It’s the perfect time to begin your holiday journeys to visit friends and family both in the near and far. While internet connectivity is now more accessible than ever before, certain spots remain off the network. You’ll need an internet-connected router that you can carry on your journeys.
We have compiled the top portable Wi-Fi routers you can use while traveling to ensure you stay connected throughout the holiday season and into 2022.
Why Would I Want a Portable Wi-Fi Router?
There are a variety of reasons why you’d need to create a mobile hotspot using your own wireless router
- Security: Sometimes, connecting to Wi-Fi access points that are public can be a bit shaky. The fact that you have your own mobile hotspot allows you to connect to the Wi-Fi network, and will always be safer. Many of the travel Wi-Fi routers have integrated VPN as well as firewall capabilities.
- Savings If you have Wi-Fi routers that are capable of using mobile data, then all devices you’re using require Wi-Fi for connection to the mobile hotspot. It is not necessary to purchase tablets that have SIM cards and place them on any plan for data. It is also possible to give older phones for your kids to use while driving instead of purchasing mobile plans. Also, if your kids are using older phones and something goes wrong with them it’s not as much of an expense to your wallet.
- Speed Have you ever stayed in a hotel, connecting to their Wi-Fi network, and wondered if you were connected to dial-up Internet from the 90s? It’s not an issue with your own personal Wi-Fi router. In addition, if your router’s portable Wi-Fi is compatible with 5G it can be connected to the 4G LTE or an older device to benefit from 5G speeds.
1. Best High-End Mobile Wi-Fi Router – Netgear Nighthawk M5
Price: $699
Cell Network: 5G
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi Version 6
With a cost of about $700 at the time of writing, the Netgear Nighthawk M5 mobile Wi-Fi device will be able to perform pretty much all. It can. If you’re an avid traveler or rely on this for the main Internet connectivity at home, this could be worth the cost. It’s best when connected to those AT&T as well as T-Mobile networks within the US. The battery can be easily removed and replaced, so you should consider purchasing an extra battery to charge to swap it out quickly. If there isn’t a 5G cell service in your area, you might want to consider using the Netgear M1 to get 4G connectivity.
- VPN, Support for DMZ, and passwords
- Up to 32 connected devices can be linked.
- Battery life up to 13 hours
- Ethernet and USB C connectors
- The touch-screen control onboard also tracks the use of data
- 2 external antenna connectors for TS-9 to increase the reach
- 1 Gbps Ethernet port
- Management via apps and the Web
- SMS messaging capability
2. Runner Up High-End Mobile Wi-Fi Router – NetGear Nighthawk M1
Price: $400
Cell Network: 4G
Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n Dual Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz
Yes, there’s yet another NetGear Nighthawk. You’ve probably realized that this was the Wi-Fi router from NetGear that was before the M5. It’s still sought-after. It’s also the perfect mobile Wi-Fi router for those who just have 4G mobile service.
- VPN, Support for DMZ, and passwords
- You can connect up to 20 devices
- Battery life up to 11 hours
- Ethernet and USB C connectors
- The touch-screen control on the board also tracks the use of data
- Transfer to Wi-Fi regular or Ethernet If available, to cut down on the amount of data consumed by cellular devices.
- Web – and app-based management
- Transfer data from the external drive
- JumpBoost is a charging device that charges phones
3. Best Affordable Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot – NetGear 4G AC797
Price: $219
Cell Network: 4G
Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/c Dual Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz
NetGear is popular due to the reason that it is. If the pricey NetGear devices are beyond your reach then this is the perfect mobile Wi-Fi hotspot you’ve been looking for. With the many features that are available on the Nighthawks, you’ll receive the most value for your money. Even though its maximum download speed is 400MB this is enough for the majority of users.
- Guest Wi-Fi sign-in with timer
- Battery life up to 11 hours
- Maximum speed 400 Mbps
- The color display highlights information about battery and network and additional information.
- Up to 32 connected devices can be linked.
- Control your time with the NetGear mobile application
4. Runner Up Affordable Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot – GlocalMe U3 Mobile Hotspot
Price: $120
Cell Network: 4G
Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz
- Small weight, it weighs 4.4 Oz and is roughly the size of eight credit cards that are stacked
- A battery’s life of up to 13 hours
- Maximum speed 150 Mbps
- USB Type-C port
- Up to 10 connected devices can be linked
- Buy and manage data packages by using the GlocalMe application. Manage and buy data packages with the GlocalMe app.
5. Best Budget Portable Wi-Fi Router – Alcatel LINKZONE MW41NF
Price: $60
Cell Network: 4G
Wi-Fi: 802.11b, 2.4 GHz
If you’re in need of an affordable mobile hotspot that is light cheap, affordable, and adaptable across multiple countries, it’s the Alcatel Linkzone MW41NF may be the right choice for you. This hotspot for mobile will require a SIM card, and it’s not compatible with CDMA services such as Sprint, Virgin, or Verizon. Alcatel also advises against not charging it for more than 10 hours, which could lead to excessive heat.
- Small, only 10 oz and is about the size of the thickness of
- A 7-hour battery lifespan up to 300 hours of standby
- Data speeds of up to 150 Mbps for download
- Micro USB 2.0 slot
- Micros SD slot that supports up to 32GB
- WPS button to make it easy to connect mobile Wi-Fi connection
- Up to 15 connected devices can be linked
- Managed by app
- Basic LED display
6. Runner Up Budget Portable Wi-Fi Router – Yeacomm P21-2 4G LTE CPE Router
Price: $99
Cell Network: 4G
Wi-Fi: 802.11 n/bg, 2.4 GHz
If you’re looking for greater WiFi coverage and have a place to connect it the Yeacomm P21-2 could be a perfect choice. It’s reasonably priced and more powerful than the other Wi-Fi routers that are mobile. Its Ethernet, as well as phone port, are perfect for those who have a cottage or remote office. Yes, you can plug in landline phones and make phone calls via cellular.
- Two antennas external for a larger reach
- 4 Ethernet ports
- 2 phone port RJ-11 are used to connect landline phone lines
- Data speeds as high as 150Mbps for download
- Built-in VPN client
- Up to 32 connected devices can be linked.
- Managed by app
- This device requires power from an external source.
7. Best High-End Travel Wi-Fi Hotspot – GL.iNet GL-MT1300 Beryl
Price: $90
Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Dual Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz
Its GL.iNet Beryl may be the most adorable portable Wi-Fi router but it’s also a pro in creating reliable connectivity to the internet via mobile. The portable access point is compact enough to fit into pockets, yet has security and flexibility at the heart of it. Beryl is a versatile device that Beryl can function as a Wi-Fi router repeater or connect to your smartphone by using the USB 3.0 port.
- Utilizes the OpenWRT software which makes it extremely customizable
- Installed OpenVPN as well as WireGuard to work with over thirty VPN providers
- Installed the Tor service
- Pre-installed Cloudflare to provide DNS security
- MicroSD can support up to 512 GB of storage
- USB 3.0 port
- 1 x WAN and 2 Gb Ethernet ports on LAN
- Maximum Wi-Fi speed of 867 Mbps
- You must connect it to the internet.
8. Runner Up High-End Travel Wi-Fi Hotspot – GL.iNet GL-AR750S-Ext Slate
Price: $70
Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Dual Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz
The GL.iNet Slate is a little less stylish and powerful It’s a bit less stylish and powerful GL.iNet Slate offers the majority of all the features for security found in the Beryl and supports sharing information from MicroSD cards and decent speeds of 433 Mbps for Wi-Fi. It also functions to extend the range of your internet. Imagine the device as Beryl’s smaller sister who is exactly the same size.
- Makes use of the OpenWRT software Which makes it highly adjustable
- It is pre-installed with OpenVPN as well as WireGuard to work with over thirty VPN providers
- Pre-installed Cloudflare to provide DNS security
- MicroSD can support up to 128 GB.
- USB 2.0 port
- 1 x WAN and 2 Ethernet ports for LAN.
- Max Wi-Fi speed 433Mbps
- It must be connected
9. Best Affordable Travel Wi-Fi Router – TP-Link Wireless N Nano
Price: $35
Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n 2.4GHz
What’s the deal with routers for travel being adorable? They’re cute! TP-Link N300 is likely the most used Travel Wi-Fi device. Its features, price, and two-year warranty with unlimitless technical support are hard to beat even if it’s twice the cost. It’s also small enough to be tucked away in pockets, meaning it can be carried inside bags for laptops. Because it can function as an access point, repeater (AP), or mobile hotspot, you are able to utilize it even when not on the road. Go to this Nano Router emulator page to learn how it’s operated.
- The access point, repeater, router point, and mobile hotspot mode
- You can power it with an adapter, smartphone charger, or laptop USB port.
- 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN/LAN port
- Wireless speed of 300Mbps
- Access control and firewall built-in
- Controls for parental control built-in
- Controlled by the app or via a web interface
- Guest network with guest network capabilities
10. Runner Up Affordable Travel Wi-Fi Router – MikroTik – hAP Mini
Price: $22
Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz
The hAP mini from MikroTik measures around 4 inches tall and length, and less than two inches wide. It’s tiny, especially when you consider that it also comes with three Ethernet ports. It runs its own MikroTik RouterOS that’s configured to be run straight from the beginning, or you can use its online configuration page to configure it to do what you’d like. In reality, the number of configurations that are possible could be too excessive. Of sure, there’s an application too.
- At least 5 years’ worth of updates for free
- Ability to bridge and route
- 3 x 10/100 Mbps WAN/LAN port
- Control of configurations in a wide range.
- It is managed by an app or via a web interface
- It supports VPN along with other standard security protocols
- It is managed by an application or web interface
- Guest network with guest network capabilities
11. Best Value Travel Wi-Fi Router – GL.iNet micro user-N300
Price: $22
Wi-Fi: 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz
Another product from GL.iNet Microrouter-N300 has to be the smallest Wi-Fi router that is available. This small-sized router comes with fewer
features and coverage. But, this wireless router is extremely powerful and efficient in energy use.
- Tiny at 2inx2inx 0.72in and less than one 0.72 ounce
- Utilizes OpenWRT firmware, which makes it extremely configurable
- Router, repeater, as well as access point modes
- You can connect up to 32 devices
- 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN/LAN port
- It can be powered by an adapter, smartphone charger, or laptop USB port.
12. Runner Up Budget Travel Wi-Fi Router – Kasda KW55293
Price: $16
Wi-Fi: 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz
It’s cheaper and comes with more ethernet ports than GL.iNet micro user-N300. So why it isn’t Kasda the top choice in this category? It’s about the same size as six micro user-N300s. At that cost, it’s simply worth it.
- Up to 300Mbps of wireless speed
- Four LAN ports and one WAN Ethernet port
- WPS to connect devices with one button. devices
- VPN pass-through
- MAC Filtering
- Web-based configuration
- LED status indicators
- The software supports connections to Telnet connections
Happy Trails and Safe Travels
One of our portable Wi-Fi routers will be able to ensure you are connected with your family and friends over the season of giving. It is possible to give them away as presents. Is there a better, more affordable technology present for Christmas?