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Everything You Need to Know About T-Mobile Hotspots

Get Wi-Fi on the go with these 5G plans from T-Mobile

  • Best T-Mobile Wi-Fi dongle
    T-Mobile Inseego 5G MiFi M2000
    TCL LINKPORT IK511
    Price: $96
    • Affordable monthly plans
    • Frees up smartphone for other tasks
    • Connectivity for only one device
  • Best T-Mobile remote Wi-Fi plan
    T-Mobile AWAY™
    Starting price: $110/mo. w/ AutoPay
    • Fantastic 5G signal
    • Included portable router
    • High price
  • Best T-Mobile cellular plan for hotspotting
    T-Mobile Experience More
    Price: $85/mo.
    • Lots of included data
    • No separate hotspot device required
    • Eats through smartphone battery quickly

T-Mobile is our top pick among cellular carrier for portable Wi-Fi and mobile hotspots. If you need a lot of connectivity when you’re out and about, choose one of T-Mobile’s AWAY plans and you’ll enjoy included equipment. If you need to connect just one device occasionally, choose  the TCL LINKPORT IK511 Wi-Fi dongle and the $10 monthly 5GB plan. 

If you just want hotspot connectivity in emergencies, on the other hand, we still recommend using the T-Mobile smartphone you already have with T-Mobile’s Experience More mobile plan.

Looking for a new mobile data plan?

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The best ways to get T-Mobile Wi-Fi on the go

T-Mobile offers three main ways to get portable Wi-Fi, and you can drill down from there. Here are the three big categories and our expert recommendations for each:

1. Maximize connectivity with portable Wi-Fi

T-Mobile AWAY is the best way to get portable Wi-Fi that’s just as good as home internet. The router/gateway device is included with your monthly plan price, and you can connect up to 64 devices from anywhere on T-Mobile’s exceptional 5G network. You have two plan options, one with 200GB of monthly data and one with unlimited data.

2. Save with a Wi-Fi dongle

If you’re on a budget and you need to connect only one device when you’re out and about, go with the TCL LINKPORT IK511 Wi-Fi dongle and a $10 monthly data-only plan. You’re limited to 5GB per month (and the device will take up one of your USB-C ports), but it will get you by in a pinch, and it’s no bigger than a USB storage stick. This option frees up your smartphone for other tasks and uses battery power from your connected device.

3. Simplify with your T-Mobile smartphone

This is what we recommend for most people, because it doesn’t require any extra plans or equipment. Just use the hotspot function on the smartphone you already have. If you find that you do this often, spring for a T-Mobile cellular plan with plenty of high-speed hotspot data. Our pick in 2026 is T-Mobile Experience More.

Pro tip:

Test your portable Wi-Fi speeds from anywhere by downloading our sweet mobile app.

Pro tip: 

Take our speed test to see what kind of performance you’re getting with your hotspot. If you’re on a phone hotspot, a mobile hotspot device could give you a major boost.

 

Choose T-Mobile AWAY to replace home internet

T-Mobile 5G AWAY

Price: Starting at $110/mo. w/ AutoPay, plus taxes & fees.

Speed: Up to 361Mbps

Get T-Mobile Home Internet

T-Mobile AWAY is our number one option for anyone who needs portable 5G internet that’s just as good as home Wi-Fi. It uses the same technology as T-Mobile 5G home internet, but you can take it anywhere.

The monthly plan price includes your gateway, which you’ll use instead of a hotspot device. It requires a constant power source, but connects up to 64 devices at a time. Depending on where you are in the T-Mobile network and factors like time of day, you could get speeds up to 360Mbps. That’s plenty for even busy, connected households.

Prices are a little steep, but you’ll pay less than you would for a satellite service like Starlink and you’ll have a much better experience than you would with a smartphone hotspot or a hotspot device. Start with the 200GB plan but if you max out the data, it’s easy to upgrade to the unlimited plan for an extra $50 per month.

Best T-Mobile hotspots

Best forProductPriceOrder online
Best overall (and best for 5G)JEXtream® RG2100 5G Mobile Hotspot$198View on T-Mobile
Best 4G LTE hotspotFranklin T10 Mobile Hotspot$90View on T-Mobile
Best Wi-Fi dongle
TCL
LINKPORT IK511
$96View on T-Mobile

Hotspot devices are no longer the best option for most people, but they can be a way to get the connectivity you need while saving a little cash.

If it’s just you and you need to connect only one tablet or computer, go with the $96 TCL LINKPORT Wi-Fi dongle, with plan prices as low as $10 per month.

The JEXtream® RG2100 5G Mobile Hotspot lets you connect up to 20 devices on 5G at a time, and comes with an onboard portable battery. Plans start at $25 per month for a data allocation of 25GB. That’s enough for heavy use by a handful of devices for a few hours, or enough for a couple of devices for a few days.

If you need connectivity only in rural areas, choose the Franklin T10 Mobile Hotspot. The price is right at $90, and you can connect around 15 devices at once. Like with the 5G hotspot we recommend above, plans start at $25 per month. 

Best T-Mobile hotspot data plans

Best forPlanPriceOrder online
Best overall100GB$50/mo.*View Plan
Best mid-range plan25GB$25/mo.*View Plan
Best budget option5GB$10/mo.View Plan

What you need depends on how many devices will be connected at a time. T-Mobile’s 5GB plan as the best option for one person, but go for the 100GB plan if you’re connecting a team. Keep in mind that your speeds will be throttled considerably once you exceed your monthly data allocation, but it’s easy to upgrade mid-month.

The easy alternative: Use your T-Mobile smartphone plan

Best forPlanPriceHotspot data allowanceOrder online
Best overallT-Mobile Experience More$85/mo.* (for 1 line)60 GB/mo.View Plan
Best prepaid planSimply Prepaid 10 GB$40.00/mo. (for 1 line)10 GB/mo. (shared w/ phone data)View Plan
Best budget dealMint Mobile$15.00/mo.(for 3 mos.)5 GB/mo. (shared w/ phone data)View Plan

Most people should just use their smartphones AS a hotspot rather than getting an AWAY internet plan or using a separate hotspot. It’s easier, and you save money because you can use the plan and device you already use for calling and scrolling social media.

T-Mobile has a good prepaid option if you want something inexpensive. Or if you’re really going for a budget option, Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network and offers a ridiculously cheap plan. Just be mindful of your hotspot data use because it counts towards your cell phone data.

Other MVNO providers like Boost Mobile also offer cellular and hotspot plans that give you data to work with. The connection isn’t quite as reliable, but the plans are usually great budget options.

Pro tip:

Take a look at the best hotspots you can buy for more details on what to look for—even if you don’t have T-Mobile, you can still find a great deal.

FAQ about T-Mobile hotspots

Can you get unlimited data from a T-Mobile hotspot?

Can you use the Moto G hotspot with T-Mobile?

Can you use a NETGEAR Nighthawk hotspot with T-Mobile?

Looking for a new internet plan?

Use your zip code below to find providers in your area.

Disclaimers

Author -

Chili Palmer covers home tech services, with a special focus on understanding what families need and how they can stay connected on a budget. She handles internet access and affordability, breaking news, mobile services, and consumer trends. Chili’s work as a writer, reporter, and editor has appeared in publications including Telecompetitor, Utah Business, Idaho Business Review, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, and Switchful.com.

Editor - Rebecca Lee Armstrong

Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet.com. Her work has also been featured on Top Ten Reviews, MacSources, Windows Central, Android Central, Best Company, TechnoFAQ, and iMore.

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