Looking for an internet dongle to get online with?
In this guide, we’ve taken a look at five of the best dongle deals in the UK in 2025.
We’ve also explained some key things to consider when shopping for a dongle plan, helping you find the right mobile broadband tariff for your specific needs.
Best dongle deals
Below, we’ve taken a look at five of the best dongle deals on the market in the UK right now.
1. Three ZTE U50 5G Mobile Wi-Fi
Rather than selling a traditional USB dongle that plugs into your computer, this device from Three has a battery, and creates a Wi-Fi hotspot, meaning it allows you to get online with multiple devices at once.
This device is about the size of a credit card, but thicker, and easily fits in your pocket. And since it creates a Wi-Fi network, using the ZTE U50, you can get online on devices other than computers, including phones, iPads, games consoles, and more.
Plus, this dongle supports 5G download speeds of 150-200 Mbps or even higher, meaning it offers plenty of bandwidth for data-intensive activities like video streaming, even when multiple people get online at the same time.
Three has the fastest average 5G speeds of any of the big four networks. And if you take this dongle somewhere without 5G signal, it’ll connect to Three 4G instead, allowing you to keep getting online, almost anywhere in the UK.
The battery life is good, at about 8-9 hours of usage, and you can also choose to keep it plugged in all the time if you’d prefer.
When you buy this mobile broadband device, it comes with an unlimited data SIM card from Three, and you can choose between a 24 month or pay as you go contract.
While Three’s monthly fees are very reasonable, given the speeds and amount of data on offer, the upfront cost of this device is a bit high if you choose the 1 month contract.
Pros
- Creates a Wi-Fi hotspot you can use to get online on multiple devices at once.
- Offers fast download speeds.
- Reasonable monthly costs.
- Comes with unlimited data.
Cons
- High upfront fee on the pay as you go contract.
2. Vodafone K5161z Dongle
Unlike Three, Vodafone still sells a traditional dongle, which you plug into your computer’s USB port.
The downside of the K5161z dongle is it only allows you to get online at one device at once, since it doesn’t create a hotspot, and only works on your laptop or PC.
However, it is very easy to set up. All you need to do is plug it in, run through the setup wizard, and you can immediately get online.
Another good thing about Vodafone’s dongle deals is there are a lot of different options to choose from.
You can get this mobile broadband device with either 4GB, 30GB, or unlimited data, on your choice of a 30-day, 12 month, or 24 month contract.
This means, if you don’t need unlimited usage, you can save money by getting a data-limited tariff with a lower monthly cost.
And across all of their plans, Vodafone’s prices are very reasonable, especially their upfront fees.
Pros
- Easy to begin using.
- Great range of data plans to choose from.
- Good value for money.
Cons
- Only works on one computer at a time.
3. Three Huawei E5783B-330 4G Mobile Hotspot
As well as their 5G device, Three also sells a similar 4G mobile dongle – the Huawei E5783B-330.
This gadget works in much the same way as the ZTE U50, in that it creates a Wi-Fi hotspot you can use to get online. However, it only supports 4G download and upload speeds, instead of 5G.
As a result, this dongle is a bit cheaper than the other one Three sells, especially if you want a pay as you go contract, with a low upfront cost.
Three still includes unlimited data on their 4G mobile Wi-Fi plans, which is good, and the device itself performs well, in terms of its battery life and Wi-Fi signal.
However, Three 4G mobile broadband only supports speeds of about 30-40 Mbps, compared to the 150-200 Mbps you’ll get with 5G.
Also, with a 4G dongle device like this, it would be good to see a larger range of data plans on offer from Three.
While unlimited data is great to have, it might not be necessary for some people with a 4G dongle.
Pros
- Low monthly costs.
- Reasonable upfront costs.
- Includes unlimited data.
Cons
- Only two contracts to choose from.
4. EE 4G WiFi
The best thing about EE mobile broadband is the coverage their network offers.
EE has the best coverage of any of the big four mobile networks in the UK. So if you plan to travel around with your dongle, especially to remote areas, EE is a great choice.
However, EE 4G internet is very expensive. You can expect to pay twice as much for the same amount of data, compared to Three mobile broadband – even though Three offers 5G speeds.
The range of tariffs available from EE is quite good though – there are pay as you go and pay monthly options, with 5GB, 25GB, 125GB, or unlimited data.
Also, their dongle device performs well, offering slightly better battery life and Wi-Fi signal compared to most other hotspots on the market.
We just think though, for most people, EE mobile broadband is a bit expensive, given it only comes with 4G download speeds.
Pros
- EE’s Wi-Fi hotspot device is a great bit of kit.
- EE network offers the best coverage in the UK.
- Great range of data plans and contract lengths to choose from.
Cons
- Very expensive.
5. O2 TCL 4G Dongle
Like Vodafone’s 4G dongle, this device is a plug-in dongle, which allows you to quickly get online on a single laptop, Macbook, or personal computer.
The best thing about O2 mobile broadband is the range of data limits and contract lengths you can choose from.
They even allow you to build your own dongle deal, choosing exactly how much data you need, what upfront cost you want to pay, and how long you want the contract to be.
Another good thing about O2’s dongle is the monthly costs on offer. Their deals are normally very cheap, and often come with discounts for the first six months of the contract.
However, O2 doesn’t offer pay as you go month-to-month contracts on their dongles at the moment. The minimum contract length is three months, and the monthly costs begin to increase if you don’t want a 24 month pay monthly contract.
Pros
- Easy to plug and play.
- Can build your own contract.
- Low monthly costs.
Cons
- No pay as you go deals available.
What you need to know
In this part, we’ve explained some key things to consider when shopping for a mobile broadband dongle.
How dongles work
Dongles help you get online in much the same way that your mobile phone does.
They take a SIM card (included when you buy) and connect to the 4G or 5G network, to establish an internet connection.
This means, you can get online almost anywhere using a dongle, and they’re often available to buy on a flexible pay as you go basis.
When your dongle first arrives, you’ll need to insert the SIM card into the device, then plug it into a USB port on your computer.
You’ll need to install some software, which is normally loaded on the dongle. Then, once the dongle connects to the mobile network, you’ll be able to get online.
It’s also worth mentioning, many mobile networks now sell mobile Wi-Fi (MiFi) devices instead of dongles.
MiFi devices work in just the same way as a dongle. They still use 4G or 5G to get online, take a SIM card, and come with a pay monthly or pay as you go data contract.
The difference is, these devices don’t plug into your computer. Instead, they’re battery-powered, and create a Wi-Fi hotspot you can use to get online.
In most cases, MiFi devices are a better choice than a dongle. They allow multiple devices to get online at once, and since they create a Wi-Fi hotspot, they allow you to get online on any type of device, including phones, tablets, game consoles, and more.
Pros and cons of dongles
Here are some of the advantages of getting online using a dongle, compared to traditional fixed-line broadband:
- Dongle plans are very flexible. While most broadband packages come with a 12 or 24 month contract, it’s easy to find dongle deals you can buy on a pay as you go 30 day contract.
- Dongles can be used almost anywhere. With a dongle, you can get good download speeds in areas with poor fibre broadband connectivity. You can also take your dongle with you on holiday, when visiting family, or when travelling in a motorhome or caravan.
- Dongles can be a lot cheaper than using fixed-line broadband, especially if you don’t mind having a monthly data limit.
- Mobile broadband is much easier to get started with. Normally, you can just insert the SIM card, plug in the dongle, and get online. No engineer visit is necessary to get started.
However, there are some downsides to using 4G or 5G dongles it’s important to be aware of.
- Your latency will be higher when using mobile internet, meaning you may experience lag when playing online games.
- The Wi-Fi signal strength won’t be as good as using a traditional router. USB dongles don’t create a Wi-Fi network at all. And if you use a MiFi device, because these gadgets are quite small, their Wi-Fi signal and speeds won’t be as strong as you would expect from a normal broadband router. This is where 4G routers and 5G routers come into play.
- Dongles don’t always come with unlimited data. You might have to pay more for unlimited data usage.
4G vs 5G dongles
It used to be that nearly all dongles on the market only supported 4G connectivity.
However, these days, 5G technology is becoming cheaper, and as a result, many dongles and mobile Wi-Fi devices now support 5G.
The main difference between 4G and 5G mobile broadband is the speeds on offer.
- Using a 4G dongle, you can expect a download speed of about 30-40 Mbps, most of the time.
- Using a 5G dongle, you can get speeds of 150-200 Mbps, or potentially even higher – up to 500 Mbps if you have strong 5G signal.
The download speeds you’ll get with 4G are plenty for most people. You’ll still be able to stream videos, download files, and participate in Zoom or Microsoft Teams calls using 4G mobile broadband.
But as a heavy internet user, you might find that 5G internet is worth paying more for, since the speeds can easily be five to ten times faster than using 4G.
Before buying a 5G dongle plan, it’s important to check the network coverage map of the carrier you’re planning to buy from, to see if you get strong 5G signal at your address. Here’s Three’s coverage map, as an example.
Something important to note: if you buy a 5G mobile broadband device, and you go somewhere with poor 5G signal, you’ll still be able to get online using the 4G network. 5G dongles and MiFi devices are 4G compatible.
How much monthly data do I need?
Fortunately, mobile data is cheap enough these days that there are plenty of unlimited data dongle deals on the market right now.
However, despite this, on some networks, unlimited data plans can still be quite expensive. Therefore, you might be wondering if you really need unlimited usage.
As a general rule of thumb:
- 4-5GB is enough for occasional web browsing, checking your emails, and social media usage, for 1-2 people using the internet every few days.
- 20-30GB is enough for more regular internet usage for 1-2 people, including occasional video streaming on apps like Netflix, but not watching TV or movies on a daily basis.
- 100-120GB is enough for 2-3 people using the internet on a regular basis, including semi-regular video streaming. However, if one or more people are heavy internet users, work from home, or often perform large file downloads, you may hit your limit before the end of the month.
- Unlimited data is best if you’ll be using your dongle as your main way of getting online, or for households of 3 or more people getting online on a regular basis.
How to save money when buying a dongle
If you’re on a budget, here are some ways to save money when buying a dongle plan:
- Only buy a tariff with as much data as you need, as we mentioned above, instead of an unlimited data deal.
- Choose a 4G dongle deal instead of a 5G plan, as they tend to be a bit cheaper.
- Buy a pay monthly contract instead of a pay as you go plan, if you can.
- Search around for the network with the cheapest deal. Three is generally the cheapest option on a cost per gigabyte of data basis.
Pay as you go vs pay monthly contracts
One of the best things about mobile broadband dongles is you can buy them on a short term plan.
With a short term pay as you go contract, your data plan with the mobile network renews on a month to month basis.
You can exit the contract at any time, with 30 days’ notice. Normally, you don’t have to return the dongle when you do this.
While these rolling monthly agreements are very flexible, they normally come with a high upfront cost. Their monthly costs are normally higher as well.
To avoid these extra charges, some providers offer 12 month or 24 month pay monthly dongle contracts.
With these pay monthly contracts, you’ll need to pass a credit check before buying. However, this is often worth it, since you will normally save a decent amount of money over the long term due to the lower monthly and upfront costs.
Which mobile network should I choose?
Apart from the prices they’re offering, the main thing you should consider when choosing a mobile network is the speeds and coverage they offer in your area.
Different mobile networks’ performance can vary massively from street to street, and house to house. Therefore, it pays to check each network’s coverage map, and look for good 4G or 5G signal where you want to use your dongle.
To do this, navigate to a network coverage map – here’s Three’s, as an example, and put in your postcode.
You want to look for good indoor 4G or 5G signal, depending on which you’re using, and assuming you’ll be using your dongle indoors.
In general terms, here are some of the main differences between each major mobile network in the UK:
- Three offers the fastest 5G speeds in the UK, and the cheapest data plans.
- Vodafone offers good 4G and 5G, and are normally the second cheapest mobile broadband provider, behind Three.
- EE has the best coverage, especially on 4G, and especially in the countryside. However, their data packs are very expensive.
- O2 is a good allrounder, but their mobile broadband deals normally have a longer contract length. They don’t offer extremely fast 5G or particularly good 4G coverage.
Can you get online overseas using a dongle?
You can get online overseas using your dongle, but there may be data usage restrictions, depending on the roaming policies of the mobile network you’re using.
Often, there will be a monthly data limit, lower than your actual allowance on the plan, and there may be additional daily roaming charges you have to pay.
With Three for example, it costs £2 per day to roam with your dongle, unless you’re on a pay as you go contract, and you’re limited to 12GB of data usage per month.
EE makes you buy roaming data add-ons, but O2 doesn’t allow you to use their dongles overseas at all.
In some cases, it may be easier to buy a foreign SIM card to use your mobile broadband device in another country. However, you’ll need to ensure that your dongle device is network unlocked before you can do this.
Other flexible ways of getting online
Apart from using a dongle, there are some other ways you might like to consider getting online, using 4G or 5G mobile broadband.
1. Mobile Wi-Fi (MiFi) devices
MiFi devices are sold exactly like dongles. You can get them with a flexible data contract, on a short or long-term contract, and most networks offer pay as you go options.
Because they can create a Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing you to easily get online on multiple devices at once, MiFi devices are a much better choice than dongles in most cases.
2. 4G and 5G routers
If you need a more permanent way to get online at home using wireless internet, using a 4G or 5G router might be worth considering.
They work in the same way as a traditional Wi-Fi router, except they don’t require a fixed broadband connection. Instead, they take a SIM card, and connect to the mobile network, just like a dongle.
Once they establish an internet connection, the router creates a wireless network you can use to get online, just like any other Wi-Fi router.
4G and 5G routers like the Three 5G Hub are your best choice for getting online at home, in most cases. They offer much better Wi-Fi performance than dongles or MiFi, especially with multiple devices connected to the hotspot at once.
Also, these types of routers normally come with unlimited data, for about the same price you’d pay for an unlimited usage dongle deal.
3. Phone hotspots/tethering
In some cases, you might also like to get online by setting up data sharing on your phone.
On most smartphones, you can set up a mobile hotspot, to create a Wi-Fi network other devices can connect to, using your 4G or 5G connection.
You can also plug your phone into your computer directly to share internet signal, which is known as tethering.
However, it’s important to be aware, you might hit your phone’s monthly data limit quite quickly if you use your hotspot on a regular basis.
And this method isn’t the best way to get online as a family, since your phone’s hotspot might struggle to support a lot of bandwidth being demanded at once.
Conclusion
For most people, Three’s 5G mobile Wi-Fi device is the best way to get online using mobile broadband.
This MiFi device offers fast speeds and unlimited data, for a very reasonable monthly cost.
And if you want to save as much money as possible, Vodafone’s dongle is worth considering, but it only allows you to get online on one device at a time.
Have any questions about choosing a dongle tariff to buy? Leave a comment below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
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About the author
Tyler is the co-founder of Broadband Savvy. He has been helping people improve their broadband connectivity since 2018 by writing about fibre broadband and mobile broadband providers, as well as creating tutorials to help people improve their broadband speeds and Wi-Fi signal.
Tyler is responsible for the majority of buyer’s guides and broadband reviews published on Broadband Savvy. He has a wealth of experience testing and reviewing different broadband tariffs, including fibre internet plans, as well as 4G and 5G broadband deals. He is responsible for testing and evaluating Wi-Fi routers, performing speed and latency tests, and comparing the value for money of different broadband providers on the market in the UK.
Before co-founding Broadband Savvy, Tyler had a long history of tinkering with computers. He built his first PC at the age of 12, and since then, he’s become obsessed with all things networking and internet-related. He’s a massive gamer, loves Rocket League, and also plays Sunday League football.
Good and helpful information. I am at the end of a copper line and my speeds are 0.29 to 3.00 mbps. I am also at the end of my tether as no fibre yet. If I get a dongle or similar will my SKY Q run off it or do I still need the line?!
Hi Phillip,
We don’t believe so – Sky Q should run off a dish. So you should be good to go dongle-only.
Tyler
Hello! I am (like most of the nation working from home again !!) I work on platforms like MS Teams a lot and deliver training through them. My internet provision at home is great but there are occasions when something happens and the internet goes down (eg when someone is working in the cable room in our flats). I’d like to get a dongle and plan as a contingency so that I can pay a data package quickly and get going quickly if there is an issue.
Any suggestions ?
Hi Shamela,
Sorry for the late response! That’s quite a pickle – applications such as MS Teams can use quite a lot of data. However, unlimited dongle plans are expensive, especially if you’re paying for regular broadband too. On the other hand, you might be able to get away with a plan that has limited data, if the dropouts don’t happen often.
Do you know if your home broadband is likely to become more stable in the future, or is it a temporary issue? If it’s likely to be long-term, you could look at something like a Vodafone unlimited or 24GB plan, depending on how often your broadband drops out. Otherwise they have similar deals available on 30-day contracts.
I have a house in Northern Ireland which (COVID not permitting) I go to 5 or 6 times a year, typically spending a week each time. So I don’t want to pay for broadband every month. I am looking for real pay as you go broadband – which used to exist many years ago. But this does not seem to exist. Do you have any solutions? I believe it exists in other countries.
The dongles and MIFI are also on a monthly basis so they don’t work for me.
Currently I access WIFI when I visit my parents, or in public areas or cafes. When I go to my house I use my phone and create a hotspot but as my phone is a French one I hit my limit very quickly.
Hi Sharon,
You might be able to find a PAYG data SIM. EE currently has one. They have data addons you can buy whenever you like. The smallest is 200MB for £2.
Tyler
Hi, I live in the middle of nowhere and there is no WiFi here, could I use a dongle to put in my TV to then be able to use a now TV stick? Looking for pay as you go
Hi Lena,
It will depend on the 4G signal you can get at your address. With a good network like EE or Three, you might be able to get a MiFi device or 4G router that will have fast enough speeds to stream videos on your TV. A dongle likely won’t work as you’ll only be able to plug it into your computer – it can’t plug into a TV.
We’d recommend looking at the EE 4G router if you can get good EE 4G coverage at your address. However, it has an 18 month contract. Pay as you go deals with speeds good enough for TV streaming can be quite expensive, unfortunately.
My grandson has an Apple iPhone SE 2020 but his contract provides only a small amount of data. I am trying to find a way to link him to the internet as cheaply as possible. He does not work from home and is not into gaming but does use Netflix. Both he and I have limited
knowledge. What would you suggest ?
Hi Dorothy,
If you don’t have fixed-line broadband that he can use at home, it’s probably a good idea to upgrade his contract, if possible. Since Netflix is very data-hungry, getting a SIM-only plan with unlimited data is probably a good choice.
If he is still under contract and you can’t change plan, you could get a Mi-Fi device (such as the one Three sells) with an unlimited data plan. However this will be more expensive than plugging a SIM into the phone directly, because you’re paying for the Mi-Fi device as well.
Hi Tyler. Hope you’re having a good Easter weekend.
I’m working in a Covid testing station,
in a nuclear base! until the end of September so don’t need a long term contract. However we have 3 x weekly team meetings with others around the country for 30 minutes a time.
I need Internet to cover that much time and a little bit extra for emails, rota planning but know nothing about dongles other than wgat I’ve read on your page. I’m in Plymouth Devon, so good coverage, can you advise this non techy older person on the best way forward please?
Hi Annette,
Thanks for getting in touch.
Since no providers currently offer 6 month contracts, you’ll need to find a month to month plan which you can cancel instantly once you escape the nuclear bunker.
With Three there’s a decent upfront cost on their monthly plans, but their monthly costs are much lower than with Vodafone or O2, making them cheaper overall. So we would recommend looking at the Three Huawei Mi-Fi device first and foremost (click/tap here to jump to it).
You definitely don’t need unlimited downloads, however you will need a decent data allowance if meeting participants have their webcams on – the video streams on Zoom or Microsoft Teams can use up a fair bit of data.
We would recommend the 40GB plan from Three. You might be able to get away with 20GB of data per month, but for only £3 per month more (£19 vs £16) it’s worth doubling the data in our opinion so you don’t hit any usage caps.
Hope that was helpful, please let me know if you have any further questions
Thanks
Tyler
Hi Tyler,
I am buying a mobile home that I will be visiting only once or twice a year, each time for 3 – 6 months. I have been told that to access wifi that I need to use a dongle and that a 4G dongle works very well in the mobil home park.
Can you advise where I should start in looking for a dongle?
Hi Linda,
Unfortunately the way dongle deals are structured, there aren’t 3 or 6 month contracts you can buy – you can either go month to month or sign a 12 month commitment. You could consider going for a 30 day plan and then cancelling it when you leave the mobile home. However, if you spend more than 6 months a year there, it may be cheaper to buy a dongle on a 12 or 24 month contract because month to month can be quite expensive. You could consider getting an unlimited data plan on a long term contract and using the dongle everywhere, so you don’t have to pay for fixed line broadband at your regular address.
Hope that helps.
Tyler
Hi I work in a preschool where we have many devices, 4 tablets,2 laptops and a mobile phone (although not all being used simultaneously) Our landline is poor and internet speeds are up to 13mbps which means some days we are unable to upload photos/videos to the children’s learning journeys as it’s too slow. Providers are unwilling to improve our phone line due to where we are situated. I am considering a Mi-fi device but unsure if this will even be any better than what we have already, our mobile service isn’t amazing some days. Would a usb dongle be better with use of a wireless router? Any advice would be much appreciated, I have no idea where to go with this! Thanks Nicola
Hi Nicola,
Sorry for the late reply. The first thing I would do is test the mobile service a bit more. You said that the service isn’t great some days – if 4G coverage is poor then a 4G device (whether a dongle, Mi-Fi or a router) won’t be of much help.
I would use a speed testing app on a few different mobile devices, ideally on different networks (EE, Three, Vodafone etc) and ideally with people who don’t have a speed-capped data plan. If you see decent speeds on a certain network quite consistently throughout the day, then a 4G device is worth looking at. For your purposes, the EE wireless router is probably the best because EE has the best network coverage in most areas, and the router will allow you to connect your different devices quite easily. However, it is quite an expensive device to buy. We would avoid a dongle because you’ll have to keep plugging it into different devices as you change between them – Mi-FI is worth looking at though if Three has good coverage at the pre-school.
Thanks
Hi Tyler
I am looking for the best way to watch TV in my new campervan. I will be travelling to places that will be rural and would like to access on demand TV like Netflix through a smart TV, what would be the best option in your opinion?
Hi WIll,
For watching TV, you will probably want a plan with unlimited data, unless you’re only watching about a few hours or so every week and not using the dongle for anything else. For context, streaming Netflix in HD uses about 3 GB of data per hour. You could also look at 40 GB data plans but this is probably cutting it a bit close.
Remember, dongles can typically only plug into computers. Therefore, unless you’re casting from a laptop to your TV (which it sounds like you’re not, since it’s a smart TV), you won’t be able to use a dongle.
Since you need unlimited data, we’d probably recommend the Three MiFi device. It will create a hotspot that your smart TV can connect to, and Three’s unlimited data plans are quite reasonably priced.
Before buying, be sure to check out Three’s network coverage map in some of the areas you’ll likely be travelling to, just to ensure you’ll get a good signal.
Thanks
Hi Tyler,
I am a stall holder at craft and gift fairs in the Cotswolds, and we are about to start the fairs again after the Covid restrictions.
The hall we use most for these fairs has no Wifi, so when customers want to make a card payment we have to use the mobile data on our phones. Would we be better off to have a mobile dongle for these instances? and what can you advise? as the public may be happier to use cards rather than cash. Would a pay as you go dongle be suitable? My mobile and home broadband is with SKY. Many thanks
Hi Lynn,
I think you should be fine to use your phone’s data in that instance. Since Sky use O2, using your phone should be identical to using O2’s dongle from a signal point of view. The transactions shouldn’t use up much of your mobile data. Are you having any troubles with slow or failed transactions when using your phone?
If the problem is it’s a bit of a hassle to set up with your phone, you could consider Three’s Mi-Fi device, to create a mini Wi-Fi network to use. Not sure if a dongle would work, unless the card reader connects to a computer you can plug a dongle into.
Thanks
Hi Tyler, I was thinking of purchasing an iPad for my mum but she doesn’t have or know anything about wi-fi and the internet. I don’t want it to be complicated for her. What what would you suggest is the best to get as in Dongle or sim? Many thanks, Donna
Hi Donna,
We think a SIM card would probably be best in this case. With a SIM, you can simply insert it into the iPad, activate the SIM, and your mum can get online easily. On the other hand, dongles are really designed for computers – you need to plug them into a device with a USB port, and they require a bit of setting up in order to use.
Thanks
Hi Tyler, we are semi rural location and usually get around 3mbps with our sky internet. We can’t get fibre at all yet. We bought our 16year old a PS5 and he can’t use it as as soon as it needs an update it will update to about 10-20% then just stop due to internet. What if anything could we buy to give him the connectivity he needs?
Hi Tyler,
I am about to run a weekly meeting every Tuesday evening for 2 hours. My home broadband is not strong enough where the meeting room upstairs will be held and its keep dropping now and then. I cannot afford to have internet dropping in these meetings. Please the dongle and the mobile wifi which one would serve me better if I don’t want any drops during the 2 hour presentation. Any specific recommendation will be appreciated.
Hi Giddy,
The most important thing is the level of 4G coverage you receive in that specific room. To start with, it’s a good idea to check your coverage on Three, O2, Vodafone, and EE’s websites. Look for good indoor and outdoor 4G coverage at your address. You can also test your signal in that room using your mobile phone – do a few speed tests, to see what sort of signal you receive.
If you get coverage with all four networks, your best choice is probably either the Three MiFi device, or Vodafone’s dongle, depending on which type of device you would prefer to use. Neither will drop out during your meetings, provided you have good 4G signal.
Thanks
Hi Tyler
I need to buy a new laptop and was thinking about getting one with a SIM card slot, to get internet away from home, but reading here it looks like I don’t need that; a dongle or mifi would do just as well.
Problem is, I’ll be using it in Norway (EEA). I won’t need a whole lot of data but I’m not able to find anything out about roaming charges in any of the deals and devices I’ve looked at. Can you advise?
Hi Mairianna,
Unfortunately most providers have become very restrictive with their roaming policies recently, as a result of Brexit. Most now have a daily charge for EU roaming.
As far as we understand it, this means that you can use your allowance in Norway with most of these MiFi devices, but you’ll have to pay about £2 per day, and there will be a “fair usage” limit on how much of your allowance you can use overseas. This also depends on whether you buy a pay monthly or pay as you go contract.
If you spend a lot of time in Norway, you might consider buying a separate Norwegian SIM card and putting it into the MiFi device. As far as we’re aware, Three’s MiFi device is unlocked, so you can use other SIM cards in it.
Thanks
Hi Tyler,
I have a Vigor 2862Vac Router that will allow me to use a USB 3G/4G internet and distribute the internet signal to my devices. I am going to use the wired connection of the router. I don’t want to use the wifi. I am moving onto a boat, so landline connection will not be possible on the move.
I am not sure which of this options is best for me.
Hi there,
Does the router accept a SIM card or just a USB? This is a bit of an odd one, since most of these dongles will require you plug them into a computer and follow some prompts to get online. We’re not sure exactly how the router would set up with the device. It might be best to contact Vigor and ask what sort of device is compatible.
Thanks
Hi I have a static caravan and only use more data when I am there which is every other weekend I only have 1g of data on my phone which Is enough when I am at home. how much would it be for a pay as you go dongle please.
We would recommend looking at Three’s pay as you go plans, this should end up at about £15-£20 per month for a small amount of data, although there will be an upfront cost.
Thanks
Hi there,
I’m out of contract with Shell Energy broadband.
I only require wifi at my house when my Daughter and family visit which is only about two or three times a year for 2 or 3 days each time.
What would be the best solution for me……….4 or 5 devices, keep allowance for a long period, payg (no contract)
ps. most of the time i’m at my partners house
Hi, we would recommend Three’s MiFi device on a pay as you go contract. When you need internet, we would recommend using their 40GB plan, this should be enough for 2-3 days. Thanks
When I moved to Cornwall from London, Vodaphone were unable to supply broadband at my new address. I’ve been unable to find another provider that covers my area. I have 40 GB on my mobile phone but I would like unlimited data. My contract ends on 25 October. I use WiFi for Banking, Email, WhatsApp, Facebook, browsing and YouTube. I would appreciate your advice on whether I should have a SIM or a dongle and explain the difference.
A solution like the Three 4G Hub would probably be your best choice, you can read our review here: https://broadbandsavvy.com/three-4g-hub-review/
You could also use the Three MiFi device mentioned on this page. Generally, having a MiFi device or router (such as the 4G Hub) is better than just using a SIM because it can create a permanent Wi-Fi hotspot you can connect to without draining your phone’s battery.