If you’re planning on getting online when you travel, a handy device to help you do that is a mobile hotspot, also known as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, personal hotspot or MiFi device.
These devices connect to a cellular network for data, just like your phone does, and then share that data over a private local Wi-Fi network. This means you can get online in locations where there’s no Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi hotspots allow you to connect multiple devices at once, which can include smartphones, tablets, laptops, and any other device that connects wirelessly to the Internet. This connection is often more secure than connecting to a public Wi-Fi network.
There are a lot of mobile hotspots on the market, and choosing the right one can be tricky. We wanted to put this post together to help you understand first of all what to look for when choosing a mobile hotspot for travel, and then provide our pick of the best mobile hotspots available at the moment.
As professional travel bloggers, we’ve used a number of mobile hotspots during our travels over the past decade. Being able to get online from a range of locations is key to our business.
In addition, as a former software developer with a degree in computer science, I also have a passion for technology, and like to keep up to date with the latest developments.
Let’s get started by answering some questions you might have, and then go through what to look for in a mobile hotspot.
Table of Contents
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 to a mobile hotspot; in that they use the cellular network to create an internet connection. However, they plug directly into the USB port of a laptop for power, and don’t usually create a Wi-Fi network. So they are more designed for a single device like a laptop to connect to the internet.
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.
A mobile hotspot is also popular with international and domestic travelers. For international travelers, a mobile hotspot can be a cost-effective way to get online without running up hefty data fees from your mobile provider.
This means you can do things like look up places to eat, get navigation information, and search for things to do, all without having to search out a Wi-Fi network. We find being able to get online during our travels whenever we need to can be really handy.
For domestic travelers, it can just be a good way to get your devices online without having to worry about finding Wi-Fi, which can be slow and potentially insecure.
To the latter point, about security, public WiFi networks can present a security risk when you connect to them, as all your data has to be passed over the public network. Using a mobile hotspot allows you to connect securely to a cell provider’s network, which is usually a much more secure option than a public Wi-Fi network.
Using a mobile hotspot when travelling can be another way to keep your data secure.
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. You’ll just want to be sure 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 Wi-Fi signal or make a connection more secure, then you’ll probably just want a travel router. See our guide to the best travel routers for some ideas.
Although a mobile router can also be used at home if you don’t have a good internet connection, this is not their primary purpose and there are usually better solutions out there. Normally data prices on mobile hotspots are higher than home internet packages.
If you are looking to improve your home internet speeds, a faster Wi-Fi router might help. See our guide to the best home Wi-Fi routers for some suggestions. Alternatively, your provider might have a home router that works over cellular networks that might be a better option.
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 certainly in more places than you might find a Wi-Fi network, it won’t work absolutely 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. You can usually do this with the carrier, which should have coverage maps on their website.
If you are travelling to locations outside the reach of mobile networks, such as out to sea or in very remote parts of the world, you might want to consider another option if you really need to get online. Solutions in this case usually involve a satellite internet connection.
These provide global coverage but come at a price premium. The speeds are usually not very fast, although this is changing with the launch of services like Starlink.
If you are travelling in an RV and looking to get online, this can be an option. See my guide to getting online when traveling for more on satellite connectivity.
Should you Rent or Buy a Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot?
There are a few different ways that you can get a mobile hotspot, depending on exactly what you want to use it for and your budget.
First, you can buy a mobile hotspot outright. Once you own the device, you can either buy a SIM card for it, or it might come with its own built-in SIM card, in which case you just need to buy data as you go.
This will usually have a higher up-front cost, but in the long-term owning a mobile hotspot will usually work out cheaper than renting one. You can expect to pay around $70 – $400 for a mobile hotspot device if you buy it outright. Then you just have to pay for data.
The other option is to rent a mobile hotspot. There are lots of companies around the world who will rent you a mobile hotspot. These are usually a good option for short-term usage, and are particularly popular with international travelers.
Renting a mobile hotspot for international travel is an easy way to get online when on the go. Expect to pay in the region of $5 – $12 a day for the device rental and data, depending on destination and how much data you need.
We’d advise renting if you only plan to use the device for a one-off trip to a specific destination for less than a month. A couple of companies that offer mobile hotspot rentals are GlocalMe and mywebspot.
If you plan on using a mobile hotspot more regularly on multiple trips, then purchasing a mobile hotspot will usually work out better value in the long run.
However if you just want data for a one-off two week trip, then rental will likely work out a better value option. A rental option is also easier to use as it comes pre-configured with a SIM card and data, so all you have to do is turn it on and connect. You don’t have to worry about finding a SIM card, network compatibility issues and so on.
We have used both rental options and our own hotspot with a SIM card. We definitely appreciate the simplicity of a rental option. However, for us using devices for long term travel, owning a device outright has definitely been more cost-effective overall.
Can you Use a Phone as a Mobile Hotspot?
Many modern smartphones, including Apple and Android devices, include built in mobile hotspot functionality. This is often referred to as mobile tethering.
With this feature, you can share your phone’s data connection with your other devices, either over a Wi-Fi network that the phone creates, over Bluetooth, or by directly 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. So even if your phone is capable of tethering, it might not actually work, or it may have specific limitations. For example, our phone carrier does allow tethering, but only domestically. If we travel overseas, we can’t use it.
Next, if it is permitted, you need to be aware that tethering will use up your smartphone’s data allowance. If you do not have a generous data allowance, using your phone for tethering can very quickly take you over your allowance.
This is especially likely to happen if you are using a laptop or desktop computer, because they generally use much more data than a phone.
Finally, and just something to be aware of, is that mobile tethering can also use up a device’s battery very quickly. So, this is usually only a good idea if you are near to a power source.
With the above caveats out of the way, using your phone as a mobile hotspot is definitely an option to think about instead of buying a dedicated mobile hotspot. This is especially the case if you have an unlocked phone, as you can buy local SIM cards when you travel, which often offer very reasonable data prices.
Alternatively, if your mobile contract includes international roaming with tethering for no extra fee, this is definitely an option to consider.
Features to Look for in a Mobile Hotspot
So now you know why you might want a mobile hotspot.
Before we recommend some specific models to check out, we first want to share details of what to look for in a mobile hotspot, based on our experience using these devices.
This should help you pick the right mobile hotspot for you and make a fully informed choice.
Cellular Network Technology and Speed
A mobile hotspot connects to the same network that a smartphone connects to. However, it only uses the data connection. As you might be aware, there are a number of different types of network out there. These are based on different technologies, and are often referred to as mobile broadband networks.
Every few years, new technology comes along, usually promising faster speeds. However, it takes a long time for this technology to roll out as it normally requires new hardware to be installed in mobile masts around the country.
For this reason, it’s normal for networks of different speeds to co-exist. More populous areas tend to be upgraded to faster networks first, whilst rural locations will often take longer.
When you buy a mobile hotspot, you need to check what cellular network it supports, as this will affect both the maximum supported speed, and also where the device will work. As an example, whilst 5G networks might offer the fastest speeds at the moment, they are not widely available.
Here’s an overview of current network technology you might expect to encounter.
- 2G – Launched in 1991, 2G offers speeds of up to 237 kbit/s download and upload. Also known as GSM, GSM GPRS and GSM Edge. This is generally not popularly available any more.
- 3G – Launched in 2001. Offers speeds up to 1.6Mbit/s download and 0.5Mbit/s upload. Also known as UTMS and CDMA. Still available but largely being replaced by 4G.
- 4G – Launched in 2006. Offers speeds up to 300Mbit/s download and 75Mbit/s upload. Also known as HSPA+, LTE and LTE-Advanced.
- 5G – Launched in 2018. Offers speeds up to 10Gbit/s download and 500 Mbit/s upload
It’s worth noting that these speeds are generally all theoretical in the most optimal conditions, and real-world performance is usually slower. Various factors influence the speeds you will get, including the distance from the mast, the weather, and any objects in the way like buildings or trees.
For most users at the moment, 4G offers the best combination of speed and availability, as it is a fairly mature technology. If you’re wondering how fast of a network you need, for 4K video streaming for example, you need around a 25Mbit/s connection. For HD streaming, 7 – 10Mbit/s will usually suffice.
When you are looking at a mobile router, check which technologies it supports. We’d recommend one that supports 4G technology at the least. 5G is probably not necessary in most cases, although if you are buying a mobile router, 5G will provide you with an element of future proofing.
Most routers will be backward compatible, so if it supports 5G it should also support 4G and 3G for example.
Global Roaming Support
If you’re choosing a mobile router because you want to get online when you travel internationally, you need to ensure you pick a device that will work in multiple countries around the world. This will require it to support multiple different “bands”.
This can start to get a bit complicated unfortunately, but I will do my best to explain.
Cellular data is transmitted over radio waves, and different countries allocate different parts of the radio spectrum to cellular data. To make matters more complicated, different providers in the same country also use different parts of the spectrum.
You can think of this a bit like radio stations. In the USA for example, FM radio stations broadcast between 87.9MHz and 107.9MHz. So to tune into one of these stations, you need a radio that has a dial that goes from 87.9 to 107.9.
In Japan, FM radio stations broadcast between 76MHz and 95MHz. So, a radio designed for use in the USA wouldn’t be able to pick up all the radio stations in Japan, and vice versa.
Cellular data networks are exactly the same, with different countries using different spectrum allocations for their cellular data. In addition, different network operators use different frequencies within the allocated spectrum – sort of like different radio stations on different frequencies.
As an example, in the USA, the AT&T 4G network is available on the following frequencies, which are also given band names:
- 700 MHz (Bands 12/17/29)
- 850 MHz (Band 5)
- 1900 MHz (Band 2)
- 1700 MHz /2100 MHz: (Bands 4/66)
- 2300 MHz (Band 30)
In the UK, the Three 4G network is available on the following bands:
- 800MHz (Band 20)
- 1400MHz (Band 32)
- 1800MHz : (Band 3)
- 2100MHz: (Band 21)
As you can see, there’s zero overlap between the bands used by AT&T in the USA, and the bands used by Three in the UK. So what does this mean?
Well, it means you have to be a bit careful when buying a mobile hotspot, to ensure it will work wherever you plan on using it. The good news is that device manufacturers don’t want to build lots of versions of their devices for different regions, and tend to include the majority of cellular bands in their devices to avoid this problem.
This is much the same as we have seen in smartphones in recent years, most of them are now released with support for a huge range of bands so they work pretty much everywhere without much fuss.
However, some mobile hotspots only support a limited number of bands, which means they may only work in one country, and sometimes only with one carrier in that country. This is particularly the case with network branded mobile hotspots, which are often limited to the bands that that cellular carrier uses.
Our suggestion is to check which bands the device you are purchasing supports, to ensure it will work everywhere you plan on visiting.
Wi-Fi Version
In order for your devices to connect to the internet, the mobile hotspot will create a local Wi-Fi network that they can connect to. Different hotspots support different Wi-Fi versions and features, which is something to keep in mind when choosing a mobile hotspot.
Just like cellular networks, Wi-Fi networks operate at different speeds and on different frequencies.
There are three main frequencies that Wi-Fi networks operate at 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz. 2.4GHz is the original standard and is generally more crowded but has better range, whilst the 5GHz and 6GHz frequencies are normally faster with less range.
There are also different Wi-Fi categories, like Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6. Each step up tends to bring an increase in speed, much like the difference between 3G, 4G and 5G. If you’re interested in the different Wi-Fi speeds and technologies, you can read more about them in our guide to home Wi-Fi routers here.
Honestly, the supported Wi-Fi version of a mobile hotspot is not that important. Most devices these days should support at least Wi-Fi version 5, which was released in 2014. This supports network speeds up to 3,470Mbps, which is far faster than most cellular networks will run.
We would recommend, if possible, choosing a device which can create a 5Ghz network. These tend to be less congested. However, again, it’s not that important. The cellular network connection speed will nearly always be the bottleneck in your network, rather than the speed of the Wi-Fi network.
Number of Devices Supported
One of the main reasons for purchasing a mobile hotspot is that it lets you share its internet connection with multiple devices. It’s important that whatever hotspot you buy, it’s going to be capable of supporting all the devices you want to connect at once.
If you’re travelling with a family on a camping trip for example, you might have quite a number of devices that you want to get online at once. You definitely don’t want to be having arguments over who can connect when!
We’d recommend choosing a mobile hotspot that supports at least 8 devices.
Battery Life
You’re getting a mobile hotspot because you want to use it when you’re mobile, and that often means being away from a power socket. We often use our hotspots on long distance bus journeys for example, and whilst some of these do come with free Wi-Fi and USB connections, this is by no means standard worldwide.
So having a device that has a good battery life is important. After all, there’s no point having paid for data and a device if you can’t actually use it! We’d recommend looking for a device that has at least an 8-hour battery life, but ideally 12 hours or more. This means it can be used for a few sessions between charges.
Most of these devices can be charged using a USB cable or directly from an electrical outlet, so this allows you to charge them from a USB port or portable battery pack as well as a wall plug.
Almost all mobile hotspots support dual voltages for worldwide charging support. However, for the wall plug, you’ll likely need a travel adapter to charge it in a wall plug in other countries. A travel adapter costs just a few dollars and a good universal one that works in most countries is this one.
Wired Connection Options
The most common way to use a mobile hotspot is to set it up to create a Wi-Fi network that your devices can connect to. However, some mobile hotspots offer additional options.
The most common additional connection types are USB and Ethernet. Whilst these are not necessary, some users might need the option to connect a device directly to the hotspot by a cable instead of over Wi-Fi. This is often the case if you are using a work laptop for example which restricts the WiFi networks you can connect to.
So if this is a feature that you would find useful, look out for a device that supports additional connection options.
Security Features
Using a mobile hotspot to connect your devices to the internet is usually quite secure, but not all mobile hotspots are created equally.
To start with, you’ll want to ensure that the local Wi-Fi network that the hotspot creates is secured with a password, so it can’t be accessed by anyone. The security protocols on Wi-Fi networks have improved over time, and ideally you’ll want it to support at least the WPA2 standard.
Next, for even more protection, or to login to streaming or banking services when you travel, you might consider a router which also supports VPN services. A VPN is a great way to mask your location and further secure your connection, and we have a guide to VPNs here.
Whilst you can connect to a VPN on your laptop or smartphone whilst connected to your hotspot, some mobile hotspots allow you to enter the VPN credentials directly as part of the connection setup. This means that every device that connects through the mobile hotspot will automatically have it’s data passed through the VPN, giving even more security.
External Antenna Support
This is a bit more of a niche requirement, but is something to consider if you regularly travel to locations where the cellular network coverage is a bit spotty.
This is a feature that many of those traveling by motorhome or campervan may look for as they are likely to encounter areas with weak coverage. It’s also easier to mount an antenna externally on one of these vehicles.
Because mobile routers work over radio waves, they have a built-in antenna which allows them to connect to the network. This internal antenna will work for most connections, but if you want to boost the connection, you could connect a larger external antenna.
This works in the same principle as a TV antenna. You can use a small internal TV antenna if you have good reception, but you will usually get better results with a large external antenna mounted outside your home.
For a mobile hotspot, you usually don’t need anything near as large as a TV antenna, just a small antenna attached directly to the device can make a difference. Not all mobile hotspots support them, but it is a nice to have feature.
Network / SIM Lock
There are a few different ways to purchase a mobile hotspot. For example, you can buy them as part of a contract from a network provider, in the same way that you might buy a smartphone.
If you do this, there’s a good chance that the device will be locked to that provider’s network. This means you can’t change the SIM card and use it on another network, unless the provider lets you unlock the device.
You can also buy mobile hotspots from stores like Amazon. These will either come with a removable SIM, or a built-in non-removable SIM tied to a data provider. The former will give you more options, as you can choose the best SIM package for you. The latter can be easier, but will lock you in to purchasing a data plan from that provider, much like buying from a network provider would.
The right option for you will very much depend on your needs. We travel a lot to different countries, so having the option to purchase a local SIM card in each country means an unlocked device without a SIM card is a good option for us.
We also have a pay-as-you-go mobile hotspot tied to a specialist provider of mobile hotspot plans. This has a built-in SIM card but we own the device.
This is useful for travelling to countries where buying a SIM card isn’t so easy for visitors, and is also a simple solution as we just need to buy the appropriate data package for the country we are visiting from the provider of the hotspot.
Data Allowance and Limitations
Whatever kind of mobile hotspot you purchase, be it tied to a contract, rented, or even unlocked, you will want to be aware of the data allowance and any limitations imposed by the network providers.
Mobile data has a price, and so the companies providing it obviously have to both pass that cost on to you, and also turn a profit.
Usually, there will be a data allowance imposed. This might be a fixed daily limit, like 1 GB a day, or a monthly limit, like 10GB / month. It’s important to check what happens if you go over this limit. The most common things that can happen are:
- You can keep using the device, but your provider will start charging (sometimes hefty sums) for data used over the limit.
- Your provider will shut off data so the device can’t be used unless it is topped up.
- Speeds will be throttled beyond a certain limit. This is most common on “unlimited” data plans, where a certain amount of data is provided at full speed, after which the speed is slowed down. Often the speed slows down to 2G, which is fine for e-mail and simple web browsing, but insufficient for video streaming.
The above also applies even if you have an unlocked device with a SIM card you’ve purchased yourself. The SIM card you buy will have terms specifying data usage and allowances. For example, it might give you unlimited data, but will go on to say it’s 1GB of data at 4G speeds, after which it will drop to 2G speeds.
It’s also worth making yourself aware of any limitations your provider might impose. For example, some providers only allow streaming of HD video instead of 4K video. Many providers restrict use of file sharing services. If these are things you want to use, you will definitely want to check if it’s allowed on the device and network you plan to use.
Additional Mobile Hotspot Features
We’ve covered the majority of features to look out for when purchasing a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, but there are some other nice to have features that some devices come with. These may be important to you, so we’ve included them here.
Screen
Some mobile hotspots come with a screen. These can be used to display handy information to you, from how good the connection is, to how many devices are connected, data usage and so on.
Some devices even have a touchscreen interface for configuration, which can make setting them up really easy.
Power other devices
A mobile hotspot should come with a built-in battery. Some of them even work as a backup USB battery pack, meaning you can plug your smartphone or other USB device directly into the mobile hotspot and charge it.
Obviously, this will reduce the battery life of the mobile hotspot, but it can be very useful if your smartphone is running low on juice!
Travel Router features
As mentioned earlier in the post, a mobile hotspot is not the same as a travel router. A travel router is primarily designed to enhance and extend an existing wireless network. It doesn’t connect to the internet itself.
However, some mobile hotspots also come with built in travel router functionality. This means that they can either create their own internet connection over a cellular network, or they can connect to an existing Wi-Fi network and share it with your devices.
This gives you a best of both worlds’ solution. Connecting to data all the time can be expensive, whilst Wi-Fi is often free. However, public Wi-Fi networks can often be unsecure, or may limit the number of devices you can connect to them. A travel router solves this problem.
Best Mobile Hotspots for Travel
Now that we’ve shared everything you need to know to help you choose a mobile hotspot, we wanted to share some options for the best mobile hotspots available today based on our experience with a number of products.
These cover a number of options, including devices you can purchase outright, devices you can rent and devices which are locked to a network.
Alcatel LINKZONE (model MW41NF-2AOFUS1)
The Alcatel Linkzone is a budget no frills unlocked 4G LTE mobile hotspot. If you’re looking for a budget mobile hotspot that will work in a number of locations around the world, this is one of the better value options available.
This unlocked device supports micro size SIM cards which you will need to provide yourself for data. It’s unlocked, and supports 4G LTE speeds up to 150Mpbs. You can connect up to 15 devices, and the diminutive size makes it easy to travel with.
Note that there are a number of versions of this product on the market. You want to be sure to get the MW41NF-2AOFUS1 model as this has the most band support, meaning it will work in more locations around the world.
Battery life is OK if not great 6 hours, and there’s no built-in screen. However, there is an app which you can use to manage the device from your smartphone.
For the local WiFi network, it supports up to WiFi 4 and 2.4Ghz networks only.
Networks supported: 4G (Bands 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 12 13 20) + 3G (Bands 1 2 4 5 8).
Size: 3.4in x 2.3in x 0.5in (87.6 x 59.6 x 12.6mm)
Weight: 6.3oz (178g)
Battery Life: 7 hrs
Devices Supported: 15
Best for: A solid budget pick for an unlocked global mobile hotspot
Price: Check price here on Amazon
TP-Link M7450
TP-Link are a well-known brand who primarily make networking equipment, and they have a range of MiFi devices available. These range from the budget M7000 through to the high end M7650. Note these are easy to find in the UK but not always available in the USA.
The main difference across the range is the 4G speeds supported, the speed of the WiFi network, the battery life, and the number of devices each option support.
The M7000 for example supports 4G speeds up to 150Mbps, has 8 hours of battery life, creates a local 2.4GHz network with speeds up to 300Mbps, and supports up to 10 devices.
The M7650 by comparison supports 4G speeds up to 600Mbps, has 15 hours of battery life, creates a local 2.4GHz network with speeds up to 300Mbps as well as a 5GHz network with speeds up to 867Mbps, and supports up to 32 devices.
Our recommendation falls in the middle of these specifications, but you might prefer to go with a higher or lower end device.
The M7450 supports 4G speeds up to 300Mbps, WiFi of 300Mbps at 2.4GHz and 867Mbps at 5Ghz. It can handle up to 32 devices, and has a battery good for 15 hours. It also has support for an SD card for media storage and streaming, has an app for control, and a color screen display.
Networks supported: 4G (Bands 1 3 5 7 8 20 28 38 40 41) + 3G (Bands 1 5 8).
Size: 4.4in x 2.6in x 0.62in (112.5mm x 66.5mm x 16mm)
Weight: Unknown
Battery Life: 15 hrs
Devices Supported: 32
Best for: A great mid-range pick, with a number of models to choose from
Price: Check price here on Amazon UK
GlocalMe DuoTurbo
The GlocalMe DuoTurbo is another excellent product if you want the best of both worlds. You can either use it out of the box without a separate SIM, using competitively priced data plans from GlocalMe. Or, you can insert your own SIM card if you prefer.
The device can be purchased outright or rented, and it has excellent 4G coverage, which will let you get online in over 140 countries worldwide.
Specs wise you get LTE connections up to 150Mbps download, 2.4GHz WiFi 4, support for up to 10 devices, and a battery that lasts up to 12 hours. It also has an easy to use touchscreen interface.
Note that GlocalMe have a range of mobile routers you can either rent or buy, as well as a lot of data plans to choose from. So do check out their website to see if one of their other options is a better fit for you than the G4 Pro.
For example, the FirstG is an excellent cost-effective option with good worldwide support for those of you looking to bring your own SIM, whilst their high end Numen Air is an excellent future proof option for those of you wanting 5G as well.
We used a GlocalMe device on a two week trip across Turkey and it worked very well to provide us internet, which was particularly useful on some of the longer bus rides we took!
Networks supported: 4G (Bands 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 12 13 17 18 19 20 25 26 28 34 38 39 40 41 66) + 3G (Bands 1 2 4 5 6 8 9 19)
Size: 4.96 x 2.6 x 0.5 inch (126 x 66 x 12.6 mm)
Weight: 5.2oz (1480g)
Battery Life: 12 hrs
Devices Supported: 10
Best for: Easy international and domestic roaming with the option to use your own SIM
Device Price: Check price here on GlocalMe and here on Amazon
Rental Prices: Check rental price here on GlocalMe
Travel Wifi Sapphire 3
The Travel WiFi Sapphire 3 is a great option if you’re looking for flexibility. TravelWiFi offer a range of devices which you can rent or buy, and you can either choose to buy data packages, or use your own SIM card. This gives you the best of both worlds.
The Sapphire 3 supports up to 4G LTE speeds and comes preloaded with 4GB of global data, although note this is only valid for 14 days from activation.
It supports up to 10 connected devices and has a built-in battery that provides up to 12 hours of battery life. It works in over 130 countries worldwide, and there’s a companion app available to help you manage the device and your data.
We also have a discount code for TravelWifi, use discount code “findingtheuniverse” for a 5% discount on their prices when shopping direct.
Note TravelWifi have a range of products, so do compare their other options as well to see if those better suit your needs. The Sapphire 3 in our opinion offers a great balance of price and performance, but if you need more features, check out their other options.
Networks supported: 4G (Bands 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 12 13 17 18 19 20 25 26 28 34 38 39 40 41 66) + 3G (Bands 1 2 4 5 6 8 9 19)
Size: 5 x 2.6 x 0.4 inch (126 x 66 x 10 mm)
Weight: 4.9oz (125g)
Battery Life: 12 hrs
Devices Supported: 10
Best for: Easy international and domestic roaming with the option to use your own SIM
Device Price: Check price here on TravelWiFi and here on Amazon
Rental Prices: Check rental price here on TravelWiFi
NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 (model MR1100)
We have used a number of Netgear networking devices over the years, including the Netgear Nighthawk M1. This is an unlocked mobile hotspot which supports fast 4G LTE speeds up to 1Gbps.
It has a nice screen which shows you mobile signal strength and data usage, and it supports up to 20 connected devices. It has a built-in battery offering 24hrs of usage, and also offers travel router features where you can extend existing WiFi networks. Speaking of WiFi networks, this offers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz support up to the WiFi 5 standard.
Because this device is fully unlocked, and supports a wide range of cellular network bands, it should work well in most destinations (although of course you will want to check in advance of a trip to be sure).
It also offers dual external antenna connectors as well as a USB port you can use to connect an external drive, from which you can stream media to devices on your network.
The main downside of this device is that all the features do come at a price premium.
Note that there are different versions of this device depending on your region. A newer 4G model is the M2 (MR2100), which offers slightly faster WiFi speeds and a touchscreen interface. This is primarily available for UK, European and Australian markets.
Networks supported: 4G (Bands 1 2 3 4 5 7 12 14 29 30 66) + 3G (Bands 2 4 5)
Size: 4.1 x 4.1 x 0.75 inches (10.4 x 10.4 x 1.9cm)
Weight: 8.48 oz (240g)
Battery Life: 24hrs
Devices Supported: 20
Best for: Global and domestic travel where you want to choose your own SIM card and want very fast speeds.
Price: Check price here on Amazon
Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro (MR6450 Europe, MR6500 USA)
If you want the most cutting-edge mobile hotspot on the market, look no further than Netgear’s Nighthawk M6 Pro. Available in a European (MR6450) and a US (MR6500) version, this offers a similar form factor to the aforementioned M1, however it features much faster internet speeds thanks to support for 5G as well as WiFi 6.
This means that you can theoretically browse at up to 4Gbps, although this will of course depend on a variety of factors including signal strength and the capability of your mobile provider. Suffice to say, this device is going to be more than fast enough to handle your needs for some time to come.
Specs wise this device is fully loaded. It can handle 5G and 4G connectivity, up to 32 devices over WiFi 6E, and there’s even a 2.5GB ethernet port as well as a USB-C port for wired connectivity.
There’s a nice big touchscreen interface that makes setting it up a breeze. In our testing, it’s easy to configure and certainly more than fast enough to handle everything we threw at it!
Like the other Netgear Nighthawk routers, this device can also be used to extend an existing WiFi network. You can even remove the battery and use the power adaptor when doing so to preserve the battery longevity for travel.
The only downside is that it is rather expensive compared to the other options on our list. However, you do get a lot for your money. If you need the fastest speeds, this is definitely an option to consider.
Networks supported: 5G (SA / NSA / Sub6 n1 n2 n3 n5 n7 n8 n20 n28 n38 n40 n41 n71 n77 n78) 4G (Bands 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 12 13 14 20 28 38 40 41 66) + 3G (Bands 1 2 59)
Size: 4.1 x 4.1 x 0.75 inches (10.5 x 10.5 x 2.1cm)
Weight: 9 oz (256g)
Battery Life: 13hrs
Devices Supported: 32
Best for: Global and domestic travel where you want to choose your own SIM card and want the fastest speeds.
Price: Check price here on Amazon
Solis Lite
For a simple mobile hotspot that just works domestically and internationally, the Solis Lite is a good option.
This device comes with its own built-in SIM card, and it offers 4G data coverage in around 135 countries worldwide. Data packages can be bought for individual days or for longer periods, and vary in price depending on duration and destination. See the Solis website for all the options.
You can either buy time based data which works for a specific time period like a day, or you can pay by the GB.
Note that you can’t change the SIM card, so unlike the GlocalMe device above, you are tied in to the Solis prices. It is also only currently available to purchase outright.
Specs wise, you can connect up to 10 devices, it’s lightweight, offers reasonable battery life with the ability to charge other devices, and WiFi 4 support.
You can also save 10% on any order with our exclusive Solis discount code. Enter “FINDINGTHEUNIVERSE” on checkout to save 10%!
Networks supported: 4G (Bands 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 12 17 18 20 25 26 28 38 39 40 41 71) + 3G (Bands 1 2 4 5 8)
Size: 3.5in x .9″ (
Weight: 5.5 oz ( g)
Battery Life: 12 hrs
Devices Supported: 10
Best for: Easy global roaming with minimal fuss
Device Price: Check price here on Amazon and directly with Solis here.
INSEEGO M2000 5G MIFI WiFi-6
If you’re in the USA and looking for the fastest connectivity for domestic use, as well as fast connectivity when travelling internationally, consider T-Mobile’s Inseego 5G MiFi M2000.
This is the one of the few devices on our list which supports 5G, which means theoretical download speeds of up to 2.7Gbps. Real world speeds will definitely be lower than that, but if you have access to a 5G network, this will definitely get you a fast connection!
It supports Wi-Fi 6, has a color touchscreen, can connect up to 30 devices simultaneously, and can charge other devices via USB. It also has full support for a plethora of 4G bands in areas where 5G isn’t available.
For international use, you’ll mostly be using the 4G bands, of which the device supports many and you’ll need to buy international data packs for overseas use. Alternatively, T-Mobile is quite flexible about unlocking their devices, and the SIM card is removable.
The main downside of this device is the price. 5G is still a relatively new technology, and access to it definitely carries a price premium.
Networks supported: 5G (n2, n41, n66, n71) and 4G (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 49, 66, 71)
Size: 5.9 x 2.8 x 0.7 inches (150 x 71 x 18 mm)
Weight: 7.4 oz (210g)
Battery Life: 24 hrs
Devices Supported:
Best for: The fastest speeds in the USA with the option for international roaming
Price: Check price here on Amazon and here on T-Mobile
Further Reading
Well, that summarises our guide to the best mobile Wi-Fi hotspots available on the market for travel. We hope you found it useful. We’ve also got a lot of other resources you might find useful, including the following.
- 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!