The best prepaid hotspot plans: Starting at $5/month

Prepaid hotspot plans with 5G & 4G LTE coverage: Switch & save $600/yr
Find cheap data plans in your area
Cheap data plans starting at $6/mo -Compare Now
By
Rob Webber
Rob Webber

Rob Webber

Founder

About Rob

Rob has 15+ years experience running price comparison & review websites that empower consumers to find the cheapest cell phone services, cell phone deals, home phone, and internet providers available. He has been published in Forbes, US News, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Inc.

Rob's Expertise

5G wireless networks, cell phone plans, cell phone deals, MVNOs, internet services, tablets, comparison shopping, money saving, reviewing telecom products & services

- Last updated on May 14th, 2023

MoneySavingPro independently researches the products & services to bring you our recommendations. We may earn money when you click our links - disclosure policy.

Looking for a prepaid plan for your mobile hotspot? We're here to make it easy and help you find the best plan for you.

MVNOs offer low-cost cell phone plans, powered by the same US networks, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile but with data only plans starting from under $10 a month you could save yourself up to $600 a year.

With no contracts, prepaid data only plans give you the flexibility to make changes to your plan at any time and we've compared some of the best for you below to help you choose the best option.

Cheap prepaid hotspot
T-Mobile network
1GB 4G/5G data
$6 /mo
Prepaid BYOD plan
Verizon & T-Mobile networks
2GB 4G/5G data
$10 /mo

View Plan

* 100 Days FREE Trial
Prepaid data SIM
AT&T & T-Mobile networks
5GB 4G/5G data
$5 /mo* $15/mo

View Plan

* $15 for 3 months service
Prepaid 5G hotspot
T-Mobile network
15GB 4G/5G data
$15 /mo* $20/mo

View Plan

* Only $45 for 3 Months
Unlimited hotspot
T-Mobile network
Unltd 4G/5G data
$29 /mo

What is the best prepaid plan for hotspots?

Find cheap data plans in your area
The Best Prepaid Hotspot Plans
Tello SIM card vertical

Tello: Best cheap prepaid hotspot plan

T-Mobile wireless network coverage

0 mins

0 texts

1GB 4G/5G Data

$6/mo
5
Pros
  • No contract. No bulk buying.

  • 24/7 friendly customer support

  • 4G LTE/5G nationwide coverage

  • Free Hotspot & Wi-Fi Calling

  • Free international calls to 60+ countries

Cons
  • No roaming

  • Coverage in rural areas

This Tello data only plan includes 1GB data for only $6 per month. Tello internet plans offers wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network. Read Tello review

Tello data plans
  • Tello 1GB data plan: $6/mo

  • Tello 2GB data plan: $10/mo

  • Tello 5GB data plan: $15/mo

  • Tello 10GB data plan: $20/mo

  • Tello unlimited data plan: $29/mo

See Tello data plans

US Mobile SIM card vertical

US Mobile: Best prepaid BYOD plan

Verizon & T-Mobile wireless network coverage

0 mins

0 texts

2GB 4G/5G Data

$10/mo

* 100 Days FREE Trial

4.5
Pros
  • Flexible, no contract plans

  • 24/7 customer service

  • 5G coverage available

Cons
  • No international calling

  • Phone selection

This US Mobile data only plan includes 2GB data for only $10 per month. US Mobile internet plans offers wireless coverage on the Verizon & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. Read US Mobile review

US Mobile data plans
  • US Mobile 100MB data plan: $2/mo

  • US Mobile 500MB data plan: $5/mo

  • US Mobile 2GB data plan: $10/mo

  • US Mobile 4GB data plan: $15/mo

  • US Mobile 6GB data plan: $20/mo

  • US Mobile 15GB data plan: $26/mo

See US Mobile data plans

Boost Mobile SIM card vertical

Boost Mobile: Best prepaid data SIM card

AT&T & T-Mobile wireless network coverage

0 mins

0 texts

5GB 4G/5G Data

$5/mo*

* $15 for 3 months service

4.5
Pros
  • Nationwide coverage on AT&T & T-Mobile

  • 5G & 4G LTE data speeds

  • Buy online and no credit checks

  • Bring your own phone

  • Cheapest unlimited data plan

Cons
  • No data only plans

This Boost Mobile data only plan includes 5GB data for only $5 per month. Boost Mobile internet plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T & T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE networks. Read Boost Mobile review

Boost Mobile data plans
  • Boost Mobile 5GB data plan: $5/mo

  • Boost Mobile 1GB data plan: $8/mo

  • Boost Mobile 2GB data plan: $10/mo

  • Boost Mobile unlimited data plan: $12.50/mo

  • Boost Mobile 15GB data plan: $20/mo

See Boost Mobile data plans

Mint Mobile SIM card vertical

Mint Mobile: Best prepaid 5G hotspot plan

T-Mobile wireless network coverage

0 mins

0 texts

15GB 4G/5G Data

$15/mo*

* Only $45 for 3 Months

4.5
Pros
  • Offers the latest phones with 0% finance

  • Prepay months in bulk for more savings

  • Reliable network coverage

  • Works with most GSM phones

Cons
  • No family plans

  • Minimum 3 months

This Mint Mobile data only plan includes 15GB data for only $15 per month. Mint Mobile internet plans offers wireless coverage on the T-Mobile 5G and 4G LTE network. Read Mint Mobile review

Mint Mobile data plans
  • Mint Mobile 20GB data plan: $15/mo

  • Mint Mobile 15GB data plan: $15/mo

  • Mint Mobile 5GB data plan: $15/mo

See Mint Mobile data plans

Tello SIM card vertical

Tello: Best prepaid hotspot plan for unlimited data

T-Mobile wireless network coverage

0 mins

0 texts

Unlimited 4G/5G Data

$29/mo

What are the benefits of prepaid hotspot plans?

  • Lower prices: Save money on your mobile hotspot data with a plan from low-cost carriers like US Mobile.

  • No long-term commitment: There's no contract, so you're not locked to one carrier and can change plans whenever it suits your needs.

  • Bring your own hotspot device: If you love your current Wi-Fi hotspot, there's no need to upgrade, you can bring your own device for easy activation.

  • Same coverage: Powered by the same major wireless networks, you can expect the coverage you know and love.

  • 4G LTE data: Get 4G LTE data speeds so you can stream video, listen to music, or browse the internet even when traveling.

  • 5G data: Operating on the same US networks means you get access to their 5G coverage, where it's available.

  • Unlimited data: How much data do you need? Get unlimited high-speed data plans for your mobile hotspot at an affordable price.

  • Buy online: Low-cost carriers are online-based, making it easy to pick your data only plan without having to leave the house, and get it sent straight to your door.


The best prepaid hotspot plan on T-Mobile

Mint Mobile 15GB data plan * Only $45 for 3 Months

0 mins

0 texts

15GB

4G/5G data

$15 /mo*

$20/mo

T-Mobile wireless network

T-Mobile vs Mint Mobile comparison

Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $615 per year

Carrier

Network Coverage

4G/5G Data

Price

Annual Cost

T-Mobile

T-Mobile 4G & 5G

Unltd*

$70/mo

$840/yr

Mint Mobile

T-Mobile 4G & 5G

15GB

$20/mo

$225/yr

*Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB

Savings

$50/mo

$615/yr

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


The best prepaid hotspot plan on AT&T

Boost Mobile 5GB data plan * $15 for 3 months service

0 mins

0 texts

5GB

4G/5G data

$5 /mo*

$15/mo

AT&T & T-Mobile wireless networks

AT&T vs Boost Mobile comparison

Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $750 per year

Carrier

Network Coverage

4G/5G Data

Price

Annual Cost

AT&T

AT&T 4G & 5G

Unltd*

$75/mo

$900/yr

Boost Mobile

AT&T 4G & 5G

5GB

$15/mo

$150/yr

*Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB

Savings

$60/mo

$750/yr

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


The best prepaid hotspot plan on Verizon

US Mobile 6GB data plan * 100 Days FREE Trial

0 mins

0 texts

6GB

4G/5G data

$20 /mo

Verizon & T-Mobile wireless networks

Verizon vs US Mobile comparison

Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $720 per year

Carrier

Network Coverage

4G/5G Data

Price

Annual Cost

Verizon

Verizon 4G & 5G

Unltd*

$80/mo

$960/yr

US Mobile

Verizon 4G & 5G

6GB

$20/mo

$240/yr

*Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB

Savings

$60/mo

$720/yr

Check out our review of the best prepaid 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 prepaid hotspot plans

The best way to be happy with your data plan, in the long run, is to make sure all your bases are covered.

  1. Network coverage: All three major networks have extensive nationwide 4G LTE coverage. Still, you'll want to check out coverage maps to be sure the carrier you choose has the strongest service. There are some variations in 5G network coverage too, so you'll want to consider if that's a major factor for you.

  2. Data speeds: You'll enjoy 4G LTE data speeds most of the time, regardless of network. Many smaller carrier plans include 5G at no extra cost, where available of course. In order to get 5G hotspot speeds, you will need a 5G compatible device.

  3. Data allowance: There's a plan to fit virtually everyone's needs. If you do need a truly unlimited data only plan bear in mind there's still usually a data cap. Once you reach this amount your internet connection will be throttled to 2G or 3G speeds. Be sure to read the fine print so you know how much high-speed data you actually get.

  4. Device compatibility: When you bring your own device to a new carrier you want to make sure it will work on the network. You can check MiFi and other compatible devices the same way you would with your device. Generally, that means entering the IMEI number into the carrier's website to be sure it'll work with your new plan.

Cheapest prepaid mobile hotspot plans

Carrier

Network

Data

Price

US Mobile SIM card - Horizontal US Mobile

Verizon & T-Mobile

2GB

$10/mo

Boost Mobile SIM card - Horizontal Boost Mobile

AT&T & T-Mobile

5GB

$15/mo

Mint Mobile SIM card - Horizontal Mint Mobile

T-Mobile

15GB

$20/mo

Mint Mobile SIM card - Horizontal Mint Mobile

T-Mobile

20GB

$25/mo

Boost Mobile SIM card - Horizontal Boost Mobile

AT&T & T-Mobile

Unltd

$25/mo


How to switch to a cheap hotspot plan

It's never been easier to switch. Let's break it down.

  1. Customize your plan. Whether you're looking for a truly unlimited plan or in the market for something more basic, choose a plan to suit your cell phone needs.

  2. Prepare to make the switch. Ensure your old bills are paid, and your phone is unlocked. If you're getting a new device, transferring data from one to another is simple, even if you're going from an iPhone to an Android and vice versa.

  3. Set up your new plan. Keep your current carrier account open until your number has ported over. Once you're sure your new plan is up and running, cancel your old account. If you've got a new device with your Tello plan, it should be ready to use when it arrives. If you're bringing your phone, you'll need to follow the instructions with the new SIM card kit that Tello will send you in the post.


How we picked the best prepaid hotspot plans

MoneySavingPro reviewed the best value prepaid 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.


Prepaid hotspot plans FAQs

What is the cheapest prepaid hotspot plan?

MVNOs operate on the main US networks and provide the best value for money. With plans starting at around $10 with carriers like Tello and Red Pocket Mobile.

Can I buy a prepaid hotspot plan?

Yes, MVNOs provide prepaid data only plans for hotspots.


Recap: What is the best prepaid mobile hotspot plan?

With a range of data only plans from 1GB to unlimited, there's something for everyone.

MVNOs provide the same nationwide coverage by operating on the big three networks while saving you money on your cell phone bill. With prepaid hotspot plans, you'll have the flexibility to make any changes without the worry of additional fees.

Low-cost carriers like US Mobile make it easy for you to bring your own device with a quick and easy switchover.

With prepaid plans, there's no lengthy contract, so you can choose to amend or cancel your plan if your needs change.