It’s no secret that the Internet is a real necessity in our time. If you always want to be online, be able to work on the Internet and relax, watching movies, and listening to music wherever you are, you definitely need to purchase a portable WIFI hotspot. By the way, portable music players will also help you to always enjoy your favorite songs.
WIFI hotspots offer a convenient way to keep your laptop, tablet, and all other connected devices online without draining your smartphone’s battery and data plan. Be sure, this article will help you to find the best variant!
Best Portable WiFi Hotspots Under $100
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1. KuWFi 4G LTE Mobile WiFi Hotspot Unlocked Wireless
Firstly, insert the SIM card, then you need to install the battery (tear off the insulating film). Even if your SIM card is compatible with the product, it is not necessarily plugged and play, you may need to disable the PIN code of the SIM card and modify the APN.
Enter the router IP address: 192.168.0.1—Click Network—APN—Enable. Modify APN. Make sure the SIM card is activated. It does not support roaming service and virtual SIM cards and IoT SIM cards. This portable hotspot works with 4G and WIFI, supports 4G FDD B2/B4/B5/B12/B17, WCDMA: B1(2100Mhz).
Network frequency mainly applicable to the USA, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Argentina, Chile, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and Tobago, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Honduras. You can share the signal with up to 10 users with 50 meters distance.
It supports Cat4 DL/UL 150/50 Mbps in max. It will provide high speed and stable work. It has a lithium battery with a capacity of 2400 mAh, it will provide you with 5-8 hours of using without a recharge. Low power consumption and long battery life are provided. But recommended charge it full when first time charge.
The hotspot has a bright display and all information you can see on it. For example, you will see the level of the 4G signal, how many users connect, WIFI SSID, and password. Also, you can store data on this device. It supports an SD card (up to 32GB). Just insert TF Card, it can be a card reader, also be one U disk.
You will enjoy using this portable WIFI hotspot! It has mini size and lightweight, so easy to put is in a pocket and carry it anywhere you need, and thanks to the modern design, it will be a great accessory! And, by the way, it has a very pleasant price.
2. Huawei E5577Cs-321 4G LTE Mobile WiFi Hotspot
This device was created for quick-start use. It comes in the original box and quick start guide. For using you need a SIM card. The SIM card does not include. It is unlocked to all networks so use the SIM card of your choice!
It is active in the 3G, 4G, and LTE networks, receiving and transmitting emails and SMS messages.
Connects securely to laptops or smartphones and keeps a strong connection via the USB port. In access point mode, WIFI guarantees speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s. The design provides an internal antenna, one WAN, and a USB port each.
Information is protected via WEP, WPA, and WPA2. WIFI 802.11a/b/g/n produce a hotspot connection for up to 10 WIFI enabled clients. It supports EDGE, GPRS, and HSPA+ standards, which guarantees a stable connection.
Power is provided by a 1500 mAh battery capacity. The battery type is Li-Ion. The manufacture guarantees up to 6 hours of operation and 300 hours of standby time. The battery is removable. The manufacturer has provided a slot for microSD cards.
You can install a storage device to store information and share it between devices connected to the same network. It also has two connectors through which you can connect external antennas. They are suitable for use in places with a low signal level of the mobile operator.
It has a TFT-LCD screen with a 2D Barcode easy connection. Features of the menu are style LCD UI with multiple language support. All indication about battery, internet connection, users is on it.
The case of this portable hotspot is made of durable, safe-to-use black plastic. It allows you to USE the Internet anywhere.
You can take it with you on a trip, create your own network right on the street, and the device will cover all possible needs. The advantage will be the compact size and lightweight. The product can be comfortably carried with you, put in a bag, or in a large pocket, its mobility is ensured!
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3. ZTE Velocity Mobile WIFI Hotspot 4G LTE Router MF923
It comes with a charger and a manual, so all you need to do is insert your active SIM card and you are good to go. You need to unlock it, easy enough to do using a browser opening the default control page, requested the unlock code when the local SIM was inserted.
This portable hotspot works by SIM card because it is provided GSM technology. Pay your attention that the SIM card does not come included. The device supports and can receive LTE bands 2/4/5/17/29 and UMTS HSPA 850/1900/2100 network frequencies. As well this device can provide WIFI: Dual-Band WIFI (2.4GHz or 5GHz).
This variation of bands gives it the ability to roam on LTE in many foreign countries, including all of Europe and much of Asia. The velocity of the signal is good, it will provide you with stable uninterrupted use.
One feature, that you can adjust the transmission range of the velocity from far to near so that it does not use a lot of battery power transmitting a signal to places you will not be using it. The battery has a capacity of 2.800 mAh.
It means that it can work while using 10 hours of streaming at 4G LTE speeds as well it has a standby time of up to 240 hours before you need to recharge the battery. It also charges up rather quickly. It has a powerful Single-Core Qualcomm MDM9225 processor.
Processor giving it the ability to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously with separate guest WIFI to ensure security. It comes in two colors – white and black. It is very compact and it is really lightweight. This is a good portable assistant during your movements and travels!
4. Franklin Wireless R717
Franklin Wireless R717 4G LTE helps you stay connected no matter where you are or what the weather is.
The mobile hotspot allows you to connect up to 15 electronic devices simultaneously, ensuring a seamless and secure 4G LTE connection. Its compact size allows you to take it with you wherever you go.
With the Franklin Wireless R717, you’ll always be aware of traffic usage, battery level, signal strength, and the number of connected devices. The OLED display gives you up-to-date information in a convenient format.
On a full charge, the device can work up to 8 hours without interruption or 20 hours in standby mode. Now you can safely go camping, travel to remote locations, and stay connected.
Franklin Wireless R717 4G LTE not only provides quality mobile connectivity but also Wi-Fi connectivity.
Use the device when you need it and share secure mobile connectivity with friends and family. You need to use your SIM card to operate the device. Rest and travel without the fear of missing an important call or message.
5. Verizon Airspeed Mobile Hotspot
The Verizon Airspeed mobile hotspot will provide you with stable mobile connectivity and secure Internet access wherever you go.
Travel with the greatest comfort – stay connected and share your emotions and impressions with friends. Even a small purse fits easily, so you can take it with you wherever you go.
This device allows you to feel comfortable in the country, out of town, and on transport. Excellent quality of mobile communication and stable Internet connection will no longer be a privilege.
The maximum available download speed is 150 Mbit per second, so you can continue to work or play online without difficulty.
The powerful battery can last up to 15 hours of continuous use. The handy display shows all the latest information: operating time, number of connected gadgets, and connection speed.
The device is perfect for the needs of a large family or a group of friends. Up to 10 electronic devices can access the mobile hotspot at the same time. Internet connection speed does not depend on the number of connected devices.
Verizon Airspeed is successfully operating in over 200 countries around the world. Use it without limits: play games, watch movies, and share interesting videos.
Best Portable WiFi Hotspots Under $150
6. GlocalMe U2S 4G LTE High-Speed Network Mobile Hotspot
It is a perfect stay-at-home or travel gadget! GlocalMe U2S comes with 1.1GB global data. But you can choose one of there are 3 packages: individual packages for a single country, multi-country or regional packages and global package. It has a PAYG (pay-as-you-go) model: only pay for the exact amount of data you use.
This device also works as well as a traditional unlocked Wi-Fi hotspot or Mi-Fi. There is 1 SIM card slot for extra flexibility. It could connect up to 5 devices of users at the same time.
It has global coverage in 140+ countries and regions. You can be calm – anytime and anywhere, you will have fast and stable internet at a maximum speed of 150 Mbps and download speed of 50 Mbps. Reliable connection and ultra-fast data transfer are provided. For more information about data package and coverage please check at the official website.
The hotspot has a user-friendly App to manage your data. You need to download GlocalMe App, which is available on iOS and Android.
You can manage your data smartly by topping up your balance, purchasing data packages, and easily track detailed interaction with the data. Network optimization to solve network congestion function. Keeping you connected is a top priority.
You do not need to worry about charging. The hotspot has not to display but has indicators, and despite indicators of signal, you also will see the status of your battery. The capacity of a battery is 3500 mAH, so you can use it for many hours.
The use of this product is suitable for smartphones, pads, laptops, and other data-intensive devices. Due to its small parameters, weight (149 g), and the ability to connect some devices, it is very convenient for the family users and helpful for business meetings! And if you will have some problems, the service-office can answer your questions 24/7!
7. TP-LINK M7350 – Hotspot móvel – 4G LTE
So just insert a 4G SIM card to create your reliable personal dual-band WIFI hotspot on the move. A quick start guide is also included in the package. It supports 4G/3G/2G network: FDD-LTE Cat4, DC-HSPA+/HSPA/UMTS, EDGE/GPRS/GSM.
It has dual-band WIFI, you can select 2.4GHz or 5GHz, it is a strong, fast connection for HD streaming on all your devices. It has excellent wireless speed. The speed of incoming traffic is up to 150 Mbit/s, and outgoing traffic is up to 50 Mbit/s. The security of this model is ensured by its support of the WEP and WPA security standards.
You can create a reliable shared 3G/4G connection for up to 10 devices: tablets, mobile phones, laptops, game consoles, etc.
With the tpMiFi app, you can easily control the hotspot from iOS or Android devices. The tpMiFi app allows you to configure traffic restrictions, control device access to Wi-Fi, send messages and share files via network storage on a Micro SD card.
In the case of this portable hotspot, there is a slot for placing a SIM card, a micro USB port through which this device is charged, as well as a slot for a microSD memory. Also, the device is equipped with a single built-in antenna.
You can download a special app.
You can easily share photos, music, videos, and other files inside your wireless network by connecting a micro SD card and creating network storage of up to 32 GB.
The capacity of a battery is 2000 mAH, it is provided battery life of up to 8 hours at full power and up to 480 hours in standby mode. All main information, like the speed of the internet connection, the level of connection, the level of the battery, information messages you can see on 1.4-inches display.
The color of the device is black and the size is 106 x 16 x 66 mm. It really fits in your hand. This device is conveniently small and light to pack, so put it into your pocket and make sure you can have internet access wherever you go. You will be impressed with the capability of this little device!
8. AT&T PREPAID Velocity Hotspot
Reliable and handy, the AT&T PREPAID Velocity Hotspot will be a favorite after the first use. Despite its small size, this device will provide you with secure mobile communication and a stable Internet connection.
The simple touch screen allows you to set the necessary settings and get online in seconds. You will have access to both a 4G LTE network and Wi-Fi.
The mobile hotspot can provide high-quality communication for up to 10 electronic devices at once. The device operation process is as simple as possible: no complicated instructions and long waiting time.
If you want you can use an extra microSD card. Protect your device with a screen lock with an individual PIN code.
Control all operations on your device. The display shows the battery charge, number of active connections, and current connection speed. A 100% charged battery allows the PREPAID Velocity Hotspot to operate for 10 hours.
The device comes with a 1-year limited warranty. Experience a new level of comfort with the feature-rich mobile hotspot from AT&T.
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9. Mightywifi Global Mobile WiFi Hotspot
MightyWifi Global Wi-Fi Router will be a real find for those who need uninterrupted mobile communication and a stable Internet connection.
When you buy the device, you will instantly receive 50GB of traffic for use within the U.S. and another 1GB that is available in other countries for 180 days.
The largest download speed is 150 Mbps. If the specified traffic is not enough, you can always buy an extra package at the online store. Please note: there is no extra charge for roaming.
The portable router supports up to 10 simultaneously connected devices. This is a great option for large companies and friendly families.
Regardless of the number of devices, the connection quality remains the same. For full use, you need to put in a SIM card. You do not need to buy a new SIM card. MightyWifi Global Wi-Fi Router is popular in 150 countries around the world.
The router is equipped with a powerful built-in battery that provides 13 hours of activity. The handheld device does not require any extra purchases or settings. Just set the necessary parameters and enjoy a quality Internet connection.
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FAQ for portable WiFi hotspots buyers
1. Why do I need a WIFI hotspot?
Can portable WIFI hotspots be configured to block streaming video (Netflix, Amazon, Youtube, etc.)?
Most modern portable WIFI hotspots have their own interface and mobile application with advanced settings, where you can set up parental controls or blacklist web sites.
2. What is operating frequency? What operating frequency do I need to choose in my future device?
The WIFI operating frequency is the clock frequency of the wireless channel. The most commonly used frequencies are 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, each of which has its own advantages. At the 2.4 GHz frequency, the signal propagates most effectively through mechanical obstacles, but it is the most saturated with interference.
At the same time, despite the lower penetrating power, the signal transmitted at the 5 GHz frequency is affected by interference to a much lesser extent.
It is very convenient to use devices that support both 2.4/5 GHz frequencies – you can determine the use of a particular frequency in them in manual mode, and switching between frequencies can occur automatically.