When shopping for one of the best mobile hotspots 2024 there are plenty of great options on the market, from affordable entry-level systems to premium products. And that's great, as mobile hotspots are great for staying connected and operating at maximum capacity, especially when abroad, be that during work or play.
Unlike the fiddly process of tethering to a phone the best mobile hotspots have excellent range, meaning that you can set them up and still get good connectivity even if you are in a different room, which is useful when working in hotel rooms, conventions or anywhere where multiple people will likely need access and they all can't huddle around a tethered mobile. Of course, remember to stick to your mobile Wi-Fi plan to avoid any surprise charges.
That's why, right here, we've rounded up the best portable mobile hotspots on the market today. We've got budget options right up to premium systems, so we're quite confident you'll find a product that is perfect for your travelling needs. And, speaking of travel, if you're shortly going to be going off on a trip (lucky!) then be sure to check out T3's ultimate travel guide, as well as our best suitcase and best carry-on luggage buying guides.
Best portable Wi-Fi hotspots to buy in 2024
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The best premium mobile hotspot
Battery life: 13 hours
Connections: 32 devices
Our top pick isn't cheap but this Nighthawk M6 Pro should answer all your connectivity needs. It's super fast with 5G and Wi-Fi 6E support, and super easy to connect with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port. Supporting up to 32 connections should be plenty for pretty much everyone too. The biggest drawback is that you will still need a SIM card, which can be fiddly to change on multi-country trips. If you're after pure performance you won't beat the M6 Pro, check out our review for more.
The best hotspot for most people
Battery life: 12 hours
Connections: 16 devices
Simple to set up, secure to use, reliable in operation... there's not much more you can ask from the Huawei E5577-321. You do have to buy your own local SIM card for all the countries that you visit but that does give you the flexibility to find the best data plan. 4G speeds up to 150Mbps are supported with this particular portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
The best affordable hotspot
Battery life: 8 hours
Connections: 10 devices
The TP-Link M7350 is undoubtedly one of the best portable Wi-Fi hotspots you can buy at the moment, and while it can reach 4G (150Mbps) speeds if the local network permits it, it can also fall back to 3G or even 2G networks if required – very handy if you're travelling in remote regions where the infrastructure might not be what you're used to at home.
The best mobile hotspot for convenient travelling
Battery life: Unknown (3,500 mAh)
Connections: 10 Devices
The GlocalMe U3X Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot works in more than 140 countries at the last count, and supports up to 10 devices. We don't have battery life information for this model, but considering there's a relatively large 3,500mAh battery installed here, we reckon you're going to get a good few hours between charges – ideal for those longer journeys.
The best affordable fast mobile hotspot
Battery life: All day
Connections: 20 devices
While the M6 Pro may be newer it's also much more expensive. With a top download speed of 2Gbps over 4G, assuming the local network can supply that much, this is still a seriously speedy hotspot. It has a nice big screen that clearly shows how many devices are connected (you can have up to 20), and boasts a big 5400 mAh battery to boot, meaning it should last all day. The only thing is it doesn't have cloud SIM or eSIM support.
The best mobile hotspot for getting everyone online
Battery life: 10 hours
Connections: 32 devices
Able to get 32 different devices online at once this is the option for those with larger households. Speeds up to 4G at 300Mbps are supported, though the download rates you're going to see also depend on the local SIM that you're going to fit inside – there's no support for eSIMs or cloud SIMs here however. It is also super small, so easy to take on the go and fit in a travel bag.
How to choose the best Wi-Fi hotspot for travel
You'll want a data connection abroad if you want to use WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all the rest abroad, but what you get depends on what you buy.
The first choice is to buy an off-the-shelf hotspot without a SIM, then buy a separate SIM card from a dedicated supplier or network provider (your current operator might even offer one if you check). This gives you a lot of flexibility.
The other option is to buy an all-in-one mobile Wi-Fi hotspot device that has a built-in eSIM – this all-in-one package will normally come with some free international data, plus the chance to easily top it up online whenever you run low.
Getting everything together in one bundle can potentially save you some money, but make sure you're getting the amount of data you want and compatibility for the countries you're visiting. Prioritise 4G or 5G data if you want an ultra-quick connection, but plan to buy data in bundles to save money. Check the availability and strength of the internet in your destination too, it might be good enough on its own if you're lucky.