Are you a traveler? Do you use the internet a lot? Then you might want to consider installing a car WiFi. The need for staying connected on the road is increasing, especially for those working remotely. And with WiFi in your vehicle, you can make yourself accessible effortlessly and do anything from anywhere, be it listening to online music, making video calls, or playing multi-player games while stuck in traffic. But how do you get a WiFi connection inside your vehicle? Here are a few ways.

Phone hotspot
The first and most obvious way to have internet access in the car is to use your smartphone’s hotspot feature. By doing so, you can share your internet connection with other passengers and use it on multiple devices. This is also one of the most affordable solutions as most mobile providers offer unlimited data plans.

However, a significant drawback of keeping your hotspot running continuously is that it can drain the battery faster. Moreover, the signal can become weak if you drive through remote locations. So while this is not an ideal solution, it does give you the freedom to roam the cyber world irrespective of where you are.

Portable hotspot modem
Like a WiFi modem at home, but using 4G LTE networks, a portable hotspot modem is a standalone device to get an internet connection in your car. It saves your mobile battery and can support up to ten connections at a time. In addition, you can avail yourself of lower rates and discounts when you buy data plans along with a modem. Sellers offer different kinds of mobile broadband devices. For instance, ZTE Velocity from AT&T comes with a built-in digital display. Other models like those from Huawei are compatible with any sim card.

It is best to find out if your mobile provider also caters to your car WiFi needs. These are often cheaper when bundled together. However, standalone plans are also affordable. You will pay as little as $20/month for 2GB from T-Mobile’s network, while Verizon charges only $30 for 4GB/month.

The following are two portable modems you can consider:

Alcatel Linkzone
Weighing about three ounces and smaller than a deck of cards, Alcatel is one of the best devices for your car. It supports up to 15 different devices and has an output of 5GHz that comes in handy, particularly in congested areas. Generally, the charge lasts about six hours, but you should be able to charge it on the go in the car. For its price, $52.99 on Amazon, Alcatel is amongst the better modems in the market.

NETGEAR AirCard
While in the pricier range, costing $189.99 on Amazon, AirCard from Netgear is an unbelievably fast mobile hotspot capable of speeds as high as 400Mbps. What’s more, it can support up to 32 connections simultaneously and has a rechargeable battery that lasts 11 hours when fully charged. The AirCard also has a catchy digital display where you can monitor just about anything – speed, signal strength, and data use. The device is compatible with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

Inbuilt car WiFi
The latest vehicles come with cellular network compatibility. Car manufacturers started this practice in 2016, so you can check if your car has inbuilt WiFi features. Also, if you are looking to buy a new car, ensure it has this facility. The best advantage is that it supports navigation and roadside assistance.

However, apart from vehicle-specific features, your car WiFi might be pretty inadequate. VPNs and eSIMs are generally available only in flagship models. Car WiFi is also a limited feature in the data plans and might be expensive.