When you need internet access on the road, using your cell phone is a great way to send data to another device. You might have noticed 2 options in your cell phone’s settings: a mobile hotspot or tethering. In this article, we’ll answer your questions about the two and explain the differences so you can pick the best one for your needs.

A mobile hotspot turns your phone into a Wi-Fi network. This is generally a service provided by mobile carriers. It allows mobile devices, such as a phone or tablet to share its 4G or 5G connection with other devices, such as a laptop computer. When a mobile hotspot is activated, the mobile device acts as a wireless access point. Other wireless devices can scan and find the mobile hotspot, and connect to it.

On the other hand, tethering allows you to share your mobile device’s data connection with another device, such as a laptop. When you tether, you connect your phone to another device (usually with a USB cable), and your phone acts as a modem for the other device. With tethering, you’re not sharing a Wi-Fi signal like you are with a hotspot. Instead, you’re just sharing your phone’s mobile data connection via a USB cable or Bluetooth.

So which is better? Tethering is generally more secure and uses less battery life on your phone. However, it only allows one device to connect at a time, and it can be slower than a hotspot. A mobile hotspot is great if you need to connect multiple devices at once, but it can drain your phone’s battery quickly and may be less secure than tethering.

If you need to use your phone as a modem for your laptop and you don’t want to pay extra for a mobile hotspot, tethering is a great option. However, if you need to connect multiple devices to the internet at once, a hotspot might be a better option. Regardless of which you choose, make sure you keep an eye on your data plan to avoid overage charges.