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Last Updated on August 2, 2022 by Jessica Lauren Vine
Living your life on the go in an RV is one of the best ways to spend your time but finding the best RV wifi hotspot is a must. RV life allows you to see the world in a way that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Whether you’re a full-time RVer, a weekend warrior, or split your time between your RV and a house, it’s important to have a reliable wifi connection. Wifi hotspots and routers allow you to live your life as an RVer in much the same way that you would in a house or apartment.
Because of the many benefits of having a reliable wifi connection, it’s imperative that you choose one of the best hotspots on the market. A solid wifi hotspot will allow you to work from your RV, watch movies or sports, or stay up to date with your social media. It will also help you stay in touch with the rest of the world so you don’t feel like a traveling nomad.
If you’re in the market for one of the best RV wifi hotspots, you’ve come to the right place. This article will look at a few of the top hotspot options, as well as give you a short buying guide so that you can make the right choice.
How to Choose the Best RV Wifi Hotspot
Network Compatibility
There are two basic types of wifi hotspots that you can use in your RV. You can use hotspots that are only compatible with your phone carrier, or you can use a hotspot that’s standalone and has nothing to do with your phone plan. While there might be additional discounts if you purchase a hotspot that’s the same as your phone carrier, you should make sure it’s compatible with your intended destinations.
Number of Devices
Different hotspots have different strengths and are capable of supporting various numbers and types of devices. You should have a good idea of how many devices you plan to support simultaneously and what you’re planning to use them for when purchasing your RV wifi hotspot.
Battery Life
Many RV wifi hotspots have the option of being wireless and operating without a power cord. However, because they’re wireless, you’ll have to recharge them from time to time. As such, battery life is a big factor when making your ultimate hotspot choice.
Connectivity Capabilities
If you choose a standalone wifi hotspot that doesn’t use the same carrier that your phone does, they still likely use towers of a phone company. It’s important to choose your wifi hotspot according to which towers they use so that you don’t run into connectivity problems in different parts of the country.
Ongoing Fees
Depending on which hotspot you choose, you could be looking at a one-time purchase fee, or ongoing monthly fees. One-time purchase fees can easily cost $1,000 to $2,000, while monthly fees can range from $50 to $250.
Security
When you’re browsing the web or working from home in your RV, it’s important that you have a secure and private connection. To do that, you should make sure your wifi hotspot is secure and private.
Data Limitations
The amount of data you get on your wifi hotspot plan varies from carrier to carrier and from plan to plan. If you’re worried about running out of data, you should make sure to choose an unlimited plan.
Overall Best RV Wifi Hotspot
Netgear Nighthawk M1
"Works great. Streams TV, accomodates desktop and cellphone internet simultaneously with no slowdown or drops in service. Consistent connectivity and smooth service. Easy to set up. Instructions are clear even for a novice. Provision the SIM, insert it, insert battery, wait for blue light, one-time connect to PC using ethernet cable (not supplied but any CAT6 cable will do) to login to Netgear site and account as shown on device, change password and name wireless account, disconnect ethernet cable, look for newly named WAP on one's wireless devices and login using the password you just created, and one is off and running. This device works exactly as advertised. Great solution for rural areas." - Hook M.
Whether you’re an AT&T customer or not, the AT&T Netgear Nighthawk M1 is one of the best RV wifi hotspots available. While it uses AT&T phone towers to provie wireless internet, you don’t have to be an AT&T phone customer to purchase and use it. This device can power up to 20 different devices at a time, and has one of the fastest 4G connections on the market.
There are also several different hotspot and router options within the Netgear Nighthawk family if you want to choose a bigger or smaller option. Not only does this router work without being plugged in and has a long battery life, it’s also capable of charging other devices.
Pros
- Battery operated and has long battery life
- Some of the fastest 4G speeds available
- Can get used as a standalone option if you’re not an AT&T customer
- Very easy to use and control
Cons
- Doesn’t have 5G capabilities
- Slightly pricey upfront despite ongoing monthly charges
Runner Up for Best RV Wifi Hotspot
JetPack Mifi 8800 L
"Very pleased with this Jetpack. I had been relying on the personal hot spot on my phone which had a limited amount of data per month. I was adding data for $$ every month. This Jetpack solved my data usage problem. I added a second line and a 100 gb data plan to my existing cellular account for the Jetpack. Setting up involved inserting the SIM card and battery that came with the device, and then working with my cell company to add the line and get a cell number for the Jetpack, and activation. All very easy. My connection is strong and fast, and wifi range extends through my house. The Jetpack comes with some accessories like an extra battery. The SIM card indicates that it is 5G compatible. Very happy with this purchase." - Indiana U.
As with the Netgear Nighthawk from AT&T, the JetPack Mifi 8800 is a Verizon affiliated product. However, where you don’t have to be an AT&T customer to use the Nighthawk hotspot, you do have to be a Verizon customer to use the Jetpack Mifi 8800 hotspot router. This inconvenience aside, the Jetpack Mifi is one of the best RV wifi hotspots available, and might even take the top spot if it was available to non-Verizon customers.
This router comes with an easy to use and read touch screen that displays all your information in a way that’s easy to understand. Although it doesn’t have access to 5G speeds, it uses extremely fast 4G speeds of up to 150 mbps. You also have the option of paying for it on a monthly basis or with a one-time fee.
Pros
- Some newer models are starting to include 5G
- Very fast, seamless connection
- Very long battery life
- Easy to use and read touchscreen controls
- Laser fast 4G LTE technology
Cons
- Only an option for Verizon customers
Most Budget Friendly RV Wifi Hotspot
Alcatel Link Zone
"This is the Alactel MW41NF hotspot. I wanted a GSM hotspot and this one works. Yes, as others have said, the instructions are in Spanish. That wasn't a problem for me, but I can see how others might be concerned. If it's any help, the instructions are basic and straightforward and the hotspot is easy to understand. The configuration is handled by an embedded web page at 192.168.1.1 when you're connected to the hotspot by WiFi. That web page first appears in Spanish but you can change the language to English. A note: trying to use the SIM operations to disable the need broke my first Mint SIM card and there's no need anyway. I think the problem is a Mint problem so your mileage may vary.
Overall, I'm very happy with this hotspot." A.C.
If you don’t want to spend a small fortune on your RV wifi hotspot, but want quick wifi no matter where you are in the world, the Alcatel Link Zone wireless router is the way to go. The Alcatel Link Zone is an unaffiliated, unlocked device that provides wifi speeds of up to 150 mbps. It’s also capable of supporting up to 15 devices simultaneously, which is overkill for most RVs.
The downside of the Alcatel Link Zone is that it isn’t compatible with all carriers so make sure to check the fine print before purchasing it. It also doesn’t have the greatest battery life, at just six to seven hours. However, in terms of quality and reliable internet for an affordable price, it’s tough to beat the Alcatel Link Zone.
Pros
- Unaffiliated and unlocked
- Wireless wifi
- Capable of supporting up to 15 devices
- Very affordable
Cons
- Relatively short battery life
- Not compatible with all networks or carriers
Best Unaffiliated RV Wifi Hotspot
Nomad Internet
If you want to choose a standalone wifi hotspot or router separate from a specific carrier or phone plan, Nomad Internet is the way to go. Nomad is one of the smaller wifi companies out there and they’re also relatively new. They have several different plan and router options and use either Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T phone towers to ensure a secure and reliable connection.
We’ve been using Nomad Internet for over a year now, and it’s been smooth sailing for most of the way. Their hotspot router allows us to watch live TV, work from home, watch movies, and connect up to seven different devices simultaneously. The only real downside they have is their unreliable customer service and shipping times. Because they’re a mostly remote company, Nomad doesn’t have a phone number you can call for customer support.
However, with online messaging, they typically do a good job of getting back to you and resolving your issue within 24 to 48 hours. If you can survive a day or two without wifi from time to time, Nomad is an excellent and affordable option.
Pros
- Use a variety of different phone towers
- Have numerous plan and router options including a wireless option
- The ordering process is simple
- Ideal for rural or rustic locations
Cons
- Poor customer service
- Can take several days to resolve connectivity issues
Best 5G RV Wifi Hotspot
"I am blown away that I effectively have a portable wifi hotspot with 400 mbps (and a static IP after contacting T-Mobile and setting up a company account) Highly recommended" - K.C.
If 4G simply isn’t going to cut it for you, you might want to consider the Inseego 5G Mifi M2000 hotspot router from T-Mobile. This device is the only RV wifi hotspot that has 5G capabilities on this list, which means that it offers one of the fastest connections. This device offers wireless internet at blazing speeds from the network that has more 5G coverage than any other network in the country.
You can connect up to 30 different devices to the internet simultaneously with the Inseego Mifi 2000. You can also use the router as a wireless battery bank to charge other devices. Additionally, this router operates with a battery that will last up to a day which means you don’t have to leave it plugged in.
Pros
- Wireless internet from a wireless router
- Long battery life
- Can be used as a wireless charger
- 5G capabilities
- Can support up to 30 different devices
Cons
- T-Mobile doesn’t have as wide of coverage as other major phone carriers
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are quite a few great RV wifi hotspot options for life on the go. No longer do you have to be without wifi during your travels or when you set up shop at a campground or off the grid. Just as RVs allow you to take many of the comforts of home with you on your journeys, a wifi hotspot will allow you to have internet access in most parts of the country.
Before you run off to get the best internet ever, make sure you check out these other RV posts.
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