8 Best Portable Wi-Fi Hotspots

Traveling with limited internet (or without it entirely) can be difficult. Sure, you may want to unplug from work emails and social media, but you may also want to find train schedules in Switzerland, driving directions in Germany or the best place to get pizza in Italy. (And your tweens and teens will need to post to social media to prove they actually traveled abroad, right?).

Having a portable Wi-Fi hotspot when traveling internationally is the easiest way to stay connected when you leave the country, and it’s a great alternative to switching the entire family’s phone plan to an international plan. These mobile hotspots are easy to use and small enough to carry in a purse or backpack throughout your vacation. Here are our picks for the best portable Wi-Fi hotspots for travel.

No SIM Card Required Wi-Fi Hotspots

1. Skyroam Solis Lite

We can tell you from experience that the Skyroam devices stand out as one of the best portable Wi-Fi hotspots for travel. The Skyroam Solis Lite is a SIM-card free 4G LTE hotspot. It works with virtual SIM technology to connect to local Wi-Fi networks in more than 130 destinations throughout Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia. It does have slight limitations in the Caribbean; however, Skyroam is always increasing its connectivity around the world.

The orange, circular device is lightweight and fits in a pocket, purse or backpack. It offers password protected Wi-Fi services, and 10 devices can connect to it at once, which is ideal for families. After the device is purchased, you must additionally purchase a pay-as-you-go data plan. Families can buy data by the day or month, or an unlimited plan depending on the length of your vacation.

Details

• 4G LTE hotspot
• No SIM card needed
• Pay-as-you-go data plan
• Connects to 10 devices
• Wi-Fi Calling, Text, Data

2. Skyroam Solis X

An upgrade from the Solis Lite, the Skyroam Solis X is even more than a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. Calling itself the world’s first “smartspot,” the Solis X allows for secure 4G LTE Wi-Fi in more than 130 countries.

But it’s also a remote camera and power bank and can connect up to 10 devices, making it one of the best portable Wi-Fi devices for travel. The app controlled, remote, wide-angle auto-focus camera lets you capture photos and HD video. It even has a flash and self-timer so the whole family can be in the photo. Similar in size and weight to the Solis Lite, this portable Wi-Fi hotspot also offers flexible pay-as-you-go data plans, has a 16-hour battery life and doubles as a power bank to keep all of your devices charged. If your family wants more from a Wi-Fi hotspot, than the Solis X is the answer.

Details

• 4G LTE hotspot
• No SIM card needed
• Pay-as-you-go data plan
• Connects to 10 devices
• Doubles as power bank
• Remote camera included
• Wi-Fi Calling, Text, Data

Related: Best Portable Chargers 

3. MightyWifi Worldwide High-Speed Hotspot 

This no-SIM-card-needed mobile Wi-Fi hotspot for international travel provides service in more than 150 countries, including countries in Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The 4G LTE network allows the MightyWifi Worldwide Hotspot to connect to local Wi-Fi networks in your location. It offers password protected Wi-Fi internet services and about 12 working hours of battery life. A bonus with purchasing this portable hotspot device is that you receive free 50GB of U.S. data and 3GB of Global data for 30 days.

Details

• 4G LTE hotspot
• No SIM card needed
• Pay-as-you-go data plan
• Connects to 5 devices
• Device includes data with purchase for 30 days
• Wi-Fi Calling, Text, Data

4. GlocalMe Mobile Hotspot

The GlocalMe Mobile Hotspot is perfect for families in need of an internet connection in the U.S., Mexico or Canada because it comes with 8GB of North America data. It also comes with 1GB of global data and can be used in more than 140 countries. No SIM card is needed with this 4G LTE mobile hotspot, as it offers a pay-as-you-go data plan (after using the included data). The hotspot also doubles as a power bank and can charge your tablets and phones.

Details

• 4G LTE hotspot
• No SIM card needed
• Pay-as-you-go data plan
• Connects to 5 devices
• Device includes data with purchase
• Doubles as a power bank
• Wi-Fi Calling, Text, Data

SIM Card Required Wi-Fi Hotspots

5. Huawei Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot

The Huawei Wi-Fi Hotspot is great for traveling professionals or parents who needs to stay connected to work while on vacation. This 4G LTE mobile Wi-Fi hotspot for international travel can provide up to six hours of working time and up to 300 hours of standby time. It provides rapid download speed for when you need to quickly download that Disney + movie before boarding the plane, and 10 devices can connect to it at one time. This portable mobile hotspot connects to the internet through LTE/3G technology or switches automatically to a public Wi-Fi connection when available in order to save data fees.

A SIM card must be purchased separately in the country where you’re traveling, in order to use this device. Once the SIM card is installed into the hotspot and you’ve downloaded and connected the device’s app to your smartphone, you can connect to the internet.

Details

• 4G LTE hotspot
• SIM card not included
• SIM card must be purchased and installed separately in country
• Connects to 10 devices
• Talk, Text, Data

6. Netgear Nighthawk M1 Mobile Hotspot 

If your family needs internet access to numerous devices while traveling (or if you live in a rural area in the U.S.), the Netgear Nighthawk M1 Mobile Hotspot is the answer. It can connect up to 20 devices! This is an unlocked mobile hotspot that features 3G/4G LTE internet access by using your provider’s SIM card. A SIM card must be purchased separately with this device and not all SIM cards are compatible so you’ll definitely want to check compatibility for the country in which you’ll be traveling prior to purchase. The rechargeable battery lasts all day and doubles as a power bank so you can charge any of those 20 devices.

Details

• 3G/4G LTE hotspot
• SIM card not included
• SIM card must be purchased and installed separately in country
• Connects to 20 devices
• Doubles as a power bank
• Talk, Text, Data

7. Nommi Slim

The Nommi Slim is an unlocked portable 4G LTE hotspot, which requires a SIM card. It is compatible with Verizon, T-mobile and Mint SIM cards as well as international eSIM cards that you can purchase and pay-as-you-go through the Nommi app and operate in more than 150 countries. This portable Wi-Fi hotspot, which can connect up to 10 devices, offers added security for your devices with built-in VPN protection. So, you don’t have to worry about data security when your family connects to public Wi-Fi. The Nommi Slim can also charge your devices on the go and will hold a charge for about 24 hours.

Details

• 4G LTE hotspot
• SIM card not included
• SIM card must be purchased and installed separately in country
• International pay-as-you-go SIM card needed
• Connects to 10 devices
• Doubles as a power bank
• Built-In VPN
• Talk, Text, Data

8. Wi-Fi Box Mobile Hotspot

This 4G mobile hotspot can connect up to 10 devices and can charge your devices. A valid SIM card must be installed into the unlocked Wi-Fi Box Mobile Hotspot in order to connect to the internet, and the SIM card is sold separately. The fully charged portable Wi-Fi hotspot offers continuous use for up to seven hours (before needing a recharge).

Details

• 4G hotspot
• SIM card not included
• SIM card must be purchased and installed separately in country
• Connects to 10 devices
• Doubles as a power bank
• Talk, Text, Data

What to Pack for Your Next Trip