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Best pocket Wifi for the UK: How much does it cost?
Rent your pocket WiFi from the most reliable providers: TravelWiFi, WiFi Hire, HippocketWiFi, and My Webspot. As a bonus, discover eSIM as the smart alternative.
Despite being portable, some advanced pocket WiFi devices provide unlimited 4G or 5G connections for up to 12 hours on a single charge. You can spend the day sightseeing in London, making video calls and streaming live, and staying connected worry-free until you return in the evening.
Pocket WiFi is a smart choice for digital nomads, business travelers, or groups who value secure connections, reliability, and the ability to connect multiple devices. In this article, we’ll show you how to get pocket WiFi in the UK, as well as pricing options and alternatives to consider.
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What is pocket WiFi?
Pocket WiFi is a portable device that creates a private WiFi network to which you can connect your phone, laptop, and any other device that uses WiFi. It connects to mobile networks like 4G or 5G and gives you a secure connection and reliable internet, depending on the mobile network coverage.
- USB dongles: These are the smallest portable WiFi devices you plug directly into your computer. USB dongles can provide connection only for one device at a time.
- Mobile hotspots: These pocket WiFi devices create WiFi hotspots for multiple devices, have a SIM slot, and can connect to 4G and 5G networks. Some of them even have eSIM capabilities.
- SIM-based WiFi routers: These devices are larger, sturdier, and offer stronger connections, which is why they are the leading choice for digital nomads and extended trips.
How can I get portable WiFi in the UK?
The most common option for getting pocket WiFi in the UK is to rent it. You can do this online before your trip. Here’s how:
- Choose a provider: There are many pocket WiFi providers in the UK, so you have to consider their data limits, prices, and availability.
- Book online: Just like booking a room at a hotel, you book the starting and the ending date of your rental period. You’ll also pick the amount of data and whether you want a 4G or 5G pocket WiFi.
- Choose delivery or pick-up: You can have your device delivered to your accommodation or even shipped internationally. Another option is to arrange for you to pick it up at the airport, like Heathrow or Gatwick, when you land.
- Activate and use your pocket WiF:. Power it up, and enter the WiFi password into your smartphone, laptop, or tablet to connect.
- Return the device: If you have picked it up from the airport, you will likely have to return it to the same spot. If it were delivered, you’d probably get a prepaid return envelope to mail your device back.
How much does pocket WiFi cost in the UK?
Price is definitely one of the main deciding factors when choosing your pocket WiFi device for the UK. Device rental starts at $7.95 a day for 1 GB of data but can top $30 a day for unlimited data – and this doesn’t include the potential $50+ delivery fee.
Here are some things that can increase or reduce the price:
- Data plan: Unlimited data plans will cost more than capped ones.
- Rental duration: You will most likely get a better per-day price if you rent the portable WiFi device for more extended periods. Weekly and monthly deals are better than daily ones.
- Speed: Of course, 5G will be more expensive than a 4G device.
- Delivery fees: If you choose to have your device delivered or you want to arrange an airport pick-up, you may pay an additional fee for that convenience.
- Security deposit: Some providers charge a refundable deposit in case of device damage.
Here’s a quick comparison of some of the best pocket WFi options for the UK, focusing on prices, data limits (including throttling), and additional fees.
| Price (3-day rental) | Data limits and throttling | Additional fees | |
| Travel WiFi | $7.95/day (1 GB), $8.95/day (5 GB), $11.95/day (10 GB) | 1 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB/day, reduced speed after data limit | $58.50 delivery fee |
| WiFi Hire | $26.14/day (unlimited) | Unlimited, no throttle | No additional fees (free return label) |
| HippocketWifi | $25.30 (1 GB), $31.65 (unlimited) | 1 GB daily limit (throttling), unlimited option available | $16 return envelope, $13 for faster delivery |
| My Webspot | $37.28 for 3 days, $108.30 for 10 days | 3 GB/day, then throttled to 512kbps | $7.87 express delivery, additional fees for accessories |
Best pocket WiFi providers for the UK
Now, let’s dive into reviewing each of their individual offers.
TravelWiFi
TravelWiFi or Travelers WiFi is a company located in Europe, with warehouses in Houston (USA), France, Spain, and Chile. You can rent their Pocket WiFi for England entirely online in a few easy steps that shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
Speed: Your pocket WiFi will provide up to 4G LTE speed.
Pricing: Travel WiFi has three daily packages, with an option for a discounted price for 30+ days.
- United Kingdom – Adventure plan: 1GB/day for $7.95/day
- United Kingdom – Escape plan: 5GB/day for $8.95/day
- United Kingdom – Voyage plan: 10GB/day for $11.95/day
- UK – 30GB Data Plan (30 days): $10/day
Delivery and pick-up:
The pickup option for TravelWiFi is not available in the UK. Instead, you can only get your device delivered by the postal service, and you’ll have to send it back. This service adds a $58.50 fee to your total price.
Other features:
- If you order before 3 PM, your pocket WiFi will be shipped the same day. Later than that, you’ll have to wait for tomorrow for it to be shipped. It will take 2-3 business days to receive it anywhere in the UK. There’s an option for overnight shipping, but you must check if it’s available in the UK.
- You can connect up to five devices at the same time.
- Your network will be password-protected.
- If you run out of data, you can continue to use the internet but at a reduced speed.
WiFi Hire
WiFi Hire is a UK-based company that offers different portable pocket WiFi rentals you can use within England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Your portable WiFi device can be delivered to any UK address, including hotels, Airbnbs, and offices. You also get a free return service via UK post offices or post boxes.
Speed: Depending on your location, you can expect between 12 Mbps and 60 Mbps and a 4G network connection. With these speeds, you can freely enjoy streaming, Zoom calls, and general browsing.
Pricing:
- Price starts at $26.14 a day. For this price, you get unlimited data. You can select the number of hire days on the website to see the total cost.
- Daily rate is reduced if you opt for longer rentals. The more days you rent the device, the less you pay per day.
Delivery and pick-up:
The device can be delivered to any address in the UK on the exact first day of your rental period or 1-3 days before. For last-minute orders, delivery will be upgraded to the Next Working Day. You can return the device using your free return label at over 10,000 post offices or any 100,000 post boxes.
Other features:
- Connect up to 10 devices: The device supports up to 10 devices simultaneously, which is pretty impressive and makes this an excellent option for groups or families.
- Extended battery life: The battery can last up to 24 hours with very light use.
- No daily data limit: There is no daily limit for the amount of data you use, and there’s no throttle. This means that you can use this device as much as you like, and the speed will not be reduced.
HippocketWifi
Hippocketwifi is a French company that has been in the market for more than 10 years. It offers its pocket WiFi rental services in 40 countries and covers 98% of Europe with 4G LTE speeds. Currently, they are working on expanding the 5G option in more than 25 countries. You can rent three versions of Hippocketwifi devices:
- 4G Pocket WiFi: Supporting up to 10 devices with a 6-8 hours battery life.
- XXL Pocket WiFi: Offering up to 20 hours of battery life.
- 5G Pocket WiFi: Supporting up to 20 devices, with speeds up to 1.5Gbps and an 8-10 hours battery life.
Pricing:
- A 3-day rental in Europe (including the UK) costs $25.30 for a 1GB daily limit or $31.65 for unlimited data.
- You can upgrade to more powerful devices and get 4G XXL for an extra $15.80 per rental, or you can rent 5G starting from $2.10/day.
- There’s a minimum rental period of 3 days.
Delivery and pick-up:
Free standard delivery is available to most addresses in the UK within 1-2 business days. Faster delivery can be arranged for a $13 fee. However, a prepaid return envelope for easy returns costs $16.
Other features:
- Your device comes with a USB cable, one EU wall charger (you’ll need a travel adapter for the UK), a user manual, and a prepaid return envelope.
- You may get an emergency SIM card to extend your rental period or change your data plan.
- A car charger can be added to your rental device for free.
- There’s a power bank available for an additional $5.47.
My Webspot
My Webspot offers portable WiFi devices for rent in over 100 countries. Founded in France over 10 years ago, it serves Europe, the US, the UK, and other regions.
Pricing:
- A minimum 3-day rental costs $37.28 in the UK. The price for 10 days is $108.30, which means that the daily rate decreases with longer rentals.
- There are add-ons available: car charger ($11.40), power bank ($11.40), international power adapter ($13.68), and insurance ($18.13.)
Delivery and pick-up:
Devices can be delivered to homes, hotels, or pick-up points (Airbnb excluded). My Webspot offers free standard delivery in 3-5 business days for any location. Express delivery arrives in 1-2 days and is available for $7.87 for home address delivery and $5.59 for delivery in hotels. For returns, customers can choose between a prepaid return envelope or self-return options via a local office.
Other features:
- You get unlimited internet, but it adheres to a Fair Usage Policy, which means 3GB/day in the UK and 512kbps after that.
- Connect up to five devices
- 8-hour battery life
- My Webspot doesn’t deliver to Airbnb.
Pocket WiFi alternatives
Pocket WiFi is a reliable way to stay connected while in the UK, but it’s not without its downfalls. This type of connectivity comes with a price that may be outside the budget for some travelers. Additionally, you have to plan your trip carefully, account for the drop-off and delivery dates, and take care not to damage the device.
Those are just some reasons why many choose other options to stay connected in the UK. These include international eSIM and local SIM cards, as well as free WiFi. All of these options allow you to use your phone in the UK while avoiding data roaming fees.
Unlimited data eSIM for the UK
An eSIM is a digital SIM card that you download by scanning a QR code, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card.
Holafly’s eSIM for the UK with unlimited data, is an excellent alternative to pocket WiFi. Simply visit the Holafly website, choose the destination and the days you want to use your eSIM (any number of days between 1 and 90), and complete the online purchase.
You’ll get an email with a QR code you have to scan, and your UK eSIM will be installed and ready for use. You can even purchase and install your eSIM before your trip or when you land in the UK. Either way, you’ll have an internet connection immediately.
Here are some important things to know about Holafly eSIM for the UK:
No additional devices: The eSIM is embedded into your phone, so you don’t have to worry about delivery dates, pick-ups, and drop-offs.
Holafly app: Holafly has a great app that allows you to manage your eSIM and top up your eSIM data plan if you prolong your stay.
Unlimited data: While the eSIM comes with unlimited data, there is a 500 MB daily sharing limit to prevent excessive data use.
Regional plans: Besides the UK eSIM data plan, Holafly offers Europe-wide data plans, ideal for travelers visiting multiple European countries without needing separate SIMs.
High-quality connection: The eSIM connects to local mobile networks in the UK, giving you the same high-quality connection as if you were using a local SIM card.
UK prepaid SIM card
If your phone is not eSIM-compatible, a good alternative to pocket WiFi is a UK prepaid SIM card. You can get tourist prepaid SIM packages from companies such as Vodafone, Three, O2, and EE. Here are some things to consider when considering a local SIM card:
Device compatibility: Works with older models of smartphones that don’t support eSIM. However, if your phone doesn’t have two SIM card slots, you’d have to remove your primary SIM card and replace it with the UK one. Also, keep in mind that the latest iPhones for the US market don’t use SIM cards at all. eSIM is the only option for them.
Local phone number: You will get a local UK phone number, which is useful for making local calls or SMS.
Buy upon arrival: You can buy your SIM in official stores or kiosks in airports.
ID requirement: Usually requires identification with your passport for purchase.
Free international WiFi
If you don’t plan on using WiFi that much, you can rely on public networks or WiFi zones in your hotel, restaurant, or cafe. Here’s what you need to consider:
Availability: Free WiFi is available in many public locations, such as airports, cafes, hotels, and libraries. However, you won’t be able to stay connected at all times, and you won’t be able to use navigation apps on the go.
Security risks: Public WiFi networks are not safe. Using them may expose your device to hacking and data theft.
No usage limits: Typically you can use free WiFi as much as you like, but these networks are shared with many people at the same time, which means the speed is often questionable.
The Verdict: What to choose?
When choosing the best pocket WiFi for the UK, you must consider price, data budget, and other features.
WiFi Hire, with unlimited data and no throttling, is a strong option for heavy data users and digital nomads.
If you prefer to simply scan social media, My Webspot’s lower price and free delivery could be a better option.
HioppocketWifi stands out with their versatile offer and devices of different strength and impressive battery life.
For those who only need their pocket WiFi for a day or two, TravelWiFi works best, as it doesn’t have a minimum rental period of three days like its competition. However, its delivery fee is quite high, so make your own calculation before renting.
While pocket WiFi is a great option when your priority is a strong and secure connection for multiple devices, it also comes with higher costs, delivery logistics, and data limitations.
If you don’t want to deal with delivery, pick-up, and responsibility for any damage that might occur, an eSIM for the UK is a better choice. With Holafly’s eSIM, you can still get unlimited data but with easy installation and instant connectivity.
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I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
