Best Unlimited Hotspot Plans of 2024 (2024)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Is there an unlimited hotspot plan?

• Best Mobile Hotspots
• Best Hotspot Data Plans
• How to Use a Mobile Hotspot: Make Your Phone a Wi-Fi Machine
• How to Find Wi-Fi Hotspots

*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.

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