What's the first thing you do when you move into a new apartment? You sign up for internet access, agreeing to fork over anywhere from $50 to $100 per month so you can watch movies, play games online and browse to your heart's content.
That's all fine and dandy, but what if there were an easy way to save money on your internet connection?
That's where your cell phone plan and Wi-Fi hotspot come in.
Using your smartphone as a hotspot for home internet could save you hundreds of dollars per year on your internet bill, which is great for anyone who's on a budget.
A hotspot is easy to use, too — all you have to do is switch on your mobile hotspot setting and you can connect various devices to your phone's network, such as your laptop, smart TV and tablet.
Using your mobile hotspot data can replace your separate home internet account, as long as your cell phone plan includes unlimited data or a generous amount of hotspot data.
Here's everything you need to know about using your hotspot for home internet and ditching your internet provider.
Hotspot data enables you to connect your other devices to the internet using your smartphone's cell signal. The great thing about a mobile hotspot is that it allows you to get internet access wherever you have mobile service — whether you're hanging at home or on the go.
There's really no good reason not to take advantage of your mobile hotspot if your plan includes one. All you have to confirm with your service provider is how much mobile hotspot data you can use if it's unlimited data and if it increases your cell phone's monthly bill.
There are several advantages and disadvantages to replacing your home internet service provider with your hotspot. We've outlined some of the key pros and cons below.
Consider these advantages:
Weigh whether any of these disadvantages are deal breakers:
If you know that you use colossal amounts of data each month and don't want to deal with slow speeds and low-quality video, then replacing your internet provider with a mobile hotspot isn't the best choice for you.
Data limits will restrict you from doing your work, and it's a better option to explore switching internet providers for more affordable internet.
Conversely, if you're a renter looking for ways to save, a mobile hotspot plan is one of the first changes you should consider.
You can easily save hundreds of dollars per year by getting rid of home internet and using your mobile hotspot.
The average U.S. adult spends about $60 per month on their internet, equating to $720 per year in savings. In some cases, you can even save upwards of $2,000, depending on your internet plan.
The first thing you need to do on your quest to ditch home internet is to find out if your cell phone plan includes hotspot capability or a dedicated hotspot allowance.
Hotspot capability means that you can use your primary data allowance to connect other devices to your mobile network. Conversely, a dedicated hotspot allowance is separate from your primary data.
Each of the Big Three carriers, a group comprised of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, offers a dedicated hotspot with at least one of its unlimited plans. Some smaller providers, such as Cricket Wireless, Metro and Boost, also come with a dedicated hotspot.
Meanwhile, other cell phone providers charge an extra fee for hotspot use. If you're looking to save money, you'll want to steer clear of the carriers that charge an additional cost.
If your cell phone plan is hotspot-capable, congrats! To prevent overage fees or glacially slow speeds, you'll want to switch to an unlimited plan if you're not already on one.
Once you do that, you'll need to verify the amount of data your plan allows you to use before your data speeds slow and how much data is included. Make sure to ask for new offers or ways to save on your cellphone bill if you make any changes to your plan.
This detail is helpful to know because many wireless carriers will slow your hotspot speeds during times of heavy network congestion to free up the network for customers who have used less data that month. This is a nightmare you can prevent by doing your research.
If your unlimited plan includes 30GB of high-speed data or less, it may not suffice for all of your cellular data and home internet needs — especially if you want to do some HD video streaming all your favorite shows and movies.
Look for unlimited plans with 40GB or higher, such as T-Mobile Magenta MAX and AT&T Unlimited Elite.
Your other option is to sign up for a cell phone plan that comes with a dedicated hotspot allowance, which doesn't suck up your primary data. This may come as a separate data plan. Some of the best mobile hotspot plans offered by major carriers include the following:
These plans also include entertainment perks like Netflix and Hulu and run anywhere from $60 to $90 per month, which is fairly inexpensive considering you're no longer paying a monthly internet bill.
Plus, if you and your roommate(s) sign up for a hotspot family plan together, you'll be able to save even more money per line.
Additionally, some small carriers offer budget-friendly plans featuring dedicated hotspots:
One great perk about these small carriers is that their plans are prepaid, which means you aren't subject to a credit check in order to sign up for a plan.
Another thing you'll want to consider when deciding whether to ditch a home internet connection or not is what happens once you've used your hotspot allowance for the month. Instead of cutting you off entirely, a service provider will dramatically slow your tethering speeds.
For example, AT&T slows hotspot data from 4G LTE to 128 Kbps, which is virtually unusable, while Verizon slows from 4G LTE to 600 Kbps, which may suffice for basic web browsing and possibly Netflix streaming on your phone.
If this is something you're willing to live with, a mobile hotspot is a good choice for you.
Before you commit to a phone plan with hotspot privileges, you'll want to check which carriers provide coverage in your area. It's a good idea to go with a carrier that provides robust coverage throughout your city or area in case you decide to move to a different apartment after your lease is up.
You'll also want to confirm that you'll get full-speed data for multiple devices connected and if you have unlimited data. Faster speeds will let you use streaming services, online gaming and HD video streaming.
Check out network coverage by carrier below:
Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile networks provide excellent cell phone coverage throughout the United States. If you do switch, make sure to check up on early termination fees if you're in a contract.
Now that you've got a mobile hotspot plan, you're going to want to use it. Say goodbye to installing a modem in your house. Turning on your phone's hotspot and connecting devices to it is super easy and doesn't require any technical knowledge.
Just keep an eye out for any potential data limits by your cell phone company. Here's how:
Here's how to link another device to your hotspot:
Once you're ready to connect to your mobile hotspot, hop on the phone with your customer service rep. Confirm your hotspot internet speed, if you need a dedicated mobile hotspot device beyond your phone and if there are any sign-up bonuses available.
If needed, switch cell phone plans or providers. You never know who will give you more hotspot capabilities, higher or unlimited data speed or a more affordable monthly bill.
Before you know it, you'll be saving money on your home internet costs and will have plenty of funds left for more exciting things.
Muriel Vega is an Atlanta-based journalist and editor who writes mostly about technology and its intersection with food and culture. She’s the managing editor of tech news publication Hypepotamus, and has contributed to The Guardian, Atlanta magazine, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, VICE and more. She spends her time eating her way through Buford Highway and exploring Atlanta's arts scene.