But if you plan to connect multiple devices to the Wi-Fi hotspot or stream video, consider a plan with more data to avoid potential overages. If you only plan to use your hotspot for web browsing and staying on top of your work emails while traveling, there's no need to spend a whole lot on data. T-Mobile charges $5 per month for 500 MB of high-speed data per month, $10 each month for 2 GB of data, 5 GB for $20, 10 GB for $30, 30 GB for $40, and 50 GB for $50 each month. Both carriers have a data cap of 15 GB before they start throttling speeds. Verizon charges between $20 and $80 each month. At the time of publishing, AT&T mobile hotspot plans start at $50 per month. That is unless you choose a pay-as-you-go hotspot. What to ConsiderĪ standalone Wi-Fi hotspot requires a data plan from the carrier of your choice, and plan prices vary depending on the amount of data that you choose. Just note that this option isn't available for our unlocked and pay-as-you-go picks.
We also factored in whether or not the hotspots could be used with a wired connection and gave extra points for models that have built-in batteries and USB ports that allow you to recharge all your other devices. To separate the best from the rest, we compared the following: We've been researching this product category for three years and feel confident recommending these nine best Wi-Fi hotspots available on- and off-contract to keep you connected on the go. Wi-Fi hotspots offer a convenient way to keep your laptop, tablet, and all other connected devices online without draining your smartphone's battery and data plan.