9 Best Unlocked Mobile Hotspots for Travelers in 2024

So you’ve almost finalized your travel plans and want to start packing your bags. Is there something you’re forgetting? Well, something like a portable unlocked mobile hotspots for travelers? This is an essential commodity as it can save you tons of money on overages and roaming charges.

Whenever you’re traveling abroad, it always makes sense to take a portable hotspot with you and add a local SIM card with cheap data plans. It also makes sense to purchase a prepaid travel SIM card, although it ends up being expensive in some cases.

Taking this into account, we’ve decided to compile a list of the best unlocked mobile hotspots for travelers in 2024.

Best Unlocked Mobile Hotspots for Travelers

1) Netgear 4G LTE Modem

Netgear is an industry leader in making network equipment, particularly routers. This is the company’s smaller variant of the typical robust Netflix routers as it’s meant for portability. This allows you to take the hotspot wherever you want, as long as you attach a SIM card that won’t cost you a fortune. With this router, customers can theoretically get 4G download speeds of 150 Mbps while upload speeds are capped at 50 Mbps. Further, the router comes with TS-9 connectors, allowing you to add 4G or 3G antennae to improve connection speed.

Managing the router can be done via a mobile browser, regardless of the operating system you’re using. It must be noted that this mobile hotspot will only work on GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile while the likes of Sprint and Verizon are missing from the compatibility list. It has multiple LED indicators on the front to give you a good idea about the range you’re getting as well as status on connected devices.

This modem also has 4G to 3G fallback support, which basically relies on 3G whenever there’s no 4G available in your area. It also has a Gigabit Ethernet WAN port to allow a wired connection between the router and a computer. Unfortunately, there are no colors available for this product right now, so you’ll have to go with solid black.

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2) H2O Bolt

This is a surprise package as it comes with a portable hotspot device as well as 10GB data right out of the box to get you started on your travels. However, this is ideal if you’re only traveling within the U.S. as it cannot function outside the region.

But considering the coverage offered by H20 Wireless (thanks to AT&T’s networks), it is an ideally suited offering for your vacations into the remote parts of the United States. The Bolt comes with a 2.4-inch touchscreen display on the front, allowing you to navigate the features of the hotspot.

It comes with a 2,500 mAh battery pack, allowing you to use it wirelessly at most times. The company claims that the device can last for up to 10 hours in on a single charge, which is pretty remarkable considering what it offers.

To add more data, you simply have to top up on H20 Wireless’ website. Activating your hotspot device barely takes a few minutes as you simply have to make a call or visit the company’s website. The best part with this offering is that this is pretty inexpensive compared to a few of the hotspots we’ve checked out. This factor alone makes it one of our favorites.

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3) Skyroam Solis

This small box like thing is more than just a portable hotspot. It also comes with a battery of its own, allowing you to use it as a power bank when your devices are running low on juice. For this purpose, the Solis has a larger than usual 6,000 mAh battery underneath.

If you’re planning on simply using this as a portable hotspot device, you should comfortably get around 16 plus hours of usage on a single charge. Thanks to Skyroam’s unique virtual SIM card, you can use its networks in over 130 countries from around the world including top destinations from Europe, The Americas, Asia, Africa & Australia.

Its data plans are pretty simple to understand as well. You simply have to spend a few dollars to get unlimited access to the internet for a day. This can be of great help if you’re only traveling for a few days, thus saving you the trouble of having to get a standalone SIM card package.

The Solis allows you to connect up to 5 devices at a time. Each connection is encrypted so user safety is paramount here. Unfortunately, the Solis is only offered in a flashy orange color, so there are no color variants to choose from.

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4) Huawei E5330Bs

This is a handy portable hotspot to have if you’re looking to simply get an internet connection regardless of the speed you’re getting. It supports most 3G HSPA+ networks around the world, so it’s convenient for any traveler no matter where they’re headed. This particular hotspot device is supported in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa as well as some parts of South America. So no matter which network you pair with here, it’s likely going to work (as long as it’s a 3G HSPA+ SIM).

It comes with a 1,500 mAh battery under the hood, which can reportedly last for up to 5-6 hours. If true, this is mildly disappointing given the capacity of several other hotspot devices. You can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously, so this device is good for the entire circle of family or friends around you.

It has a number of indicators of the front, letting you know of the connection status as well as the battery remaining on the device. Be advised to use this device only if you’re traveling outside the U.S. as it won’t work in the region. This is a very inexpensive option, moreover you can get this hotspot device in both black and white variants.

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5) GlocalMe G3

GlocalMe is a well known manufacturer of hotspots which can handle conventional SIM cards while also giving you the choice to pick from GlocalMe’s wide range of plans. This particular hotspot, known as the G3, comes with a flurry of features, making it an attractive prospect for all. It comes with a touchscreen display, allowing you to navigate its features or even buy data.

You get a total of two SIM card slots here, allowing you to choose the carrier that’s best. It’s also worthwhile to checkout GlocalMe’s plans, though. For example, the company’s Daypass can be bought for a low daily fee. The best part with the company’s network is that it works in several countries of the world, so you’re good to go regardless of your location.

The G3 offers 150 Mbps download speeds and 50 Mbps upload speeds, which is on par with any other 4G LTE hotspot. Users initially get 1GB of usable data when they set up their new hotspot. Post this, it makes sense to invest in something like the Daypass. Moreover, the GlocalMe G3 comes with a 5,350 mAh battery pack, which can allow charging of other smartphones.

This makes it a highly versatile offering, giving it a significant edge in the market. On standard mobile hotspot use, the device can run for up to 15 hours. All connections made on this device are secure and it is recommended to use a strong password. At the current price, the GlocalMe G3 is not as cheap as some of the other hotspots we’ve talked about. You can get this hotspot in Black or Gold variants.

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6) TP-Link N300 Travel Router

TP-Link has made a bunch of networking equipment as well as Wi-Fi routers. This product, however, is slightly new for the company as it is pretty much a smaller version of its bigger routers. While this can easily be used to setup a new connection, the ideal use case for a router like this is to extend the range of the Wi-Fi near you, allowing for a wider net of internet connectivity around you. Since this uses a micro USB port, it can technically be powered up with any smartphone charger. This allows it to be carried around wherever you go, hence making it an ideal travel router for your travels.

Unlike other devices we’ve spoken about, this doesn’t have SIM card slots or other fancy features. So while this may not be appealing to all travelers, there’s certainly no reason why you can’t carry this as a Wi-Fi range extender. It goes without saying that this offering is significantly cheaper than any hotspot we can find out there. Be sure to check it out.

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7) RAVPower FileHub

This is an incredibly versatile offering that’s very identical to the router we spoke about above. While it can operate as a router or even as a bridge, it cannot take SIM cards, thus affecting the portability factor. However, as with the TP-Link router we discussed above, this one too can be a very good companion for your travels. Access to Wi-Fi is available in most places today, and it doesn’t hurt to have the ability to get better range.

What’s even better is that this can also be used as a streaming device. By pairing with your external hard drives or SSDs, the FileHub can help you stream content directly on your phone, thus acting as a bridge for the medium.

The unlocked mobile hotspots for travelers also comes with a USB slot as well as an SD card slot, allowing all your photos from the phone to be automatically backed up to the chosen storage devices. This comes with a 6,700 mAh battery on board, allowing you to charge your mobile devices at leisure. Users are advised to closely look at the user manual of the RAVPower FileHub to properly understand its functioning.

8) GlocalMe U2S

This is a slightly smaller version of the G3 we mentioned above, albeit with more or less the same feature set. The U2S is evidently thinner, which is partially due to the fact that it uses a smaller 3,500 mAh battery pack. This can still charge your smartphones, though, so in terms of functionality, this offering is no different from the G3.

One big omission here is the SIM card slot, with the company sticking to just one slot. This means you only have two options for data connectivity on this hotspot. Naturally, you also have access to GlocalMe’s attractive data plans including Daypasses.

Users get 1GB of free data to use right away, while more data will either have to be purchased via GlocalMe or through a standalone SIM card. It is also worth noting that this device doesn’t have a display, so you are recommended to pair the device using the GlocalMe app on the Play Store. The app is also available for iOS devices.

Using the U2S, customers can share Wi-Fi with up to five devices at a time. This offering is sold in Gold and Black variants, so there’s not much in terms of variety here. The company offers 12 months of warranty for the unlocked mobile hotspots for travelers product while around the clock customer support team is always ready to aid you.

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9) Huawei E5577Cs

The second Huawei offering on our list, and the least unsurprising in my opinion. This is a standard mobile hotspot device that is very easy to setup and will last you a long time even with rugged usage. This is an original offering direct from the manufacturer, which is why you don’t see any carrier branding on the device. It can grab 4G LTE networks at download speeds of 150 Mbps. It comes with a relatively smaller 1,500 mAh battery which the company promises to last for up to 6 hours.

The best part about hotspots like these is that they’re completely unlocked, which means you can use any unlocked GSM SIM card to use high-speed 4G LTE data on the go. The hotspot also comes with a microSD card slot (up to 32GB) on board. If there’s no 4G LTE in the region you’re visiting, the hotspot will automatically grab the nearest 3G HSPA+ networks to offer you the next best alternative. Huawei sells this hotspot device in White and Black colors. Check out the unlocked mobile hotspots for travelers.

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