Tired of paying for expensive home internet? You may be able to get everything you need from the right phone plan.
Customers who mostly do simple tasks like scrolling social media, streaming standard-definition (SD) videos, and checking emails may be able to use their wireless plan’s mobile hotspot for their home internet service.
These plans offer large hotspot data allotments and fast enough speeds to meet the needs of basic users. We’ve tested each of these carriers and have figured out which ones offer a strong enough hotspot service for your money.
Visible+ Pro plan: Truly unlimited 15Mbps mobile hotspot
Visible+ Pro is one of the only phone plans on the market that offers truly unlimited mobile hotspot data. That means you won’t get cut off no matter how much you use it for home Wi-Fi. The mobile hotspot’s speeds are limited to 15Mbps, which is fast enough for basic internet tasks like scrolling social media or watching YouTube videos, but isn’t fast enough for online gaming or remote work.
The Visible+ Pro plan also includes unlimited talk, text, and unlimited premium data on Verizon’s 5G UW network for $45/month. Just remember that its speed is throttled to 15Mbps, so things like downloading files will take longer than on an unthrottled connection.
AT&T Elite 2.0: 250GB of high-speed mobile hotspot
The AT&T Elite 2.0 plan includes 250GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data. If you aren’t a heavy user doing things like remote work, 4K streaming, or downloading heavy files, this AT&T hotspot should meet your home internet needs. If you manage to use up your monthly high-speed allotment, you’ll stay connected at 128Kbps until the next month, which is fast enough for basic online messages, emails, and simple webpages.
AT&T Elite 2.0 also includes unlimited premium data on AT&T’s 5G network. Pricing starts at $110/month for one line, but you can get a four-line family plan for $280/month ($70/line). Getting Elite 2.0 as a family plan not only lowers your price per line, but also gives every family member their own 250GB hotspot. That’s 1TB (1,000GB) of mobile hotspot data for a four-line family plan, which is the standard allotment provided by many home internet plans in the first place.
US Mobile Unlimited Premium on Dark Star: Unlimited mobile hotspot on AT&T
US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium offers an unlimited mobile hotspot on the Dark Star network, but there are some caveats to be aware of here. US Mobile offers coverage on all three major networks, and Dark Star is its nickname for AT&T coverage. If you select Warp (Verizon) or Light Speed (T-Mobile) coverage instead, you’ll only receive a 50GB hotspot allotment.
With Unlimited Premium on Dark Star, you’ll get 100GB of high-speed data, then 100GB throttled at 8Mbps. That’s 200GB of mobile hotspot fast enough for tasks like social media, streaming SD videos, and video calls. If you use up that allotment, your speeds will drop to 600Kbps for the rest of the month, which is still fine for basic web messaging and simple emails.
Unlimited Premium on Dark Star starts at $44/month and also includes unlimited premium data. Its speeds are incredibly fast and can match a basic cable connection on a 5G connection, allowing you to do virtually any web task. That said, since you only get 100GB of the fastest speeds, this plan is best as a temporary internet service if you’re between plans or traveling.
Verizon Unlimited Ultimate: Get a 400GB high-speed hotspot with extra perks
Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate plan comes with unlimited mobile hotspot data. However, like most other plans, it’s not all high-speed, which is not ideal for home internet. Instead, it includes 200GB of high-speed data, then unlimited mobile hotspot data at 6Mbps, which is usable but much slower.
The benefit of Verizon is that you can buy an extra 200GB of high-speed data for $20/month as an extra perk. That gives you 400GB of high-speed data every month, which is the largest high-speed allotment you’ll find from any wireless carrier. That’s enough to meet the needs of people who stream SD videos, scroll social media, and do limited heavy internet tasks like working from home a few times a month.
Unlimited Ultimate starts at $95/month, and adding the 200GB mobile hotspot perk would push the price up to $115/month. We also think this option is best for one-line plans because the extra data isn’t shared. If you have a four-line family plan and want everyone to get an extra 200GB, that’s an additional $80/month tacked on to your plan. At that price, you might find a cheaper internet plan that offers more data for everyone.
T-Mobile Experience Beyond 2.0: Get 250GB of high-speed mobile hotspot
T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond 2.0 plan is the carrier’s best postpaid plan for mobile hotspot with a 250GB allotment. T-Mobile’s 5G hotspot speeds are generally fast enough for things like video calls, HD streaming, and even a few days of remote work. However, the 250GB allotment isn’t much, and once it’s used up, your speeds will drop to 3G for the rest of the month. 3G is generally only fast enough for basic browsing, simple web messages, and emails without big attachments.
Experience Beyond 2.0 starts at $100/month for one line. If you get a four-line family plan, you can get the price down to $53.75/line ($215/month), and everyone gets their own hotspot allotment. The plan also includes streaming services like Netflix Standard with ads, Hulu, and discounted Apple TV for $3/month. It’s a great way to also bundle in entertainment options with your phone plan and home internet.
How I picked these phone plans that could replace your home internet
I looked for plans that offered large enough mobile hotspots that they could replace a home internet service. Here are the factors I considered:
- Mobile hotspot size: Does the plan include at least 100GB of mobile hotspot data?
- Data speeds: Does the hotspot offer fast enough speeds to complete basic tasks like surfing the web, watching YouTube videos, or scrolling social media?
- Hidden limits: Is the hotspot still usable despite factors like throttling or high-speed limits?
Is using a mobile hotspot for home internet right for me?
You should only consider trading in your home internet plan for a mobile hotspot if you aren’t a power user. If most of your time on the internet is spent scrolling social media, browsing the web, or sending online messages, replacing your home internet with your phone plan might be a great way to save money.
A mobile hotspot can also be a great option for temporary home internet, like if you lose your wired connection during a storm or take a few trips a year in an RV.
On the other hand, if you do tasks like online gaming, HD or 4K streaming, or remote work, using your phone plan’s mobile hotspot for internet may not provide fast enough speeds or a large enough data allotment to meet your needs.
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We've been around since the birth of the iPhone. Along the way, we've learned how to spot the best deals for your wallet (and your sanity). We spend our days researching informative guides and writing insightful reviews on every kind of wireless plan, distinguishing what matters from what doesn't. We played around with these plans before recommending them, ensuring they're worth your hard-earned money.
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Replacing home internet with a phone plan: FAQ
Can a mobile hotspot replace home internet?
Mobile hotspot can replace home internet if you have light internet needs, such as basic web browsing, scrolling social media, or streaming SD videos.
How much hotspot data do you need to replace home internet?
You generally need at least 100GB of mobile hotspot data to replace your home internet. However, larger allotments will provide the best experience overall.
Can you game on a mobile hotspot?
You can play online video games on most mobile hotspots. However, playing online games frequently will rapidly deplete your hotspot’s high-speed allotment. Additionally, some wireless carriers will throttle mobile hotspots that are using up too much high-speed data in one session. You should generally not rely on a phone plan’s mobile hotspot for home internet if you are a frequent gamer.
How do you get Wi-Fi at home without an internet provider?
You can get home Wi-Fi without an internet provider by using your phone plan’s mobile hotspot. Just ensure that your hotspot has enough data and fast enough speeds to meet your needs.
Is a phone hotspot better than 5G home internet?
No, a mobile hotspot is not better than 5G home internet. Both hotspots and 5G home internet use the same networks for service, but 5G home internet has larger data allotments and fewer speed restrictions. Additionally, running your hotspot with devices like iPhones or Android devices will typically offer lower bandwidth and slower speeds than a dedicated 5G router since the signal is being shared with your original device.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
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