Travelling is an exciting undertaking. You are jetting off to your dream destination where you want to take in the sights and sounds of your destination, or you may just want to lay on a beach and work on your tan.
Our attention is always focused on living in the moment and enjoying the experience, we do not naturally concern ourselves about the security of the WIFI networks that are available at our destination. And naturally, we want to share our experiences over social media or we may need move money around through our bank accounts to fund our trip. All of this needs a secure internet connection.
Travel routers are a cheap and reliable way to make sure that you maximise the enjoyment of your travel experience.
We have a number of ways to keep you connected. Travel SIM cards are also a good way to remain connected.
What is a travel router
A travel router is a Wi-Fi router like the one that you have at home, and it works the same way. It is specifically designed to be smaller and more portable making it more suited for travel.
A travel router is designed to simplify the process of connecting and managing devices on public Wi-Fi networks, whether that means in a hotel, at the airport, or anywhere else.
How does a travel router work
Travel routers are designed to be used on the go, therefore, they wont be complicated to use. They are built for ease of use, offering plug-and-play functionality to suit amateur Internet enthusiasts.
With a travel router, you do not have to connect your individual devices to the wireless network at a hotel, Airbnb, or anywhere else you end up. All you have to do is connect the router to the network and all of your devices will already be connected to the router.
This allows you to stay connected with your friends and family while travelling. Further reading: SIM card sizes, dimensions & types (2022 User guide).
Benefits of travel routers
One of the biggest risks when travelling internationally is not knowing which WI-FI networks are safe and secured. One of the most effective way to address this is to make use of a VPN app. Further reading: Top 110 Best travel apps (2022 International tourist guide)
Another way to address this is to make use of a travel router. Due to the nature of the design that drives travel routers, they allow you to keep your connected devices completely anonymous, which can be helpful if you are using an unfamiliar wireless network. This is due to the fact that only the router itself connects to the network, each individual device connects to the travel router. The end result? Private web surfing no matter where you are.
Portability is a major benefit of a travel router. Travel routers tend to be much smaller and lighter than traditional wireless routers, which makes them the perfect choice for impromptu road trips and last-minute bucket-list vacations. The overall form factor makes it easy to simply stuff one in a backpack and then break it out at the hotel or wherever it is you end up.
Travel router buying tips
There are a few important factors that you need to take into consideration when purchasing a travel router.
The most important consideration is Data Transfer Rates. Generally, the routers which can handle more speed are better in terms of performance. However, you will find plenty of good router options on our list that come with data transfer rates ranging from 150-750 Mbps.
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. Generally, dual-band routers can fetch you better speeds while single-band routers are good in terms of coverage area.
Finally, 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.
Always make sure you are connected when travelling. Further reading: What is international roaming & how it works.
Top 10 Wireless travel routers
There are a number of option when it comes to purchasing a travel router. Once you have taken the above tips into consideration, you are ready to make your decision.
Below are the top 10 wireless travel routers available today:
TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router(TL-WR902AC)
| Speeds Up To | 100 mbps |
| Wireless signal range | 2,000 sq. ft. (185 m2) |
| Number of ethernet ports | 2 |
| Power source | wall socket |
| Router size | 2.91 × 2.64 × 0.87 in (74 × 67 × 22mm) |
| Price range | $3 329 |
| Additional features | none |
| Security | WEP, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK |
| Wireless standard | 802.11ac |
| Standard speed | 100 mbps |
| Set-up | Plug the extender into a power outlet near your router. Press the WPS button on your router, and then press the button on your extender |
| Frequency bands | 2.4 GHz (300 Mbps) and 5 GHz (433 Mbps) bands |
| Antennas | 2 |
| Internal storage | 20 devices |
GL.iNet GL-MT1300 (Beryl) VPN Secure Travel Gigabit Wireless Router
| Speeds Up To | 400Mbps(2.4GHz), 867Mbps (5GHz) |
| Wireless signal range | 2,000 sq. ft. (185 m2) |
| Number of ethernet ports | 3 |
| Power source | USB 3 |
| Router size | 118 x 85 x 30mm, 184 grams |
| Price range | $69.90 |
| Additional features | Pre-installed the latest stable OpenWrt (19.07.4), backed by a software repository. Allows you to install different applications, perfect for DIY projects. |
| Security | IPv6 supported. OpenVPN Wire Guard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Pre-installed Tor service. Cloudflare Supported. A toggle switch for VPN/Tor is also included. |
| Wireless standard | 802.11ac |
| Standard speed | 400 mbps |
| Set-up | Plug and play |
| Frequency bands | 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz |
| Antennas | 2 |
| Internal storage | DDR3L 256MB, FLASH 32MB. Up to 512GB MicroSD slot (TF card is not included in package), USB 3.0 port, 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports. Extra storage brings a local drive to store your files. |
NETGEAR Nighthawk M5
| Speeds Up To | 1.2Gbps, 600Mbps (5GHz) |
| Wireless signal range | 2,000 sq. ft. (185 m2) |
| Number of ethernet ports | 1 |
| Power source | Wall socket |
| Router size | 4.14 x 4.14 x 0.85 Inches |
| Price range | $599.99 |
| Additional features | Connect up to 32 devices. High-speed 5G technology. Advanced WiFi 6. Multiple connection paths: Fibre, DSL, Cable, and Ethernet. |
| Security | IPv6 supported |
| Wireless standard | 802.11ac |
| Standard speed | 1.2Gbps |
| Set-up | To setup your router, press and hold the Power button to turn the device on. Select Let’s go. If desired, select Customize then follow the prompts to enter a new Network Name and/or Password for your Wi-Fi Network. If desired, select Create admin password then follow the prompts to enter your new mobile router admin password. If desired, select Customize then follow the prompts to customize your Wi-Fi Standby time. Click Go to my dashboard to complete setup. |
| Frequency bands | 5 GHz |
| Antennas | 0 |
| Internal storage | Connect and stream up to 32 devices simultaneously at fast 1.8Gbps speed |
GL.iNet GL-AR300M16-Ext Portable Mini Travel Wireless Pocket Router
| Speeds Up To | 150 Megabits Per Second |
| Wireless signal range | 2,000 sq. ft. (185 m2) |
| Number of ethernet ports | 1 |
| Power source | Internal 2000mAh rechargeable battery, 5VDC/1.0A external power adapter |
| Router size | 4.14 x 4.14 x 0.85 Inches |
| Price range | $24.99 |
| Additional features | 3G Router, Travel Router (AP), WISP Client Router, Wireless Router |
| Security | One Button Security Setup |
| Wireless standard | 802.11ac |
| Standard speed | 5GHz |
| Set-up | the TL MR32 allows user to easily share a 3G/3.75G mobile connection with family and friends on the train, while camping, at the hotel, nearly anywhere within 3G/ 3.75G coverage. By connecting a 3G USB modem to the router, a 3G Wi Fi hotspot is instantly established. |
| Frequency bands | 5 GHz |
| Antennas | 0 |
| Internal storage | Connect and stream up to 32 devices |
NETGEAR Trek N300 Travel Router
| Speeds Up To | 300 Megabits Per Second |
| Wireless signal range | 2,000 sq. ft. (185 m2) |
| Number of ethernet ports | 2 |
| Power source | Internal 2000mAh rechargeable battery, 5VDC/1.0A external power adapter |
| Router size | 4.14 x 4.14 x 0.85 Inches |
| Price range | $24.99 |
| Additional features | Wall-plug, power bank, or from a USB port on a laptop |
| Security | WPA;WPA2—PSK ; WEP |
| Wireless standard | 802.11ac |
| Standard speed | 2.4 GHz |
| Set-up | Plug and play |
| Frequency bands | 2.4 GHz |
| Antennas | 1 |
| Internal storage | Connect and stream up to 32 devices |
TRENDnet Travel Router
| Speeds Up To | 300 Megabits Per Second |
| Wireless signal range | 2,000 sq. ft. (185 m2) |
| Number of ethernet ports | 1 |
| Power source | Powered by external power adapter or USB connection to computer |
| Router size | 2.40 x 3.10 x 0.70 Inches |
| Price range | $8.55 |
| Additional features | Supports full duplex 802.3x flow control |
| Security | Wireless encryption includes 64/128-bit WEP, WPA/WPA2-RADIUS and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK |
| Wireless standard | 802.11bgn |
| Standard speed | 300 Megabits Per Second |
| Set-up | One-touch Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) |
| Frequency bands | 2.4 GHz |
| Antennas | 0 |
| Internal storage | Connect and stream up to 32 devices |
GL.iNet GL-E750 Travel Router
| Speeds Up To | 300Mbps (2.4G) + 433Mbps (5G) |
| Wireless signal range | 2,000 sq. ft. (185 m2) |
| Number of ethernet ports | 1 |
| Power source | USB |
| Router size | 145×77.5×23.5mm 285g weight |
| Price range | $129.90 |
| Additional features | Quectel EC25-AF Cat4 4G module pre-installed, Ethernet cable ,User manual. |
| Security | VPN (both OpenVPN and WireGuard) compatible with 30+ VPN service providers, Tor, extremely extendable in functions. |
| Wireless standard | 802.11bgn |
| Standard speed | 300Mbps (2.4G) + 433Mbps (5G) |
| Set-up | Plug and play |
| Frequency bands | 2.4G & 5G |
| Antennas | 0 |
| Internal storage | Connect and stream up to 32 devices |
TP-LINK M7350 4G LTE Mobile WiFi Wireless Router / Hotspot
| Speeds Up To | 150 Mbps |
| Wireless signal range | 2,000 sq. ft. (185 m2) |
| Number of ethernet ports | 0 |
| Power source | Wall socket |
| Router size | 145×77.5×23.5mm 285g weight |
| Price range | $129.90 |
| Additional features | Enjoy HD movies without interruption, download files in seconds, and hold a video chat without dropouts. |
| Security | VPN. |
| Wireless standard | 802.11bgn |
| Standard speed | 150 Mbps |
| Set-up | Plug and play |
| Frequency bands | 2.4 GHz |
| Antennas | 0 |
| Internal storage | Connect and stream up to 10 devices |
TP-Link N300 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router (WR802N)
| Speeds Up To | 300 Mbps |
| Wireless signal range | 2,000 sq. ft. (185 m2) |
| Number of ethernet ports | 1 |
| Power source | Wireless, External Power Supply 5V/1A |
| Router size | 145×77.5×23.5mm 285g weight |
| Price range | $30.43 |
| Additional features | Micro USB port for Powering via an external adapter or USB port Suppots Router, AP, Client, Repeater and WISP operation modes |
| Security | Pre Encryption function sets initial SSID and password Protection. Antenna Type:On-Board |
| Wireless standard | 802.11bgn |
| Standard speed | 300 Mbps |
| Set-up | Plug and play |
| Frequency bands | 2.4GHz |
| Antennas | 0 |
| Internal storage | Connect and stream up to 10 devices |
TRENDnet Wireless N 150 Mbps Travel Wifi Router
| Speeds Up To | 300 Mbps |
| Wireless signal range | 2,000 sq. ft. (185 m2) |
| Number of ethernet ports | 1 |
| Power source | External Power Supply 5V/1A |
| Router size | 145×77.5×23.5mm 285g weight |
| Price range | $31.46 |
| Additional features | This product will have a battery that exceeds 80% capacity. |
| Security | Pre Encryption function sets initial SSID and password Protection. Antenna Type:On-Board |
| Wireless standard | 802.11bgn |
| Standard speed | 300 Mbps |
| Set-up | Plug and play |
| Frequency bands | 2.4GHz |
| Antennas | 0 |
| Internal storage | Connect and stream up to 10 devices |
Making use of a travel Sim card will ensure that you are always connected.
Further reading: What is a travel SIM card? (2022 international travellers guide)
Travel router comparison table
| Router | Download speed | Upload speed | Frequency bands | Antennas | Security |
| TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router(TL-WR902AC) | 300 mbps | 433 mbps | Duel | 2 | WEP, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK |
| GL.iNet GL-MT1300 (Beryl) VPN Secure Travel Gigabit Wireless Router | 400 mbps | 867 mbps | Duel | 2 | IPv6 supported. OpenVPN Wire Guard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Pre-installed Tor service. Cloudflare Supported. A toggle switch for VPN/Tor is also included. |
| NETGEAR Nighthawk M5 | 1.2 gbps | 600 mbps | Single | 0 | IPv6 supported |
| GL.iNet GL-AR300M16-Ext Portable Mini Travel Wireless Pocket Router | 150 mbps | 150 mbps | Single | 0 | One Button Security Setup |
| NETGEAR Trek N300 Travel Router | 300 mbps | 300 mbps | Single | 1 | WPA;WPA2—PSK ; WEP |
| TRENDnet Travel Router | 300 mbps | 300 mbps | Single | 0 | Wireless encryption includes 64/128-bit WEP, WPA/WPA2-RADIUS and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK |
| GL.iNet GL-E750 Travel Router | 300 mbps | 433Mbps | Duel | 0 | VPN (both OpenVPN and WireGuard) compatible with 30+ VPN service providers, Tor, extremely extendable in functions. |
| TP-LINK M7350 4G LTE Mobile WiFi Wireless Router / Hotspot | 150 mbps | 150 mbps | Single | 0 | VPN |
| TP-Link N300 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router (WR802N) | 300 mbps | 300 mbps | Single | 0 | Pre Encryption function sets initial SSID and password Protection. Antenna Type:On-Board |
| TRENDnet Wireless N 150 Mbps Travel Wifi Router | 300 mbps | 300 mbps | Single | 0 | Pre Encryption function sets initial SSID and password Protection. Antenna Type:On-Board |
Wireless travel router FAQ’s
- Are travel routers safe?
Yes, it is the travel router that connects to the network and not smart devices such as phones or tablets. this allows users to have anonymity when performing important transactions.
- What do i need to look for when considering purchasing a travel router?
You need to consider the three main criteria’s that were discussed in the buying tips section. Then you need to look at the price that suits your budget.
- Can we use travel routers for gaming?
Travel routers are generally considered good for web surfing, watching videos, etc. But, when it comes to gaming, the performance of a travel router might not meet up to your expectations since online gaming requires you to have a fast connection with low ping. And, since a travel router’s performance mostly depends on a cellular connection, playing games is possible, but you won’t have the best experience with it.
- Can travel routers boost the hotel Wi-Fi signals?
Yes, most of the travel routers can function in different modes. And, since most of the travel routers are so compact and useful, most people like to use them as range extenders at home. So, you can definitely use yours to boost the quality of an existing Wi-Fi connection with your travel router and access the internet on your private network.
- Are battery-powered travel routers worth it?
Yes, they are absolutely worth it. While most of the travel routers require an external power source, they can’t be used while travelling, until and unless you have access to a wall outlet. On the other hand, if you have a battery-powered travel router, you can simply use it anywhere anytime as long as the router has battery power left. Moreover, battery-powered routers can also be used as power banks, so you can even charge your mobile phones with them while travelling.
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