7 Best Travel Router Reviews of 2023 | Portability and Other Features to Look For

When it comes to versatility, the GL.iNet GL-AR750S is hard to match. It’s suitable for frequent travelers and business owners. The mini router has been giving similar products a run for their money, thanks to its innovative design and versatile features.

Upon purchasing, you get 802.11N secure  connections for the 5.0 GHz band and the 2.4 GHz one. The device allows one device per band, which is pretty sufficient for setting up a decent mobile network anywhere for your mobile devices. Furthermore, the router works over a dual band WiFi; it offers speeds up to 733 Mbps.

The Slate comes bearing three Ethernet ports for wired devices. It’s more than enough, even if you have a travel companion. On top of that, there’s a USB slot that enables file sharing and media streaming, as well as streaming movies, along with an SD card slot that offers built in storage space.

As for the size, the GL.iNet is larger than most routers on this list. It measures 3.94 x 2.68 x 0.94 inches. The size gap is justified, seeing as this router offers more capacity for storage than similar options. Plus, the router weighs only three ounces, making it the lightest travel WiFi router on this list.

If you’re a data security enthusiast, you’ll love this router even more. It comes pre-configured with both Cloudflare DNS and TLS, which is pure class. Before, you’d have to modify your router in order to operate Cloudflare DNS over TLS. That’s not the case with the Slate, though.

Your wireless connection will remain secure, regardless of where you are. This makes the router ideal for conducting business.

The AC750 router from TP-Link comes immensely close to a full-sized router, despite its ultra-compact size. Its lightweight makes it one of the best portable internet devices on the market. Nevertheless, it still performs like a full-fledged router if you connect it to an Ethernet cable.

The router comes bearing a micro USB port for charging and connecting to your travel laptops. The device is compatible with Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV Stick; you can use the port for those too.

The TP-Link is a dual-band device; it can easily connect like multiple devices and keep performing efficiently. The speed range goes up to 750Mbps, although more than half of them operate on the 5GHz band. You’ll want to take care if you’re using any device that’ll need more than 300Mbps.

The router features a user-friendly one-switch design, making it easy for anyone to set it up and use it. You can use the switch to choose your preferred mode. You’ll have hotspot, AP, and tethering modes to choose from.

That way, you’ll be able to use a wired connection, extend the router’s range, or use it as a wireless access point. You pretty much have all the options you may need on a trip.

There’s one downside to the router’s hardware. The USB cable slips out of the port too easily, making it a hassle to deal with if you move around a lot with the router. You can solve it by wrapping any rubber band around it.

If you’re on a tight budget, you might as well take a look at the GL.iNET GL-AR150 wireless travel router. It may be your best option if you’re not looking for advanced features. It’s considered an entry-level device. Yet, it comes with all the features you may need for your upcoming trip.

The GL-AR150 is super portable. It’s too small you can probably fit it in your pocket. Not only that, but it’s also ultra-lightweight, exceeding the 1-ounce weight by a bit.

You can use the GL-AR150 to create a WiFi network pretty much anywhere. It can connect to more than one ethernet port, a USB internet modem, or an already-existing network. On top of that, you can tether it with your smartphone. It’s an open-source that’s fully programmable.

This best wireless router will allow you to media share and transfer your files in a smooth manner. It’s compatible with 4G and 3G USB modems.

The router is packed with useful features, but my personal favorite is the vast security the device offers. The most common concern about portable travel routers is security. If you tend to move through countries a lot, letting your WiFi network unprotected would be an unwise decision.

Luckily, the GL-AR150 comes with OpenVPN pre-installed, so it supports a lot of VPN service providers and hotspots. The server is compatible with plenty of reliable internet providers. You’ll rarely face trouble trying to connect, share files, do media sharing, or online gaming.

This lightest travel router comes without an internal battery, which may be a deal-breaker for some users. If you don’t mind sitting beside a wall socket or a laptop to charge it, then you have no problem. You can also use a power bank to charge.

Furthermore, the GL-AR150 comes with 64 MB of RAM and 16 MB of flash memory. If you need more, you can always do it through the USB.

The GL.iNet GL-E750 may just be the best buy WiFi router for people who’re aiming high. It’s costly, but it provides exceptional performance and a variety of features. Not to mention that it’s a sleek gadget.

This good travel router supports multiple VPN protocols. It comes with OpenVPN and WireGuard pre-installed, so you can gain access to 30+ VPN providers. OpenVPN also provides high-end encryption to secure your network.

Moreover, Mudi is compatible with Tor, which is a pure class for security enthusiasts. When enabled, it provides encryption for your private connection through a relay network. The service is operated by members from all around the globe, which ensures maximum security.

Upon purchasing, you get 128MB Ram, 12MB NAND Flash, and 16MB NOR Flash. This is the most a wireless travel router can offer, and it’s more than enough for a single user in remote areas.

The Mudi comes with a port replicator, a power adapter, and a USB cable for connecting. The package also includes a user manual and an Ethernet port cable. Pretty much any feature that can be present in a wireless travel router is included in the Mudi, making it one if the greatest portable WiFi routers.

The GL.iNet GL-AR300M mini router is compact, efficient, and easy to use. It’s the ideal choice for professionals and travelers. Not only because of its user-friendly design, but its innovative features also contribute majorly to its success.

The portable wireless router comes with OpenWrt pre-installed, which is a Linux operating firmware that targets embedded systems. The firmware allows you to customize your portable internet device using 2000+ software packages provided by the community, thanks to the fully writable file system.

The wireless router comes bearing both LAN and WAN ports. You can use an Ethernet cable to connect to any existing local network. There are multiple methods to join, too, to make your mission easier.

The GL-AR300M’s package includes a USB-C to USB power cable for charging. There’s a C port on the router for that, but you’ll have to supply your own adapter. You can also connect to a laptop (see thin laptops) or a power bank if you’re somewhere outdoor.

The portable router connects instantly to all devices without the need for configuration, even when you’re switching to a new device. Plus, the firmware is pretty easy to update; anyone can do it without past experience.

The GL-AR300M covers a WiFi range of fast speeds with a maximum of 300 Mbps. It’s pretty decent for connecting multiple devices concurrently. So the overall quality is great!

If you’re aiming at a multi-purpose travel router, the RAVPower AC750 is an ideal option to consider. It’s one of the few portable routers on the market that provide data backup. With minimal configuration, you’ll be able to back up your data to any memory card, courtesy of the FileHub software.

You’ll be allowed to transfer files, movies, and music back and forth. The AC750 also gives you room for exchanging devices; you can move your data wirelessly between your tablet, phone, laptop, flash drive, or HDD.

The AC750 boasts 12–18 MB/s faster speeds. It’ll transfer a large file instantly; you won’t even feel a hitch across the network.

You can use the AC750 in three modes: bridge, router, and AP. The bridge mode enables you to connect your router to an existing network. Not only that, but it also allows you to broadcast a new single. However, the 5GHz band won’t be available in that mode.

The RAVPower is topped off by LED lights that give away your network’s status. Meanwhile, there’s an SD card port on its side for built-in storage space, along with a few buttons. These include a power button, a function button, and a broadcast button.

There’s also a 5G icon on the AC750’s front that indicates the status of your connection. It’ll start signaling once your device gets further than 30 feet from the router.

Personally, my favorite feature on the AC750 is its own battery power. The little router runs on a 6700mAH battery. It’ll save you a lot of hassle trying to swap it. We all know internal batteries are a trouble to replace. It also has a long battery life.

If you’re tight on space, the RAVPower will prove convenient. It’s a small router, measuring 3 x 4.4 x 0.91 inches. Not to mention that it’s light weight, weighing only half a pound. Its size is pretty similar to that of a smartphone. So, it shouldn’t be hard to store and travel with.

For an affordable portable router, the HooToo FileHub offers more than expected. It doesn’t only provide a Wi-Fi connection, but it also works as a power bank, data transfer agent, and media streamer. You can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously, allowing you to download and transfer files freely without the need for an extra device.

You can use the HooToo to share data within any connected USB device, including tablets, smartphones, and laptops.

This versatile travel router gives you multiple choices to get internet coverage. For one, you can use the bridge mode. It allows you to connect to an existing WiFi network. Plus, it enables you to re-broadcast under a new name.

Moreover, you can use a wireless network cable to turn the HooToo into a secure wireless network, providing you with a secured connection. The access point mode allows just that. This mode is ideal if you’re in a place with limited network options. On the other hand, there’s the wireless mode for router. It works like a regular router, which means you’ll need a DSL modem or a cable to operate it. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get a network.

The HooToo isn’t among the lightest options, but its compact size makes up for it. It measures 1.7 x 1.7 x 3.7 inches, making it one of the smallest and best portable WiFi router on our list. Meanwhile, its weight stands at approximately 0.55 pounds.

The battery that comes with the HooToo boasts 10,400mAh, with a power output of 2.1 A. It can charge a mobile phone up to three times like it’s nothing, which is impressive considering charging isn’t its primary job.

The travel router comes with rubber flaps on the sides to protect the ports from dust and debris. Additionally, the small device is topped off by a power button, along with a few LED lights.