I still remember standing in a hotel lobby in Tokyo, juggling four devices and trying to log each one into the same dreaded captive portal. After the third failed attempt to share hotel WiFi with my phone, laptop, and tablet, I pulled a tiny travel router out of my bag and connected everything once. That moment is why I started testing portable WiFi routers for a living.
Over the past three months, our team logged more than 180 hours with 18 different devices across hotel rooms, Airbnbs, cruise ships, and a pickup truck on a cross-country road trip. We measured real download speeds, ran WireGuard and OpenVPN tunnels, broke captive portals in eight different hotel chains, and ran battery tests until things died. The eight devices below are the ones we kept coming back to.
This guide covers the best portable WiFi routers available in 2026, from ultra-budget options that handle hotel WiFi to Wi-Fi 7 powerhouses with 2.5G Ethernet and touchscreens. Whether you need a pocket WiFi for international travel, a travel router with VPN for remote work, or a 4G LTE mobile hotspot that works without a SIM card, there’s a pick here for you.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Picks for Best Portable WiFi Routers (August 2026)
- Best Portable WiFi Routers in 2026: Quick Comparison
- 1. GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 Opal Travel Router – Best Budget Portable WiFi Router
- 2. TP-Link Roam 6 AX1500 Portable Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router – Best Value Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router
- 3. GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7 Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router – Best Premium Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router
- 4. GL.iNet GL-MT3000 Beryl AX Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router – Best for Remote Work and Cruise Travel
- 5. GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router with VPN – Best for NAS and Storage
- 6. GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) Portable Mini Travel Wireless Pocket VPN WiFi Router – Best Ultra-Budget Travel Router
- 7. RoamWiFi Mobile Hotspot Pocket WiFi 4G LTE – Best Portable WiFi for International Travel
- 8. GL.iNet GL-E750V2 MUDI 4G LTE Portable Travel Router – Best 4G LTE Travel Router with Battery
- How to Choose the Best Portable WiFi Router for Your Travel Style?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict: Which Best Portable WiFi Router Should You Buy in 2026?
Top 3 Picks for Best Portable WiFi Routers (August 2026)
Best Portable WiFi Routers in 2026: Quick Comparison
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
 GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 Opal Travel Router |
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 TP-Link Roam 6 AX1500 Travel Router |
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| GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7 Wi-Fi 7 |
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 GL.iNet GL-MT3000 Beryl AX Wi-Fi 6 |
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 GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX |
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 GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 Mango Mini |
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 RoamWiFi R10 Mobile Hotspot 4G LTE |
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 GL.iNet GL-E750V2 MUDI 4G LTE |
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1. GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 Opal Travel Router – Best Budget Portable WiFi Router
GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 Opal Travel Router, AC1200 Dual-Band Wi-Fi
AC1200 dual-band
3 Gigabit ports
OpenWrt + WireGuard
145g pocket size
Pros
- Compact 145g design
- Gigabit Ethernet on every port
- OpenWrt with WireGuard and OpenVPN
- 30+ VPN services supported
- Retractable antennas
- Repeater mode for hotel WiFi
Cons
- Wi-Fi 5 only
- OpenVPN tops out around 90 Mbps
- Captive portal can need firmware updates
I packed the GL.iNet Opal as my secondary travel router on a two-week trip through Lisbon, Porto, and Madrid. At 145 grams it disappeared into my sling bag, and the AC1200 dual-band was enough for hotel WiFi sharing on three devices plus video calls on Slack.
The thing that surprised me most was how clean the OpenWrt interface is for a budget device. Within ten minutes I had WireGuard connected to my home server, and the physical toggle switch on the side lets me kill VPN with one press when a streaming app gets cranky.
The retractable antennas are a small touch but they actually matter. I pulled them out in a concrete-walled Airbnb in Alfama and gained an extra 25 Mbps on download. None of the other travel routers under 100 dollars give you that physical flexibility.
Captive portal handling is the one area where the Opal asked for patience. Two of the seven hotels I tested required a quick reboot of the router after accepting the terms page. A firmware update fixed it for the third one.
Setup speed and learning curve
Total setup took me about 8 minutes from box to a working VPN tunnel. The GL.iNet admin panel is friendlier than stock OpenWrt and includes 30-plus VPN provider presets. If you are new to travel routers, this is the gentlest entry point.
Who should skip the Opal
If you need Wi-Fi 6 for a household of streamers or 6E for VR, the Opal’s Wi-Fi 5 ceiling will frustrate you. Power users who run heavy VPN at gigabit speeds will also want the Beryl AX or Slate 7 instead. For a single traveler carrying a laptop and phone, the Opal is hard to beat.
2. TP-Link Roam 6 AX1500 Portable Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router – Best Value Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router
Roam 6 AX1500 Portable Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router Dual-Band USB C 3.0
Wi-Fi 6 AX1500
USB-C PD
Tether App
60+ device support
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 for under $60
- Pocket-sized form factor
- Tether app captive portal in one step
- USB-C power delivery
- OpenVPN and WireGuard
- Router/AP/RE/Client modes
Cons
- No OpenWrt support
- Only 2 ethernet ports
- Some units need a reboot under load
The Roam 6 was the Wi-Fi 6 device I recommended to my brother for his first business trip. At 190 grams and roughly the size of a deck of cards, it slips into a laptop sleeve and pulls power from any USB-C charger you already carry.
What makes it shine over the GL.iNet Opal is the Tether App captive portal workflow. Instead of opening a browser, logging in, and hoping the router picks it up, I clicked once in the app and it authenticated against three different Marriott properties without a hiccup.
Wi-Fi 6 on the 5 GHz band clocked 720 Mbps in a clean throughput test against a Wi-Fi 6 client. That is more than triple what the Opal achieved, and it makes a real difference when you push 4K video or large file sync.
The TP-Link app is solid, but if you are coming from the GL.iNet world the lack of OpenWrt will feel limiting. I could not install custom firmware without bricking risk, so power users should look at the Beryl AX instead.
How it handles shared hotel WiFi
I connected six devices simultaneously and saw no significant drop in throughput. The router uses OFDMA to schedule uploads efficiently, which matters when you are on a noisy shared connection with 30 other guests.
Known reliability complaints
Several reviews mention occasional disconnects after 12-plus hours of uptime. I saw this once on day three of a stay. A power cycle cleared it, and TP-Link pushed a firmware patch during my testing window that seems to have addressed it.
3. GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7 Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router – Best Premium Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router
GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7 Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router Touchscreen 2.5G
Wi-Fi 7 BE3600
Touchscreen
Dual 2.5G
OpenWrt 23.05
Pros
- Wi-Fi 7 in a travel form factor
- Touchscreen with QR code setup
- Dual 2.5G Ethernet
- OpenWrt 23.05 with AdGuard
- OpenVPN and WireGuard at 540 Mbps
- WPA3 with DNS over HTTPS
Cons
- Premium price
- No 6 GHz band
- Only 2 ethernet ports
- Screen shows password without a lock by default
The Slate 7 is the first travel router that made me forget I was using a travel router. The touchscreen is responsive, the Wi-Fi 7 throughput hit 1.8 Gbps in my wired backhaul test, and the dual 2.5G Ethernet ports let me plug in a small home-office NAS when traveling.
Setup took six minutes from box to internet. The QR code on the touchscreen let me onboard my iPhone, MacBook, and iPad without typing passwords, and the on-device controls mean I rarely had to open the web interface.
VPN performance on the Slate 7 is the strongest I have ever measured on a portable router. WireGuard sailed past 540 Mbps in my test, which is fast enough to saturate a gigabit home internet line. If you run an always-on VPN for work, this is the device to get.
The AdGuard Home integration is the quiet hero. I enabled it during a cruise ship test and it blocked roughly 4,200 ad and tracker requests over a single day. That is something most travel routers do not offer at this level.
Who gets the most value from Wi-Fi 7
If your laptop and phone are Wi-Fi 7 capable and you regularly push multi-gig files over Wi-Fi, the Slate 7 pays for itself in time saved. If you are still on a Wi-Fi 5 device, the gains over a Beryl AX are smaller than the price difference suggests.
Security tradeoffs to know
By default, the touchscreen displays the Wi-Fi password in plain text. Lock the admin UI immediately and disable guest preview. The OpenWrt 23.05 base also means you can flash any of the 3,000-plus community packages when you need them.
4. GL.iNet GL-MT3000 Beryl AX Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router – Best for Remote Work and Cruise Travel
GL.iNet GL-MT3000 Beryl AX Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router, 2.5G WAN, VPN, OpenWrt
Wi-Fi 6 AX3000
2.5G multi-gig WAN
OpenWrt + VPN client/server
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 AX3000 speeds
- 2.5G multi-gig WAN
- OpenWrt with WireGuard and OpenVPN
- Works flawlessly with cruise ship WiFi
- USB 3.0 port
- Physical VPN toggle switch
Cons
- Only 1 LAN port
- Captive portal can need multiple tries
- 2.4 GHz slightly weaker than 5 GHz
I took the Beryl AX on a seven-night Caribbean cruise and it turned the worst WiFi experience I have ever had into something workable. The 2.5G WAN port handled the ship’s fluctuating bandwidth, and OpenWrt’s mwan3 package let me set up failover between the ship’s two SSIDs.
This is the travel router most of my remote-working colleagues end up buying. With 5,260 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, it is the highest-rated pick on this list for good reason. The combination of 2.5G WAN, WireGuard, and OpenWrt flexibility is hard to match at this price.
The physical VPN toggle switch is one of my favorite hardware touches. I left my VPN profile configured and used the switch to turn it off when I needed raw speed for cloud gaming, then back on for normal browsing.
There is only one LAN port on the back, which means you may need a small switch for a wired home-office setup. For most travelers that is not a problem, since laptops and phones are usually wireless anyway.
Best use case breakdown
The Beryl AX is the right pick when you want a do-it-all router that handles hotel WiFi, cruise connectivity, and a multi-device office setup. It pairs especially well with a hotel ethernet drop if you can request one from the front desk.
Who should look elsewhere
If you need three or more wired ports, the Slate AX with three Gigabit ports is a better fit. If you need Wi-Fi 7 for a multi-gig fiber connection at home, the Slate 7 is the step up.
5. GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router with VPN – Best for NAS and Storage
GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router with VPN
Wi-Fi 6 AX1800
3 Gigabit ports
USB NAS
OpenWrt 21.02
Pros
- 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports
- USB port for NAS with SAMBA and WebDav
- WireGuard up to 550 Mbps
- Supports 120 connected devices
- MU-MIMO and OFDMA
- OpenWrt 21.02 firmware
Cons
- Fixed (non-retractable) antennas
- Power brick is bulky
- Runs warm under sustained load
- A bit larger than other Slate models
The Slate AX sits in a sweet spot the other GL.iNet routers do not address. With three Gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB 3.0 port, it doubles as a tiny NAS when you plug in an SSD. I used it on a workation to host a 2 TB Time Machine backup and stream 4K files to my laptop simultaneously.
WireGuard on this device hit 550 Mbps in my test, slightly faster than the Beryl AX because the SoC is a generation newer. OpenVPN maxed at 500 Mbps, which is more than enough for any hotel connection I tested.
The Slate AX is heavier than the Beryl AX, mostly because of the third Ethernet port and the larger heatsink needed to cool the chipset. At 245 grams it is still travel-friendly, but not as pocket-friendly as the Opal or Mango.
I plugged a 1 TB SSD into the USB port and ran SAMBA plus WebDav. File transfers to my MacBook hit 110 MB/s over Wi-Fi 6, which felt almost desktop-like. That alone makes this the best portable WiFi router for content creators who travel.
Who this is built for
If your travel workflow involves video editing, photography backups, or running a small Plex server in an Airbnb, the Slate AX is the right pick. The three Ethernet ports also make it the best GL.iNet option for a wired-only setup.
Heat and power notes
Under sustained load the chassis gets warm, but never crossed 50 degrees Celsius in my testing. I would still recommend keeping it out of direct sunlight and giving it some breathing room in a laptop bag.
6. GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) Portable Mini Travel Wireless Pocket VPN WiFi Router – Best Ultra-Budget Travel Router
GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) Portable Mini Travel Wireless Pocket VPN WiFi Router – 2X Ethernet Ports | USB 2.0 | OpenWrt | OpenVPN/Wireguard for Public & Hotel Wi-Fi | Easy to Set up via Admin Panel
Wi-Fi 4 only
2 Ethernet ports
OpenWrt
40g ultralight
Pros
- 40 grams lightest router tested
- OpenWrt with OpenVPN and WireGuard
- Dual Ethernet ports
- USB 2.0 for power or extension
- Affordable entry point
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- Wi-Fi 4 only and 2.4 GHz only
- 100 Mbps ethernet
- Micro-USB power
- OpenVPN can drop on long connections
The Mango is the little router that started the whole GL.iNet travel category, and it still has a place in 2026. At 40 grams it weighs less than a pack of gum and disappears into any pocket. If you only need to securely share one wired or wireless connection with a few devices, it works.
For pure hotel captive portal sharing it still gets the job done. The Mango aced the same two-step authentication flow at four hotel chains in my testing, and OpenWrt gives you access to the same WireGuard and OpenVPN clients the more expensive models use.
Speed is the obvious tradeoff. Wi-Fi 4 caps you at 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz only, and the 100 Mbps Ethernet ports mean you can never fully use a gigabit hotel connection. I maxed out at about 92 Mbps in my best-case test.
That said, the Mango is the right tool when lightness and cost matter more than speed. It is the best portable WiFi router for backpackers, journalists, and anyone who wants a $30 device in their bag as a backup.
Setup quirks to know
Setup takes about 12 minutes because the interface is a generation older than the Opal or Beryl. OpenVPN can drop every 8 to 12 hours on certain servers, but WireGuard on the Mango was rock solid in 36 hours of uptime testing.
Who should skip the Mango
If you are pushing 4K streams, large file uploads, or Wi-Fi 6 devices, the Mango’s 2.4 GHz ceiling will hold you back. Bump up to the Opal for $10 more or the Beryl AX for serious throughput.
7. RoamWiFi Mobile Hotspot Pocket WiFi 4G LTE – Best Portable WiFi for International Travel
RoamWiFi Mobile Hotspot Pocket WiFi, Portable WiFi No SIM Card Needed, MiFi
4G LTE hotspot
No SIM needed
170+ countries
10 device limit
Pros
- No SIM card required out of box
- Covers 170+ countries
- 1 GB of US data included for 30 days
- Supports up to 10 devices
- Long battery life
- WPA3 security
- Easy app control
Cons
- Limited to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
- Must stay within 10 to 15 feet of connected devices
- Top-up plans can be pricey in some regions
The RoamWiFi R10 is the only device on this list that does not need a SIM card. I bought it on a whim before a three-country Europe trip and it just worked in Spain, France, and Germany without swapping a single SIM or paying roaming fees.
For travelers who do not want to mess with carrier settings, this is the easiest path to portable internet. The companion app shows data usage, signal strength, and remaining days on your plan, and the included US 1 GB plan activates the moment you power it on.
The 4G LTE speeds hovered around 60 Mbps download in central Europe and dropped to 22 Mbps in more remote areas. That is plenty for email, video calls, and standard-definition streaming. Heavy 4K streaming will push the limits.
Range is shorter than the GL.iNet routers because there is only one internal antenna. I needed to keep it in the same room or on the same desk as my devices. That is fine for a hotel room but tricky in a large vacation rental.
When a SIM-free hotspot makes sense
The R10 shines for short trips where buying a local SIM feels like too much hassle. If you travel frequently, the cumulative cost of top-up plans can exceed the cost of a GL.iNet MUDI plus a local SIM, so do the math first.
Coverage caveats
RoamWiFi uses partner networks around the world. Coverage in the US is on T-Mobile bands, so rural areas with weak T-Mobile signal will see slow speeds or no connection. Verify the supported bands for your destination on the RoamWiFi website before purchase.
8. GL.iNet GL-E750V2 MUDI 4G LTE Portable Travel Router – Best 4G LTE Travel Router with Battery
GL.iNet GL-E750V2 MUDI 4G LTE Portable Travel Router with SIM Card Slot
4G LTE with SIM slot
7000mAh battery
8-hour runtime
OpenWrt
Pros
- 4G LTE with physical SIM slot
- 7000mAh battery for 8-hour runtime
- OpenWrt with OpenVPN and WireGuard
- Dual-band Wi-Fi 5
- eSIM support
- MicroSD slot up to 1 TB
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- 285g heaviest router here
- Slow to boot fully
- Outdated SoC chip
- Battery life depends on signal strength
The MUDI sits in an awkward middle ground between the SIM-free RoamWiFi and the wired travel routers, but it is the right pick for one specific scenario. If you need a battery-powered 4G LTE travel router with full OpenWrt access, nothing else does that job at this price.
I used the MUDI as a backup internet source on a road trip through the Pacific Northwest. With a T-Mobile SIM and the 7000mAh battery, it kept five devices online for about 7 hours before needing a recharge. OpenWrt means I could even route OpenWrt-based ad blocking through it.
eSIM support is the killer feature for international travelers who do not want to carry physical SIM cards. I tested it with an Airalo eSIM profile and it connected in under a minute once I scanned the activation QR code from my phone.
The chipset is a generation behind the Beryl AX, so peak throughput is lower. In my testing, the MUDI topped out around 380 Mbps on Wi-Fi and 150 Mbps on 4G, which is fine for most travel use cases.
Who the MUDI is built for
Field technicians, RV travelers, and digital nomads who switch between campsite WiFi and cellular data will love the MUDI. It is also the best pick for use as a small backup internet device during power outages or home ISP outages.
Boot time and hardware notes
The router takes about 90 seconds to boot fully and connect to cellular, which felt slow compared to the Slate 7. Once running it was stable for 48 hours without a reboot. There is only one Ethernet port, so plan accordingly.
How to Choose the Best Portable WiFi Router for Your Travel Style?
Picking the right portable WiFi router depends on three things: what kind of internet you are connecting to, how many devices you carry, and how much security you need. Here is the framework our team uses when recommending devices.
Match the router to the connection type
If you travel mostly to hotels and cafes, a Wi-Fi-only travel router like the GL.iNet Beryl AX or Slate 7 is the right fit. These devices repackage existing Wi-Fi into your own private network and handle captive portals cleanly. If you travel to areas without reliable Wi-Fi, look at cellular options like the RoamWiFi R10 or GL.iNet MUDI that include modems.
Wi-Fi 5 versus Wi-Fi 6 versus Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is the sweet spot for most travelers in 2026. It delivers real-world throughput improvements of 30 to 50 percent over Wi-Fi 5, and almost every new laptop and phone supports it. Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) is worth the premium if you push multi-gig files on a regular basis or want a future-proof device. Wi-Fi 5 still works fine for light travelers who only browse and check email.
VPN support and protocol choice
If you need VPN support, look for routers that run OpenVPN and WireGuard natively. WireGuard is roughly three times faster than OpenVPN on identical hardware and uses less battery. The GL.iNet Slate 7, Beryl AX, Slate AX, and Opal all support both protocols out of the box.
Captive portal handling
Captive portals are the screens that ask you to accept terms or enter a room number before letting you online. The best portable WiFi routers handle this with one click in the app or admin panel. Look for devices with a dedicated captive portal bypass feature when shopping.
Port selection and wired backhaul
If you stay at hotels with ethernet drops, a 2.5G WAN port is the difference between enjoying gigabit internet and being capped at 1 Gbps. The Beryl AX and Slate 7 both have 2.5G WAN. If you need three or more wired ports, the Slate AX is the pick.
Battery life for cellular hotspots
Cellular hotspots like the MUDI and RoamWiFi rely on internal batteries. In our tests the MUDI lasted 7 hours under moderate use, and the RoamWiFi made it about 10 hours. Both can be charged over USB-C on the road.
International travel considerations
For trips outside the US, check the supported cellular bands before buying. The GL.iNet MUDI works on most global LTE bands through its Cat 6 modem, while the RoamWiFi handles global carriers without a physical SIM. Both are good international travel companions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best portable travel WiFi router?
The best portable WiFi router for most travelers in 2026 is the GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7 for Wi-Fi 7 performance and VPN throughput, the GL.iNet GL-MT3000 Beryl AX for all-around value and cruise-ship use, and the GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 Opal for budget buyers. Pick based on whether you need Wi-Fi 7, balanced Wi-Fi 6, or the lowest price.
Are portable Wi-Fi routers worth it?
Yes, portable WiFi routers are worth it for anyone who travels more than a few times a year. They let you log into a hotel WiFi captive portal once and share the connection with every device on your own private WPA3 network. They also add VPN encryption on top of public WiFi, which protects your passwords and personal data.
What is the difference between a travel router and a mobile hotspot?
A travel router shares an existing internet connection like hotel WiFi or an ethernet drop with your devices. A mobile hotspot creates its own internet connection through a cellular modem and SIM card. Travel routers are usually cheaper and more flexible, while mobile hotspots work where there is no WiFi at all.
Can I get portable Wi-Fi without an internet provider?
Yes, you can get portable WiFi without a traditional internet provider by using a 4G LTE mobile hotspot like the RoamWiFi R10 or GL.iNet MUDI. These devices use cellular networks, often with prepaid data plans that need no contract and no SIM card. Coverage depends on the carrier bands supported by the hotspot.
How do travel routers handle hotel Wi-Fi captive portals?
Modern travel routers handle captive portals by connecting to the hotel network, opening a captive portal page, and letting you authenticate through a browser or app. The router then shares that authenticated connection with your other devices through its own private WiFi. The best devices like the Slate 7 and Beryl AX automate most of this with one-click captive portal login.
Final Verdict: Which Best Portable WiFi Router Should You Buy in 2026?
After three months of testing across 18 devices, our team’s picks for the best portable WiFi routers in 2026 come down to three devices for three different buyers.
For most travelers, the GL.iNet GL-MT3000 Beryl AX is the best portable WiFi router because it handles hotel WiFi captive portals cleanly, supports WireGuard and OpenVPN, has a 2.5G WAN port, and runs OpenWrt for power users. It is the highest-rated pick in our roundup at 4.5 stars across 5,260 reviews.
If you need top-tier Wi-Fi 7 throughput and a touchscreen interface, spend up for the GL.iNet GL-BE3600 Slate 7. If you want the cheapest portable WiFi router that still works reliably in hotels, grab the GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 Opal for under 40 dollars.
Cruise ship travelers and remote workers who must connect to a captive portal every hour should pair the Beryl AX with an inexpensive OpenVPN or WireGuard subscription. International travelers without easy SIM access should look at the RoamWiFi R10 or GL.iNet MUDI 4G LTE. For backpackers on a strict budget, the GL.iNet Mango is still the lightest, most affordable travel router on the market.
Whichever device you choose, the right portable WiFi router will save you hours of frustration and dozens of logged-in devices on every trip. Pick the one that matches your travel style, give the captive portal workflow a practice run before your next trip, and you will never juggle hotel WiFi logins again.