Best Hotspot for Gaming

Gaming on the go is easier than ever with gaming laptops and handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck. While single-player games work just fine, you'll need a mobile hotspot to play online games like Diablo III or Fortnite at an airport terminal when your flight gets inevitably delayed.

Tethering lets you use mobile data instead of Wi-Fi for internet access anywhere you've got a cellular signal. You can use your phone or a dedicated hotspot device as a portable router. Either way, you'll need a data plan.

From plans to devices, let's explore the best hotspots for gaming so you can play all you like (or at least until your battery dies).

Best Mobile Hotspot Plans
for Gaming

Whether you're using your phone as a hotspot or a standalone portable router, you'll need cellular service. Because downloading games, cloud game streaming, and online multiplayer matches burn lots of mobile data, we recommend plans with high hotspot allowances. Here are our favorite hotspot plans for gaming.

AT&T | Premium 2.0 | $90/month—Best premium unlimited plan for gaming

AT&T's Premium 2.0 package is a solid choice as a gaming hotspot. You'll appreciate unlimited talk, text, and data with premium high-speed data that doesn't slow down regardless of your monthly usage. There's an impressive 100GB mobile hotspot allowance for connecting to your gaming laptop for rousing Call of Duty matches anywhere you've got a cellular signal. Additionally, Unlimited Premium throws in 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) video streaming on mobile internet plus talk, text, and data to 20 Latin American countries. 

Although Premium 2.0 is AT&T's best overall unlimited plan, it costs $90/month for one line. But a family plan multi-line discount drops prices. Consider AT&T's Extra 2.0 as a cheaper alternative, which nets you 50GB of mobile hotspot each month. But for serious gamers, Unlimited Premium PL keeps you connected with an enormous mobile hotspot allowance. 

• Pros: 100GB mobile hotspot allowance, unlimited high-speed data with no deprioritization threshold, 4K UHD streaming on mobile internet
• Cons: Expensive

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Verizon | Unlimited Plus | $80/month—Best Verizon hotspot plan for gaming

Verizon's Unlimited Plus plan lives up to its name with its plentiful amenities. You get unlimited talk, text, and premium high-speed data that doesn't slow down regardless of how much you use. For gaming, there's a sizable 30GB premium mobile hotspot data allowance for streaming games with GeForce Now on the Logitech G Cloud, enjoying retro titles with Nintendo Online, or playing Call of Duty on your gaming laptop.

Aside from a veritable data buffet, Unlimited Plus lets you opt into discounted includes perks like the Disney Bundle (Hulu, Disney+, ESPN Select), Apple One, Walmart+, and Verizon Cloud Storage. However, this awesomeness costs you $80/month for a single line. Luckily, you can save with a Verizon family plan, so we suggest grabbing some family members or friends to take advantage of a multi-line discount.

If 30GB isn't enough, you may also consider Verizon's 60GB Unlimited Ultimate plan. However, at $10/month cheaper, we recommend Unlimited Plus for all but the most hardcore gamers. After all, an extra $10/month might not sound like much but it adds up quickly. And it's probably more cost-effective to just tack on Verizon's $10/month 100GB mobile hotspot add-on instead. As a cheaper alternative, consider Verizon's prepaid Unlimited Plus plan or a Verizon MVNO like Visible.

• Pros: Large 30GB mobile hotspot allowance, unlimited data with no deprioritization threshold, great discounted perks available
• Cons: Expensive, perks aren't included at no-cost

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T-Mobile | Experience More | $85/month—Best T-Mobile hotspot gaming plan

T-Mobile's Experience More plan is an exceptional choice for gamers because of its 60GB mobile hotspot allowance. You can easily tether your phone to your Switch Lite, Steam Deck, or gaming laptop at a coffee shop. And its unlimited high-speed premium mobile data lets you stream games on your Android or iPhone with services like Amazon Luna and Xbox Cloud. 

You'll enjoy solid perks with Experience More, including a Netflix subscription, Apple TV+, and international benefits including data and calling. Experience More isn't exactly wallet-friendly at $85/month for one line. Family plan discounts lower prices with more added lines, including The Un-carrier's competitive third-line free deal. Overall, T-Mobile's Experience More tier lets you turn your phone into one of the best hotspots for gaming.

• Pros: 60GB mobile hotspot allowance, outstanding 5G coverage, unlimited high-speed premium data
• Cons: Pricey

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Check out our mobile hotspot guide for more terrific tethering options. 

Best Hotspot Devices for Gaming

For gaming on a hotspot, you'll need a plan and device. You can either use your phone or a standalone portable Wi-Fi router. Let's look at the best mobile hotspot devices from Netgear, Orbic, and Glocal Me.  

Orbic Speed 5G UW | Best Verizon hotspot for gaming

Verizon's Orbic Speed 5G UW (ultra-wideband) packs the fastest-possible 5G speeds for low-latency gaming anywhere you've got a strong signal. The Speed 5G UW lets you connect up to 30 devices simultaneously and boasts a long 12-hour battery life. Despite its great performance, the Orbic Speed 5G UW doesn't break the bank. As alternatives, consider the Inseego MiFi X Pro 5G UW with its 32-device support or TCL Linkzone 5G UW with its capability to double as a portable charger for juicing up your phone, Nintendo Switch, or laptop.

• Pros: 5G ultra-wideband support, long battery life, connects up to 30 simultaneous devices
• Cons: Locked to Verizon

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GlocalMe | Numen Air | Best gaming hotspot for travelers

The GlocalMe Numen Air is a fantastic 5G-capable portable router. It supports up to 16 simultaneous devices and offers blazing-fast mobile data speeds in the United States and worldwide. The Numen Air is a great mobile hotspot for frequent fliers, thanks to its international connectivity. We'd like cheaper domestic rates in the United States—you're better off with a plan from a U.S. mobile carrier unless you're regularly outside the country. Nevertheless, the GlocalMe Numen Air keeps you gaming on the go at home and abroad.

• Pros: 5G support, works domestically and internationally, long battery life
• Cons: Not the cheapest for use in the United States

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The phone you have | Best gaming hotspot on a budget

Chances are, you've already got an Android or iPhone (and you're reading this article on that device). You can easily transform your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot. 

• iPhones: Head to Settings > Personal Hotspot and toggle on Allow Others to Join. 
• Android: Navigate to Settings > Network and Internet > Hotspot and Tethering > Wi-Fi hotspot and enable your phone's hotspot function. 

However, using your phone as a hotspot drains your handset battery. Additionally, most hotspot devices let you connect more devices than with a phone. Some carriers or phones also won't let you use voice and data simultaneously, so if you're connected to your iPad Pro for gaming, you might be unable to take calls on your iPhone.

• Pros: No extra hardware needed, cost-effective, many plans include hotspot allowances  
• Cons: Runs down your phone battery, voice and data may not work at the same time, limited simultaneous device connectivity

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Learn more about mobile hotspots with a look at MiFi, from what it is to how it works.

Choosing a mobile hotspot plan and device for gaming

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There's a lot to consider when selecting a mobile hotspot for gaming, including service, hardware, and price. Here's what you need to consider as a gamer.

Coverage area

You'll need reliable service where you live and travel when gaming with a mobile hotspot. Think about where you'll need to use a portable router the most, then see which carrier offers the best signal strength. Specifically for gaming, we suggest using 5G as much as possible for the lowest possible lag.

Price

Set a budget for a device, service, or both, then find a solution that fits the bill. Generally, most plans with a dedicated mobile hotspot allowance run around $50 or more for one line. A standalone portable hotspot like a MiFi sets you back anywhere from around $150 to over $500.  

Data allowance

Some plans feature a dedicated mobile hotspot allocation, while others allow for tethering but data used comes out of a single data pool. For instance, the best unlimited plans from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile typically bundle around 40-60GB of mobile hotspot data. On the other hand, some carriers like Mint Mobile let you tether devices to your phone but any mobile data burned comes out of a single lump.

Data-only vs. phone plan

You can use a phone plan with minutes, messages, and web or a data-only plan. We recommend using a more traditional plan with talk and text if you plan to use your phone as a hotspot. However, a data-only plan is a great option if you're seeking service for a hotspot device like the Netgear Nighthawk M6. For a hybrid, some carriers like Google Fi let you snag data-only SIM cards at no extra charge for a phone and hotspot or tablet devices under one plan.

Phone vs. dedicated mobile hotspot device

You can use your phone or a standalone portable router to connect gaming PCs or consoles to mobile data. Using your phone is the easiest, and probably cheapest, solution since you've already got a handset. Furthermore, you'll have one less device to lug around. 

However, you'll drain your phone battery while out and about unless you're plugged into a wall charger or portable battery pack. Additionally, some carriers and phones don't allow voice and hotspot use concurrently, meaning you can't take calls and tether to game consoles at the same time. Plus, standalone portable Wi-Fi routers are generally more reliable and let you tether more devices than phones since they're not receiving calls and texts. While most folks are fine with using a phone as a hotspot, serious gamers should get a dedicated mobile hotspot.