The 7 Best Wi-Fi Hotspots of 2023 That Deliver Fast Speeds and Reliable Coverage

If you don't want to fuss with contracts — or add a line to your current data plan — consider this mobile hotspot from GlocalMe.

It’s an attractive-looking touchscreen hotspot that's about the size of a smartphone — just much thicker. It comes with 1GB of global 4G LTE data, 8GB of data in the U.S., and works in over 100 different countries. It also features two modems, one for operations and the other for backup, to ensure your connection keeps stable.

The touchscreen hotspot offers 12 hours of battery life and has a built-in USB-C port for fast-charging other devices. It supports up to 10 simultaneously connected devices. GlocalMe also allows users to download a free app to track their data usage and add more data to their line in the event that they run out. Their data rates vary based on location — check out their pricing here.

More: The Best Mini Laptops to Use in Tandem With Your Hotspot

Also available at Verizon

Verizon's Jetpack 8800L is a top-shelf portable Wi-Fi hotspot with robust LTE connectivity, intuitive touchscreen controls, and a large 4,440 mAh battery that helps deliver mobile internet for up to 24 hours. The battery is also removable, so you can purchase additional batteries for some extra juice.

The Jetpack can connect up to 15 devices to a Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n network. It outputs both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz signals, and it uses WPA2 encryption. It also has a convenient guest option, so you can keep your main password private. It even works as a backup battery pack since it can keep your other devices charged — as long as they recharge with a USB-C port.

If you want to switch between mobile carriers, we recommend going with this hotspot from Netgear. It's capable with AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Plus, it connects up to 32 devices via 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz Wi-Fi, by the 802.11ax specification.

It's equipped with a 5,040 maH battery that lasts for a day, and when the hotspot dies, it recharges quickly thanks to its speedy USB-C port. Not only does it charge quickly, but it also has incredibly fast download speeds, too. It can download up to 2.5Gbps—plenty fast for streaming video from Netflix, HBO Max, or YouTube.

It's also one of the few hotspots with a built-in Ethernet port, which you can use to offload your traffic to limit your cellular usage. Netgear has a companion app that lets you manage the Wi-Fi connections for all of your devices, adjust settings, check usage, and view media files.

For those who want to take advantage of mmWave and Sub-6 Bands from their wireless network, consider the similar M6 Pro hotspot, which is a better choice for AT&T users who don't need an unlocked hotspot.

Verizon has been rapidly expanding its 5G network, and recently launched its C-band spectrum. So, it should come as no surprise that the carrier is also rolling out some new Wi-Fi hotspots. The Orbic Speed 5G is the hotspot to buy if you’re a Verizon customer looking for the fastest speeds.

The device is one of the cheapest 5G hotspots to come to market — and believe it or not, it uses the same Qualcomm X55 cellular modem that’s found in devices that cost twice as much, such as the NETGEAR Nighthawk M6 and Inseego M2000.

Compared to the Inseego mobile hotspot, the Orbic Speed 5G UW supports the C-Band, which is one of the most prevalent 5G spectrums across the country — meaning, you’ll be able to use the hotspot in more places. If you don’t have 5G readily available in your area, it’s backward-compatible and works with 4G LTE networks, too.

The Orbic features a USB-C charging port that's also used for tethering, and it has a removable battery and touchscreen display. At the time of publishing, it's only available at Verizon.

Also available at Verizon

For those who use T-Mobile as a carrier, we recommend the inseego MiFi X Pro. It’s the provider’s latest hotspot that was designed to support the latest 5G networks so you can get the fastest download and upload speeds.

Dave LeClair, an analyst at PC Mag, was able to achieve download speeds up to 600 Mbps, which is plenty fast for streaming video.

“The new model carries over everything we liked about the previous model, and introduces some welcome improvements such as an ethernet port and the ability to connect even more devices via Wi-Fi,” he wrote.

Not only can it connect to up to 32 devices, but it also has an ethernet port for wired connections. You can expect 18 hours of battery life before it will need charging with the included USB-C cable.

This mobile hotspot device weighs a tad more than 3 ounces and is smaller than a deck of cards, so you can easily slide it into your pocket. It can deliver Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n connectivity to up to 15 devices by utilizing GSM networks.

Unfortunately, though, it only works on a 2.4 GHz band: Other hotspots can output a 5 GHz band, which comes in handy in congested areas like airports.

The hotspot's 1,800 mAh battery is slightly smaller than other hotspots, too, and provides about 6 hours of use. This hotspot doesn't have a display, so there’s no way of telling from the outside how strong the signal is. Despite these shortcomings, however, the Alcatel LINKZONE is a good value for the price.

The AirCard 797 is an unlocked mobile hotspot that delivers fast speeds, no matter what your carrier is or where you go. It supports up to 14 simultaneous connections, is password-protected, and reaches speeds of up to 400 Mbps.

At 4 inches long and just a half-inch thick, the hotspot is incredibly portable. It's equipped with a useful display, so you can easily monitor data usage and signal strength, and adjust network settings. Its 2,930mAh rechargeable battery powers up to 11 hours of use.

Netgear says that while this option is compatible with Verizon, it works best with AT&T and T-Mobile.