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Best 5G hotspot: Top 5 options to consider in 2026
Looking for the best 5G hotspot? Take a look at some of the top options and their pricing, features, and main things to consider.
The best 5G hotspot depends on how many devices you need to connect and where you’ll use them. For a laptop or tablet, your phone’s hotspot on a 5G data plan is usually enough.
For a family, a team, or a small remote office, a dedicated device like the Netgear Nighthawk M7 Pro or the Franklin JEXtream RG3100 handles more connections and runs on its own battery. On the road, a Holafly eSIM lets you share data from your phone in many destinations. Below, we compare the best 5G mobile hotspot 2026 options on price, battery life, connections, and coverage.
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TL;DR What is the best 5G hotspot?
There’s no single answer, because the best 5G mobile hotspot for you depends on how many devices you connect, which carrier you use, and where you travel. Here’s when each tethering option makes sense:
- Holafly Plans suits travelers who want to use their phone as a 5G hotspot, with one eSIM for 160+ destinations and unlimited data with hotspot on the Unlimited tier.
- Netgear Nighthawk M7 Pro is the high-performance pick, with WiFi 7, up to 64 connected devices, and an Ethernet port for wired speeds, sold through AT&T.
- Franklin JEXtream RG3100 brings tri-band WiFi 7 to T-Mobile users for $199.99, with a battery that doubles as a power bank.
- Orbic Speed 5G UW is the mid-range model for Verizon users, with up to 30 connections and up to 12 hours of use.
- BLU M100 5G is the budget option at under $50, for up to 16 devices on Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband
1. Holafly Plans: Phone hotspot with 5G in 160+ destinations
- Price: Monthly subscription, cancel anytime
- Connections: Depends on your phone; works best with up to five devices
- Battery life: Uses your phone battery
- Speed: Up to 5G
- International coverage: 160+ destinations
Holafly Plans is a monthly eSIM subscription for travelers and digital nomads who want to use their phone as a 5G hotspot. One eSIM covers 160+ destinations, so you can stay connected across countries without changing data plans or buying new ones every time.
Holafly Plans comes in two tiers that let you activate your hotspot:
- Unlimited: unlimited data, with hotspot sharing included
- Light: hotspot sharing within the plan’s monthly data allowance
For more than connectivity, Ultra Plan adds a local number and wellbeing benefits, such as 24/7 doctor chat and flight and luggage assistance, on top of unlimited data with hotspot.
As with all phone hotspots, it works best with up to five devices connected at once. Anything more and you’ll start to see speeds drop. On the Light tier, keep an eye on usage, since a laptop and a tablet on your hotspot can get through the monthly allowance faster than you’d expect. It helps to know how much data hotspot uses before you pick a tier.
Holafly Plans doesn’t require a long-term contract, so you can keep it for as long as you need and cancel anytime.
Holafly Plans pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unlimited data with hotspot on the Unlimited tier | May not perform well if you connect many devices at once |
| One eSIM for 160+ destinations | Hotspot on the Light tier counts toward its monthly data allowance |
| No long-term contract, cancel anytime |
2. Netgear Nighthawk M7 Pro: Best for many simultaneous 5G connections
- Price: $449.99, or $12.50 a month over 36 months, plus an AT&T data plan
- Connections: Up to 64
- Battery life: Up to 13 hours
- Speed: Up to 5G, with WiFi 7
- International coverage: Built for AT&T’s network; use abroad depends on your AT&T plan
Looking for the best 5G hotspot device to support a small remote office, or need to keep many devices working at once? The Netgear Nighthawk M7 Pro might be the pick for you.
The device shares its 5G connection with up to 64 devices across up to 2,000 square feet, and runs WiFi 7 on an exclusive 6 GHz band, which keeps speeds up when several people stream, game, or join video calls at the same time. On the go, its battery lasts up to 13 hours on a single charge, and a wired Ethernet port makes it a solid primary or backup connection, as well as a capable hotspot for remote work.
In the US, the M7 Pro is sold through AT&T for $449.99, so you’ll pair it with an AT&T data plan. If you’d rather choose your own carrier, the Nighthawk M7 ($499.99) is sold unlocked and works with a SIM card or an eSIM, and it’s certified for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It supports up to 32 devices instead of 64, but it isn’t tied to one network, which makes it the more flexible pick for international travel.
Netgear Nighthawk M7 Pro pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Supports up to 64 simultaneous connections | Sold through AT&T in the US |
| WiFi 7 on an exclusive 6 GHz band | Priced at $449.99 + cost of data plans |
| Wired Ethernet port | |
| Up to 13 hours of battery life and 2,000 sq. ft. of coverage |
3. Franklin JEXtream RG3100: Best WiFi 7 hotspot for T-Mobile users
- Price: $199.99, or $5.56 a month over 36 months, plus a T-Mobile data plan
- Connections: Up to 32
- Battery life: All-day battery, up to 24 hours on standby
- Speed: Up to 5G, with tri-band WiFi 7
- International coverage: Supports international bands; use abroad depends on your T-Mobile plan
If you want the best 5G portable hotspot for road trips, remote work, or a family on the move, the Franklin JEXtream RG3100 brings WiFi 7 at a mid-range price. It runs on all three WiFi bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) and keeps up to 32 devices connected at once.
The RG3100 also has an Ethernet port for a wired connection and a USB-C port. Its 5,000 mAh battery doubles as a power bank, so you can top up your phone from the hotspot when you’re away from an outlet. You can check data usage or set up a guest network from the color touchscreen or through Franklin’s remote cloud platform.
In the US, the RG3100 is sold through T-Mobile for $199.99, so you’ll pair it with a T-Mobile data plan. It supports international bands, but how it works abroad depends on your plan’s T-Mobile international roaming terms.
Franklin JEXtream RG3100 pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Tri-band WiFi 7 for under $200 | Sold through T-Mobile in the US |
| Battery doubles as a power bank | Supports 32 devices, half as many as the M7 Pro |
| Ethernet port for wired connections | International use depends on your T-Mobile plan |
4. Orbic Speed 5G UW: Best mid-range 5G hotspot for Verizon users
- Price: $299.99, or $8.33 a month over 36 months, plus a Verizon data plan
- Connections: Up to 30
- Battery life: Up to 12 hours
- Speed: Up to 5G, including Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband
- International coverage: Built for Verizon’s network; use abroad depends on your Verizon plan
If you don’t want a bare-bones device but also don’t want to spend $450 or more, the Orbic Speed 5G UW sits right in the middle. With up to 30 simultaneous connections, access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband, and up to 12 hours of use on a single charge, this pocket-sized device keeps a small group connected through a full day.
One thing worth noting is that the Speed 5G UW is built for Verizon’s network and sold through Verizon. If you’re not a Verizon customer and don’t plan to get a Verizon data plan, the Netgear or Franklin picks will suit you better.
If you’re serious about cybersecurity, the device supports WiFi security protocols for a protected connection, and its 2.4-inch touchscreen lets you manage settings without an app. Verizon also sells the newer Orbic Speed X 5G for $199.99, if you’d rather pay less for a current model.
Orbic Speed 5G UW pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Supports up to 30 simultaneous connections | Built for Verizon’s network |
| Up to 12 hours of battery life | Fewer connections than WiFi 7 devices |
| Access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband |
5. BLU M100 5G: Best budget 5G hotspot
- Price: $49.99, plus a prepaid data plan
- Connections: Up to 16
- Battery life: All-day 5,000 mAh battery
- Speed: Up to 5G, with WiFi 5
- International coverage: Built for Verizon’s network through its prepaid brands
If you need 5G on the go without spending hundreds on a device, the BLU M100 5G costs under $50. Verizon’s prepaid brands, including Total Wireless, Straight Talk, and Simple Mobile, sell it for use on Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network.
The M100 keeps up to 16 devices connected over WiFi 5, which covers a phone, a laptop, and a tablet for a small group. Its 5,000 mAh battery lasts all day and can charge another device in a pinch. The 1.8-inch display is basic and isn’t a touchscreen, but it shows the essentials.
The trade-off is reach. The M100 is built for Verizon’s network and sold with prepaid plans, so it’s a better fit for road trips across the US than for travel abroad.
BLU M100 5G pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Priced under $50 | Supports up to 16 devices |
| All-day battery that can charge other devices | WiFi 5, not WiFi 6 or 7 |
| Access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband | Built for Verizon’s network |
How to choose the best 5G hotspot
Choosing the right hotspot means reliable connectivity without spending more than you need to. Here are the main factors to consider before you pick a device or one of the best hotspot plans on the market:
- Price: Dedicated 5G hotspot devices range from about $50 for prepaid budget models to $450 or more for flagship devices. If you use your phone as a mobile hotspot, the only cost is a data plan that allows data sharing.
- Battery life: Budget models offer all-day batteries, while flagship devices last up to 13 hours on a single charge, and some double as a power bank for your phone. Consider how long you’ll use your hotspot without a chance to charge it.
- Number of connections: Simultaneous connections range from a handful on a phone hotspot to 64 on high-end devices. If you need to keep many devices online at once, pick a hotspot that supports that.
- Speed: Every option here supports 5G, but WiFi standards differ. The best 5G WiFi hotspot for a busy household or small office runs WiFi 7, which helps when several devices stream or upload at the same time.
- International compatibility: Some hotspot devices are locked to one carrier or region, while unlocked models work with any SIM in most countries. If you travel abroad often, the best unlocked 5G mobile hotspot will save you from buying a new device for each trip. Check that yours will work everywhere you plan to visit.
- Phone hotspot vs. dedicated device: A phone hotspot suits casual users who share internet with a laptop, while a dedicated device keeps more connections running without draining your phone.
Mobile hotspots vs. dedicated hotspot devices
One of the main choices is whether to buy a dedicated hotspot device or use your phone as a mobile hotspot. Both are good options for different kinds of users. Here’s how they compare.
| Phone hotspot | Dedicated hotspot device | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Data plan only | About $50-$450+, plus the cost of a data plan |
| Simultaneous connections | 3-5 comfortably; performance drops with more | Up to 64, depending on the device |
| Battery life | Uses your phone’s battery | All-day to about 13 hours, depending on the device |
| Speed | Up to 5G if your data plan supports it | Up to 5G, with WiFi 5, 6, or 7 depending on the device |
| International compatibility | Works anywhere, as long as the phone isn’t carrier-locked | Unlocked models work in most countries; carrier models may be locked |
If a few devices are all you need to connect, the best portable 5G hotspot might already be in your pocket.
Enjoy unlimited data sharing with Holafly
If you need to keep a few devices connected on the road, a Holafly eSIM turns your phone into a hotspot with unlimited data, 5G speeds, and 24/7 support, so you can work from a café or share a connection with your travel companions without hunting for WiFi. Every Holafly eSIM also includes Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data at no added cost in 150+ destinations, handy for loading a museum ticket QR code at the entrance if your main plan has run out.
For longer stays, Holafly Plans covers 160+ destinations with one eSIM and a monthly subscription you can cancel anytime. The Unlimited tier includes hotspot, so your phone, laptop, and a tablet can share one connection for as long as you’re abroad.
If you want international data for a single trip, Holafly’s travel eSIMs cover 200+ destinations with unlimited data. Many include a daily data-sharing allowance, which you’ll find on each destination page.
Combine work with travel
Get unlimited 5G hotspot with Holafly Connect.
FAQs about best 5G hotspot
It depends on where you’re going. For trips abroad, an unlocked device like the Netgear Nighthawk M7 works with a SIM card or an eSIM, so you can switch carriers as you go. If you only need to share data with a laptop or tablet, a Holafly eSIM turns your phone into the hotspot, with no extra device to pack.
The Netgear Nighthawk M7 is sold unlocked for $499.99, works with a SIM card or an eSIM, and is certified for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It connects up to 32 devices. If you’d rather not carry a second device, the Unlimited tier of Holafly Plans lets your phone share data in 160+ destinations.
A 5G mobile hotspot is a device, or a phone feature, that shares a 5G cellular connection with other devices over WiFi. Dedicated hotspots run on their own battery and handle more connections, while a phone hotspot uses your existing data plan. With a Holafly eSIM, your phone can act as a 5G hotspot while you travel.
Yes, but unlimited data comes from the plan, not the device. A dedicated hotspot needs its own data plan from a carrier, and the allowance depends on that plan. On the phone side, the Unlimited tier of Holafly Plans includes unlimited data with hotspot in 160+ destinations, so your phone can work as the hotspot.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
