Chances are, you’ve already created a hotspot using your smartphone to get internet access on your laptop or tablet. Although this works in a pinch for quick and easy access to the web, you’ve also probably learned the hard way that extended connection periods will quickly drain your smartphone battery.
A dedicated Wi-Fi hotspot is a more reliable way to get connected anytime and anywhere (just as long as you have signal). Having a separate device means you can use your smartphone for other things, and you also won’t burn through your allocated data. Not only that, Wi-Fi hotspots deliver a more stable connection, they support up to 15 connected devices (or sometimes more), and they have batteries that last for an entire workday.
Wi-Fi hotspots can easily be confused with home wireless internet, which brings high-speed internet to rural households. Wi-Fi hotspots are better suited for business people, frequent travelers, vacation home or RV owners, and remote workers.
I’ve compared dozens of hotspots for 4 years now, and feel confident recommending these nine best Wi-Fi hotspots available on- and off-contract to keep you connected on the go.
Best Wi-Fi Hotspots
1
Best for Verizon Users
Verizon Jetpack MiFi 8800L Wi-Fi Hotspot
Inseego
Read More
2
Best for AT&T Users
Nighthawk M1 Wi-Fi Hotspot
NETGEAR
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3
Best Unlocked Hotspot
AirCard 797 (AC797) Wi-Fi Hotspot
NETGEAR
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4
Best for T-Mobile
Linkzone Wi-Fi Hotspot
Alcatel
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5
Best Verizon 5G Hotspot
Speed 5G UW Wi-Fi Hotspot
Orbic
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6
Best At-Home Hotspot
Orbi Tri-Band Wi-Fi Router
NETGEAR
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7
Best Pay-As-You-Go Hotspot
Mini Turbo Wi-Fi Hotspot
GlocalMe
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8
Best AT&T 5G Hotspot
Nighthawk M5 5G Mobile Hotspot Pro
NETGEAR
Read More
Note that even though I’ve listed the full prices of the Wi-Fi hotspots on this list, you can buy most of them in low monthly installments with a qualifying data plan. (Just note that this option isn’t available for our unlocked and pay-as-you-go picks.)
What to Consider
Service Provider
Wi-Fi hotspots are typically designed for a specific cellular carrier and require a data plan from a provider like AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon to operate. So, make sure the hotspot you settle on is compatible with whatever carrier you use or are planning on going with. I recommend adding a hotspot line to your existing phone plan to get the most bang for your buck!
Coverage
Be sure to check coverage maps for each carrier in the locations where you plan to use your hotspot prior to making a purchase.
5G Spectrums
Over the last several years, 4G LTE hotspots have been the norm, but more 5G-supported Wi-Fi hotspots have been recently rolling out. 5G cellular networks are made of three different types of signals (low-band, mid-band, and millimeter-wave 5G), which provide different levels of data speeds. The Verge published a handful of useful guides that break them all down. The gist is millimeter wave (mmWave) 5G can be dismissed and mid-band (C-band) spectrums are the ones you’ll want for the fastest, most-reliable network speeds.
Features and Specifications
I’ve already bored you with frequency bands, so I don’t want to put you to sleep and pull you further into the weeds by explaining things like carrier aggregation and MIMO antennas. The Mobile Internet Resource Center has a helpful and highly informative video that will help you better understand the features and specifications of today’s Wi-Fi hotspots. A few things to look for are support for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).
Battery
Pay attention to how long the hotspot will last before needing recharging. The best hotspots will stay powered on for at least 12 hours. I awarded bonus points to models with USB-C (likely the charging cable you have for your smartphone), as well as the ones that have the ability to charge your other devices using their built-in battery.
Tethering
USB tethering is a useful feature that allows you to connect your Wi-Fi hotspot to your laptop with a USB cable (instead of wirelessly over Wi-Fi). This comes in handy for crowded areas that have a higher potential for congested networks.
Whether you're looking for an ultra fast 5G hotspot or an affordable unlocked option to use with your existing plan, there's a mobile hotspot out there for any use case and budget.
1
Best for Verizon Users
Verizon Jetpack MiFi 8800L Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Supports a broad range of LTE bands
- Works well internationally
Key Specs
- Service Provider: Verizon
- Connectivity: 4G LTE, 802.11 b/g/n/ac
- Number of Devices Supported: 15
- Battery Life: 24 hours
Verizon's Jetpack 8800L is a top-shelf portable Wi-Fi hotspot with robust LTE connectivity, intuitive touchscreen controls, and a large 4,440 mAh battery that helps deliver mobile internet for up to 24 hours. The battery is also removable, so you can purchase additional batteries for some extra juice.
The Jetpack can connect up to 15 devices to a Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n network. It outputs both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz signals, and it uses WPA2 encryption. It also has a convenient guest option, so you can keep your main password private. It even works as a backup battery pack since it can keep your other devices charged — as long as they recharge with a USB-C port.
2
Best for AT&T Users
Nighthawk M1 Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Impressive battery life
- Equipped with Ethernet port
- Bulky design
- No touchscreen
Key Specs
- Service Provider: AT&T
- Connectivity: 4G LTE, 802.11 b/g/n/ac
- Number of Devices Supported: 20
- Battery Life: 20 hours
If you want to use a Wi-Fi hotspot on AT&T, we recommend going with this one from Netgear. It's capable of hosting up to 20 devices via 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, up to the 802.11 b/g/n/ac specification.
It's equipped with a 5,040 maH battery that lasts for a day, and when the hotspot dies, it recharges quickly because it's compatible with Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0.
It's one of the few hotspots with a built-in Ethernet port, which you can use to offload your traffic to limit your cellular usage. Like Verizon's hotspot, it has a USB port for charging other devices — but this one has a full-sized port as compared to Verizon's USB-C port. Its USB port can also be used to connect an external hard drive or thumb drive to share files to connected devices.
Netgear has a complementary app that lets you manage the Wi-Fi connections for all of your devices, adjust settings, check usage, and view media files.
Read More: The Best Mini Laptops to Use in Tandem With Your Hotspot
3
Best Unlocked Hotspot
AirCard 797 (AC797) Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Works with practically any SIM card
- Uses older micro SIM card format
Key Specs
- Service Provider: Unlocked
- Connectivity: 4G LTE, 802.11 ac
- Number of Devices Supported: 14
- Battery Life: 11 hours
The AirCard 797 is an unlocked mobile hotspot that delivers fast speeds, no matter what your carrier is or where you go. It supports up to 14 simultaneous connections, is password-protected, and reaches speeds of up to 400 Mbps.
At 4 inches long and just a half-inch thick, the hotspot is incredibly portable. It's equipped with a useful display, so you can easily monitor data usage and signal strength, and adjust network settings. Its 2,930mAh rechargeable battery powers up to 11 hours of use.
Netgear says that while this option is compatible with Verizon, it works best with AT&T and T-Mobile.
4
Best for T-Mobile
Linkzone Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Smaller-sized battery
- Only works on 2.4 GHz band
Key Specs
- Service Provider: T-Mobile
- Connectivity: 4G LTE, 802.11b/g/n
- Number of Devices Supported: 15
- Battery Life: 6 hours
This Wi-Fi hotspot device weighs a tad more than 3 ounces and is smaller than a deck of cards, so you can easily slide it into your pocket. It can deliver Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n connectivity to up to 15 devices by utilizing GSM networks.
Unfortunately, though, it only works on a 2.4 GHz band: Other hotspots can output a 5 GHz band, which comes in handy in congested areas like airports.
The hotspot's 1,800 mAh battery is slightly smaller than other hotspots, too, and provides about 6 hours of use. This hotspot doesn't have a display, so there’s no way of telling from the outside how strong the signal is. Despite these shortcomings, however, the Alcatel LINKZONE is a good value for the price.
5
Best Verizon 5G Hotspot
Speed 5G UW Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Lowest-priced 5G hotspot
- Has a gigabit Ethernet port for use with other routers
- There are no antenna ports for enhancing signal
- Verizon-exclusive
Key Specs
- Service Provider: Verizon
- Connectivity: Sub-6GHz 5G (n2, n5, n48, n66, n77, n78) mmWave 5G (n260, n261), 4G LTE, 802.11ax, LAN connectivity
- Number of Devices Supported: 30
- Battery Life: 12 hours
Verizon has been rapidly expanding its 5G network, and recently launched its C-band spectrum. So, it should come as no surprise that the carrier is also rolling out some new Wi-Fi hotspots. The Orbic Speed 5G is the hotspot to buy if you’re a Verizon customer looking for the fastest speeds.
The device is the cheapest 5G hotspot to come to market — and believe it or not, it uses the same Qualcomm X55 cellular modem that’s found in devices that cost twice as much, such as the NETGEAR Nighthawk M5 and Inseego M2100.
Compared to the Inseego mobile hotspot, the Orbic Speed 5G UW supports the C-Band, which is one of the most prevalent 5G spectrums across the country — meaning, you’ll be able to use the hotspot in more places. If you don’t have 5G readily available in your area, it’s backward-compatible and works with 4G LTE networks, too.
The Orbic features a USB-C charging port that's also used for tethering, and it has a removable battery and touchscreen display. At the time of publishing, it's only available at Verizon.
6
Best At-Home Hotspot
Orbi Tri-Band Wi-Fi Router
- Offers fast download speeds
- Excellent wireless range
Key Specs
- Service Provider: Unlocked
- Connectivity: 4G LTE, 802.11 ac
- Number of Devices Supported: 25
- Battery Life: Requires AC outlet
If you live in a rural area or mountainous region that isn't wired to receive internet by traditional means, we recommend this router from Netgear. It's the first tri-band mesh system that uses a 4G LTE connection. In case we lost you there, this simply means that it uses a SIM card from a mobile network (including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) to bring wireless internet to your home.
The Orbi delivers wicked-fast speeds of up to 1.2Gbps, and covers floor plans of up to 2,000 square feet. If you have an even bigger home, you can pair it with Netgear's Orbi satellites (sold separately) to extend the signal.
More: Here's What You Need to Know About Wi-Fi 6
7
Best Pay-As-You-Go Hotspot
Mini Turbo Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Inexpensive
- Works with a wide number of providers since it’s unlocked
- GlocalMe offers several plans, which is a bit confusing
Key Specs
- Service Provider: Unlocked
- Connectivity: 4G LTE, 802.11 b/g/n/
- Number of Devices Supported: 10
- Battery Life: 10 hours
If you don't want to fuss with contracts — or add a line to your current data plan — consider this Wi-Fi hotspot from GlocalMe.
It’s an attractive-looking touchscreen hotspot that'a about the size of a smartphone. It comes with 1GB of 4G LTE data, and works in over 100 different countries.
The touchscreen hotspot offers 10 hours of battery life, and has a built-in USB-C port for fast-charging other devices. It supports up to 10 simultaneously connected devices. GlocalMe also allows users to download a free app to track their data usage and add more data to their line in the event that they run out. Their data rates vary based on location — check out their pricing here.
8
Best AT&T 5G Hotspot
Nighthawk M5 5G Mobile Hotspot Pro
- Fastest hotspot on the market
- Extremely expensive
- Power adapter isn't very portable
Key Specs
- Service Provider: AT&T, T-Mobile
- Connectivity: 5G Sub 6 GHz, LTE Cat 22, LTE Advanced Pro, Ethernet, 802.11ax
- Number of Devices Supported: 32
- Battery Life: 13 hours
This Netgear offering is the best option with 5G network connectivity worth your attention today. Available for AT&T and T-Mobile, the Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot Pro can deliver fast and futureproof Wi-Fi 6 connectivity on the go for up to 32 devices. It can also connect to your home router, and bring 5G-powered internet when you need it.
The product has a compact design with a convenient touchscreen interface, as well as additional controls via a Netgear mobile app. It can deliver up to 13 hours of use between charges, and it packs a fast USB-C connector for replenishing its big battery.
For T-Mobile users in search of a 5G hotspot, we recommend the Inseego MiFi.
Brandon Carte
Senior Electronics Editor
Brandon Carte has been the technology editor at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been covering the latest gadgets and scouring the internet for the greatest deals; His tech reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com and USA Today.
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