Everything You Need to Know About Verizon Hotspots

The personal hotspot on your Verizon phone is the best way to connect tablets and laptops when you don’t have access to Wi-Fi. You can use it on 5 to 10 devices at a time, and all you need is a standard data plan and the smartphone you already have. Max out with the Unlimited Ultimate plan, which includes 200GB of high-speed hotspot data every month.

If you need to connect more devices at once and have the budget for a separate hotspot device, the Inseego MiFi X PRO 5G UW with a 150GB plan is your best option. You don’t get as much data as with the smartphone plan, but you’ll benefit from a 13-hour battery, built-in security, connectivity for up to 32 devices, and Wi-Fi 6 tech.

Verizon’s top-of-the-line offerings include industry-leading devices and wicked-fast speeds, but you don’t necessarily need to pay maximum prices to meet your needs. There’s a good chance you can get the connectivity you need for less.

We’ll go over the range of hotspot plans and devices on offer from Verizon to help you get the most bang for your buck.

Best Verizon cell phone plans for hotspot data

You get more hotspot data with a typical smartphone plan from Verizon than you do with a dedicated plan for a hotspot. The Unlimited Ultimate plan gets you 200GB of high-speed hotspot data, then unlimited hotspot data at 6Mbps for the rest of the month. That’s nearly enough to replace a typical home internet connection for a few weeks!

Verizon’s Unlimited Plus comes with a lot less high-speed hotspot data—just 30GB per month—but it’s plenty if you need to connect a separate tablet or laptop for a few days at a time.

The Unlimited Welcome plan doesn’t come with any hotspot data, but you can add 100GB as a perk for $10 per month.

If you need to switch on your phone’s hotspot only once or twice a month and spend most of your time on Wi-Fi, stick to Verizon’s 15GB prepaid plan. It comes with 5G access, so you get superfast speeds. Just keep in mind that your 15GB of data includes both regular use and hotspot data, so you may go through it faster than you think.

What should you look for in a Verizon hotspot?

The best hotspot devices come with standalone battery power, fast charging, secure connectivity for multiple devices, advanced antenna, and on-board security capabilities. A nice, big touchscreen doesn’t hurt either.

In 2025, we recommend choosing a Verizon mobile hotspot that supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and older devices, has an Ethernet port, and can handle 4G, 5G, and 5G UW signal.

The Inseego MiFi X PRO 5G UW is our top pick for its intuitive touch screen, fast charging, connectivity for up to 32 devices, and built-in security. It’s the priciest option of the bunch, though.

The TCL LINKZONE 5G UW is also a top option with similar specs for connectivity and devices, plus reverse charging capability. Its battery doesn’t last as long, though.

The Orbic Speed 5G UW connects only 30 devices but nearly matches the battery power of the MiFi X Pro, but has a reputation for overheating.

For less than a third of the price of our top picks, you can get the Verizon Orbic Speed Mobile Hotspot. It connects only 10 devices at a time and works only on 4G LTE, so it may not be a big improvement over the smartphone you already have. It still comes with 12 hours of battery power, though, and is a nice budget solution for remote work in rural areas (where you probably won’t get 5G anyway).

Where can you buy a Verizon hotspot?

You can buy a Verizon hotspot on Verizon’s online store or at a brick-and-mortar Verizon shop. We don’t recommend buying Verizon hotspots online or at non–Verizon shops like Best Buy or Amazon because you may have trouble getting the hotspot to work without a data plan already attached to it. Also, some unscrupulous online vendors sell outdated and inferior Verizon hotspots under newer brand names.

Best Verizon hotspot data plans

You get the best prices on Verizon’s hotspot plans if you subscribe to an Unlimited Ultimate plan, since it includes a 50% discount on two connected device plans. If you subscribe to any other postpaid unlimited plan, you can still get a discount, but it won’t be as big.

Single-line prices are high, but may be worth it if you need to support a team (or if your employer is footing the bill).

How much hotspot data you need

If you need a hotspot just for emergencies, save money and go with the smallest data allowance. But if you’re planning to use your hotspot for multiple users or regular remote work, this cheat sheet can help.

Learn more about how much data you need for home internet and mobile phone plans.

Hotspots can’t replace home internet, but fixed wireless can

Wi-Fi hotspots are OK if you can’t get internet any other way, but let’s be real. The average home internet connection goes through 641GB of data per month—that’s a lot more than you’ll get from any hotspot. In other words, hotspots aren’t a good alternative to home internet.

Lucky for you, there’s now a way to get home internet over the air using the same cell networks hotspots use. It’s called fixed wireless home internet, and whether you can get 4G LTE or 5G coverage depends on where you live.

Since the service relies on excess capacity on local cell towers, you may also have to join a waiting list (even if you get good mobile coverage from a given provider on your smartphone or hotspot).

FAQ about Verizon hotspots

More about Verizon hotspots

• What Are Hotspots and How Do They Work?
• Best Mobile Hotspots
• Best 5G Hotspots
• Best Hotspot Data Plans
• Best Unlimited Data Hotspot Plans

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