Take your 5G hotspot to the max with one of these 5G-friendly data plans.
by Peter Holslin
Edited by Rebecca Lee Armstrong
Oct 30, 2023 Share
Product Reviews
-
Best overall
T-Mobile 2GB
$10.00/mo.
- Widest 5G access
- Low price
- No C-band access (for now)
View Plan Read review
-
Best for mmWave and C-band access
Verizon Pro
$60.00/mo. or $90.00/mo.*
- Incredibly fast mmWave and C-band 5G speeds
- Lots of data
- High price for non-Verizon subscribers
View Plan
Read Review
-
Best 5G phone plan with hotspot data
T-Mobile Magenta Max
$85.00/mo. (for one line)
- Large amount of hotspot data
- 5G phone plan included
- High price for a phone plan
View Plan Read Review
-
Best prepaid plan
AT&T Prepaid 50 GB
$55/mo. (w/ autopay)
- Lots of data for affordable price
- C-band and mmWave 5G access
- Limited selection of 5G hotspots
View Plan Read Review
-
Best budget option
Visible phone plan
$30.00/mo.
- Cheap price
- Unlimited hotspot data
- 5 Mbps max hotspot speeds
View Plan Read Review
Data effective 9/19/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* $60.00/mo. (w/ existing Unlimited phone plan), $90.00/mo. (w/out phone plan)
You know what they say—a hotspot is only as good as the data plan that comes with it. That’s especially true for 5G hotspots. 5G is still pretty new, and the speeds and performance you get from a 5G device depends heavily on the cellular carrier’s 5G network.
There are only a few 5G hotspots on the market, but most data plans these days include 5G network access. Not all 5G data plans are the same, though—depending on where you live and how you use your hotspot, your needs may vary. T-Mobile has fast and affordable plans, but Verizon can get you gigabit speeds in select metro areas. AT&T has sluggish 5G speeds but decent reach.
Below we dig deep into the best 5G hotspot plans to go with your spiffy 5G hotspot device. Keep reading for all the details on pricing, data allotments, and speeds.
Jump to:
- Best 5G hotspot data plans
- What to look for
- Best overall
- Best for mmWave/C-band
- Best 5G phone plan
- Best prepaid plan
- Best budget option
- Specs and features
- FAQ
Our pick: Which 5G hotspot data plan is best?
T-Mobile 2GB is the best 5G hotspot data plan you can get. It gives you 2 GB of data per month for just $10 a month; if you run out, you can buy more data with a “data pass.” We love this plan because it’s easy, flexible, and cheap. Sure, you don’t get a whole lot of data, but that also means you don’t have to commit to a high price upfront to get more data than you need. Plus, T-Mobile has the fastest average 5G speeds and the best availability and reach of all the 5G providers.
Pro tip:
Take a look at our guide to the best 5G hotspots to pick out a device that works best with your 5G hotspot plan.
There are only a handful of 5G hotspots out there, but we have the scoop on which ones get you the fastest speeds for the lowest prices.
The 5 best 5G hotspot data plans
- Best overall: T-Mobile 2GB
- Best for mmWave and C-band: Verizon Pro
- Best 5G phone plan: T-Mobile Magenta Max
- Best prepaid plan:
- Best budget option: Visible phone plan
Compare 5G hotspot data plans
| Best for… | Plan | Price | Data cap | Avg. network 5G speeds* | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | T-Mobile 2GB | $10.00/mo.† | 2 GB/mo. (can buy more with data pass) | 171.0 Mbps | View Plan |
| Best for mmWave and C-band 5G | Verizon Pro | $60.00/mo. (w/ existing Unlimited phone plan), $90.00/mo. (w/out phone plan) | 100 GB of 4G LTE/5G, then reduced to 600 Kbps | 72.8 Mbps | View Plan |
| Best 5G phone plan with hotspot data | T-Mobile Magenta Max | $85.00/mo. | 40 GB/mo. (followed by unlimited 3G speeds) | 171.0 Mbps | View Plan |
| Best prepaid plan | AT&T Prepaid 50 GB | $55.00/mo. (w/ autopay) | 50 GB/mo. | 53.6 Mbps | View Plan |
| Best budget option | Visible phone plan | $30.00/mo. (plus price of hotspot)† | Unlimited (max 5 Mbps speeds, connects only one device at a time) | 5 Mbps (max speed for hotspot) | View Plan |
Data as of 10/17/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Average speed data taken from Opensignal 5G Experience Report, July 2022.
†Price at time of writing
What should you look for in a 5G hotspot data plan?
You should look for a 5G hotspot data plan that connects you to a fast and widely available 5G network. You should get a plan that’s compatible with trustworthy and affordable 5G hotspots and 5G phones. Of course, it’s also important to find a plan that’s affordable and that gives you enough data for your needs.
Take a look at our section on 5G hotspot plan specs farther down on this page for more details about the best 5G plans and networks.
Do you need a 5G hotspot?
Most internet users don’t need a 5G hotspot. They’re expensive and sometimes can be hard to find due to product shortages. You can save money by using the hotspot on your 5G phone or even using a 4G LTE hotspot.
But you should get a 5G hotspot if you travel regularly and need a reliable device with fast speeds—5G hotspots can hit speeds up to 1 Gbps in some areas. A 5G hotspot works best in downtown areas and urban centers (where 5G speeds are fastest), and its Wi-Fi 6 capabilities ensure you get a strong connection even when you’re sharing with a dozen users or more.
Pro tip:
Depending on where you live, you may be better off getting a hotspot data plan tailored more for 4G LTE—an older but more common cell phone standard. See our best hotspot data plans for the scoop.
Best overall—T-Mobile 2GB
Best for remote working and weekend trips
$10.00/mo.*
- Data allowance: 2 GB/mo.
- 5G network access: Mostly mid-band 5G (no C-band)
- Avg. 5G speeds: 171.0 Mbps
- Compatible hotspots: Inseego 5G MiFi M2000, T-Mobile 5G Hotspot
View Plan
*Per connected device with AutoPay. Plus Taxes & fees.
T-Mobile’s 2GB is the easiest, cheapest hotspot plan around—you pay just $10 a month, and you can top up your data with a data pass if you ever run out. T-Mobile has the most widely available 5G network with the fastest average speeds, so you’re going to get solid performance on a regular basis when you power up your hotspot.
Although it’s tempting to go for a plan that comes with a whole bunch of data, the truth is that many people don’t need a lot of hotspot data. If you use it only occasionally, a couple gigs is just fine. But you can add more whenever you want with T-Mobile’s hotspot data pass. Here’s a breakdown of the additional data pass packages you can get:
- 5 GB for $20
- 10 GB for $30
- 30 GB for $40
Pros:
Pros:- Cheap price up front
- Lots of flexibility to buy more data
Cons:
Cons:- Small amount of data (although you can buy more)
- No C-band access
Best for mmWave/C-band 5G—Verizon Pro
Best for mmWave/C-band 5G—Verizon Pro
$60.00/mo. (w/ existing Unlimited phone plan), $90.00/mo. (w/out phone plan)
- Data allowance: 100 GB of 4G LTE/5G, then reduced to 600 Kbps
- 5G network access: Mid-band 5G, 5G Ultra Wideband (C-band and millimeter-wave 5G)
- Avg. 5G speeds: 72.8 Mbps
- Compatible 5G hotspots: Inseego MiFi M2100 5G UW, Inseego MiFi X PRO 5G UW
View Plan
Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G is an amped-up version of the network that uses millimeter-wave and C-band spectrum to give users gigabit speeds in parts of major cities and urban areas. If you live in an area with easy access to Ultra Wideband, this plan can give your 5G hotspot a massive speed boost, making it easier to use with large groups or handle high-bandwidth activities like 4K streaming or even hosting a livestream.
Keep in mind that Ultra Wideband isn’t as widely available as regular 5G. Millimeter-wave and C-band frequencies have shorter ranges than mid-band 5G spectrum, so you can only find Verizon’s Ultra Wideband in select cities. (You can see where on Verizon’s 5G coverage map.)
That said, this is still a great plan even if you can’t get Ultra Wideband. Verizon’s nationwide 5G has solid speeds and this plan gives you much more data than most hotspot plans for a reasonable price. And it’s even cheaper when you combine it with a qualifying Verizon phone plan.
Pros:
- Extremely fast 5G speeds in metro areas
- Top-rated 5G hotspots
Cons:
- High price
- Slower speeds outside of urban centers
Best for 5G phone hotspots—T-Mobile Magenta Max
Best for using your phone’s hotspot
$85.00/mo.
- Hotspot data allowance: 40 GB/mo. of 4G LTE/5G data, after which speeds reduced to 3G levels
- 5G network access: Mostly mid-band 5G (no C-band)
- Avg. 5G speeds: 171.0 Mbps
- Compatible hotspots: Your phone’s built-in hotspot
View Plan
Depending on your budget and schedule, you may be better off getting a regular phone plan with hotspot data instead of a hotspot and hotspot plan. Standalone 5G hotspots are quite expensive (usually at least twice as much as standard 4G LTE hotspots) and relying on your phone’s hotspot means you can save money by buying one less 5G device.
Magenta Max is T-Mobile’s flagship unlimited plan, and it’s the best phone plan you can get for 5G hotspotting. You get the same excellent 5G hotspot speeds and availability from T-Mobile as you would from T-Mobile’s hotspot plan. And you get a nice chunk of hotspot data to cover you for big work trips and vacation stays.
The plan also comes with unlimited premium phone data, subscriptions to Netflix and Apple TV+, and a 12-month trial of Paramount+ Essential. So it’s a killer deal all around.
Pros:
- Fastest average 5G speeds
- Unlimited high-speed phone data
Cons:
- High price
Best prepaid plan—AT&T Prepaid 50 GB
Best for AT&T subscribers
$55.00/mo. (w/ AutoPay)
- Data allowance: 50 GB/mo.
- 5G network access: Mid-band 5G, C-band, millimeter-wave
- Avg. 5G speeds: 53.6 Mbps
- Compatible hotspots: Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot Pro
View Plans
Most hotspot plans give you a fairly small amount of data, so AT&T’s Prepaid 50 GB plan is worth considering just because it gives you a nice chunk to work with. That makes it great for longer trips and working with big groups, and the fact it’s prepaid means you don’t have to commit to a year-long plan if you’re planning to use a hotspot temporarily.
There are some drawbacks to this plan: AT&T has only one 5G hotspot, and it’s extremely expensive and not always available for purchase. And AT&T’s 5G speeds are lackluster compared to those of rivals T-Mobile and Verizon. It’s easier to use this plan with a 4G LTE hotspot, since those cost less and still get you a strong connection.
Pros:
- Fair price for lots of data
- Simple prepaid setup
Cons:
- Limited 5G hotspot selection
- Slowest average 5G speeds
Best budget option—Visible phone plan
Best for budget hotspot users
$30.00/mo.
- Data allowance: Unlimited (max 5 Mbps speeds, connects only one device at a time)
- 5G network access: Low- and mid-band 5G
- Avg. 5G speeds (on hotspot): 5 Mbps
- Compatible hotspots: Your phone’s built-in hotspot
View Plan
Visible’s standard phone plan gives you unlimited hotspot data and access to Verizon’s nationwide 5G. This is one of the cheapest phone plans on the market, and its max speed of 5 Mbps works fine if you’re using a hotspot only for occasional email duties and other small tasks.
Still, while the plan technically gives you access to 5G, the hotspot function is obviously capped in such a way that you don’t get to take advantage of 5G’s high speeds. Get this plan if you need something simple and easy. But if you want to get the most out of your hotspot’s 5G capabilities, pick one of the plans above.
Pros:
- Unlimited data
- Low price
Cons:
- Slow hotspot speed
- Connectivity for only one device at a time
- No C-band or mmWave 5G
5G hotspot plan specs and features
You want the same things in a 5G hotspot data plan that you would want in any hotspot plan—a sufficient amount of data, wide network coverage, and all at an affordable price. But if you’re shopping specifically for a 5G-oriented data plan, then you should also consider the kinds of speeds you can get from the plan’s carrier and the size of the carrier’s 5G network.
Pro tip:
Want to know more about how hotspots work? See our guides below for the scoop on the types of hotspots and hotspot plans you can get from T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T:
- Everything You Need to Know About T-Mobile Hotspots
- Everything You Need to Know About Verizon Hotspots
5G hotspot speeds
| 5G carrier | Avg. 5G speeds (download)* | Avg. 5G speeds (upload)* | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 171.0 Mbps | 17.8 Mbps | View Plan |
| Verizon | 72.8 Mbps | 14.0 Mbps | View Plan |
| AT&T | 53.6 Mbps | 10.0 Mbps | View Plan |
*Data from Opensignal 5G Mobile Network Experience Report, July 2022.
T-Mobile has the fastest nationwide 5G speeds, with average download speeds coming in at 171.0 Mbps. Verizon comes in second place with average speeds of nearly 73 Mbps. The main benefit of 5G is that you get faster speeds than you would on a 4G hotspot, so going with a plan from one of these providers ensures you get the most out of your 5G connection.
5G hotspot network size
| 5G carrier | 5G availability (% of phone time users spend on 5G)* | 5G reach (proportion of geographic areas where users can access 5G)* |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 40.6% | 7.8/10.0 |
| Verizon | 10.6% | 3.9/10.0 |
| AT&T | 18.7% | 5.4/10.0 |
*Marks the % of time the user is on the 5G network when using their phone. Data from Opensignal 5G Mobile Network Experience Report, July 2022.
*Data from Opensignal 5G Mobile Network Experience Report, July 2022.
Since 5G is new, you likely won’t have access to it all the time. But that doesn’t mean your connection is going to drop out entirely just because you can’t get 5G—your phone or hotspot simply reverts to a 4G LTE connection when 5G isn’t available.
According to recent data from Opensignal, T-Mobile has the best availability and widest reach of the three main cell carriers with 5G networks. Of all the time T-Mobile users spend on their 5G devices, about 40% is spent on a 5G network; when they’re not on the network, their phones revert to 4G LTE.
T-Mobile users also are able to access 5G in the highest number of geographic areas—out of everywhere they use their phone, they’re able to find 5G networks more than three quarters of the time. AT&T has the second-best availability, with users spending 18.7% of their phone time on 5G.
Verizon has faster speeds than AT&T, but lesser reach. That’s one thing to keep in mind: even if you can’t get the fastest speeds on AT&T, it’s encouraging to know you spend more time with faster 5G speeds when you have an AT&T hotspot plan.
How much data do you get?
You can pay a relatively small amount of money for a couple GB of data per month, or you can go all out and fork over $50 per month for 30 GB or more. Most plans work on a month-to-month basis, but some plans offer a prepaid option and/or let you top up with more data when you need to. That’s a good way to go if you use a hotspot once or twice a month and don’t want to pay a monthly fee.
Sadly, you won’t get nearly as much data from a hotspot plan as you would from a home internet plan over a connection like fiber or cable. Cellular companies just don’t have the same capacity to serve our ravenous Wi-Fi needs.
But you should still have enough data to last you several days—maybe even a few weeks, depending on how you use the hotspot.
Get 5G home internet for more data and faster speeds
If you want to use a hotspot as your primary internet connection, you’re probably better off using 5G home internet from a provider like T-Mobile or Verizon. 5G home internet works more like a traditional internet provider, giving you unlimited data with no caps for a similar price or even less than what you’d pay for a hotspot plan with less data.
5G home internet doesn’t give you the mobility of a hotspot. It comes with a router that’s set up to work in a fixed location—at your house, for example. But it’s a great way to go for internet users who seek out hotspots for a permanent internet connection as an alternative to inefficient or expensive setups like DSL and satellite internet.
Best 5G home internet plans
| Plan | Download speed | Prices | Perks | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon 5G Home | 300Mbps | $25.00/mo. (for Verizon Unlimited phone plan subscribers) or $50.00/mo. (for nonsubscribers, w/ autopay)* | Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for 6 mos., Verizon Stream TV device included, 2–yr. price guarantee | View Plans |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 33–182Mbps | $50.00/mo.† | Paramount+ Essential for 12 mos. | View Plans |
| Starry Internet | 100-1,000Mbps | $30.00-$75.00/mo.# | No extra fees for installation or equipment | View Plans |
*w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas. w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Available in select areas.
†w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
‡Price includes $5 Auto Renew discount. Taxes and fees extra. Additional device purchase required.
#Plan availability varies. Check availability at starry.com/internet. New customers save $10/mo off select plans for their first year of service. Terms & Conditions Apply.
Our verdict
You really can’t go wrong with T-Mobile for anything hotspot related—it has a formidable 5G network, a great 5G hotspot, and the most affordable and flexible hotspot plans. Verizon’s 5G hotspot plans cost a bit more, but it’s another great option because its 5G hotspots are top of the line, and you get access to incredibly fast speeds in urban areas.
We’re a bit more skeptical about AT&T, mostly because of the carrier’s slower-than-average 5G speeds and the exorbitant price of its only 5G hotspot. But AT&T’s prepaid hotspot plan comes at a good price for the amount of data you get.
Related content
- Best 5G Hotspots
- 4G vs. 5G—What’s the Difference?
- The Truth Behind 5G Conspiracy Theories
FAQ about hotspot data plans
Is hotspot data the same as mobile data?
Yes, hotspot data is basically the same as mobile data—both come from a cellular carrier and give you wireless internet access. The key difference is how the terms are used. Mobile data generally refers to data for a cell phone plan, while hotspot data is strictly for phone hotspots and personal Wi-Fi hotspots.
Sources
1. Francesco Rizzato, Opensignal, “5G Experience Report,” July 2022. Accessed September 20, 2022.
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Author - Peter Holslin
Peter Holslin has more than a decade of experience working as a writer and freelance journalist. He graduated with a BA in liberal arts and journalism from New York City’s The New School University in 2008 and went on to contribute to publications like Rolling Stone, VICE, BuzzFeed, and countless others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on covering 5G, nerding out about frequency bands and virtual RAN, and producing reviews on emerging services like 5G home internet. He also writes about internet providers and packages, hotspots, VPNs, and Wi-Fi troubleshooting.
Editor - Rebecca Lee Armstrong
Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet.com. Her work has also been featured on Top Ten Reviews, MacSources, Windows Central, Android Central, Best Company, TechnoFAQ, and iMore.
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