The 5 best 5G hotspot plans in 2023

We compared the best 5G hotspot plans on the AT&T, Verizon & T-Mobile networks: Cut your bill by $600/yr.

1. Best free trial: US Mobile 30GB

US Mobile logo
  • Verizon & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 30GB data
  • $350 in annual savings

FREE*

$50/mo
See at US Mobile

*30 Day FREE Trial

4.5 Read our US Mobile review

2. Best cheap 5G hotspot plan: Tello 2GB

Tello logo
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 2GB data
  • $828 in annual savings

$6/mo

5 Read our Tello review

3. Best prepaid 5G hotspot plan: Boost Mobile 5GB

Boost Mobile logo
  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 5GB data
  • $750 in annual savings

$5/mo*

$15/mo
See at Boost Mobile

*$15 for 3 months service

4.5 Read our Boost Mobile review

4. Best data only plan: Mint Mobile 20GB

Mint Mobile logo
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 20GB data
  • $675 in annual savings

$12.50/mo*

$25/mo
See at Mint Mobile

*50% Off: $75 for 6 Mths

4.5 Read our Mint Mobile review

5. Best unlimited 5G hotspot plan: Boost Infinite Unlimited

Boost Infinite logo
  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • Unlimited data
  • $600 in annual savings

$25/mo*

See at Boost Infinite

* $25/mo Forever

4.5 Read our Boost Infinite review

6. Best BYOD 5G hotspot plan: Tello 5GB

Tello logo
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 5GB data
  • $780 in annual savings

$10/mo

5 Read our Tello review

7. Best AT&T 5G hotspot plan: Boost Mobile Unlimited

Boost Mobile logo
  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • Unlimited data
  • $612.50 in annual savings

$12.50/mo*

$25/mo
See at Boost Mobile

*50% Off 1st Mth

4.5 Read our Boost Mobile review

8. Best T-Mobile 5G hotspot plan: Mint Mobile 15GB

Mint Mobile logo
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 15GB data
  • $720 in annual savings

$10/mo*

$20/mo
See at Mint Mobile

*50% Off: $60 for 6 Mths

4.5 Read our Mint Mobile review

9. Best Verizon 5G hotspot plan: US Mobile 2GB

US Mobile logo
  • Verizon & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 2GB data
  • $780 in annual savings

$10/mo*

See at US Mobile

*30 Day FREE Trial

4.5 Read our US Mobile review

10. Best 5G data plan: Tello Unlimited

Tello logo
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • Unlimited data
  • $600 in annual savings

$25/mo

5 Read our Tello review

Cheap 5G hotspot plans in December

Looking to access fast internet speeds when you're away from home? With a 5G hotspot plan, you can connect your laptop to your phone or device using the carrier's 5G network.

Mobile Virtual Network Operators, or MVNOs, provide the best 5G hotspot plans. These alternative carriers, like Red Pocket or US Mobile, have low-cost plans that are powered by the major wireless networks, so you'll receive the same quality 5G coverage.

We've compared 5G mobile hotspot plans with MVNOs below to help you find the best deal for you.

The 5 Best 5G Hotspot Plans

How to choose the best 5G hotspot data plan

What network coverage do you prefer?

Low-cost carriers operate on the same 5G & 4G LTE networks as major carriers. T-Mobile boasts the fastest 5G speeds, according to this Opensignal 5G experience report 2023. If there's a particular network you prefer, choose an MVNO that operates on that network. Use our coverage checker to find the best carrier coverage in your area.

How much data do you need?

Do you really need an unlimited data plan? The big wireless companies want you to believe so, but in reality, the average monthly cellular data consumption is around 10GB. However, if you spend most of your time at home or work on Wi-Fi, it's likely you won't use a lot of data for things like video streaming, and your usage will be much lower. You can choose a data plan tailored to your needs with cheap cell phone providers, meaning you can pay less if you use less data. But if you do choose an unlimited data plan, be aware that high-speed data is normally capped.

Is hotspot data included?

Most carriers allow mobile hotspot use but have a data cap on the amount of data that can be used via tethering. The limit depends on the carrier and plan you choose. Some carriers offer specific mobile hotspot plans.

What's the monthly price?

While big wireless unlimited plans cost around $75-90 per month, MVNOs offer the best prepaid data plans, ranging from $5-35 per month without sacrificing wireless coverage and data speeds. Watch out for hidden fees & taxes; some carriers include these in the price, whereas the major providers, such as Verizon and AT&T, don't.

How many lines do you need?

With big wireless, you only get the advertised price if you buy four lines. With MVNOs, the price you see is the price you pay, even for one line. Many low-cost carriers now offer additional discounts for multi-line plans.

Can I bring my own device or buy a new one?

While the big three love keeping their customers locked into a constant device upgrade cycle, MVNOs encourage you to bring your own device. This means you take back control and only change your device when it suits you.

Are there any promotions?

Big wireless promotions can seem good at a glance. But once you read the fine print, it often leads to buying things you don't need and committing to 3-year contracts. Many MVNOs offer short-term introductory discounts for new customers, and their pricing is much more transparent.

What perks are included?

Most big wireless plans include "free" TV subscriptions; however, these usually turn into a paid subscription that is automatically added to your bill a few months down the line. A few low-cost carriers, such as US Mobile, do offer plan options with free subscription services, but we generally recommend keeping these subscriptions separate so you don't end up paying for things you don't need.

How long is the contract?

Low-cost carriers have no contracts, offering more flexibility. However, some, like Mint Mobile, require you to sign up for a 3-month plan minimum, but their cheap data plans still offer better value for money than the big 3 wireless carriers.

Compare the best cheap data plans to ensure you find the best deal.


The best T-Mobile 5G hotspot plan

Tello unlimited data plan
  • T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE network
  • No talk and text
  • Unlimited data
$25/mo
See at Tello

T-Mobile vs Tello comparison

Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $600 per year

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
T-Mobile T-Mobile 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
Tello T-Mobile 4G & 5G Unlimited $25/mo $300/yr
Savings $50/mo $600/yr

Check out our review of the best T-Mobile hotspot plans


The best AT&T 5G hotspot plan

Boost Mobile unlimited data plan
  • AT&T & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Unlimited data
$12.50/mo*
*50% Off 1st Mth
See at Boost Mobile

AT&T vs Boost Mobile comparison

Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $612 per year

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
AT&T AT&T 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
Boost Mobile AT&T 4G & 5G Unlimited $25/mo $288/yr
Savings $50/mo $612/yr

Check out our review of the best AT&T hotspot plans


The best Verizon 5G hotspot plan

US Mobile 6GB plan
  • Verizon & T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
  • No talk and text
  • 6GB data
$18/mo*
*30 Day FREE Trial
See at US Mobile

Verizon vs US Mobile comparison

Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $684 per year

Carrier Network Coverage 4G/5G Data Price Annual Cost
Verizon Verizon 4G & 5G Unlimited $75/mo $900/yr
US Mobile Verizon 4G & 5G 6GB $18/mo $216/yr
Savings $57/mo $684/yr

Check out our review of the best Verizon hotspot plans


Network coverage comparison

NETWORK OVERALL RELIABILITY SPEED DATA CALL
Verizon Coverage 95 96 94 96 94
AT&T Coverage 94 94 95 96 92
T-Mobile Coverage 86 88 82 89 82

Source: RootMetrics RootScore 2022 report

When it comes to 5G network coverage, T-Mobile scores the highest, according to the J.D. Power 2023 wireless network study.

Carrier customer service comparison

CARRIER TRUSTPILOT USER RATING
US Mobile TrustPilot score 4.8
Tello TrustPilot score 4.4
Red Pocket Mobile TrustPilot score 4.4
T-Mobile TrustPilot score 1.5
Verizon TrustPilot score 1.3
AT&T TrustPilot score 1.2

Comparing 5G hotspot plans

In addition to price, the right mobile hotspot data plan for you depends on several factors:

  1. Coverage - Mobile coverage used to be a big deal. Now, all of the major mobile networks boast very similar coverage areas. When you're shopping for a data only plan you'll want to look at the 5G coverage in the locations you'll be using your device. If you travel and need mobile data usage during those times check those zip codes as well.
  2. Speed - You'll want fast internet if you're powering compatible devices like your laptop and tablet. The good news is that most carriers deliver a 5G connection to enabled devices. This means that if your hotspot device or smartphone is capable of handling 5G data speeds then you will have a high-speed connection.
  3. Data Allowance - Your mobile hotspot usage will inform your decision as to what data allowance you need to buy. Packages are available in various sizes to meet all data usage needs, from 500 MB to unlimited. Of course the smaller the data bucket the less you'll pay. It's easy to add more data if you run out.

Compare the cheapest 5G mobile hotspot plans

Carrier Network Data Price
US Mobile 30GB data plan Verizon & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 30GB $0/mo $50/mo
Tello 2GB data plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 2GB $6/mo
Boost Mobile 5GB data plan AT&T & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 5GB $5/mo $15/mo
Mint Mobile 20GB data plan T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage 20GB $12.50/mo $25/mo
Boost Infinite unlimited data plan AT&T & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage Unltd $25/mo

How to switch to a cheap hotspot plan

Changing your hotspot data plan is simple and hassle-free.

  1. Pick a plan. Customize your plan to fit your needs. Get just a little bit or set up your tablet with unlimited data.
  2. Prepare to make the switch. Make sure your old bill is paid off, and your mobile hotspot is unlocked to use on another carrier.
  3. Set up your new account. Keep your current mobile hotspot device active until your new one is set up. It should be ready to go if you're buying a new Wi-Fi device. If not, you'll get a new SIM card in the mail or in a store. Just follow your provider's instructions to activate it.

How we picked the best 5G hotspot plans

MoneySavingPro reviewed the best value 5G mobile hotspot plans available and ranked them based on various factors.

The most important factor we considered was the price of each plan in comparison to other similar plans available in the market. We also evaluated data limits, network coverage, perks, customer feedback, and overall service quality.

We regularly monitor the market to keep track of new products and plan changes offered by carriers. This list is updated at least once a month, or more frequently as necessary.


5G hotspot plans FAQs


Recap: What is the best 5G hotspot data plan?

A 5G hotspot plan can give you peace of mind to make sure you have an internet connection when you're away from home.

As long as you have coverage with your cell phone provider, you can access 5G speeds to connect your laptop or tablet to the internet, even when there's no WiFi.

MVNOs can save you up to $600 a year on a WiFi hotspot plan, and operating on the main wireless networks provides you with the same quality coverage.

Data plan guides

MoneySavingPro methodology

MoneySavingPro is dedicated to analyzing and comparing hundreds of cell phone plans from over 30 carriers to help you find the best value plan based on your individual needs without sacrificing service coverage.

Contrary to what the big 3 wireless companies would like you to believe - one size certainly does not fit all. Our goal is to help you save money by providing affordable alternatives to the expensive unlimited plans from Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

With over 15 years of experience working within the telecommunications industry, we believe that big wireless plans offer limited choice with pricing and fees that lack transparency, often resulting in ever-increasing phone bills and long phone contracts for many of their customers. This is why you won't find recommendations for any of the big 3 wireless companies on MoneySavingPro - even though this actually costs us money.

The carriers we do recommend have been researched and evaluated based on price, coverage, data limits, customer service, and additional features. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive view that balances cost and value, helping you find a plan that fits your needs and budget.

We did consider these other alternatives: Cricket Wireless, Total by Verizon, Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, Straight Talk, Tracfone, Metro by T-Mobile, Visible, Google Fi, and Consumer Cellular, but we discounted them because we still don't consider these to be good value for money.

We regularly update our comparisons. Updating cell phone plans weekly and our content monthly to ensure we are showing the latest and most accurate information.