It’s 2019, we all want to stay connected online to our friends and family while we travel. Sharing our experiences in real time, handling important business emails or sending a cute snapchat pic, whatever you need. The first option for most people is to pick up a SIM card for Canada<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, we even sell them in our Tallypack Store<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. But there is another option, a much cheaper option for larger groups and family trips. Consider renting a Wi-Fi Hotspot device that gives up to 10 devices a continuous internet connection anywhere in Canada.<\/p> This article, we look into what exactly is a Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Egg, Mi-Fi, Mobile Hotspot device… It has so many names, so what are the advantages?<\/strong> How much do they cost to buy<\/strong> outright and how do I use it?<\/strong> Then we list the top 10 Wi-Fi hotspot rentals for Travel to Canada.<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t A Wi-fi Hotspot, or Mobile Hotspot, or Wi-Fi Egg is like having a little portable router in your pocket. Instead of putting a sim card in your phone, you can put one in the hotspot device and give Wi-Fi to up to 10 devices at once. It’s just a data sharing device. Most phones these days have “tethering” or “hotspot” features to share internet across devices. The difference is that a hotspot device was made to be on all the time, always sharing data to all the users. A phone’s signal is weaker and the battery life doesn’t last all day like you need it to.\u00a0<\/p> Many of the Hotspots on this list come with their own SIM Cards inside the devices that are compatible with networks in most countries. But you can also simply buy your own hotspot and pick up a local SIM card when you arrive. As long as the internet provider has tethering allowed on the SIM, you, your partner, children and parents can connect all at once.<\/p> I use a Huawei rocket stick similar to this hotspot device<\/a><\/strong> <\/span>for my website, to connect online from my laptop anywhere. As a traveler who works online, it’s extremely handy. Instead of having to rely on Starbucks, McDonalds or random Airport Wifi, I simply pick up a local sim card and insert it into my device. I can connect my laptop, Camera, GoPro and Laptop to the Wi-Fi.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The obvious question is “Why not just use a SIM card?”, to that I would say: Use a SIM card. If you are traveling alone, picking up a SIM card for your phone is enough. A hotspot device is overkill for most individuals or even couples.\u00a0<\/p> Where a mobile hotspot comes in handy is with large groups of 4 or more people. Say you are going on a camping trip to the Canadian Rockies and Lake Louise<\/a><\/strong><\/span> with the kids and don’t want them on their phone the entire time. With a Wi-Fi hotspot, you can give them access to the Wi-Fi anytime, without having to pick up a SIM card for each person… You can also disable it too, so the kids can actually enjoy time in nature. The same can be said for pesky husbands and wives that can’t put their phones down and disconnect.\u00a0<\/p> A SIM Card for Canada or the US can run between $40-$80\/person for 14-30 days. A single SIM card can be used in a hotspot device for the whole family if you bring your own device. A rental costs anywhere from $6-12 CAD\/day, as low as $4 USD\/day!\u00a0<\/p> It’s not for everyone, but you can save hundreds of dollars with your friends or on a family trip and stay connected online. Many travelers pick up a device for Japan, I don’t know why since it’s easy to get a tourist SIM card in Japan, but these rentals aren’t nearly as popular in Canada or the United States which is crazy because family RV camping is so popular here. These little devices are perfect for your family vacation.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tWhat is a Wi-Fi Hotspot<\/strong><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Advantages of a Wi-Fi Hotspot<\/strong><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Pick up a Hotspot Device<\/strong><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
1. Rocket Stick<\/strong><\/h3>\nI use the Huawei Rocket Stick<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, shown in Amazon<\/a><\/strong> below. It’s a small device that plugs into a laptop directly and shares Wi-Fi to other devices. No battery, no cords. To use it,\u00a0 purchase a sim card in each new country, or a roaming SIM for multiple countries and insert it. The SIM cards you buy are the same for any mobile phone. I paid $150 CAD for the Huawei device, but it’s available on Amazon for $60 USD ($80 CAD) on Amazon.\n
2. Subscription & Device Rental<\/strong><\/h3>\nOther devices worth looking at are the all-in-one devices like the SkyRoam Hotspot<\/a><\/strong><\/span> that only works with a Skyroam Subscription, but saves you the hassle of picking up a SIM card for each country since it’s built in to the device. check out SkyRoam on our list below for more details.\n
3. Mobile Hotspot Device<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe last type is the Mobile Hotspot Device<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, a true mobile device with it’s own screen and battery included inside. These ones can cost up to $150 USD but the one below is on for $93 USD ($125 CAD). Simply pick up, put in a SIM card with tethering (ask the providers) and pay for the SIM card like you would for any mobile phone.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
![](\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0711S4T9J&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tallypack-20&language=en_US\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=tallypack-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B0711S4T9J\")
![](\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07HGJR8Y9&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tallypack-20&language=en_US\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=tallypack-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07HGJR8Y9\")
![](\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B011YM0OXU&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=tallypack-20&language=en_US\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=tallypack-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B011YM0OXU\")
![\"hotspot=rental-mobile-wi-fi-tallypack-travel\"](\"https:\/\/tallypack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Wi-fi-hotspot-rental-canada-1-960x514.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t1. GoPhoneBox Mi-Fi Hotspot Rental<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tallypack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/GoPhoneBoxMobileHotspotFeature.jpg\" "\\"GoPhoneBoxMobileHotspotFeature\\"")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t