Learn how a mobile hotspot works
A mobile hotspot does use data.
Whether that data is part of your mobile plan or Wi-Fi depends on how you set up the hotspot.
It can be either a dedicated gear or something like your smartphone or tablet that has a cellular connection.
The name may sound similar to aWi-Fi hotspot, but it’s very different.
Such data is acquired through purchasing a plan through a cell phone carrier.
Does a Mobile Hotspot Use a Lot of Data?
A mobile hotspot can use a lot of data.
It depends on how you use it.
When browsing the internet via Wi-Fi or your smartphone, how much data you use depends on your activity.
Streaming a movie also takes roughly 1GB per hour and increases to 3GB an hour when viewing HD content.
In comparison, streaming a video on YouTube is much gentler for data usage.
That’s likely to be about 550MB of data per hour at standard definition.
Simply browsing the internet or using email typically only uses about 60MB an hour.
How Can I Use a Mobile Hotspot Without Using Data?
configs are typically under Wireless & Networks or similar on either Android or iOS smartphones.
Some devices also work via USB if your hotspot or smartphone supports the method.
Can a Smartphone Work as a Mobile Hotspot?
Yes, a smartphone works very well as a mobile hotspot.
Most carriers support the service providing you have at least 4G LTE.
Open your Wi-Fi parameters and look for the name of your phone.
Alternatively, you could use a wired connection with the phone’s data cable.
