Travel is fun, isn’t it? Do I need a good travel router? Some of us travel for pleasure, others for work, and others to visit our relatives and friends. It is all fun when on the road until you need to use your internet in different places. What do I hate more than connecting my devices to every single hotel or airport Wi-Fi?
If you need to be online while driving, a Wi-Fi router can help. With a Wi-Fi router for your car, you can stay connected and share data with others in the car. This can be helpful if you’re driving with family and need to show them directions on the go or if you’re driving with co-workers and want to share feedback and documents during a meeting.
However, in such situations, it is not a must that you connect all your devices to different Wi-Fi. Secondly, the Wi-Fi connection in the hotel room might have some dead spots within your area of stay, so how do you take care of this?
There are some travel routers available in the market which help to solve these challenges. Using this travel router, you are assured that you will not need to connect all your devices to the hotel Wi-Fi or the public Wi-Fi. Also, it may serve as an extender to give fast internet in every corner of your hotel room.
The best wireless travel routers top picks
Travel router | Best for | Specifications | Check it out |
RAVPower FileHub AC750 travel router | Best travel router | Dual-band, Speed: Up to 750Mbps | CHECK IT OUT |
TP-Link AC750 (WR902AC) Wireless Travel Router | Best for versatile wireless modes | Dual-band, Speed: up to 750Mbps | CHECK IT OUT |
GL.iNet GL-B1300 Home AC Gigabit Router | Best travel router for speed | Dual-band, Speed: up to 1,300Mbps | CHECK IT OUT |
HooToo FileHub travel router HT-TM05 | Best power bank travel router | 2.4GHz Speed: up to 300Mbps | CHECK IT OUT |
GL.iNet GL-AR750S-Ext Gigabit Travel AC Router | Best for range | Dual-band, Speed: up to 750Mbps | CHECK IT OUT |
GL.iNET GL-MT300N-V2 Wireless Travel Router | Best budget travel router | 2.4GHz, Speed: up to 300Mbps | CHECK IT OUT |
TRENDnet AC750 Travel Router (TEW-817DTR) | Best for multiple devices | Dual-band, Speed: up to 750Mbps | CHECK IT OUT |
TP-Link N150 Portable Router (TL-MR3040) | Best for portability | 2.4GHz, Speed: up to 150Mbps | CHECK IT OUT |
Edimax BR-6258n Wireless Router | Smallest travel router | 2.4GHz, Speed: Up to 150Mbps | CHECK IT OUT |
RAVPower Filehub N300 Travel Router | Best for value | 2.4GHz, Speed: up to 300Mbps Devices: up to 5 | CHECK IT OUT |
What should you look for in a good car WiFi router?
There are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a good wifi router. First, it’s important to know how much range you will be getting. Anything less than 300 feet is not ideal, and anything greater than that can help you avoid having to leave your car.
Next, the signal strength should come into consideration. Having a strong signal can help you avoid getting a fuzzy connection while driving or being too close to large buildings that may cause interference with your signal.
Another thing to consider is whether the router will be compatible with your vehicle’s wifi system. A good wireless router should work on all current systems and provide an easy setup process as well as instructions on how best to use it.
The last consideration is what type of device you have with you and what apps you want to use during your travels. If you have an iPhone or Android device, these devices will need their own wifi connections which can make things complicated if the device isn’t compatible with the wifi router in your car.
Related article: Portable WiFi Router vs Mobile Hotspot: Which Is Better for You?
Best travel router (WiFi router for a Car and traveling)
The best travel router: RAVPower FileHub AC750 travel router
For frequent travelers, you require an all-in-one device to ensure you have the best internet experience. For a travel router, this device performs even better than some fixed routers at home.
The device has a big battery to ensure that it stores enough power to run for some time and which can be used as a battery pack to charge your smartphone a few times when necessary.
This is a 3-in-one device that gives you these three features:
- Wireless SD card reader and thus a media streamer
- Travel dual-band Wi-Fi router
- It is a 4 terabytes external hard drive making it the best travel router for NAS
This router gives you Wi-Fi speeds of up to 750Mbps when connected to an Ethernet cable. The router gives you a connection when in a hotel, conference, airport, or other place. It also has a single Ethernet port and a USB Type-C connector.
RAVPower FileHub AC750 travel router ensures that your data and devices are protected from hackers using public Wi-Fi. This is because you are not connecting your devices directly to the Wi-FI besides having the current safety measures.
The router also has a built-in MTK762N chip for better performance of the router. This makes the hardware and software match and performs to the best.
The media streamer through the SD card enables you to access your saved documents like videos and photos. Moreover, you can use the router for streaming directly to Chromecast.
What Technology Reviewer likes about RAVPower FileHub AC750 travel router
- The router has a rechargeable 6700mAh battery for long-lasting use and emergency charging of your smartphone.
- The gadget has an SD card slot to transfer your files
- This dual-band router gives some of the best internet speeds for such devices
- The router is easy to use
What we don’t like
- The App for setup and management is not the best
- The file transfer process is a bit slow
- It has no VPN support
TP-Link AC750 (WR902AC) Wireless Travel Router
We had a hard choice deciding the best travel router between this one and the RAVPower FileHub AC750 travel router, but RAVPower took the best position due to its multi-functionality.
TP-Link TL-WR902AC helps to perform different roles including as a range extender, an access point, a router, in Wi-Fi client mode, or as a hotspot.
This dual-band router gives a long-range connection with Wi-Fi. Top Wi-Fi speeds of up to 750Mbps make this one of the best. Of these speeds, 2.4GHz is able to support Wi-Fi speeds of up to 300Mbps while the 5GHz band can support up to 433Mbps. Moreover, the device has one Ethernet port (10/100Mbps) for your wired devices.
The router has a USB2.0 port which enables you to connect to a USB 4G or 3G modem. It can also connect an external HDD for use as a NAS. The port can also transmit up to 2A of passthrough power which can be used to charge your tablet or smartphone.
The TP-Link TL-WR902AC as you can see in the photo is simple but performs very well and is easy to carry. This is because it small enough to carry in your pocket.
This router is very easy to use and offers some excellent connections for a router its size.
What Technology Reviewer likes about TP-Link TL-WR902AC
- The dual-band Wi-Fi enables the device to give you Wi-Fi speeds of up to 750Mbps
- It has versatile wireless modes
- The router is also compact and easy to carry
- TP-Link TL-WR902AC is very easy to use
What we don’t like
- The router has a limited range
- The port layout seems a bit awkward
GL.iNet GL-B1300 Home AC Gigabit Router
Of all the travel routers tested, this one performed the best in data transfer rates. The dual-band router gives you speeds of up to 1,300Mbps.
The 2.4GHz band can support Wi-Fi speeds of up to 400Mbps while the 5GHz band supports speeds of up to 867Mbps.
Besides, GL.iNet GL-B1300 Home AC Gigabit Router has 3 Ethernet ports (1WAN and 2LAN) for your wired devices. This ensures your wired devices get fast internet for your online activities. Moreover, the router has a USB 3.0 port.
One of the important things to note is that GL.inet is a pre-installed OpenWRT firmware router to ensure you have maximum control over your router. It also gives you the chance to use advanced VPN providers thus improving security and privacy.
The router is powerful and yet is very portable. It is also very easy to use.
What Technology Reviewer likes about the GL.iNet GL-B1300 Home AC Gigabit Router
- The router has the fastest Wi-Fi speeds of all the tested gadgets
- GL.iNet GL-B1300 Home AC Gigabit Router has 3 Ethernet ports
- This gadget is compact, portable, and very powerful
- VPN support is great
- OpenWRT gives you excellent performance and control
What we don’t like
- The company can offer better customer care services
- It takes a very long for firmware updates to be released
HooToo FileHub travel router HT-TM05
For frequent travelers, this is one of the best travel routers for you to consider. Giving you the ability to charge your smartphones and tablets severally ensures that you are always available online.
HooToo FileHub travel router HT-TM05 has a 10,400mAh battery capacity to ensure that you can charge your smartphone or tablets up to 3 times.
The router in addition to being an excellent power bank can give you internet speeds of up to 300Mbps. These are great Wi-Fi speeds for most online activities. The router can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously.
Besides, the category 5 Ethernet port enables you to connect your wired devices to high-speed internet. In addition, underneath the flaps, the router has USB-A and micro USB ports for connecting your storage devices.
The router is very portable. And very easy to use by plugging the router into a wired network. Thus HooToo FileHub travel router HT-TM05 serves as an access point and as a router.
What Technology Reviewer likes about the HooToo FileHub HT-TM05 travel router
- The battery capacity enables you to use the device as a power bank
- The router is very portable
- You can use the router to connect multiple devices to the internet
- It is great for streaming
What we don’t like
- The device has slow speeds for streaming since it is a single band router
- The manufacturer needs to improve on the instructions manual clarity
GL.iNet GL-AR750S-Ext Gigabit Travel AC Router
For most of us, the range really matters when looking for the best travel router. This router gives you speed, range, and safety when using your devices online.
The router supports Wi-Fi speeds of up to 750Mbps (300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 433Mbps on the 5GHz). Not only does it support high-speed Wi-Fi but also it has 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports (1WAN and 2LAN) for your wired devices.
GL.iNet GL-AR750S-Ext Gigabit Travel AC Router also has a USB 2.0 port to connect your storage devices. The port can be used for sharing content. Additionally, the router has a microSD card slot for storing up to 128GB on the router.
What makes this gadget great is the use of OpenWRT firmware thus giving you a high level of control over your router. You can easily configure the router and get better security and privacy. The privacy and security are through pre-installed OpenVPN and WireGuard. Moreover, the device is ready for over 25 VPN service providers so that you can choose the preferred provider for maximum privacy.
Finally, this router is excellent because of all the features above. It can serve as a repeater/ extender, Wi-Fi client, hotspot, bridge, USB modem, and to top it up it can do network diagnostics.
What Technology Reviewer likes about GL.iNet GL-AR750S-Ext Gigabit Travel AC Router
- The fast dual-band Wi-Fi connection for your devices
- This router has 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports for your wired devices
- GL.iNet GL-AR750S-Ext Gigabit Travel AC Router has an Open-source firmware for greater control and configuration
- This router has excellent VPN support
- The router has an excellent User Interface
What we don’t like
- The set-up is a bit complicated and is finicky to operate
- Quality control for this gadget can be improved
GL.iNET GL-MT300N-V2 Wireless Travel Router
For a small budget, you can get this great travel router with a VPN. It gives you speed, compactness, safety, range, and great performance.
The speeds of up to 300Mbps for the single-band (2.4GHz) router are great for most online activities. Therefore, this router converts a public network (both wired and wireless connections) to a private Wi-Fi.
The router has 2 Ethernet ports for your wired devices and a USB 2.0 port to connect to your storage devices.
The router has pre-installed OpenWrt firmware to give you maximum control and configuration. This firmware accords you excellent internet performance.
Moreover, the router has pre-installed OpenVPN for your safety and security. To top it up, the device’s OpenVPN is compatible with over 20 VPN service providers.
GL.iNET GL-MT300N-V2 Wireless Travel Router is very light, small, and easy to carry. The portability enables you to have a measure of safety and enables you to connect several devices.
Finally, the product is easy to set up and connect. It has an interface that is easy to navigate.
What Technology Reviewer likes about GL.iNET GL-MT300N-V2 Wireless Travel Router
- This router gives you value for your money
- The router is small, light, and portable.
- Its open-source firmware (OpenWrt) gives a lot of room to configure and control the router.
- The router provides you lots of options for VPN services.
- GL.iNET GL-MT300N-V2 Wireless Travel Router router is very versatile
What we don’t like
- The device is a single-band router
- Their customer service report can be better
- Does not work with hotels with a splash page for connection
TRENDnet AC750 Travel Router (TEW-817DTR)
TRENDnet AC750 (TEW-817DTR) exceeds our expectations with its high performance. The router is a dual-band router that enables you to connect several devices with high-speed, reliable internet.
On versatility, this gadget has Wireless ISP, Access Point, Router, and Repeater modes. This makes this router very versatile.
The dual-band router can support Wi-Fi speeds of up to 750Mbps. That is 433Mbps on 5GHz and 300Mbps on 2.4GHz. These speeds ensure that you can carry out your online activities without any lags.
TRENDnet AC750 (TEW-817DTR) also has 1 Ethernet port. Having one Ethernet port is the only area that this device that does not excel.
One of the things I like about the product is the 3-year TRENDnet manufacturer’s warranty. Therefore, you can use the product without the fear of hardware and software failure because of the warranty.
Moreover, this router accords you the chance to create and manage a Guest Network. However, setting this up is available in router mode only. For increased security, the device comes with pre-encrypted security protocols.
What Technology Reviewer likes about TRENDnet AC750 (TEW-817DTR)
- The Wi-Fi speeds of up to 750Mbps are very impressive
- TRENDnet AC750 (TEW-817DTR) has robust security features
- It allows you to set up the Guest Network
- It has Beamforming technology thus improving the range
- This router is IPV6 compatible
What we don’t like
- The router does not support VPN services.
- For some people configuring the router is a significant concern.
TP-Link N150 Portable Router (TL-MR3040)
This router offers a combination of a great battery, versatility, and good internet speeds to deliver an impressive performance. This makes the router one of the best travel routers today.
TP-Link is one of the biggest and best manufacturers of networking equipment and devices. They have produced one of the best travel routers for top-notch performance.
TP-Link N150 Portable Router (TL-MR3040) is a single band router that can deliver Wi-Fi speeds of up to 150Mbps. Moreover, the gadget has Access Point, Wireless ISP, and router modes for more versatility.
Besides, the router has a 2000mAh internal battery. Therefore, you can use the gadget for 4 hours without the need for charging it.
Finally, the router is easy to set up and configure. This ensures that you can use the router as soon as you want to use it.
What Technology Reviewer likes about TP-Link N150 Portable Router (TL-MR3040)
- The router is very convenient for travel (It is very portable)
- It has a LAN port for your wired devices
- You can easily set up and configure this router
- It has a battery that ensures you can use it in areas without a power supply
What we don’t like
- The device is a single-band router thus has slower internet speeds as compared to some other travel routers
Edimax BR-6258n Wireless Router
When looking for a small router that can give you great speeds and a performance to remember, Edimax BR-6258n Wireless Router is your device.
You can, therefore, carry this highly impressive router wherever you go without the worry about the size or load.
The single-band router gives you Wi-Fi speeds of up to 150Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. These speeds are enough for most online activities as you travel. Wi-Fi also helps to connect several devices to Wi-Fi in your hotel or public area.
The device comes with a WAN port and a LAN port for connecting the wired devices. Therefore, you can use the gadget as a wireless adapter.
The router support all the Wireless Access Point, AP Client, Bridge, Universal Repeater, and Bridge+WPS.
Finally, the router has the latest security protocols. This ensures that you are protected when carrying out your online activities.
What Technology Reviewer likes about Edimax BR-6258n Wireless Router
- The router is very small and that easy to carry everywhere
- It is very versatile
- It runs on very little power. This means you can use it as you are charging it on the USB port on your laptop or computer.
What we don’t like
- The device is a single-band router
- Will not work on hotel Wi-Fi where a web login page is used
RAVPower Filehub N300 Travel Router
We like finishing the reviews with a bang! This is another impressively performing device to give you the best travel companion.
What really impressed us is all the technology and features packed in this small device. It only measures 3 ounces and its size is 2.2×2.01×0.71 inches.
The single-band router gives you a Wi-Fi speed of up to 300Mbps in the 2.4GHz range. This is complemented by having an Ethernet port for your wired devices. It also has a USB 2.0 port for connecting the storage devices.
The gadget can be used as a router, access point, and bridge. The router has a range of 10 meters which is okay for travel routers.
The downside is the router has a poor quality app and also does not have a built-in battery to store power.
Finally, this router has a one-year warranty, is very portable, and has a low weight for use everywhere. It is also very easy to use.
What Technology Reviewer likes about RAVPower Filehub N300 Travel Router
- The router is affordable
- It is compact and has several features
- It has a USB port for sharing media
- RAVPower Filehub N300 Travel Router can function as a Wi-Fi repeater.
What we don’t like
- The router has no SD card slot or built-in battery
- The app can be better
Things to consider when buying a wireless router for travel
If you are a frequent traveler, it is imperative for you to get a wireless travel router. This ensures that you do not connect your important devices to any Wi-Fi routers available.
The following is what to look for in a travel router:
Size and weight
As you are traveling, the more the weight carried, the more tired you are. To help reduce the load, it is important to get a travel router that is small in size and has a low weight.
Among the devices reviewed above, there are several small routers for you to consider. All the routers reviewed though are small in size and light in weight.
Speed
There are several hotels and public spaces where internet speeds are outstanding. You wouldn’t want to bog that down using a router that has a slower speed. The bands determine the data rate in most routers.
The router selected should be able to support meetings via various teleconferencing applications and video streaming. However, do not think of the impressive Wi-Fi 6 speeds when considering a traveling router.
The good thing is that most of the time, these devices will be used by a single user and thus most of the reviewed devices will be able to serve you well.
Security
Online security is paramount in the current days. Safety is paramount in the era where bank transactions are done online, and we store important company documents on the cloud accessible via computers.
Therefore, to ensure your data is secure and you have privacy, it is important to consider this when buying a travel router. Some of the best travel routers have built-in internal security and support WPA2 encryption.
Sometimes, it is also important to consider the firmware and support for VPN services too.
Built-in battery
Depending on where you are traveling, you may want to think of your router has a built-in battery. If you are traveling to areas where you know power might be a challenge then consider a router with a power bank or built-in battery.
However, since we are planning to use the router in hotels and in other public places like airports. This factor may not be very important.
Cost
From our observation, this should be the last determinant. This is because the selected device should serve the purpose you are buying it for. However, there are some routers that are quite exorbitant so in that case, you can consider the price.
Most of the reviewed routers are affordable for every traveler.
How to install a wireless router in my car?
There are a few ways to install a wireless router in your car. One is to purchase an external wifi adapter. This is the easiest method, but it’s not always ideal if you need to use several devices at once or have a specific location for your router.
Another option is to install a wireless router that has been pre-installed in the car (as long as it matches your specifications). Some car manufacturers even provide this service from their dealerships. It can be difficult to find these models on third-party websites, though, so choosing this route may take some research beforehand.
The final option is installing a wireless router yourself using a DIY installation kit provided with most routers and other USB-powered devices like hard drives and game consoles.
Because these kits usually come with wiring diagrams and detailed instructions, they are convenient for those who want to save money on tools but may be more stressful than the other methods listed here.
How to avoid obstacles when setting up my wireless router?
The first step in setting up your wireless router is to pick the right one for your car. The best way to do this is by picking a model that’s specifically designed for cars, as these are more likely to have a range of features that make them ideal for cars.
For example, if you want a WiFi router with the best signal strength, consider purchasing an antenna extender or boost. These will allow you to reach stronger reception while still using your existing wifi router.
If you want a wifi router that doesn’t need any additional accessories, consider buying one that has true dual bands. Dual-band routers transmit both 2.4 and 5GHz waves simultaneously so they can transmit and receive data at the same time without interference or disruption.
Lastly, if you want a wifi router with increased speed and performance, consider getting an AC3200 model that supports gigabit networking speeds.
What are the benefits of using wireless routers?
Wireless routers give you access to the internet from almost anywhere in your car– even when it’s not plugged into an outlet.
This means you’ll be able to work or communicate with someone else remotely without having to worry about carrying around an extra laptop or being tethered down with wires.
Moreover, you will be able to use it everywhere and get a great connection.
One other important thing is the safety and security of your data. A wireless router will enable you to use your devices without worrying about privacy, safety, and security, unlike public WiFi and hotel WiFi.
Finally, you can connect multiple devices to the travel router and get a good connection.
How can I safeguard my data when using a wireless router for my car?
There are several ways to protect your data when using a wireless router for your car. First, make sure you use the recommended router for your car model and ask the retailer about the warranty on it.
Second, avoid purchasing inexpensive routers that don’t have a lot of reviews online. These may not be good enough for your needs and could cause connectivity issues.
Third, make sure you choose a router with dual-band support so that you can connect both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously or switch between them as needed.
Fourth, find out if there is any type of data encryption on the router so that even if someone tries to intercept your data you won’t have to worry about unauthorized access. Many routers will automatically add an extra layer of protection by encrypting your information while in transit over the internet.
Fifth, consider purchasing a router with built-in parental controls so that you can keep an eye on what your kids are doing online when they’re using their smartphone or tablet to connect to the internet via wifi.
Why do I need a strong signal strength for my WiFi router?
You want a strong signal strength for your wifi router to make sure you have access to an uninterrupted internet connection. This can be very helpful in emergency situations or when you’re traveling.
Without a strong signal, you might not be able to connect to the internet at all or might have problems connecting to certain websites or services.
A weak signal may also be problematic if you are trying to work on a project while on the road. You need a reliable wifi connection that works no matter where you are, whether it’s at home or on the go!
How many people can connect to the same WiFi hotspot at once?
Before you go out and purchase any type of wifi router, it’s important to know how many people can connect to the same hotspot at once.
If you want to increase the number of people that can use your wireless router, then you will need to invest in a dual-band router. Dual-band routers have two different frequencies of WiFi. This allows for the internet connection to work on two different bands simultaneously. In this case, there are more people who are able to connect at once than with single-band routers that only have one frequency.
However, if you want a more secure connection for all your devices, then dual-band routers may not be the best option for you. That is because they open up the possibility for other people on the same network—like nearby neighbors—to access your internet connection without entering in their password.
Conclusion
Using the reviews and the buyer’s guide we are sure you will be able to buy the best wireless travel router for your needs. The devices reviewed will offer you a performance to satisfy your needs.
In other instances, you may require a Mi-Fi, especially for international travel. This is for the times that you are traveling to areas with weak Wi-Fi and internet connections in general.
All the routers are great options for your car, as they all have their own pros and cons and can be used in different scenarios depending on your needs or budget.
There are travel routers with VPNs also available in the market today. These ensure that you have increased privacy and security as you use the Wi-Fi.
The best travel routers also enable you to connect to many devices and charge some of them when they run out of power. The portable travel routers are small in size, and thus, you can carry them everywhere.
Most travel routers plug into a wired internet connection in your room and enable you to access fast Wi-Fi. Others extend a Wi-FI connection, while you can use other routers as Mi-Fi (mobile hotspot) devices.
FAQs
What are the benefits of having a wifi router in your car?
A travel router gives you security, portable WiFi, and sometimes the ability to charge your devices. Therefore, it is useful for the privacy and security of your data.
What is the best wireless router for your car?
To answer this question, we have to first identify what features WiFi routers for cars need to have. Some of the most important features include:
-Good signal strength
-Largest range possible
-Fast speeds
-Easy installation
-Multi-purpose use
-Affordability
There are many different brands and models that offer these types of features.
What are the different types of wireless routers?
There are many different types of wireless routers that you can get for your car. The type you decide to go with will depend on factors such as what kind of signal strength the router has and how much range it offers.
Some examples of wifi routers include:
> Dual-band
> Tri-band
> N300 wifi router
> N600 wifi router
Can I use this WiFi router with my phone or laptop, too?
A travel WiFi router can work with any device. They offer a range of speeds and a range of compatibility options. They are thus compatible with most devices, have long battery life, and have fast download speeds.
This router is also one of the most affordable on the market. It has a low price tag but provides high-quality features that you’ll feel like you’re still getting a lot for your money.