Hotspot Internet Speed Test
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Disappointed with your results? See our FAQs section for tips on how to improve your speeds. You can also enter your zip code below to compare internet providers in your area—it may be time to upgrade.
On average, you can get 49Mbps speeds on a 4G LTE hotspot and 114Mbps speeds on a 5G hotspot. But you may get slower speeds if you’re in an area with weak cell service or network congestion.
Take a look below at our section on mobile hotspot speeds for more details.T-Mobile’s 2GB data plan is the best for mobile hotspots. Starting at just $10 a month, it gives you a modest amount of monthly data to use upfront and lets you top up with more data whenever you need.
If you’re using your phone’s hotspot, get T-Mobile’s Magenta MAX . This $85-per-month wireless plan gives you 40GB of monthly hotspot data. The data works over both 4G LTE and 5G networks, giving you a generous speed boost when you use a compatible 5G phone.
See our section below on the best hotspot data plans for more comparisons and recommendations.
Your internet can be slow for many reasons. Hotspots work over wireless networks, and cellular speeds tend to be slower than fixed broadband connections like cable and fiber. Hotspot Wi-Fi can slow down in areas with weak cell service or network congestion.
You could be experiencing slow speeds if you’ve run out of data on your monthly hotspot plan. And if your phone or hotspot is an older model, you might need to upgrade to get better speeds on a regular basis.
See our section on how to fix a slow Wi-Fi hotspot for more tips.
The best way to improve your internet speed over a Wi-Fi hotspot is to relocate to an area with better cellular service. If you’re inside, try moving outdoors to get better connectivity to a nearby cell tower. You should also check your hotspot data plan and top up with more data if you’ve run out. Of course, you also have the option to invest in a more powerful hotspot.
10 Steps to a Faster Wi-Fi ConnectionNot fast enough?
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What is a good internet speed for Wi-Fi hotspots?
A good internet speed for a hotspot is 40Mbps on a 4G LTE network or 100Mbps on a 5G network. Those download speeds fall just under the averages for 4G LTE and 5G wireless speeds, and they’re fast enough to support three or four of your Wi-Fi devices at the same time as you download files, post to social media, make video calls, and stream videos.
While you can usually order a specific internet speed for your home internet setup, hotspot speeds tend to be less predictable. Hotspots use cellular networks, and the wireless connection means you’re more likely to experience drops in speed due to network congestion and other issues.
The advantage of a hotspot, though, is that it gives you a Wi-Fi connection on the go. You can connect laptops, phones, and other Wi-Fi devices anywhere you get cellular service. Cellular carriers have worked to boost speeds considerably for hotspot customers, and you can make sure you’re getting the fastest connection possible by investing in a quality hotspot device and hotspot data plan to go with it.
Looking for a home internet connection to use while you’re not on a hotspot? Type in your zip code below to see what’s available in your area.
Best hotspots to get fast speeds
Best for | Hotspot | Price | Connectivity | Max devices | Order online |
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Best overall | Inseego 5G MiFi M2000 | $336.00 | 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | 30 | View on Amazon |
Best Verizon hotspot | Verizon Inseego | $199.99 | 4G LTE, 802.11ac | 15 | View on Verizon |
Best AT&T hotspot | NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 4G LTE Mobile Router | $289.28 | 4G LTE, 802.11ac | 20 | View on Amazon |
Best 5G hotspot | NETGEAR Nighthawk M6 5G WiFi 6 Mobile Router | $699.99 | 5G (mm-wave, C-band), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | 32 | View on Amazon |
Best budget hotspot | Alcatel LINKZONE | $59.99 | 4G LTE, 802.11n | 16 | View on Amazon |
Best for international travel | Huawei E5577-320 4G LTE Mobile WiFi Hotspot | $75.05 | 4G LTE, 802.11n | 10 | View on Amazon |
Data as of 2/22/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Amazon.com Price as of 2/22/23 10:30 MST. See full disclaimer.
How fast are hotspots?
Cell carrier | Avg. 4G LTE download speeds | Avg. 5G download speeds |
---|---|---|
T-Mobile | 79.5Mbps | 186.3Mbps |
Verizon | 31.3Mbps | 84.9Mbps |
AT&T | 38.2Mbps | 71.1Mbps |
*Data from Opensignal’s Mobile Network Experience Report and 5G Experience Report, both January 2023.
The Wi-Fi on hotspots range in download speed from 31Mbps to nearly 190Mbps, depending on the type of hotspot and your data carrier.
T-Mobile delivers the fastest cellular and Wi-Fi hotspot speeds on average. And 5G hotspots can get much faster speeds than 4G ones because 5G wireless networks are newer and use more efficient technology.
You don’t need a 5G hotspot to get respectable Wi-Fi speeds. Many 4G LTE hotspots work just fine and give you speeds in the range of a low-tier home internet plan. But it’s worth investing in a 5G hotspot if you need the fastest speeds possible to support multiple users and heavy-duty tasks like regular video calls or downloading large files.
Here’s what you can do with fast hotspot Wi-Fi:
- Support multiple Wi-Fi users at the same time
- Make video calls
- Upload video content to social media
- Download or upload a 1GB file in 3 minutes or less
Hotspot upload speeds are slower than download speeds
Cell carrier | Avg. 4G LTE upload speeds | Avg. 5G upload speeds |
---|---|---|
T-Mobile | 10.7Mbps | 17.9Mbps |
Verizon | 7.9Mbps | 16.1Mbps |
AT&T | 6.3Mbps | 12.2Mbps |
*Data from Opensignal’s Mobile Network Experience Report and 5G Experience Report, both January 2023.
As is the case with most internet connections, you get much slower upload speeds on a hotspot compared to download speeds. This means you may experience a higher chance of slowdowns and buffering during video calls and when posting to social media. But you don’t need to worry too much unless you’re in an area with a lot of network congestion.
Best hotspot data plans
Best for | Plan | Price | Data allowance | Order online |
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Best overall | T-Mobile 2GB | $10.00/mo.* | 2GB/mo. (can order more GB w/ data pass) | View Plan |
Best for 5G | Verizon Pro | $60.00/mo. (w/ existing Unlimited phone plan), $90.00/mo. (w/out phone plan) | 100GB of 4G LTE/5G, then reduced to 600Kbps | View Plan |
Best for cell phone hotspots | T-Mobile Magenta Max | $85.00/mo. | 40GB/mo. (followed by unlimited 3G speeds) | View Plan |
Best for AT&T | AT&T PREPAID 50GB | $55/mo. (w/ autopay) | 50GB/mo. | View Plan |
Best prepaid plan | Visible phone plan | $30.00/mo. (plus price of hotspot)† | Unlimited (max 5Mbps speeds, connects only one device at a time) | View Plan |
Best for international travel | Verizon TravelPass | $5.00–$10.00/day | 0.5GB/day | View Plan |
Data as of 2/22/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Per connected device with AutoPay. Plus Taxes & fees.
†See full disclaimer.
Phone hotspots also give you fast internet
While standalone mobile hotspots get you the most efficient connection for a range of Wi-Fi devices, you can just as easily use your phone’s hotspot.
In fact, a 5G phone is a better option than a 4G LTE hotspot for many people because it costs less money and delivers even better Wi-Fi speeds, letting you access 5G networks as well as 4G ones. Depending on your cellular carrier, average 5G wireless download speeds range anywhere from 70Mbps to 180Mbps.
The only requirement is that you have a phone plan that gives you monthly hotspot data. See the best phone plans for hotspotting below.
Best phone plans for hotspotting
Best for | Plan | Price | Data allowance | Get it |
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Best overall | T-Mobile Magenta Max | $85.00/mo. (for 1 line) | 40GB/mo. (followed by unlimited 3G speeds) | View Plan |
Best for discounts on devices | Verizon 5G Do More | $66.00/mo. (for 1 line) | 25GB/mo. (followed by unlimited 3Mbps 5G speeds and 600Kbps 4G speeds) | |
Best hotspot data package | AT&T Unlimited Premium | $85.00/mo. (for 1 line) | 50GB/mo. (followed by unlimited 128Kbps speeds) | |
Best bargain | Visible phone plan | $30.00/mo. (for 1 line) | Unlimited (max 5Mbps speeds, connects only one device at a time) | View Plan |
Pro tip:
Want to make your phone a hotspot? Take a look at our guide to setting up a phone’s hotspot for step-by-step instructions on how to do it.
What to do if your internet speed is slower than expected
- Restart your Wi-Fi hotspot—or if you’re using a phone hotspot, switch off the hotspot function and switch it back on.
- If you’re indoors, try moving to a different room or going outside where you can get better cell service.
- Upgrade your hotspot or phone. Aim to get a hotspot with 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) standards for the best performance.
- Top up your monthly data plan. Hotspot plans come with a limited amount of data per month, and your speeds slow to a crawl when you’ve used up your data.
If you see inconsistent results, there might be a bottleneck on your end. You can troubleshoot poor internet speeds with our guide on how to fix slow internet. But your internet connection may just be slow either from your plan or your internet type.
If nothing helps, call your cellular carrier or switch to a new one.
Can you use a hotspot for home internet?
You can technically use a Wi-Fi hotspot for home internet, but it’s not the best option. When it comes to the GBs you get per dollar, hotspot data costs a lot more than residential internet data. You also get slower hotspot speeds than what you can get from many home internet plans.
Get 5G home internet if you want cellular Wi-Fi at home
But while a hotspot might not do the trick for your home Wi-Fi, both Verizon and T-Mobile offer 5G home internet, a cellular-based service that works excellently as residential internet. Like hotspots, 5G home internet uses wireless networks to get you internet, but it’s a fixed wireless setup that doesn’t have the portability of a hotspot.
5G home internet is a great alternative to fixed broadband plans like cable and fiber because it’s cheaper, comes with a lot more deals, and delivers solid Wi-Fi speeds for many small- and mid-sized homes. Also, the rise of wireless internet services like this may eventually pave the way for home-friendly hotspot uses too.
Best 5G home internet plans
Package | Price | Speed | View on provider site |
---|---|---|---|
T-Mobile Home Internet | $50.00/mo.* | 33–182Mbps | View Plan |
5G Home Internet | $50.00/mo.†; $25.00/mo.‡ with 5G Get More, 5G Play More, or 5G Do More | Up to 300 Mbps |
*w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
†w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
‡w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Available in select areas.
Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. HighSpeedInternet.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
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