If you are interested to buy one, we have prepared a list of all the best travel routers for you, so finding the best suitable option for yourself is quite easy, all you need to do is keep in mind a few things before buying such as;
Data Transfer Rates: One of the most important factors that you should consider while buying a new router is its data transfer rate, or say speed. Generally, the routers which can handle more speed are better in terms of performance. That said, you will find plenty of good router options on our list that come with data transfer rates ranging from 150-750 Mbps. Frequency Band Class: Another thing that is in correlation with the speed is the frequency band class. You should decide whether you want a single band router or a dual-band router. In general, dual-band routers can fetch you better speeds, while single-band routers are good in terms of coverage area. Wireless Type: The performance of a wireless router also depends on its wireless standard. In the case of wireless travel routers, the best wireless standard is 802.11ac, which is also called Wi-Fi 5. However, you should check whether the router supports all the previous standards such as 802.11a/b/g/n also or not as they are equally important.
In case you want to know more about travel routers, we have already mentioned a detailed buying guide later in this article. In the buying guide, you will find all the information about all the important features and factors that you should take into consideration before buying a new travel router for yourself. Hence, make sure to read the “Buying Guide” until the end. For now, let’s quickly jump to the list and see what all these travel routers have to offer!
Best Travel Router
Best Travel Router Reviews
1. TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router
Starting our list with one of the top router brands in the market, TP-Link is hugely famous for its wide range of router options, especially offered at attractive prices. If you are on a budget and want a high-performance router, the TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router is one of our personal favorites. This travel router is extremely compact and easy to use as well. It comes with a Mode Switch button, a dedicated 10/100Mbps WAN/LAN Port, and a multi-purpose USB port. As it’s a dual-band router, it offers up to 433Mbps speed over the 5GHz channel while you can get up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz channel as well. Moreover, it supports wireless standards 802.11ac/n/a on 5GHz and 802.11b/g/n on 2.4GHz which is great. Apart from that, the build quality is actually superb and it also comes with a 2-year warranty as well. Best Features:
Has a 10/100Mbps WAN/LAN Port Dual-band router Compatible with Wireless standard 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Data Transfer Rate up to 750 Mbps Comes with a 2-year warranty
Pros:
Pricing is quite attractive Compact and travel-friendly Performs quite good
Cons:
Coverage could be better
2. GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2(Mango) Portable Travel Router
Speaking of travel-friendly wireless routers, GL.iNet is yet another popular brand in the market that you can choose to check out. The GL-MT300N-V2 wireless router from GL.iNet is one of the most compact and budget-friendly options for you. It’s a multi-purpose option as it can be used as a router, access point, extender, etc. On the unit, you will get dedicated 10/100 Mbps WAN and LAN Ethernet ports at the backside. On the other hand, you will find a dedicated USB port that can be used to connect storage devices or charge any device using it as a charger. Moreover, this router comes installed with an OpenVPN client that allows you to use up to 30 VPN services using this router. In addition, this router is based on the 802.11bgn standard, so the data transfer speeds offered by this router are up to 300Mbps. Speaking of its warranty, GL.iNet offers a 1-year warranty on all its products. Best Features:
Has separate 10/100Mbps WAN and LAN Ports Single-band router Compatible with Wireless standard 802.11 b/g/n Data Transfer Rate up to 300 Mbps Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Compact form-factor Setup is very easy Affordable pricing
Cons:
Only has a single band
3. NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 Router
For those people who are looking for a premium portable router option, you can check out the options from Netgear as it is one of the most trusted and well-known brands in the market. The NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 Mobile Hotspot 4G LTE Router is designed to work with any mobile carrier and offers data transfer rates up to 1Gbps. Not only that, it boasts a powerful chip that can serve up to 20 devices at the same time and provides equally distributed speeds to all of them. On top of that, the router even comes with a 2.4 inches LCD screen that gives you each and every detail about your network. On the router, you will get a gigabit ethernet port and an additional USB 2.0 port for connecting USB storage devices with the router. Since the router also carries a massive 5040 mAh battery, you can also use this router as a power bank and charge your smartphone with it. Moreover, it’s a dual-band router and offers amazing coverage as well since it has support for all wireless standards such as 802.11n, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, 801.11ac. In addition, Netgear also offers a 1-year warranty for it which makes it a wonderful package for everyone. Best Features:
Features a Gigabit Ethernet Port Dual-band router Features a 2.4 inches LCD panel Compatible with Wireless standard 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Data Transfer Rate up to 1 Gbps Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Premium design and build quality Extremely easy to use Great performance
Cons:
Could have included a USB 3.0 port instead
4. GL.iNet GL-AR750S-Ext (Slate) Travel Router
Since GL.iNet is such a popular brand and offers a wide range of travel-friendly router options, we have another one here to discuss as it has got plenty of features and comes at a really interesting price as well. Considering its small and compact size, it can be highly useful for you if you want a travel-friendly router as it can easily fit in one’s pockets as well. Talking about its frequency band class, it’s a dual-band router and offers up to 750Mbps data transfer rate combined. In addition, OpenVPN client and WireGuard come pre-installed on this router, so it’s compatible with over 30 VPN service providers. On the router, there are two LAN ports and one WAN port along with a USB 2.0 port which can be used to connect any 3G/4G modem with the router. Hence, it’s a complete package and serves its purpose completely. On top of that, the build quality of the router is absolutely good, and it also comes with a 1-year warranty also. Best Features:
Has two 10/100Mbps WAN/LAN Port Dual-band router Compatible with Wireless standard 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Data Transfer Rate up to 750 Mbps Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Features two dedicated antennas Also has a TF card slot Build quality is good
Cons:
USB 2.0 is a bit outdated
5. NETGEAR Trek N300 Travel Router
Speaking of compact routers, Netgear has one of the best options available in the market. That said, we have picked up the NETGEAR Trek N300 Travel Router which is a perfect fit for this list. Unlike other router options, this one has the most compact design and plugs directly into any wall outlet. At the front, it has a decent antenna that offers extensive coverage as well. Moreover, there are all the necessary LED lights given at the front that keeps you notified all the time. Although the price of this router is a bit more than other options on the list, it’s a single-band router and offers up to 300 Mbps speed on the 802.11n standard. However, it’s a great device to use as it can be used to boost the signal strengths of any public Wi-Fi hotspot. Moreover, it also has a USB port that can be used to connect any 3G/4G dongle, or to power it using a power bank. Along with the USB port, it also features 10/100 Mbps WAN and LAN ports as well. In addition, as we said earlier, Netgear offers a 1-year warranty for this router option as well. Best Features:
Features 10/100Mbps WAN and LAN Ports Single-band router Compatible with Wireless standard 802.11a/b/g/n Data Transfer Rate up to 300 Mbps Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Works great as a range extender Can also be used as a Wireless Bridge Simple and easy setup
Cons:
A little pricey
6. TRENDnet Wireless N 150 Mbps Travel Router
Coming up next, we have a pretty affordable option available on the list which comes from TRENDnet, another popular and highly-rated brand out there. Similar to the previous one, it also has a wall-outlet type design, hence, it’s very simple to use as all you need to do is plug it in into any wall socket. Since it’s an affordable option, we don’t expect it to deliver too fast speeds, but it serves well up to 150Mbps on 802.11bgn standards which is quite a good speed for such a router. The best part about this option is that it can work as a Router, WISP, and a Repeater also. Moreover, there are a total of two USB ports, while one of them is for connecting 3G/4G modems, the other one is dedicated to offering charging. Hence, you can use this router as a wall charger as well. In addition, the connection process becomes a lot easier as it comes with a WPS button as well. Best Features:
Has a 10/100Mbps WAN/LAN Port Single-band router Compatible with Wireless standard 802.11a/b/g/n Data Transfer Rate up to 150 Mbps Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Affordable pricing Size is quite compact and handy Offers USB quick charge port
Cons:
Build quality could have been better
7. GL.iNet GL-E750 (MUDI) 4G LTE OpenWrt VPN Router
Coming over to the last router on this list, we have another great option from GL.iNet which is one of the most premium and feature-rich options on this list. Hence, you should definitely check this one out as well. It’s a great option for you if you want to convert 4G LTE signals into Wi-Fi as it comes with a pre-installed EC25-AFFA module that makes it compatible with the T-mobile carrier. That said, it has a dedicated SIM card slot and also has a TF card slot for storage as well. Not just that, both OpenVPN and WireGuard come pre-installed on this router that makes it compatible with over 30 VPN service providers as well. On top of that, it’s totally wireless as it boasts a 7000 mAH in-built battery. Speaking of its construction, it looks more like a power bank than a router since it’s so lightweight and handy. Coming over to the ports section, it has a Type-C port for power and a dedicated USB 2.0 port for connecting any 3G/4G dongle. Inside the package, you will also get a USB Type-C replicator that adds an Ethernet port to this setup as well. Moreover, since it’s a dual-band router, the max data transfer speed of this router is about 750 Mbps. In fact, there’s nothing to complain about its build quality, and it also has a 1-year warranty. Best Features:
Comes with a USB Type-C port and Type-C replicator cable Dual-band router Compatible with Wireless standard 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Data Transfer Rate up to 750 Mbps Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Has a dedicated Nano SIM card slot Can also function as a power bank Has a 1-inch OLED display
Cons:
Works with T-mobile only
Buying Guide for the Best Travel Router
Travel routers are extremely useful, especially when you are out with your friends or family, they provide access to a private wireless network that everyone can use. That being said, we have provided you with the list of all the best travel routers in this article. You can simply go through the list and check out the features of all the routers to pick the best one out for yourself. Well, if you are not aware of the features of a router, and need some help to choose the best one from the list, this buying guide is just for you. In this buying guide, we will be discussing all the major factors and features that a customer should consider while buying a new travel router. Hence, reading this buying guide until the end is going to be a lot beneficial for you. So, without wasting any more time, let’s quickly discuss!
1. Frequency Band Class
First of all, you should check the frequency band class of the router. Wireless routers provide signals on channels of a certain frequency. While the inexpensive routers generally come with only a single 2.4 GHz band, the new-age routers commonly have dual-band in which there’s a 5GHz band in addition to the 2.4GHz band. The 2.4GHz band is known to be the best in terms of coverage, however, it has a limited speed range. The 5GHz band, on the other hand, is not as good as the 2.4GHz in terms of coverage, but it can transfer data at much faster rates. Thus, the routers which can utilize both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands are more reliable and perform generally better than the single-band routers.
2. Data Transfer Rates
If you compare the single-band routers with dual-band routers, it is quite obvious that the dual-band router will definitely offer much better speeds due to the availability of one extra band. However, there’s still a need to check the data transfer rates as not all dual-band routers offer the same speeds. In the list, you will find plenty of dual-band routers that are capable of offering up to 750Mbps combined speed. But, at the same time, there is also an option that performs even better and delivers up to 1Gbps speed. Thus, you should always check the data transfer rates of any kind of router you choose to buy. In the case of single-band routers, you will most likely find options that offer up to 150-300 Mbps speed only.
3. Connectivity Ports
Connectivity ports are one of the crucial factors that most people generally neglect checking. However, we don’t want our readers to make such mistakes while buying a travel router from our list. While buying a router, you must always check the number of LAN ports available on the router. Since most travel routers are quite compact in size, most brands only offer a single LAN port, you might find a few good options that also come with up to two LAN ports. Apart from that, another port that you will most commonly find on travel routers is the USB port. The USB port on a travel router helps you to connect any 3G/4G modem or dongle to the router and create a wireless connection. Moreover, it can also be used to power up the router by connecting to a power bank, laptop, etc. With the same port, you can also charge your mobile phones, so it’s a multipurpose port that you should definitely look out for.
4. Carrier Support
Several travel routers are designed in a way that they come with the support for SIM cards. In such types of routers, it’s important to check the carrier support. Some of the routers are compatible with SIM cards, but they are compatible to work with a particular carrier, so you will not be able to use SIM cards from other carriers on the same router. So, keep in mind to check the compatibility of the router before you decide to purchase it.
5. Warranty
Last but not the least, checking for the warranty information of any product is highly necessary. Although all the brands that we have mentioned in our list are highly popular and provide good after-sales services. In fact, you will get either a 1 or 2-year warranty with each of the routers that are present in our list.
Conclusion:
This is it for this article! We hope you have checked out all the travel router options that we have listed for you. All the travel routers are unique and have quite interesting and useful features as well. Since we have covered all the information about them along with their pros and cons, you won’t find it difficult to pick the best router option for yourself. In case you get confused at any point, you can consider reading the buying guide as we have covered almost everything important about travel routers in that section. Apart from that, if you are still not able to make your final decision, feel free to pick one from our personal recommendations:
First of all, the TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router is definitely one of the best options on the list that you can consider. It’s small, compact, and has a fantastic build quality as well. It offers speeds up to 750 Mbps, thanks to the dual-band configuration, and it even features a dedicated USB port as well. On top of that, you get a 2-year warranty for this router which makes it an overall amazing deal for you to grab. On the other hand, you can also consider the GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2(Mango) Portable Mini Travel Router if you are on a budget. It’s the cheapest option available on the list, yet it performs very decently. It comes with dedicated USB and WAN, LAN ports, and offers data transfer speeds up to 300 Mbps. Not just that, it’s quite handy, and the build quality is also amazing. Moreover, GL.iNet also offers a 1-year warranty for this router. For those of you who are looking for a premium travel router option, the NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 Mobile Hotspot 4G LTE Router is surely the best option available on the list. It delivers speeds up to 1Gbps on dual-band configuration and comes with a brilliant 2.4 inches LCD panel at the front that lets you monitor all the data usage. Apart from that, it has all the necessary ports available and has an in-built 5040 mAh battery also. In addition, Netgear also provides a 1-year warranty for this router as well.
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