You can buy prepaid data for your mobile hotspot and then use it as you go, or sign up for a monthly plan that gives you a set amount of data each month. Plus, you’ll pay more for each GB of data than you will with most other types of internet. All data-only hotspot plans limit the amount of data you can use. There are no unlimited mobile hotspot device plans (yup, you read that right-you’ll have to use a cell phone plan like we mentioned earlier if you’re interested in getting unlimited data). However, if you’re thinking about using a mobile hotspot instead of getting a dedicated home internet connection, we recommend against it. Many plans let you choose how much data you want to pay for each month, which can be handy if you travel seasonally and don’t need a lot of data year-round. But the more devices you have connected at once, the slower your data speeds will be. If you have a mobile hotspot device, you can provide Wi-Fi to five or more devices. Public hotspots are less reliable than carrying your own hotspot with you and are less secure, but they can be helpful in a pinch. A public hotspot could be a free public Wi-Fi zone, Wi-Fi offered to customers by a business, or a network of Wi-Fi hotspots provided by an internet provider (such as Xfinity’s Wi-Fi hotspot network).

Public hotspots are also connectivity options when you’re traveling.

Some plans give you a lot more data than others.

Many mobile plans allow you to share a limited amount of data with another device, like a laptop.

The hotspot feature on your mobile phone is another way to get internet access on a tablet or laptop while you’re away from home.

Learn more by checking out our reviews of top mobile hotspot devices. Popular for travel, hotspot devices give you internet access wherever you have cellular service.

Mobile hotspot devices are portable, pocket-sized modems that are paired with a cellular data plan from Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T.

A hotspot is a Wi-Fi connection that allows you to connect laptops, tablets, and other devices to the internet while you are traveling or away from your home network.Ī hotspot can refer to any of the following:

-baidu wifi hotspot