Are you wondering if a hotspot costs money? Learn more about hotspot basics, how to set one up, its impact on your phone budget, and how to leverage it on your travels!
What Is a Hotspot?
Before we answer your burning budget question, here is a little refresher on hotspot basics. In this article, we’ll be diving into personal hotspots specifically. So, what is a personal hotspot? A personal hotspot is a feature on your smartphone (or dedicated device) that lets you share data with other devices, transforming your phone into a mini Wi-Fi source.
How to Set Up a Hotspot
Now that you know what a hotspot is, let's ensure you can set one up. Dive into our handy resources below to learn how to set up a hotspot depending on your phone type.
- How To Set Up an eSIM Hotspot
- How To Set Up a Hotspot on iPhone
- How To Set Up a Hotspot on Android
- How To Set Up a Hotspot on Samsung
Does a Hotspot Cost Money?
The part you've all been waiting for! Drumroll, please…Does a hotspot cost money?
Like most things in life (sorry), the answer is nuanced.
While a hotspot itself is usually free to set up (check if your provider has restrictions as a precaution), having multiple devices will use more data, which can raise your phone bill.
In particular, you'll want to be mindful of:
- Video streaming (900 MB/hour)
- Video calls (480 MB/hour)
- Downloading large data files
If you want tips and tricks to reduce data usage for various platforms, we've gathered our top blog posts on the topic:
- How Much Data Does Netflix Use?
- How Much Data Does WhatsApp Use?
- How Much Data Does FaceTime Use?
- How Much Data Does Instagram Use?
Finally, if your data is "unlimited," you'll also want to double-check any clauses in your phone plan, as some unlimited data phone plans limit hotspot use.
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Using a Hotspot When You Travel
If you are planning to travel soon and aren't sure if you'll have reliable Wi-Fi, a hotspot can be very helpful, especially if you need to work while you're abroad. However, sharing your phone's data with other devices can lead to expensive roaming charges.
This is where we come in! Airalo solves the pain of expensive roaming charges by giving travelers access to affordable eSIMs for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. Get ready for your next trip by shopping for the best eSIM (iOS | Android) for your data needs and avoid hefty roaming fees.