Are you a digital nomad or a business professional mulling over a reliable way to stay online while you are on the move? Having a 4G LTE router with a SIM card slot by your side can keep your connectivity issues at bay. Looking for a device with an easy setup? Do you want to control the usage from the comfort of your mobile?
The article takes you through some of the high-quality SIM card routers that not only support higher download speeds, but a few of them also feature a telephone port. You can even put apprehensions of running out of battery life at rest. And you get to access the reports & manage the network quickly via the on-device display that displays quick information.
These are not the only features available in the modern-day 4G LTE routers. A thorough analysis of the mobile routers with SIM cards leads to a list of devices that have more to offer. Additional security options, VPN support, wired connectivity accompanied by the ability to share the network with multiple devices, share the limelight amongst the rest.
Table of Contents
- 8 Best Routers with SIM Card Slot in 2023
- 1. Best 4G Router: Netgear AC797-100NAS
- 2. Best Runner Up: Huawei B311-521
- 3. Best Cellular Router for Home: Cudy LT400
- 4. Best Travel Router: TP-LINK M7350
- 5. Best 4G Router for Rural Areas: KuWFi CPF908
- 6. Best for Calling: Yeacomm YF-P21-Black
- 7. Best for Ease of Use: ZTE Velocity MF923
- 8. Best with WAN Port: Dionlink N300
- Things to Consider When Buying A Sim Card Router
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Verdict
8 Best Routers with SIM Card Slot in 2023
I’ve narrowed down the initial list of over 35 devices to my top 8 recommendations. The LTE routers featured here are ranked based on speed limits, the number of devices they can support, wired connectivity options & security features.
The ulterior motive is to find a good value for every penny spent within your budget, not having to compromise on the essential requirements.
1. Best 4G Router: Netgear AC797-100NAS
A handy 4G SIM card router that fits into your pocket, packed with powerful features to support multiple devices. Higher download speeds, simultaneous dual-band operations with a multitude of security features put Netgear AC797-100NAS at the top of the recommendation list.
Why is it a suitable option?
With simultaneous dual-band operation, this Netgear SIM card router can support up to 400 Mbps download speeds. It works with major service providers like AT&T and T-Mobile using the recent 4G LTE Bands B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B12/B14/B29/B30/B66.
Coverage & Device Allocation
The aggregate speeds of 1200 Mbps allow up to 15 devices to operate simultaneously. It can cover smaller households with 2/3 partitions.
Battery Life
A 2930 mAh battery comes with a micro-USB charging port and takes over 3 hours for a full charge. Long battery life of 11 hours leaves you with seamless internet connectivity during long working hours.
Design & Ports
The rectangular matte-finish black color chassis comes with a 1.7-inch LCD screen and compact design measuring 4.33 x 2.68 x 0.61 inches. It weighs 0.31 pounds and comes with a micro-SIM slot and a Micro USB 2.0 port that acts as a charging port.
Security & Other Features
You can manage the network from your mobile through the Netgear Mobile App. The 4G router with SIM slot also comes with a multitude of security features. Guest WiFi, VPN support, NAT firewalls, content & access filters make this a valuable purchase.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best 4G LTE router with a SIM card slot to keep the family connected to the internet on vacations and picnics, Netgear AC797 is a solid option. High aggregate speeds, security features, and ease of management keep it above the strong competitor in Huwaei.
- 4G with 2 Band Carrier Aggregation
- Simultaneous dual-band
- 2×2 MIMO
- Guest WiFi
- Long Battery life
- Pricey
2. Best Runner Up: Huawei B311-521
The presence of ethernet port and a telephone port make Huawei B311-521 a valuable buy. Despite the lack of battery backup, the WiFi router with SIM card slot and LAN comes at a very attractive price without compromising the features warranting inclusion in my list.
Why is it a suitable option?
The router with SIM card slot supports the FDD LTE bands (B2/B4/B5/B7/B28/B66), UMTS, and GSM bands and works with service providers across the world. It comes with download speeds of 150Mbps and maximum upload speeds of 50Mbps.
Coverage & Device Allocation
Huawei claims that the LTE router can support up to 32 devices while operating at a single band. It comes with an external antenna that can extend its coverage up to 800-1000 sq ft depending on the environment.
Battery Life
The Huawei B311-521 misses a battery backup. It requires an active power supply to function.
Design & Ports
It’s not the most compact portable SIM card router on the market. Weighing close to 0.50 pounds, the plain white body has LED indicators are on the front and measures 7.12 x 4.96 x 2.75 in dimensions. It has a mini-SIM card slot, an Ethernet port, and a telephone port. Make quality voice calls and stream HD content with stable wired connectivity options.
Security & Other Features
Huawei offers web-based and mobile App based management. It offers essential security features like inbuilt VPN support, encrypted passwords, & NAT firewalls.
Conclusion
Do you need WiFi connectivity to your guesthouse or your annex without physical wiring? Huawei B311 offers the suitable alternative with the right set of features, speed, and connectivity options that makes it a tough competitor for the top of the list.
- Telephone port
- Ethernet port
- Huwaei App based Management
- Connector for External Antenna
- One band operation
- No battery backup
3. Best Cellular Router for Home: Cudy LT400
Do you have a printer or a storage drive to be connected on your home network? If yes, then Cudy LT400 is one of the few SIM-based routers that come with a USB port. Read on to know if it’s the one you were looking for.
Cudy brings you stable wired connectivity with a good selection of LAN ports and a powerful antenna setup to extend the network coverage. The wireless router comes with a SIM card slot and WAN port, making Cudy LT400 a good cellular router for home.
Why is it a suitable option?
The Cudy LTE router is compatible with mobile service operators like AT&T and T-Mobile. Depending on the service area, the SIM card router supports operators using FDD & TDD bands, WCDMA & GSM. It supports download speeds of 150Mbps and maximum upload speeds of 50Mbps.
Coverage & Device Allocation
The device operates in the 2.4GHz band and can ease through 10 simultaneous connections. At the helm of external antennas, the routing device can cover wifi signals up to 1500 sq ft.
Battery Life
Another one of the devices that comes without a battery backup. It comes with a power adapter and requires a constant power supply to operate.
Design & Ports
The shiny black angled design makes this device resemble a modern device. It weighs 1.54 pounds and measures 9.06 x 5.75 x 8.27 inches with 4 external antennas extended. You‘ll find a micro-SIM slot, a USB 2.0 port, 3 100 Mbps LAN ports, and a 100Mbps WAN port on its rear.
Security & Other Features
Web-based customization portal comes with access to NAT firewalls, parental controls, port forwarding configuration, and inbuilt support for VPN protocols. The WPA2 encryption standards offer protection against any unauthorized usage.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a wireless router with the flexibility of both WAN & SIM-based connectivity, Cudy LT400 will fit right into your requirements. The wired connectivity, flexibility, and price advantage put it above the TP-Link Mobile hotspot.
- USB port
- WAN & LAN ports
- High-powered antennas
- Guest network
- WMM
- No battery backup
4. Best Travel Router: TP-LINK M7350
An intuitive display, wireless data sharing, and adequate device capacity make TP-LINK M7350 a valuable travel router that takes SIM card. Dual-band operation, good battery backup, and expandable storage put this SIM card internet router on my list of recommendations.
Why is it a suitable option?
Compatible with mobile carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile, the TP-LINK M7350 is compatible with providers using LTE FDD, 3G, and GSM networks. It can rake up to 150Mbps download speeds and 50Mbps upload speeds with a strong signal strength.
Coverage & Device Allocation
Operating in dual-band, the universal 4G LTE WiFi router with SIM card slot can support 15 devices. The internal antennas ensure the device can distribute signals across a small household.
Battery Life
A 2550 mAh battery offers a good battery life to support long hours of data access. You’ll get 10 hours of battery life while you are on the move with balanced usage. A micro-USB port acts as a fast-charging point.
Design & Ports
The compact routing unit comes in a dual-tone black and gray finish weighing 0.27 pounds and measuring 4.2 x 2.6 x 0.6 inches. A standard SIM port and a microSD card slot expandable up to 32GB is found on the rear end of the device that houses internal antennas.
Security & Other Features
With WPA2 encryption, MAC filtering options available for security, the TP-Link allows management, SMS facilities, and customization through the Mobile App & web-based portal. A small LCD unit portrays information on battery life, new SMS, signal strength & speeds.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a SIM card internet router that has battery backup and expandable storage, TP-Link M7350 fits right into your profile. If not for its price, it would be much closer to the top spot in the recommendations.
- Dual-band
- Long battery life
- SD Card Reader
- Compact
- Expensive
5. Best 4G Router for Rural Areas: KuWFi CPF908
What sets apart KuWFi is the flexibility that comes with dual-mode of connectivity. A WiFi router with SIM and LAN slots can be used in tandem with your home internet to boost your performance and as a portable SIM card router. The aggressive pricing makes KuWFi CPF908 affordable, warranting inclusion in my recommendation.
Why is it a suitable option?
The 4G LTE router works with service providers using the FDD LTE Bands B2/B4/B5/B12/B17 and the previous generation standards of WCDMA and GSM networks. It can achieve high download speeds of 150Mbps & upload speeds of 50Mbps in an ideal 4G environment.
Coverage & Device Allocation
Operating at a single band, the device can share its 300Mbps aggregate capacity with 10 devices. The presence of internal antennas translates to a coverage spanning up to 2 rooms in a small household.
Battery Life
One essential part the KuWFi misses out on is battery backup. The device requires a constant power supply, limiting your connectivity during the commute.
Design & Ports
The white rectangular unit comes with a color LCD on its front. Measuring 4.13 x 4.51 x 0.89 inches and lightweight of 0.40 pounds, the unit accommodates internal antennas. You’ll find the Micro-SIM card slot and the Ethernet port on the rear end.
Security & Other Features
With WPA2 encryption standards to protect from unauthorized usage, it allows you to customize the setting through a web-based interface. The LCD panel has access to incoming messages, signal strength, data statistics, and other essential information.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a good 4G router for rural areas, the KuWFi CPF908 is an excellent option. The dual-mode portable unit for flexibility and extending your home network will do the work for you. The price advantage puts the mobile WiFi router just below the TP-Link mobile hotspot.
- Dual-mode operation
- Affordable
- High-gain internal antennas
- Web-based management
- No battery
6. Best for Calling: Yeacomm YF-P21-Black
Wired connectivity, voice calling support, and and USB ports give this portable WiFi router a unique edge over its competitors. Support of multiple modes gives the flexibility of using Yeacomm YF-P21-Black as a backup at your home or a portable hotspot device for your cabins, RV, which justifies its appearance in the list.
Why is it a suitable option?
Compatible with mobile operators supporting both FDD (B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B28) and TDD (38/39/40/41), the device can rake up to 150Mbps download speeds & 50Mbps upload speeds. It works with prominent players like T-Mobile among other service providers like H2O wireless, Straight talk, etc.
Coverage & Device Allocation
This is one of the few SIM card routers that can support up to 32 devices connected to the network. Credit to the external antennas, it extends its range up to 1500 sq ft.
Battery Life
Yeacomm misses out on offering a battery backup, which puts it at a disadvantage to other hotspot devices’ top of the list.
Design & Ports
The compact, perforated black body has two external antennas attached to its rear. You’ll find 2 telephone ports, 4 LAN ports, a USB port, and a standard SIM port just below the antennas. The LED indicators on the front show nature of connectivity, power status, and signal strength.
Security & Other Features
Yeacomm 4G LTE comes with an easy setup. The unit includes inbuilt VPN support. The band locking function allows you to maintain a stable signal quality for data-laden activities and voice calls.
Conclusion
Do you require a make-shift voice calling setup for your guest house? Yeacomm gives you a plethora of wired connectivity and flexibility at a very competitive price. The absence of a battery backup puts it behind the KuWFi mobile WiFi router.
- Ethernet port
- Telephone port
- USB Connectivity
- External antennas
- No battery backup
7. Best for Ease of Use: ZTE Velocity MF923
A handy LTE router with SIM slot and long battery life is what you might need when you are frequently on the move. You’ll have internet connectivity without relying on the power supply or WiFi. One of the major factors that warrant the ZTE Velocity MF923 device inclusion to our list.
Why is it a suitable option?
The pocket With with SIM card operates on LTE Bands 2/4/5/17/29 and 3G bands, too. It can reach support high download speeds of 150Mbps and upload speeds of 50Mbps with mobile service providers like AT&T and T-Mobile operating on the 4G bands.
Coverage & Device Allocation
A dual-band operation can accommodate up to 10 devices without affecting or throttling the bandwidth. It can cover areas measuring up to 750-1000 sq ft, contingent on the interference.
Battery Life
A 2800mAh battery translates to seamless internet connectivity. With optimal usage, the travel router can last up to 10 hours without interrupting the connectivity while you are traveling.
Design & Ports
The lightweight, compact unit weighs 0.30 pounds and measures 2.5 x 0.7 x 4.5 inches in dimensions. The LCD Colour display on the front carries the requisite information, including signal strength, SSID, data usage, battery life, and notification for incoming messages.
Security & Other Features
Configure WPA2 standard password, and hide networks to protect your network from any unauthorized usage and data loss. Login to the admin portal to read SMS and access other data-related reports available at your disposal.
Conclusion
Are you looking for WiFi router that uses SIM card and an uncomplicated setup and dual-band operation to support multiple devices? ZTE Velocity will be a handy device. Its price point keeps it closer to the bottom half of the list below the Yeacomm mobile router.
- Long battery life
- Dual-band
- Lightweight, Compact
- LCD
- No Mobile app
8. Best with WAN Port: Dionlink N300
The wired connectivity options with the presence of WAN and LAN ports make Dionlink N300 a solid backup unit for your home. High-gain antennas offer a strong coverage, adding more value to the routing unit, justifying their presence in my list.
Why is it a suitable option?
Working in tandem with prominent mobile carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile, the portable router works in both TDD & FDD bands. Operating on 4G bands, it achieves download speeds of 150Mbps and uploads speeds of 50Mbps, contingent on signal availability and interference.
Coverage & Device Allocation
The presence of antennas ensures wide coverage of over 2500 sq ft. The unit can accommodate up to 32 devices.
Battery Life
The main reason that puts the routing unit at the bottom half is the absence of battery backup, limiting the flexibility of use.
Design & Ports
The bulky unit comes in blue plastic chassis weighing 1.05 pounds and measuring 10.3 x 9.3 x 2.1 inches in dimensions. You’ll find 4 external antennas towering from the rear half. The unit houses a standard SIM slot, 2 Ethernet ports, and a WAN port on the backside.
Security & Other Features
Dionlink comes with limited security options. You’ll find options to manage and set up the device through the web-based admin portal.
Conclusion
Need a backup device with wired connectivity? Dionlink finds the right combination with extended coverage to accommodate more devices. If not for its lack of battery backup, it would find a place above the ZTE unit.
- WAN port
- Ethernet ports
- External Antennas
- Parental controls
- Bulky unit
- Not battery backup
Things to Consider When Buying A Sim Card Router
Consider the following factors before narrowing it down to a wireless router that comes with a SIM card slot. Understand your requirements, look out for the selection criterion mentioned in the guide and make an informed decision.
Carrier Compatibility
When looking for a sim-based WiFi router, the most essential factor to consider is the type of network carrier supported. The network providers constantly upgrade the technology to improve the quality. Look for a device that’s compatible with multiple service providers.
Using a CDMA-based device might limit you to use a single network provider. The carriers use different methodologies like TDD and FDD for communicating. Getting the right generation of the device with compatible technology will let you get the best out of the data speeds.
Download & Upload Speeds
The download & upload speeds of a portable WiFiWi-Fi router depend on your mobile service provider. Choosing a device with higher speeds and the latest technology would minimize the necessity of frequent upgrades and its chances to become obsolete. Ensure the device supports the latest 4G LTE network.
Coverage & Devices Support
If you plan to purchase a router for multiple devices, the device handling capacity becomes paramount. A SIM-supported router operating in simultaneous dual-band with higher aggregated speeds is prone to support more devices.
Any 4G router with SIM slot limited to single band operation or lowered aggregated speeds will limit the performance. Sharing the network to more devices will lead to the throttling of bandwidth available at your disposal.
Battery Life
The battery life becomes paramount when looking for a portable-friendly SIM router. Higher battery capacity with fast charging ability will come in handy while you are constantly on the move. A battery life of over 8 hours will be an excellent criterion to start.
Installation & Management
Most mobile WiFi routers with SIM card slot are easy to set up, while some require additional software installation. Some routers come with a display that makes setting up and management a tad easier. The premium side of the market offer support for mobile app-based management and comprehensive control over the network.
Security & Other Features
Security is an essential part of any networking device. Encrypted passwords, support for multiple VPN protocols, creating guest networks, and access to the admin portal are critical. Ethernet ports & Telephone ports can come in handy if you prefer wired connectivity.
If you share the network to multiple devices, high-powered antennas play an essential role. The presence of signal strength indicator and LCD unit can improve their utility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes and No. While 4G LTE can fill in for the essential requirements in the absence of a WiFi network, it may not be able to support a full-fledged home. Data-laden activities like streaming, and online gaming can overload the processing unit, leading to performance issues over time.
An LTE WiFi router with SIM card slot also comes with an inbuilt LTE broadband modem. It uses a sim card to access the internet via the mobile service provider’s network. The quality of the internet and speeds depend on the device used, the coverage, penetration & the technology deployed by your mobile service provider.
Netgear AC797 is probably the best LTE router available in the market. Higher download speeds, dual-band operation, long battery life, and mobile app-based management makes it a valuable buy.
The routers with SIM card slot offers the freedom of taking the connectivity with you. Although the quality depends on the signal strength and availability, you cannot undermine the flexibility to switch between service providers with ease. Drastic improvements in technology can make 4G networks a worthy alternative.
Verdict
Having a mobile WiFi router with sim card comes in handy when looking for connectivity in rural areas. While it depends on the network coverage and depth, the recent improvements have made strides in improving connectivity and offering a range of choices.
- Go for Netgear AC797-100NAS or TP-LINK M7350 if you are looking for a user-friendly mobile app-based management.
- Choose between Huawei B311-521 and Yeacomm YF-P21 if you are looking for voice-calling support.
- The KuWFi CPF908 offers the right amount of features at an affordable price, making it one of the best budget options.
The 4G LTE compatible routers with inbuilt batteries are a solid backup to the home network as much as they are handy as a portable unit during your travels. Recent developments have closed in on the speed gaps, making them better value for money.
