Mobile hotspot makes it easy to share your mobile data connection to a friend or to other wireless devices when there’s no public Wifi available. Hotspots are fantastic for helping you stay connected to the Internet anytime, anywhere. But, that also means you’ll need to ensure that you have the best mobile Wifi hotspot plans for your needs.
Mobile carriers often provide a mobile hotspot allowance tied with mobile data plans, but they are also often limited. Thankfully, there are providers who offer add-on or standalone hotspot plans — some are even unlimited. In that regard, we have put together the best mobile hotspot plans that you can find in the US.
Also read: What Is Mobile Hotspot?
Best Mobile Hotspot Plans
1. Verizon 5G Get More
Verizon is easily the best network provider when it comes to mobile hotspot plans. It generously provides hotspot data through its mobile data plans, enough to last you a month. Out of the four Verizon unlimited plans, the 5G Get More is what we recommend. Although it’s evidently pricey, it’s also the most dependable WiFi alternative as it gives you 50 GB of mobile hotspot data with 5G Ultra Wideband access.
Of course, Verizon also has add-on hotspot plans if you need more. For starters, they have the $20 Essential Plan that will grant users 15 GB of premium hotspot data. It will temporarily go slower for the rest of the month when you exceed the data cap. On the other hand, the more expensive Plus, Pro, and Premium hotspot plans provide 50 GB, 100 GB, and 150 GB of data respectively. It also unlocks access to the 5G Ultra Wideband for supported devices. If you can’t transform your smartphone into a hotspot device, you can choose among Verizon’s hotspot devices instead.
If you don’t require constant mobile hotspots, there are prepaid plans for you to take up. For an introductory price of $40/month, you’ll get 5 GB of shared mobile and hotspot data. You can also opt for Verizon’s 15 GB for $50/month or unlimited for $75/month plans as alternatives.
Pros
- The best and most reliable network coverage
- Wide selection of hotspot data plan
- Access to 5G network
Cons
- Very expensive
Get Verizon Mobile Hotspot Plans
2. Visible Unlimited Mobile Wifi Hotspot
Visible is one of the cheaper options on our list with a single unlimited data plan for just $40/month. For the price you’re paying, you’ll already get an unlimited mobile hotspot data allowance. However, the catch is that the data speed is capped at a small 5 Mbps and the tethered device is limited at one at a time.
This plan is a fantastic option if you’re a casual Internet user who does light activities like stream music, surf the web, and check emails. However, if you perform heavy-duty activities like gaming, binge-watching, and streaming, this plan is not ideal.
Do note that Visible is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) of Verizon, which means that it will be deprioritized during peak hours. Expect your signal and connection speeds to be affected during these times.
Pros
- Consistent coverage
- 5 Mbps of unlimited hotspot data
Cons
- Subject to deprioritization process of MVNOs
- Unavailability of high-speed data
Get Visible Mobile Hotspot Plan
3. AT&T Unlimited
If you’re currently subscribed to AT&T for all your internet needs, check out its range of DataConnect mobile hotspot plans. With this range of data-only plans, you can get a 25GB plan for $50 per month or a 40GB plan for $75 per month — autopay discount included.
AT&T also offers prepaid mobile hotspot plans for tablets with a starting price of $35/month for 15GB. To get the biggest bang out of your buck, get the $55/month plan for 100 GB.
However, if you are looking for an all-rounder mobile hotspot plan that includes texts and minutes, you must get one of AT&T’s postpaid unlimited plans. The $75/month Unlimited Extra plan has 15GB allocated for mobile hotspots while the $85 Unlimited Elite has 40GB.
Pros
- Inclusions of HBO Max and Hulu on unlimited plans
- Possibly fastest internet speeds
Cons
- Costly
4. T-Mobile Magenta MAX
Magenta MAX is T-Mobile’s best mobile service if you are looking for an unlimited plan that already has consumable hotspot data. For $85 monthly, it grants you a 40GB 5G/4G hotspot allowance. When you hit the cap before the next billing cycle, the hotspot speed will reduce to unlimited 3G for the remainder of the month. Aside from a generous hotspot allowance, what makes Magenta MAX worth it is the free access to Netflix that it provides to its subscribers.
T-Mobile also offers a variety of mobile hotspot devices at affordable rates, with the cheapest plan being just $5/month for 500MB. For just $5 more, you get 2 GB of data. If you’re a heavy data user, you can choose 5GB for $20, 10GB for $30, 30GB for $40, or 50GB for $50.
Like Verizon, T-Mobile has its own flagship hotspot device: the Inseego MiFi M2000. This device is yours for $14/month, giving you WiFi 6 support for up to 30 devices at a time.
Pros
- Affordable plans
- Minimal price increases to add more data
Cons
- Poor customer service
- Connection is not always the best
5. U.S. Cellular Unlimited
U.S. Cellular offers standalone hotspot plans that require you to also purchase a mobile hotspot device. However, you will no longer need it if you also plan to get mobile phone service from the provider. Similar to other carriers, U.S Cellular unlimited data plans are inclusive of hotspot data allowance you can share with other devices. iPhones and Android phones also have built-in hotspot features, so no need to purchase an extra portable modem.
Out of U.S. Cellular deals, the $70 unlimited plan has the most hotspot access in the tune of 30GB. That is, of course, on top of unlimited text, minutes, and mobile data. The $5 cheaper plan, on the other hand, has 15GB hotspot access in it. You can get both plans for up to four lines to avail of a generous discount.
Even if you go prepaid, U.S. Cellular still has something to offer that includes hotspot access. Getting the Unlimited Plus worth $65 will give you access to 20GB of hotspot data.
Pros
- Affordable data plans
- Doesn’t require another hotspot device
Cons
- Unused data will expire
6. Cricket Wireless Unlimited
Cricket Wireless only has one mobile plan with a hotspot data allowance in it, and that’s the $60 unlimited. On top of the unlimited 5G mobile data access, this mobile plan has a 15GB hotspot data at 4 Mbps to 8 Mbps speed. However, the mobile hotspot speeds will be slowed to 128 Kbps for the rest of the billing cycle when you reach the cap.
For Cricket Wireless plans that have a high-speed data allowance but not a hotspot, like the $30/month for 5 GB and $40/month for 10 GB, you have to add $10/month to unlock internet tethering on a compatible device. All data shared through mobile hotspot will count towards the monthly mobile data allotment of the plan.
If your current device is not compatible to be a hotspot device, you can get Cricket Wireless’ Turbo Hotspot 2 device and pair it with your plan. The Turbo Hotspot 2 costs $79.99 on its own. This little hotspot also packs a powerful punch, capable of supporting up to 15 devices with dual-band WiFi.
Pros
- Affordable plans
- International access to Mexico and Canada
- Hotspot device supports up to 15 devices at one go
Cons
- Tends to lose connection regularly
Get Cricket Wireless Unlimited
7. Straight Talk Wireless
Straight Talk Wireless offers some of the cheapest rates on our list, starting at $15/month for 2 GB of 4G LTE data. You get better deals the more GB you pay for, with their 20 GB plan at a cool $75/month. Despite these cheaper rates, Straight Talk Wireless offers you great download and upload speeds at 31.1 Mbps and 15.6 Mbps respectively.
You can also pick up Straight Talk Wireless’ in-house hotspot device, which is good for connecting to a maximum of 10 devices at a time.
Pros
- Strong download and upload speeds
- Does not bind you to a contract that will penalize you if you cancel
- Great value for money the more GB you buy
Cons
- Largest data plan only goes up to a meager 7 GB
Get Straight Talk Mobile Hotspot Plans
8. Boost Mobile Data Hotspot Plan
For just $50/month, Boost Mobile offers you 35 GB of 4G LTE data for your WiFi hotspot. You’ll have to pair your plan with Boost Mobile’s Coolpad Surf, which will cost you $49.99. This hotspot device is good for a maximum of 45 hours on standby or 6.4 hours of uninterrupted use. It allows simultaneous connections on 15 devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.
If you don’t want a standalone hotspot device, you can get one of Boost Mobile’s bundled phone plans instead. Starting at $15, their capped mobile plan will provide you with a shared mobile and hotspot data consumable. You may also opt for the $50 or $60 unlimited plan, which grants you 12GB and 30GB of mobile hotspot data respectively.
Pros
- Affordable rates
- No contract
- Can be used for online streaming
Cons
- Cannot reduce GB to lower monthly rate
9. Net10 Wireless Hotspot Plan
Net10 Wireless really outdoes almost every service provider on this list with the range of mobile hotspot data plans it provides. Among its selection of standalone mobile tethering plans, the 10 GB at $50 dollar plan is our favorite. Although it’s not as generous as that of Verizon or T-Mobile, its validity period of 60 days attracts people who casually need a hotspot connection.
For those who prefer their hotspot data plan mixed with their regular mobile plan, Net10 Wireless has the Super Unlimited offer which has limitless mobile data and a hotspot data allowance.
Pros
- Very affordable data plans
- Has a welcome deal to further discount your payments
Cons
- Does not have any plan beyond 10 GB
Get Net10 Wireless Hotspot Plan
10. Karma Mobility
Karma stands out from the crowd as it solely specializes in mobile hotspot services — don’t expect to see them tout your good ol’ smartphones and tablets. Its latest offering is Karma Voyage, a wireless modem that will cost you a pretty penny at $79.99. While this hotspot device is expensive, it gives you quality coverage in more than 50 countries. For the data plans, Karma’s offerings start at $10/month for 1 GB of LTE data.
Karma also offers Voyage Bundle, which includes a ZTE wireless modem and a hotspot data allocation ranging from 1 GB to 10GB, all of which have unlimited roll-over.
Pros
- Extensive coverage in more than 50 countries
- High connection and download speeds
Cons
- Expensive
- Not the best customer service
Get Karma Mobility Hotspot Plan
11. Solis Wifi
Solis Wifi is an all-in-one mobile hotspot. It does not just give you 4G LTE data, but also serves as a 4700 mAh power bank. This nifty device also connects with a maximum of 10 devices in one shot.
The best part about Solis? For its fantastic functionality, its basic model will only cost you $119.99, excluding data. Top up the amount to $179.99 and you’ll get even greater functionality, including Bluetooth, remote camera, speaker, and microphone.
For the data plan, Solis Wifi offers a monthly recurring subscription and a pay-per-GB plan. The monthly plan ranges from $6 for 1 GB of data to $200 for 100 GB of data. Any unused data will expire at the end of the billing cycle.
Solis Wifi pay-per-GB offering, on the other hand, is more flexible. You can pick between 5 GB, 10 GB, and 20 GB that costs $35, $60, and $100 respectively. The good thing is they won’t expire.
Pros
- Built-in powerbank feature
- Has both per-day and monthly plans
- Affordable hotspot devices
Cons
- Download speeds are too low for streaming long videos
12. Roaming Man Hotspot Daypass
Roaming Man does away with the stiff monthly plan. Instead, it lets you pay for the Internet you use on a per-day basis — great if you’re traveling to an area with a poor connection for only a few short days. Rates start from $7.99/day for 1 GB. You can rent Roaming Man for a minimum of five days.
You can also pick up one of Roaming Man’s hotspot services at Glocalme.com.
Pros
- No fixed contracts
- Very good deal for one-day use
- No pressure to buy a new hotspot device
Cons
- Will be expensive if used for a month
- Hotspot devices are expensive
Get Roaming Man Hotspot Daypass
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Share My Mobile Hotspot Without Using Data?
Since most of you own smartphones that rely on some form of Internet connection, it’s pretty common for you to use data to activate your mobile hotspots. Connecting to a mobile hotspot is thus synonymous with having a data plan.
However, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to activate your mobile hotspot without data. If you have the expertise, you can manipulate Wi-Fi tethering so you can create a LAN. You can learn more about this process through the Android Wi-Fi Tether. Do proceed with caution, especially if you’re completely new to this process.
How Much Data Do Mobile Hotspots Use?
Mobile hotspot data usage is directly proportionate to the number of activities you perform on the device tethered to your mobile hotspot. The majority of mobile internet service providers provide you with methods on how to track your hotspot data consumption and corresponding activities.
To give you an overview of the amount of data you’ll be consuming on your devices, these are some of the most common internet activities:
| Mobile Hotspot Data Consumption | |
|---|---|
| Sprint | Verizon |
| < 1 MB | |
| 50 MB | |
| 350 MB | |
| Internet Surfing | 40 MB |
| Playing Music | 80 MB |
| Streaming Netflix | 125 MB and above |
| YouTube | 150 MB and above |
| Zoom (HQ Call) | 400 MB and above |
Should I Use Mobile Hotspot as My Home Network?
Mobile hotspot services are a great safety net when you need to connect one of your devices to the internet and you are somewhere with no active WiFi. But its purpose ends there — a temporary internet connection. Mobile hotspot plans often have a limited internet bandwidth, so it is not ideal to use it as your primary home network for study, work, or leisure.
Indeed, sharing is caring, and it includes sharing your internet connection with your colleagues, peers, and family members. After all, that’s what mobile hotspots are made for.
Are you currently subscribed to any of the mobile wifi hotspot plans we’ve mentioned? If yes, we would love to know any tips and feedback. Feel free to comment down below!
