Best pocket WiFi for Mexico: Which one should you choose?
Planning on using a Pocket WiFi in Mexico? Learn everything about how the service works and other alternatives to use there!
For a long time now, using pocket WiFi devices has been one of the main ways to have an internet connection when traveling abroad. It offers a way to stay connected with everyone on the go, and the service is available worldwide. On top of that, it’s one of a few ways to avoid the high cost of roaming in Mexico.
But what are the best services for staying connected to mobile internet in Mexico? Follow along to find the best pocket WiFi options in the country, as well as alternatives you should consider.
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What is a pocket Wifi?
At its core, pocket WiFi isn’t much different from the WiFi router you have at home. It’s a smaller, portable version powered by a battery. It also shares internet from a SIM card or an eSIM instead of an ethernet cable. It’s also a lot like using your cell phone to share mobile data via a hotspot.
Nowadays, different companies rent these devices to travelers, offering mobile data plans with different rates and company policies. You can get these devices delivered to your home, hotel, or pick them up at dedicated airport stands.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the best options on the market, complete with their pricing, shipping fees, and other things you might want to consider before renting out a pocket WiFi device.
What is the best pocket WiFi in Mexico?
If you’ve decided that pocket WiFi is the best connection option for you, you’ll be tasked with finding a provider that suits your needs. Here are some of the top options for Mexico right now.
TravelWiFi
TravelWiFi is a WiFi rental company based in Europe that offers coverage in Mexico by delivering pocket devices to customers all over the world. There are several plans for you to choose from, each offering a different daily data allowance.
The pricing for its international pocket WiFi plans ranges from $9 to $13.50 a day for data limits ranging from 1 GB to 10 GB daily, with shipping not included in the price. This means that a week can cost up to $94.50 for internet alone.
Depending on where you need the device delivered, you’ll have to pay around $10 to $35 USD for the delivery service. You can get it delivered to your home before you leave for your trip to Mexico or directly to the hotel you’ll be staying at to avoid paying for any extra days. Once the rental time is over, you’ll have to send the device back out to TravelWifi.
The delivery can take between three to five business days, so make sure to order your pocket WiFi service in advance. If you lose or damage the device, you’ll have to pay the company $150 for the losses.
MioWiFi
MioWiFi is an Argentina-based global pocket WiFi provider that has built its services around delivering devices worldwide, and Mexico is no exception. The company also has a logistics department in Mexico, which means that pocket WiFi deliveries within the country should be pretty quick.
There’s only one plan you can get from MioWiFi, which includes unlimited internet access for $8/day at a minimum plan duration of five days. You can connect up to five devices at once while using the service, and with unlimited data, you won’t need to track your data usage for fear of running out.
The delivery prices vary on your location, but you can expect to pay around $40 for delivery and return costs. If you lose the device, damage it, or simply fail to return it, you can be charged up to $250, so make sure to take good care of the device while using it.
XOXO WiFi
XOXO WiFi offers 5 separate data plans for Mexico, along with all kinds of additional things you can add to your order for the optimal travel experience.
The plans range from $10.70 to $34 a day, and while they all include unlimited mobile internet, the amount of data you can use at full speed ranges from 500 MB to 5 GB a day. Once this data is used up, your connection will be slowed down to 512 kbps.
There are plenty of delivery and return options depending on how fast you need the device to be delivered. But keep in mind that express shipping can cost quite a lot, with the fastest option priced at $77.
The service also offers a USB car charger, power bank, and even pocket AI translator device rentals for an extra charge. You can also buy insurance for $17 for your whole travel period, which protects you in case you lose or damage the pocket WiFi device.
If you don’t choose to pay for the insurance, make sure to take good care of the rental device. If you damage or lose the device, you’ll have to pay a fixed fee of $200 to repay the company for the damages.
Pocket WiFi Mexico
Pocket WiFi Mexico is a local alternative to global portable WiFi services with physical pick-up points in Mexico City, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta airports. Using this service allows you to avoid shipping fees and waiting for deliveries, as you can simply grab your device as soon as you land in Mexico.
The minimum rent period is five days, and costs start at $50 for five days and $10 for each additional day. You can choose additional services such as chargers, power banks, and same-day delivery. Depending on the extras you choose, a week’s rental can cost as much as $120.
With Pocket Wifi Mexico, you can choose the pickup service at an Airbnb, hotel, or airport, but keep in mind that this will cost between 5$ and 25$. You can also return the pocket WiFi at these destinations once your plan expires.
My Webspot
Getting back to global companies with worldwide pocket WiFi rentals, My Webspot offers a solid unlimited internet plan with the option to ship the device to your home or your temporary accommodation in Mexico.
The plan costs $86.98 for a week of unlimited internet access, and you have the option to add a car charger, a power bank, or a travel adapter to your order. The shipping and return fees for your order can range anywhere from $10 to $30 depending on where you need the device to be delivered.
The last thing to say here is that you’ll need to keep an eye on the device they rented for as long as it is with you. You can get insurance for an extra price, which reduces the cost of a damaged device to $102. Without insurance, you’d have to pay the full price of $204 if the device is lost or damaged.
Pocket Wifi alternatives
Needless to say, using a portable wifi hotspot is far from the only way to avoid roaming fees when traveling. In fact, there are options that are cheaper and arguably more convenient. Let’s take a look at some of them.
eSIM for Mexico
We live in a digital world, so it only makes sense that internet connection has moved on from needing physical devices to being completely digital. Using an eSIM for Mexico allows you to stay connected without renting routers or buying physical cards.
You can buy, set up, and activate your eSIM online within minutes, so you won’t have to wait days for a rental device delivery. All you need is internet access for the purchase process and an eSIM-compatible device to use the eSIM.
On top of being easy to use and not requiring any additional devices, eSIMs also tend to be cheaper than other mobile internet options on the market.
For example, you can get a Holafly eSIM for Mexico for $5.90 a day, which includes unlimited data and has no additional charges. The plan even includes 500 MB of daily data sharing, so you can use your phone as a portable hotspot when you need to share internet with other devices.
On top of that, longer plans have even better pricing, so you pay less than you would for a pocket WiFi rental and avoid shipping, return, or damage costs.
Mexico travel SIM card
If you don’t have a device that supports eSIM technology, you can get a local SIM card with a prepaid travel plan. You can find Mexico travel SIM cards for sale in most airports or local carrier centers in most cities.
This option also typically beats pocket WiFi when it comes to pricing. It’s not quite as convenient as using an eSIM since you have to find a physical SIM card to buy, and you’ll have to remove your regular SIM card from your phone if it doesn’t support dual SIM.
Free WiFi hotspots
You’ll be able to access free WiFi in Mexican airports as well as many other establishments. So if you don’t need constant internet access, you can simply look for places that are willing to share it for free.
Needless to say, this option isn’t very convenient. Public WiFi is also linked to many cybersecurity risks, so using it is only an option if you have no other choice. Your best bet is connecting to public WiFi only to buy and activate an eSIM. You can then use the eSIM wherever you go.
Is pocket WiFi the best option for Mexico?
While pocket WiFi devices still offer a solid way to stay connected in Mexico, they’re only really the best option if you must have multiple devices connected to the same network at all times.
Travel SIM cards and eSIMs offer a cheaper, more convenient alternative to travel routers, as they’re readily available and don’t require you to carry around a router wherever you go. So, make sure you consider all the possible alternatives before opting for a pocket WiFi device.
FAQs
You can use portable routers or your own phone to set up portable hotspots when traveling. Just keep in mind that most data plans have limits on high-speed internet, so if you constantly share data with other devices, your connection speed may decrease.
There are plenty of pocket WiFi options for Mexico, including TravelWiFi, MioWiFi, Pocket WiFi Mexico, and XOXO WiFi. All of them offer unique plans and have their own infrastructure, so you can choose the one that fits you the best.
Pocket WiFi Mexico has rental spots at all major airports in Mexico, including the Mexico City airport. You can order your rental online and pick it up whenever you arrive at the airport.