Top 9 Mobile Hotspots (Best Portable WIFI for Digital Nomads)

Working away from an office on your terms and in a location that you love, whether that’s at a local cafe or on the beach, will ultimately require a reliable and secure WIFI connection.

best portable wifi hotspots for digital nomads

If a power cut or the WIFI connection goes down, having some sort of backup solution for connecting your laptop and phone can be the difference between losing a day of work or carrying on as normal because you’re prepared for all eventualities.

As people who have worked on the road for years, if there’s one thing we’ve never regretted buying is our mobile hotspot. For digital nomads, we would say it’s an essential bit of kit. Below, we’ve listed our favourite portable WIFI and mobile hotspot devices used by us personally (or good friends) and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

There are many devices out there, but these are the ones that offer the best features and value for remote workers and digital nomads specifically.

5 things to consider when buying a mobile hotspot

Size: Ultimately, this is another piece of tech you need to carry, so the lighter the weight and smaller the size, the better. Luckily, these devices have become much less cumbersome now than solutions in the past and can even be carried in your pocket.

Multiple devices: Rarely are we working on just one device, you may need your mobile phone connected or your tablet or perhaps you and your partner will be sharing your mobile hot spot. The devices we’ve included below are capable of hosting multiple connections at the same time.

Additional features: It’s honestly surprising what kind of features portable Wi-Fi gear is capable of these days, and as digital nomads, tech that provides multiple functions is always welcome. Many of these devices have additional functions such as portable charging, hard drive storage, and even cameras. Obviously, you may not need any feature like this, so we have a range available depending on your needs.

Price: Mobile hotspots can be quite expensive, so we’ve chosen a range of prices to suit any budget. Personally, we found that the relief of knowing you always have Wi-Fi on you, no matter where you are or go, is certainly worth the investment.

Battery life: Ideally, you want a portable WIFI device with good battery life, as you don’t want to be left stranded or at the mercy of finding a power outlet wherever you go.

Here are the best tried-and-tested portable WIFI and mobile hotspot devices for remote workers and digital nomads. Keep connected wherever you go.

Our favourite portable WIFI options for remote workers

1) Skyroam Solis X/ Solis WIFI (Global Hotspot Device Sim-Free)

This is the device we ultimately settled on, and it has been incredibly useful to us while traveling and working. They recently rebranded from Skyroam to Solis WIFI, so don’t be confused if you see both names. This is ideal if you don’t think you’ll be using it consistently, as you can pay for daily or monthly WIFI packages that work in 130 countries.

skyroam portable wifi for digital nomads

We usually buy a ‘pack’ of days and then use them as needed when we’re away from good WIFI. This avoids any monthly fees or purchasing SIM cards. It’s set up through an app and is very easy to navigate. Solis WIFI is definitely one of the pricier options (at around $250), but they also offer a cheaper Skyroam Solis Lite (around $70), which offers the basic features at a lower price point. (Use NOMAD20 for a discount on Solis WIFI products).

Skyroam Solis WIFI Features

Lightweight at around eleven ounces and pocket-sized
Unlimited LTE data with hyper-flexible packages – such as $99 per month or $9 per day. A $6 monthly subscription comes with 1GB of data for use in the US or Europe. There are no speed caps, so there’s nothing to worry about once you’ve paid
It also works as a portable hotspot, though it is quite slow to charge devices
Can connect up to ten devices
Extra features can be enabled via the app such as ‘tweeting your location’, ‘finding your phone.
It has a built-in camera and video (but honestly, they’re not great)
Roughly around a ten-hour battery life

2) NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 Mobile 4G Router

This device looks great but is slightly bigger than the others on this list and will require a SIM card plan but in terms of speed offered (and there are multiple device options for this depending on your needs and price point), the Netgear Nighthawk is very impressive, reliable, and has huge battery life.

The LED touchscreen is very nifty and shows the device’s current power, the number of people using it, signal strength, and how much data you have left. Additional features include a data-sharing solution for streaming and sending files between devices if needed, and it can also charge devices via a USB port. However, this isn’t a budget option, and even the very basic model costs around $200.

NETGEAR Nighthawk Features

Delivers download speeds of up to 1 Gbps
It connects up to twenty devices so it is great if you’re working with a team
Unlocked for 3G/4G LTE internet access around the world using your provider’s SIM card
10 – 15 hour battery life
Handy data sharing – the USB port shares storage for data or personal media streaming with connected wireless devices
Portable charger with good charging speeds
Handy and informative LED screen

3) GlocalMe G4 Pro Smart 4G Mobile Global Wi-Fi Hotspot

About the size and weight of a smartphone, this hotspot acts much like the Skyroam Solis in that you buy data as and when you need it, and no SIM is necessary. You pay for GB data and they have packages based on country, multi-country, or region, allowing you to hook up to the local cellular service with a secure connection. The GlocalMe is just as handy if you need some backup WIFI for home use as well as travel.

wifi solutions for digital nomads glocalme

The touchscreen is full-sized, like a smartphone, so you can see your package and connectivity and use preinstalled apps such as Google Maps, Tripadvisor, and a voice recognition translator. This device is priced at around $180, so it’s not cheap, but it’s cheaper than others on this list.

GlocalMe G4 Pro Smart Features

It can connect to ten devices
Simple setup and flexible packages with the user-friendly app
Full 4G speeds with no limits but it can be easy to eat up data if not on the unlimited package
The screen and pre-installed apps add some neat features
Good battery life at around ten hours

4) Huawei E5576-320 Portable 4G (Low-Cost Travel Wi-Fi)

This is an ideal budget mobile hotspot for digital nomads. It’s simple to use and provides an ideal backup WIFI option for work or travel. You will need to pick up a global sim or local sim where you’re traveling to use as a travel device, but there are many good multi-national SIM plans available.

It’s pocket-sized and lightweight though as a shorter battery-life rate than others on this list and has no extra features. This Huawei is your stripped-down device that does what it says on the tin.

Huawei E5576-320 Features

Connects up to sixteen devices
Rechargeable battery, which lasts around six hours
Roams on all networks globally

5) HUAWEI E8372h-320 Unlocked Wi-Fi Dongle SIM Free

This compact dongle WIFI hotspot plugs into a USB port and can power sixteen devices. The WIFI password and connectivity details are conveniently hidden behind the slideout cover keeping your details secure. If you want something small and inexpensive as a back hotspot solution, this is ideal.

HUAWEI E8372h-320 Dongle Features

Connects up to sixteen wireless devices
Unlocked so that you can use a SIM card of your choice
Super-fast Download Speeds of 150 Mbps

6) GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) Wireless Mini Portable VPN Travel Router

This is such a good piece of tech for remote workers and available at a budget price that it would be a shame not to mention it. It is not a portable hot spot but more a security device—this mini GL.iNet pairs with whatever VPN service you use (we use it with Nord VPN, but it works with 30+ providers) and routes all of your devices, making for a very simple and effortless security solution.

This colourful, small device allows you to convert a public network(wired/wireless) to private Wi-Fi for secure surfing. You can also use this to access your favourite streaming services that aren’t available outside of their home country.

We hope you have enjoyed this article and found the perfect mobile hot spot for you. For more items perfect for digital nomads and remote workers, don’t forget to check out the resources page.

7) RoamWiFi 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot Router

With the RoamWiFi 4 G LTE Mobile Hotspot Router, you can get secure, convenient, and high-speed internet in over 160 countries and regions. It’s more affordable than many other mobile hotspot options but works well for most needs. It supports a 4G LTE high-speed network, with a max download speed of 150 Mbps and upload speed of 50 Mbps, ideal for most digital nomads.

The RoamWiFi 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot Router also offers three data packages, so you can get the most suitable amount of coverage. There are also different plans, including 1, 7, 15, and 30 days.

RoamWiFi 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot Router Features

Compatible with any device with a WiFi function
Can connect to up to 5 smart devices at the same time
A built-in 5000mAh battery that lasts for more than 18 hours
Global WiFi plans that you can use in more than 160 countries and regions
Various data packages and plans

8) GlocalMe U3 Mobile Hotspot

The GlocalMe U3 Mobile Hotspot is ideal if you’re looking for budget-friendly portable WiFi. At about $100, it’s affordable and provides instant domestic and international data by paying online – no SIM card needed.

Get fast, stable 4G internet in over 150 countries with the GlocalMe U3 Mobile Hotspot. With a pay-as-you-go option, the ability to share connection with up to ten devices, and a long-lasting battery, this is one of the most convenient mobile hotspot options.

GlocalMe U3 Mobile Hotspot Features

4G LTE internet connection in 150+ countries
Can connect to up to ten smart devices
SIM card-free, with pay-as-you-go data plans
3,000mAh battery with up to 13 hours of use
Ability to use your own SIM card with the Nano SIM card slot
Small size to easily fit in your pocket or any bag

9) SIMO Solis 5G WiFi Mobile Hotspot

If you need a lightning-fast internet connection, consider the . It offers quick, secure internet in over 135 countries. With no SIM card needed, it automatically connects to the strongest signal available, no matter where you are.

The SIMO Solis 5G WiFi Mobile Hotspot is perfect for travelling because its safe design protects it from drops, dust, and water. Its touch screen lets you conveniently access your monitor data usage, signal strength, WiFi credentials, and device and network settings. The SIMO Solis also doubles as a power bank, helping you keep all your devices charged on the go. (Use NOMAD20 for a discount on Solis WIFI products).

SIMO Solis 5G WiFi Mobile Hotspot Features

Extended battery life up to 24 hours
Connects to up to 16 devices
Durable design
Subscription or pay-as-you-go data plans
2.4” LCD touchscreen

Check out other great gear for digital nomads:

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