How to Use Your Mobile Phone for Home Internet

A mobile hotspot can replace home internet service if you only use the internet to check email, shop occasionally, and browse websites.

However, activities like heavy streaming, playing games online, and downloading large files use a lot of data. Due to data caps, heavy internet users and video streamers may max out data plans in the first few days of the month and end up with throttled speeds or overage fees on their bill.

That said, if you are a light user, your phone’s hotspot could be a decent substitute for home internet, especially if your goal is to save money. Otherwise, the hotspot feature should only be used as a backup plan when your home internet isn't available.

If you intend to use your phone for home internet, whether occasionally or as a full-time replacement, the number one thing to look for in a plan is hotspot data.

Unfortunately, most mobile phone plans from the major carriers limit the amount of high-speed data you can use with your hotspot, even if your mobile plan is unlimited. Some carriers with data caps, such as Mint Mobile, apply your hotspot use to your total monthly data allowance. Carriers that do offer unlimited hotspot data, such as Visible, only offer it at very slow speeds.

Certain carriers will allow you to purchase more data if you run out, though it’s rarely cheap. T-Mobile offers additional data for $10 per GB.

That all said, be careful about using your phone's hotspot feature for home internet, as you can end up paying more than a traditional home internet provider.

To get a rough estimate of how much hotspot data you’ll need each month, check out our guide on data usage.

To get a better idea of how much data you use each month at home, log in to your internet service provider account and check your monthly data usage. Some providers even provide a breakdown of which apps and devices use the most data.

Provider availability depends on your physical address. Plus, signal strength and traffic management affect the speeds you get in any given location, so it's hard to give a blanket answer on which mobile provider is the best.

However, T-Mobile appears to have the lead in terms of both 5G coverage and performance (it also has excellent customer service). You can check out what kind of coverage carriers provide in your area using the FCC’s National Broadband Map.

iPhones and Android phones can both be used as a hotspot, and the process is super simple. Most mobile plans already include a hotspot feature, so you can potentially start today.

1. Go to Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot.
2. Toggle on Allow Others to Join.
3. Tap Wi-Fi Password to set a secure password for the network.
4. On your other device, select your phone’s hotspot on the list of Wi-Fi options.
5. Enter the password you created for your phone’s network.

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering.
2. Tap on Wi-Fi hotspot to access the phone's hotspot settings.
3. Set the hotspot's network name and password, as well as change other options.
4. When done, tap to toggle on “Use Wi-Fi hotspot.”
5. On your other device, select your phone’s hotspot on the list of Wi-Fi options.
6. Enter the password you created for your phone’s network.

Mobile phone hotspot features are typically used as a temporary solution for connecting devices to the internet when no alternatives exist. It’s a good backup solution if you work from home and your internet has an outage. It's also your more secure option for sending sensitive business documents from a hotel room.

However, hotspot features rapidly drain your phone’s battery and require constant charging. Using it as a full-time home router will decrease the battery’s lifespan. And while many phone plans include some hotspot data, it may not be enough for full-time use as a home internet replacement.

Dedicated hotspots are devices specifically made to support mobile internet usage. They typically use a separate hotspot plan you can purchase from most carriers. They can handle multiple devices better than a phone, with a better Wi-Fi signal for a more reliable connection. However, the devices and the prepaid mobile plans are expensive, especially if you opt for unlimited data. 

Both options should give you 5G-quality internet speeds, but this depends entirely on your carrier and location. We recommend both options for travel or temporary use, but for long-term home use, a dedicated hotspot device will give you better Wi-Fi and won’t run your phone ragged.

How exactly does using your phone as a primary internet connection compare to other types of home internet? 

• Satellite internet is the most reliable option for customers living in rural areas. Speeds, including latency, don’t compare to wired connections and, at times, even fixed wireless. However, it’s the only option that allows you to get internet nearly anywhere in the U.S., unlike your phone, which has limited reach. Read about the top satellite internet providers.
• 5G fixed wireless home internet works off the same networks as the major mobile carriers. They’ve quickly gained popularity as a lower-cost internet provider, especially if you already have a mobile plan with that carrier. While these work off the same 5G networks as your phone, you’re likely to get a faster and more reliable connection with a home internet plan since you’ll get priority. Not to mention, most of these plans come with unlimited data, unlike your phone’s hotspot. Read about the top 5G home internet plans.

Now that we’ve covered the pros and cons of using a mobile hotspot for home internet try your phone's hotspot feature to see if it meets your needs. 

While we don’t recommend using a mobile hotspot for home internet as a long-term solution for most households, it can work for people who don’t use much data and are serious about saving money.

For everyone else, use a steady home internet connection to keep your home humming.

Whether you’re after satellite, mobile, or DSL, find the best internet speeds in your area using our search tool.

At SatelliteInternet.com, we base our analyses on thorough research, including customer interviews, first-hand testing, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. We also dive deep to get all the details on plans, fees, and future developments. We then bring this info together in one place so you can find it easily. Finally, we use our satellite internet industry expertise to help you make the best decisions you can for your household. As always, thanks for reading!

A mobile hotspot, or personal hotspot, is a feature built into smartphones that allows you to share your mobile internet connection with other wired and wireless devices. Your smartphone essentially functions as a pocket router to share your phone's internet and data plan with other devices.

A mobile hotspot device (or MiFi) differs from using your phone as a mobile hotspot. You can learn more about buying a dedicated mobile hotspot device and setting up service in our post about the best mobile hotspots.

A mobile hotspot is a protected network because it’s through your cell phone number. Your phone should prompt you to set up a password, which you will then enter on your other devices to access the internet. The connections are also encrypted, which isn't always the case with free public Wi-Fi. This makes using a mobile hotspot safer and more secure.

Some cell phone plans don't allow you to create a mobile hotspot. You can find out quickly if your phone plan allows it by going to Settings and trying to turn on the personal hotspot. If you don’t see the option for Personal Hotspot or Wi-Fi Hotspot, or it’s grayed out, your plan may not support this feature, or it’s an add-on you need to activate through your carrier. You can learn specifics about your plan by contacting your cell phone provider or reviewing details about your phone plan on their website.

If you want to share your mobile phone’s internet connection with another wireless device (like a laptop or tablet), use our instructions for Android and iPhone listed above. If you haven't used the hotspot setting before, you may need to set a password and enter it on your other device. After you finish, turn off your hotspot setting or disconnect your devices so you don’t accidentally waste data.

Remember that video streaming uses data. The higher the resolution, the more data you use. So, watching too many episodes in HD or higher might push you over your data limit and slap you with sluggish speeds for the rest of the month.