Head-to-head · Best Powerline Network Adapters

NETGEAR PLP2000 vs TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P)

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

NETGEAR PLP2000 and TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P) score essentially the same (4.5 vs 4.5). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Ranked #2 in Best Powerline Network Adapters

NETGEAR PLP2000

4.5

2 sources1 derived$110.59as of Aug 1

The NETGEAR PLP2000 is the best powerline adapter overall and Tom's Guide's top pick, thanks to throughput that often more than doubled every competitor in testing plus class-leading range. It pairs AV2000-class speed with two Gigabit ports, a pass-through outlet, and an extra AC socket. Working against it: a high price, only 90 days of support, and no configuration interface.

Strengths

— Highest measured throughput in head-to-head testing
— Superb range — still leads competitors at 100 feet
— Two Gigabit Ethernet ports per adapter

Watch-outs

— Among the most expensive powerline kits available
— Only 90 days of included support
— No app or web interface to monitor or configure

$110.59 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #1 in Best Powerline Network Adapters

TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P)

4.5

3 sources2 derived$89.99as of Aug 1

The TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P) is the value pick in the fastest powerline class, carrying the AV2000 rating and two Gigabit ports per adapter. Tech Advisor said its real-world performance "scored as high as we've seen in tests," and TechRadar calls it the fastest powerline adapter at up to 2000 Mbps. What it gives up against its kit-mates is a pass-through outlet.

Strengths

— AV2000 speed class, rated up to 2000 Mbps
— Two Gigabit Ethernet ports on each adapter
— 128-bit AES encryption with plug-and-play pairing and a sync button

Watch-outs

— No pass-through outlet, so each adapter takes a whole wall socket
— Bulky adapters that crowd a two-outlet plate
— Real-world speed depends heavily on the quality of the house wiring

$89.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

NETGEAR PLP2000

The performance leader. It matches the AV2000-class speed of the TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P) but, per Tom's Guide testing, posts higher real-world throughput and better range than any competitor — well ahead of the AV1000 TP-Link TL-PA7017P and TL-WPA7617 and the value-focused TRENDnet TPL-423E2K. The trade is that it's the priciest kit here.

TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P)

The fast-and-cheap alternative to the NETGEAR PLP2000: it matches that kit's AV2000 speed class and dual Gigabit ports for less money, but the Netgear keeps a pass-through outlet the TP-Link does not have. It is clearly faster than the AV1000-class TL-PA7017P and TL-WPA7617 and the TRENDnet TPL-423E2K.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	NETGEAR PLP2000	TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P)
Speed Rating	AV2000 (up to 2000 Mbps)	AV2000 (up to 2000 Mbps)
Ethernet Ports	2x Gigabit per adapter	2x Gigabit per adapter
Pass-through Outlet	Yes (+ extra AC outlet)	No
Standard	HomePlug AV2 / MIMO	HomePlug AV2 / MIMO
Adapters in Kit	2	2
Setup	Plug-and-play	Plug-and-play
Encryption	128-bit AES	128-bit AES
Warranty	1-year (90-day support)	—
Dimensions	2.8"L x 1.49"W x 5.26"H	2.8"L x 1.7"W x 5.2"H
Wi-Fi	—	No (wired only)

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