Head-to-head · Best Powerline Network Adapters

TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P) vs TRENDnet TPL-423E2K

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

TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P) comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.5 vs 4.0). The gap is mostly about Gamers and 4K streamers who want the top powerline speed class and two Gigabit ports without paying the Netgear premium. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #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 →

Ranked #5 in Best Powerline Network Adapters

TRENDnet TPL-423E2K

4.0

1 source$64.99as of Aug 1

The TRENDnet TPL-423E2K is the pick for penny-pinchers. Tom's Guide praised its rare combination of low upfront price, low operating costs, and a class-leading 3-year warranty, plus a handy AC pass-through outlet. The catch, per that same review, is mediocre speed and range. Choose it when cost and warranty matter more to you than top performance.

Strengths

— Low upfront price and low operating power costs
— Class-leading 3-year warranty
— Built-in AC pass-through outlet on each adapter

Watch-outs

— Unimpressive throughput versus faster kits
— Range trails the leaders, especially at distance
— Single Ethernet port per adapter

$64.99 · 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

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.

TRENDnet TPL-423E2K

The budget warranty pick. It's the cheapest kit here with a 3-year warranty that beats the NETGEAR PLP2000's 90-day support and TP-Link's standard coverage. But its throughput and range trail every other pick — the AV2000 PLP2000 and TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P) and even the AV1000 TP-Link TL-PA7017P and TL-WPA7617 all outperform it.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P)	TRENDnet TPL-423E2K
Speed Rating	AV2000 (up to 2000 Mbps)	Powerline 1300 AV2 (up to 1300 Mbps)
Ethernet Ports	2x Gigabit per adapter	1x Gigabit per adapter
Pass-through Outlet	No	Yes (built-in outlet)
Standard	HomePlug AV2 / MIMO	IEEE 1901 / IEEE 1905.1
Adapters in Kit	2	2
Setup	Plug-and-play	Plug-and-play
Encryption	128-bit AES	—
Wi-Fi	No (wired only)	—
Dimensions	2.8"L x 1.7"W x 5.2"H	4.73"L x 2.4"W x 2.6"H
Range	—	Up to 300m (984 ft)
Warranty	—	3-year

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