What is 4G LTE home internet?
4G home internet is high-speed internet delivered via cell phone towers and mobile networks, usually using 4G LTE. If you live in a rural area with good cell phone reception but limited internet service options, 4G internet might be a great solution for you.
For example, if your choice is between satellite internet, slow DSL service (5 Mbps or slower), and 4G home internet service, go with 4G home internet. 4G home internet offers more data and lower prices than satellite internet service and faster speeds than 5 Mbps, although the upfront equipment costs can be expensive.
4G home internet doesn’t require any cable or wired networks so it can be more accessible to folks who live in rural areas. The speeds can’t compare to cable or fiber networks, but 4G offers download speeds around 25 Mbps (on average) and much less latency than satellite internet. Plus, 4G home internet offers way more data than you can get with satellite internet.
Verizon and T-Mobile are the only mobile carriers to offer LTE home internet plans to select areas. Most 4G home internet companies are MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), which are mobile carriers that offer budget-priced cell phone plans by buying leftover bandwidth from one of the big three mobile carriers: AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile. But instead of offering just cellular service, some MVNOs take it a step further and offer home internet service using cellular data.
Usually, the price for 4G home internet is more affordable than satellite internet plans (most 4G home internet plans cost about $100 per month), and 4G home internet almost always offers much more data than you can ever get from satellite. However, you’ll have to buy your equipment up front to get 4G home internet, which costs $200 or more. Also, some areas don’t get good reception without a signal booster or extender.
Data effective 10/30/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Verizon internet is $60/mo. alone or $40/mo. when bundled with a mobile plan, with auto-pay and paperless billing discount. Service currently available in select locations only.
4G LTE internet challenges
One thing we’ve noticed about 4G home internet companies is that they tend to be small and lean. Routers often go out of stock for a few months at a time. Waiting lists are common.
Also, 4G home internet providers have a limit on how many customers they can have in any given area. So, you might have to check with a few 4G LTE home internet companies to find one that’s currently accepting new customers in your area.
Best 4G LTE home internet providers
There are dozens of 4G LTE internet providers sprinkled across the country, and most offer service anywhere you can get a mobile phone signal.
But our research pointed to four top providers: Verizon, UbiFi, Ladybug Wireless, and T-Mobile.
To get 4G home internet service, you’ll need a 4G home internet plan (sometimes called 4G LTE or cellular internet for home). You’ll also need a compatible modem/router (usually the one offered by the service provider).
In most cases, you have to buy the equipment up front, which is perhaps the biggest downside to 4G home internet. It’s expensive to get set up, but it can give you much better service than you can get from other rural internet providers. T-Mobile is the only provider that has no charge for equipment. (Let’s hear it for T-Mobile!)
We’ve researched 4G service and even tested some to come up with a list of the best 4G home internet providers.
| Provider | Price | Highlights | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Home Internet | $40.00–$60.00/mo.* | • Fixed location only • Limited availability in parts of 48 states • Unlimited data | View plans |
| UbiFi | $99.99/mo. | • Fixed location only • Nationwide availability • AT&T network | View plans |
| Ladybug Wireless | $94.99/mo. | • Portable (great for RV and vacation homes) • Nationwide availability • AT&T and T-Mobile network | View plans |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | $50.00/mo. | • Unlimited data • No equipment cost • No contract • Limited availability in 28 states (waiting list) | View plans |
Data effective 10/30/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Verizon internet is $60/mo. alone or $40/mo. when bundled with a mobile plan, with auto-pay and paperless billing discount. Service currently available in select locations only.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Reliable network
Cons
- Somewhat limited availability (parts of 48 states)
- Fixed location only (cannot use while traveling)
Verizon LTE Home Internet
- Price: $40-$60/mo.
- Setup: $240 for router/modem or $10/mo. for 24 mos.
- Contract: Yes
- Guarantee/return policy: 30-day trial period, although all returns require a 15% restocking fee
- Data: Unlimited
*Prices as of 10/30/2020. Prices listed include $10/month discount for being enrolled in Auto Pay and paper-free billing.
In July 2020, Verizon launched 4G LTE home internet service in several metro areas, with plans to expand service over the next few years. Verizon offers the best prices on 4G home internet—$40 per month when bundled with a Verizon phone plan or $60 per month on its own. You can self-install without tools or technical expertise, and you’ll get truly unlimited data at steady speeds that will support streaming or video conferencing.
The biggest drawback to Verizon 4G home internet is its limited availability. It’s available in parts of five states: Springfield, Missouri; Savannah, Georgia; and the Tri-Cities area in Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky, including the cities of Kingsport, Bristol, and Johnson City.
Data effective 9/24/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Verizon internet is $60/mo. alone or $40/mo. when bundled with a mobile plan, with auto-pay and paperless billing discount. Service currently available in select locations only.
Pros
- Portable (take it with you anywhere)
- Good for streaming (unlimited data included)
- Contract-free
Cons
- Expensive set up costs
- Limited access to tech support
UbiFi 4G LTE Home Internet
- Price: $99.99/mo.
- Setup: $314.99 (router/modem with SIM card)
- Contract: No
- Guarantee/return policy: 30-day trial period, although all returns require a 15% restocking fee
- Data: “Unlimited” with “fair use” provisions
You can get UbiFi in many rural parts of the 48 contiguous states. Download speeds vary based on how close you are to the cell phone towers but generally hover around 12 to 25 Mbps. UbiFi also offers minimal latency and can be used for moderate online gaming. And since it offers unlimited data, UbiFi is a better choice than satellite internet for many rural residents.
UbiFi 4G unlimited home internet is competitively priced at $99.99 per month, but getting it set up is rather expensive. You have to buy a modem/router (MoFi SIM4 Gateway) to start service, which is $314.99. Plus, it can be hard to get tech support since UbiFi has limited customer service hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CST).
But UbiFi does offer a 30-day service trial, which is a key benefit with 4G service providers since speeds vary based on your proximity to the nearest AT&T cell tower. If you have to return your equipment, you’ll be charged a 15% restocking fee but the rest is refundable.
Pros
- Portability (take it with you anywhere)
- Largest mobile network (AT&T and T-Mobile)
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Expensive setup (requires modem purchase)
Ladybug Wireless 4G home internet
- Price: $94.99/mo.
- Setup: $429.98 (includes first month of service and router/modem with SIM card)
- Contract: No
- Guarantee/return policy: 7-day full money-back guarantee
- Integrated 3G/4G modem with built-in router maximizes signals in rural areas
- Data: 400 GB/mo.
Ladybug Wireless got our vote for the easiest setup. Ladybug Wireless is an MVNO that offers 4G LTE home internet service to rural areas. Like other 4G services, you’ll have to buy the modem/router upfront, but Ladybug’s sign-up package (which is $429.98) does include the first 30 days of service. The company also offers a full 100% refund, which is more generous than any other 4G home internet providers, and there’s no contract required for service.
Unlike Verizon’s 4G service (which is tied to your location), Ladybug Wireless is portable so you can take it with you while traveling or in an RV. This can be helpful for folks who travel frequently or who have cabins or vacation homes they visit throughout the year. As long as you are in an area with mobile coverage, your Ladybug Wireless connection will work. Like many other 4G service providers, Ladybug Wireless requires customers to keep data usage within a moderate range—under 400 GB per month.
Pros
- No contracts
- No price hikes
- Low price for unlimited data
Cons
- Limited availability (waiting list in some areas)
- Fixed location only (can’t travel with it)
T-Mobile Home Internet
- Price: $50/mo.
- Setup: $0 (no equipment rental or registration fee)
- Contract: No
- Available in parts of 28 states; waiting list in some areas
- Data: Unlimited
T-Mobile Home Internet service is available in parts of 28 states. That’s not quite nationwide service yet, but it’s growing rapidly. Plus, at $50 per month, it’s a great bargain on unlimited data in rural areas. T-Mobile’s network is not the widest reaching in the nation though—there are definitely some rural areas that just can’t get a signal but they are covered by AT&T or Verizon.
But there’s a lot to like about T-Mobile LTE Home Internet. You don’t have to sign a contract to get T-Mobile Home Internet service, and your price won’t go up. And, as a final bonus, equipment rental is free, which takes the sting out of signing up for a new service. (Many rural internet providers require hefty equipment purchase costs.)
T-Mobile internet is a 4G LTE home internet provider offering residential service to rural customers in 450 cities and towns across the US. T-Mobile says customers can expect speeds around 25 Mbps, although, like other LTE providers, your actual speeds will vary based on your proximity to the nearest cell phone tower and other variables.
With T-Mobile Home Internet, you’ll get unlimited data, which is just what we all need these days. There’s limited availability, though, and there is a waiting list. To check to see if T-Mobile Home Internet is available in your area, visit the T-Mobile website.
What you need to get 4G LTE internet
To get 4G home internet service, you’ll need a 4G home internet plan (sometimes called 4G LTE or cellular internet for home). You’ll also need a compatible modem/router (usually the one offered by the MVNO).
You have to buy the equipment up front, which is perhaps the biggest downside to 4G home internet. It’s expensive to get set up, but it can give you much better service than you can get from other rural internet providers.
BYOD 4G internet plans
Most 4G LTE internet plans require that you use their modem/router setup they send to you. But that’s not the only way to go. If you’re up to the task of selecting your own modem/router and doing all the setup, a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) 4G home internet plan could work for you. These plans send you a SIM card. You won’t necessarily save on monthly plan prices, but you might get your equipment cheaper. Or you could go big and get a more powerful modem/router setup than the one that’s provided by 4G LTE providers.
Companies like Infinite LTE Data and Spark Services are the BYOD type of 4G internet providers—they don’t provide any equipment. Instead, they send you a SIM card that you can insert into your device—whether it’s a mobile hotspot device, a mobile phone, or a router/modem. Of course, the disadvantage to getting BYOD 4G internet service is that there’s no tech support available for setup. If you can’t figure it out on your own, you could be out the price of your equipment and a month’s worth of service.
Our verdict: Get 4G LTE if you use a lot of data.
4G LTE home internet is a good alternative to satellite internet for households that use a lot of data. If you live in an area with mobile phone service, we recommend looking into 4G home internet. Although it can potentially save you money on data overage charges,you still need to be prepared for expensive setup costs. Verizon’s 4G home internet service is the best deal of the lot—you can add it to an existing cell phone plan for as little as $40 per month. If it’s available in your area, it’s a win-win.
But if you live in a remote area without mobile phone service, 4G internet just won’t work. Your best bet is satellite internet in that case, which reaches areas without cell phone service. And although we know satellite internet can be a bit slow and stingy with data, next-generation satellite internet is just around the corner. SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet is now available in some select areas for beta use for $99 per month (although the $499 equipment fee is a bit of a downer). And, coming up next year, additional options like Amazon’s Project Kuiper could cheer things up even more in the rural internet community.
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4G LTE internet FAQ
What is 4G home internet?
4G home internet is an internet connection delivered with 4G LTE (or cell phone) data. It isn’t the same as a mobile hotspot or a cell phone plan because it’s designed to be used as a dedicated internet connection for an entire household. You can get 4G home internet with 400 GB or more of data per month.
Where is Verizon 4G LTE home internet available?
Verizon LTE home internet is currently available in parts of Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky.
Is 4G wireless internet the same as a hotspot?
No, 4G wireless internet is not the same as a hotspot, even though it also operates using cell phone data. A mobile hotspot device is a portable modem and router with small data plans, designed to be used occasionally when the need for Wi-Fi away from home arises. Mobile hotspot devices are good for weekend RV trips and business travel. But if you try to use them as a dedicated home internet connection, you’ll have to pay a lot for data. 4G home internet plans give you 400 GB or more of data each month and can connect up to 20 devices.
Where is 4G LTE internet available?
If you live in a rural area and you can get cell phone reception, you can probably get 4G LTE home wireless internet service at your home. 4G LTE internet service connects your home devices to the internet using nearby cell phone towers. And 4G LTE can be the easiest home internet installation you’ll find anywhere (although it will cost you).
How much does 4G home internet cost?
You can get a 4G home internet plan for $40 to $100 per month, depending on the carrier. Although data amounts vary, most offer 400 GB or more per month. Since the average US household uses about 344 GB per month in 2020, 400 GB should be plenty for most folks.
Is 4G home internet any good?
Yes, 4G home internet is a good option for folks who live in rural areas and don’t have access to cable or fiber internet. If you have cable or fiber available in your area, or high-speed DSL, we’d recommend checking those options out first because they may be faster and less expensive. But if you’re comparing 4G home internet with satellite internet, 4G internet gives you much more data each month than any satellite plan, making it a good choice for people who live in rural areas.
Are 4G home internet and fixed-wireless internet the same thing?
No, 4G home internet is not the same as fixed-wireless internet. Both rely on mobile phone towers for data at least partially, but fixed-wireless also uses radio waves. With fixed-wireless internet, you need a radio antenna attached to your house, which sends and receives signals from the nearest cell phone tower via radio waves. With 4G a home internet, you are getting a straight shot of cell phone data without other technologies mixed in. 4G home internet doesn’t require an antenna; you just need a modem that can send and receive 4G LTE data.
Is 4G internet a good option for rural areas?
Yes, 4G home internet is a good choice for rural areas that aren’t wired for cable, fiber, or DSL internet. You can get a lot of data and a steady connection that works for streaming, video conferencing, and even gaming. But the caveat is that you need cell phone reception at your home or you won’t get a signal for 4G LTE home internet. T-Mobile and Verizon offer great home internet plans for $40 to $60 per month—with unlimited data. That’s miles ahead of most rural options, so check them out if you’re looking for reliable internet in the country.
Is 4G home internet as fast as regular broadband?
A 4G home internet connection offers download speeds averaging 25 Mbps, although providers will not be able to give you a set speed because your speed will be affected by your proximity to cell phone towers and geological features. Actual download speeds range from 10 Mbps to 60 Mbps. A good 4G LTE internet provider will ascertain whether you need a booster or extender to get a good signal in your area.
Can I use 4G LTE home internet in my RV?
Yes, some 4G LTE home internet providers are portable and can travel with you in an RV. As long as you’re staying in an area with cell phone service, you can use Ladybug Wireless, Wahoo, or UbiFi anywhere. But Verizon’s LTE Home Internet plan and T-Mobile’s Home Internet are not portable (service is tied to your home address).
