How your mesh system moves data between nodes, called “backhaul”, has a major impact on speed and reliability. Both eero and Google WiFi support wireless and wired backhaul, but the hardware differs in how much bandwidth each can deliver.

eero
Most eero systems use dual-band or tri-band radios to balance device traffic and inter-node communication. The eero wired backhaul throughput ranges from two 1 Gbps Ethernet ports on early WiFi 6 models to 10 Gbps on eero Max 7, making the latter compatible with multi-Gig internet plans like Astound’s 2 Gig and higher tiers.

Google WiFi
The original Google WiFi and Nest WiFi rely on dual-band radios and support Gigabit Ethernet for optional wired links between nodes. The Nest WiFi Pro upgrades to tri-band WiFi 6E, introducing a dedicated 6 GHz channel for cleaner wireless backhaul, though its two Ethernet ports remain limited to 1 Gbps.

If you live in a small space or need a budget-friendly mesh system and don’t require multi-Gig internet, the Google WiFi or Nest WiFi line may be sufficient. These systems provide reliable whole-home coverage for everyday tasks like streaming, video calls and general smart home use.

For homes with greater area, multiple floors or many connected devices and if you subscribe to higher-speed internet tiers, the eero family (especially WiFi 6E/7 models) is better aligned. These systems support faster backhaul, higher throughput and are better suited for demanding use cases like gaming, 4K/8K streaming or home offices with cloud workflows.

1. Stay with your current system if performance meets your usage and coverage needs and if latency or device counts are still manageable.
2. Consider upgrading if you’ve increased your internet plan, moved to a larger home or added many smart home devices and notice slowdowns or coverage gaps.
3. Consider switching ecosystems if you’re moving from a Google-centric smart home to Amazon and want full integration with your mesh network.