No Internet at Home? Here’s How to Get Free Wi-Fi Anywhere

This story is part of Home TipsCNET’s collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.

working from home and virtual learning have become normal. Even if offices reopen and health metrics improve amid the pandemic, these remote options aren’t likely to go away anytime soon. And outside of work and school, people in the US continue to do that Cut the rope on Cable and satellite Packages and choose streaming services To save money.

All of these trends point to one key factor: the need for a reliable internet. So what does this mean for people who don’t have a reliable internet connection at home? It’s definitely not an ideal situation, but there are still things you can do to get online.

In this guide, we’ll give you a quick rundown of how to get online fast with a hotspot, and how to find free Wi-Fi anywhere in the world. (You can learn too How to know if your WiFi is slow due to internet throttlingand how to speed up your wifi.)

Continue reading: Best Internet Providers 2022

What is a hotspot?

A hotspot is a central location or device that provides wireless access to the Internet, and any network device can connect provided it has the correct access. Depending on your carrier and plan, you might be able to use yours Smartphone as a hotspot.

There are two different types of hotspots: public and private.

In the scenario above, where you have paid your wireless service provider for the ability to create a hotspot using your smartphone, the smartphone is the physical device that provides wireless access for other Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops, desktop computers, and manufactures streaming devices. This is an example of a private hotspot.

A public hotspot is typically created by a company to provide internet services when visitors, customers and clients are on site. Many free, public Wi-Fi connections are hotspots. However, for the sake of accuracy, it’s important to note a difference between standard WiFi and a hotspot.

Continue reading: The Best Internet Speed ​​Tests of 2022

What is the difference between WiFi and a hotspot?

While hotspots are a physical location or device, Wi-Fi is a wireless technology that allows devices to send information to each other. If you have Wi-Fi at home, it’s because you have a Wi-Fi router that quaternizes all your wireless devices and an ISP that connects that router to the Internet.

As long as you set a strong password, such a private Wi-Fi network is more secure than a public hotspot because you control who and what connects to it. Public hotspots, on the other hand, are open to everyone within reach, so it’s a good idea to use them a VPN or another security measure when you need to do something sensitive like shopping or sending money.

How to find free WiFi or free public hotspots

While this probably won’t be possible at home (unless you really live near someone who has an unsecured network), there are usually many ways to get free WiFi or public hotspots at businesses like cafes, libraries, hotels, Restaurants, fitness centers and more.

If you’re looking for free internet, here are some helpful apps to try:

Apps like this will display a map of your area with a list of available free public Wi-Fi networks or hotspots. Most also allow you to track login requests and hotspot verifications.

Some places, like libraries, generally go without saying for free public WiFi, but if you’re not using a WiFi finder app it’s a good idea to call first to make sure.

How to set up and use free WiFi

Make sure the device you want to use is Wi-Fi enabled. If so, make sure Wi-Fi is turned on.

When you get to the place where you will be using public WiFi or a hotspot, open a browser and then either open your computer’s network settings or click on the WiFi icon on your screen. Next, select the public Wi-Fi connection you want to use. If the connection is public, you’ll be connected now, but make sure an opt-in site appears in your browser. Some companies require you to agree to their terms of service or provide an email address before using their free WiFi.

Some companies provide their customers with a login and password and offer a secured network. If the connection you are trying to use shows as secured, look for the login and password provided by the company or ask someone for help. And yes, if you’re somewhere like a coffee shop, it would be polite to buy a pastry or cup of coffee while you’re at it.

If you have set your computer to automatically join available networks, the next time you visit this company your computer will automatically join the network.

How to set up and use a private hotspot

They’re not free, but if you need an internet connection at home and have a good cellular signal, a paid hotspot can be a place to go. For example, maybe you live in a rural area with limited ISP optionsor maybe the internet plans in your area are beyond your budget.

Depending on your carrier and the plan you’re paying for, you might already have Personal Hotspot capabilities. If not, speak to your provider to see how much they will charge you for this option. Be prepared to pay more if you want unlimited data.

After considering pricing, you’ll need to decide between using your smartphone as a hotspot or buying a dedicated WiFi hotspot device.

Should I use my smartphone or a separate hotspot device?

A hotspot device is considered a separate device on your cellular plan, with its own separate data limit. The downside is the extra cost, but the upside is that you don’t have to worry about your smartphone usage eating up your hotspot data. Another plus point: If you set a Secure password, using a hotspot device to get online is just as secure as any ISP-provided Wi-Fi connection and often offers greater range as well. We’re also seeing a growing number of full-featured Wi-Fi routers and mesh router designed to transmit their incoming signal over a cellular connection such as LTE or 5G.

Both smartphone hotspots and dedicated hotspot devices can be used anywhere, although using a smartphone hotspot in public places can be more convenient, especially if you’re just trying to get your laptop online for a few minutes.

What Wi-Fi options does my ISP offer?

In 2020, the Federal Communications Commission launched the Keep Americans Connected initiative to help people stay connected to broadband and phone during the pandemic. In addition, providers such as Komcast expanded free public WiFi for everyone (customers and non-customers) in 2020. Many providers are offering such benefits through 2022 – if you are having trouble, check with your local providers to see what options are available.

Whichever path you choose, the bottom line is that you probably have more ways to get online than you might think. Hopefully this guide will help you find and use them – in the meantime, here’s some more reading you might find helpful as well: