Best Mobile Hotspot Devices of 2022

These are our picks for the best mobile hotspot devices on the market place today.

If you want fast, reliable, and affordable net on the go, and then a dedicated hotspot device is the way to get. Your smartphone only won't cutting information technology (it will drain your battery, your data, and you can't connect to as many devices).

We've washed our homework and come up with a list of the all-time hotspot devices on each of the three big networks. Nosotros've also thrown in a choice for all-time international hotspot. Let'due south jump into it.

What to look for in a mobile hotspot

We've spent an unhealthy number of hours reading about hotspots. Merely that ways we know a lot about what makes them tick. Here'southward a cheat sail on the of import stuff to expect for when choosing your hotspot.

  • Carrier: Well-nigh premium hotspots are tied to a specific carrier. Even for the ones that aren't, you'll need to buy a information program from a jail cell telephone company. So be sure to place which carrier has the best coverage and performance in your area.
  • Network blazon: Different network types—3G, 4G LTE, 5G etc.—use different bands or frequencies to communicate with your device. Some network types, like 5G, are much faster than others. Although 5G hotspots are pricier than others, the faster speeds and lower latency volition exist worth it for many people.
  • Battery: Your hotspot is worthless if information technology doesn't hold a charge. Await for a device with at least an eight hour accuse.
  • Price: Anybody's platonic price bespeak is unlike. Only remember the old adage that you lot get what you pay for.
  • Number of connections: Most modern hotspots can connect to more than i device. But some can connect to ten while others tin get up to 30 or more.

Inseego 5G MiFi M2000: Best for T-Mobile

Get the about out of T-Mobile's super fast network with this 5G hotspot.

Pros and Cons

Pro Bullet Lightning fast speeds

Pro Bullet Affordable information plans

Pro Bullet Supports Wi-Fi 6 and 30 continued devices

Pro Bullet 9-hour battery life

Con Bullet Costs $400

Con Bullet Non the best rural coverage

Con Bullet No mmWave 5G connection

What we like

Nosotros've been very impressed with T-Mobile recently. Since its merger with Sprint in 2020, T-Mobile has grown its coverage, added a ton of 5G infrastructure, and kicked up its 4G information speeds. We think the carrier currently has the best overall operation in the industry.

So if yous're looking for a hotspot that packs a punch, T-Mobile is probably the all-time network to use, and the visitor'due south 5G MiFi M2000 is the best device. Here's everything nosotros love about this powerful hotspot.

Astonishing data speeds

5G networks are the hereafter. If you're thinking about ownership a new device—whether it'southward a cell phone, a tablet, or a standalone hotspot—it should probably exist 5G gear up or information technology will be outdated pretty fast. The 5G MiFi M2000 is, as the name would suggest, 5G ready.

That means you'll exist equipped to take advantage of T-Mobile's lightning fast 5G network (it's really the biggest and fastest in the country).

One downside (which we'll talk almost more below) is that this hotspot doesn't support the very fastest mmWave 5G engineering. However, this won't be a trouble for nearly people considering mmWave networks are but available in small-scale pockets of the country.

Affordable data plans

One of the biggest issues with mobile hotspot devices is that you have to go a information plan to go forth with them, and they can be pricey. But T-Mobile is running an absurdly great deal right now for those who purchase the 5G MiFi M2000.

Not simply tin you lot get 50% off the device itself, simply yous tin also sign up for 100 GB of loftier-speed data for merely $l a month. That'south just $0.50 per GB, which is pretty darn inexpensive as far as mobile data goes.

tmobile-5g-mifi

And don't worry if you're likewise late to catch this promotion. Even without it T-Mobile'southward hotspot data plans tend to be cheaper than the competition.

Why not upgrade your phone while yous're at it?

Info Box

5G isn't just for hotspot. Yous tin can also tap into super-fast network speeds with a new phone. You tin can see all the best prices on the latest phones on our deals page.

Supports Wi-Fi 6 and upwards to thirty connections

It's not only the network that determines your data speeds on a hotspot. You as well need to consider the connection between your 2 devices. In this case, you lot won't accept much to worry about considering the MiFi M2000 uses Wi-Fi half-dozen.

This ways you'll get faster data transfer, fewer connectivity problems, and a better battery life. You'll be able to connect up to thirty devices simultaneously (that's a lot).

What we don't like

The  5G MiFi M2000 may be the nigh powerful hotspot on the market right now. But that doesn't hateful it's perfect. Here are a few of the problems nosotros noticed.

It's pricey

T-Mobile'southward website lists this hotspot at $399.99—that's a lot of dough.

Of form, yous'll be able to take advantage of discounts (like the 50% off bargain we mentioned above) if you sign upwards for a payment programme with T-Mobile. But however, that's a lot of your difficult earned money.

T-Mobile doesn't have the best rural coverage

T-Mobile's data speeds are superlative-notch and information technology's 5G coverage is outpacing competitors. But when it comes to just raw coverage area, it'due south actually in terminal place. Yous'll observe wide coverage gaps in parts of the rural westward, similar Idaho, New Mexico, and Nevada.

Accept a await at this coverage map to see how the network looks in your surface area.

No mmWave 5G connection

As we mentioned above, this Inseego mobile hotspot doesn't work on mmWave 5G networks. Millimeter wave is the fastest type of 5G technology, only considering information technology requires such a high concentration of loftier-wave towers to operate, it isn't available in many areas yet.

Most people won't miss out hither, since they aren't covered by a mmWave network anyway. However, some folks (especially in urban areas) may be disappointed past this omission.

Alternative picks

T-Mobile has several portable hotspot devices to cull from. So, if the MiFi M2000 is looking a niggling bit pricey then you might desire to check out the more affordable Alcatel LINKZONE 2 or the Franklin T9.

While there are several problems that make these cheaper devices less powerful than the MiFi, the biggest difference is that they don't back up 5G. You'll exist stuck on the slower 3G and 4G networks.

Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot Pro: All-time for AT&T

A powerful little hotspot that will go you on AT&T's fast-growing 5G network.

Pros and Cons

Pro Bullet Incredible information speeds

Pro Bullet $55 for 100 GB of AT&T data

Pro Bullet Supports all 5G network types and Wi-Fi six

Pro Bullet Up to 32 connections

Pro Bullet 8-hour battery life

Con Bullet $500 price tag

Con Bullet AT&T'due south 5G network is express

What nosotros similar

AT&T  has upped its game to requite united states of america a hotspot device with incredible speeds and top-notch features. And information technology has an affordable data plan, to kicking.

Here's a closer wait at everything nosotros love about the Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot Pro.

Incredible information speeds

This hotspot has everything you need to accept reward of AT&T'southward great information speeds. We'll talk more most its 5G capability in a moment, only even when you lot're on AT&T's 4G network, you should encounter speeds of around 30+ Mbps. This is plenty for streaming music and video, downloading files, lite gaming, and Zooming into a meeting.

Having a difficult time deciding which carrier is right for you?

$55 for 100 GB of AT&T information

Hotspot's go cold quickly when you don't have enough data. With AT&T'due south 100 GB plan you should have plenty of high-speed data for all of your streaming, scrolling, and gaming needs.

And it simply costs $55 a month.

att-plans

The $55m price tag is $5 pricier than T-Mobile's 100 GB plan,  which is worth considering if price is a business concern..

Supports all 5G network types and Wi-Fi half-dozen

We talked about mmWave 5G speeds a piddling bit to a higher place because T-Mobile's Inseego 5G MiFi M2000 device doesn't support this technology. But AT&T's Nighthawk does, which means yous will run across data speeds upwards to 300+ Mbps (that's probably faster than your home internet).

Of course, mmWave 5G networks are only available in a handful of cities (and specific venues, like airports). If you lot live in one of these areas y'all'll have an astonishing hotspot experience with AT&T'due south Nighthawk 5G.

But it'southward non just 5G that gives this hotspot its speed. It too uses Wi-Fi 6 engineering for seamless and rapid data transfer.

What we don't like

The Nighthawk hotspot is a powerful piece of equipment, just we're not going to sugarcoat the flaws. Here's what we aren't super jazzed about.

$500 cost tag

Nosotros're talking about the best of the best hotspots in this article, and so none of them are inexpensive, per se. Only the Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot Pro costs a make clean $500, and that'south a lot, even for a top-of-the-line device.

AT&T's 5G network is limited

The biggest problem with investing in a pricey 5G device like this ane is that carriers don't really have their 5G networks up and running in many parts of the country. This is especially truthful for high-ring mmWave 5G, which is only in very select neighborhoods.

You tin check out how AT&T's 5G network coverage looks in your area past using this handy map.

Alternative picks

If you lot're not ready to driblet $500 on a 5G device, at that place are other options from AT&T. The Nighthawk LTE and the Unite Limited ii are both significantly cheaper (but you'll only get 3G and 4G network connection).

Inseego MiFi M2100 5G UW: Best for Verizon

Test Verizon'due south huge nationwide network with this sleek new hotspot.

Pros and Cons

Pro Bullet Impressive speeds

Pro Bullet Several data plans to choose from

Pro Bullet Supports mmWave 5G

Pro Bullet Upwardly to xxx connections

Pro Bullet 9-hour battery life

Con Bullet Costs $400

Con Bullet Verizon's express 5G coverage

What we like

Yes, this Verizon hotspot sounds a lot like the T-Mobile device nosotros featured above. But no, they're not the same. While this Inseego hotspot is like in many means, there are a couple of of import differences that we'll cover hither.

Permit'southward start with the good stuff.

Fast 4G and 5G speeds

Like the other hotspots on this list, the biggest selling bespeak for the Inseego MiFi M2100 5G UW is speed. Y'all'll exist able to have advantage of Verizon's enormous 4G LTE network and its expanding 5G network to get high-speed cyberspace in many parts of the land.

While this hotspot is technically capable of going upwards to ii.5 Gbps of speed (ludicrously fast), you're more likely to see speeds of thirty-100 Mbps (pretty fast), depending on where you are.

In some rural areas your speeds could be much lower.

Multiple robust information plans from Verizon

Of all the hotspots in this commodity, this i probably has the best bachelor information plans.

You lot can get from xv-150 GB of data for $20-80. That leaves plenty of options for different kinds of users, and the 150 GB plan gives you more than T-Mobile or AT&T do on their top-tier hotspot plans.

verizon-plans

Verizon's 100 GB plan is pricier than the others we've featured in this article, just it will exist worth information technology for those who need the all-time rural coverage.

What about prepaid hotspots?

Megaphone

You may take noticed that we've focused on the big carriers in this article. We think these carriers offer the best hotspots and hotspot data plans. But in that location are some other hotspot plans out there from MVNO carriers, like Metro, Straight Talk, and Cricket.

Supports mmWave 5G

This is i of the biggest differences betwixt this device andt the T-Mobile 5G MiFi M2000. With Verizon's hotspot you tin can connect to all types of 5G.

While this won't affect most people considering Verizon has such a small mmWave 5G footprint, it volition be more of an outcome in the future every bit these networks expand.

What we don't like

Here's our favorite part, the office where nosotros whine about all the stuff that isn't perfect. Permit the complaining begin!

$400 retail price

If you opt to pay the full retail price for MiFi 2100 information technology will run you virtually $400. That'southward most half the price of a new smartphone, but it doesn't come with a camera, an HD screen, a bunch of apps, or the power to make calls.

This hotspot is available on a payment plan through Verizon, which volition make it seem cheaper. Just in the cease, y'all still end upward paying the same amount (or more). That's simply the price of a premium 5G hotspot.

Verizon'south limited 5G coverage

Your fancy new 5G hotspot won't do you much good if there's no 5G network to connect to, which brings united states of america to another issue with this device.

Verizon's 5G network is not the biggest or the fastest. Where it does have 5G, it's mostly low-band, which is significantly slower than a mmWave high-band network.

But the silvery lining is that Verizon is sure to aggrandize its 5G network in the hereafter. You can peep the coverage map below to come across how the carrier is looking in your area.

Alternative picks

As with the other carriers on this listing, Verizon offers some lower price alternatives, named the Jetpack MiFi 8800L (which previously held the spot for best Verizon hotspot) and the Verizon Orbic Speed Mobile Hotspot. The biggest thing you'll lose out on with these devices is 5G connectivity.

Skyroam Solis Lite: All-time International Hotspot

Globe-trotters rejoice! There's a hotspot for you lot.

Pros and Cons

Pro Bullet Works in 130+ countries

Pro Bullet Very affordable at about $120

Pro Bullet Decently priced data plans

Pro Bullet Connect up to 10 devices

Pro Bullet Long battery life (x+ hours)

Con Bullet Doesn't work on 5G

Con Bullet Less reliable coverage

What nosotros like

The three devices we featured above will give y'all amazing coverage in the United States. Only if you're planning a European backpacking trip, a holiday in Thailand, a chore in Kenya, or any other foreign adventure, the Skyroam Solis Light is the all-time hotspot for yous.

Hither's what we similar all-time about this device.

Works in 130+ countries

Different hotspots from US-based carriers—similar Verizon and AT&T—the Skyroam hotspot can connect to a number of different networks in over 130 unlike countries in Europe, Asia, the Centre East, Africa, and the Americas. Once y'all're connected to the local network you can easily set up a Wi-Fi hotspot and connect upwards to ten other devices.

You lot can see a consummate list of the countries where Skyroam has coverage on the visitor's website.

Looking for an international cell phone plan?

Very affordable at around $120

Yous can buy the Skyroam Solis Light for around $120 from a number of retailers, including Amazon and Target.

This makes information technology a whole lot cheaper than whatever of the 5G hotspots listed in this review. The biggest cost event with this device is the information, just we'll talk about that more in a moment.

Decently priced data plans

If y'all've ever accidently used your phone when you lot were connected to a strange network then you lot know that international roaming costs can add up fast.

Every bit you may wait, Skyroam's data prices are a flake steeper than the domestic hotspot, but we think they are pretty off-white, especially when you consider the culling.

Skyroam offers four unlike global data options: pay-equally-you-become, monthly, past-the-gig, and daily unlimited.

You can run across these plans below.

skyroam-plans

We recall that the $99 monthly plan is the best deal by far if y'all program to be away for more than than a calendar week. But it all depends on how much information you programme to use.

What we don't similar

Equally always, nosotros have a couple of things to gripe almost with the Skyroam hotspot. Hither'southward where information technology falls short.

Doesn't work on 5G

You may have noticed that 5G is the shiny new prize in mobile technology. We've been talking about it a lot. Unfortunately, this hotspot is non 5G capable. That means y'all'll but have access to 3G and 4G LTE speeds.

For many, this volition be fine, especially since 5G is just getting started in the US and doesn't exist at all in many countries. People have been using hotspots with 4G speeds (call up xx-60 Mbps) with no issues, for years.

Less reliable coverage overall

One of the biggest complaints that we see nearly the Skyroam Solis Lite is the spotty coverage.

Because this one device connects to over 300 different cellular networks in multiple countries, it'due south understandably spotty at times. You lot may come across great 4G speeds in one area and and so get sluggish 3G speeds in another.

This isn't totally Skyroam'south fault. Some areas just take worse coverage, and fifty-fifty if y'all were to get a local telephone plan yous'd still have issues.

Culling picks

Honestly, your telephone is probably the best alternative to the Skyroam Solis Calorie-free. Most modern smartphones allow you to set up a mobile hotspot.

Check with your carrier to see if they offer international plans or add-ons, so that you can get information while you're abroad and so tether to your computer or other device.

Recap: Which hotspot is right for you lot?

Here's a quick review of the most important points to help you determine which device is right for yous.

  • Inseego 5G MiFi M2000: This T-Mobile hotspot offers 5G data speeds, affordable data plans, and reliable coverage in the US. The drawbacks are the price and the lack of mmWave 5G connectivity.
  • Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot Pro: Those who want to be on AT&T'due south network should be pleased with this super-powered hotspot. It tin connect to high and low-band 5G and you tin can get a ton of data for a decent price. The biggest issue is the device'due south $500 price tag.
  • Inseego MiFi M2100 5G UW: This Verizon hotspot may look like T-mobile'south, just there are some differences. For i, this device tin can connect to mmWave 5G. The problem is that Verizon doesn't really take a high-band 5G network to employ in virtually places.
  • Skyroam Solis Lite: This affordable hotspot can be used in over 300 dissimilar countries, although the strength of coverage varies widely from identify to place. The information is a fleck pricier than we'd like, simply international plans accept ever been pricey.

Methodology

We spent over a dozen hours researching the hotspot devices listed in this article (besides equally many others that didn't make the list). Our analysis was informed by customer reviews, articles written past experts, and our own speed/coverage information from over 100,000 customers.

We gave special weight to 5G capable devices in this article because it is the next and fastest generation of mobile technology that is becoming the new standard. Nosotros likewise focused on the three major US carriers—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—because they offering the virtually robust hotspot plans and devices.

Easton Smith

Written by

Easton Smith

Easton has worked as a freelance author and researcher for several years, reviewing health, lifestyle, and engineering science products. He has probably read more Terms of Use contracts than any human live. When he's not sitting in front of a computer, Easton spends his time camping, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

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