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When it comes to getting connected on the go, turning on your phone’s Personal Hotspot feature is often enough. However, if you have a large group of devices that need lots of bandwidth or advanced features, such as VPN, it’s best to get a mini travel router.
This post lists the current five best travel routers among those I’ve tested. They are all excellent for any extended trip, especially for those with a dozen or more devices that need Wi-Fi access to the Internet.
Dong’s note: I first published this post on May 12, 2025, and last updated it on November 15, 2025.
2025’s best travel routers: The list
This list is sorted by rating, with the highest at the top.
Top 5 best travel routers
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| Name | ASUS RT-BE58 Go’s Rating | TP-Link TL-WR3002X’s Rating | ASUS RT-AX57 Go’s Rating | GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7’s Rating | NETGEAR Nighthawk M6 Pro’s Rating |
| Price | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rating | |||||
| Description | |||||
| Statistics | |||||
| Buy this product |
1. ASUS RT-BE58 Go
The RT-BE58 Go is the Wi-Fi 7 of the RT-BE57 Go below. It’s an excellent router for those wanting to bring an advanced network on the go.
ASUS RT-BE58 Go's Rating
Pros
Wi-Fi 7 support with a 2.5Gbps WAN port and versatile WAN options, Gig+ real-world rates, reliable performance
Identical features and network settings as full-size routers managed via a full web user interface, mesh-ready
Compact design, wall-mount-ready, standard USB-C charging
Cons
No built-in cellular modem, SIM slot, or battery option
A tad expensive, no second 2.5Gbps port
Slow NAS performance when hosting a portable drive
2. TP-Link TL-WR3002X
The TP-Link TL-WR3002X is the 2025 upgrade version of the TL-WR1502X, with faster Wi-Fi 6 performance. It’s a little router that packs a bunch. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t have a built-in cellular modem (or a SIM slot), so you’ll need a separate USB modem or tether your smartphone to its USB port.
There’s a Wi-Fi 7-enabled TL-WR36002BE, but in most use cases, it won’t make much of a difference for travellers.
TP-Link TL-WR3002X's Rating
Pros
Compact design with 2.5Gbps WAN port and 160 MHz channel width support, excellent real-world performance
Useful features tailored to travelers, including multiple operation modes, built-in NAS capability, and advanced VPN support
Robust web user interface with a useful optional mobile app; standard USB-C charging
Cons
No built-in cellular modem
No battery option
3. ASUS RT-AX57 Go
Similar to the TP-Link, the ASUS RT-AX57 Go also doesn’t have a SIM slot or a built-in cellular modem. But it, too, can host a modem or a phone as the cellular broadband source. On top of that, it has the same function as a standard ASUS router.
ASUS also has more travel router options down the road, including one that features Wi-Fi 7 and another with a built-in cellular modem.
ASUS RT-AX57 Go's Rating
Pros
Excellent performance for the hardware specs; compact design with versatile broadband support
Identical features and network settings as full-size routers; advanced features available free for life
Full web interface with a useful optional mobile app; standard USB-C charging
Cons
No 6GHz band support; mid-range Wi-Fi 6 specs; no Multi-Gig ports
No built-in cellular modem or SIM slot
No battery option
4. GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7
The GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7 is currently the only travel router with two 2.5Gbps ports, making it an excellent choice for those needing a real multi-Gigabit wired connection. Additionally, it also offers a host of advanced and standard features via the OpenWRT firmware.
GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7's Rating
Pros
Wi-Fi 7 with dual 2.5Gbps ports to offer reliable and fast performance
Multi-WAN support with all OpenWRT features and settings
Compact design, standard USB-C charging
Cons
No built-in cellular modem, SIM slot, or battery option
A tad expensive and buggy with potential privacy risks
Not wall-mount-ready
5. NETGEAR M6 Pro
The M6 Pro is a mobile hotspot that can work as a standard router. This tiny box comes with a built-in 5G cellular modem with a Nano SIM slot. Additionally, it has a 2.5Gbps port that can serve as a WAN for a superfast broadband connection. So, it’s a flexible router for those needing one with an unlocked built-in cellular modem.
Alternatively, you can also consider the M7 Pro, which is similar in specs but is locked to AT&T or Verizon..
NETGEAR Nighthawk M6 Pro's Rating
Pros
Fast cellular and Wi-Fi speeds; Wi-Fi 6E and Multi-Gig network port
Flexible and versatile; can work as a standard (travel) router; well-thought-out design
Excellent web user interface; unlocked
Cons
Expensive; not true tri-band (5GHz or 6GHz at a time)
Clunky power and port management; lots of restarts required
Needs to be plugged in with the battery removed to deliver the best performance; bulky design
Extra: D-Link G530 Review
The D-Link G650 is a mobile router that’s not so mobile. With a built-in cellular modem (and a Nano SIM slot), it’s ready to host a 5G/4G connection right out of the box. It also includes a WAN port for a regular broadband connection. And it can do both simultaneously in a failover dual-WAN setup.
Unfortunately, it’s a bit bulky and doesn’t have a built-in battery, making it hard to fit in your suitcase and many travel situations. However, it’s an excellent solution for an RV or a boat.
D-Link D-Link G530's Rating
Pros
Built-in 5G modem with a dual-WAN failover option
Reliable mid-tier Wi-Fi 6 performance with good coverage
Standard web user interface with a decent set of network settings and features
Cons
Only two Gigabit ports; bad cellular reception; no support for external cellular antennas
Too large to be a mobile router; no battery option
Expensive
The takeaway
These are not all the travel routers you can find and there will be more in the near future. However, any of them will make an excellent companion for your next trip and will remain relevant for years to come.
List of travel routers with no {…} on it?! This is undoubtedly some sort of a sponsored or paid for list that you have put up here.
It’s not sponsored. I wish. These are among those I’ve reviewed I can only cover so many. Make sure you actually read the post in its entirety.
By the way, if you are so hung up on a brand, you’re either brainwashed or have an ulterior motive. I can assure you that you can live out the rest of your life without a travel router, let alone one from a particular brand.
Hi Dong,
Have you considered travel routers from GL.iNET? Such as the Slate 7, Beryl AX or Opal?
The firmware for these travel routers are based on OpenWRT and also support WireGuard and OpenVPN.
I myself am currently using the much slower GL.iNET Mango V2, which repeats the hotel’s captive portal and turns my hotel room into a secure WiFi zone.
I’m aware of the brand but I haven’t had time for it yet, Stephen. We’ll see.
Thanks Dong.