Now Stay Connected On the Go without Losing Connectivity While Traveling: The Absolutely Best Portable WiFi Routers of 2021

While most of the portable wifi routers are small in size, lightweight, and compact but not all are made equal. Every pocket router could be different from the other in terms of shape, design, and size. And, some might fit your pocket easily while others would make it difficult for you to sit, stand, or move with a router in the pocket. Thus, you should consider this factor carefully. Do read the description and, if possible, try to get practical hands-on experience.

Some routers need you to plug them into a USB port to start using WiFi internet. On the contrary, others might work independently though all are compatible with WiFi-enabled devices. In addition to this, you should also check the compatibility of the device with the SIM you are going to use. There are some network-specific routers that only allow you to use the internet from a particular network. And, there are their unlocked variants as well as others that are from non-network companies. It is always advised to go for an unlocked portable wifi router with sim slot as you never know when and where you might need to switch to a different service provider.

There’s a wide variation in terms of the cost of a portable wifi router. You can go for a cheaper variant if you are only looking forward to staying online while traveling. However, in case you need high-speed connectivity and finish important tasks without losing connectivity (say, on a business tour), you should consider paying a bit higher for a feature-rich, battery-powered, 4G+ router. Another factor that helps decide the right cost variant is the number of devices you are willing to connect. A cheaper one would be good to go for a solo traveller while a higher price range is recommended if the router is to be used by a group.

Speed is an obvious thing you need to check while buying a router. With many options available in the market, you can shortlist a desired set of products on this factor. You will get multiple speed variants, comprising of 3G, 4G, and 4G+ models with 4G+ being the fastest among the three. However, you won’t get a 4G+ speed if you are using a 3G internet pack on your SIM. Another factor that comes in handy is the functionality offered. While internet connectivity is the basic one, you can also get others, such as calling, messaging, and data storage functionalities.

The 3-in-one router allows you access to 3 different modes. You can use this one as a client router with a WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider), a 3G/4G router, or a travel router. However, you need to power it through an adapter as it lacks an inbuilt battery. However, the portable design makes it an ideal choice for swift browsing, uploading, and downloading over a high-speed connection within a closed area that could be a hotel room, a café, a restaurant, or home.

In addition to a portable design, features like WPS setup and bandwidth control let you get started with a secure connection in no time. A user guide is also provided in case you face any difficulty setting up and using this portable wifi router 4g. You can get this router from Amazon for Rs. 1,399 to stay connected in and out.

With an inbuilt ADSL2+ modem, this one from the famous D-Link brand offers maximum upload and download speeds of 5.76 and 21.6 Mbps, respectively. The portable wifi router with sim slot supports a range of GSM networks from EDGE/GPRS to UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA. In addition to the basic functionality of wireless internet, it also features an automatic installation of driver/software, a MicroSD card slot for additional storage, and PC manager and Phonebook applications for SMS.

The dongle measures 10*4*12 cm and is only 40.8 g in weight. Simply plug in this router to the USB port of your laptop/computer as it is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP, Mac OS v10.5, and Ubuntu 10.04 and their later versions. However, it doesn’t come with an inbuilt battery. Get this dongle from Amazon at Rs. 809 to work on your laptop/computer over high-speed internet.

With a whopping 150 Mbps download speed and around 50 Mbps upload speed, the portable Wifi data device from Jio is a modern gadget for travellers who need internet on-the-go. Termed as one amongst the best 4G routers, this device offers access to high-speed 4G data wirelessly on any device.

The 2300 mAh battery offers around 6 hours of decent surfing with the device that measures 10 x 3.5 x 1.2 cm and weighs 50 g. While you can connect up to 9 devices with this portable router, it is also suitable for all types of SIM. You can buy this device from the official Amazon for Rs. 2,349.

Featuring HSPA+, the data card allows wireless connectivity of up to 21 Mbps with uploading speed capped at 5.76 Mbps over the 2100 MHz UMTS/HSDPA band. However, the device also provides access to GPRS data at a rate of 85.6 kbps. The device carries an LED indicator to let you know the status of the connection. A shooting color indicates search mode, a slow flashing red light means SIM/network irregularity, and a continuously luminous LED indicates a stable connection.

Measuring 3.5 x 1.5 x 10 cm and weighing 50 g, the dongle can be easily carried in the pocket of your suit, trouser, or the laptop bag. And, it works safely within a temperature range of -10 to 55-degrees. The pocket wifi router is available on Amazon for Rs. 2,717.

The R217 Supernet 4G is a member of Vodafone’s data services family, manufactured by the brand Alcatel. Though the original dongle is available as a locked variant from the telecom company, this unlocked version allows you to use any SIM card for seamless internet connectivity. While the device supports almost every GSM network across the world, after unlocking, it will enable 15 users/wireless devices to connect to it.

With a strong inbuilt battery, you can enjoy high-speed internet for around 7 hours. It also features a dedicated slot for the MicroSD card that allows you to get an additional storage capacity of up to 32 GB. The unlocked portable wifi router 4g is available on Amazon for Rs.3,299.

This product from reliance is something you need if you are looking to share an internet connection wirelessly to around 16 people. The Huawei E5576 works with only 4G SIM cards and doesn’t support 2G and 3G networks. With this, the Wifi hotspot router is capable of providing access to internet speed of up to 150 Mbps. And, the unlocked status allows you to use any GSM-network SIM card with this device.

The oval-shaped device easily fits into a pocket, making it easy to be carried around. On top of it, the simple UI makes it easier to navigate through the system and set up the desired hotspot. Powered by an 1500 mAh battery, the device supports 900/1800/2100 Mhz UMTS bands and is available in white colour on Amazon for Rs. 4,999.

One of the very first devices that came to India, Airtel 4G Hotspot comes with an aesthetic appeal alongside high-speed internet connection. Offering a maximum download speed of up to 150 Mbps and upload speed of 50 Mbps combined with the strong Airtel network, the device is a strong contender on the best travel router 2020 list. Though the locked device doesn’t allow you to use a SIM card from any other network.

The pocket-friendly device allows you to connect up to 10 Wifi-enabled devices at once and provides a decent backup with 1500 mAh battery. You can get this dongle for uninterrupted travel connectivity for Rs. 2,899 from Flipkart.

The plug and play wireless dongle is unlocked and allows you to use a SIM card of any network for seamless internet connectivity. Also, the portable Wifi router comes with a driver that installs automatically. The data card offers a maximum download speed of 14.4 Mbps and an upload speed of 5.76 Mbps over the HSPA network. And, you can connect up to 10 Wifi-enabled devices to the wireless network.

The device comes with a dedicated mobile app ‘Hi-Link’ that lets you manage settings of the device and the wireless signal alongside tracking data usage, battery life, and sending SMS. The Power-Fi data card from the reputed manufacturer Huawei is available on Flipkart for Rs. 3,900.

Last but not least, the jio fi JDR740 Data Card is an affordable solution to your needs of internet connectivity on-the-move. In addition to offering maximum download/upload speeds of 20 Mbps and 8 Mbps, the data card features a contact manager and SMS sending feature that can be accessed over a USB interface. Using 3.75G HSUPA technology, the dongle allows fast data transfer, comes with a 4GB internal storage, and is compatible with both Windows and Mac-based devices. The easily-configurable data card is available on Flipkart for Rs. 2,979.

Thus, with this list of top pocket routers, you can easily find the best portable wifi router suitable for your needs and purpose. However, there are a few dongles that serve other purposes than just offering high-speed internet connectivity. You can get various add-on functions such as calling, SMS, and MicroSD card for additional data storage among the most commonly available ones. And, you might also find a few with inbuilt power banks to keep your smartphone running up for long.