T-Mobile, 4G LTE speeds (w/Alcatel Hotspot, 5G with compatible device) Data-only plans include US/Canada/Mexico use. Hotspot tethering on some "Unlimited" plans:ĪT&T, 4G LTE speeds (w/Turbo Hotspot, 5G with compatible device)Ĭricket is an AT&T Wireless brand that uses AT&T's network. "Simply Data" data-only plans (for hotspot use): $75 Unlimited Plus plan includes 10GB of mobile hotspot data. You may purchase a mobile hotspot add-on. Most AT&T prepaid voice plans allow data as a mobile hotspot (excluding the $65 unlimited plan). Pre-paid option called "AT&T PrePaid Mobile Hotspot". Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro: $12.78/mo, or Franklin A10 (4G LTE): $2.23/mo Mobile Network Used & Peak Speed on Hotspot Device Note that a few of the service providers do not sell hotspot devices, however, you should be able to use a mobile device as a hotspot (or potentially find and connect a dedicated hotspot device, if you prefer). Here is a list of the cheapest prepaid mobile hotspot plans I was able to find, including monthly/data costs, device costs, network used, and more. Your mileage may vary significantly based on your location. It’s worth noting that in recent speed tests, however, T-Mobile came in ahead of all other carriers, despite its perceived lesser reputation, with median download speeds close to double that of AT&T and Verizon. A mobile hotspot is worthless if the provider does not have strong coverage (preferably 5G or 4G LTE) where you live and frequently travel to. MVNOs do not own their own wireless spectrum and networks, they lease network access at wholesale prices from the big 3 and re-sell it to consumers.Īs you’re reviewing what the best cheapest mobile hotspot providers are, it’s important to note what network they run on. If you’re not one of these 3 mobile providers, you’re classified as a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO. When it comes down to it, as I highlighted in my cheapest prepaid plans post, there are really only 3 mobile national network operators left in the U.S. Mobile hotspots are cheap enough that, for power users, the benefits outweigh the cost of the device and the hassle of carrying a dedicated mobile hotspot device around. Devices that are dedicated as a wifi modem can provide a better experience. Reliably tethering to multiple devices: while some mobile phones can tether multiple devices, the more devices that are tethered, the worse the experience, with drops, etc.Free up your phone: a mobile hotspot lets you keep your phone free for taking calls, using apps, and doing other work without bogging it down.Battery life: mobile hotspots have a much longer lasting battery life than mobile phones used as data passthroughs, particularly tethered ones.And, there are a few other reasons why a dedicated mobile hotspot device can make sense for certain users than tethering: For those who are frequent hotspot users, a dedicated hotspot is more reliable than tethering from your phone. So, why would you want to buy a hotspot device (that is only a hotspot device) when you could just buy a mobile phone and tether it to your wifi devices for free? Unfortunately, today, no carriers offer unlimited data tethering on unlimited data plans without significantly pumping the brakes on speeds when you reach a certain data allotment. Many of the mobile wifi hotspot device providers below additionally have free hotspot tethering on their data plans, where you can connect wifi-enabled devices to your phone and use it as a data passthrough. Many of them enable a 4G LTE connection, though a few are starting to offer 5G speeds. Today’s dedicated hotspots are typically cheap, tiny, and can often connect somewhere between 3-15 wifi-enabled devices simultaneously. Through a mobile device such as a mobile phones or tablet, through hotspot tethering functionalityĪs I’ll discuss next, there is a difference in experience.
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