GL.iNet GL-A1300 Pocket VPN Travel Router
Bottom line: The GL.iNet GL-A1300 Pocket VPN Travel Router ($59.49 on Amazon as of 2026-10-06): OpenVPN and WireGuard preinstalled, compatible with 30+ VPN providers; main trade-off: toggle switch does nothing until you assign it in the admin panel.
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ OpenVPN and WireGuard preinstalled, compatible with 30+ VPN providers
- ✓ WireGuard hits 170 Mbps; OpenVPN tops out at 28 Mbps
- ✓ VPN kill switch cuts all traffic if the tunnel drops
- ✓ OpenWrt 21.02 firmware means you can install your own packages
- ✓ Physical toggle switch flips AdGuard Home or the VPN client on demand
Cons
- ✗ Toggle switch does nothing until you assign it in the admin panel
- ✗ 429g is heavy for a pocket router of this size
- ✗ 28 Mbps OpenVPN ceiling will bottleneck fast hotel connections
- ✗ USB storage needs your own external drive; none included
Manufacturer description
The GL.iNet GL-A1300 (Slate Plus) is a pocket-sized travel router built for people who refuse to trust hotel, cafe, or airport Wi-Fi. It runs OpenWrt 21.02 on an IPQ4018 quad-core CPU at 717MHz, delivering dual-band wireless at 400Mbps on 2.4GHz and 867Mbps on 5GHz. The draw here is the VPN stack: OpenVPN and WireGuard come pre-installed and work with 30+ commercial VPN providers, hitting up to 28 Mbps on OpenVPN and 170 Mbps on WireGuard. A VPN kill switch blocks all internet traffic if the tunnel drops, and VPN routing policies let you send one site through the tunnel while everything else…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored GL.iNet GL-A1300 Pocket VPN Travel Router using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the networking category. GL.iNet's networking lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for networking of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the GL-A1300 work with hotel Wi-Fi login pages?
Yes. Repeater mode connects the router to a public hotspot and passes the captive-portal login page through, so you sign in once at a hotel, cafe, airport, or RV park and every device behind the router gets online.
Which VPN providers does the Slate Plus support?
GL.iNet lists compatibility with 30+ VPN service providers. OpenVPN and WireGuard clients are both pre-installed, and the router can also run as a VPN server for connecting back to your home network.
How fast is the VPN on this router?
GL.iNet rates it at a maximum 28 Mbps on OpenVPN and 170 Mbps on WireGuard. Use WireGuard if your provider supports it - it is roughly six times faster on this hardware.
Can I block ads for every device on the network?
Yes. AdGuard Home is built in and blocks ads and trackers network-wide from the online admin panel, so no client-side software is needed on phones, laptops, or TVs connected to the router.
What comes in the box and is there a warranty?
The package includes the GL-A1300 (Slate Plus) router, a US-plug power adapter, an Ethernet cable, and a user manual, with a 1-year limited warranty. Check the product listing for current warranty terms in your region.
Key Features
- 【DUAL BAND AC WIRELESS ROUTER】 Dual band network with wireless speed 400Mbps(2.4G)+867Mbps(5G), Tethering Compatible. A highly stable and powerful IPQ4018 @717MHz CPU. PACKAGE CONTENTS: GL-A1300 (Slate Plus) router with 1-year limited warranty, power adapter (US Plug), Ethernet cable and user manual.
- 【OPEN SOURCE & PROGRAMMABLE】 Slate Plus runs on the latest OpenWrt 21.02 operating system and significantly reduced signal interference. You can customize the router and install applications based on your preferences.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】 OpenVPN and WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Max. VPN speed of 28 Mbps (OpenVPN); 170 Mbps (WireGuard)
- 【NETWORK STORAGE】Our network storage feature supports SAMBA and WebDav protocols. By plugging an external USB hard drive into the router, you can create a private network storage to store and share your documents.
- 【CAN BE WIDELY USED】 No matter you are at hotel, café, airport, restaurant, RV or other places, you could connect the router to the public WiFi hotspot and secure your connected devices. It is small and light, 118 x 84 x 33 mm (L*W*H) / 429g, which is very convenient to carry around while working or travelling.
- 【VPN INTERNET KILL SWITCH】 This is a countermeasure concept of activating a single shut off mechanism for all Internet traffic. If this feature is enabled, the router needs to run the a VPN client(OpenVPN or WireGuard) all the time, if any of the VPN client isn't running, the devices connected to the router are Not Allowed to access the Internet.
Full Specifications
| Brand | GL.iNet |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2.4g |
| Voltage | 5 volts |
| Coverage | Standard indoor coverage |
| Frequency | 5 GHz |
| Dimensions | 118 x 84 x 33 mm |
| Model Name | GL-A1300 |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Antenna Type | Fixed |
| Connectivity | Wireless, USB, WiFi, 2.4GHz |
| Model Number | GL-A1300 |
| Compatibility | Switch |
| Built-In Media | Ethernet Cable, GL-A1300 (Slate Plus) router with 2-year warranty, Power Adapter (US Plug), User Manual |
| Control Method | App |
| Connection Type | Wireless |
| Controller Type | Switch |
| Mfr Part Number | GL-A1300 |
| Number of Ports | 3 |
| Special Feature | Access Point Mode |
| Antenna Location | Home |
| Full listing title | GL.iNet GL-A1300 Pocket VPN Travel Router - Portable Wi-Fi Router for Travel, Easy to Set up, Connect to Public & Hotel Wi-Fi login Page | Built-in VPN client and server for 30+ providers, AdGuard Home ready for ad blocking, repeater mode for hotel and RV Wi-Fi |
Ready to buy?
GL.iNet GL-A1300 Pocket VPN Travel Router - Portable Wi-Fi Router for Travel, Easy to Set up, Connect to Public & Hotel Wi-Fi login Page | Built-in VPN client and server for 30+ providers, AdGuard Home ready for ad blocking, repeater mode for hotel and RV Wi-Fi is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
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