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Best pocket WiFi for Europe: Costs, features, and reviews
Take a closer look at the best pocket WiFi options for Europe, complete with their pricing, features, and real user reviews.
Maintaining an internet connection when traveling abroad is a must. It allows you to find your way around with map apps or translate foreign languages into your native tongue in a heartbeat. Pocket WiFi is one of the more popular ways to do so, as it allows you to carry internet with you everywhere you go.
Follow along to learn all about pocket WiFi, the best options for traveling in Europe, as well as other alternatives you might want to consider for staying connected on the go.
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What is pocket WiFi?
Before we look at the best pocket WiFi options for Europe, you’ll need to understand what pocket WiFi is. In essence, it’s a portable WiFi device that functions a lot like the WiFi router you have at home. The key differences are that it’s battery-powered and gets internet from mobile data rather than an ethernet cable.
Just like a regular router, it creates a WiFi network, which you can use to connect multiple devices at once. You can buy a pocket WiFi device if you plan on using it frequently, but it still needs a data plan to work. That’s why most users choose to rent a device that already comes with a data plan for the entire rental period.
While some services may only offer plans for separate countries, others have the option of data plans that work all over Europe. By using such services, you won’t need to buy a new data plan every time you cross a border.
What’s the best pocket WiFi for Europe?
Before we take a closer look at the best pocket WiFi Europe plans, there are a few things you should know about choosing the right provider. The price of the plan isn’t the only thing you’ll have to pay for. You’ll also have to cover the delivery and return fees for the device, and these can differ significantly from one service provider to another.
All providers also have different penalties if you lose or damage the device, so while it’s not going to cost you anything upfront, it’s still something worth considering. Some providers offer insurance on the device. This protects you from paying hundreds of dollars if you fail to return it, but does add to the initial bill at checkout.
Finally, some services offer power banks, car chargers, or travel adapters for rent as well. If you know you’ll be needing these devices on your trip, it’s nice to be able to get everything you need from one place.
Cello Mobile
Cello Mobile is a solid pocket WiFi option if you’re traveling to Europe from North America. Since the company is based in the United States, shipping to your home Canada, the US, or Mexico is more affordable than getting the device shipped to your destination in Europe.
Delivery to any place in North America ranges from $15 to $25, and while Cello Mobile does deliver to other countries, the price for shipping goes all the way up to $75.
That said, the price of the rental itself is pretty steep. You will be charged $349.99 for the first week, with a daily fee of $49.99 for each day after the first week. The fairly high price is compensated, in part, because the base price includes unlimited internet at 4G, a fast-charging wall charger, travel adapters, and a fanny pack for carrying the device.
You can also get a car charger, a power bank, and insurance on your device for an additional price. If you opt not to pay for the insurance, you’ll have to pay a fee of $75 in case you lose or damage any of your rental items.
User review:
I have used this company probably 4-5 times over the past several years. Mostly for trips to Europe and once for a Dominical Republic trip. I feel that the equipment is reliable, shipping has always been on time, they give you 3 days after you come back to mail the equipment back to them.
Philip van Harreveld, Google Reviews
TravelWiFi
If you’d rather have your pocket WiFi delivered to your hotel or any other address in Europe, TravelWiFi offers a selection of fixed data plans that you might want to consider.
The price ranges from $7.95/day for 1 GB of data to $11.95/day for 10 GB of data. The delivery prices range from $10 to $30 depending on your location, though the company also offers free pick-up options with a long list of locations in Spain, France, and a few other countries throughout Europe.
The price includes quality service and coverage all over Europe and a charger with a USB cable. The company does not offer insurance on its devices, so make sure to take good care of them. If you fail to return the device or return it damaged, you’ll be asked to pay a fee of $199 to compensate for the damages.
User review:
Service performs as advertised — very good portable wifi connection. Staff were excellent. Explained the device clearly and how to return it when finished. They even helped me with an issue with Google maps that had nothing to do with my wifi connection. They were genuinely helpful.
Bruce R., Trustpilot
My Webspot
My Webspot is another European pocket WiFi company that offers a Europe plan, which provides coverage in the entire continent. Just like TravelWiFi, you can get your device at physical pick-up points, but your choices are much more limited, with two locations in France and one in Spain.
If neither of these locations suits you, you’ll be glad to learn that standard delivery to many European countries is free. Express delivery is also very affordable, ranging from $5.59 to $11.29 depending on your location.
As for their plans, well, My Webspot only has one. It includes unlimited internet at 4G and a charger for $86.98/week. You also have the option of renting a power bank, a car charger, and a travel adapter for an additional fee.
My Webspot also offers travel insurance, priced at $18.13. That said, the insurance only cuts the price you have to pay in case of loss or damage in half. Without insurance, the rate stands at $190, and if you get the insurance, you’ll need to pay $95 if you fail to return the device in good condition.
User review:
During my recent stay in Manchester with my daughter the wifi service is very strong as long as I was in Stagecoach bus. It was also very strong when we were inside the Picadally station. Otherwise it was not so good.
Sudipto R, Trustpilot
HippocketWifi
4G isn’t fast enough for you? Well, HippocketWifi gives you the option to rent your pocket WiFi with 5G connectivity. Standard shipping to most European countries is free, so if you order with enough time left for standard delivery, you can get your pocket WiFi delivered to your door at no extra cost.
There are three different plans that you can choose from. These include either 1 GB of daily data at 4G, unlimited daily data at 4G, or unlimited data at 5G speed. The prices range from €7.95/day to €16.95/day ($8.80-$18.80) for a 3-5 day rental and get cheaper for longer rental periods.
The base price includes the pocket WiFi device with a charger, however, you can get an optional car charger for free as well. You also have the option of renting a power bank for a fee of €5 ($5.50) that lasts the entire rental period.
That said, there’s no option to get insurance on your device, so make sure to take good care of it. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay a fee of $170 if you fail to return the device or return it damaged.
User review:
Delivery was rapid, and arrived at our house in the U.S. before our departure. Worked very well everywhere we went (in France). Easy to return in any post box. Also, customer service was very responsive and friendly. Definitely recommend!
Christopher Goetz, Google Reviews
Pocket WiFi alternatives
Pocket WiFi devices do allow you to stay connected on the go, but it’s not the only mobile internet solution for travelers. In fact, it’s one of the most expensive and least convenient options out there.
If you don’t want to go through the process of renting out a travel router, paying excessive shipping fees, and waiting days for the device to arrive, consider one of the alternatives below.
eSIM for Europe
Travelers all over the world have fallen in love with eSIMs because of the price and convenience they offer. You can buy, set up, and activate your eSIM in minutes for near-instant internet access wherever you are. All you need is an eSIM-compatible phone and an eSIM data plan to use it with.
Once you buy your eSIM plan, you’ll receive a QR code in your email. Simply scan the QR code and follow the simple instructions to activate your eSIM. As soon as you do, you’ll be able to enjoy mobile internet from local networks.
You can get the Holafly eSIM for Europe for $5.90 for a day of unlimited internet, with the daily price getting even better as the plan duration increases. All Holafly plans include unlimited data and don’t have any hidden charges attached to them. Since eSIMs are completely digital, you don’t have to worry about shipping fees or buying physical SIM cards.
All plans also include up to 1 GB of data sharing daily, which means that you can turn your phone into a mobile hotspot and share mobile internet with other devices just as you would with pocket WiFi.
Travel SIM card for Europe
If you don’t have an eSIM-compatible cell phone, don’t worry. Travel SIM cards offer a similar alternative, only in the form of a physical SIM card. You can get travel SIMs at most airports and physical shops of local network providers. Some providers also offer the option of delivering the SIM card to your door.
The pricing for these depends on the provider, the country you’re visiting, and where you’re buying the card, as they can cost more in very touristy areas.
Since it’s a physical card, you’ll need to insert it into a SIM card slot to use it. This can be an issue if you don’t have a dual-SIM phone, as you’d have to remove your regular SIM card and won’t be able to use your regular phone number at the same time as the travel SIM.
Free public WiFi
If you don’t need constant internet access in your travels, you can resort to public WiFi networks for basic connectivity needs. Most airports, restaurants, and hotels in Europe have free WiFi, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding a network to connect to.
That said, free WiFi is only available on location, and your cell phones will lose connection as soon as you leave the area. They’re also infamous for being an internet safety risk, so we’d only recommend you use them if it’s an absolute necessity.
For example, you can use free WiFi at the airport to buy and activate an eSIM, after which, you’ll be able to enjoy a fast, reliable, and secure connection wherever you go.
Is pocket WiFi the best option for staying connected in Europe?
Pocket WiFi is only the best mobile internet option if you must keep multiple devices connected to the same network at all times. If you need an internet connection on your cell phone with the option of sharing part of your mobile data, both eSIMs and travel SIM cards offer a cheaper and more convenient alternative.
eSIMs have become arguably the most popular option over the last few years. With most modern phones supporting eSIM technology, using eSIM plans is no longer an issue. You can set up an eSIM within minutes and won’t need any additional devices, so you can get connected immediately.
FAQs
Yes, pocket WiFi devices work in Europe with European data plans. You can rent a pocket WiFi that works all throughout the continent or one that’s limited to a specific country.
If you need WiFi when traveling in Europe, you can rent a pocket WiFi device, or buy an eSIM plan and turn your mobile phone into a WiFi hotspot by turning on data sharing.
You can order a portable WiFi device to be delivered to the hotel you’ll be staying in, so the rental device will be ready for you by the time you arrive.
Yes, one of Holafly’s best products is eSIMs with global service to over 113 destinations. These include benefits such as unlimited data and hotspot, among many others.
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Hi! Leoneska here, your guide to traveling connected. I'm a Venezuelan SEO content specialist with over four years of experience sharing tips and tricks for using mobile internet while traveling and making the most of your adventures. At Holafly, I take care of providing reliable and high-quality information to travelers like you. I hope you enjoy my content and find it useful!
