Using portable WiFi is a highly recommended option if we want to connect to the Internet from anywhere without depending on an installation, without having to use the data contracted in the rate. It’s easy, it’s fast, it’s cheap and it’s very versatile and allows us to have secure WiFi from any trip we make, when we travel on trains or buses or when we are in someone else’s home. But to know if it suits you or not, if it compensates you or not, we explain what it is and how it works.
We can connect to the Internet from outside the home with a portable router in which we insert a SIM card. We must previously have a contracted rate and here we give you some of the rate options, the advantages, disadvantages, prices, operation or what is best for you to do according to what you need.
What is portable WiFi and what does it consist of
Portable WiFi is a way to connect to the Internet through a 4G or 5G router. This type of device has been with us for years and allows us to connect to WiFi through a data rate. That is, we insert a SIM card inside the 4G or 5G router and it creates a wireless network from which we can connect different devices without relying on fiber optics or ADSL.
The advantage ? We can use them anywhere without the need for a fixed installation and without depending on our data rate. On a trip, in a flat where you only stay for a month and you don’t want to install fiber, in a vacation apartment, in hotels…
Routers
There are many types of 4G or 5G routers but they all work the same: we introduce the previously contracted card with the rate we want. Once it is inside, a wireless network is simply created to which we can connect from the mobile phone, from the Smart TV, from the tablet or from the computer. They allow several devices connected simultaneously and the speed and amount of data will depend on the rate you have contracted in your specific case.
In addition, there are different models of routers … There are them with dongle or USB stick format that we have been using for decades and that do not need to be connected to the current but simply connect it to the USB port of your computer to create WiFi. On the other hand, there are plug-in routers that work like the usual ones but without any type of network cable or any connection beyond being connected to the current. Inside, the SIM card that allows us to connect to the wireless network. We can transport these to vacation homes, hotels or even to connect from a train that has a plug. Just plug in and go.
Finally, another common model for portable WiFi is wireless routers. A small 5G modem that we take anywhere and that allows us to connect to the Internet wirelessly on a trip, for example. They have a battery that allows them to be used without connecting to the current or to any USB.
Advantages of using portable WiFi
There are many reasons or advantages if we use portable WiFi over other types of connections. The first and foremost thing is that we don’t need any installation to connect to the Internet, but simply use the corresponding router and access the network from the mobile phone or tablet or the device that we want. Plug and play in the worst case or turn it on in the best of them, which will allow us to use the MiFi battery to access the Internet from anywhere.
Another advantage is that we do not need electricity. That is, these devices allow us to have a connection without the need for current. On a bus, for example. Or when we are traveling. For example, if you are a photographer and you want to send the images to a medium, you can do it without relying on fiber, ADSL, etc. We also do not depend on fiber coverage because it will work through 4G.
Not only does it have the advantage of the absence of installation, but it is also cheap. We can use 100 GB to browse for less than 30 euros per month and we don’t have to use it only in our apartment or house but we can take it on vacation if we normally spend weekends in a second residence or if we normally travel for work and don’t want spend our data rate watching videos, sending emails or uploading content to the Internet.
Although there are also disadvantages such as that we will depend on the contracted data unless we have an unlimited rate. Or that the speed and stability will not be comparable to connecting with a fiber optic cable in our house.
Rates to navigate anywhere
We mainly have two options to use portable WiFi when contracting a rate: choose rates that are designed precisely for this, as is the case with 4G at home from operators, or simply get a prepaid or contract card that has a good amount of mobile data. Once we have that SIM, we insert it into the router. It does not necessarily have to be a specific rate for 4G at home or portable WiFi
4G rates at home
Rates specially created to have a 4G router at home or laptop and that we can contract with different operators. They offer us unlimited data or a bonus of many gigabytes to spend month after month.
Orange
Orange also has its 4G rates at home for portable WiFi for 19.97 euros per month for the first three months and 39.97 euros per month thereafter. We have unlimited gigabytes to browse at speeds of up to 150 Mbps and it does not require installation, but you have a 4G WiFi router included with which we can connect up to 32 devices simultaneously through the wireless or Ethernet cable connection.
It is not as such a portable WiFi option if we use the Orange router because it requires being plugged into the power, but we can take it anywhere without dependency: we can connect from an apartment on the beach, from a hotel if we do not want the network public shared with other users, from a train or from a library that has plugs. Any place where we can plug it will allow us to create a Wi-Fi network.
Vodafone
Vodafone has its second home Internet rate that is priced at 2.25 euros per month for 24 months with a 4G router included and with SIM with rechargeable bonuses. The great advantage of Vodafone is that it allows us to choose between a router or MiFi with 4G or 5G technology, so we can take the MiFi wherever we want to navigate with this data on the street, when traveling, away from home, etc. Of course, we must add the rechargeable bonuses to the price since the price of 2.25 euros per month is for the service and does not include gigabytes. Once we have it, we choose the bonuses that work on the SM card that you are going to receive and have no permanence.
Bonuses can be for 2 days, 7 days or 31 days. None of them have permanence and all are activated from the Vodafone app or website. The prices are 5 euros, 15 euros or 35 euros respectively and with a single payment for them.
Simyo
Simyo has surf-only rates designed for a 4G router that you can buy from its own website. Or any other model you have seen. And rates just to navigate for less than 16 euros per month. A rate of 35 GB for 15.50 euros per month with accumulative megabytes. And other more affordable options: 25 GB for 9 euros per month, 14 GB for 6 euros per month, 7 GB for 4 euros per month.
In addition, Simyo allows you to have your Alcatel Link Zone router for 1.5 euros for 24 months with an initial payment of 3 euros if you want to have the router “included” that allows us to use the data anywhere. Or we can pay it with a single payment for 39 euros.
Cheap data rates
Although they are not usually specific for 4G at home, there are rates designed for portable WiFi or with unlimited data or a large number of gigabytes that we can use month after month to be able to enjoy these 4G and 5G routers anywhere.
Yoigo
Yoigo has its prepaid rate designed for portable WiFi because it only offers data and a SIM card, without calls or SMS or landline. It is a rate of 35 euros per month without permanence and without any extra. We can browse throughout the month and we have 150 gigabytes of data that we can use however we want. In addition, if we spend this data we continue browsing although with reduced speed.
It does not have any type of permanence, it has a price of 35 euros per month. We just have to activate it, use it on the SIM card and insert it into any of the routers that we have or that we are going to buy.
Call now
LlamaYa has the prepaid data only rate . The idea is identical to the previous one: we have enough data to navigate what we need. A SIM card with data that we can use in a portable 4G or 5G router and that we can move wherever we want. On a trip, at a friend’s house, on vacation, etc.
The Llamaya data-only prepaid rate is priced at 30 euros for 28 days and the advantage of being prepaid is that we do not have to pay month by month but only when we are going to use it. We have 120 GB of data at 4G speed and we continue browsing at a lower speed when we spend the gigabytes included. The speed is lowered to 16Kbps so that you can continue browsing free of charge up to a maximum of 2.5GB more. From 2.5 GB extra you will no longer be able to navigate.
The bonus is valid for 28 days during activation and is auto-renewable if we have a sufficient balance on the prepaid card that we have installed.
digi
For 25 euros per month we can have the DIGI unlimited gigabytes rate that also has unlimited national and international calls if necessary. Or if we want to pay a little less, there are rates that offer us a large amount of monthly data and they are cumulative so you will have them the following month if you don’t need them or don’t spend them.
We can have 100 GB for 20 euros per month, 50 GB for 15 euros per month, 20 GB for 10 euros per month or 10 GB for 7 euros per month. All include limited calls to mobiles and landlines and all have the option to accumulate data. In addition, we can choose to have a contract or be prepaid.
Other fees
There are other options to get portable WiFi such as having WiFi in the car or betting on additional lines from different operators that will allow us a low price.
Wi-Fi in the car
There are other more specific or different rates, as is the case with Movistar Car , for example. Movistar Car is an option to have portable WiFi in the car. It is a service that has a price of 3 euros per month with 20 euros of registration but that we can get for the first three months for free, at no cost and without permanence. It allows us to have 20 GB of WiFi in the car with which we can listen to music, watch videos, navigate. In addition, it has other services such as warnings and maintenance , GPS locator, consultation of fines or Movistar Car SOS call if we need help.
These 20 GB can be used from the car without having to use up the data rate thanks to a small router that we connect to the car through an OBD port. It is not a portable WiFi as such because we cannot use it anywhere, only in the vehicle. It is compatible with cars whose manufacture is from the year 2004 in gasoline or 2005 for diesel. And it is not available for trucks or motorcycles, only for cars.
additional lines
There are many companies that allow us to add cheap additional lines with a large number of gigabytes that we can use and without the need to have a contract with another operator. For example, Virgin allows us to get an additional line for 14 euros per month that allows us to have 100 GB of data that we can use as portable WiFi on the specific router.
Or in the case of Digi we can add additional lines with 100 GB and unlimited calls for 12 euros per month or even an UNLIMITED rate with unlimited gigabytes and unlimited calls for 15 euros per month that we can use to navigate portablely with this SIM card.
