The struggle is real when traveling a long distance and you don't have access to the internet. It gets even worse if you're a professional traveler, YouTuber, stock trader, or business person who travels quite often and need consistent connectivity.
Thankfully, travel routers are designed to address this problem. These are good in their own way but there are different types, manufacturers, and models. So, which one should you pick in 2024?
To help you pick the best-suited travel router for your needs, I got 13 different devices. These include those that create their own networks, i.e. routers with a SIM card slot and others repeating WiFi from public hotspots, hotels, or cafes.
7 Best Travel Routers in 2024
After testing each individually in terms of speed, range, and usability while traveling to different places, I've finalized 7 devices. Furthermore, they are sorted according to their features, performance, usability, and price, allowing you to make a smart choice.
1. Best 4G LTE Router: Netgear Nighthawk M1
- Connect to your existing home router using the Gigabit Ethernet port for fast, reliable primary or backup Internet connection. Ideal for homes with poor internet service or coverage
- Avoid risky public WiFi and travel with your own portable, secure Wireless Network anywhere
- Unlocked hot spot accepts all SIM cards (excluding Sprint legacy network); works best on AT&T and T-Mobile. Check with preferred carrier on data plan details and limitations
- Requires Micro SIM card from carrier and activation of compatible BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) data plan that meets your data needs. Simply insert into SIM card slot to activate
- Download speeds up to 1Gbps. Speeds may vary by service and proximity to nearest cell tower
Netgear is a well-known brand in networking. Its portable WiFi router, Nighthawk M1 has been in the market for quite a long, offering some top-tier technologies. It claims to handle 20 devices while offering dual-band frequency and a number of LTE bands.
I am a big fan of its integrated LCD display that displays essential information like the number of connected devices, data consumed, and signal levels.
Besides, it has a 5040mAH rechargeable battery that takes care of your internet needs throughout the day while you travel.
Speeds & Performance
The manufacturer hasn’t disclosed any information concerning the band-wise speeds but claims a maximum of 1 Gbps download and 150 Mbps upload speeds with LTE advanced. That’s pretty fast from an LTE mobile hotspot.
To test it out, I got my T-mobile’s 4G-enabled SIM with an unlimited 4G data plan, with a maximum speed output of 150 Mbps.
When one floor below the router, the connection speed on the dual-band stayed out at around 112 Mbps and 11 Mbps for respective downloads and uploads. While moving further down a floor, speeds dropped to around 76 Mbps and 8 Mbps.
Portable routers with a decreased speed over a distance are quite natural, but this is where M1 separates from others.
It has a long WiFi mode that increases my connection speed for downloads and uploads to 121 Mbps and 10 Mbps, respectively when two floors down from the router. This mode however reduces the router’s maximum possible speed to around 600 Mbps.
Nighthawk M1 further hails another feature called offloading, that lets you connect to an existing wireless or wired connection. It is especially helpful in hotels or when traveling abroad where roaming data rates are excruciatingly high.
Offloading worked wonderfully in my tests as paired with a Gigabit connection worked out respective speeds of 31 Mbps and 11 Mbps.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Right out of the box, Netgear M1 has got a decent range as any device kept two floors away would still have access to the internet, although slow. But luckily, a few tweaks in the settings and your internet speeds would soar up at a similar distance. To put it in numbers, stable signals spread across a 1,200 Sq Ft area, which is pretty impressive.
Moving on, Netgear makes claims of connection ability to a maximum of 20 devices, which in my tests stayed at around 15. If you ask me, the numbers are decent enough. And the antennas entail beamforming support, meaning stable connections all around.
Conclusion
Overall, Netgear Nighthawk M1 is a reliable portable WiFi router for travel. Its compact design, long battery life, and feature-laid LED display alongside fast and flexible data connection options make it worth the whole lot of money that it charges. What sets it apart from its competitors is its degree of flexibility.
Pros
- Fast and flexible connections
- Lets you connect to existing network
- Handles a decent number of devices
- Long-lasting battery
- Handy display
Cons
- Expensive
2. Best with Multiple Modes: GL.iNet Slate AX
- 【AXT1800 WiFi 6 Wireless Router】Slate AX offers powerful Wi-Fi 6 network connection with a dual-band combined Wi-Fi speed of 1800 Mbps (600 Mbps for 2.4GHz and 1200 Mbps for 5GHz). Enhance Wi-Fi performance with MU-MIMO, OFDMA, BSS color and able to connect to up to 120 devices simultaneously.
- 【Fast and Secure Browsing】IPv6 supported; OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers, OpenVPN speed up to 120 Mbps; WireGuard speed up to 550 Mbps. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
- 【Easy File Sharing】Our NAS feature supports SAMBA and WebDav protocol. By plugging an external USB hard disc into the router, you can create a private network to store and share your documents.
- 【Runs on OpenWrt 21.02】Slate AX runs on the latest OpenWrt 21.02 operating system (Kernel version 4.4.60), with mass device connection capabilities, and significantly reduced signal interference. You can customize the router and install applications based on your preferences.
- 【Repeater for Public, Hotel WiFi】Convert a public network(wired/wireless) to a private network(wired/wireless) for secure surfing. Work with Captive Portal. (Note: Most of the Free Public Wi-Fi hotspot set a time limit for users, which will disconnect your devices once the time is over. To deal with this situation, please reconnect your router to the wifi.)
If you’re a gamer, streamer, YouTuber roaming around making videos and live streams, or someone who consumes a lot of media, you're better off getting a Wi-Fi 6-based gigabit travel router.
What makes GL.iNet Slate AX unique is its three modes of operation: a repeater, a standalone router, and an access point. Further, a 5V 3 amp power bank will power it, which means you can charge it on the go, and never run out of the internet.
Speeds & Performance
Talking about the throughput capacity, the travel WiFi router is rated as AX1800, where each band gives transfer speeds as follows:
| 5 GHz: 1200 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps |
I carried this on my trip to Las Vegas and had it set up at my hotel as an access point, where there was a constant inflow of Gigabit speeds. And it generated speeds at around 147 Mbps and 19 Mbps respectively for downloads and uploads.
I also switched the mode to a repeater, which had a bit drop in speeds, valued at 32 Mbps and 7 Mbps, respectively. Irrespective of the mode it’s active on, I could play games on my smartphone and stream Youtube with zero buffering.
Besides, other internet-bound tasks like streaming, live trading, and others were a piece of cake for this versatile device.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Moving on, this router’s two foldable external antennas hold the basis for its claimed coverage of 1,500 Sq Ft. It performed really well in my test, as it covered my entire hotel room with ease.
Besides, the signals were also accessible from the lobby, meaning the device at a stretch could cover around 1,200 Sq Ft, on par with my previous recommendation.
The great aspect of this GL.iNet router is its ability to handle multiple data streams at a time without bogging down any one of them. That is possible with the inculcation of MU-MIMO and beamforming technologies which ensures signals are concentrated on the connected device.
Although the 3-in-1 router claims to handle 120 devices at once, I had 20 available to me, and none of them experienced any network dropdowns or jostles.
Conclusion
The GL-AXT1800 is a multi-purpose travel router that gives out enough bandwidth to satiate the hunger of most smart devices. Besides, its antennas, despite being small, are powerful enough. But a less-powered battery takes it to the second spot.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 support
- Multiple operation modes
- Great wireless speeds
- Decent WiFi coverage
- Excellent device-handling capacity
Cons
- No SIM card slot
3. Best LTE Compatibility: Huawei B311-521
Huawei has long survived its ups and downs with the embodiment of top networking products in the mix, and its B311-521 portable 4G router is one of them.
Not only it supports a 4G connection from any provider in the globe but supports a rapid download speed of up to 150 Mbps on 32 different devices at once. Besides, there are two Ethernet ports for interference-free internet connection.
Speeds & Performance
Huawei B311-521 is a quality portable wireless router that operates on a single frequency band, i.e, 2.4GHz. To test out its real-time throughput capacity, I inserted a 4G-ready AT&T sim with an active “unlimited 4G” plan into the router.
My Samsung Galaxy S21 FE managed to churn out respective download and upload speeds of 46 Mbps and 14 Mbps.
Near or far, the available speeds are just adequate for most internet-bound tasks except 4K video streaming and online gaming. You can stay up close to the router to stream any HD movies or shows with ease.
Other than that, B311-521 provides connectivity options through one Ethernet port with which you can get access to high-speed internet. The download speeds topped at a maximum value of 87 Mbps, much higher than in wireless connections.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Despite claiming to cover 1,000 Sq Ft, the device managed to send signals to an area of up to 600 Sq Ft. Besides, it includes a space for an external antenna, which lets you improve coverage.
The device further claims to handle 32 devices, but in my tests, the numbers stayed at 26. The best part however is, signals across each were stable and consistent, courtesy of MU-MIMO.
Conclusion
Overall, B311-521 is a pretty handy device that has almost everything a user might look for in a pocket travel-friendly router. It works with any 4G plans around the globe to deliver fast and stable download and upload speeds.
Furthermore, with MU-MIMO, connections on multiple devices stay stable. But compared to my top recommendations, this router stays way behind and therefore placed third.
Pros
- Universal compatibility
- Decent download and upload speeds
- MU-MIMO
- Great device-handling capacity
Cons
- Middling coverage
4. Best Value for Money: Alcatel Link HH41NH
If my previous recommendation didn’t tick the boxes, then here’s an alternative available at a much cheaper price.
- 4G LTE Unlocked Any GSM Standard Sim Carrier Desbloqueados GSM (Router "DOES NOT" work on Verizon Sprint Boost Virgin or any CDMA Carrier)
- Worldwide Bands: 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/28/66 (2100/1900/1800/850/2600/900/700) 3G UTMS 1/2/4/5/8 (2100/1900/1700/850/900) 2G Quad band
- TWO RJ45 LAN Port / RJ11 Disable / Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n – 2.4GHz - Tr069: TCP/IP, UDP, HDCP Server, NAT/NAPT, UPnP, Static Routing, MAC/URL/IP filter, VPN passthrough
- Sim Card & Internet Service Required (Micro Sim Card Size Not Included). English and Spanish Interface
- Inside the box: USB Cable - Power Adapter 110-20v - 2 Antennas. Support Speeds Up to : 150Mbps DL/50Mbps UL / 32 Wifi Users (Factory Unlocked)
Aside from its universal compatibility with most 4G-LTE GSM plans around the globe, Alcatel Link HH41NH entails an extra Ethernet port for additional connectivity, alongside a decent device-handling capacity.
Let’s find out how these features translate into real-life scenarios.
Speeds & Performance
Similar to the previous model, this Alcatel router operates on a single 2.4GHz band and supports download speeds of up to 150 Mbps. But it doesn’t support CDMA carriers like Verizon, Virgin, or others.
So, I had the AT&T “unlimited 4G” plan to pair with and the following are the results.
On my iPhone 13, the download and upload speeds were recorded at 39 Mbps and 13 Mbps, respectively at a 15 feet distance. Although less intensive tasks are still possible at far distances, you can stream HD videos when devices are kept up close.
Other than that, there are two Ethernet ports, which with a speed output of around 77 Mbps for downloads make way for casual online gaming.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Alcatel Link with its sleek and light build alongside a foldable and detachable external antenna with a decent capacity makes way for travel use.
The signal strength was decent at over 850 Sq Ft. Besides, you can replace the antenna with an extender antenna for added signal strength. And Similar to my previous recommendation, this one also comes claims to handle 32 devices, which is great.
The signals were great on around 26 connections at once, thanks to MU-MIMO which works harmoniously with the antennas to deliver jitter-free signals.
Conclusion
Alcatel Link HH41NH turned out great in my tests. Starting with its speeds, the router with MU-MIMO lets me complete my online work without any bottlenecks. Its signals turned out great in my mid-sized hotel room and also took in most of my smart devices. But limited compatibility and one bar signal at a distance has pushed it down the list.
Pros
- Decent speeds
- Detachable antennas
- Two Ethernet ports
- Decent device handling ability
Cons
- Middling coverage
5. Best Security Features: GL.iNet GL-E750 (MUDI)
- 【4G LTE WIRELESS SMART ROUTER】Converter, transfer 4G LTE signal to Wi-Fi, with sim card slot, 300Mbps (2.4G) + 433Mbps (5G) Combined Wi-Fi Speed networking. Work With T-Mobile Only
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】VPN (both OpenVPN and WireGuard) compatible with 30+ VPN service providers, Tor, extremely extendable in functions.
- 【COMPACT & DURABLE】145*77.5*23.5mm compact size with 285g light weight, Max. 8 hours long working duration makes it perfect for your nice travel mate. 3.0 version firmware makes the setting easier.
- 【LARGER STORAGE & EXTENSIBILITY】DDR2 128MB RAM, 16MB NOR Flash and 128MB NAND Flash, Max. 128GB MicroSD, USB 2.0 port.
- 【PACKAGE CONTENTS】GL-E750 (Mudi) router with 1-year limited warranty, USB-C to USB-A cable, USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-C port replicator, Power adapter (with a US plug), Quectel EC25-AF Cat4 4G module pre-installed, Ethernet cable ,User manual. Please update to the latest firmware.
Now, presenting you with another 4G LTE enabled router, GL.iNet GL-E750 (MUDI). Compared to the previous recommendation, it comes with an advanced upgraded Wi-Fi 5 standard, operates on two bands, and has a decent device-handling ability.
Speeds & Performance
Being a Wi-Fi 5-based routing device, it has a maximum speed capability of 750 Mbps, which is divided into two bands as follows:
| 5 GHz: 433 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps |
Compared to my previous recommendation, it boasts a greater speed capacity, which should translate into higher performance. And with my T-Mobile’s unlimited 4G plan, the device can transfer data at up to 36 Mbps for downloads and 12 Mbps for uploads.
The speeds although seem a tad lower than others it doesn’t seem too low with the price concerned. You can work on similar series of tasks like HD streaming, sending emails, surfing the web, and others, except gaming.
But there is a single Ethernet port if you want an interference-free connection on your bandwidth-intensive devices. Considering the service providers consider upgrading their speeds, you can connect your gaming consoles to it for uninterrupted gaming.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Range-wise, this router had a pretty good performance, even slightly better than Alcatel Link. In my client’s 1,000 Sq Ft apartment, the router managed to encase the entirety except for a few corners, valuing at around 800 Sq Ft. But compared to the former, you can’t attach a better antenna for an extender reach.
When traveling around, I generally don’t carry a plethora of devices. The device with its MU-MIMO support and decent antennas can connect up to 28 devices simultaneously, producing many lags.
Conclusion
Overall, GL.iNet GL-E750 (MUDI) offers decent performance in most aspects. The speeds it delivers should let you complete most of your light internet-bound tasks with ease. But the reason it’s ranked low is that it delivers an almost similar performance at a much higher cost, and doesn’t allow the installation of an additional antenna.
Pros
- Dual-band frequency
- OpenWrt & VPN support
- Decent throughput capacity
- Comes with a USB port
- MU-MIMO support
Cons
- Middling coverage
6. Best Budget Option: TP-Link N150 (TL-MR3020)
- Interface: 1 10/100Mbps WAN/LAN Port, USB 2.0 Port for 3G modem, a mini USB Port for power supply.
- Button: Quick Setup Security Button, Reset Button, Mode Switch
- External Power Supply: 5VDC/1.0A
- Wireless Standards: IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b
- Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
If you’re planning for a long vacation and on the lookout for a simple, cheap yet reliable router for traveling, TP-Link N150 is a choice worth making. Despite not having 802.11ac support, its decently powerful processor, a single 2.4GHz, and a single swivel antenna can deliver decent enough performance.
Speeds & Performance
This single-band 3G/4G router by TP-Link supports a speedy wireless transmission of up to 150 Mbps and a maximum upload speed of 43.2 Mbps. And it’s said to support any 3G/4G ready connections to deliver a speed high enough to support seamless video streaming and internet calls.
I put in my T-Mobile SIM card with an active unlimited 4G plan and recorded the speeds on my Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. The downloads proceeded at the rate of 31 Mbps, while the upload speeds remained constant throughout at a value of 9 Mbps.
That’s probably enough to handle most of your basic internet-bound tasks and even lets you edit your videos in peace. Besides, there’s an Ethernet port with a maximum speed capability of 100 Mbps.
And my smartphone could deliver an output of up to 59 Mbps for downloads and 17 Mbps for uploads. The extra speed could let you stream any of your favorite movies in HD quality.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
With its single antenna setup, you can’t expect a compact router to impart signals everywhere. It could cover any 500 Sq Ft space with a breeze, which should be enough for the hotel room you are staying in. That's a lot for the price it comes in.
In terms of device handling capacity, TP-Link N150 boasts a theoretical value of 32, but in my tests, connections of more than 10 result in a massive speed drop. Besides, the connections over the devices weren’t as stable, which is quite obvious with MU-MIMO being absent. But, the devices never blacked out during my testing period.
Conclusion
To conclude, TP-Link N150, priced at around $25 is the cheapest router to use while traveling, but it never disappoints during my testing. The speeds and coverage it has should be enough to keep your devices running when you’re traveling to a rural area with limited internet access.
But, subpar results compared to my other recommendations have pushed it to the penultimate position.
Pros
- Decent speeds
- Great device handling capacity
- Affordable price
- Decent coverage
Cons
- No MU-MIMO
7. Good Mobile Hotspot: Hiltand M10-e
- The speed is up to 150mbps, and you will enjoy a powerful web browsing, chatting or online gaming experience.
- There are many applicable , supporting desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones.
- Multi‑scenario application, suitable for business office, travel party, self‑driving travel, and can enjoy the network anytime, anywhere.
- The portable router has a built‑in lithium battery of 3000mah, which has a long battery life.
- The router has fast and stable 4G internet for Europe / Southeast Asia / Africa.
Lastly, let me present to you a basic small 4 G-enabled hotspot, Hiltand M10-e that will cost you less than $50. Compared to TP-Link N150, it entails dual-band Wi-Fi 5 and a single antenna which translates to a decent enough performance.
Speeds & Performance
The Hiltand M10-e is a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 hotspot with a maximum transmission rate of 150 Mbps. It’s not one of your traditional routers with speeds distributed over its two bands. And you can put in any of your 4 G-enabled SIM cards with an active data plan to get started.
In my case, it was AT&T’s unlimited 4G plan which connected to my Samsung smartphone and managed to deliver decent speed outputs.
I kept a 250MB audio file to download, and it took only 10 seconds to complete, proceeding at the rate of 30 Mbps. At the same time, my video calls didn’t experience any dropouts, with upload speeds clocking at 11 Mbps.
Aside from that, the device entails an Ethernet port with a maximum speed capability of 100 Mbps, and respective download and upload speeds were around 57 Mbps and 10 Mbps. The added speeds could handle HD streams on my laptops.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Hiltand M10-e is a basic mobile hotspot device designed to meet basic internet needs. I didn’t have any major expectations from it in terms of coverage, but its single antenna setup was enough to cover my 500 Sq Ft hotel room with ease. And although it lacked MU-MIMO, I could connect up to 7 devices without much of an issue.
Conclusion
All in all, the Hiltand M10-e is a handy device to carry in areas where there might be a significant lack of WiFi signals. Its speeds are decent enough to undertake basic internet tasks like workplace video calls, web surfing, and working on online websites. But considering it’s a rather basic device, it’s placed at the bottom of my list.
Pros
- Decent internet speeds
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to carry anywhere
- Decent coverage
Cons
- Subpar device handling capacity
Frequently Asked Questions
No, travel routers are more like traditional routers, except some have in-built modes so as to work like an extender, access point, or just a traditional router.
Travel routers work in a similar way as regular routers, but the only difference comes in their size. The former is much small, slender, and light so you can even put them in a pocket while traveling.
Get a mobile hotspot or a 4G LTE-enabled router and put in a roaming SIM to get internet all the way of your travel. When staying in a hotel, you can use the following as a repeater using the WiFi to access a much faster internet on your devices.
Verdict
If you travel a lot and carry a lot of smart gadgets, then it’s worth throwing one of these devices in the bag. These can transmit signals to numerous devices without any hassle. But it’s important to make the right choice.
If you already have, great. But if you still aren’t sure, here’s a list of the best options:
- If you want a device that works anywhere and covers most of your smart gadgets, then I’d recommend Netgear Nighthawk M1, the best portable router.
- If you have a budget constraint but aren’t willing to compromise much on the features, then Huawei B311-521 should be your go-to option.
- Lastly, if want the cheapest option, go for TP-Link N150. It even fits in your wallet and can be used anywhere with its compatibility with most 4G internet providers.
With that, comes an end to the guide to the best pocket wireless routers. I hope this guide serves as an anchor to your ship searching for an ideal travel companion.
