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Compare mobile broadband

If you need an internet connection on the move, compare our deals on mobile broadband.

Key points

Rather than wires or cables, mobile broadband uses the same radio signals as your mobile phone - the 4G or 5G networks
You can access it in three main ways: a SIM card in your router, a USB dongle or a mobile hotspot (which could be your phone)
Mobile broadband deals are more likely to be low-commitment than regular broadband packages.

What is mobile broadband?

When we talk about mobile broadband, we could mean a number of different things.

Broadband from a portable WiFi hotspot (sometimes known as MiFi)
Mobile home broadband, where the router tends to be bigger and less portable
Using your mobile phone as a WiFi hotspot (not a good long-term solution)

Is mobile broadband right for me?

Mobile broadband is a good option if you’re not planning to stay in the same place for long - for example, if you’re a student or running a mobile business.

There’s no physical connection to the fibre or cable broadband network, which means:

No engineer visits
No set-up delays
More options for low-commitment contracts (although it is possible to get no contract broadband with a wired connection too)

But there are some disadvantages to mobile broadband:

It only works with a good mobile signal - otherwise it can be unreliable
The cost per month is usually higher than with a wired connection - but not always, so do take a minute or two to compare the options
You won’t get the absolute top speeds that would be possible with a full fibre connection
The trade-off for a short-term contract (or no contract) could be higher upfront costs

Mobile broadband availability

We’ve explained that mobile broadband uses the same signals as mobile phones. This means that traffic on the network has to be carefully managed. If there are a lot of mobile phone users in an area taking up bandwidth on the 4G and 5G networks, it may not be possible to get a reliable mobile home broadband service in that area.

According to regulator Ofcom:

4G coverage outdoors is at least 99% from all operators
5G coverage outdoors ranges from 61% (from the operator with the lowest reach) to 79% (the one with the highest)

Indoor coverage is less than this because walls and windows block some of the signal.

5G coverage is growing, but availability depends on what part of the UK you live in. 42% of sites in urban areas have access to 5G, compared to just 16% in the countryside.^[2]

There are various online tools for checking 5G coverage in your area, including Ofcom’s mobile and broadband checker.

Which broadband providers offer mobile broadband?

A number of UK providers offer mobile home broadband, including:

Mobile broadband at home

With mobile home broadband you’re not connected to any wired network, but:

The router needs to plug into the wall for power
It will be bigger than a portable hotspot

This means it’s less portable than the “MiFi” type of mobile broadband -it’s not designed to be thrown in your bag for working on the train. But the trade-off is:

Higher speeds compared to portable broadband
More reliable coverage than the portable kind

It’s still a much more flexible option than regular home broadband because you can take it with you when you move house without having to contact your provider to arrange a switch to your new address. There’s a bigger choice of flexible and short contracts too.

What hardware do I need for mobile broadband?

For portable broadband you’ll need:

A 4G or 5G mobile hotspot; or
A WiFi dongle (usually a USB stick that plugs into your computer)

For mobile home broadband, you’ll need^[2]

A router (sometimes called a hub) on the 4G or 5G network
Possibly a WiFi booster to make sure the signal reaches every part of your house

To use your phone as a mobile broadband hotspot, you don’t need any particular hardware but you will need a generous data plan and good battery life.

Is it possible to get 5G MiFi plans?

The “MiFi” name is a trademark of Three in the UK, but they don’t have copyright on the technology itself. It’s just another name for the technology powering portable broadband hotspots. All the “big four” providers in the UK offer portable broadband plans on the 5G network:

Our friends at Tech Radar have compared the best mobile hotspots and explained which providers offer them.

What’s the difference between 4G & 5G?

4G is the primary network for mobile phone users, carrying 78% of mobile data traffic.^[2] It’s an established technology with very high coverage. It’s older and slower than 5G, with typical download speeds of 20-50Mbps^[3]. But in areas with no 5G coverage, it’s the network to fall back on.

5G is the latest standard for mobile networks. It carries around 21% of mobile data traffic, but that represents a big increase on previous years as 5G expands in both coverage and take-up. Whether or not you can get 5G depends on where you live, with rural areas less likely to have coverage. ^[2]

5G download speeds vary depending on the network operator. Three is currently the fastest, with average speeds of over 200Mbps in 2024. O2’s 5G brings up the rear but at over 80Mbps, it’s still much faster than 4G.^[3]

Can I get unlimited data with mobile broadband?

Yes, there are lots of deals around offering unlimited data for mobile broadband, but there are more options for 4G than 5G.^[4]

EE offers its Unlimited Essentials plan for both 4G and 5G.^[5]

Three offer a number of mobile broadband deals with unlimited data on the 4G and 5G networks. ^[6]

Vodafone offers unlimited data plans for a number of 4G-compatible mobile broadband devices. For 5G, go for the Unlimited Max data plan.^[7]

How to find the best mobile broadband deals?

Your choices depend on where you are - there’s no point paying more for a 5G plan if you’re in a rural area with no coverage. Put your postcode into our address finder to see what we can offer in your area.

Go.Compare won’t show you every single offer on the market - just those from our trusted partners.

FAQs

Are MiFi routers faster than standard broadband?

Not usually, but it’s a bit more complicated than that. The 2024 winner for the fastest 5G broadband in the UK was provider Three, with median download speeds of 255.23Mbps.^[8] But small portable hotspots (sometimes called MiFi, although that’s a Three trademark) tend to deliver slower speeds than the kind of mobile broadband where the router lives in your home.

None of the available types of mobile broadband can compete with the highest possible speeds of full fibre, especially as gigabit-capable networks expand. In terms of potential speed, fixed broadband is the clear winner. There are some situations where “MiFi” wins out, though - for example, if your home is in an area with great 5G coverage but the fixed network hasn’t been upgraded to fibre yet.

The actual speed you get from your hotspot will vary depending on the provider, the tech and whether you’re on the 5G network. The more you move around with it, the more variability you’ll see in the speeds available.

There are many good reasons for choosing MiFi, but speed isn’t one of them. Before you make a decision, think about what broadband speed you actually need.

Is Mi-Fi different from Wi-Fi?

Standard home WiFi works by taking signals from a fixed line (whether that’s fibre, cable or telephone wires) and converting them into WiFi that your laptop, tablet or smart TV can use. Small portable hotspots, sometimes called MiFi, take their signals from the mobile phone network and also turn them into WiFi. So MiFi is just another way of getting WiFi - from the device’s point of view it’s exactly the same thing.

What’s the fastest mobile broadband available?

With a good 5G signal it’s possible to get mobile broadband speeds of 200Mbps or more. But the speeds available to you depend on where you are - use our postcode checker to see what your options are.

At the time of writing Three is known for achieving high mobile broadband speeds, but Vodafone wins when it comes to consistency of speed.^[9]

Last updated 12 February 2025