How to Get Wi-Fi Without an Internet Service Provider
Browsing without an ISP
Getting on the web is very costly. In the United States, for example, the average cost of a home internet connection is $60 per month. Don't fancy paying all that amount of money? Do not worry, even if you do not have a regular Internet Service Provider (ISP), there are still other Internet Plans available to help you go online.
Below, is how to get W-Fi connections without an internet service provider.
1. Mobile Hotspot
The best way to make sure you have the internet on your laptop at all times is by using a mobile hotspot.
Of course, there is an upfront cost of doing so you are required to get a hotspot device and subscribe to a mobile internet data plan.
Quite a few companies offer these mobile hotspots. As with any piece of technology, the price and quality would be dramatically different.
There are three mobile hotspot models we particularly recommend based on reviews on the internet and personal experience and they are:
a. Verizon Jetpack MiFi 8800L
The Verizon Jetpack MiFi 8800L is kind of, the best 4G hotspot that is available right now. It is the only model that makes use of the Qualcomm’s X20 modem, which means that it can do five-carrier aggregation and has support for 11 LTE bands. The hotspot typically enjoys much better reception to smartphones and tablets thanks to its having two TS9 ports.
b. Nighthawk LTE Mobile Hotspot Router
The Nighthawk LTE Mobile Hotspot Router is AT&T’s mobile hotspot device. If you need internet on-the-go for a laptop, it is a great choice.
Under the hood, you would find a Qualcomm X16 modem that runs four spectrum channels. The device also shines in the areas of customization; unlike most hotspots, you can tweak a host of settings in it. They include port forwarding and filtering, options for DLNA, UPnP, and a DMZ, and a dual-band 802.11ac support.
c. Roaming Man U2 Global 4G Wi-Fi Hotspot
If you need a laptop internet while you’re traveling outside of the United States, you would need a mobile hotspot and a mobile internet plan that would work internationally.
We like the Roaming Man U2 Global 4G Wi-Fi Hotspot. It works in more than 100 countries around the world and costs $9.99 per day no matter where you are.
Of course, at those prices, it is not a suitable domestic option. But if you’re on vacation and need to stay connected to home, it is still much cheaper than using roaming internet on your smartphone.
2. Tether Your Smartphone or Tablet
If you don’t need regular mobile data and instead just need occasional access to the internet on your laptop, the fastest and easiest way to get online is often to tether your smartphone.
Tethering your smartphone or tablet does have two drawbacks. Firstly, you’re entirely dependent on the signal of your mobile phone carrier. That’s fine if you’re in a city, but less reliable if you’re out in the country. Secondly, laptops typically use much more data than smartphones, meaning you could be in for a nasty surprise when your next phone bill lands in your mailbox.
If you have an Android device, you can enable tethering by heading to Settings > Network and internet > Hotspot and Tethering, then slide the toggle next to the Wi-Fi hotspot into the On position.
iOS users need to go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and slide the toggle.
On both Android and iOS, you should set a new username and password to protect the security of your hotspot.
3. Find Public Wi-Fi
Depending on where you find yourself when you need to get internet without a provider, you might be able to jump on a nearby public Wi-Fi network. Libraries, coffee shops, restaurants, and transport hubs often have networks you can join.
You can find nearby free Wi-Fi using apps like Wi-Fi Master Key on Android, and Wi-Fi Finder Connect on iOS.
Note: If you decide to join a public Wi-Fi network, make sure to take steps to ensure your security and privacy are both safe.
4. Share Someone’s Internet
There’s a chance that someone else in your party might have an internet connection on their machine. For example, perhaps they have login credentials for a nearby private network, and you do not.
In those cases, you can share the bandwidth with a Windows or macOS machine.
To share an internet connection from a Windows computer, go to Settings > Network and internet > Mobile Hotspot. Choose the connection you want to share and slide the toggle into the On position.
If you need to share an internet connection from a macOS device, go to Apple > System Preferences > Internet Sharing. Choose the connection you want to share in the Share your connection from the drop-down menu, then select how you want to share the internet from the list of options underneath.
