The TP-Link TL-PA7017P is the best-value powerline kit, named best budget adapter with pass-through sockets by Tech Advisor, which praised it as 'fast, easy, affordable, compact' with passthrough on both adapters. Its AV1000 speed handles HD streaming and general use comfortably for far less than the AV2000 kits. The trade-offs are a single Gigabit port per adapter and no Wi-Fi.
Full review
Real-World Performance
The TP-Link TL-PA7017P is the value sweet spot of powerline networking. Tech Advisor named it the 'Best Budget Powerline Adapter with Passthrough Sockets,' summing it up as 'Fast, Easy, Affordable, Compact, Passthrough sockets.' In the broader AV1000 family review, Tech Advisor called the line 'a well-made and fast set of data shifters at great prices.' Its AV1000 speed class comfortably handles HD streaming, video calls, gaming, and general browsing — the everyday tasks most people actually use a powerline link for.
BroadbandNow recommends the underlying AV1000 kit 'for most people' precisely because it's 'affordable, easy to set up,' and reliable. It won't match the raw throughput of the AV2000-class Netgear PLP2000 or TP-Link TL-PA9020P, but for a buyer whose connection is gigabit-or-less and whose distances are reasonable, the real-world difference is often negligible — and the TL-PA7017P costs a fraction as much.
Ports and Connectivity
The defining feature at this price is the pass-through outlet on both adapters. Powerline adapters occupy a wall socket, and the TL-PA7017P gives that socket back via a built-in passthrough — a genuinely useful touch the pricier TP-Link TL-PA9020P omits. That makes it friendlier on a crowded two-outlet wall plate.
Each adapter has a single Gigabit Ethernet port, which is the main concession to the budget price. That's fine for connecting one device at the remote end — a TV, console, or desktop — but if you need to hardwire two devices you'll want the dual-port Netgear PLP2000 or TP-Link TL-PA9020P, or add an inexpensive switch. It runs on HomePlug AV2 with 128-bit AES encryption securing the link.
Setup and Software
Setup is classic TP-Link plug-and-play: plug the first adapter near the router, connect via Ethernet, plug the second where you need a connection, and they pair automatically, with a pair button for manual sync and security. Tech Advisor repeatedly highlighted how 'easy' the line is to get running, which is a big part of its appeal to non-technical buyers.
TP-Link's optional tpPLC utility is available if you want to check link status or manage the network, but it's not required for normal use. For a set-and-forget budget bridge, the TL-PA7017P asks almost nothing of the user beyond plugging it in.
Where It Falls Short
The single Ethernet port per adapter is the most notable limitation versus the dual-port AV2000 kits, and the AV1000 speed ceiling means it's not the kit for someone chasing maximum throughput on a multi-gig connection. Like every powerline product, real-world speed also depends on your home's wiring — older or electrically noisy circuits will cap performance below the AV1000 rating.
It also has no built-in Wi-Fi, so it's wired-only; the closely related TP-Link TL-WPA7617 is the version to choose if you want to broadcast Wi-Fi at the remote end. None of these are surprising at the price, and they're exactly the trade-offs that let the TL-PA7017P be the value champion rather than the performance one.
How It Compares to Alternatives
Against the AV2000 kits — the NETGEAR PLP2000 and TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P) — the TL-PA7017P is slower and single-port, but dramatically cheaper and (unlike the TL-PA9020P) it includes pass-through outlets. Against the TP-Link TL-WPA7617, it shares the same base adapter but trades that kit's Wi-Fi-extending second unit for a simpler, cheaper wired-only pair. Against the TRENDnet TPL-423E2K, both are budget passthrough kits, but the TL-PA7017P benefits from TP-Link's larger ecosystem and consistent reliability.
Its lane is the value-conscious buyer who wants a dependable wired bridge with passthrough and doesn't need AV2000 speed or Wi-Fi. For that person it's the smartest buy in the category.
Who It's Best For
The TP-Link TL-PA7017P is for value-focused buyers who want a reliable, easy wired powerline link with pass-through outlets and have a gigabit-or-slower connection where AV1000 speed is plenty. It's ideal for connecting a single device — a smart TV, console, or PC — in a room your Wi-Fi struggles to reach, without spending much.
Step up to the NETGEAR PLP2000 or TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P) if you need maximum throughput or two Ethernet ports per adapter, choose the TP-Link TL-WPA7617 if you want Wi-Fi at the far end, or consider the TRENDnet TPL-423E2K if you want the lowest price and a longer warranty.
Strengths
- +Best budget kit with a pass-through outlet on both adapters
- +Compact, unobtrusive design
- +Gigabit Ethernet port for full wired-speed connections
- +Fast and easy plug-and-play setup
- +Excellent value for reliable AV1000 performance
Watch-outs
- −Only one Ethernet port per adapter
- −AV1000 ceiling is slower than AV2000 kits
- −No built-in Wi-Fi
- −Real-world speed varies with home wiring
How it compares
The budget value pick. It's far cheaper than the AV2000-class NETGEAR PLP2000 and TP-Link AV2000 (TL-PA9020P) and adds the pass-through outlet the TL-PA9020P lacks, though it's slower (AV1000) with a single port. It shares its base adapter with the Wi-Fi-equipped TP-Link TL-WPA7617, and outperforms the cheaper TRENDnet TPL-423E2K in TP-Link's reliable ecosystem.
Who this is for
At a glance: value-focused buyers who want a reliable wired link with pass-through outlets and don't need AV2000 speeds.
Why you’d buy the TP-Link TL-PA7017P
- Best budget kit with a pass-through outlet on both adapters.
- Compact, unobtrusive design.
- Gigabit Ethernet port for full wired-speed connections.
Why you’d skip it
- Only one Ethernet port per adapter.
- AV1000 ceiling is slower than AV2000 kits.
- No built-in Wi-Fi.
Rating sources
“Fast, Easy, Affordable, Compact, Passthrough sockets — Best Budget Powerline Adapter with Passthrough Sockets.”
“A watered-down version of the TP-Link TL-PA9020P kit for about half the cost — our best for budgets pick.”
“If you are looking for a slower but more reliable network connection, the TP-Link Gigabit Powerline Starter Kit may be a good option for a reasonable price.”
Our 4.4 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
