Best Stores For Buying Travel Routers

Travel routers are a great way to stay connected to the internet while travelling. They are super small and can easily fit into your luggage or backpack. You can buy them from various online retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and GL.iNet.

Best Overall: GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX)

The GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX) is a powerful and versatile Wi-Fi 6 travel router, perfect for those seeking fast and reliable wireless performance on the go. This router stands out with its ability to connect up to 120 devices simultaneously, ensuring efficient and stable connections for all. It offers a dual-band combined Wi-Fi speed of 1800 Mbps (600 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1200 Mbps on the 5GHz band), providing exceptional streaming and online gaming experiences without lag.

For security, the GL-AXT1800 supports IPV6, OpenVPN, and WireGuard, compatible with over 30 VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption further protects your privacy, ensuring secure browsing on public Wi-Fi. The router also features a NAS function, allowing you to create a private network for file sharing and storage by plugging in an external USB hard drive.

The GL-AXT1800 runs on the OpenWrt 21.02 operating system, giving advanced users extensive customization options. You can install applications and tailor the router to your preferences. It also serves as a repeater for public Wi-Fi, allowing you to convert a public network to a private one for secure browsing.

In terms of design, the GL-AXT1800 has a sleek black colour and a compact form factor, ideal for travel. It features three Gigabit LAN ports for fast wired connections and a fixed antenna for a strong and reliable signal. The router is easy to set up and has a user-friendly interface, with responsive and helpful customer support.

Overall, the GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX) is an excellent choice for a travel router, offering powerful performance, advanced security features, and customization options, making it a versatile device for both casual users and tech enthusiasts.

Best Budget: GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango)

The GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) is a lightweight, portable mini travel router that packs a lot of power into its small size. Weighing in at only 39g (1.41oz), it is incredibly compact and pocket-friendly, making it an ideal travel companion.

The Mango boasts impressive specifications, including a max Wi-Fi speed of 300Mbps, 128MB of RAM, 16MB of Flash ROM, and dual Ethernet ports. It supports OpenVPN and WireGuard, ensuring your online privacy and security. With compatibility with 30+ VPN service providers, you can configure it as a VPN server for secure and private access to your files, just like you would on your home network.

The router is easy to set up and use, with a user-friendly web Admin Panel that allows you to personalize your network settings in a few simple steps. It can be powered by a laptop USB, power bank, or 5V/2A DC adapter (sold separately), making it versatile and convenient.

The Mango is a fantastic choice for travellers, providing reliable and secure Wi-Fi on the go. Its small size and robust functionality make it a top pick for anyone looking for an affordable, feature-rich travel router.

You can purchase the GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) on Amazon for a discounted price of $23.32 during Black Friday week.

Best Battery-Powered: Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro (MR6450)

The Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro (MR6450) is a powerful mobile modem/router that supports 5G connectivity, allowing you to stay connected wherever you go. Here are some key features and benefits of the Nighthawk M6 Pro:

• 5G and Wi-Fi 6E Connectivity: The Nighthawk M6 Pro provides ultra-fast and secure 5G internet at speeds of up to 4 Gbps, making it ideal for both work and entertainment on the move. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E, delivering speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps for up to 32 devices, ensuring seamless streaming, fast downloads, and an immersive gaming experience.
• Long-Lasting Battery: With up to 13 hours of battery life on a single charge, you can stay connected throughout the day without worrying about power outlets. This makes it perfect for long trips, remote work, or when you need extended internet access.
• High Device Capacity: The Nighthawk M6 Pro can connect up to 32 AX3600 Wi-Fi devices simultaneously. This includes laptops, tablets, and smartphones, ensuring that you, your family, or your team can all stay connected to secure and reliable Wi-Fi.
• Large Colour Touchscreen: The router features a 2.8" colour touchscreen, making it easy to set up, share, and monitor your Wi-Fi network. You can also remove the battery and use the mains adapter for extended usage at home or in the office.
• Global Connectivity: The Nighthawk M6 Pro is an unlocked device, which means it works with most major 5G and 4G LTE network operators worldwide and supports international roaming. This ensures that you can stay connected no matter where your travels take you.
• Fast Wired Connections: Featuring a 2.5 GbE LAN port, the Nighthawk M6 Pro enables multi-gigabit wired speeds when connected to laptops or home Wi-Fi routers. This is especially useful when you need a reliable wired connection for activities like gaming or transferring large files.
• Enhanced Security: The Nighthawk M6 Pro provides a secure and private Wi-Fi connection for your devices, ensuring your online safety in various locations such as airports, hotels, and trains. It also supports LTE CAT 22, LTE Advanced, 4x4 MIMO, and 256QAM for a more stable and robust wireless performance.

The Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro (MR6450) is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a reliable and high-performance mobile router. With its long-lasting battery, high device capacity, and support for the latest wireless standards, you can stay connected and productive no matter where your travels take you.

Best SIM-Based: Acer Connect X6E

The Acer Connect X6E is a simple and effective dual-band router with both WAN and 5G capabilities. It is a mobile router that can be used in different places or combined with ethernet to give you a dual WAN solution. It also has a SIM port, which means you can use it as a 5G mobile hotspot wherever you are.

The X6E is a good choice for simplicity and management. It has strong default security, including guest network and parental controls, and it also has an in-built NFC tag, which lets you connect any enabled device to your network without the need for a password.

The router has tri-band capabilities due to its WiFi 6E standard, which means it has 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz frequencies to work with. However, the 5 and 6 GHz frequencies can't be used simultaneously. It has a maximum speed of 5.4 Gbps and one 1 Gbps LAN and WAN port.

The X6E measures 101 x 101 x 206mm, so it's not the smallest travel router option available, but it has a good range. It also has a SIM port, a reset button, and a USB C port.

In terms of setup, it's fairly quick and simple. There are no apps to download; you just connect to the IP or web address once connected to the router, then follow the on-screen messages.

The X6E has the important feature of tracking your data, which is particularly useful if you're using mobile data. This lets you limit how much data you use over a period of time so that you don't go over your limit.

In terms of availability, at the time of writing, the X6E can only be found on the Acer store, where it costs £299.99 (around $320).

Best for Hotels: GL.iNet Beryl AX

The GL.iNet Beryl AX is a compact travel router packed with features designed to cater to your travel needs. It offers multiple WAN options, including ethernet, wireless repeater, LTE modem, and smartphone tethering. With its OpenWRT base OS, the router provides robust functionality such as AdGuard Home, USB 3 for network-attached storage, and both VPN client and server capabilities.

The Beryl AX simplifies managing multiple devices by allowing them all to connect to a single SSID. This is particularly useful in scenarios like campgrounds with device limits or on flights, where you can share one internet connection across several devices. It also ensures your devices are on a separate LAN, enhancing privacy and reducing the risks associated with public Wi-Fi.

The Beryl AX can be powered through USB-C, so any power bank with USB-PD will work great. A 10,000 mAH Anker power bank, for example, can usually power it for about 6-8 hours without problems.

The Beryl AX supports multiple WAN backbones and can fall back or load balance between them. One of those WANs is the WiFi Repeater: The Beryl can hook into any available WiFi network and use that as a backbone to create its own WiFi network. That makes it an excellent option for cafes and hotels that likely won't give you an Ethernet port to use.

The Beryl AX also supports USB tethering, so you can plug your iPhone or Android device with an unlimited data SIM and tell the Beryl to use the USB-tethered connection as another WAN. Then set it to either fall back between hotel/cafe wifi and USB-tethered connection or just load balance between them for extra bandwidth.

The GL.iNet Beryl AX is an invaluable tool for anyone who travels frequently or requires a reliable internet connection on the go. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about ensuring a secure and private connection no matter where you are.

Frequently asked questions