A mobile hotspot used to be one of the first things we packed. We’ve rented them, owned them and tested them across more than a decade of work trips, including a 22 day trip across seven European countries run entirely off a rented MiFi, back when the alternative was buying a SIM card at every border and deciphering the activation instructions in seven languages.
So it might surprise you that these days, most of our trips run off nothing more exotic than a phone with a good SIM or eSIM in it. The dedicated mobile hotspot has become a specialist tool. A very useful one for the right trip, but a specialist tool all the same.
That’s how we’ve structured this guide. Before recommending anything, we’ll help you work out whether you need a dedicated hotspot at all, or whether an eSIM or a short term rental would serve you better and cost you less. Then, for the trips where owning one wins, we share our six picks of the best mobile hotspots for travel, with every spec checked against the manufacturer’s own pages.
As professional travel bloggers, we used mobile hotspots throughout our years of full time travel, and being able to get online from a range of locations is still key to our business. In addition, as a former software developer with a degree in computer science, I have a passion for technology and like to keep up to date with the latest developments.
Table of Contents:
The Quick Answer: eSIM, Rental, or Your Own Hotspot?
For most solo travellers with a modern phone, a travel eSIM is the best way to get online abroad, and a dedicated mobile hotspot is not worth carrying. Where a hotspot earns its place is when several people or devices need to share one connection, when you’re on the road in a campervan, or when you travel often enough that renting stops making sense.
Here’s the short version:
- Travelling solo with a phone that takes an eSIM? Get an eSIM. See our full guide to the best travel eSIMs for our recommendations.
- One trip, under a month, with a partner, family or a laptop in tow? Rent a hotspot. Rentals start at under $2 a day, which surprises most people.
- Several trips a year, extended time abroad, or a campervan? Buy one. Our picks are below.
- Decent hotel Wi-Fi that only allows two devices? You want a travel router rather than a hotspot. We’ve included one of those in our picks too.
Should You Rent or Buy a Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot?
There are three realistic ways to get your devices online when you travel, beyond whatever roaming your phone contract includes: an eSIM in your phone, a rented hotspot, or a hotspot you own. Each one is the right answer for somebody, so rather than pretend our favourite option suits everyone, let’s take them in turn.
The eSIM Option, and Its Tethering Catch
If you travel alone and your phone supports eSIMs, a travel eSIM is cheaper than any hotspot option, weighs nothing, and setup is pretty much a five minute job. It’s what we use for most of our own trips now, and our travel eSIM guide covers the providers we recommend.
The catch comes when you try to share that connection. Phone tethering rules vary a lot by provider, and the differences matter. Holafly’s unlimited plans, for example, cap hotspot sharing at 1GB per day. Airalo puts no limit on tethering at all, but slows the whole plan to 1 Mbps once you’ve used 3GB in a day, which a laptop can manage before lunch.
So if your trip involves two people working off laptops, a family’s worth of tablets, or big photo uploads every evening, an “unlimited” eSIM can turn out to be quite a tight pipe. Tethering also drains a phone battery quickly. That reader, the one trying to push serious data through a shared connection, is exactly who dedicated hotspots still exist for.
Renting a Mobile Hotspot
Renting is the option that’s easiest to overlook, and it deserves better, because for a one-off trip it’s often the right call.
The rental market has consolidated onto fewer brands over the years rather than disappeared. Tep Wireless, a name some long-time travellers will remember, is now part of TravelWifi, which rents hotspots in over 200 countries with entry plans from $1.80 a day. In Japan and much of Asia the rental market is thriving, and Japan Wireless will deliver an unlimited-data hotspot to your hotel for $5.20 a day. GlocalMe also rents, with shipping within the US.
We’ve travelled this way ourselves. That 22 day, seven country European trip I mentioned at the top ran entirely off a rented MiFi (the unit was loaned to us for review), and the appeal was obvious from day one. We skipped the SIM hunt and the compatibility questions entirely, and setup amounted to turning it on. It worked on trains, in cities and in small towns, and the spare battery in the box meant we never ran dry. It cost more than buying local SIMs would have. It also saved us seven separate phone shop visits, and we considered that a bargain.
Renting suits a one-off trip of up to about a month. The device arrives pre-configured with data included, you use it, you send it back. The main thing you give up is long term value, which brings us to buying.
Buying Your Own Hotspot
Buying makes sense when hotspot use is a regular part of how you travel, not a one-off. Expect to pay roughly $100 to $500 for a current device. The mainstream travel models sit between $100 and $300, and the premium 5G units push towards $500. Netgear’s flagship, for reference, lists at $499.99 on Netgear’s own store.
Once you own the device, your ongoing cost is data. Depending on the model, that means the maker’s own global data plans, a local SIM card you buy at your destination, or an eSIM you load yourself. A device that accepts your own SIM is the most flexible long term, since local data is usually the cheapest data there is.
Ownership wins on multiple trips a year, on long stints abroad, and in campervans and motorhomes where the hotspot becomes part of the vehicle’s kit. It also wins if you want to control exactly which networks and data sources you use rather than taking whatever a rental company configured.
The Maths, Trip by Trip
The deciding factors are how many days of connectivity you’re buying, and for how many people and devices. Here’s the arithmetic across the common scenarios. Rental figures use TravelWifi’s $1.80 a day entry rate and Japan Wireless’s $5.20 a day unlimited rate; buying uses the $100 to $500 hardware band plus data.
| Your trip | eSIM | Renting | Buying | Our call |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo city break, one week, phone only | A few dollars, five minute setup | Overkill for one phone | Overkill for one phone | eSIM |
| Couple with laptops, two weeks in Europe | Tethering caps start to bite | From about $25 on an entry plan | $100+ before data | Rent |
| Family trip to Japan, ten days | One eSIM per person adds up | About $52, unlimited, delivered to your hotel | Rental wins on cost | Rent |
| Several international trips a year | Fine solo, caps bite when sharing | Costs repeat every trip | Pays for itself over time | Buy |
| Campervan, motorhome or long road trips | Phone tethering drains and drops | Rental periods don’t fit | The only option that fits the lifestyle | Buy |
| Hotel Wi-Fi that limits your devices | Doesn’t help | Doesn’t help | You want a travel router, around $45 | Travel router |
A $180 hotspot costs about the same as 100 days of entry-level rental, and that’s before you’ve bought any data for it. That’s the break-even to keep in mind. If your travel adds up to a few weeks a year of hotspot use, rent. If it’s more than that, or renting’s admin annoys you every single trip, buy once and be done.
As for us, we owned our hotspots outright during our full time travel years, and for that pattern of travel it was of course the more cost-effective option. These days, with shorter trips and eSIMs handling the solo work, the hotspot comes out for road trips and multi-device trips, and the maths above is exactly the maths we run.
Best Mobile Hotspots for Travel
If buying is the right call for you, these are our picks. Every device below was checked against the manufacturer’s own product pages and confirmed available at the time of writing, and each entry says plainly who it’s for and what the trade-off is. Five are true cellular hotspots; the last is a travel router, which solves a different problem, and we’ve been clear about the difference.
SIMO Solis Edge 5G – Best Overall for International Travel
SIMO is the company behind the Solis line, which started life as Skyroam, and their devices have been part of our kit recommendations for years. The Solis Edge is the current 5G model, and it’s our pick for most travellers because it removes every piece of admin from the process: there’s no SIM slot at all. The device uses SIMO’s built-in virtual SIM to connect automatically to the strongest of its 300+ partner networks, and you buy data through the companion app.
It comes with a useful amount of data in the box: a 30GB global pack valid for 30 days after activation, plus a lifetime allowance of 1GB per month, forever. The 30GB pack will comfortably cover a first trip; the monthly gigabyte is a nice safety net for light use after that.
Key specs, from SIMO’s own pages:
- 5G (Sub-6) with 4G fallback
- No SIM slot: SIMO virtual SIM only, data via the SIMO app
- Connects up to 10 devices
- 5,000 mAh battery
- 2.4 inch touchscreen
- Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz)
- Includes 30GB global data (30 day validity) plus 1GB per month for life
The trade-off is the mirror of the convenience. With no SIM slot, you can only ever use SIMO’s data plans, so check their rates for the countries you visit before committing. For travellers who want the simplest possible experience, that trade is well worth it.
Check current pricing here: Check price on Amazon. It’s also available direct from SIMO.
GlocalMe Numen Air 5G – Best for Flexibility
We recommended GlocalMe’s DuoTurbo on this page for years, and the Numen Air is the current flagship of the same CloudSIM family, now with full 5G support. What sets GlocalMe apart is the hybrid approach: alongside the built-in CloudSIM virtual SIM, there’s a physical nano SIM slot. That combination is the most flexible in this roundup.
In practice it means you can land somewhere with cheap local SIM cards, pop one in, and pay local prices, then switch back to CloudSIM data in countries where hunting down a SIM isn’t worth the effort. We travelled for years on exactly this buy-a-local-SIM strategy, and a device that supports it while keeping a fallback built in is exactly the design we’d want.
Key specs, from GlocalMe’s own pages:
- 5G (Sub-6, 19 bands) with 4G fallback
- Hybrid SIM: 1 nano SIM slot plus built-in CloudSIM
- Connects up to 16 devices
- 5,400 mAh battery: up to 11 hours on 5G, 15 hours on 4G
- 2.4 inch touchscreen
- Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 or 5 GHz, one band at a time)
- Weighs 0.42 lb
Data is pay as you go through GlocalMe’s app if you use CloudSIM, or whatever your own SIM provides. Coverage spans 200+ countries on the CloudSIM side, with 5G in 90+ of them.
Check current pricing here: Check price on Amazon. Also available from GlocalMe directly.
SIMO Solis Hero 4G – Best Budget Global Hotspot
The Solis Hero is the Edge’s 4G sibling, and for a lot of travellers it’s the smarter buy. 4G handles maps, email, browsing and HD streaming without complaint, and what you give up in headline speed you get back in battery: SIMO rates the Hero at up to 18 hours.
Like the Edge, there’s no SIM slot: the Hero auto-connects across SIMO’s partner networks and you buy data through the app. It ships with the same generous starter package as the Edge, a 30GB global pack (30 day validity) plus 1GB per month for life.
Key specs, from SIMO’s own pages:
- 4G LTE with 3G fallback
- No SIM slot: SIMO multi-carrier auto-connect, data via the app
- Connects up to 10 devices
- 5,250 mAh battery, up to 18 hours
- Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 or 5 GHz)
- Includes 30GB global data (30 day validity) plus 1GB per month for life
If you don’t need 5G speeds, and for travel connectivity most people don’t, this is the value pick of the lineup.
Check current pricing here: Check price on Amazon. It’s also available direct from SIMO.
Netgear Nighthawk M7 – Premium Pick for Frequent Travellers
The Nighthawk M7 (model MH7150) is the spec-sheet pick, and also the one where you should run the rental maths before clicking anything, because it costs roughly the same as eight months of entry-level hotspot rental. There is a case for it. It just needs making rather than assuming.
The case rests on flexibility. Unlike the virtual-SIM devices above, the M7 is a fully unlocked router, in Netgear’s own words, that takes both eSIMs and physical SIMs from any compatible operator. You can buy eSIM data plans for 140+ countries through Netgear’s app, drop in a local SIM, or use one you already have. Add Wi-Fi 7 with speeds up to 3.6 Gbps, support for 32 simultaneous devices, and coverage Netgear rates at up to 2,000 square feet, and this stops being a travel gadget and becomes a portable replacement for an office network.
Key specs, from Netgear’s own pages:
- 5G with 4G fallback, unlocked
- Takes both eSIM and physical SIM; in-app eSIM plans for 140+ countries
- Connects up to 32 devices
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- Wi-Fi 7, up to 3.6 Gbps
- Coverage up to 2,000 square feet
Who is that for? People who work abroad for weeks at a time, families or groups who really will connect a dozen devices, and anyone whose accommodation Wi-Fi keeps letting them down. For a two week holiday it’s more router than you need; rent instead and keep the difference.
Check current pricing here: Check price on Amazon
TravlFi JourneyGo 5G – Best for RVs and Road Trips
TravlFi builds for the North American road trip market specifically, and it shows in the details. The JourneyGo’s TowerSync system automatically connects to the strongest available signal across multiple major networks rather than tying you to one carrier’s coverage map, which on a long drive through varied terrain is exactly what you want.
The battery is the other standout. TravlFi rates it at up to 24 hours, the longest here by some margin, so it will run a full day’s driving without touching the 12V socket. Data is month to month with no contract, so you can run it through the summer touring season and pause it over winter, which suits how most people use a campervan.
Key specs, from TravlFi’s own pages:
- 5G (Sub-6) with automatic 4G fallback
- No SIM slot: eSIM/virtual SIM with TowerSync multi-network switching
- Connects up to 16 devices
- 5,000 mAh battery, up to 24 hours
- 2.4 inch touchscreen
- Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz)
- Month to month data plans, no contract; no bundled starter allowance confirmed
We cover the wider campervan connectivity question, including where satellite fits, in the road trip section below.
Check current pricing here: Check price on Amazon
TP-Link Roam 6 – A Travel Router for Hotel Wi-Fi (Not a Hotspot)
This last pick answers a different question, so let’s be clear about what it is. The Roam 6 has no cellular modem, no SIM and no battery. It cannot get you online by itself. What it does is take an internet connection you already have, hotel Wi-Fi, an Ethernet socket, or your phone’s tethered data, and turn it into your own private, secure Wi-Fi network for all your devices.
If you’ve ever stayed somewhere the Wi-Fi allows two devices and you arrived with five, or worked through a login portal that forgets you every four hours, this is the cheap little box that fixes it. You connect the Roam 6 to the hotel network once, and everything else connects to the Roam 6.
Key specs, from TP-Link’s own pages:
- No cellular modem, no SIM, no battery: this is a router, not a hotspot
- Wi-Fi 6, AX1500 (1,201 Mbps on 5 GHz plus 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz)
- Powered over USB-C, including from a power bank
- Gigabit WAN and LAN ports
- Modes include hotspot sharing, USB phone tethering, access point and range extender
It’s also by far the cheapest thing on this page, and for city trips where accommodation Wi-Fi is a given, it may be all you need. Jess has more options in her full travel router guide.
Check current pricing here: Check price on Amazon
Mobile Hotspot Comparison Table
Here’s how the six picks compare side by side. Prices shown are live from Amazon.
| Solis Edge 5G | GlocalMe Numen Air | Solis Hero 4G | Nighthawk M7 | TravlFi JourneyGo | TP-Link Roam 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Network | 5G (Sub-6) | 5G (Sub-6) | 4G LTE | 5G, unlocked | 5G (Sub-6) | None (router only) |
| SIM options | Virtual SIM only | Nano SIM + CloudSIM | Virtual SIM only | eSIM + nano SIM | Virtual SIM only | No SIM |
| Max devices | 10 | 16 | 10 | 32 | 16 | Not stated |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,400 mAh, up to 15 hrs | 5,250 mAh, up to 18 hrs | Up to 10 hrs | 5,000 mAh, up to 24 hrs | None (USB-C powered) |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5, dual-band | Dual-band | Dual-band | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 5, dual-band | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Screen | 2.4″ touchscreen | 2.4″ touchscreen | No screen stated | Not stated | 2.4″ touchscreen | None |
| Data included | 30GB (30 days) + 1GB/month for life | Pay as you go, or your own SIM | 30GB (30 days) + 1GB/month for life | None: bring your own plan or in-app eSIM | Month to month plans | N/A |
| Price | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
| Best for | Simplest global travel | Local SIM flexibility | Budget and battery life | Work trips and groups | RVs and road trips | Hotel Wi-Fi sharing |
Wi-Fi for Road Trips, Campervans and Motorhomes
Getting Wi-Fi in a car, campervan or motorhome is its own problem, and it’s the use case where a dedicated hotspot pays off fastest. Phone tethering works for a day trip, but on a longer road trip it drains the phone you’re navigating with, and it drops out with your phone’s signal.
For most road trippers, a dedicated hotspot on the dashboard is the answer. The TravlFi JourneyGo above is our pick for this job because of its multi-network switching and its 24 hour battery, and because month to month plans fit seasonal touring.
If you regularly drive through areas with weak signal, look for a hotspot with external antenna support. Mobile hotspots have a small internal antenna, and connecting a larger external one, mounted on the vehicle, works on the same principle as a TV aerial: better reception from a bigger antenna in a better position. Not all hotspots support one, so check before you buy if this matters to you.
And if your travels take you beyond cellular coverage entirely, the answer stops being a hotspot at all: Starlink Roam offers satellite service from $55 a month plus hardware, and needs a clear view of the sky. For boondocking in the wilderness it wins; for normal touring on normal roads, a hotspot is cheaper and less fuss.
We also have a wider guide to getting online when travelling which covers more options.
What to Look for in a Mobile Hotspot
If you’re comparing devices beyond our picks, these are the features that separate a hotspot you’ll love from one you’ll be returning. This is based on our experience of using these devices across many years of travel.
Global Roaming and Band Support
If you’re buying a hotspot for international travel, this is the feature to check first. Cellular data is transmitted over radio waves, and different countries allocate different parts of the radio spectrum to it, in chunks known as bands.
You can think of this a bit like radio stations. In the USA, FM stations broadcast between 87.9MHz and 107.9MHz, while in Japan they broadcast between 76MHz and 95MHz. A radio built for one market can’t tune into all the stations in the other. Cellular bands work the same way: a US carrier and a UK carrier may share literally zero bands between them.
The good news is that manufacturers don’t want to build separate hardware for every region, so most current travel hotspots support a wide range of bands and work in most countries without fuss, much as modern smartphones do. The devices to be careful with are carrier-branded hotspots, which are often limited to their own network’s bands and may work poorly, or not at all, abroad.
Our suggestion is to check the supported band list of any device you’re considering against the countries you visit most. Every pick in this guide lists its bands on the manufacturer’s product page.
Network Technology and Speed
Current hotspots are either 4G or 5G devices, and both are backwards compatible with older networks. 4G remains the sensible baseline: it’s mature, it’s available nearly everywhere, and it’s faster than most people think. HD streaming needs around 7 to 10 Mbit/s and 4K around 25 Mbit/s, both of which a decent 4G connection delivers.
5G gives you higher top speeds where coverage exists, and a degree of future proofing. Real world speeds on any network are always lower than the numbers on the box, and depend on distance from the mast, weather, and whatever buildings and trees are in the way. The cellular connection, rather than the Wi-Fi the hotspot creates, will nearly always be your bottleneck.
Data Allowances and Limitations
Whatever device and plan you choose, read the data terms before you rely on them. Allowances are usually a fixed daily or monthly amount, and it’s important to check what happens when you go past them. The common outcomes are:
- You keep using the device, but your provider charges (sometimes hefty sums) for the extra data.
- Your provider shuts off data until you top up.
- Speeds are throttled beyond a certain point. This is most common on “unlimited” plans, where a certain amount of data comes at full speed, after which things slow right down, often to speeds fine for email but useless for video.
This applies just as much to SIM cards you buy yourself, and, as we covered earlier, to eSIM plans and their tethering rules. Some providers also restrict specific uses, like limiting streaming resolution or blocking file sharing services, so if those matter to you, check first.
Battery Life
You’re buying this device to use away from power sockets, so battery life matters. We’d recommend looking for at least an 8 hour battery, and ideally 12 hours or more; the picks above run from 10 hours to a full 24.
Most hotspots charge over USB, which means they’ll top up happily from a portable power bank as well as a wall plug. We carry the INIU P63 for exactly this kind of top-up duty. For wall charging in other countries you’ll also need a travel adapter.
Some hotspots also work in reverse as a backup power bank, letting you charge your phone from them. It costs you hotspot battery life, but it can be very useful when your phone is running on fumes.
Devices, Wi-Fi Version and Screens
Check the maximum number of simultaneous connections against what your travelling party carries; we’d suggest at least 8 as a minimum. If you’re travelling as a family on a camping trip, you might have quite a number of devices to get online at once, and you definitely don’t want to be having arguments over who can connect when!
The Wi-Fi version of a hotspot matters less than it looks on the spec sheet. Most current devices support at least Wi-Fi 5, which is faster than nearly any cellular connection you’ll be sharing, so the newer Wi-Fi standards are rarely the thing worth paying extra for. A device that can create a 5GHz network is a mild plus, as that frequency tends to be less congested than 2.4GHz.
A screen is a real convenience rather than a gimmick. Seeing signal strength, data usage and connected devices at a glance makes these things much easier to live with, and touchscreen models make setup easier too.
Network Locks and SIM Flexibility
Hotspots bought on contract from a network provider are often locked to that network, exactly as contract phones are. Hotspots bought outright come in two flavours: devices with a removable SIM, which let you shop around for the best data deal or buy local SIMs abroad, and devices with a built-in virtual SIM tied to one provider’s plans, which are simpler but lock you into that provider’s pricing.
Neither is wrong; they suit different travellers. We travelled for years on the buy-a-local-SIM-everywhere approach, which made an unlocked device with a SIM slot the right choice for us. We also owned a pay as you go device with a built-in SIM, which was a simple solution for countries where buying a SIM card as a visitor is a hassle. Decide which traveller you are before you pick a device, because it’s the single biggest fork in the decision.
Security, VPNs and Wired Connections
A hotspot’s private network is inherently more secure than public Wi-Fi, but check that it supports at least WPA2 encryption. For another layer of protection, or to log into banking and streaming services from abroad, some hotspots let you configure a VPN directly on the device, so everything that connects through it is automatically covered. We have a full guide to VPNs here.
Some devices also offer wired connections, USB or Ethernet, which matter mainly if you carry a work laptop that restricts which Wi-Fi networks it may join. If that’s you, look for a device with an Ethernet port or USB tethering support.
What is a Mobile Hotspot?
A mobile hotspot is a small portable device, usually around the size of a deck of playing cards, which is designed to allow you to connect to the internet from a wide variety of locations.
It connects to the same cellular network that smartphones use for internet access. Once connected it creates a local Wi-Fi network. You can then connect your devices to the local Wi-Fi network in order to access the internet.
A mobile hotspot is usually a standalone device which creates a Wi-Fi network, but there is also a category of device known as a mobile Wi-Fi dongle or internet dongle. These work in a similar way, in that they use the cellular network to create an internet connection, but they plug directly into the USB port of a laptop for power and don’t usually create a Wi-Fi network, so they are designed for a single device.
You’ll also see these devices called portable Wi-Fi hotspots, pocket wifi, personal hotspots or MiFi devices. The names all refer to the same thing.
Why Do You Need a Mobile Hotspot?
The main reason for using a mobile hotspot is to get online in places where there isn’t reliable Wi-Fi access. Mobile hotspots are popular with campers and RVers for example, as many camping locations around the world do not have Wi-Fi.
For international travellers, a mobile hotspot can be a cost-effective way to get online without running up hefty data fees from your mobile provider, letting you look up places to eat, get navigation information, and search for things to do without hunting for a Wi-Fi network.
There’s also a security benefit. Public Wi-Fi networks can present a risk, as all your data passes over a shared network. A mobile hotspot connects you securely to a cell provider’s network, which is usually a much more secure option.
When is a Mobile Hotspot Not Needed?
If you don’t really need to be online for your whole trip, then you might find that you don’t need a mobile hotspot at all. You’ll just want to plan in advance and have all the information you need for your day available offline.
A mobile hotspot might not be the best solution if you will have easy access to free or inexpensive Wi-Fi service on your travels. You can see our guide to different ways to get online while travelling.
If you are travelling to locations with Wi-Fi and just want to improve an existing signal or make a connection more secure, then you’ll probably just want a travel router, like the TP-Link Roam 6 in our picks above. See our guide to the best travel routers for more options.
Although a mobile hotspot can be used at home if you don’t have a good internet connection, this is not its primary purpose and there are usually better solutions out there, as data prices on mobile hotspots are normally higher than home internet packages. If you are looking to improve your home internet speeds, see our guide to the best home Wi-Fi routers for some suggestions.
Does a Mobile Hotspot Work Everywhere?
A mobile hotspot only works in locations where there is a mobile phone signal. So whilst this means it will work in lots of places, and in far more places than you might find a Wi-Fi network, it won’t work everywhere.
Remote wilderness locations for example are unlikely to have a cellular network, whilst most locations with some form of population likely will. We would recommend checking network coverage maps of a destination if you have a specific location in mind for using your device; carriers usually publish these on their websites.
If you are travelling beyond the reach of mobile networks, such as out to sea or in very remote parts of the world, the solution is satellite internet, which is a different product category with different costs. We touch on Starlink Roam in the road trip section above.
Can You Use a Phone as a Mobile Hotspot?
Many modern smartphones, including Apple and Android devices, include built-in mobile hotspot functionality, often referred to as tethering. With this feature, you can share your phone’s data connection with other devices, either over a Wi-Fi network the phone creates, over Bluetooth, or by connecting your phone to a computer with USB.
This can be a good option, but there are a few things to watch out for.
First, not every mobile carrier supports data tethering, and it can be contract specific. Our phone carrier, for example, allows tethering domestically but not when we travel overseas. Travel eSIM providers have their own rules too, which we covered in the rent-or-buy section above: Holafly caps sharing at 1GB a day on its unlimited plans, while Airalo slows the whole plan after 3GB in a day.
Next, tethering uses up your phone’s data allowance, and a laptop can get through data far faster than a phone does. If your allowance is modest, tethering a laptop can empty it quickly.
Finally, tethering drains a phone’s battery quickly, so it’s usually only a good idea near a power source, or with a portable power bank to hand.
With those caveats out of the way, using your phone as a hotspot is a real alternative to a dedicated device, especially if you have an unlocked phone and can buy local SIM cards or eSIMs with good data prices as you travel. It’s what we do ourselves on most trips now.
What a Decade of Carrying These Taught Us
When we came to update this guide, seven of the eight devices we’d previously recommended were no longer available to buy new. That’s not unusual for this product category, and it taught us something worth passing on: buy a current-generation device from a maker with a track record, and prefer devices whose data source you can replace, a SIM slot being the most future-proof option of all. A hotspot is only as useful as the data it can access.
One device from our old lineup deserves a specific note, because we recommended it for years. The Solis Lite is no longer part of SIMO’s current lineup, though at the time of writing it’s still available on SIMO’s own store, discounted to $99.99 from $159.99. If you own one, it still works with SIMO’s plans; we just wouldn’t buy one new today when the Hero exists.
The bigger lesson from a decade of these devices is the one this guide is built around. The hotspot went from something we carried everywhere to something we pack deliberately, for specific trips, because eSIMs got good and rentals got cheap. When a dedicated device is right, it’s really right, and we’ve recommended the ones we’d buy. When it isn’t, the best gear advice is the boring kind: don’t buy the gadget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to some of the questions we get asked most often about mobile hotspots for travel.
How do I get Wi-Fi in my car?
For occasional trips, your phone’s tethering feature is the simplest answer. For regular road trips, a dedicated mobile hotspot is better. It doesn’t drain your phone, and models like the TravlFi JourneyGo switch between networks automatically as coverage changes along your route.
If you drive through areas with weak signal regularly, choose a hotspot with external antenna support, as a vehicle-mounted antenna noticeably improves reception.
How do I get Wi-Fi without a router?
A mobile hotspot creates a Wi-Fi network anywhere there’s cellular signal, with no router or fixed internet connection needed. Your phone’s tethering feature does the same job for lighter use.
If you do have access to an existing connection, such as hotel Wi-Fi or a wired socket, a small travel router like the TP-Link Roam 6 can turn it into your own private Wi-Fi network.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy a mobile hotspot?
For a single trip of up to a month, renting usually wins: entry rental plans start at under $2 a day from TravelWifi, and unlimited data rentals in Japan run around $5 a day. Buying a hotspot costs roughly $100 to $500 up front, plus data.
The break-even is around 100 days of entry-level rental for a mid-range device, so if you take several trips a year or travel for long stretches, buying works out better value.
Can I use an eSIM instead of a mobile hotspot?
For solo travel with a compatible phone, yes, and it’s usually the cheaper and simpler option. The limits appear when you share the connection: Holafly’s unlimited plans cap hotspot sharing at 1GB per day, and Airalo throttles the whole plan to 1 Mbps after 3GB in a day. If several people or a laptop-heavy workload depend on your connection, a dedicated hotspot avoids those limits.
What happened to the Solis Lite?
The Solis Lite is no longer part of SIMO’s current lineup, and no direct successor has been named. At the time of writing it remains available on SIMO’s own store at $99.99, reduced from $159.99. Existing devices continue to work with SIMO’s data plans. Skyroam, the company that launched it, renamed to Solis and then to SIMO, so all three names refer to the same company.
What’s the difference between GlocalMe and TravelWifi?
GlocalMe primarily sells hotspots you own, using its CloudSIM technology plus, on models like the Numen Air, a slot for your own SIM. TravelWifi is primarily a rental service, renting hotspots in over 200 countries, though it also sells its own Sapphire devices with its plans. If you want to own a flexible device, GlocalMe is the better fit; for a one-off trip, TravelWifi’s rentals are the easier route.
Do mobile hotspots work in every country?
No device works everywhere, but current travel hotspots come pretty close, and the virtual SIM devices in our picks advertise wide global coverage, with GlocalMe for example covering 200+ countries. The things to check are the device’s supported bands against your destinations, and, just as importantly, the data pricing for those countries, which can vary a lot between providers.
How much data do I need for a trip?
For maps, messaging, email and browsing, a couple of gigabytes a week per person is a comfortable allowance. Video calls, streaming and photo backups change the picture entirely and can consume several gigabytes a day. If your trip includes remote work or nightly photo uploads, favour unlimited rental plans or generous data bundles over small fixed allowances.
Is Starlink better than a mobile hotspot for a campervan?
They solve different problems. Starlink Roam works beyond cellular coverage entirely, from $55 a month plus hardware, but needs a clear view of the sky. A mobile hotspot is cheaper and simpler anywhere with phone signal. For touring on normal roads, we’d choose a hotspot; for extended off-grid stays in the wilderness, satellite is the only option that works.
Further Reading
Well, that summarises our guide to the best mobile Wi-Fi hotspots for travel, and to the alternatives that often make more sense. We’ve also got a lot of other resources you might find useful, including the following.
- If you’re travelling solo, start with our guide to the best travel eSIMs, which for one person is usually the better option.
- We have a guide to getting online when travelling, which has lots of options beyond mobile hotspots to consider
- Depending on your travel plans, you might need a travel router rather than a mobile hotspot. See our guide to travel routers to help you decide which is right for you.
- Fast internet access at home is also important! See our guide to the best home wifi routers for improving your home internet speeds.
- Staying safe online when you travel is important. See our guide to the best travel VPNs for tips on keeping your personal data safe when you’re on the road.
- You’re going to need to power all your devices when you travel – see our guide to the best travel adapters
- If you are heading out onto the road and looking for a laptop to get some work done, see our guide to the best laptops for photo editing
- Thinking of buying a new camera? See our guide to the best cameras for travel
And that’s it! As always, if you have any feedback about the post, or questions for us, just pop them in the comments below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Sally says
Hi, Laurence and Norah! Thank you for an excellent and informative blog! I’ve scoured the internet to try to educate myself on this and yours has been the best.
My family of 4 is headed to Greece (Thessaloniki, Corinth, Athens) and Italy (Rome, Florence) with flights through Germany (Munich, Frankfurt) for eight days next month. We currently have a limited Verizon data plan in the US. What is the best and most frugal way for us to have internet access for our trip?
-Do we need to have all our devices on Airplane mode the entire trip to prevent accidental usage of our home plan? I do not want to use any of our US data plan if possible.
-Should we add and activate an international plan with Verizon just in case so that we don’t get charged pay-as-you-go rates? It only triggers a per day usage rate when overseas.
-Debating getting a travel router for the airport, flight, and hotel usages and mobile hotspot for other times. Is that overkill? Which devices would you recommend for us? Should we rent or buy?
-Some devices have built in VPN (GL.iNet Opal). Do you recommend this or for us to get individual VPN accounts?
Side note- only one person has E-SIM capability. The rest of us have only physical SIM cards in our phones. We are traveling with a large group and don’t want to have to deal with communicating with a different phone number unless we have to.
Thanks for your time and expertise!
Sally
Laurence Norah says
Hi Sally,
I’m glad to hear you found our guide useful! So airplane mode would definitely be a good option, you’ll just need to remember to turn WiFi back on as when you turn on airplane mode it normally disables WiFi at the same time. You might want to activate a Verizon roaming plan but really that just up to you for peace of mind.
I would say that there are two main options for you. If your phones are unlocked, you could look into picking up a PAYG SIM card for each phone. This would of course mean that all the phones will have a new number, however you aren’t going to be able to use your Verizon numbers anyway as your phones would be in airplane mode if you don’t switch the sims out. You’re going to want to use a calling app that works over data such as Whatsapp.
The other option would be a mobile hotspot for when you are away from a WiFi network. However obviously this will need everyone in your group to be together all the time so they are in range of the hotspot. I’d say a travel router is probably unneccessary unless you don’t want folks to have to be dealing with connecting to WiFi networks all the time. However, again, this will need everyone to be in range of the travel router to use it.
In an ideal world I’d say everyone getting an eSIM would be the easiest option but as you’ve said, that’s not going to be an option. So if it was me I would pick up a few inexpensive PAYG SIM cards (assuming your phones are unlocked). These days EU providers have to provide data across the EU, so any SIM card you buy in Greece should continue to work in Italy and Germany.
I hope this helps a bit, feel free to let me know if you have any follow up questions!
Laurence
Laura says
Hello and thank you for a fantastic article! Really helpful. I’m looking at the Netgear nighthawk M2 and would like to use it in Canada and Europe. How do I know if it would work in both places? The M2 is not available on the Netgear US site but the M1 is, which makes me think it may not work in Canada or the US? Would the M1 be able to work in both places? I don’t need the extra speed of the M2 but prefer a newer device. Please explain a bit more about the bands – is this important to check? Thanks so much, and keep on travelling…
Laurence Norah says
Hi Laura,
It’s my pleasure, I’m glad you found it useful! So the M1 and M2 do have slightly different specifications. I think that getting devices certified everywhere is a bit of a challenge, so not every device is always released everywhere. In terms of band support, the devices are as follows:
M1:
4G 700/900/1800/2100/2600 MHz
M2:
4G 700/800/900/1800/2100/2300/ 2500/2600 MHz
So you can see the M2 supports more bands so should work on more networks. In terms of Canada and Europe, the main bands in use for 4G are as follows:
Canada main 4G bands:
700, 1700, 2100, 2500, 2600
Europe main 4G bands:
700, 800, 1400, 1800, 2100, 2300, 2600
For a device to work it just has to support a majority of the bands in use. Different network providers use different frequency bands, so you also want to check before signing up to a provider which bands they use.
Generally speaing though, the M1 and the M2 should both work in Canada and Europe. The M2 has more bands so should work in more places, but the M1 should generally work as well.
I hope this helps a bit. I appreciate it is not terribly straightforward!
Laurence
Jim says
Thanks again for this informative article and ALL your informative posts. We are going to SE Asia again this fall, as well as to Taiwan, Japan, and HK. We now have an Inseego M2000 5G MiFi, and are on T-Mobile’s Magenta Max 55+ plan. T-Mobile offers high-speed data passes, and I’m wondering if it makes sense to purchase one for the Inseego and then use its wifi with our two iPhones. My thought is that we then won’t need to purchase hi-speed passes for either or both of our phones. Does that make sense?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Jim,
This does make sense and this should work. In this case you’d just need to connect your phones to the WiFi network of the Inseego device and you should be good to go.
You could also just buy a SIM card in the destination you are travelling to, although this can be a hassle sometimes depending on where you are going.
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Juan Peralta says
Hello, this website is really impressive! Thank you for all the info.
Do you have any suggestions for a family of 5 where everyone has a phone (all esim only).
My wife and I are debating doing 5 e-sim’s or sharing one Hotspot?
We are traveling through Europe (Amsterdam, Paris, Switzerland, Greece, Rome etc)
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks
JP
Laurence Norah says
Hi Juan,
Honestly I’d recommend an eSIM for each traveller. A mobile hotspot might work, but it is going to require everyone to be in range of it all the time, whereas having an eSIM for each device will allow each person to separate from the group. Additionally, you won’t need to worry about who is using the data up, each person will have their own data allowance to manage so it is fairer 🙂
For your trip, I’d suggest checking out Airalo (see my Airalo review here, which also has a $3 referral credit you can use). A European eSIM that covers all the destinations you are going to from Airalo will cost you $13 for 3gb for 30 days, $20 for 5gb for 30 days. So that would be my suggestion, although there are other options out there of course.
Have a great trip to Europe, let me know if you have any more questions!
Laurence
Alex Hansen says
Hi,
Great article and explanations. Hoping you can recommend for our situation. We are Americans currently living in United Kingdom for the next 4 months. We are having trouble finding broadband Internet for such a short period as most providers require a 6,12,24-month commitment. We are planning on being digital nomads for a year or two travelling in our caravan. We bought Starlink thinking it would be great everywhere but are getting periodic disconnections and encountering some issues with obstructions and we require reliability. We bought the RV version so we can turn it on and off anytime and are thinking about stopping service. We are planning on visiting Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Spain, France, then flying to China, Thailand each for one month, then back to the United States.
Would like a top of the line setup and don’t mind shelling out for good gear. So 5G where available and 4G when not is probably what we are looking for. We are a family of 4 and I and am on MS Teams meetings all data while the whole family streams on iPads. Maybe 8 Devices. Was looking at the Netgear MR6450 you recommend for 899 on amazon. Maybe pair this with an external antenna when we are in the caravan. I see a similar router in America for 699 USD, but I fear that it might not support European networks? Guessing we should probably purchase the hotspot in the region we should be using? Would like something that has a travel router so we can connect to the caravan park wifi when available. Is this your recommendation and then just pair this with local sim cards? Would this meet all our objectives? Having trouble finding data on which networks these support and which networks are used in all the countries we are planning on travelling to. Not really sure on how much data we need per month, I see most sim cards are around 30-40 Euro for about 30GB. Would this last us a month, or would we need a couple?
Would like something that we could continue to use in America after our trip but would sacrifice this if needed. Be cool if it supported the latest mm wave fast speeds in the US?
I also see some plans from O2 and Orange that might work just for Europe too. Would appreciate your thoughts.
Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
Laurence Norah says
Hey Alex,
Thanks very much! I definitely hear you regarding the broadband issue for short term contracts in the UK (and beyond!). The best option in these situations, as you have already discovered, is going to be a mobile hotspot. I would have thought Starlink would have been a good option but I suspect that it might be more susceptible to bad weather than the marketing would suggest. In the UK you can get SIM cards from brands like ID. Mobile, Smarty or Three, some of which offer unlimited UK data for very reasonable prices. It sounds like for your usage you are going to need quite a lot of data so I would probably recommend an unlimited SIM where possible.
SIM wise, I would probably pick up a SIM in the UK and a separate SIM for the EU. Most UK SIM’s that work in the EU have a maximum data cap of around 12gb a month, whereas an EU SIM should roam across the EU with less caps (although it’s always worth checking). In terms of supported bands, the 4G/5G bands across Europe are pretty similar, so any device that works in one country should work pretty well in the other ones. The US does use a few different bands, but there is generally enough overlap that devices will still work, that has been my experience anyway. You might not get the fastest possible speeds but it will still generally work. It is usually the 5G mmWave bands that are missing, as well as some specific bands that are used to improve coverage in more rural areas. So you would need to check which bands the devices support (not always as easy as it sounds I know).
The two devices you are looking at are the Netgear MR6150 (unlocked US version) and the Netgear MR6450 (unlocked5G Sub6 SA/NSA(3CC)
From what I can tell, the MR6150 supports the following bands:
5G Sub6 SA/NSA(2CC)
4G LTE CAT 19(5CC)
5G Sub6: n2/n5/n12/n14/n25/n29/n30/n41/n48/n66/n71/n77
4G LTE: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B12/B13/B14/B25/B26/B29/B30/B41/B46/ B48/B66/B71
Whilst the MR6450 supports the following bands:
5G Sub6 SA/NSA(3CC)
4G LTE CAT20(5CC)
3G: B1/B2/B5/B8
4G LTE: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B14/B20/B28/B38/B40/B41/B42/B66
5G Sub6: n1/n2/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n38/n40/n41/ n71/n77/n78
So there are some differences, which as far as I am aware are around specific bands that are used to cover more rural areas in either the US or the EU, as well as the mmWave bands for 5G. I can’t say how much of a difference this is going to make in the real world, I’m not sure that mmWave has rolled out to such an extent in the US that it’s going to make a noticeable difference in most places.
I hope this helps a bit, happy to try and provide more input if I can though!
Laurence
Sharley says
Great article but I was wondering if you could help me. Our Son is traveling to Taiwan and Thailand for 5 weeks. We are in the US and his phone is locked. We wondering what would be his best option for wifi for the time he is gone that would be less expensive and work in both countries.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Sharley,
Great to hear from you. So the most cost effective option would definitely be to contact your son’s cellphone provider to see if they will unlock the phone. Many will do it for free, although it will depend on the contract. Then he could pick up local SIM cards in country, or use an eSIM from a company like Airalo.
The next cheapest option is likely going to be to buy a budget 4G router like the Alcatel LINKZONE (model MW41NF-2AOFUS1)
Taiwan uses 4G bands 1,3, 28 and 66, whist Thailand uses 1, 3, 8, 40 and 41. Most networks use bands 1 and 3, which the Alcatel supports. He could then buy SIM cards in country for the device.
There are other options like rental, but for 5 weeks I feel that this would end up being fairly expensive compared to an up front purchase.
I hope this helps!
Best
Laurence
Mike says
Hello folks!
Very helpful article, thank you. So much so, that after reading it we bought a Travelwifi Sapphire Power, and recently used it while travelling in Thailand and Singapore. We opted to purchase data plans through Travelwifi.com, which worked seamlessly, and we enjoyed excellent reception and speed everywhere we went. It’s a great device!
Our next trip is to the UK and Europe next year, and I’ve been researching travel SIMs instead of a data plan (the device supports either,) however I’m meeting with quite some confusion. Almost every SIM option I look at stipulates that it is suitable for phones only, and not WiFi devices. One online retailer advised the following:
“Unfortunately we cannot guarantee the SIM to work in a WiFi devices as it needs APN details and data roaming turned on.”
I’ve contacted Travelwifi, who say the device should be compatible with most SIMs, provided they are not locked to a carrier (?) although they did also mention possible issues with some cards’ “settings.”
Do you have any experience with this? Am I able to buy the best value prepaid SIM I can find and whack it in, or am I really restricted to data-only SIMs, which seem to be a lot less common and a lot more expensive?
Thanks for any thoughts!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Mike,
I’m glad to hear it was helpful and you found the Travelwifi device worked well 🙂
So generally instead of a “travel SIM”, I’d suggest just buying a prepaid SIM card on arrival in the country you are travelling to. In my experience these work fine in hotspots without needing any configuration. I think “travel SIMS” can need more configuration, whereas just buying a local SIM card should just work. In the UK and Europe, SIM cards and data are very competitive, so you should be able to pick one up easily. Personally this has always worked fine for me, although I guess there might be the odd case where it doesn’t.
In terms of a SIM being locked to a carrier, I’m not quite sure what that means. I know a phone can be locked to a carrier, so maybe they mean you wouldn’t be able to take the SIM card from a locked phone and put it in the device. But I think most pay as you go SIMs that you pick up should work fine.
I hope this helps! Have a great trip 🙂
Laurence
Dinna says
Hello,
So far the best blog explaining in detail regarding Mobile Hotspots! Thank you for explaining it well, easy to read and not too techy.
I am thinking of purchasing the Netgear M2 or GLocalMe as you suggested. I do have TMobile which costs $35 to 10 days for 5GB. By turning off cel connection to some apps I do not need during travel, background refresh, it seems that this may be enough for convenience. I am looking for a cheaper alternative, although, my priority is speed, future proof and convenience. Hopefully if all goes well, I am hoping to travel to Asia and Europe (Japan, Philippines, Australia, Korea. Spain, UK, Italy). Is it easier to use GLocalMe or does netgear offer an eSim that would easily get this online and not have to find a store when getting to the town?
In your experience, this technology will change too fast that buying a device may not be the right option and renting would be easier to use in the next 2-3 years?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Dinna,
Thanks very much! So 5GB for 10 days should be more than enough assuming you aren’t streaming high definition movies or anything like that. Glocalme is easier because it comes with the data, whereas with the Netgear you have to buy SIM cards, it doesn’t support eSims that I am aware of. In terms of the technology changing, it is likely that most countries will start to switch to 5G, although 4G is definitely going to be around for a good few years to come I think. More devices will also probably start to support eSims, so that is something to consider. So in that regard, you might want to hold off for now and just use your TMobile.
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Kim says
Hi
Just read your article and it’s very informative and well written.
I however am very technologically challenged and was wondering if you could please give me some links for my situation
3 families traveling from Australia to Uk for 3 weeks total of 16 people 7 being internet dependent teens who will die if unable to snap , use you tube and watch vids, Roblox and for us adults we generally communicate through fb messages
We will be in the Uk for aporox 21 days and would want the cheapest way to give us all access to decent access please.
I am happy to look at getting a device for each family I am happy to rent if that is cheaper but happy to also buy if it means we can use in Australia on our regular camping trips
Thanks heaps
Laurence Norah says
Hi Kim,
Thanks very much! So normally in a situation like this the best option is likely to buy a hotspot outright and then put a data SIM in it when you get to the UK. The UK has pretty cheap data packages available, you should be able to find a data SIM with around 100GB for £12. These are easy enough to buy in person at supermarkets etc.
The main thing when purchasing a device is to consider what bands it supports, particularly for 4G. So in Australia you use the following for 4G: band 1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 40, 42. Different networks use different bands, but you can see them here.
In the UK they primarily use bands 1, 3, 7, 20, 38, 40.
So you can see there is quite a lot of overlap. Bands 3, 7 and 20 are the most commonly used in the UK.
So really you would need to buy a 4G capable hotspot that supports at least bands 3, 7 and 20, and ideally 5 and 42. As there is good overlap between the two countries, most devices that work in Australia should also work in the UK. So for example, this TP-Link M7200 supports 4G bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 + 41, so should cover you in most scenarios.
One other thing to note is that obviously everyone planning on using the device will need to be in range of it. So if you have people planning on heading out seperately, you would either need multiple hotspots or for those who are really addicted to buy their own SIM cards, which are also available very cheaply.
Another option to think about is that many devices these days have built-in hotspot functionality, so it might work out more cost effective to buy a few SIM cards and then use the built-in hotspot feature on your existing devices. As SIM cards and data are so cheap in the UK this might work out to be a cheaper option, and allow the group to have more flexibility.
I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions and have a great time in the UK!
Laurence
Sarah says
Hello, this post was very informative and I am trying to make a decision on buying portable wifi. Will travel shortly to Hungary, Turkey, Slovakia and Italy during which time I will have to work. I am also planning to use it in connection with my phone. I was planning to buy the GlocalMe G4 Pro but it is not available. Any other product you would recommend? I prefer to pay by GB as I am not sure which locations and times I will be able to use a local wifi for work (some of my work apps require a lot of bandwith) and I do not want to get locked into certain days. Thank you
Laurence Norah says
Hi Sarah,
Glad to hear you found the post helpful! So the first thing to do is check which 4G bands are in use in the countries you are going to. From my research:
Hungary: 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 and 28
Turkey: 1, 3, 7, 8, 20
Slovakia: 3, 7, 20
Italy: 3, 7, 20.
So, a device which supports bands 3, 7 and 20 should work in all of those countries on 4G.
You have two options at this point. You can buy a device which doesn’t come with any data, and then buy a SIM card in each country. This will likely be slightly more cost effective but will be more hassle. If you do this, then something like the Alcatel LinkZone would be a cost effective option, as would the GlocalMe FirstG.
If you’d rather buy a device which has data plans included, then it will depend a bit on which company offers the best deal for the countries you are going to. If you like the pricing of the GlocalMe products, then you might like the U3 for example.
I would add that the G4 Pro is showing available on the Glocalme site, but I’m not sure where you are in the world so it might be different for you 🙂
Cheers!
Laurence
Sarah says
OMG – you must have some magic because I have been checking for the device and it was not available. But now it is! So I bought it! Thanks!
Laurence Norah says
Haha, I’m not sure about the magic but I am happy you got what you wanted 😀 Have an awesome trip!
Melanie says
Hi Laurence,
Can a portable wifi work with a portable travel router? Or do I only need a portable wifi or a portable router but not both? I travel to the Caribbean more than I go to other places and I am always having issues connecting to the internet. I bought a portable wifi but sometimes I am still not able to connect to the internet. I connect to the device but do not get internet.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Melanie,
So yes, a portable mobile hotspot can work with a travel router, but it shouldn’t be necessary.
Just to be clear, the difference is:
– a portable travel router extends an existing WiFi network. It needs an existing WiFi network to work. So it could extend the WiFi network created by a mobile hotspot, but this wouldn’t add any benefit
– a portable mobile hotspot creates a new WiFi network using a cellular data connection, the same way a phone does. It requires cellular reception for internet connectivity.
So in your case where you are sometimes not able to connect to the internet, this normally means the mobile hotspot device does not have cellular signal. So you can connect to the device over the local WiFi network it creates, but you can’t connect to the internet because the device cannot find a signal. Just like you can’t use the internet on your phone if there is no cellular network or WiFi network.
It is also important to check what bands your mobile hotspot uses, and whether those bands are used in the destination you are visiting. Different countries use different bands for cellular networks, so a mobile hotspot that works in one country might not work in another.
I hope this answers your question. It is definitely not an easy subject, so do let me know if you have any follow up questions and I will do my best to help out 🙂
Laurence
Jim says
Thanks for this informative article! We are on the T-Mobile Magenta MAX 55+ plan, and have been trying out the Franklin T-9 Mobile Hotspot. When we travel internationally, we usually rent a mobile hotspot device at the airport wherever we are but since we now own the T-9, we are hoping it will do the trick overseas and we won’t have to rent. My husband plays an online game on his laptop and when we are in the car he uses the T-9. Unfortunately, the wifi is spotty (kicks in and out) for some reason and we don’t know enough to recognize if that’s just the nature of portable wifi hotspots or is just because it’s the T-9. What do you think? Should we upgrade to the Inseego (or something else) for our trip to Asia in the fall?
Thanks again for this article, and for sharing your expertise and experience with all of us!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Jim!
My pleasure. So looking at the hotspot you have, my research suggests it supports the following 4G bands:
LTE: 2, 4, 5, 12, 25, 26, 41, 66
That means you will get good coverage in the US, but overseas coverage will very much depend on where you are going. Most of Europe for example uses different LTE bands, so the device won’t work there. You can see a good overview of bands by region here.
Additionally, if using it overseas you would have to check with T-Mobile what their pricing policy is for such usage.
For the WiFi being spotty – if this is primarily happening when you are moving, then that’s just the nature of the way these devices work. They connect over the same network as a cellphone, and as you move cellphone coverage varies. So if you are driving in an area with weak coverage, you will get network dropouts.
Let me know if you have any additional questions!
Best
Laurence
Kathy says
Hi. Great article. Doing the research has me overwhelmed. Can you please make a recommendation on the following criteria?
I live in Italy and rely on my iPad when I’m in town I use the translator a lot because I don’t speak Italian yet. And, I use my iPad when spending the day in my garden which is far from the house. (I don’t use a cell phone for anything but emergencies.)
I need:
* Wifi that is fast enough to google, message and view short videos.
* Something small and light to carry in my pocket.
* A very long battery life.
* Something I can use when traveling in other countries including the USA.
* Economical to midrange in price.
* Unlimited data
Right now I use a portable wifi with TIM but they don’t make them anymore and mine is so old the battery doesn’t hold up very long. And, even though I paid for international travel to the US one time it didn’t work.
Your recommendation would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Kathy
Laurence Norah says
Hi Kathy,
Thanks very much! So based on your requirement I think I would recommend the GlocalMe FirstG. Italy uses 4G bands 3, 7, 20 and 32, and this device includes all of those except 32. It also covers most of the US 4G bands.
Battery life is 14 hours and it weighs 5oz. Speed wise it should be more than capable for your needs.
I would personally suggest separating the device from the data plan. Many devices allow you to buy data with the device, but this tends to work out less economically in the long run. As you are in Italy a lot, you would be better off buying a data SIM for Italy, and then when you are in the US, you can pick up a data SIM in the US. That is likely going to be easier and more cost effective. This device supports micro SIMs, so you would just need to find a good data plan and put the SIM in the device.
Let me know if you have any follow-up questions!
Best
Laurence
Gerard says
Hi. Just want to thank you for your excellent article. I am going to be placing an order for a roaming wi-fi hotspot and am now much better informed. I currently live in Zambia, Central Africa. I have just subscribed to your monthly news letter.
Great work
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure Gerard, glad to be of help!
Dawn Bishop says
I really appreciate this article! I would value your opinion on renting portable wifi for our trip to Italy in August 2022. Although we can use generally use local wifi options and it would not kill us to minimize our device usage, my son informed me he has a 2 hour college final schedule online for the first full day we arrive. Our experience overseas is that although wifi is available, sometimes the speeds etc. can result in cut-offs etc. So, I think this is one of those times that relying on own wifi is critical.My husband often has to connect with servers at work.
What would you suggest? I was looking into the rental companies, but could use a recommendation.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Dawn,
Great question! So a little bit will depend on how long you need the data for, as the price can vary as some rental places offer a better deal for a week compared to a day for example. However, I suspect the best value will likely be Hippocketwifi. They do a 10-day rental which will give you 1gb a day for €5.90 a day, or €7.90 a day for unlimited data. If the call involves video I’d go with the unlimited option to be on the safe side. You can also save 5% with the code TRAVELCATS5.
Hopefully that helps. I looked at a number of other options but based on your needs I think that will likely be one of the better value options. Have a great time in Italy, and best of luck to your son with his final!
Laurence
Dawn Bishop says
Thank you so much! This is very helpful and we will be going with your recommendation. Keep up the great work you are doing!
Veronica says
Hi im traveling to Mexico in July, with 5 kiddos, we are planning on going to the beach, what do you recommend for us so we can all be connected.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Veronica,
So the best value option would likely be to the Alcatel Linkzone or similar mobile hotspot. Mexico uses band 2 and band 4 for 4G, and bands 2, 4, 5 for 3G. So you would just need a device that supports those bands. The Alcatel supports up to 15 devices, which should be enough for your needs unless you all have more than 2 devices each.
Then when you get to Mexico you can just pick up a SIM card with data. Telcel tend to have the best coverage, and you can get a data package that has 8GB valid for 30 days for 500 pesos. That should be enough for normal social media and browsing, but lots of video streaming would use it up more quickly.
There are other mobile providers in Mexico which might offer different deals, so it is worth checking out. But a low cost 4G router and a SIM card would be my pick.
The other option, if you have a compatible phone, would be to get a Google Fi plan. They have a $65 Unlimited Plus plan which includes 50GB of data you can use overseas, which includes tethering. So you could use your phone as the hotspot. Plans can be stopped and started so you aren’t tied in. The downside of this is that it uses your battery life really fast.
Hope this helps, have a great time in Mexico!
Laurence
Shelby daye says
Hi! I need help. I had to move back in with my mother due to the pandemic but we don’t get along at all so I bought a camper to live in on her property. Im a graphic designer running adobe programs all day and I also stream online on twitch at night. I think I need a mobile hotspot that has a strong enough connection to do this and connect to multiple devices. I’ve been researching what to get but I’m a bit confused and lost on what I need and may be the best fit for me. I can’t use the home wifi because the house has cement walls since it’s pretty old so the connection from the living room to outside is weak. The camper is located right outside the house. What can I do?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Shelby
So a mobile hotspot would be an option, but the downside is that a mobile data plan such as you would need, with unlimited data and reliable connectivity is likely to be fairly expensive. I feel that a better option would be to figure out a way to extend your mother’s WiFi network so it reaches the camper. I’m not sure exactly the setup, but a home mesh wifi network might work, or if you have the option to run an ethernet cable to the camper from the house that is also an option. If you have power going to the camper from the house, you might also look into powerline ethernet, which distributes a network connection over power cables, and just needs a couple of adaptors like these to work.
I think tapping into the existing network, assuming your mom is ok with that, would be the better option rather than a mobile hotspot for cost reasons.
I hope this helps, but if not let me know and I can see what else I can come up with!
Laurence
Shelby daye says
I expected the mobile hotspot data plan would be expensive 🥲. I like your suggestion! I’ll research the home mesh setup option. So, the wifi router is located in the living room of the house. The power going to the camper is plugged in an outlet inside the garage by the garage door. Her air compressor is plugged into it as well. To get wifi via a powerline ethernet connection, where would the adapter have to be plugged in to run the ethernet cable to the camper? Where the plug to power the camper is (the garage) or next to the wifi router inside the house? Is there even a long enough cable for that? Lol I think I can convince her to do this. Never did this before I’m unsure how to set it up and have it work. Thanks!
Laurence Norah says
Hey Shelby,
I would definitely suggest that a mesh setup or powerline ethernet would be the way to go. A mesh setup might be easiest, and will have the added benefit of improving WiFi around the house as well. I have a guide to home wifi routers which includes a number of mesh options which you can see here. With a mesh setup, the main thing is to ensure that at least one of the base stations will be able to be put in a location that gives your camper good connectivity.
Powerline internet works, as the name suggests, by sending data over existing power cables. Normally you put one adaptor close to your existing home router, and plug it in with an ethernet cable. You plug in the other adaptor where you want the internet, this would probably be in your camper, or at the outlet by the garage door if your ethernet line runs that far. The only issue with powerline networking is that it can get flummoxed by things like circuit breakers. So depending on the wiring setup in the house, it may or may not work. I’d suggest if trying it out, it’s worth getting one with a good return policy so if it doesn’t work you can send it back.
As you mention ethernet, I am guessing running an ethernet cable from the router to the RV is out of the question? That would also be an option, but I appreciate running cabling all around a house isn’t always practical! Ethernet cable is usually good for 300ft+, so that wouldn’t be an issue!
Laurence
Terry Chisman says
Thanks for this. I live in the UK where we can, for the most part, use our phones quite freely as hotspots so I found this whole subject of hotspots and local / shared data a bit of a mystery. This article cleared up a lot and I used your link through to Amazon to put the Alcatel device in my basket – and as far as I’m concerned you’ve earned any commission you get. Thank you.
Laurence Norah says
Hey Terry,
Thanks so much – glad to be able to help and we appreciate you using our links 🙂 It lets us keep doing what we do!
Safe travels 🙂
Laurence
Mocky says
Thank you for your detailed and informative article. That was super in-depth and helpful. I am curious though, in your opinion, what you would suggest as a mobile hotspot option for a graphic designer that is looking to work in europe (sweden, portugal, austria and germany) and pushes daily large 1GB+ data back and forth?
In your opinion which would be the best option: NETGEAR Nighthawk M5 5G Mobile Hotspot, Inseego MiFi M2100, or?
I basically need fast, reliable internet (fast.com @ ~500Mpbs) that works anywhere in Europe. Thank you so much for any info.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Mocky,
That is a great question. Unfortunately 5G is not quite so straight forward as different countries use different bands, and you will want a device that supports the bands in the country you plan to work.
For reference, the USA uses n2, n5, n66, n40, n260 and n261. The n260 and n261 bands are super high frequency mmWave bands which is super fast but shorter distance. This technology isn’t being deployed in Europe currently, so 5G speeds in Europe will not be as fast as the USA in areas where mmWave is available. In the USA on mmWave, speeds up to 1Gbps are possible, while in Europe 5G varies between 221Mbps and 81Mbps (source, 2021).
From your list of countries, the most up to date information I could find is as follows. Note that 5G rollout is ongoing, and different network operators use different bands. Currently, I was able to find that:
Sweden uses n28 and n78
Germany uses n1, n3, n28, n78, n258
Portugal uses n78
Austria uses n1, n28, n78
Generally in Europe the most common band for 5G is n78, which covers the 3.3MHz – 3.8MHz range. If you look at this page you can see which operators in which countries use which bands.
There are two versions of the M5 5G, the MR5100 and the MR5200.
The MR5100 has 5G bands n2, n5, and n66 (datasheet here)
The MR5200 has 5G bands n1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n20, n28, n38, n40, n77, and n78 (datasheet here)
The Inseego MiFi M2100 has bands n2, n5, n66, n260, n261
From this, the MR5200 would be the best option for your destinations. That said, if you reliably need speeds of 500Mbps then I am not sure 5G in Europe is going to deliver that regularly currently.
Hopefully this helps!
Laurence
S. Halford says
I’m looking to buy a mobile hotspot for international travel. If I purchase a hotspot device and use a local SIM card for the country I’m in (in the hotspot device) to connect to WiFi, how does that impact my US based phone number? I am not thinking I need to change out the SIM card in my iPhone, only the hotspot device. Is it correct that I will connect my iPhone or laptop to the hotspot device via bluetooth? Will I still be able to send and receive texts at my US based phone number? What about WiFi based phone calls? Will those WiFi phone calls be through my US based phone number and will I be able to receive WiFi phone calls at my US phone number. What about checking voicemail on my US based phone number? My next trip is to Vietnam, Thailand & Singapore but I have future plans to travel to Central and South America. Thanks for your help.
Laurence Norah says
Hey there!
So the setup you describe, with the local SIM card in the hotspot, would not affect your US number at all. As you say, you would not need to switch out the SIM card in your iPhone, so that would work as normal. You would just want to be sure you disable mobile data on your iPhone and only connect using WiFi networks, to avoid a huge bill due to data roaming fees from your US operator.
You then connect your laptop / iPhone to the mobile hotspot via WiFi. It works like any other WiFi network, so your phone will see it, you put in the password, and it connects.
For your phone, you will be able to receive texts on your US number as long as you have mobile reception wherever you are. Be aware that the fee for sending a text will vary, you will need to check with your provider what that might be. It can be quite costly, so it is better to use messaging apps like WhatsApp that send messages over WiFi.
I am not sure about WiFi phone calls but in my experience these don’t work abroad. Instead they use the cellular network which would likely be expensive. For checking voicemail, your carrier should provide you with a number you can call from overseas. However, this will usually be charged at an international rate, so is best avoided if possible. It might be possible if you setup a pin code that you can access it via Skype or similar, which will have a lower calling rate, but you would need to check with your carrier how their voicemail works.
I hope this helps, let me know if you have any further questions!
Laurence
John Y says
Hey guys,
Appreciate the in-depth blog here.
I was wondering if you are familiar with Google Fi (still researching) and then using the Netgear hotspot along with that. I am still trying to figure out the GFi sim card…?? (They send it to you, once you purchase a phone from them), its called a Nano Sim. I am just not sure if that would fit/work into the Netgear Nighthawk…? Any insight would be much appreciated.
We are slow traveling (Covid) as a family through Central America moving south to Guatemala next and making our way after that.
All the best to you
Laurence Norah says
Hi John,
Great to hear from you, and thanks. I am familiar with Google Fi, and it would be an option for me if I lived in the US as they have good rates and packages, especially for overseas travel. I believe the Netgear takes a micro SIM rather than a nano SIM, but you can easily buy a cheap adaptor on Amazon like this. The contacts are the same size with all the SIM cards, it’s just the plastic surround which is a different size. So that would definitely work. However you might also want to check out local SIM cards as you travel, as often the data can be very inexpensive compared to US prices. Of course, Fi would be very convenient.
Let me know if I can offer any more insight! We are on a trip at the moment so my responses might be a bit slow, but I will always respond!
Laurence
Ian says
Guys, i loved reading your site. Very informative and useful.
My situ is similar to Ivan but I’m on land in Northern Italy from time-to-time but resident in the UK. I have Android TV, two lap tops and two phones, as a minimum, that used to be connected to TIM unlimited broadband but I cancelled it in March 2020. I am about to restart going back to Italy for a week or so every other month and figured that MiFi would be a better and cheaper option than the broadband monthly fee I was paying.
Would you recommend a mobile hotspot device that I can buy in the UK and insert a SIM card (UK or Italian)?
I don’t mind topping up via an app each time I get close to using the allowance. So, do you have a recommendation that I can purchase in the UK (hardware) and presumably I can use a UK or Italian SIM.
Thanks
Ian
Laurence Norah says
Hey Ian,
Great to hear from you! So it used to be that most UK networks allowed for roaming to Italy (and the rest of the EU), but that has mostly stopped since we left the EU. Even Three, who used to offer free roaming to over 70 countries around the world, have started charging a daily fee for new customers.
That was basically a long way of saying, yes, a mobile hotspot is likely going to be your best option. You are going to want one that can handle a good number of devices and that lets you swap out the sim. The most cost-effective option is likely going to be to have one SIM for the UK and one SIM for Italy, and switch between them (I assume from your comment you plan to use the device in both the UK and Italy for your home and travel broadband needs, apologies if I have this wrong).
If that sounds good then any unlocked hotspot device would work, such as the TP-Link M7450. You would need to look up SIM cards that might suit your needs for the UK and Italy – there’s a list here for Italy, and double check the package allows for data tethering. TP-Link have a few different models depending on how much you want to spend. The M7000 is a lower cost option that might also work for you.
If you would prefer a device which has the choice of using your own SIM or using a data package, then you would be looking at either the GlocalMe U3 or the TravelWifi Sapphire. Would be my recommendation. They are quite similar in terms of the hardware, the main thing to check is the price of data. Normally the convenience comes at a higher cost compared to buying a dedicated SIM, especially if you need lots of data.
Let me know if I can offer any more help 🙂
Laurence
JT says
Thanks for the amazing, well thought out article. Easily the best I’ve read on the web on the topic. A bit curious what you use for yourselves? I see the photo of netgear M2 next to the laptop so guessing that’s the one you’ve gone with.
Happy new year!
Laurence Norah says
Hi JT,
We do have the M2 yes which we use. It’s handy because it also works as a travel router to extend existing networks. However it is a bit on the expensive side and the M2 specifically isn’t available everywhere. It is a great device though! I also have an unlocked Pixel 3 smartphone which I use when travelling in the UK because it has tethering and I have lots of data on my current provider (Three).
I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions, and Hapy New Year to you as well!
Laurence
Estephania says
Thus far the most robust, well thought out, article on how to choose travel wifi!!
Thank you for your in depth knowledge and clear guidance on how to choose wisely.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Estephania,
Thank you very much – I’m glad you found it useful! Thanks also for taking the time to let me know, it means a lot. Have a great 2022!
Laurence
Ivan Godoy says
Hey Laurence and Jessica,
Great and informative post. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I’m actually looking for your wise suggestions as I am a crewmember onboard cruises and we constantly drift to different locations/countries.
While some times Im able to buy a local SIM card, the majority of the time is not possible due to restrictions of shore leave and carriers policies. In addition, the internet plans offered by the ships are little to no efficient and costly.
What I normally use the internet for is to do banking, online shopping, social media, streaming (Netflix) and Nintendo online gaming.
Which mobile hotspot do you think will be my best fit?
Im thinking of buying it to own it and then top up for usage during the time Im onboard (no contracts or monthly fees) but rather a type of pay-as-you-go option as there are months which I won’t be using it as I’m at home on vacation and then I use local carrier connectivity.
I really hope you can give me suggestions on which mobile hotspot and/or router to go for.
Thanks again and looking fwd to your reply.
Cheers
Laurence Norah says
Hi Ivan!
Great to hear from you. It sounds like you’ve thought this through and thank you for providing so much information.
I would recommend a product that allows you to add your own SIM card for times when that is possible, but which also comes with the option to use prepaid data packages. I’d say that something like the GlocalMe U3 might be a good option. This supports nano-SIM cards, but also works with GlocalMe’s prepaid packages. They have a wide range of packages, that run from single day, to 30 day, to 365 days. You can also buy them for global usage, regional usage (like Europe), or for specific countries.
So I think that would be the most flexible option. The spec sheet for the G3 is a bit light on information about the nano SIM support, but it is mentioned in the manual. However, you might want to contact GlocalMe in advance of a purchase just to be sure. Alternatively, the G4 Pro definitely supports it.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
Laurence
Sherif Saad says
Great article, very informative.
Thank you
Sherif
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure Sherif, I’m glad you found it useful!