Best Unlimited Hotspot Plans of 2024
Unlimited hotspot data is hard to find—here are your best options.
Apr 26, 2024 | Share 
Brand Guides
-
Best overall
Visible+ phone plan- $45.00/mo.*
- Unlimited hotspot data (with limitations)
- Talk/text included
- Max 10Mbps speeds
-
Best for speed
Verizon Premium- $60.00–$80.00†
- Easy access to ultrafast 5G network
- 150GB monthly data
- Verizon mobile phone plan required
-
Best prepaid option
AT&T 20GB- $25.00/mo.‡
- 20GB hotspot data + Talk/text
- Large nationwide 4G and 5G network
- Limited hotspot device options
-
Best budget plan
T-Mobile 2GB- $10.00/mo.§
- Incredibly low price (Talk/text not included)
- Widest 5G availability
- Small amount of premium data
- T-Mobile phone plan required
Data effective 4/24/2024. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
See disclaimers.
An unlimited hotspot plan gives you internet access and a secure connection from anywhere you can get a cell phone signal. With the right plan, you can take on big tasks like playing online games and making video calls without having to worry about extra fees or slowed speeds. If you get a dedicated hotspot device, you get all that without running down the battery on your smartphone and have the flexibility to tether multiple devices at once–even on a regular basis.
Take a look at our guide below to see which cellular carriers offer the best unlimited hotspot plans.
Our pick: Which unlimited hotspot data plan is best?
Visible’s Visible+ cell phone plan is the best plan you can get for unlimited hotspot data. The plan costs a truly cheap $45 month, and you get unlimited hotspot data all month long for a single device with speeds up to 10Mbps. These stripped-down features make Visible+ an excellent option for single users who want to tether their laptop for daily Wi-Fi use.
Pro tip:
If you use a hotspot for internet access regularly, you’ll probably want a dedicated hotspot device to go with your unlimited hotspot data. Take a gander at our favorite mobile hotspots.
Best unlimited hotspot plans
| Mobile carrier | Plan | Best for | Price | Premium data cap | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Visible+ phone plan | Best overall | $45.00/mo.* | Unlimited (max 10Mbps speeds up 50GB on one device) | View Plan |
| | Verizon Premium | Best for speed | $60–$80.00/mo.† | 150GB of 4G LTE/5G, then reduced to 600 Kbps | |
| | AT&T 20GB© | Best prepaid option | $25.00/mo.‡ | 20GB | |
|
| T-Mobile 2GB | Best budget plan | $10.00/mo.§ | 2GB (can order more GB w/ data pass) | View Plan |
Data effective as of 4/22/24. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.
What should you look for in an unlimited hotspot data plan?
You should look for a hotspot data plan that gives you a generous amount of premium data at an affordable price. Premium data is data you get that works off the cellular provider’s 4G LTE and 5G network, giving you fast speeds and lower latency. Usually you’ll get a set amount of premium data, after which you’ll revert to much slower speeds.
You’ll also need a plan that works over a large-enough cellular network to give you consistent connectivity wherever you use it. Some hotspot plans work with only certain hotspot devices, so of course you’ll want a plan that works with a good-quality device.
Here are some key details to keep in mind as we go over the best unlimited hotspot plans:
- Amount of premium data
- Max speed
- Required equipment: mobile phone or dedicated hotspot device
Take a look at our expanded section for more info about specs and features.
Pro tip:
Depending on what you use your hotspot for, you may be just fine with a hotspot plan that gives you a set amount of data. Get the best recommendations in our best hotspot plans guide.
Is there a truly unlimited hotspot plan?
Yes, you can get truly unlimited hotspot plans from Visible, T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. Each cellular carrier gives you a plan that lets you always tether a device to your hotspot. You get a set amount of monthly premium hotspot data that connects you with high speeds (think: 30–200Mbps) over 4G LTE and 5G networks. After you’ve used the premium data, your connection drops to a slower speed.
Data is a bit of a hot commodity in the cellular space. Cellular carriers don’t have the same internet capacity as traditional internet providers. Wireless internet speeds are slower and mobile infrastructure is mostly built for serving phone users, not internet customers, so high-speed data comes at a higher price and you get less. So you always have some limitations on your hotspot data, even on an unlimited hotspot plan.
Best overall—Visible+ phone plan
$45.00/mo.
- Premium data cap: None (max speeds of 10Mbps, connects only one device at a time, speeds slowed after 50GB)
- Compatible hotspots: Cell phone hotspot
Data as of 4/22/2024. Taxes and fees included. Welcome discount applied.
Visible is an “MVNO” that gives you cellular coverage from Verizon’s network. Its Visible+ phone plan is cheaper than pretty much any postpaid phone plan and lets you use as much hotspot data as you like over your cell phone’s hotspot. That means you don’t have to invest in a separate Wi-Fi hotspot to tether a device like a laptop or tablet.
The plan has some limitations: you can only connect one device at a time, and speeds max out at a slow 10Mbps, well below average 4G speeds of 30 Mbps. While Visible used to boast of a truly unlimited hotspot offering, now the carrier says your speeds may slow during times of network congestion after you use up that 50GB. Still, this is an incredible deal and works great for single users.
The Visible+ plan is a mobile phone plan that includes hotspot data, not a dedicated hotspot plan.
Pros:
- Unlimited data for hotspotting
- Talk/text included
Cons:
- Hotspot connection for one device only
- Slow speeds
Best for speed—Verizon Premium
$60.00—80.00/mo.
- Premium data cap: 150 GB of 4G LTE/5G, then reduced to 600 Kbps
- Network access: 4G LTE, 5G, UW
- Compatible hotspots: your phone’s hotspot, Verizon Jetpack MiFi 8800L, Inseego MiFi M2100 5G UW, Verizon Global Modem USB730L
Data as of 4/22/24. With paper-free billing and Auto Pay. Plus taxes & fees.
This is the plan to get if you’re looking for maximum hotspot capability. The Verizon Premium data plan comes with a hefty 150GB chunk of high-speed internet data to work with all month. It also lets you tap into the fastest 5G speeds possible, making this plan an excellent option for frequent hotspot users.
Verizon’s so-called Ultra Wideband 5G (the fastest portion of its 5G network) has very limited availability, so you probably aren’t able to see those dazzling speeds unless you’re in select parts of major American cities. You’ll need a dedicated hotspot device for this plan; you can purchase one from Verizon or bring your own.
Pros:
- 5G Ultra Wideband access
- Lots of data
Cons:
- High price for non–Verizon phone customers
Pro tip:
The best way to get boosted speeds is to access a 5G network—and for that you need a 5G hotspot. Take a look at the best 5G hotspots to see prices and features.
Best prepaid plan—AT&T 20GB
Data as of 4/22/24. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
With this plan, you get a decent amount of data for a decent price. It doesn’t knock your socks off, but it’s sufficient to get you a weekend or two of binge-watching Netflix at a vacation home or cover daylong work sessions during a weeklong trip. If you run out, every additional 5 GB of data costs $10.
Pros:
- Good price
- Excellent 5G speeds
Cons:
- Small amount of high-speed data
- Limited hotspot device compatibility
Best budget plan—T-Mobile 2GB
$10.00/mo.
- Premium data cap: 2GB (add more any time with a “data pass”)
- Compatible hotspots: Inseego MiFi X Pro 5G, Alcatel Linkzone
Data effective 4/22/24. with AutoPay
Per connected device with AutoPay. Plus Taxes & fees.
Keep this plan in mind if you only use your hotspot a couple days per month. As the name suggests, T-Mobile’s 2GB data plan comes with 2GB of premium data—a modest amount but plenty to cover a couple of streaming sessions and or a day of video calls.
After you use up the premium data, your speeds get significantly reduced. So this plan isn’t ideal if you spend a lot of time hotspotting throughout the month. But you can re-up with more premium data whenever you want, simply by ordering a “data pass.” And this plan is so cheap upfront that you may end up spending less on data than you would with another plan even after paying for more premium data.
Also, this is a hotspot-specific plan, so you’ll need a dedicated mobile hotspot device.
Pros:
- Extremely low price
- Great 5G coverage
Cons:
- Less premium data than many smartphone-based hotspot plans
Pro tip:
You can use Zoom even if your internet speed is as low as 1.2 Mbps. Take a look at our Zoom speed guide to learn how to improve your Zoom performance on a slow connection.
Unlimited hotspot plan specs and features
Unfortunately, most hotspot plans don’t give you unlimited high-speed data. Cellular providers don’t deliver internet at the same capacity as broadband internet service providers, so many standalone data plans come with fairly strict data limits, and your speeds will be slowed down to a crawl once you use up your data.
Still, you can find solid options and workarounds from a range of wireless providers. Your best bet is to look for a data package that comes with a sufficient amount of data for a relatively manageable fee. You’ll also want a package that gives you some flexibility.
In some cases, you may be better off paying a small fee for a small amount of data so you don’t end up spending a lot upfront on data you won’t end up using. Then you can buy more data if you need it once you run out.
Cell phone hotspot vs. mobile hotspot—which is better?
Using your cell phone as a mobile hotspot works well occasionally, especially if you need to connect only one device (such as a laptop or tablet). A mobile hotspot device, on the other hand, is better for regular hotspot users who connect lots of devices and consume a lot of data.
The benefits of separate hotspot devices include the following:
- Better range
- Wi-Fi 6 technology
- Support for multiple connected devices
Almost all the top unlimited plans we recommend here work with hotspot devices.
The big exception is the Visible+ plan, which only works through your phone. Several other phone-based hotspot plans are available, and you can save money by not buying a separate device. Learn more and shop recommended smartphone plans with a wide range of data options.
Pro tip:
If you’re not sure how to use the hotspot on your phone, read our explainer on phone tethering to see how it’s done. Don’t worry—it’s simple!
Can you use a hotspot for home internet?
We don’t recommend using a hotspot for home internet because it’s much more expensive than a broadband plan from an internet service provider. You’ll also have a lot less data on a hotspot than you would on a fiber, cable, or DSL internet plan.
In most cases, we recommend using a hotspot as a temporary solution for when you’re traveling or working away from the home or office. However, a hotspot may be useful if you live in an RV because it gives you a portable internet option that internet providers can’t, uh, provide.
A hotspot could be a good way to go if you live in a rural area where your only other option is satellite internet and you don’t have the cash to buy a $600 Dishy from Starlink. Still, most users would be much better off 5G or 4G LTE home internet from a cell phone provider.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for a wireless home-internet setup, then definitely look into 5G home internet—see our guides to Verizon 5G Home Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet for details on speeds, pricing, and availability.
Do you need a 5G hotspot?
A 5G hotspot is not necessary for everyone, but it’s great for groups and users with high-bandwidth needs.
5G hotspots are a lot more powerful and versatile than their 4G-only counterparts. They connect a lot more devices—up to 32—versus the 15 or 20 that 4G hotspots can connect. They deliver much faster speeds. And they have Wi-Fi 6, which ensures that your connection stays strong even if you’re connecting a bunch of devices all at once.
Are there any hotspot plans with unlimited premium data?
Unfortunately, no. All the hotspot plans we reviewed, even the best ones, put a limit on premium data.
However, different plans vary in how much premium data they provide and how significantly speeds are throttled once you run out of premium data. This is why it’s important to consider the fine print when choosing a hotspot plan.
How long does 100 GB of data last?
A hotspot plan that includes 100 GB of premium, high-speed data lasts about a week or less if you’re using it every day, but it lasts several weeks or even a month if you just use it occasionally.
Cell phone companies have less data to offer to customers overall than residential internet service providers, so even unlimited hotspot data plans often come with restrictions and caps on high-speed data usage.
Measuring data usage for different hotspot tasks
| Activity | How much data it uses | How much it takes to use 10 GB | How much it takes to use 100 GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checking 25 emails | 10 MB | Check 25,000 emails | Check 250,000 emails |
| Posting to social media | 90 MB per hour | 111 hours (4.6 days) | 1,111 hours (46 days) |
| Streaming music | 55 MB per hour | 181 hours (7.5 days) | 1,818 hours (75 days) |
| Multiplayer gaming | 200 MB per hour | 50 hours (approx. 2 days) | 500 hours (20 days) |
| Downloading a six-page PDF | 5.9 MB | Download 1,694 PDFs | Download 16,949 PDFs |
| Downloading an HD movie file | Approx. 4 GB | Download two movies | Download 25 movies |
| Downloading video game or game update | Approx. 20–60 GB | You can’t even download one game | Download 1–5 games |
| Making a video call in SD | 340 MB per hour | Make 29 hour-long calls | Make 294 hour-long calls |
| Making a video call in HD | 2 GB per hour | Make 4 hour-long calls | Make 50 hour-long calls |
| Streaming video in SD | 500 MB per hour | Stream 20 hours of video | Stream 200 hours of video |
| Streaming video HD | 2 GB per hour | Stream 5 hours of video | Stream 50 hours of video |
| Streaming video in 4K | 8 GB per hour | Stream 1.2 hours of video | Stream 12.5 hours of video |
Data from Omni’s data usage calculator.
Small tasks like checking email, streaming music, and even playing online games don’t have a major impact on your monthly data usage. But watch out when you stream video, make video calls or download large files because all of those activities can eat up your premium data real quick.
Stick to streaming and making video calls in SD resolution to preserve your high-speed data.
Activities to avoid when using a hotspot:
- Posting large files to a server
- Downloading large video game files
- Making video calls in HD
- Streaming video in HD or 4K
- Hosting a livestream
FAQ about unlimited hotspot data plans
Is there an unlimited hotspot plan?
Disclaimers
*Visible+
Taxes and fees included. Welcome discount applied.
†Verizon Unlimited+
With an existing smartphone on an Unlimited plan. Plus taxes & fees. Mobile Hotspot alone: first line on the account is $90. All subsequent lines are $60.
With paper-free billing and Auto Pay. Plus taxes & fees.
‡AT&T 20GB
After 2oGB, AT&T may temporarily slow data speeds if the network is busy.
§T-Mobile 2GB
Per connected device with AutoPay. Plus Taxes & fees.
Author - Peter Holslin
Peter Holslin has more than a decade of experience working as a writer and freelance journalist. He graduated with a BA in liberal arts and journalism from New York City’s The New School University in 2008 and went on to contribute to publications like Rolling Stone, VICE, BuzzFeed, and countless others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on covering 5G, nerding out about frequency bands and virtual RAN, and producing reviews on emerging services like 5G home internet. He also writes about internet providers and packages, hotspots, VPNs, and Wi-Fi troubleshooting.
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