Let’s say you’re a nomadic worker. You work while traveling the world. Or, you simply need an internet connection for all your devices without investing in a router. What’s the fix? Unlimited mobile hotspot plans.
These mobile plans are exactly how they sound. They come with unlimited data and let you convert your phone into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
How do you find the best plan for your phone? Below, we compare some of the best unlimited mobile hotspot plans. Keep reading to find a buyer’s guide at the end to help you choose the right plan for your needs.
What Is a Mobile Hotspot?
All modern phones can share the internet with other devices through a feature called a mobile hotspot. Using this feature, you can turn your phone into a Wi-Fi “router,” providing internet access to other devices.
For instance, when you turn on this feature, your devices, like gaming consoles, tablets, and laptops, can connect to the internet using your phone’s network as the Wi-Fi.
A mobile hotspot plan is the mobile data plan a mobile carrier offers. Some common carriers include Karma, Verizon, T-Mobile, UScellular, AT&T, and Cricket Wireless.
Mobile hotspot plans differ based on many factors, such as their speeds, pricing, and data usage limits. You’d want a high data usage limit when you connect multiple devices to the same phone. What if it’s unlimited? That way, you never run out of data for the month.
Here is a video that briefly explains what a hotspot is and different types of hotspots, including mobile hotspots:
Best Unlimited Mobile Hotspot Plans
Before we compare the best unlimited mobile hotspot plans, let us clarify what ‘unlimited’ means. In this context, unlimited doesn’t necessarily mean without limitation. It means a limit that a single user or a family won’t hit in a month.
For example, some mobile carriers offer up to 100 GB a month. Meanwhile, others don’t have a premium data cap but won’t let you connect more than one device at a time. Here’s a comparison of the best unlimited mobile hotspot plans to choose from.
| T-Mobile Magenta MAX | AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $170 | $40 |
| Hotspot Limit | 40GB | 15GB |
| Speed | 5G | 5G |
| Post-Limit Speed | 3G | 128kbps |
| Unlimited Call and Text | Yes | Yes |
| Verizon Premium | Visible Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $80 | $45 |
| Hotspot Limit | 150GB | 50GB |
| Speed | 5G | 5G |
| Post-Limit Speed | 500kbps | Variable |
| Unlimited Call and Text | Yes | Yes |
| Boost Mobile Ultimate Unlimited | |
|---|---|
| Price | $80 |
| Hotspot Limit | 50GB |
| Speed | 4G LTE |
| Post-Limit Speed | Variable |
| Unlimited Call and Text | Yes |
T-Mobile Magenta MAX: Best Overall
Hotspot Features: 40GB of high-speed mobile hotspot. Unlimited hotspot data at 3G speeds after you use up the 40GB.
Price: $170 per month
T-Mobile Magenta MAX has one of the best unlimited mobile hotspot plans. Some features of the Magenta MAX plans include:
- All Fees Included: The price you pay for the plan is everything you owe. It includes service fees and tax. So you don’t have to worry about hidden costs.
- Nationwide G5: With T-Mobile, you get 5G bars nationwide. The company claims to have the largest 5G network in America.
- Dedicated Customer: If you have any queries or need to change your plan, a team of experts will help you.
When you get this plan, you also get plenty of entertainment benefits for free. For example, the Magenta Max comes with two Netflix screens and Apple TV+. Besides the Magenta Max, two other T-Mobile plans come with unlimited 5G.
Go5G Plus
The Go5 Plus costs $150 per month and has these perks:
- Unlimited premium data
- Netflix for two screens
- 50 GB mobile hotspot
Go5G
The Go5G plan It costs $130 per month. It has unlimited talking and texting, Wi-Fi calling, and the following hotspot features:
- 15 GB high-speed mobile hotspot
- Unlimited mobile hotspot at 3G speeds after you use up 15 GB
©nikkimeel/Shutterstock.com
AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan: Best Prepaid Option
Hotspot Features: 15GB of high-speed hotspot data per line, with speed reduced to 128kbps after 15GB
Price: $40 per month
All of AT&T’s data plans have the following features:
- Unlimited Texting: You can text from the US to 200 countries across the world – no cap.
- Unlimited Talking and Data: All plans come with unlimited data, text, and talk between Canada, Mexico, and the US. Do note that roaming could be at 2G speeds.
- AT&T ActiveArmor Mobile Security: It helps protect your device and data from malicious threats.
The AT&T Unlimited Extra Plan comes with 15GB of hotspot data per line per month. After you use up the initial 15GB, the hotspot still works, but the speed is lowered to 128kbps.
Remember that $40 is for one line. You can get the plan for multiple lines if you need more high-speed hotspot coverage.
Verizon Premium: Best Speed
Hotspot Features: 150GB of high-speed hotspot data
Price: $80 per month
The Verizon Premium plan is ideal for users who want the most out of their mobile hotspot. It comes with 150 GB of mobile hotspot data. The speed is lowered to 600kbps after you use up 150 GB.
You also get 5G ultra wideband access, allowing you to access the fastest connections in 5G areas. The plan also offers a premium streaming quality of 4K UHD when you get the 5G Ultra band and 720p on 4G LTE or 5G.
If you don’t need as much data, the Verizon Pro will be a good option for you. It costs $60 and offers 100 GB high-speed hotspot data with 5G UltraWideband access.
Visible Plus: Best Budget Offer
Hotspot Features: 50GB of hotspot data up to 5Mbps speed
Price: $45 per month
Both Visible and Visible + are good options for people looking for unlimited mobile hotspot plans. The Visible Plan costs $30 monthly, but you get a $5 discount for your first month. It includes the following:
- Unlimited talk, data, and text
- 5G & 4G LTE
- Unlimited mobile hotspot (speeds may be temporarily lowered when the network is facing heavy traffic)
- Spam protection
- Unlimited text and talk for Canada and Mexico
Meanwhile, the Visible + plan costs $45 per month and offers a $10 discount on the welcome offer. It has the same features as the Visible plan in addition to the following:
- 5G Ultra Wideband
- Premium Network Experience
- Unlimited data roaming in Canada and Mexico
- International calling to more than 30 countries from the US
- International texting to over 200 countries from the US
Boost Mobile Ultimate Unlimited: Best for 4G LTE Users
Hotspot Features: 50GB of 4G LTE hotspot data
Price: $80 per month
The Boost Mobile Ultimate Unlimited plan has 50GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot data, making it great for people who do not have 5G-enabled phones. You also get the following features:
- Tridal Premium: The plan gives you access to curated content, videos, and exclusive music.
- HD Streaming: HD videos stream at 1080p, while music plays at 1.5Mbps. Games can go up to 8 Mbps.
- International Connect Plus: You can make unlimited landline calls to more than 70 countries. The plan offers 200 free mobile mobiles to more than 50 countries. You also get unlimited international texting.
©rafapress/Shutterstock.com
How to Choose the Best Unlimited Mobile Hotspot Plans?
Since there are so many unlimited mobile hotspot plans, choosing one can be tricky. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the best plan.
Speed
The speed of your hotspot will determine how fast you access the internet. Some plans offer high-speed 5G, while others are limited to slower 4G LTE speeds.
When selecting hotspot plans based on the speed, you should also consider your device. Some devices are not 5G-enabled, so there’s no point in paying more for a 5G hotspot.
Stick to a 4G LTE hotspot like the one from Boost Mobile. But if your device has 5G Ultra enabled, you can choose T-Mobile Magenta MAX for good speed. You get 5G speeds for the first 40GB and then 3G afterward.
Postpaid vs. Prepaid
A prepaid plan has a fixed charge that you pay before the plan begins. Meanwhile, a postpaid plan is paid at the end of the month. The former is better if you don’t want to end up paying extra for an overuse of data.
Data Allowance
As you can see above in our list of the best unlimited mobile hotspot plans, the high-speed data allowance ranges from 15GB to 150GB. It’s up to you to choose the limit based on your needs.
If you plan to use the hotspot connection for gaming and streaming, opt for 50GB to 100 GB. If you only use it for work or while traveling, the 15GB plan will suffice.
Coverage
Most mobile carriers have 5G coverage nationwide. However, that is not always the case. Some carriers may not have over 4G coverage for remote or rural areas.
Should You Use Unlimited Mobile Hotspot for Home Internet?
Using a mobile hotspot for home internet is generally not a good idea. For one, it’s more expensive than a broadband plan from an Internet Service Provider.
Mobile hotspot plans also have a smaller data usage limit than broadband plans. Suppose you’re a family of five. A 50GB hotspot plan might not be enough for you, especially if you use the internet for streaming and gaming.
Using a hotspot for home internet might be a good option if you live alone and have a spare phone. Otherwise, you should use a mobile hotspot for traveling or when working away from home. For example, a mobile hotspot will be your portable internet connection if you’re traveling across the country in an RV.
Wrapping Up
Summing up, there are many unlimited mobile hotspot plans with distinct benefits. We especially like the T-Mobile Magenta MAX for its high-speed internet, as you get 3G access even after you use the initial 40GB. However, it comes at a hefty price tag.
The Verizon Premium works wonders if you need another option at half the price. It offers 150GB of high-speed internet. Even after exceeding this limit, the speed is decent at 600Kbps.
At the end of the day, you should choose a plan keeping your needs in mind. Make sure you consider the speed, device capabilities, additional features, price, and data limit before buying a plan.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©sdecoret/Shutterstock.com.
