Best of · Networking
Best travel routers of 2026: GL.iNet, UniFi, and when you need one
A travel router turns one hotel login into a private network for every device you carry, with a VPN on top. Five picks, plus the places you can't bring one.
Our pick: GL.iNet Beryl 7 for most travelers; UniFi Travel Router if your home runs UniFi
GL.iNet
Beryl 7 (GL-MT3600BE)
8.6$129.99
The best travel router for most people: Wi-Fi 7, two 2.5G ports, and the fastest VPN of the pocket-size models.
Pros
- • Dual-band Wi-Fi 7
- • Two 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports and USB
- • GL.iNet-rated WireGuard up to 1,100 Mbps; Tailscale support
Cons
- • Not on the FCC Conditional Approval list as of October 2026 (existing models authorized)
GL.iNet
Slate 7 (GL-BE3600)
8.3~$120–$170
Same idea with a touchscreen for switching VPNs and networks without the app, and fold-out antennas.
Pros
- • Dual-band Wi-Fi 7
- • Two 2.5 Gbps ports
- • Built-in touchscreen
Cons
- • Slower rated VPN throughput than Beryl 7 (490 Mbps WireGuard)
- • Bigger
Ubiquiti
UniFi Travel Router (UTR)
7.9$79
Tiny, 5 W, and the obvious pick if you already run UniFi at home and want Teleport back to it.
Pros
- • 89 g and USB-C powered (5 V/2 A)
- • WireGuard and UniFi Teleport VPN client
- • USB-C phone or modem tethering
Cons
- • Wi-Fi 5 and gigabit ports only
- • UniFi app required; no local web interface
GL.iNet
Beryl AX (GL-MT3000)
7.8~$70–$99
The budget classic: Wi-Fi 6, a 2.5G WAN, and WireGuard in a pocket-size box.
Pros
- • Wi-Fi 6
- • 2.5 Gbps WAN and 1 Gbps LAN
- • Low price
Cons
- • Rated WireGuard speed of 300 Mbps
GL.iNet
Mudi 7 (GL-E5800)
7.7~$420
A 5G hotspot and Wi-Fi 7 router with a battery, for places where there's no Wi-Fi to share.
Pros
- • 5G with two nano-SIM slots plus eSIM
- • Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 including 6 GHz
- • 5,380 mAh battery
Cons
- • Expensive
- • Needs a data plan
A travel router is a pocket-size router that connects to a hotel, Airbnb, or café network (or a phone, or an Ethernet jack) and creates your own private Wi-Fi network from it. Log in to the hotel portal once and every device you carry — laptop, phone, tablet, streaming stick — connects automatically, behind a firewall and optionally a VPN.
Specs and VPN throughput figures come from GL.iNet and Ubiquiti, compiled by ComputingForGeeks and Dong Knows Tech. VPN speeds are manufacturer maximums; real-world speeds on hotel Wi-Fi will be far lower and limited by the hotel connection.
Travel routers compared
| Router | Wi-Fi | Ports | Rated WireGuard speed | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL.iNet Beryl 7 (GL-MT3600BE) | Wi-Fi 7 dual-band | 2 x 2.5G, USB | 1,100 Mbps | USB-C PD | $129.99 |
| GL.iNet Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) | Wi-Fi 7 dual-band | 2 x 2.5G, touchscreen | 490 Mbps | USB-C | ~$120–$170 |
| UniFi Travel Router (UTR) | Wi-Fi 5 (AC1200) | 1G WAN, 1G LAN, USB-C tethering | Not published | USB-C 5 V/2 A, 5 W max | $79 |
| GL.iNet Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) | Wi-Fi 6 | 2.5G WAN, 1G LAN | 300 Mbps | USB-C | ~$70–$99 |
| GL.iNet Mudi 7 (GL-E5800) | Wi-Fi 7 tri-band + 5G | 1 x 2.5G, 2 nano-SIM + eSIM | 600 Mbps | 5,380 mAh battery | ~$420 |
Best for most travelers: GL.iNet Beryl 7
The Beryl 7 is a palm-size dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router with two 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, a USB port for tethering or storage, and USB-C Power Delivery input, so it runs from a laptop charger or power bank. GL.iNet rates its WireGuard VPN at up to 1,100 Mbps, the fastest of its pocket models, and it supports Tailscale. It lists at $129.99.
Best with a screen: GL.iNet Slate 7
The Slate 7 has the same Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5 Gbps ports plus a small touchscreen for switching networks, toggling the VPN, and checking status without opening an app. Its rated VPN speed is lower than the Beryl 7's, which doesn't matter on most hotel connections. It often sells for about $120 on sale.
Best for UniFi homes: UniFi Travel Router
Ubiquiti's UTR launched at $79 at the end of 2025. It weighs 89 g, draws 5 W from USB-C, and can use Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or a tethered phone as its internet source. Its standout feature is Teleport, which connects back to your home UniFi network in a tap. Dong Knows Tech scored it 8/10 but noted that Wi-Fi 5 and gigabit ports limit throughput, and it can only be managed from the UniFi app.
Best budget: GL.iNet Beryl AX
The Wi-Fi 6 Beryl AX remains a bargain at about $70 to $99, with a 2.5 Gbps WAN port and the same GL.iNet firmware. Its rated 300 Mbps WireGuard speed is still faster than most hotel connections.
Best with built-in cellular: GL.iNet Mudi 7
When there's no Wi-Fi to share, the Mudi 7 brings its own: a 5G modem with two nano-SIM slots and eSIM, tri-band Wi-Fi 7, a 2.5 Gbps port, and a 5,380 mAh battery. At about $420 plus a data plan, it is for remote workers and RV travelers rather than occasional hotel stays.
How to use a travel router at a hotel
- Power the router and connect your phone or laptop to its Wi-Fi.
- In the router's app or admin page, choose the hotel network as the internet source (repeater mode), or plug into the room's Ethernet jack if there is one.
- Open a browser to complete the hotel's login page; the router clones that session for every device.
- Turn on the VPN if you want all traffic encrypted past the hotel network.
- Set the router's Wi-Fi name and password to match your home network, and your devices will join it automatically everywhere you go.
Questions we get
Do travel routers really work?
Yes, for three problems in particular: hotels that limit how many devices can log in (the router logs in once and shares it), devices that can't handle hotel login pages (Chromecasts, Fire TV sticks, game consoles), and privacy on public Wi-Fi (the router runs a VPN for every device behind it). They don't make a slow hotel connection faster.
What is the best portable WiFi router for travel?
The GL.iNet Beryl 7 ($129.99) for most people: Wi-Fi 7, two 2.5 Gbps ports, and a fast built-in VPN client. If you need internet where there's no Wi-Fi, the GL.iNet Mudi 7 adds 5G and a battery. UniFi users should consider the $79 UniFi Travel Router.
Why do cruise lines ban travel routers?
Royal Caribbean added routers and other networking equipment to its prohibited items list in late 2024, alongside satellite dishes. Passengers were using them to share one paid ship Wi-Fi plan across many devices or to create their own networks. Check your cruise line's current list before packing one.
Can a travel router use a VPN?
Yes; that is one of their main jobs. GL.iNet routers support WireGuard, OpenVPN, and Tailscale (beta), and work with commercial VPN services or a VPN server at home. The UniFi Travel Router supports WireGuard and UniFi Teleport. Every device behind the router uses the VPN without its own app.
Are travel routers affected by the US router rules?
Models already FCC-authorized remain legal to sell and use. GL.iNet and Ubiquiti were not on the published list of Conditional Approval holders as of mid-October 2026, which matters for future models rather than the ones listed here.