Don’t Bother Using a Hotspot for Home Internet (Except in Certain Cases)

If you’re on the go, you can use a mobile hotspot for secure, reliable internet access in places where Wi-Fi is limited or nonexistent. It’s a key tool for travelers, remote workers, and even some students. But a hotspot is a limited device, designed to be used on a temporary basis. Sluggish speeds and tight hotspot data restrictions make tethering around the clock an expensive folly.

Still, wireless hotspot internet has a ton of potential. And in some cases it does work for home use: Personal hotspots can be an effective alternative to satellite and DSL internet for rural users, and they work in a pinch if you’re living for a short time in a vacation rental or hotel. Take a look at our guide below for all the details on the pros and cons of hotspotting from home.

Why you shouldn’t use a hotspot for home internet

While personal hotspots work great on a temporary basis, they come with some restrictions that make it hard to depend on them for continuous, daily use. Here’s a quick breakdown of all the roadblocks that impede hotspotting at home:

• Limited market for hotspots. Unlike the flourishing market of broadband equipment like routers and modems, there are fewer mobile hotspot devices to choose from—and many are locked to specific cellular carriers. (Naturally, we have the scoop on the best hotspots in case you’re shopping.)
• High prices for data plans. Due to the limited capacity of their networks, cellular companies impose stricter limits on the amount of hotspot data they can offer customers. You can’t get totally unlimited hotspot data, and hotspot data comes at a higher price per gigabyte (although you can still find some good data deals).
• Slow(ish) speeds on cellular networks. Cell phone data speeds don’t come close to the speeds of a fiber or cable internet connection. That’s changing, of course, with the advent of services like 5G home internet. But even with the best 5G speeds, you may have to deal with fluctuating speeds and even outages.

Honestly, we wish hotspots were better suited for home use. Cellular data is faster and more convenient than the crumbling copper of DSL, and a hotspot doesn’t break the bank like satellite internet does. If you have a smartphone, getting Wi-Fi is as easy as clicking on your phone’s hotspot button.

Many internet users in developing countries like Egypt and Pakistan have embraced mobile data plans from phone companies over fixed broadband options—and the phone companies have smartly adapted to meet their needs. It’s a brain-scratcher why American telecom outfits haven’t done the same.

Devil’s advocate—Three good reasons to use a hotspot for home internet

Despite our misgivings, a hotspot sometimes does the trick for long-term use.

You live in a rural area

Internet options are often sorely limited in remote parts of the United States, but radio towers really come in handy in these locales. If you’re living in an area with reliable cell service, a mobile hotspot and reliable plan may just do the trick. You get better speeds than satellite internet and you don’t have to pay as much either.

That said, your better bet may still be a fixed wireless setup like 4G LTE home internet.

You’re staying short-term in a vacation home, hotel, or Airbnb

A hotspot can be a great alternative to home internet when you’ll be somewhere temporarily. Setting up internet can be costly and time consuming, and some internet providers require you to commit to a year of service to get a plan. Skip all that by switching on a mobile hotspot and loading up on data.

You use the internet, like, once a week

We aren’t judging if you live off the grid! Some of us just don’t like having a whole lot of technology around, and that’s okay. Having a hotspot (even your phone’s hotspot) means you have enough internet access to cover the basic necessities without requiring you to commit to a pricier home setup.

Want a hotspot? Here are the best ones

Although a hotspot is not really meant for home use, it’s still a useful device to have in your Wi-Fi toolkit. Here’s a breakdown of the best devices. (Hint: Stick to T-Mobile or Verizon for the best prices, features, and plans.)

Get 5G home internet for the best wireless experience

Rather than a hotspot, 5G home internet really is the best way to get affordable internet over a cellular connection.

Like a hotspot, this fast-emerging service uses cellular networks to get you internet. But 5G home internet works over a “fixed wireless” connection, meaning it’s designed to work in one place—i.e., at home over a gateway device. And unlike a hotspot, you get solid speeds and unlimited data, giving you dependable service for streaming, gaming, and remote work.

T-Mobile and Verizon both offer 5G home internet services, and they’re much cheaper than the cell carriers’ hotspot plans. They also come with free installation and equipment, so you don’t have to invest in a standalone device like a mobile hotspot to make the Wi-Fi work. AT&T has also recently launched its own version of 5G home internet, Internet Air, meant for former DSL customers.

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*w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon’s terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

^†w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks, including data prioritization.

^‡Available in select areas only. Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Fios plan prices include taxes & fees.