Powerline Adapters vs. Ethernet? Which You Should Use (2023)

Powerline Adapters vs. Ethernet

Typical Ethernet cable such as Cat 6a will provide the simplest to understand and usually the fastest solution for wiring your home network. However, every home and set of requirements is going to be unique. In some cases, you may not want to put holes in floors and walls.

Powerline adapters can be an excellent solution for distributing Internet access throughout your home. In particular, it's a great choice when your environment has too many obstructions or too much interference for Wi-Fi, and you don't want to hardwire Ethernet.

Ethernet cables (e.g., Cat 6a cable) will always provide the fastest, most reliable, and lowest latency solution. However, adding Ethernet cables will typically require drilling holes in your walls.

Compared to standard Ethernet, Powerline adapters will be slower, have higher latency, and are less reliable. Powerline adapters can be subject to intermittent interference. For example, Powerline adapters can be affected when running large home appliances. Powerline adapters are also significantly affected by the quality of your home AC wiring. If the quality of your home wiring isn't known, you will not know whether it will work well before trying it.

Powerline adapters will work for providing high-speed Internet to your gaming computer or console, but they are not your best option.

As I'll discuss below, MoCA adapters (Ethernet over coax) may be a great alternative solution. If you have existing coax wiring in your home, MoCA provides a better overall connection than Powerline adapters.

Check out my article Powerline Adapters vs. Wi-Fi for further discussion comparing Powerline adapters to Wi-Fi.

Check out my Recommended Powerline Adapters and Ethernet Switches below.

Best Powerline Adapter

NETGEAR Powerline Adapter Kit, 2000 Mbps Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

Best Ethernet Switch

TP-Link TL-SG108 - 8 Port Gigabit Unmanaged Ethernet Network Switch Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

What Are Powerline Adapters?

A pair of Powerline adapters allows you to use AC wiring for Ethernet communication. Powerline adapters behave like an extension for an Ethernet cable. You can create an Ethernet network by simply plugging a pair of Powerline adapters into your wall outlets. Powerline adapters can communicate over the same wires as you use for AC power transmission.

Use Cases for Powerline Adapters and Ethernet Cables

• Extend wireless coverage with wired connections to additional Wi-Fi access points.
• Connect devices that don't support Wi-Fi.
• Backhaul for a Mesh Wi-Fi System (i.e., a wired backbone for the Wi-Fi satellites).
• Use wired connections to avoid Wi-Fi interference from neighbors.
• A secure alternative to Wi-Fi.

Are Powerline Adapters Good for Gaming?

Powerline adapters will work for providing high-speed Internet to your gaming computer or console, but they are not your best option.

Powerline adapters have lower latency than Wi-Fi, which is good. However, they do not have the same reliability or speed compared to their alternatives.

Suppose you have coax cabling in your home. In that case, MoCA adapters are a better option, as they provide faster speeds and better reliability.

Ethernet cables (e.g., Cat 6a cable) will always provide the fastest, most reliable, and lowest latency solution.

Powerline vs. Alternatives

Ethernet Cable & Alternatives	Setup Complexity	Supported Speeds	Supported Distance	Latency	Reliability
Ethernet Cable - Ethernet over Twisted Pair (e.g., Cat 6a)	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Excellent	Excellent
Powerline - Ethernet over Powerline	Excellent	Fair	Good	Fair	Poor
MoCA - Ethernet over Coax	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good
Wi-Fi - Wireless	Good	Fair	Fair	Poor	Fair

Suppose you're looking for an alternative to Ethernet cables and Wi-Fi. In that case, we believe that MoCA (Ethernet over Coax) is the clear winner compared to Powerline due to the faster speeds and better signal quality. However, there are still some use cases where Powerline may be the best solution. Powerline is a little easier to set up than MoCA. MoCA adapters require coax cabling in your rooms, which may not exist in your case.

Suppose your Internet speed is less than 200 Mbps or your devices on the network do not support gigabit Ethernet. In these cases, Powerline adapters may be the best of the two options for you, as they offer a lower price point.

On the other hand, MoCA adapters are a better option when you want to fully utilize a higher-speed Internet connection and have existing coax cabling between rooms.

Learn more about MoCA adapters in my article, Ethernet Over Coax?! A Complete Guide to MoCA Adapters.

For even more alternatives, check out my article, The 6 Best Ethernet Cable Alternatives for Home Networks.

Powerline vs. Ethernet Distance

Powerline and Ethernet distances are more than long enough for most homes.

Max Speeds and Distances

Cable Category	Max Speed and Distance
Cat 5e	1 Gbps @ 100 meters
Cat 6a	10 Gbps @ 100 meters
Cat 8	40 Gbps @ 30 meters 10 Gbps @ 100 meters
Coax (MoCA 2.5)	2.5 Gbps @ 91 meters
Powerline	2 Gbps @ 300 meters (actual speeds are often lower)

Pros and Cons of Powerline

Pros:

• Easy wiring using existing power outlets (connect an Ethernet cable)
• Low cost (compared to MoCA adapters)
• Encrypted (some products)
• Up to a 300-meter range
• Some models have built-in Wi-Fi
• Plug and play setup (no configuration required)

Cons:

• Often a lower connection speed of around 150-350 Mbps compared to the advertised 1-2 Gbps
• Powerline devices need to be on the same electrical circuit
• May cause noticeable electromagnetic interference with some devices such as speakers (static sound)
• Power strip, GFCI outlets, and AFCI circuit breakers may degrade Powerline network signals
• Some models block an outlet when connecting directly into a wall outlet

Ethernet Cables

Typical twisted-pair copper Ethernet cables (e.g., Cat 6a) offer some of the fastest speeds possible for a home network. If you feel like your Ethernet isn't fast enough:

• Upgrade to 1 Gbps devices (routers and switches) if you haven't already.
• Use at least cat 5e cable (go with cat 6a cable if you make a new purchase).
• Replace cables if they are damaged.
• Verify that your computers support 1 Gbps speeds if you want to make use of that capacity.

Ethernet Cable Max Speeds and Distances

Cable Category	Max Speed and Distance
Cat 5	100 Mbps @ 100 meters
Cat 5e	1 Gbps @ 100 meters
Cat 6	10 Gbps @ 55 meters (37 meters if high cross talk) 1 Gbps @ 100 meters
Cat 6a	10 Gbps @ 100 meters

Pros:

• Fast and reliable connection
• Low cost
• Lowest latency (e.g., for gaming)
• Secure
• Plug and play setup (no configuration required)

Cons:

• Limited to 100 meters (without an additional Ethernet switch)
• May require new wiring for your home

Recommended Devices

• This model includes some great features:
  • An extra passthrough Ethernet port
  • An extra outlet (although the device will block part of a second wall outlet)
  • 2 Gbps (theoretical) speeds
  • Support for encryption
• Check the latest price of the NETGEAR Powerline 2000 Mbps Adapter Kit on Amazon (affiliate link). NETGEAR Powerline Adapter Kit, 2000 Mbps Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
• Additional accessories you may need: Tripp Lite Cat6a 10G Patch Cable 3ft Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

• The TL-SG108 is a well-known and reliable network switch.
• I own this exact switch model and have been using it without any problems for many years.
• It supports Ethernet speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
• Due to the fanless design, it is silent.
• It uses solid capacitors, which means that it should last a long time.
• It's an unmanaged switch, meaning that it's plug and play, and no configuration is required. TP-Link TL-SG108 - 8 Port Gigabit Unmanaged Ethernet Network Switch Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
• Additional accessories you may need: Tripp Lite Cat6a Cable 10G-Certified Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

How to Set Up Powerline Adapters

Powerline adapters can be very simple to set up. Conceptually, you can think of a pair of Powerline adapters as an extension for an Ethernet cable. More than two Powerline adapters behave like an Ethernet hub combined with Ethernet cables.

Most Powerline adapters are configured similarly.

To set up Powerline adapters:

1. Plug one Powerline adapter into a power outlet and connect it to your Internet router via an Ethernet cable.
2. Plug one or more additional Powerline adapters into power outlets in rooms where you want Internet access. Connect them to computers or other network devices via Ethernet cables.
3. Pair the Powerline adapters by holding down the button on each adapter for a few seconds.

That's it! Your devices should now be on the network and have Internet access.

Building Your Network

If you want to learn more about internet equipment, networking, wiring, or troubleshooting, check out these articles:

• Cat 5e vs. Cat 6a - Which to Buy? - This article compares the various categories of Ethernet cables.
• How to Connect Ethernet Cables - Network Switches & Couplers - This article explains how to use network switches and couplers for extending and distributing your network.
• How to Extend Your Ethernet Range Beyond 100 Meters - This article discusses long-distance Ethernet options.
• Ultimate Cable Internet Wiring & Optimization Guide - This guide shows you how to wire and optimize cable Internet for your home or office.
• Essential Equipment Guide for Cable Internet - This guide shows you the essential components required for setting up your cable Internet connection.
• Ethernet Over Coax?! A Complete Guide to MoCA Adapters - This guide discusses how to use existing coax cabling for distributing Ethernet and Wi-Fi throughout your house.
• Ultimate Cable Internet Troubleshooting Guide - This guide shows you how to troubleshoot cable Internet problems.
• The Best MoCA Adapters to Buy - This article discusses our recommended MoCA adapters and which accessories are needed.

More Powerline Articles

• Ethernet Over Power?! A Complete Guide to Powerline Adapters
• Are Powerline Adapters Good for Gaming?
• How to Set Up and Use Powerline Adapters
• MoCA vs. Powerline
• Powerline Adapters vs. Wi-Fi
• Powerline Adapters vs. Ethernet
• Do Powerline Adapters Need to Be on the Same Circuit?
• Do Powerline Adapters Work in Apartments?
• Will Powerline Adapters Work Between a House and Garage?
• Will a Powerline Adapter Work With an Ethernet Switch?
• How Many Powerline Adapters Can You Use?

A Note From the Authors