Best Travel Routers 2023 – our top picks for travelling
If you’re looking for the best travel router on the market today, we’ve got you covered right here.
Travel routers are devices that are designed to provide you with WiFi while you’re on your travels, allowing you to work remotely.
Some travel routers can also have the same functionality as some of the best mobile hotspots too, and use SIM cards to receive a mobile signal.
Most smartphones nowadays provide us with hot-spotting options, so you may be wondering if investing in a travel router is even worth the money. We’d say for those of you looking to preserve phone battery, gain higher WiFi speeds and connect multiple devices at once, travel routers might be a better option. Here’s our selection of the best travel routers currently on the market.
Products at a Glance
How we picked the best travel routers
When selecting the best travel routers, we paid close attention to portability, battery life, and how many devices can be connected to the mobile hotspots at one time. Decent battery life is essential for providing users with day-long on-the-go service, whilst good portability is essential for travelling users After considering these factors, here is our pick of the best travel routers.
Best Travel Routers 2023 – our top picks for travelling
- WiFi 6
- 120 simultaneous connections
- Expensive
The GL iNet Slate AX (GL_AXT1800) is an incredibly impressive WiFi 6 travel router. Equipped with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, as well as all the latest compatible WiFi 6 technologies, the GL iNet Slate tops our list of the best travel routers currently on the market. With MUMIMO, OFDMA, and BSS color, the GL iNet Slate can also connect up to 120 devices simultaneously.
Regarding its physical features, the GL iNet Slate is a very sturdy build and comes with great connectivity options. With retractable antennas, the GL iNet Slate is incredibly space efficient, without sacrificing WiFi range. Furthermore, its compact size ensures it can be easily transported without taking up too much valuable travel space. The GL iNet Slate comes with a USB-C power supply, 3-gigabit internet ports, and a USB 3.0 port designed for file sharing and media backup.
- Dual-band
- Pocket sized
- WiFi 5
The TP-Link TL-WR902AC is a very impressive travel router that’s packed with features. Pocket-sized nonetheless, the TP-Link TL-WR902AC measures 2.64 x 2.91 x 0.9 inches and only weighs 8 ounces. Users can therefore set up their WiFi and carry it around with them with very little effort.
Under the hood, the TL-WR902AC offers dual-band WiFi 5 capabilities. Not only is it effective at being the main point of access in distributing WiFi, but the TL-WR902AC can also be set up as a range extender for other WiFi networks. Solid input options also allow users to connect wired devices to the router through the inbuilt ethernet port. Overall, the TP-Link TL-WR902AC is an easy-to-use, compact, and very impressive dual-band travel router that can be relied on for all your travel needs.
- Powerful inbuilt VPN
- Easy set up
- Single-band
The GL iNet GL-AR150 is an incredibly affordable and easy-to-use travel router. What makes this travel router stand out is the extent to which it is incredibly customizable. Users can configure their customs settings over on the OpenWRT software that comes pre-installed with the GL iNet GL-AR150. Set up is also incredibly straightforward, for users less concerned with configuration options – and is essentially an easy plug-and-play router.
The VPN is incredibly powerful and great for users who want to travel and keep their internet privacy secure. The GL iNet GL-AR150 comes with a USB port, for file sharing through a hard drive and two Ethernet ports for wired devices. Overall the GL iNet GL-AR150 is a great travel router for users looking for VPN security and customizable options all at a very affordable price.
- Mobile hotspot capabilities
- Great battery
- Expensive
The Netgear Nighthawk MR1100 functions as both a travel router and mobile hotspot, allowing users a great deal of flexibility when on the move. The Netgear Nighthawk MR1100 is capable of speeds of up to 1Gbps, making it perfect for data-demanding tasks such as streaming video and online gaming on the go. These high-performance features can be expected from Netgear although they do come at a predictably high price.
The Netgear Nighthawk MR1100 comes with a very powerful 5040 mAH battery, providing users with reliable all-day usage. Aesthetically, this device is very pleasing and comes with an inbuilt, high-resolution display that allows users to monitor their network. Further network preferences can be modified over on the Nighthawk app. The Netgear Nighthawk MR1100 is a great router router at a very high price.
Things to consider when buying a travel router
Connecting multiple devices
The best travel routers can connect multiple devices at once without compromising internet speed. This can be particularly useful if you intend to use your router in larger, group settings.
Battery
The battery life of a travel router is an important factor to consider when looking to buy the best mobile hotspots. A good hotspot should be able to provide users with a whole day’s worth of wifi usage.
Are travel routers better than phone hotspots?
Yes, travel router hotspots typically have better antennas, and can therefore gather better signals. The above-listed devices can also handle more devices being connected to them than an average phone hotspot.
Do travel routers use SIM cards?
Some travel routers can operate as mobile hotspots too, and use SIM cards to receive a mobile signal.
Which WiFi router is best for travel?
From our list, we’d say the GL iNet Slate AX (GL_AXT1800) offers a good balance of features, portability, and power that should suit most people who are on the move.
Our Verdict
The GL iNet Slate AX (GL_AXT1800) is an incredibly impressive travel router. With WiFi 6, and great connectivity options, this travel router tops our selection of the best travel routers.