Everything You Need to Know About AT&T Hotspots (2024)

The best hotspot: NETGEAR is AT&T’s go-to hotspot manufacturer, and the Nighthawk M1 4G LTE Mobile Router is a versatile device. Outfitted with a gigabit Qualcomm MDM9x50 modem, it gets you reliable speeds over 4G networks (which are still far more widely accessible than 5G) and features extra ports for direct Ethernet connections and phone charging.

The best hotspot data plan: AT&T’s Prepaid 100 GB plan gives you 100 GB of data to use in a month for a flat fee of $90. It’s hard to find a hotspot plan that gives you that much data upfront. Plus, you don’t have to sign up for a contract term or recurring monthly payments, making this plan perfect for short-term vacation rentals and work trips.

Pro tip:

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

Pro tip:

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

*Price at time of writing

*Amazon.com prices (as of 3/2/23 17:35 MST). Read full disclaimer.

The Nighthawk M1 is a powerful device that can cover most anyone’s hotspotting needs. But NETGEAR’s Nighthawk M6 Pro really kicks things up a notch with its 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 6 capabilities. The M6 can hit much faster speeds and support a lot more users, making this the hotspot to get for big groups, intensive work trips, and vacations on which you anticipate a lot of streaming movie marathons.

ZTE’s MAX Connect MF928 and Alcatel’s LINKZONE are budget hotspots better suited for occasional use and fewer devices. They don’t get the most out of AT&T’s wireless network—there’s no 5G, for example, and you can expect 4G LTE speeds to be slower than normal. But these hotspots cost a fraction of what you’d normally pay for a hotspot and work in a jiffy.

Pro tip:

Want the fastest and most secure hotspot around? Take a look at the best 5G hotspots for the most innovative designs and greatest Wi-Fi firepower.

You should get an AT&T hotspot that has current Wi-Fi standards, supports enough connections for your needs, and meets your budget.

AT&T sells a few mobile Wi-Fi hotspots on its website, but you can also find unlocked hotspots on Amazon that work with AT&T’s 4G LTE and 5G networks. The most expensive of these devices are meant for hitting extremely fast speeds and serving lots of users. Lower-tier hotspots still work great for vacation rentals or work trips, but the cheapest ones have relatively slow speeds and get sluggish as they support more Wi-Fi devices.

What you can do with a 5G hotspot

• Get wireless speeds ranging anywhere from 30–300 Mbps, depending on your location and 5G availability
• Maintain a consistent connection for up to 32 users at a time
• Enjoy functionality and ease of use with the help of a touch screen
• Boost security and improve connection with extra features and ports
• Charge your phone or tablet with USB-C port

What you can do with a high-end 4G LTE hotspot

• Get wireless speeds of 10–40 Mbps for up to 20 users
• Improve speeds with wired Ethernet connection
• Boost signal range when using it as a travel router over hotel and other Wi-Fi networks
• Charge your phone or tablet with USB-C port

What you can do with a budget 4G LTE hotspot

• Get wireless speeds of 1–25 Mbps for up to 16 users
• Charge your phone or tablet with USB-C port

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 AT&T, you can still find a great deal.

Data as of 3/2/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

*Per connected device with AutoPay. Plus Taxes & fees.

AT&T offers a few prepaid data plans that let you buy a chunk of data in 30-day increments. If you run out of data, you can add another 5 GB for $10. We recommend the 100 GB plan the most because, well, that’s a ton of hotspot data for a pretty good price.

If you’re a monthly hotspot user—say, you regularly travel for work or spend a few days a month in your vacation cabin—then you might want to go for the 20 GB plan. You have to pay a $300 lump sum up front, but it costs you less in the long run, shaking out to $25 a month.

Get a prepaid data plan instead of AT&T DataConnect

In addition to the prepaid plans mentioned above, AT&T also advertises a monthly DataConnect plan—but we advise against it because that plan costs a lot more for less data than AT&T’s prepaid data plans. Stick to a prepaid plan for the best deal.

Data effective as of 3/2/23. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.

^‡Unlimited talk, text, and 15GB high-speed data. Taxes and fees extra.

Pro tip:

Looking for a hot new phone to set up a hotspot? Take a look at the best 5G phones.

MVNO stands for “mobile virtual network operator,” which is a complicated way of referring to budget-friendly cellular brands like Cricket Wireless and Boost Mobile that give you phone service over AT&T’s network.

Phone and data plans from MVNOs are often cheaper than those from major cell companies, and they don’t require things like contracts or credit checks to sign up. Unfortunately, with those lower prices you also get somewhat inferior service, since your cell service always takes a back seat to that of AT&T’s customers. But these plans are worth looking into if you need a quick and easy data plan for occasional hotspottery.

Data effective 3/2/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Amazon.com prices (as of 3/2/23 17:35 MST). Read full disclaimer.

Data effective as of 05/30/23. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.

Read disclaimers.

Cellular companies have ramped up their hotspot options over the past year, but hotspots still aren’t an adequate replacement for home internet—you simply can’t get the same speeds or amount of data from a mobile plan.

But if you’re looking for a wireless solution to home internet, consider 5G home internet. AT&T’s rivals, Verizon and T-Mobile, both offer affordable 5G internet service with unlimited data and respectable speeds at a flat monthly rate—no need to worry about contracts or extra fees. (AT&T has no plans to release a 5G internet service of its own, but we’d be intrigued if it did!)

5G internet is still pretty new, so it might not work for everybody—you may experience occasional internet disconnections or other bugs. But a 5G home internet plan T-Mobile or Verizon is well worth trying out, especially if you’re looking to get away from traditional fiber or cable internet providers.

• What Are Hotspots and How Do They Work?
• Best Mobile Hotspots
• Best 5G Hotspots
• Best Hotspot Data Plans
• Best Unlimited Data Hotspot Plans

Can you get unlimited data from an AT&T hotspot?

Hotspots can’t replace home internet—but 5G Home Internet can

*w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.

^†w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.

^‡Price includes $5 Auto Renew discount, starting on the second month. 5G service not available in all areas and requires a capable device.

#Available in select areas only. Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Fios plan prices include taxes & fees.

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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