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Journey Routers

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TravlFi™ JourneyXTR Wi-Fi Router

Purchase options and add-ons, about this item.

Security - Stay connected while avoiding public Wi-Fi connections with your own personal, private network.

• Coverage - With coverage virtually anywhere in the U.S., you don’t have to sacrifice destination for network reliability.
• Large Data Plans - No SIM needed! Choose from a wide variety of data plans from as little as 2 GB, all the way to unlimited using e-SIM technology.

Commitment Free - No contract, prepaid data plans. Prepay for a month at a time based on your usage and travel schedule.

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Product Description

Introducing the first 4G/LTE router & wi-fi extender to combine E-SIM technology, huge data plans, and pay-as-you-go internet service tailored to the RV consumer's needs.

The TravlFi JourneyXTR provides 4G/LTE internet service anywhere there is a cellular signal. Patented technology gives the hotspot the ability to find the strongest local cellular signal regardless of the network. Without a physical SIM card, the JourneyXTR will prioritize the best available cellular network, find service, and optimize. When the user moves locations, the hotspot finds new service and optimizes their connection again.

Signing up for a data plan is easy! TravlFi data plans are flexible and are designed for a variety of users, from a casual surfer only needing 2GB, to a serious streamer or remote worker who might appreciate the Unlimited Plan*. All plans are pre-paid and billed monthly.

Coverage - With coverage virtually anywhere in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, you don’t have to sacrifice your destination for network reliability.

Large Data Plans - Choose from a wide variety of data plans from as little as 2GB, all the way to the Unlimited Plan* using E-SIM technology. Already have a SIM? The JourneyXTR provides the flexibility to use your own.

* TravlFi Unlimited plan customers using >800GB/mo. may have speeds reduced to 5 mbps

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Product information, warranty & support, customer reviews.

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the ease of setup of the networking router. They mention the basic functions are essentially plug and play, and the product is easy to understand. They appreciate the good internet connection, and good data package rates. Opinions are mixed on performance.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the networking router easy to setup, configure, and activate. They say the basic functions are essentially plug and play. Customers also mention that the Wi-Fi extending function is easy to understand.

"Easy to setup, configure , and activate...." Read more

"...It’s not problematic by any means, as the basic functions are essentially plug and play , and the Wi-Fi extending function has its own manual on the..." Read more

"...The good - fairly easy to set up ...." Read more

" Easy to use . Just follow the instructions and you will be online in minutes" Read more

Customers are satisfied with the internet connection of the router. They mention that it provides a good, strong connection that is fast enough for their kids to online game on. They also appreciate the cellular router's ability to connect to one of three carriers and find the best one.

"...To my surprise, it absolutely did not miss a beat. We had perfect internet , plenty fast enough for the kids to online game on their Switches or iPads..." Read more

"...This worked very well. It connects to one of three carries and finds the best one. No problems on speed and the connection." Read more

"... WiFi coverage in the RV is actually better . We're running with no extender just fine...." Read more

"...I connect using ethernet. I get a strong connection that allows me to use teams as well as normal upload/download activity." Read more

Customers like the data package rates of the networking router. They say it has good data package rate, is fast enough for kids to online game on, and has no problems on speed and connection.

"...We had perfect internet, plenty fast enough for the kids to online game on their Switches or iPads...." Read more

"... No problems on speed and the connection ." Read more

"...from switching to shore power caused the Journey to reboot...and no connection ! Powered off for 30 minutes, rebooted, and had connection...." Read more

"We love our new TravlFi router. Great product with good data package rates that allows numerous users.Worth the cost...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the performance of the router. Some mention that it works very well, works great for LTE, park Wi-Fi, and even hotels, and has very little if any issues. However, others say that it only works during slow times, performs poorly on one carrier, and does not work with most WiFi networks.

"The product was exactly as I expected and it is working very well . I was surprised to find an older type of connector which I needed to buy adapters" Read more

"Went on a road trip, needed to work from the trailer. This worked very well . It connects to one of three carries and finds the best one...." Read more

"...The device works great for LTE , park Wi-Fi and even hotels." Read more

"...Worth the cost. Very little if any issues ." Read more

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Best Wi-Fi routers for 2024

These are the best Wi-Fi routers for performance, range and overall value

• Best overall
• Best on a budget
• Best for gamers
• Best mesh system

Best budget mesh system

Best for large homes, best long-range router, best wi-fi 6e, best wi-fi 7, router specs, testing results, when to update your router.

• How to choose
• How we test

The list in brief 1. Best overall 2. Best budget 3. Best for gamers 4. Best mesh system 5. Best budget mesh system 6. Best for large homes 7. Best long-range 8. Best Wi-Fi 6e 9 . Best Wi-Fi 7 Router specs Testing results How to choose How we test

If you’re fed up with that old router from your ISP or just want more control over your home network while taking full advantage of the internet speeds you pay for each month, these are the best Wi-Fi routers you can get today. 

In order to determine which Wi-Fi routers are truly the best, we put them through extensive real-world testing, though we use networking benchmark software like IxChariot and iPerf3 too. We also test each of the Wi-Fi routers we review at 15, 50, 75 and 100 feet to measure their range and throughput. Additionally, we see how well each Wi-Fi router performs when it comes to pushing data through walls and ceilings. The Wi-Fi 6-powered Asus RT-AX86U is currently our top pick for most people while the Reyee RG-E5 at just over $100 is great choice for those on a tight budget.

To make your upgrade easier, we’ve rounded up all kinds of different routers to fit your needs. Whether you want a cutting edge router with Wi-Fi 7 or a more modest yet still significant upgrade with a Wi-Fi 6E router, there’s something here for every budget and use case. Likewise, besides traditional Wi-Fi routers, we’ve also showcased several of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems which give you whole-home Wi-Fi without the need for a Wi-Fi extender .

The quick list

We've reviewed more than 80 routers, evaluating them using a number of benchmarks as well as real-world tests to bring you what we think are the best Wi-Fi routers available today. Whether you're looking for an inexpensive and compact router or a larger one with plenty of Ethernet ports, there's something here for every budget and home.

Best overall The Asus RT-AX86U is a Wi-Fi 6 router that's reasonably priced and highly customizable. At the back you'll find a gigabit as well as a 2.5 Gbps WAN port, four gigabit Ethernet ports and two USB 3.0 ports. The RT-AX86U has a range of 95-feet and it delivered 929 Mbps at 15 feet in our tests.

Read more below

Best budget Wi-Fi router

The Reyee RG-E5 is an inexpensive Wi-Fi 6 router that's really compact. It has a gigabit WAN port along with four gigabit LAN ports and a button on top that lets you create a mesh network with other Reyee devices. The RG-E5 has a 100 foot range and it delivered 849 Mbps at 15 feet in our tests.

Best for gamers The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is a Wi-Fi 6 gaming router with customizable RGB lighting. At the back there's a gigabit WAN port, a 2.5 Gbps LAN port, four gigabit LAN ports and two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports. The GT-AX11000 has a range of 95 feet and delivered 731 Mbps of data at 50 feet in our tests.

Best mesh system The Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E is a Wi-Fi 6E mesh router system with excellent performance. The main unit has a 10 Gbps WAN port, three gigabit LAN ports and a 2.5 Gbps LAN port. The Orbi RBKE963 has a range of 95 feet and it delivered gigabit speeds at 15 feet in our tests.

Best budget mesh system The TP-Link Deco X20 is a Wi-Fi 6 mesh router system that's relatively small and easy to set up. At the back of each unit there are two gigabit Ethernet ports but not a USB port. The TP-Link Deco X20 has a range of 95 feet and it delivered speeds of 622 Mbps at 15 feet in our testing.

The eero Max 7 is a Wi-Fi 7 mesh router system with a brand new design that's east to set up. There are two 2.5 Gbps as well as two 10 Gbps Ethernet ports at the back and a USB-C port for power. The eero Max 7 has a range of 95 feet and delivered 1.78 Gbps at 15 feet in our tests.

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Best long-range router The Netgear Orbi RBK863SB is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh router with extended range. At the back of the router there's a 10 Gbps WAN port as well as four gigabit Ethernet ports. The Netgear Orbi RBK863SB  has a range of 105 feet and delivered speeds of 806 Mbps at 15 feet in our testing.

Best Wi-Fi 6e router 

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 is a tri-band Wi-Fi router with Wi-Fi 6E support. It has a 2.5 Gbps WAN port for multi-gig internet along with four gigabit LAN ports and two USB 3.0 ports. The RAXE500 has a range of 105 feet and delivered 2.39 Gbps speeds at 15 feet in our tests.

Best Wi-Fi 7 router

The TP-Link Archer BE800 is a Wi-Fi 7 router with a unique form factor and 2.4-inch, big dot display. There are two 10 Gbps WAN ports, four 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports and a USB 3.0 port at the back. The TP-Link Archer BE800 has a range of 115 feet and delivered speeds of 1.82 Gbps at 15 feet in our testing.

The best Wi-Fi routers you can buy today

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Best Wi-Fi router overall

1. Asus RT-AX86U

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Asus RT-AX86U is a powerful Wi-Fi 6 router that's able to deliver impressive speeds. However, it also ships with useful gaming features and loads of customization options. With high-end performance and lifetime protection against hackers and malware, it can also secure your entire home network and does so over the long term without yet another subscription fee. It even comes with a two-year warranty.

But the real draw of the Asus RT-AX86U is the performance, which in our testing delivered 929.7 Mbps at 15 feet to provide speedy and effortless connectivity for all of our devices. With excellent range and great performance — even through walls and between floors — the RT-AX86U is equal parts general-use router and gaming router. Also, the collection of features and ports it offers are a steal compared to some of the top-performing gaming gear. If you want a great Wi-Fi 6 router for the whole household, the Asus RT-AX86U is it.

Read our full Asus RT-AX86U review . 

2. Reyee RG-E5

The Reyee RG-E5 is a real bargain for a Wi-Fi 6 router that can cover 3,000 square feet. It can also become the center of a mesh network when paired with other Reyee gear and there's even a one-touch button to simplify the setup process. However, the Reyee RG-E5's budget price means this router lacks things like extra security software, port aggregation and a USB port for connecting storage devices to your network.

At its rear the Reyee RG-E5 has four gigabit Ethernet ports while the eight flipper antennas at the top of the device can be adjusted for a better signal. In our testing, the router was able to deliver 849.2 Mbps at 15 feet though it has a range of 100 feet. If you want to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 without breaking the bank, this is the router to get.

Read our full Reyee RG-E5 review .

Best Wi-Fi router for gamers

3. Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000

The Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 is perfect for gamers, with speeds that improve over longer ranges, low latency and all the features that gamers expect. The GT-AX11000 is large though, with a gargantuan base, eight swiveling antennas, and massive 10.8Gbps maximum throughput. This wireless router has connectivity in droves, thanks to its tri-band design and four downstream Gigabit LAN ports, a single 2.5G Ethernet connection, and two USB 3.0 ports. In our testing, it managed to deliver 731 Mbps at 50 feet with a total range of 95 feet.

Built-in customization and gaming-oriented optimizations provide plenty of control, and you can even pair it with other Asus routers to build a mesh network to cover larger homes. At $450, it is expensive, but this is one of the best gaming routers for those that want an edge online.

Read our full Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 review .

Best Wi-Fi mesh system

4. Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E (RBKE963)

Netgear 's Orbi WiFi 6E (model number RBKE963) is one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems on the planet — and also one the most expensive. But if you have money to burn, a gigabit broadband connection from your ISP and an enormous house, then this is probably the mesh system for you. 

The Orbi WiFi 6E can cover up to 9,000 square feet but adding a third satellite can expand this up to 12,000 square feet. At a distance of 15 feet, the router's 6-GHz channel delivered throughput of more than a gigabit per second. 

Each unit has 12 antennas and four Ethernet ports (one rated at 2.5 Gbps), and the system creates channels on the 2.5, 5 and 6-Ghz bands, plus a fourth 5-Ghz one for backhaul between units. Netgear offers trial subscriptions to its Armor security software, which includes Bitdefender antivirus , and parental controls. You'll also have to pay for tech support after 90 days. However, if you can afford to pay for this mesh system, you won't mind. 

Read our full Netgear Orbi WiFi 6E (RBKE963) review .

5. TP-Link Deco X20

The TP-Link Deco X20 is an inexpensive mesh Wi-Fi system that's relatively small and very easy to set up. In fact, during our testing, we were able to get it up and running in 15 minutes or so using the company's Deco app which also allows you to enable parental controls and comes with built-in security. For just $200, you can cover up to 5,800 square feet with a strong Wi-Fi 6 signal.

Unlike with other mesh routers, all of the Deco X20 units are interchangeable and serve as either a router or a satellite. Each one has two gigabit Ethernet ports at the rear but there aren't any USB ports for sharing data from a flash drive across your network. In our testing, the Deco X20 achieved download speeds of 622 Mbps at 15 feet with a total overall range of 95 feet. If you're looking for a budget mesh Wi-Fi system with units that are easy to tuck away on a bookshelf or place on a countertop, the Deco X20 delivers quite a lot of value for the price.

Read our full  TP-Link Deco X20 review .  

6. Eero Max 7

The eero Max 7 is Amazon's first mesh Wi-Fi system with Wi-Fi 7 and unlike its predecessor the eero Pro 6E , it has a brand-new design. Sure, these new devices are larger but this is because they have 10 antennas as opposed to just 6 as well as more ports at the back. There's also been a significant price increase with a three-pack selling for $1,700 but the best Wi-Fi 7 routers — and especially mesh ones — all cost a bit more since they're using the latest and greatest wireless standard.

One of the best things about eero devices is that they are all compatible with one another which means you can use your old eero mesh router to extend your network further. At the same time, you can also use an Echo Dot as a mesh extender when you need more range in a pinch. 

At the back of the eero Max 7, you'll find two, 10 gigabit Ethernet ports, two 2.5 gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB-C port for power. In our testing, the eero Max 7 delivered speeds of 1.781 Gbps at 15 feet and had a range of 95 feet. As always, we were impressed by how simple the set up procedure was and just how much we could do from the eero app, especially with an optional eero Plus subscription.

Read our full  eero Max 7 review .

7. Netgear Orbi RBK863SB

The Netgear Orbi RBK863SB is a tri-band, Wi-Fi 6 mesh router that builds on the company's Orbi RBK852 with improved performance and a brand new, all-black color scheme (it's also available in white) sold exclusively on its site. Also, by using an innovative new antenna design, it has even better mid-range performance with download speeds that are four times faster than its predecessor at 50 feet. Like other Orbi devices though, you're paying a premium but for the price, you get excellent performance and plenty of ports.

With a three-pack, the Orbi RBK863SB can cover up to 8,000 square feet with a strong Wi-Fi signal but there's also a four-pack that covers 10,000 square feet — perfect for very large homes. In our testing, the Orbi RBK863SB delivered speeds of 806 Mbps at 15 feet and each unit had a range of 105 feet. 

At the back of the main unit that serves as the router, you'll find a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port along with four gigabit Ethernet ports while the satellites only have these four gigabit Ethernet ports. With your purchase, you also get access to Netgear's built-in Armor security software for free for one year but after that, it costs $100 annually. If you have a large home you need to fill with a strong Wi-Fi signal but don't want to pony up the extra cash for the Wi-Fi 7-equipped Orbi RBE973 , the Orbi RBK863SB is a great option and looks stunning in black.

Read our full  Netgear Orbi RBK863SB review .

8. Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500

The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 was the first Wi-Fi 6e router to hit the market, and the results are mind-blowing. By adding the new 6-GHz band to the already impressive capabilities of Wi-Fi 6, the Nighthawk RAXE500 delivers category-leading performance — but at $599, it's not cheap.

This tri-band device more than lives up to the hype by delivering 2.39 Gbps at 15 feet during our testing. Add this to the slick design and highly customizable configuration options, and the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 becomes one of the best wireless routers we've ever reviewed. While it’s best at close quarters and is one of the more expensive routers on this list, the RAXE500 is worth every penny if you have the need for speed.

Read our full Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500 review .  

9. TP-Link Archer BE800

The TP-Link Archer BE800 is unlike any Wi-Fi router we've seen before thanks to its new V-Fold design language. Unlike other routers you'll want to tuck away, this is one you're going to want to have out in the open, especially as its 2.4-inch, big dot display can show everything from the date and time to the weather and even custom animations.

 Besides its looks, the Archer BE800 is relatively affordable for a powerful, Wi-Fi 7 router at $599. However, if that's out of your budget, check out the cheaper Archer BE550 for just $300. There's also the more expensive Archer BE900 with dual displays. 

At the back of the Archer BE800, you'll find two 10 gigabit Ethernet ports, four 2.5 gigabit ports and a USB 3.0 port. In our testing, the Archer BE800 was able to reach speeds of 1.8 Gbps at 15 feet with a maximum range of 115 feet. If you're tired of your boring old Wi-Fi router and want to upgrade to the latest wireless standard, then the Archer BE800 just might be for you.

Read our full  Archer BE800 review .

Maybe you’ve noticed that your current Wi-Fi coverage feels slower than it used to, have been experiencing spotty reception, or maybe you just need something better equipped to handle the demands of the growing number of smart home devices at your house. If you’ve been dealing with any of these issues, a new router should be able to fix these common problems.

It’s also worth upgrading to a new Wi-Fi router if you’re still using older hardware. If you have an old Wireless-N or Wireless-AC (retroactively renamed Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5 respectively) router in your home, you should definitely consider upgrading to something more current. Newer standards will not only provide faster connectivity but there are other benefits as well. For instance, your smartphone battery will last longer as a result of more efficient device management and your connected home gadgets will all feel much faster with these more capable standards.

The other big reason to upgrade your router is that you’re tired of paying a monthly rental fee for a router from your ISP. Since average equipment rental fees cost anywhere from $10-15 each mount, a new router can pay for itself in just a short amount of time while providing you with better service and features. Just don’t forget to pair it with one of the best cable modems if you want to entirely free yourself from the extra costs that often come with broadband internet packages. 

How to choose the best Wi-Fi router for you

When it comes to choosing the best wireless router for your home or small business, it’s easy to get lost in the complex networking jargon and obscure technology standards. However, all you really need to know is how to answer two key questions: What speed do you need for your internet connection? And what sort of coverage do you need?

Speeds and standards: The internet speed you need for your router is determined by the speed you get from your internet service provider as well as the speeds supported by your modem. For most people, a standard 802.11ac router will handle all but the highest performing plans, like Gigabit internet plans that aren’t available everywhere just yet. With average broadband speeds at around 100 Mbps, most wireless AC routers will be able to handle the job with ease.

The latest technology for routers is called Wi-Fi 6 (aka 802.11ax) which is a faster standard that’s better suited for households with a lot of smart home devices. There are many Wi-Fi 6 routers available today, though there’s an even newer twist on this standard called Wi-Fi 6e that takes advantage of a newly opened part of the radio spectrum.

Wi-Fi 6e-enabled devices, such as laptops and smartphones, are still few and far between. Unless you’re using a dozen devices at once, you likely won’t see much benefit from upgrading to Wi-Fi 6e at this time. See our article What is Wi-Fi 6E: Routers, devices and how it's better than Wi-Fi 6 to learn more. 

Coverage range: The other part of the wireless equation is coverage area. A basic standalone router will generally offer 50 to 100 feet of range, so that it can easily cover the majority of apartments and smaller homes. If you have a house with 3,000 square feet or more of space, you’ll want to consider a mesh router instead which use multiple devices to provide a strong Wi-Fi signal throughout larger homes. These are especially helpful in multistory houses or in homes with dead spots where the Wi-Fi signal drops out.

Ports: Though wireless connectivity is the main thing you want from a Wi-Fi router, you’ll also want to think about wired connections. Ethernet offers faster connectivity for devices like game consoles and smart TVs that use more bandwidth and USB ports are handy for connecting older printers or storage to your network.

Input is another issue, especially if you live in an area where Gigabit internet is available. With a Gigabit connection, an older router can be a bottleneck, slowing down your entire home. Some routers can even aggregate two inputs for even faster connectivity.

Price range: Current 802.11 ac routers often sell for less than $100 for basic, dual-band models. More expensive modems range up to $300 but offer better coverage and faster speeds, while gaming routers have built-in optimization features and typically sell for more. New routers using the Wi-Fi 6 standard (previously known as 802.11 ax) often cost $400 or more.

Keeping up on everything happening in the networking world can be difficult, so check out our helpful guides on the latest technology, like What is a mesh Wi-Fi router, and do you need one?  Or get the latest advice on how to fix your router's security problems, from simple steps to advanced protections. From router security to in-depth explanations of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6e , we're always providing the latest info about the newest products and innovations. 

How we test the best Wi-Fi routers

We test every router we review to measure performance and range, in addition to hands-on use to evaluate the ease-of-setup and quality of settings and features.

Throughput describes how much data the router can move back and forth over its wireless connection. Higher throughput will serve you better in data-heavy uses, like streaming video, gaming, or connecting multiple users at once.

We measure throughput using IXChariot , first at a 5-foot distance without obstructions, so that we can gauge the maximum amount of data that the router can move. We then measure how much data the router can move at 50, 75 and 100 feet, so that you can also choose the best model for smaller homes and apartments, where short-range performance may be the priority.

We also test performance through walls and ceilings, to determine how well a router can provide signal in the Wi-Fi-dampening conditions common to many buildings and homes.

For mesh routers, we perform additional testing to determine how well the mesh system does sending a signal through both the main router and through a satellite unit.

Following out throughput tests, we also put the router through real-world tests by connecting a number of devices — laptops, TVs, smartphones, and tablets — and stream a number of games, TV shows and movies simultaneously to see how well the router performs under strain.

For more information on how we test networking devices, check out our guide on how we test Wi-Fi routers along with our more general how we test page for Tom's Guide.

As someone who's been working from home for the past six years, Anthony Spadafora has tried everything from Wi-Fi extenders to powerline adapters to get the most out of his home network before finally upgrading to a mesh Wi-Fi system. Along the way, he's tested out loads of different routers and network configurations. Based on what he's learned, Anthony tries to highlight the critical role Wi-Fi routers play in our day to day lives and how a mesh network can help solve the most common connectivity issues like Wi-Fi dead spots. 

With experience in testing, using and evaluating wireless data from before Wi-Fi was even a word, Brian Nadel has tried out and reviewed every major router available in his home networking lab. A LAN nerd, his philosophy is to use the router the way you would, testing networking gear for ease of setup, performance, security and above all for value. The result is peace of mind when it comes to choosing the right router.

Check out all of our home networking coverage:

Best mesh routers | Best Wi-Fi 6 routers | Best Wi-Fi 7 routers |  Best gaming routers |   Best Wi-Fi extenders | Best powerline extenders | Best cable modems  

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Anthony Spadafora is the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to password managers and the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. Before joining the team, he wrote for ITProPortal while living in Korea and later for TechRadar Pro after moving back to the US. Based in Houston, Texas, when he’s not writing Anthony can be found tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home. 

• Brian Nadel

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The Best Wireless Travel Routers of 2024

Pocket routers for Wi-Fi networking on the road

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

• The Ultimate Router Buying Guide

Frequent travelers battling poor cell service, dubious security, and excessive hotel and airport Wi-Fi fees can benefit from a good travel router when working away from home.

The best wireless travel routers avoid these hassles by letting you set up a private bubble of Wi-Fi anywhere you happen to land, whether in a conference center, hotel room, or airport lounge. 

Most people should buy the TP-Link TL-WR902AC  - it's small enough to chuck in a backpack and can even double as a Wi-Fi range extender. If you also want a cellular connection as backup, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 is for you, as it doubles as a mobile hotspot for your hotel room or car.

What to Look For in a Travel Router

Best overall, tp-link tl-wr902ac travel router.

 Amazon

Compact size is ideal for frequent travelers

Doubles as a Wi-Fi extender

Included cables are short

TP-Link's TL-WR902AC is one of the fastest travel routers we've seen, which is especially impressive at this size and price. Measuring 2.64 x 2.91 x 0.9 inches and weighing in at only 8 ounces, it's small enough to carry in a pocket, briefcase, or backpack, so you'll be ready to set up your own Wi-Fi bubble anywhere.

For such a small device, the TL-WR902AC offers impressive dual-band Wi-Fi performance. It's also really versatile since it can be not only be used as a router or access point to create a wireless network but also as a range extender, private Wi-Fi hotspot, or even as a bridge to connect a wired device to a Wi-Fi network by using its built-in Ethernet port in the opposite direction. 

A built-in USB port lets you share files and media from a removable USB storage device, and it can also provide up to 2A of passthrough power to charge your smartphone or tablet. The only real downside is that the port layout can be awkward since the USB and micro USB power ports are on the opposite side of the Ethernet port. 

Wireless Spec: 802.11ac | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AC750 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 1

Best Splurge

Netgear nighthawk m1.

Great choice for heavy internet users

Supports up to 20 Wi-Fi devices at once

Long battery life

Doubles as a mobile hotspot

Very expensive

Can occasionally overheat

While it's not the most affordable option on our list, it's well worth the splurge if you need to get several devices onto the internet anywhere at blazing-fast speeds.

With support for up to 20 simultaneous devices, Netgear's Nighthawk MR1100 can quickly handle your whole family or project team, and unlike most travel routers on this list, the one works as a 4G LTE mobile hotspot too. This means you'll be able to connect to its Wi-Fi network and get online even when there's no other Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. It's also the first mobile hotspot to support Gigabit LTE , with 4X4 MIMO and four-band Carrier Aggregation. Hence, it can provide internet speeds rivaling your home broadband connection.

It's not just about LTE, though—the MR1100 also works as a traditional portable router. Just plug a standard internet connection into the Ethernet port to share access to your Wi-Fi devices. A large 2.4-inch color LCD screen also ensures that you can keep track of the router's status and how much data you're using. The rechargeable battery can keep you going for up to 24 hours before you need to charge it, and in a pinch, you can also use some of that capacity to charge your smartphone or other mobile devices. 

Wireless Spec: 802.11ac / 4G LTE | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: AC750 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 1 

TP-Link TL-WR802N N300 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router

Fast single-band Wi-Fi performance

No USB port

Not the fastest internet speeds when connected to multiple devices

TP-Link’s TL-WR802N is an older single-band router that offers a surprisingly great range in its small package. While the single-band N300 rating won’t break any speed records, it still provides enough performance for lag-free 4K Netflix streaming and uninterrupted video conferences on Zoom. 

Like most travel routers, the TL-WR802N is designed for use by one or two users when you’re on the go, and the 300Mbps 802.11n speeds will likely be faster than the internet connection at most hotels and conference centers you find yourself in. This little pocket-sized router offers exceptional coverage, so you won’t need to worry about staying connected while roaming the boardroom. 

The N300 draws its power via a micro USB port that can connect directly to a wall charger or laptop, so you won’t have to worry about how to power it. It can also function as a repeater, Wi-Fi client, or extender for a public WISP hotspot. The only downside is that, unlike its dual-band sibling, the TL-WR902AC, it lacks a USB port, so you won’t be able to use it for sharing files. 

Wireless Spec: 802.11n | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: N300 | Bands: Single-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 1

Best for Road Warriors

Gl.inet mudi gl-e750.

Works as a 4G LTE mobile hotspot

Open source

Excellent VPN support

No external antenna

The GL.iNet GL-E750 router is an excellent choice for road warriors who must stay connected securely and reliably anywhere they land.

With WireGuard encryption, support for multiple Open Source VPN protocols, and even Tor anonymous network routing, this router ensures that you can always have a secure and private connection to the internet if you're a relatively advanced user. Whether that's over your hotel's shared network or your carrier's LTE network, all your traffic will be encrypted, and you can even have an always-on tunnel back into your home or office network. 

It's not just for mobile LTE access, however; it's also a capable Wi-Fi access point, with dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz support with 733Mbps throughput across both bands, along with a built-in battery that offers up to eight hours of use and a USB port and microSD card slots that can be used for sharing files with your connected devices. Since it's designed to be used from anywhere, it also features a built-in rechargeable battery that promises up to eight hours of use on a single charge. 

Lifewire / Andy Zahn

Most of the routers on the market are big and bulky devices. If you're parking them in a corner at home, this is a manageable problem, but they're not suited for taking the road with you.

This has given rise to a whole new category of travel routers: devices that are specifically designed to be highly portable—often small enough to be carried in a pocket—and run from internal batteries or a simple USB-powered connection that lets you plug them into a laptop or portable battery pack to create your own personal Wi-Fi network. 

Most importantly, since public Wi-Fi hotspots are usually insecure, a good travel router can also offer additional peace of mind by providing a private, encrypted Wi-Fi network for your traffic, securing the connections not only between your devices and the router but also making sure the traffic leaving the router is also encrypted. 

This means that you can take them just about anywhere you happen to land, whether it's between your home and the office, to a coffee shop where you might want to have more secure Wi-Fi, or on the road with you to use in hotels, conference centers, and airport lounges.

Bandwidth and Performance

When shopping for a router for your home, you're looking for enough range to blanket your home with the strong Wi-Fi signal you need to support streaming and gaming from multiple devices. 

Travel routers are different. You may find that even an entry level router—one that offers 802.11n support at 150Mbps speeds—is more than enough.

Wireless Frequencies: Single-Band vs Dual-Band

Like other wireless routers, travel routers come in single or multi-band versions, which refers to their frequencies. A single-band router works only on the 2.4GHz frequency, while a dual-band router offers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies on two separate bands. 

Security and Privacy

As a bare minimum, every modern wireless travel router should include support for the Wireless Protected Access 2 (WPA2) encryption standard. This is even more important in a travel router you'll use in more public spaces.

While this probably isn't such a big deal if all you want to do is stream movies from Netflix, if confidentiality is essential, we strongly recommend using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when connecting through a travel router. While you can do this directly from your devices, you'll probably find it even simpler to pick up a travel router with built-in VPN support so that your connection is automatically encrypted as soon as you plug it in.

Connectivity

Almost all travel routers offer the same connectivity as your home router—turning a wired connection into a Wi-Fi network. However, as more hotels offer guest Wi-Fi networks instead of Ethernet jacks, you'll probably find getting a travel router that can also connect to a public Wi-Fi network is more beneficial.

There's also a category of travel routers that can act as mobile hotspots to offer internet access for your mobile devices over an LTE cellular network.

Even though most hotels already offer free Wi-Fi, it’s often struggling under the load of many people using it, so having a travel router can provide better performance, especially if you can plug it into a wired connection in your room. Plus, most public Wi-Fi hotspots are completely insecure, allowing your traffic to be easily intercepted by anybody else on the same Wi-Fi network. Using a router plugged into ethernet will also often save you money as you won't have to pay for the usable 'premium' internet package.

The best travel routers offer industry-standard WPA2 encryption—the same type of security used by your home router—which means that all of your wireless traffic is safe from prying eyes. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are open networks that use no encryption at all but keep in mind that if you’re using a travel router as a wireless extender for a public Wi-Fi hotspot, your traffic will still be unencrypted between your travel router and the hotspot. For the best security, use a wired connection or a VPN wherever possible.

Even if you use your travel router in your hotel room, internet traffic still travels over the hotel’s network. While most sensitive sites and services like email and online banking use SSL encryption, this won’t prevent the hotel or other public hotspot provider from seeing where you’re going; they just won’t be able to know what you’re doing. If you want to ensure your connection is as private and secure as possible, we recommend using a travel router with built-in VPN support.

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• Travel Tips

First off, a little bit of terminology. For a very long time, I wasn’t conscious of the distinction between transportable journey routers (also called journey WiFi routers) and hotspots, and I used the phrases interchangeably.

It’s true that transportable journey routers and hotspots each create a non-public WiFi community you can join a number of units to. Nonetheless, there may be one key distinction between these two items of tech: the place the preliminary web connection comes from.

Routers usually have to be related to an current web connection, similar to a public WiFi community, or a wired web connection. Hotspots normally connect with cellular/mobile knowledge (4G for instance) and use this to generate a non-public WiFi community that you simply join your units to.

Why Do You Want a Journey Router?

There are a number of the reason why you may want or want a journey router.

When you, like most digital nomads, have a number of units that want an web connection (a smartphone, laptop computer , iPad, and so forth.), you’ll usually have to attach every one individually every time you want to be a part of a brand new WiFi community.

Nonetheless, in case you have a journey router, you solely want to attach one machine (the router) and then you definitely’re all set.

A number of the greatest transportable WiFi routers for worldwide journey even have the flexibility to hook up with a bodily, wired ethernet connection. That is usually quicker than WiFi. It additionally means you can “share” this high-speed WiFi together with your different units, no matter whether or not there’s additionally a public WiFi community out there.

Journey routers are typically small and light-weight, so that they’re straightforward to hold round whereas touring. Moreover, many wi-fi journey routers include additional helpful options similar to USB ports for charging your units on the go.

Finest Journey Routers in 2023

Okay, so that you’ve determined to get a small WiFi router for touring. However which one do you have to purchase?

Right here’s my decide of seven of the very best transportable WiFi routers for digital nomads and distant employees. I’ve included a variety of various manufacturers, types, and value factors inside this listing.

Every of those merchandise has nice evaluations on-line and can serve you effectively all through your distant work adventures. Be sure that so as to add a journey router to your digital nomad packing listing .

1. GL.iNet (Beryl AX) Pocket-Sized WiFi

When you’re searching for the very best journey router for lodges, check out the GL.iNet Beryl AX.

This router has 2 ethernet ports permitting you to plug it into wired web connections (e.g. a fiber connection), both at house, a resort, or elsewhere on the highway; permitting you entry to lightning-fast connection speeds on the go.

It helps the newest WiFi 6 (802.11ax) commonplace which gives quicker and extra dependable wi-fi connections than older fashions. In line with the producer, this router gives speeds of as much as 574 Mbps on its 2.4 GHz channel and 2402 Mbps on its 5 GHz channel. That’s fairly quick!

It’s additionally VPN-compatible, which offers an additional degree of safety and peace of thoughts. When it comes to value, the Beryl AX is pretty midrange and gives a superb price-to-quality ratio. This router can be very compact and light-weight, making it straightforward to hold in your pocket or bag. Click on right here to be taught extra concerning the Beryl AX router.

2. GL.iNet (Slate AX) Pocket-Sized WiFi

The GL.iNet Slate AX is a pocket-sized WiFi router designed for vacationers. Just like the Beryl AX, this router can be geared up with WiFi 6 know-how, permitting for some critically spectacular speeds: 600 Mbps on the two.4 GHz channel and 1200 Mbps on the 5 GHz channel.

It has a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and may connect with as much as 120 units on the identical time. Even essentially the most tech-loving digital nomads on the market are unlikely to want that a lot bandwidth. However, it does imply that it’s virtually unattainable to overload this tremendous little piece of package.

The router can be pretty sturdy and sturdy, compact, and has retractable antennae for straightforward storage, which means that it’s completely suited to journey. For extra info on this glorious router, click on right here.

3. GL.iNet (Opal) Safe Journey WiFi Router

The GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 (Opal) is one other of the very best routers for resort WiFi. It’s a compact journey router with varied security measures to maintain your knowledge protected when touring, particularly when you’re utilizing unsecured public WiFi networks in locations similar to lodges.

It has built-in firewall safety, Cloudflare encryption, and is appropriate with greater than 30 completely different VPN service suppliers . Nonetheless, the draw back of this router is that it doesn’t supply fairly the identical connection speeds as a few of the different merchandise mentioned on this publish.

It’s nonetheless not precisely sluggish, with speeds of as much as 300 Mbps on the two.4 GHz channel and 867 Mbps on the 5GHz channel. And for digital nomads who place a big premium on on-line safety and knowledge privateness, this trade-off might be value it. Click on right here to purchase this router.

4. NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi Cell Hotspot

Bear in mind I stated earlier that most transportable journey routers can’t connect with mobile knowledge? Effectively, the NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 is an exception. This unbelievable product doubles up as each a router and a hotspot, providing you with the very best of each worlds.

In fact, the flip facet is the worth. That is positively one of the costly routers on the market, however the additional value could also be value it when you’re prone to be spending any vital period of time working in locations the place you’re unlikely to discover a public WiFi community or a wired ethernet connection.

The total listing of options of the Nighthawk M1 contains a big 2.4-inch LCD display (that tells you helpful data like knowledge utilization and sign energy), obtain speeds of as much as 1 Gbps, a USB port for charging transportable units, and in-built rechargeable batteries to energy the router wherever you might be.

It even has a 1-year restricted {hardware} guarantee. When you can afford the worth tag, this is among the greatest transportable routers that cash can purchase, and fortuitously, you may usually discover reductions on this product on Amazon . Click on right here to be taught extra concerning the NETGEAR Nighthawk M1.

5. GL.iNet (Beryl) VPN Wi-fi Little Journey Router

The GL.iNet GL-MT1300 (Beryl) is the little brother of the MT3000 Beryl AX mentioned above. It’s primarily a smaller, cheaper, extra light-weight model of the Beryl AX.

This machine can assist speeds of as much as 400 Mbps on the two.4 GHz channel and 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz channel and may join as much as 40 units on the identical time. One function that I actually like is the flexibility to plug this router right into a smartphone and tether the cellphone’s mobile knowledge to the router.

Regardless of being much less highly effective than the Beryl AX, it nonetheless has a reasonably quick processor, and sufficient RAM to go well with the wants of most digital nomads. It additionally has 3 ethernet ports which means you can join it to quick fiber/wired web connections every time these can be found to you.

Further options of the GL-MT1300 Beryl router embrace a USB 3 port, a USB-C port, and a micro SD card slot. For extra info on this nice little router, click on right here.

6. NewQ Filehub AC750 Journey Router

The NewQ Filehub AC750 is one other budget-friendly journey router. It has a built-in battery so can be utilized on the go with no need to be plugged in, and it additionally has a USB port so you should use it as a conveyable charger in your units on the transfer.

It has a number of nice options, together with a “Filehub” perform, which lets you join the router to an exterior arduous drive or different storage machine after which wirelessly entry and switch information to/from the machine. It primarily turns your storage units into wi-fi arduous drives.

One key draw back of this router is that it doesn’t have any built-in assist for VPNs. Nonetheless, in case you have a VPN arrange already in your laptop computer, cellphone, and different units, you must nonetheless be protected. General, for the worth, this is a wonderful piece of package. Click on right here to purchase this router.

7. GL.iNET (Mango) Mini Journey Router

The final router on this listing, the GL.iNET GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) is one other very good finances journey router. It’s straightforward to arrange and has a easy, intuitive interface (which, sadly, isn’t the case for all routers).

This can be a pretty primary machine that doesn’t have as many additional options as many of the different merchandise talked about on this publish. Nonetheless, when you’re searching for one thing easy and reasonably priced that will get the job performed, it is a strong choice to contemplate.

The GL-MT300N-V2 Mango solely has a 2.4 Ghz channel (and no 5 Ghz channel) which means that it doesn’t supply the identical speeds as different, costlier routers.

That stated, it could actually handle speeds of as much as 300 Mbps which, in my expertise, is greater than the “enter” speeds you’re prone to discover in lots of components of the world, particularly outdoors of massive world cities.

The Mango is appropriate with greater than 30 completely different VPN suppliers and in addition has Cloudflare assist, which supplies you an additional layer of safety.

It’s powered by USB (you may energy it out of your laptop computer or energy financial institution) and may be very small, light-weight, and straightforward to hold round with you. Click on right here to be taught extra concerning the GL.iNET Mango.

Selecting the Finest Journey Router: Issues to Take into account

When selecting the very best cellular WiFi router for you, there are a number of issues to contemplate and inquiries to ask your self. What’s your finances? How vital is weight and portability to you? Are there any must-have options that you simply’re not prepared to sacrifice?

Finally, the very best journey router for you will depend on your particular wants and circumstances. However, to make it somewhat simpler, take into consideration these elements:

• Price range: How a lot cash are you in a position/prepared to spend? Would you like a shiny top-of-the-range router or a easy, finances resolution?
• Weight and portability: When you prefer to pack as light-weight and minimally as attainable, you’ll in all probability be higher off getting the lightest, smallest router that you’ll find, even when this product comes with fewer options.
• Performance: Would you like a router with all of the bells and whistles, or one thing easy that will get the job performed? Are in-built USB ports vital?
• Ethernet connection (or not): Do you worth with the ability to connect with wired ethernet connections? When you want super-fast web in your work, this may be very helpful. Nonetheless, many individuals (myself included) don’t require this.
• Compatibility: Be sure that the router is appropriate with the working system of your units. The very best cellular broadband routers are appropriate with a broad vary of working techniques (Home windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and so forth.) however it’s all the time value double-checking before you purchase.
• Battery life: Some transportable routers include in-built batteries, and others have to be plugged in always. When you’re usually on the go and energy retailers are scarce, contemplate getting one with a long-lasting battery to attenuate inconvenience.
• Security measures: Most journey routers supply some type of in-built safety. Search for options similar to WPA/WPA2 encryption to guard your knowledge from potential hackers. Nonetheless, I’d all the time suggest utilizing a VPN for an added layer of safety. I take advantage of NordVPN and it’s nice.
• Person-friendliness: Until you’re a tech wizard, it’s normally greatest to go for a router that’s straightforward to arrange and handle. Some journey routers have intuitive interfaces with easy settings that make your life simpler relating to connecting to the web.
• Pace: Take into account the pace of the router. Remember that even the very best journey routers are restricted by the pace of the connection that they’re related to. In different phrases, the pace of a router’s output is simply ever nearly as good because the pace of its enter.
• Vary: The vary of the router determines how far its sign can attain. When you intend to make use of your router in bigger areas, similar to lodges or convention halls, you’ll in all probability need a router with a wider vary.

Benefits of Moveable WiFi Routers

Listed below are some key benefits of transportable WiFi routers:

• Can join a number of units: You possibly can join a number of units to a journey router without delay, which means there’s no must individually log into public WiFi on every of these units.
• Safer: Most transportable journey routers have some built-in security measures. Which means that connecting to the web through your transportable router is safer than connecting to public WiFi networks straight.
• Moveable and light-weight: Journey routers are usually designed to be small and light-weight. This makes them good if you would like the performance of a router, however don’t need the added bulk of an everyday house router.
• Straightforward to arrange: Most journey routers are straightforward to arrange. They normally include step-by-step directions so you may get on-line shortly and with ease.
• Price-effective: Journey routers are sometimes more cost effective than shopping for a number of knowledge plans for every machine. With a single journey router, you may join all of your units to the web with out having to purchase a number of knowledge plans.
• Ethernet compatibility: Some (however not all) journey routers may be plugged into an ethernet socket. This usually provides entry to quicker connection speeds than utilizing an everyday public WiFi connection. It additionally means you can join units like telephones to the web wherever there’s an ethernet socket, even when there isn’t any public WiFi.

Disadvantages of Moveable WiFi Routers

There are a number of disadvantages of transportable WiFi routers although. Listed below are the primary ones:

• Want an current connection: Not like hotspots (which use mobile knowledge), most journey routers have to be related to an current web connection to ensure that them to work. Which means that when you’re someplace significantly distant, or the place there isn’t any public WiFi or an ethernet connection, many journey routers might be ineffective.
• Restricted pace: Even the very best transportable routers might be restricted by the pace of the connection that they’re related to. So when you connect with public WiFi, your router might be restricted by the pace of that connection.
• Safety: Journey routers present a safer connection than utilizing public WiFi networks straight, however they’re nonetheless extra weak to assault from hackers than utilizing mobile knowledge. It’s vital to make sure that you may have some additional safety measures in place, similar to a VPN .
• Battery life: Even when you get a journey router with an in-built battery, bear in mind that the battery in all probability gained’t final exceptionally lengthy. Most of them will solely final for a number of hours at most, so make sure that to maintain it charged when you plan on utilizing it for prolonged intervals of time.

Finest Moveable Journey Routers: FAQs

Under, you’ll discover solutions to some continuously requested questions on the very best WiFi routers for distant employees:

Sure, some journey routers are superb, similar to those from GL.iNet and Netgear. See the above sections for my evaluation of the very best routers for journey.

One key benefit of utilizing a router is the flexibility to attach a number of units without delay with out having to configure every one individually every time. Many routers even have further security measures, similar to a inbuilt VPN.

Journey routers usually have to be related to an current web connection, similar to a public WiFi community, or a wired web connection. Hotspots normally connect with cellular/mobile knowledge (4G for instance) and use this to generate a non-public WiFi community that you simply join your units to.

Moveable WiFi routers normally value between $40 and $140, relying on the performance you require.

It relies upon. A journey router is perhaps value it when you journey with a number of units (e.g. a smartphone, iPad, laptop computer, and so forth.) and want every of them to be related to the web, however don’t have entry to a dependable (and reasonably priced) 4G connection.

It additionally is perhaps value getting a journey router when you desire to hook up with the web through a wired ethernet connection (which may usually be quicker than WiFi).

Not like hotspots, most transportable WiFi routers don’t work with mobile towers in any respect. They don’t work with satellites both. When you want a satellite tv for pc web connection, take a look at corporations like HughesNet or Starlink.

No – as a result of WiFi routers don’t sometimes use mobile networks, there’s no want for a month-to-month subscription. You simply must pay for the machine. That stated, you may must pay to make use of sure web connections (e.g. sure public WiFi networks that cost to be used).

Moveable WiFi routers supply the comfort of with the ability to join a number of units to the web without delay. They’re safer than connecting on to public WiFi networks, and lots of include helpful built-in options, similar to USB ports to cost your units.

Nonetheless, it’s vital to concentrate on their limitations. Most notably, as a result of journey routers can’t sometimes connect with mobile web, you want to have entry to both a public WiFi community or an ethernet port to be able to use them.

All issues thought-about although, relying on the place you plan to make use of them, transportable routers may be an effective way to remain related to the web when you’re touring and dealing remotely.

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TravlFi RV Wifi Hotspot or Router

California RV Specialists offers sales and installation of all the top RV Wifi Hotspot or Wifi Router. Let us introduce you to TravlFi Journey 1 and JourneyXTR they where created to help RV travelers stay connected to the internet while on the road. Simple pay as you go internet that travels with you, it automatically acquires strongest available signal and connects to the major carriers!

The TravlFi™ JourneyXTR empowers RV travelers to solve next-level connectivity needs by offering a multi-carrier 4G/LTE router and Wi-Fi extender. Engineered with the same great TravlFi service, the XTR uses VSIM technology to acquire the best signal among all major carriers. 

TravlFi™ JourneyXTR 4G/LTE Router & Wi-Fi Extender

Journey XTR Features

• 2 high-gain MIMO LTE antennas and Category 7 LTE modem capable up speeds up to 300Mbps
• 4 MU-MIMO Wi-Fi antennas capable of connecting up to 32 separate devices
• SIM free, but has an expandable, physical SIM slot for additional flexibility if needed
• Compatible with external LTE antenna & can connect to local Wi-Fi sources
• Plugs into A/C power outlet

Virtual SIM Technology

• SIM technology is embedded in the software on the JourneyXTR, not on a SIM card (it does accept a SIM card as well)
• Allows the device to change towers and find the best cellular signal possible, wherever you are.
• The JourneyXTR will use data from all major carriers on the same device for one price!
• Change data plans on the fly if your travel habits call for an upgrade.
• Can be prioritized to utilize the best-known tower in the area.

Using TravlFi Data With the JourneyXTR

Signing up for a pay as you go data plan is easy! TravlFi data plans are flexible and were designed for a variety of users, from a casual surfer only needing 2GB, to a serious streamer or remote worker who might use up to 800GB. All plans are pre-paid and billed 30 days at a time.

1. Add the TravlFi JourneyXTR to your cart and complete your order.

2. When you receive your router – scan the QR code, visit portal.travlfi.com/register , or 1-800-960-6934 to select your plan and activate it.

3. Connect up to 32 separate devices to your router and enjoy high-speed internet wherever you go!

Why TravlFi

Stay Connected ​ Great for checking emails, online shopping, scrolling your news and social channels, and locating nearby restaurants/gas stations/etc.

Ongoing Entertainment ​ Stream your favorite music, movies, and shows while you relax or enjoy video chats with friends and family with a fast, secure wireless network.​

Road-Working (& Schooling!) ​ With reliable nationwide Wi-Fi coverage, take comfort in knowing your work projects and online classes can be completed wherever you travel. 

Download Spec Sheet

NEW TravlFi™ Journey1 LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot

Introducing the first WiFi 4G/LTE internet hotspot to combine virtual-SIM technology, huge data plans, and pay-as-you-go internet service tailored to the RV consumer’s needs.

The TravlFi™ Journey1 is a mobile hotspot that provides 4G/LTE internet service anywhere there is cellular signal. Proprietary technology gives the hotspot the ability to find the strongest local cellular signal regardless of the carrier. Without a physical SIM card, the Journey1 will prioritize to the best available cellular network, find service, and optimize. When the user moves locations, the hotspot finds new service and optimizes their connection again.

• SIM technology is embedded in the software on the Journey1, not on a SIM card.
• Virtual SIM technology tells the device to change towers and find the best cellular signal possible, wherever you are.
• The Journey1 will use data from all major carriers on the same device for one price!
• If needed, tower connection can be changed manually by our contact center.

Checkout our friend Dave as he explains more about this product.

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The Best Wi-Fi Routers On the Market To Suit Your Needs

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

With so many of us working remotely, streaming favorite shows at night from devices, gaming, and scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, a strong Wi-Fi connection is vital. It may seem like a simple task to just go on Amazon and get a highly rated router, but there’s way more to consider when picking the right one for you. You want to make sure it can cover the entirety of your home, which means you may need more than one to ensure a strong Wi-Fi connection through your entire house depending on the size. When you’re browsing through hundreds of router options, pay close attention to my guide, the reviews, and the details and features that are important to you. Here are my suggestions for some of the best Wi-Fi routers out there—and where to start if you’re seeking certain features.

What to consider when buying a Wi-Fi router

When you’re looking at Wi-Fi 6 routers versus Wi-Fi 5, it’s important to prioritize range and speed if you need them even when the network is busy. You don’t want your Wi-Fi lagging when you have that last minute assignment due for work or you’re in the middle of the “Love is Blind” reunion.

Just like having a strong connection, you want it to be fast and dependable. If your home is huge, you need a router with a wide span, or maybe even consider adding multiple routers.

Look at where you live and the size of your home. This can narrow down the decision between a traditional or a mesh router. If you live in an apartment or smaller home, a traditional router should be just fine. If you’re trying to cover a lot of ground and need a really strong connection, it might be worth investing in a mesh system.

Our top picks for the best Wi-Fi router

Best home wi-fi router: tp-link ax3000 dual-band wi-fi 6 router.

TP-LINK Archer AX3000 Dual Band MU-MIMO Gaming Router, Black (ARCHER AX3000)

What’s the best home Wi-Fi router? That’s a loaded question. It really comes down to the size of your home and how strong of a connection you need, in addition to a few other details. (For example, if you spend most of your time at home in front of a gaming monitor , your Wi-Fi needs will be different than someone who is primarily working on spreadsheets on their laptop.) If you're looking at an overall good Wi-Fi router for most homes, the TP-Link AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router is a fantastic option. It has reliable streaming and fast downloads on a Wi-Fi 6 speed that’s dependable for gaming, streaming your favorite shows, and more.

Specifications:

• Wi-Fi standard: Wi-Fi 6
• Speed rating: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands
• Wireless networking security: WPA3, WPA2-Enterprise, WPA2-PSK
• Range: 3 bedroom home
• Bands: Dual-band
• LAN ports: 4
• Size: 10.2 x 1.5 x 5.3 inches
• Price on publish: $94.99

What we like:

• Reliable streaming

What we don’t like:

• Some reviews mention the connection can be spotty at times, but that will happen

The bottom line:

Overall, the TP-Link AX3000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router is a great option if you’re looking for something reliable to start with that will work for most homes.

Get it here: TP-Link AX3000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router

Best mid-range Wi-Fi router: Linksys Hydra Pro 6 Dual-Band AX5400 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router

Hydra Pro 6

For a mid-range router that’s high speed, the Linksys Hydra Pro 6 Mesh has Wi-Fi 6 technology. The mesh router has a dual-band and can create a strong Wi-Fi connection to handle any games you want to try, or internet surfing.

• Speed rating: 5400 megabits per second
• Wireless networking security: WPA2-Personal, WPA3-Personal, WPA3/WPA2 Mixed
• Range: 2,700 square feet
• Size: 8.46 x 6.08 x 2.22 inches
• Price on publish: $169.99
• Wi-Fi 6 tech for a good connection
• Installation can be difficult according to some reviews
• A little expensive

For a reliable mid-range router, the Linksys Hydra Pro 6 Mesh is a great option that will keep your games streaming and your internet strong.

Get it here: Linksys Hydra Pro 6 Dual-Band AX5400 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router

Best gaming Wi-Fi router: TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router

TP-Link Archer AX11000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router

The TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router is ideal for gaming because of its incredibly strong connection and low lag time. It has a game accelerator that can strengthen your streaming, even in the most action packed scenes.

• Speed rating: 5 GHz
• Wireless networking security: WPA, WPA2, WPA3, WPA/WPA2-Enterprise (802.1x)
• Range: 4,000 square feet
• Bands: Tri-band
• LAN ports: 8
• Size: 14.37 x 11.42 x 4.72 inches
• Price on publish: $349.99
• Fast streaming and ideal for gaming
• A bit pricey

If you’re looking for a strong Wi-Fi router built for gaming, the TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router is a fantastic option.

Get it here: TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router

Best budget Wi-Fi router: TP-Link AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router

TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A7) -Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router for Home, Works with Alexa, VPN Server, Parental Control, QoS

Sometimes you just don’t have it in the budget to spend hundreds of dollars on new tech, but you need something reliable. For around $80, the TP-Link AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router isn’t just affordable, but dependable, built for limiting buffer time and strong internet surfing.

• Wi-Fi standard: Wi-Fi 5
• Speed rating: 450 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1,300 Mbps on the 5GHz band
• Wireless networking security: N/A
• Range: 2,500 square feet
• Size: ‎9.59 x 6.32 x 1.29 inches
• Price on publish: $79.99
• Some reviews mention that it’s not the fastest at times, but it gets the job done for a low price

When you’re looking for a Wi-Fi solution that won’t break the bank, the TP-Link AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router is under $80 and is the ideal budget solution.

Get it here: TP-Link AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router

Best Wi-Fi 6E wireless router: Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E AXE5400 Mesh Router

Nest Wifi Pro (Wi-Fi 6E) - Snow

When you’re looking to amp up your wireless router, the Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E AXE5400 Mesh Router supports incredibly fast surfing speeds and a strong connection. It can cover a fairly wide range. The system can support strong Wi-Fi that’s capable of extending throughout a 3 to 5 bedroom home. Shopping tip: If you’re considering other Google Nest devices, check out our guides to the best security cameras , best doorbell video cameras , best home security cameras , and best smart thermostats .

• Wi-Fi standard: Wi-Fi 6E
• Speed rating: 2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz, 6.0 GHz
• Wireless networking security: Secure booting and software updates
• Range: 2200 square feet
• LAN ports: 1
• Size: 3.34 x 5.15 x 4.6 inches
• Price on publish: $199.99
• Wide range to cover multiple rooms
• Good customer service
• A few reviews stated the product isn’t as advanced as they hoped, but the brand reached out to offer to find a solution

When you’re looking for the best Wi-Fi 6E router, the Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E AXE5400 Mesh Router is a great one to start with that isn’t too expensive, but reaches a wide range throughout the home.

Get it here: Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E AXE5400 Mesh Router

Best premium Wi-Fi 6E router: NETGEAR Nighthawk 8-Stream Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Router

Nighthawk 8-Stream Tri-Band WiFi 6E Router, 7.8Gbps

When you’re looking for a premium Wi-Fi 6 router, the NETGEAR Nighthawk 8-Stream Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Router can support strong video streaming, gaming, and internet surfing. Its strong processor has fast Wi-Fi speed and covers up to 40 devices within a 2500 square-foot range. It can also be paired with a paid NETGEAR ARMOR plan to provide a comforting amount of protection to keep your devices secure.

• Speed rating: 6 GHz
• Wireless networking security: NETGEAR Armor, WPA2/WPA3, DoS, double firewall
• Range: 2,500 square feet and 40 devices
• LAN ports: 5
• Size: 11.7 x 8.7 x 3.1 inches
• Price on publish: $319
• Fair price for a premium router
• Some reviewers didn’t like the lack of warranty

If you’re looking for a premium Wi-Fi 6 router that can cover a lot of ground and up to 40 devices, this NETGEAR Nighthawk 8-Stream Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Router is the ideal option.

Get it here: NETGEAR Nighthawk 8-Stream Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Router

Best mesh Wi-Fi router: TP-Link AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Dual-Band Wireless Router

TP-Link | AX1800 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 1.8 Gbps Speeds| Upgrade Any Home Internet

When you’re looking for the best mesh Wi-Fi router on the market, the TP-Link AX1800 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router is a great option. Mesh routers look at the connection between the devices and the “radio nodes,” to create fast speeds and a strong connection to support search capability, downloading, and more. Plus, this option compared to others is relatively inexpensive at under $80.

• Speed rating: 1.8 Gbps (1200 Mbps on 5 GHz band and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz band)
• Wireless networking security: WPA3, WPA/WPA2-Enterprise (802.1x), WPA/WPA2
• Size: 10.28 x 5.3 x 1.61 inches
• Price on publish: $74.99
• Only around $75
• Fast and strong connection
• Some reviews mention occasional disconnections at times

For a mesh router that will support all of your gaming and streaming and won’t break the bank at around $75, this TP-Link AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Dual-Band Wireless Router is a great option.

Get it here: TP-Link AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Dual-Band Wireless Router

Best Wi-Fi 7 router: NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System

Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band WiFi 7 Mesh System, Black, 27Gbps, 2-Pack, 1-year NETGEAR Armor included

For the best Wi-Fi 7 router on the market, this two pack of the NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System will give you a ridiculous amount of speed up to 27 Gbps for results that you will rarely have to worry about. In addition to this being a fast speed option (about 2.4X faster than most), it also looks sleek, and can seamlessly fit into the design of your home.

• Wi-Fi standard: Wi-Fi 7
• Speed rating: 10 gig
• Wireless networking security: NETGEAR Armor™ software provides an automatic shield of security
• Range: 6,600 square feet
• Bands: Quad-band
• LAN ports: 1 x 10 Gbps + 4 x 2.5 Gbps Router Ethernet Ports, Satellite Ethernet Ports (LAN) 1 x 10 Gbps + 2 x 2.5 Gbps
• Size: 11.58 x 5.68 x 5.15 inches
• Price on publish: $1,699.99 for a 2-pack 6,600 square feet
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Extremely fast and reliable
• Very wide range
• Very expensive

For an incredibly strong, fast Wi-Fi 7 router on the market, this NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Mesh Wi-Fi System is the one to go for that will give you a seamlessly strong connection.

Get it here: NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System

Best modem-router combo: NETGEAR Nighthawk DOCSIS 3.0 1.9 Gbps Two-In-One Cable Modem + WiFi Router

Nighthawk® DOCSIS® 3.0 1.9Gbps Two-in-one Cable Modem +WiFi Router

When you’re shopping for the best modem and router combination, the NETGEAR Nighthawk DOCSIS 3.0 1.9 Gbps Two-In-One Cable Modem + Wi-Fi Router is the way to go. It has fast Wi-Fi capability for plenty of streaming, gaming, and beyond. It even comes with “a NETGEAR limited 1-year Hardware Warranty” and customer support (“when purchased from a NETGEAR authorized reseller,” according to the website).

• Wi-Fi standard: AC1900 Wi-Fi
• Speed rating: 1.9 Gbps, 800 Mbps
• Wireless networking security: 802.11i, 128-bit AES encryption with PSK, WPA/WPA2
• LAN ports: 4 gigabit ethernet, 1 USB 2.0 port
• Size: 9.66 x 8.31 x 1.7in
• Price on publish: $180.10
• NETGEAR limited warranty
• Good for a 3 to 5 bedroom home
• Some reviews reported occasional technical issues, but NETGEAR was very responsive and helpful.

If you're looking for a strong Wi-Fi and modem combination, this NETGEAR Nighthawk DOCSIS 3.0 1.9 Gbps Two-In-One Cable Modem + Wi-Fi Router is a solid option on the market.

Get it here: NETGEAR Nighthawk DOCSIS 3.0 1.9 Gbps Two-In-One Cable Modem + WiFi Router

Best Wi-Fi router for a large home: Linksys Velop Tri-Band AX4200 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System

When you’re searching for the proper Wi-Fi router for a large home, it’s important to have fast speeds and a wide range. The Linksys Velop Tri-Band AX4200 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System is incredibly fast and can cover 120 devices and up to 8,100 square feet, giving you a strong connection throughout your entire home.

• Wireless networking security: WPA2-Personal, WPA3-Personal, WPA3/WPA2 Mixed, encryption SPI firewall, automatic security updates
• Range: 8,100 square feet
• Size: ‎4.49 x 4.49 x 9.61 inches
• Price on publish: $329.99
• Strong connection
• Some reviews mention it needs to be restarted frequently

If you’re looking for the right router to cover a large home, this Linksys Velop Tri-Band AX4200 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System is a great option covering 8,100 square feet.

Get it here: Linksys Velop Tri-Band AX4200 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System

Best Wi-Fi router with built-in VPN: ExpressVPN Aircove

Linksys MX12600 Mesh WiFi Router - AX4200 WiFi 6 Router - Velop Tri-Band WiFi Mesh Router - WiFi 6 Mesh Computer Routers For Wireless Internet - Internet Router - Connect 120+ Devices, 8,100 Sq Ft 3Pk

For a router with a built-in VPN, the ExpressVPN Aircove is a great option. If you require accessing cyber content that is specific to certain regions of the world, this can get the job done while keeping your devices secure, protected, and working fast and efficiently.

• Speed rating: 1200 megabits per second, 1000 Mbps
• Wireless networking security: WPA2/3, built-in VPN protection, network lock/kill switch, automatic updates
• Range: 1,600 square feet
• Size: 9.7 x 2.3 x 8.1 inches
• Price on publish: $189.90
• Built-in VPN
• Great price
• Some reviews mention that they’re not happy with the brand’s customer support

For a great option with a built-in VPN to be able to access content from different regions around the world, the ExpressVPN Aircove is ideal.

Get it here: ExpressVPN Aircove

Setting up and optimizing your Wi-Fi router

When setting up your Wi-Fi router, there are a few important things to consider.

When it comes to setting up your router, finding the spot that will give you access from any area of the house is key. It depends on your layout, but this is also why prioritizing the look of the actual router can be helpful.

It may seem silly, but if the router is sleek and fits in nicely with the decor of the room, it can go into the main area of the house where you have a strong connection and access to it, instead of one that’s maybe not so aesthetically pleasing you want to hide in the basement.

Pay close attention to the range of the router purchased. This will not only provide guidance on which router is right for your home, but also the best place to put the router in your home.

Why a high quality Wi-Fi router matters

Investing in a high-quality Wi-Fi router is so important to ensure a strong connection for streaming, gaming, and working—and for protection, as well. Some high-quality routers come with firewall protection built-in to keep out hackers looking to snatch your data and personal info.

Security measures for Wi-Fi routers

In addition to most quality routers having a firewall, there are things you can do to protect your devices, like adding passwords to your Wi-Fi network or even turning it off if you’re not home.

How I tested and selected the best Wi-Fi router

When researching and selecting the best routers, I had a few reasons for pointing out the ones on the list.

Positive feedback from buyers

While researching the routers, I did a deep dive into what had positive reviews and feedback.

One of the most important things when picking out the right Wi-Fi router is speed. Whether you’re using the router for high-speed action, gaming, or to work, you need a strong connection through a reliable provider and fast speed.

I found a wide range of routers that would work for different size homes. That can be a huge factor when it comes to having good Wi-Fi, whether you live in a two-story home or a particularly larger home.

I made an effort to include affordable Wi-Fi routers that were still high-quality and a few higher end options for buyers that have a larger budget.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Which wi-fi router is best for home.

When it comes to which Wi-Fi router is best for your home, it really depends on the type of home you have. Do you have a smaller apartment or a large six-bedroom house? However, my overall choice that would work for most homes is the TP-Link AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Router.

What is the best place to put a Wi-Fi router in a two-story house?

After doing some research, I found the best place to put a router for both stories of the home to get a strong connection is usually a central location. Think: the floor of the upstairs, or maybe a shelf toward the ceiling on the lower floor.

Which router has the best Wi-Fi range?

For the wireless router that has the best range, go with something recommended for a large home like the Linksys Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Velop Tri-Band.

What is the fastest Wi-Fi router?

Generally, something meant for gaming is usually built to be strong and fast to support the action. I would suggest going with the TP-Link Archer AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router.

What is the best Wi-Fi router money can buy?

For a reliable option that’s worth the investment, the NETGEAR Orbi 970 Series Quad-Band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System is worth the money.

What is the difference between a single-band, dual-band, tri-band, and quad-band router?

They’re generally in order of speed, price, and how dependable they are. If you don’t use your internet often, a single band is going to generally be a cheaper, slower option, whereas the quad-band will be more expensive, but fast and dependable, with dual-band routers being somewhere in between.

How do I know when it’s time to update my router?

Just like when your laptop backpack starts getting a little frayed and ripped, or your wireless headphones become a little staticky, when your Wi-Fi connection starts slowing down, or you’re dealing with dead spots, it’s time to look into a replacement. Keep in mind that it’s not just about buying a new router, but also who your service provider is. That’s important to research, as well.

The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.

JOURNEY ROUTERS

Welcome to Journey Router

Travel agency, about journey router.

When assisting you with the organisation of your tour. 1. We will ensure that we have a good understanding of your needs before making any recommendations. 2. We will provide you with as much information as possible so as to make your decision-making process as accurate and easy as possible. 3. We reserve the right to recommend tours that consistently provide the most rewarding experience. Journey Router is far more than a way of traveling. It?s a way of looking at and discovering the world. It is, to all intents and purposes, a way of life. You can?t truly claim to be a Journey Router, or to go Journey Router, unless you are already a certain type of person. Journey Router doesn?t teach you independence it hones your independence and makes you more self-sufficient.

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The Best Places to Buy Plants Online

Nature is everywhere, but sometimes a brick-and-mortar store selling happy and healthy houseplants seems impossible to find. When the charming, local plant shop of your dreams refuses to materialize in reality, purchasing houseplants from an online plant purveyor can be the next best thing.

We tested five of the most popular services and found that Rooted is the best place to buy plants online when you’re shopping for a gift, while Horti is best for beginning to intermediate houseplant hobbyists who are shopping for themselves and want a reliable, affordable online plant shop.

How we tested

We looked for features on each company’s website that help customers find suitable plants and make informed purchasing decisions.

Plants should be carefully packed to prevent damage or disruption in transit, so we timed how long it took us to unbox them.

Undamaged, unblemished leaves were important. We also checked for pests and confirmed whether plants came in a good growing medium.

We made affordability a priority, favoring services that allowed folks to build out their plant collections at a reasonable cost.

The research

Our pick: horti, our pick: rooted, who this is for, why you should trust us, how we picked and tested, the competition, tips for taking care of a new houseplant, the benefits of locally owned, brick-and-mortar plant shops.

The best place to buy plants for yourself online

This user-friendly website offers the most affordable houseplants we tested. Though the plants didn’t always arrive in flawless condition, Horti places a strong emphasis on giving customers the knowledge they need to help their plants thrive.

Buying Options

From ordering through delivery, we were impressed by Horti ’s attention to detail. Plants were packed and shipped with care. We also appreciated the company’s commitment to educating its customers on best houseplant practices, both on its website and in the literature it includes in its shipments.

Horti offers a fun array of indoor houseplants, including “rare,” “low light,” “full sun,” “pet-friendly,” “hard to kill,” and “hanging” varieties. The wide selection should keep repeat customers feeling enthusiastic about returning to the site for more options as they grow their plant collections and become more confident in their green-thumb abilities. The fact that Horti’s prices are lower than those of the other sites we tested also bodes well for folks looking to purchase multiple plants, either all at once or over time. (For more on how much houseplants typically cost, as well as how we chose the plants we ordered, see How we picked and tested below.)

We ordered three Sansevieria snake plants and three Pilea peperomioides Chinese money plants from Horti. We ordered two of the snake plants and two of the money plants in 4-inch plastic grow pots; the snake plants cost $18 each, while the money plants cost $20 each. We also ordered one of each plant with a 6-inch “ Horti white pot ,” which is what the company calls its terra cotta plant pot hand-painted with a slanted white stripe along the bottom. The snake plant with a 6-inch Horti white pot cost $36, while the money plant with a 6-inch Horti white pot cost $38.

On all Horti orders we placed, shipping cost extra, ranging from about $10 to about $14 per two-plant shipment. Because we ordered our plants in winter, Horti added a heat pack to each shipment at no additional cost.

Deliveries are thoughtfully packaged. Horti’s deliveries took us the longest to unpack, at an average of just under four minutes. As one tester described her shipment’s contents: “Everything was tightly packed inside in a way that neither plant could move.”

Our Horti packages all came with heat packs (one was still giving off heat upon arrival), as well as the most labels (such as “This Side Up,” “Handle With Care,” and “Be Gentle—Live Plants Inside”) in comparison with the other services we tested. Perhaps not coincidentally, Horti got the highest marks for packages that were clean on the inside, with hardly any spilled dirt.

The printed and online care instructions are top-notch. “Horti had the most delightful in-package materials out of the bunch,” one tester raved. Each plant came with its own care card, listing that particular species’s light, water, and warmth needs. The cards also stated whether a particular plant was toxic to pets. Three additional cards gave tips for repotting and watering, as well as best practices for helping your plant acclimate to its new home. (Strangely, though, one of our three shipments did not include these care cards).

For more info on topics such as “How to Overcome Your Brown Thumb” and “What Makes a Happy Plant?” you’re directed to the website’s Care section , which reads like a fun blog that we would enjoy referring to again and again.

The soil comes in great condition. Although our Horti plants arrived looking a little weary , we appreciated how they were potted and what they were potted in. Our money plants arrived in sufficiently damp soil with moistened paper towels on top, while our snake plants arrived in suitably drier (but not concerningly dry) conditions.

As best we could tell by closely examining each plant’s growing medium, our Horti plants were each potted in a specific medium according to needs; for example, the snake plants appeared to be potted in succulent soil rather than an all-purpose mix. One tester called this attention to detail “quite distinct compared to other companies.” In addition, the two plants we ordered with Horti white pots each came with a dehydrated organic soil wafer (an included slip of paper identified them as Wonder Soil Planting Mix Wafers ) to encourage repotting the plants from the plastic nursery pots they were sent in. (Two of the experts we spoke to said that repotting a newly received plant is a good idea, even if it is shipped in good soil; see “ Tips for taking care of a new houseplant ” below.)

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The site really tries to sell you a subscription. Horti goes hard on its Plant Subscription Box options, which we did not specifically test. While Horti’s homepage makes it appear as if subscriptions are all the company offers, hovering over “Shop” in the top-bar menu reveals the options for à la carte plant shopping. Items are helpfully grouped into categories such as hard-to-kill plants , low-light plants , and full-sun plants . We do, however, wish that we could further winnow down those categories with sort-by filters such as “Price: Low to High” or “Price: High to Low,” which are not available on the site.

The plants aren’t the prettiest of the bunch. Our testers described three of the six plants we received from Horti as “a little ragged,” “a little droopy,” and “not the spiffiest, but not the worst.” While imperfections do not indicate that a plant is diseased or doomed, we had certainly hoped not to see them in a plant arriving straight from a commercial nursery. (In general, though, don’t fret if your plant arrives looking a little underwhelming. As The New Plant Collector author Darryl Cheng told us, “You can just clip off any browned tips or damaged leaves… People do often treat imperfect plants like they bought a white T-shirt and it arrived with a stain on it, but a plant is a living thing and there’s a lot of recovering it can do.”) We received a money plant from Horti that shed four of its leaves soon after we took it out of the box, although we felt good about the plant’s overall fullness even after those leaves abandoned ship; we were also pleased to see that a pup (a baby plant) was starting to peek through the soil.

One of the snake plants we received from Horti came with some tan marks along the edges and a leaf that was crispy and crumbling at the very tip—but again, we were confident in the plant’s vitality overall, as it boasted a healthy root system and also had a pup making its way to the surface. Although we may not want to give Horti’s not-always-perky-looking plants as gifts, we’re comfortable recommending them for people who want to buy plants for themselves because they were well priced, they (usually) arrived with loads of helpful literature, and they appeared to be packaged with care.

You have only one “nice” pot option. Aside from a plastic nursery pot, the only other planter Horti offers is its signature terra cotta pot painted with an angular stripe across the bottom. We would appreciate seeing a greater variety of pot options, especially for gift purposes.

The best place to buy plants online as gifts

With lots of on-site search options and a colorful selection of chic ceramic planters available, this site is a great place to shop for an affordable houseplant to give as a gift (including for yourself).

Horti and Rooted ran neck and neck (stem to stem?) across several categories in our testing. Like Horti’s website, the Rooted site is easy to navigate and has an approachable vibe. Also like Horti, Rooted sent shipments that were thoroughly labeled on the outside and carefully packaged on the inside, resulting in a small, manageable amount of loose soil appearing in two of the three shipments we received.

Rooted is a similarly affordable plant site, with prices often just a few dollars above Horti’s. And as with Horti, we found that Rooted’s plants arrived in suitable soil that seemed to have been well tended to before shipping. Although a couple of the six plants we received looked less than perfect upon arrival, the majority received high marks from our testers on overall appearance.

One of the key factors that set Rooted apart from Horti is its planter selection. On many (though not all) of Rooted’s product pages, you have the option to add a minimalist-chic ceramic planter available in several colors, which we think makes Rooted the better choice for gift givers in comparison with Horti, although it would be better still if Rooted offered multiple styles of planters to choose from rather than a single style of planter available in multiple colors.

We ordered two golden pothos plants in a 4-inch nursery pot for $22 each, two small Laurentii snake plants in a 4-inch grow pot for $22 each, a Pilea peperomioides money plant in a 4-inch grow pot for $22, and a Zeylanica snake plant in a 4-inch grow pot with a pink ceramic planter for $55. Shipping cost extra, about $10 per order. We also paid $5 more per shipment for Rooted’s winter packaging , which includes a heat pack and a “cool-shield thermal wrap.” (The wrap kind of looks like those foil sheets that marathoners drape themselves in after a race.)

The site offers superior searchability. Rooted goes above and beyond the search filters we deemed important when testing for this guide. The site’s top-of-page drop-down menu groups plants into the usual categories of pet friendly , low light , rare , and the like, but also by space consideration, as in hanging plants , floor plants , shelf plants , bathroom plants , office plants , and so on. You can then filter each of those categories further by plant size, light, watering schedule, care level, humidity, and more—and that’s in addition to the standard sort-by bar on the right side of the page, which lets you sort alphabetically, by price, and by other factors.

The plants make a good first impression. Especially for gift-giving purposes, we wanted to see plants that arrived looking happy and healthy. Although we spotted some imperfections on the plants we received from Rooted, the company ranked first overall when we compared how many of a company’s plants made a favorable first impression on our testers versus a lackluster one. One tester said the snake plant she received from Rooted “looks better than most I’ve seen.” Another tester said that the plants were on the small side, but that they were “nice and healthy in appearance.” One of our golden pothos plants arrived with a yellowed leaf, as well as some leaves with black edges, but overall it looked bright-eyed and bushy-tailed straight out of the box and was even sporting some new growth.

The ceramic planters come with organic potting mix. When you add a ceramic planter to your order, the company throws in a small bag of all-purpose potting mix, which we think rounds out a gift order nicely.

We saw evidence of pests. We spotted only a couple of signs of common houseplant pests during our testing, but one Rooted golden pothos had multiple spider mite strings attached. We didn’t see any mites, which means the bugs could have visited this plant in the nursery and then moved on, but even so, our tester who found the spider mite strings on her Rooted golden pothos said, “I would quarantine this plant.” (For more on why quarantining is a good idea for any new plant, see “ Tips for taking care of a new houseplant ” below.) Spider mites can do cosmetic damage to a houseplant but are rarely lethal, so they’re more of an inconvenience than an existential threat. Getting rid of them can be as easy as forcefully spraying a plant’s leaves with warm water a few times; if that doesn’t work, the University of Minnesota extension office has some other good advice for how to get rid of spider mites .

Easy-care plants are hard to find. While we were impressed by Rooted’s search functions, the main drop-down menu doesn’t include an easy-care category, which might be of great use to plant newbies. The site has a “No Sweat'' filter, but finding it takes a few more clicks; look for it under “Care Level” on any category page.

The included care literature is lacking. Our shipments from Rooted provided a QR code printed on a flier that takes you to an online FAQ page. However, as one of our testers noted, the FAQ page “is not particularly helpful for caring for the actual plants you received.”

This guide is intended for the relatively novice houseplant hobbyist who wants to buy from a reliable and reasonably affordable online plant shop that helps them expand their green-thumb knowledge. It’s also for the gift giver who may not be very familiar with houseplants but still wants to impress and delight a plant lover by sending them a lovely-looking bit of greenery while also feeling confident in their purchase.

Although our picks would certainly suit plant lovers of all levels of expertise, veteran plant owners may prefer more niche or specialized online purveyors. In addition, one of the benefits of learning how to properly select and care for houseplants is that you may eventually feel up to the challenge of growing houseplants from seeds or bare-root shipments, which tend to cost significantly less than full-grown plants shipped in potted soil.

I have kept a houseplant-filled home for the past seven or so years and previously wrote about my houseplant passion in a Wirecutter article on where to find houseplants on the cheap .

To help test and review houseplant shipments for this guide, I recruited four of the biggest green thumbs on Wirecutter’s editorial staff, including associate staff writer Ellen Airhart, who has written extensively about houseplants for Popular Science, and deputy audience director of search Sebastian Compagnucci, who has covered gardening for Wirecutter and shares his native-plant knowledge on Instagram .

I also interviewed three houseplant experts to help inform our testing strategies: Darryl Cheng , author of The New Plant Collector: The Next Adventure in Your House Plant Journey ; Nick Cutsumpas , author of Plant Coach: The Beginner’s Guide to Caring for Plants and the Planet ; and Jane Perrone , author of Legends of the Leaf: Unearthing the Secrets to Help Your Plants Thrive .

After combing Reddit’s r/houseplants subreddit , reading dozens of online reviews, and polling Wirecutter staffers on the plant-delivery services they’ve used, we identified 22 of the most popular and most recommended places to buy plants online. We eliminated any specialty sites, such as those that sell only succulents or rare, tropical plants.

We then combed through each remaining company’s website in search of user-friendly features that can help create a fun, fast, and fruitful shopping experience, whether the shopper wants to send a plant as a gift or buy one for their own collection. Those features included:

• Nationwide shipping or shipping throughout the contiguous 48 US states: Due to phytosanitary restrictions, a few of the plant purveyors we surveyed stated on their websites that they do not ship to Arizona and/or California.
• Search filters: Customers should be able to shop for easy-care, low-light, pet-friendly, or rare plants, as well as gifts, and to find those categories easily. Some sites used different wording for these categories, such as “hard to kill” or “low maintenance” instead of “easy care,” which we accounted for.
• Product descriptions that include a plant’s common name (such as “snake plant”) as well as its scientific name (such as Sansevieria ): With both names present, most shoppers can feel comfortable about making an informed purchasing decision regardless of how much or how little plant knowledge they may possess. Seeing both names of a plant is also an easy way for buyers to learn more about their hobby as they expand their plant collections.
• Plants sold in different sizes: This gives customers more options when they’re selecting plants for particular spaces in their homes.
• The option to easily add a planter to a purchase if desired: Ideally, the buyer can do so without having to go searching for a planter on another page of the site. This feature can be particularly helpful for someone who is buying a plant as a gift.

From each of the five services that best met the above criteria, we ordered six popular plants: three snake plants, plus three pothos or Chinese money plants, depending on what was in stock. (We did not test indoor trees for this guide, but we have tested and recommended the Meyer lemon tree from Fast Growing Trees in a gift guide.) We chose those species because we wanted to test plants of different shapes and sizes; snake plants are typically tall, with sturdy leaves that stand up straight, while pothos plants usually sport long vines of trailing leaves that are much more malleable and delicate. When the pothos plants were unavailable, we chose the money plants as a next-best option.

We had the plants shipped to our office in Long Island City, New York, as well as to testers in Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Washington, and we unboxed them as quickly as possible after their arrival.

We tested each shipment on the following criteria:

• Lots of labels: In addition to the government-mandated agricultural certificate that should be affixed to the box’s exterior, we looked for an abundance of labels that increased the chances that the package would be delivered with care (“This Side Up,” “Fragile,” “Live Plants Inside,” and the like).
• Unboxing duration and messiness: “If a houseplant shipment is well packed, it should take you quite a long time to get it open,” Jane Perrone told us. “If you’ve opened it in a minute, it’s probably not very well packed.” To test this, we timed how long it took us to open the packages. We also noted whether any soil escaped from the enclosed pots while in transit, resulting in a messy unboxing.
• Pests on leaves or in soil: We searched for signs of scale, spider mites (or their webbing), fungus gnats, and other common houseplant pests, especially on the undersides of leaves and within the soil, which we did by fully de-potting the plant.
• Plant damage: We noted any bent stems, ripped leaves, crispy edges, blackened tips (which could be a sign of cold damage), yellowing, or brown spots we found.
• Soil suitability and moisture level: We assessed whether the potting medium that the plants arrived in was suitable for their long-term vitality. Were the snake plants potted in a cactus- or succulent-friendly soil? Were the pothos and money plants in a more moisture-retentive medium? We also noted when plants arrived in soil that was too dry or too wet. “The soil should be moist when you get it,” Darryl Cheng said. “Unless it’s a cactus, every other plant will need to have some moisture in there during transit.” (A nice touch we looked for was when plants were prepped for shipping with a damp paper towel tucked atop the soil.)
• Heat packs: We purchased our plants in January 2024 during a particularly cold stretch of winter . Because of this, whenever we had the option to add a heat pack to our order, we did so.
• Care instructions: Because we want plant purchasers to feel well informed about how to best care for their new plants, we confirmed whether the plants arrived with helpful information on how to tend to that particular kind of plant, or with QR codes that would make that information easily accessible in a digital format.
• Overall appearance: Our testers shared feedback on the look of each plant (pert, spiffy, droopy, sad), as well as whether they would be happy to give or receive each plant as a gift, based on the condition it arrived in.
• Price: For people who may want to purchase several houseplants, we took affordability into account. Hard data on the cost of houseplants is quite difficult to come by, but in 2023, the houseplant blog Simplify Plants estimated an average of $23 a plant . (Lowe’s seems to more or less concur, stating in the FAQ section of its online plant listings that “a typical price for houseplants is $26.”) Considering how many ways plants can be acquired for free or just a few bucks (propagating, swapping with friends, growing from seeds), we believe that a retail plant seller should offer a competitive price.

We were eager to test Bloomscape , which met our criteria for website user-friendliness. However, when we ordered plants in mid-January 2024, the company informed us that it was placing a “ weather hold ” on shipments due to a stretch of subfreezing temperatures across many parts of the US. In a follow-up email, Bloomscape told us that we would need to reorder once temperatures improved, but it didn’t give us guidelines for when that might be. (Other services we tested delayed our orders temporarily and then put them through automatically once temperatures became less extreme.) Although we appreciate that Bloomscape was attuned to the needs of its live plants, its policies left us unable to test them this time around. We hope to add them to our testing for future iterations of this guide.

Perhaps the best known online plant purveyor out there, The Sill boasts an enticing online interface that easily met our expectations for a user-friendly platform. Its plants, though often on the small side, arrived showing no signs of pests and the least amount of damage—except for one pothos that arrived in a particularly blemished and bedraggled state. It had several black tips along the edges of its stems and leaves, as well as an alarming amount of brown spots on the undersides of multiple leaves.

We contacted the company through its press-inquiry email address to ask about the cause of the spots, accompanied by photos, and were told they were most likely a result of cold damage—despite the fact that The Sill’s heat packs were the best-performing of the bunch, with two of our testers noting that the packs were still “warm” or “very warm” upon arrival. The email also stated, “Given the small size and spread of those spots, this looks like minor cold damage [and] it’s most likely that the plant will make a full recovery.” Still, they offered to send us a new plant as part of their 30-Day Happiness Guarantee , which we appreciate.

The Sill also performed poorly in our packaging tests: Its shipments were not well labeled in comparison with those from other companies, and two of our Sill orders arrived with lots of loose dirt knocking around the inside of the box. (In both cases, we suspect that a lack of “This Side Up” labels may have been to blame.) Meanwhile, one of the money plants we received from The Sill arrived with soil so damp that our tester noted, “It almost seems overwatered.” The biggest drawback to The Sill, though, is the pricing: For example, a pothos plant in a 4-inch plastic nursery pot cost $48, more than twice as much as a similar-size pothos from Horti, Leaf & Clay, or Rooted.

Leaf & Clay finished in the middle of our testing pack. The plants looked healthy and pretty and came potted in suitable soil, although one snake plant arrived in soil that was inexplicably wet. However, we found other features to be lacking. Its packages didn’t have a lot of helpful labels on the outside or care literature on the inside. During the ordering process, we did not see an option to add heat packs to our orders, although, unlike with Lively Root (see below), none of our Leaf & Clay plants arrived showing signs of frostbite. Leaf & Clay’s packages didn’t take particularly long to open, which is perhaps why two of our snake plants arrived with loose soil spilled around the interior of the box. In one of our Leaf & Clay shipments, we found spider mite strings, but no actual mites. We’ve reached out to Leaf & Clay for comment about these issues but did not receive a response before press time.

Although Lively Root claims in a 2021 blog post that it ships plants when needed in a thermal blanket, a thermal wrap, and a “72-hour heat pack” to prevent cold damage, we did not see any such options during our ordering and checkout process when placing our three orders in early 2024, and at least one of our plants suffered for it. A snake plant arrived showing signs of cold damage, with two of its leaves appearing wrinkly, spongy, and wilted . In the days and weeks following that plant’s arrival, those leaves slowly died.

We were also flummoxed by the company’s “ dirt bags ,” which each potted plant arrived in. These fabric drawstring pouches are purportedly meant to “prevent soil spills during your plant’s journey to their new home.” However, two of our Lively Root snake plants arrived a total mess, with an excess of soil that had seemingly been flung all over the boxes’ interiors while in transit. These setbacks were particularly dismaying, as our testers were otherwise quite impressed by Lively Root’s plants, particularly the snake plants. As one tester put it: “It’s sad, because the snake plant is the nicest of the three I received.” We’ve contacted Lively Root for comment about these issues but did not receive a response before press time.

Ideally, any plant you order will arrive at your door in tip-top shape—but even if it does, administering a little hands-on TLC can give it the best shot at thriving in your new home. Here are some to-dos that our experts recommended:

Repot it in an ideal growing medium. “Sometimes plant providers will not sell the plant in the correct soil that it should be in, so as a matter of practice, I always will repot a new plant in fresh soil,” Nick Cutsumpas said. Even if you feel good about the soil your plant arrived in (as we did with our Horti and Rooted shipments), there are worthwhile reasons to repot a plant upon receipt. Repotting can ensure that the soil is properly packed, or that the plant isn’t already root-bound and in need of a larger pot to call home. In our testing, some plants were so loosely potted that they practically fell right out of the soil, while others were clearly ready to be upsized into a larger container.

Check for pests. Once you’ve unpotted your plant, inspect it closely with a magnifying glass or the Magnifier app on on iPhone for spider mites, mealybugs, and scale. (Fungus gnats and root mealybugs can also be a problem, but since they live in soil, you can chalk them up as another reason to repot your plant in fresh soil upon arrival.) A preferred hiding place for many bugs is the underside of leaves, Custsumpas said, as well as where each leaf meets the stem. Darryl Cheng added, “If you see any sort of little spot or dot on a leaf, try to flick it away or blow it off. If it was something like a piece of dust, it’ll just fly off, but if it’s thrips, mealybugs, scale, spider mite shells, or spider mites themselves, it won’t leave.” Another trick: If you see a speck of soil that seems to be hanging off a leaf as if by magic, it’s likely attached via a spider mite string, which tends to be invisible.

Quarantine your plant. Even if you haven’t found any pests on your plant, quarantining it in a room with no other plants gives you a chance to double-check it and possibly prevent a full-on infestation. Cutsumpas recommends that owners of new plants quarantine them for at least a week and continue to be on the lookout for pests, but once you become adept at knowing what you’re looking for, you can reduce that stretch to three or four days.

If you’re fortunate enough to have an independently owned plant shop nearby, we recommend checking that out as a first option for your plant-buying needs. Ideally, you can establish a relationship with the proprietors or employees there, and they can help you make informed, enjoyable, and personalized purchasing decisions.

Great customer service isn’t the only reason to shop small, however. A plant that has spent some time living on the shelf of a plant shop has hopefully received attentive, hands-on care ever since it arrived from the nursery—and, just as important, has had time to adjust to your local climate.

“A plant that’s been in a similar environment to your home is going to be less likely to experience shock once it’s there,” Jane Perrone said. She added that commercial plant nurseries, where several online plant companies ship from, are typically much more brightly lit and kept at hotter temperatures than the average house or apartment.

As for big-box retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe’s, though they usually have hundreds of houseplants in stock at relatively low prices, in our personal experience we’ve found that those plants are often in shoddy condition.

This article was edited by Alexander Aciman and Catherine Kast.

Meet your guide

Rose Maura Lorre

Rose Maura Lorre is a senior staff writer on the discovery team at Wirecutter. Her byline has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, Salon, Business Insider, HGTV Magazine, and many more. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, and lots and lots of houseplants.

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