What is Pocket WiFi and How Does It Work?

While we all like to disconnect when traveling, it’s still useful to have a data connection. Most of us need a data connection when traveling for several reasons:

• safety and security
• booking trips and excursions
• getting directions
• staying in touch with friends and family back home
• etc.

You could contact your mobile carrier and set up international data roaming. However, unless you have a great contract, these options are often quite costly and only applicable to one user.

Instead, have you thought about hiring a pocket WiFi device?

Summary

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• What Is Pocket WiFi?
• A Hotspot in Your Pocket
• What Are the Advantages of Pocket WiFi?
• Portability
• Connectivity
• Simplicity
• Security
• Price
• How Does a Pocket WiFi Work?
• How to Choose the Best Pocket WiFi for Your Trip?
• Connectivity
• Data Limit
• Size and Weight
• Battery
• How Much Does Pocket WiFi Cost?
• What Are the Alternatives to Pocket WiFi?
• Sim Card
• Public WiFi
• Prepaid Cards
• International Roaming

What Is Pocket WiFi?

Pocket WiFi is a mobile router that’s constantly connected to the internet. This allows users to connect to several personal devices at once while traveling.

International data roaming can be costly, inconvenient, and provide an inconsistent or poor connection. A Pocket WiFi is typically faster and better connected than the data roaming services available through your network provider.

Pocket WiFi devices act much in the same way as a home router. They come with the added convenience of fitting in your pocket. They allow users to connect one or multiple devices through a WiFi connection.

Pocket WiFi goes by many different names like mobile WiFi, MiFi, portable WiFi, or mobile WiFi hotspot. Essentially, pocket WiFi is a portable WiFi router.

A pocket WiFi device connects to a mobile network, much in the same way that your phone does. Typically, these are 4G LTE or 5G networks and the device uses a mobile carrier and a sim card.

A Hotspot in Your Pocket

A pocket WiFi device connects to the internet over a mobile network and then creates a personal WiFi hotspot. Your other devices can simply connect to it and use its internet connection.

Devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops can all be connected to the internet via a pocket WiFi device. They do this in much the same way that they’d connect to any WiFi connection. You just have to use the network name and password to connect. These details are usually provided on the device or can be configured.

Since a pocket WiFi device is wireless and portable, it’s powered by a long-lasting battery much like a smartphone. They can be recharged using plugs, car chargers, or even power banks and external batteries.

In terms of connectivity, pocket WiFi typically provides a connection that’s faster and more reliable than the data roaming services. Your domestic mobile carriers has to rely on partner networks for roaming connections.

What Are the Advantages of Pocket WiFi?

The key term here is “portable”. Unlike the router you may have in your home or office, pocket Wifi devices don’t have cables nor do they need to be plugged in as they’re powered by a battery much like your phone.

Portability

Portability is key and as you can imagine, these WiFi devices are small enough to fit in your pocket, providing you with regular and consistent high-speed internet access without the need to use data roaming, public WiFi spots, or another SIM or eSIM card.

Connectivity

Pocket WiFi devices also allow several devices to be connected at once. Friends and family members can all access the internet while traveling without needing to pay multiple sets of roaming charges or invest in several SIM cards for each of their devices.

Simplicity

Rather than each person on a trip paying for data roaming, buying new SIM cards for their smartphones, or constantly looking for public WiFi hotspots, a single pocket WiFi device can usually be connected to up to 10 devices at once, allowing everyone and every device to enjoy internet access.

Users connect their devices to a pocket WiFi device by using the network name and a password or WiFi key. The process is exactly the same as connecting to any other WiFi network.

Security

Pocket WiFi also means that users don’t have to rely on public WiFi hotspots. Public networks may be unencrypted, fake, or even infected with malware. While users can mitigate these risks by using a VPN or avoiding sharing sensitive information when using these kinds of networks, pocket WiFi can provide them with the same (or even faster) type of connection without these risks.

Price

Pocket WiFi can cost as little as a few euros each day and often works out far cheaper than the international data roaming services provided by domestic mobile carriers.

How Does a Pocket WiFi Work?

When you use a pocket WiFi device, getting connected to the internet is quite simple. Since a pocket WiFi device is essentially connecting to the internet using a mobile connection and then creating a WiFi hotspot for users, connecting is very simple.

A pocket WiFi device uses a SIM Card much like your smartphone and connects to a mobile or cellular network. The way that a pocket WiFi device connects to the internet is the same as any other mobile device.

Once connected to the mobile network, a pocket WiFi device creates a WiFi network. This WiFi network can be seen and connected to by other WiFi-enabled devices including smartphones, tablets, laptop computers, and any other WiFi-enabled device. Any device that can connect to a WiFi network can connect to the network created by a pocket WiFi device.

Functionality and simplicity are the name of the game and pocket WiFi devices are incredibly easy to set up. To get started with most pocket WiFi devices, you just need to turn it on, allow it to establish the mobile network connection, and create the WiFi network.

Different devices will function slightly differently, but most pocket WiFi devices work much the same as a cabled router in the home; just turn them on and connect to them once they’ve started up.

Users connect to it in the same way they’d connect to any other WiFi network. Find the device’s SSID (service set identifier: the network name) and the password or network key. They’re usually provided with the pocket WiFi device or even on it.

Once a device is connected, you can browse the internet through it in the same way you would at home, work, or while using public WiFi.

How to Choose the Best Pocket WiFi for Your Trip?

When traveling, good internet access can make all the difference. Whether it’s for finding directions, reserving restaurants or hotels, or just staying connected while you’re on the move, pocket WiFi makes this much easier and more convenient, often at a fraction of the cost of international data roaming services provided by domestic networks.

Not all pocket WiFi was created equal, though, and there are several factors that every user should take into account when choosing pocket WiFi providers, devices, and services.

Connectivity

Connectivity is key. You’ll need to think about the reliability of the network coverage and its speed. Low bandwidth everyday uses like checking emails, browsing the internet, and sending small files can be done with a 4G LTE connection.

Sending larger files, streaming video, or even making video calls may call for a quicker connection. With speeds up to 100 times that of a 4G connection, 5G connections are recommended for those with greater bandwidth requirements.

Data Limit

Users will generally pay more for more data, with the cost per GB decreasing as you opt for more data.

However, not every user will need the same amount of data and while it’s useful having data in case you need it, there’s no point in spending more on data that you’re never going to use.

Look at your mobile data usage on your smartphone to give yourself a clearer idea of your daily mobile data use.

Remember that when you’re traveling, your data use may be different. Some users may use more data as they won’t be connected as frequently to a home, office, or public WiFi connection. Others may use less as they use their WiFi-enabled devices less and have less time to spend online.

Size and Weight

Since you’re going to be carrying the pocket WiFi device with you on your travels, the size and weight of the device are important.

Most devices are now very small (they’re called “pocket” for a reason). However, the exact size, dimensions, and weight can vary. If you’re going to be the one carrying the device around, make sure it’s comfortable and convenient.

Battery

Like with any other portable device, battery life matters. You’ll need to think about how long you’ll need to use the device before you can charge it.

Most pocket WiFi devices have a decent battery life and if you can charge it every day, you’ll be fine. For excursions and trips without charging opportunities, you may want to look for devices with much longer battery life.

Many pocket WiFi devices can be charged using a power bank or portable battery, but if you’re going to do this, remember that you also need to carry that around with you.

For road trips, you can also get car chargers for your pocket WiFi, allowing you to charge the device while you drive.

How Much Does Pocket WiFi Cost?

The cost of pocket WiFi varies according to factors like connection type, data limits, location, and device type.

The cheapest options for short-term rental can start for as little as €3.90 per day and work out at a little over €2 per day if opting for long-term rental (over six months).

Use our price calculator to work out how much your pocket WiFi device will cost.

What Are the Alternatives to Pocket WiFi?

If you’ve never used pocket WiFi on your travels before, then you’re likely aware that there are alternative ways to connect to the internet.

Here are some of the most common alternatives to pocket WiFi.

Sim Card

There are sim cards that you can buy to provide you with a mobile internet connection for less than your typical international roaming costs.

Unless your smartphone has multiple sim card slots, though, you’ll need to remove your other sim card, which means your phone won’t have the same phone number anymore.

Remember to keep your usual SIM card in a safe place when you’re not using it. They’re very small and easy to lose!

While most travel SIM cards are prepaid, you could also contract a SIM card in a specific country. These are usually for longer-term contracts. Make sure you cancel your contract once you’ve finished using your SIM.

Public WiFi

Some destinations will have public WiFi hotspots that you can access. While convenient if you’re in a café or public space, these connections are limited to specific locations and can be slow, unreliable, or even dangerous.

Prepaid Cards

Instead of signing up for a mobile data contract in another country, you can buy a prepaid card, which is mostly for calls. These are becoming increasingly rare. After all, SIM cards offer a much better solution and can be used by your smartphone rather than payphones.

International Roaming

Your mobile carrier may offer international roaming as part of your contract. These connections are often costly with hidden fees, data limits, and slower connections than you may be used to domestically.