Pocket Wifi: what is it, how is it different from the SIM card and which is the best for connecting to the internet while traveling?

When traveling to another country, there are usually many things prepared, such as plane tickets, suitcases, hotel reservations and destinations to visit, but many times you end up forgetting something very important like the Internet access .

In these cases, there are different ways to stay connected to the Internet from from the time you leave your home until you arrive at your destination and for the time you spend there. For this you can use a Pocket Wifi or a SIM card.

In general, you can buy the SIM card in your own country depending on the destination you are traveling to, this will allow you to have data at all times. Pocket wifi is very similar, it is a small modem , here will share data with you all the time. With that in mind, here we explain a bit more about this modem and in what these two elements differ .

Pocket WiFi What and how do these hotspot devices work?

Pocket Wi-Fi is a mobile device that gives you a Internet access at any time you can get it all over Europe, Japan, United States and some countries in South America. You can buy it or just rent it when it arrives in your destination country. It’s a mini router like the one you have at home, but it has a very small size that you can easily carry in your pocket.

This device offers you wireless connection for up to 10 devices, whether for smartphones, tablets or laptops . Ideal when you are traveling in a group and everyone wants to stay connected to a wireless network at all times. It is also important to mention that this device is rechargeable and that he usually has a charging time of at least 12 continuous hours .

It has a scope of at least 20 meters and he hit usually a full charge in about three hours . For its operation, you do not need to use SIM card , you just have to connect your device to the Pocket Wifi network as you do with any wireless connection and thus start to enjoy said service.

SIM cards for travelers What are they and how much do they cost in the world?

There is also the famous SIM cards that you can get in all country of the world. To do this, you must unlock your mobile device , which will allow you to recognize each of these cards. They are manufactured and marketed by local mobile operators , which you just have to buy and type on your smartphone.

In the case where your mobile device has only one SIM slot, you must replace it with your current SIM , but it has two locations, you can insert it into the one that is alone and configure said line as priority line so that you can start enjoying its services. Unlike Pocket wifi this time you just need to have your terminal on top. It is generally much more comfortable for most users.

Keep in mind that you need to activate a plan Internet for this card , it will work exactly the same as the one you use in your country . A way of stay in touch with your friends and family remotely .

Pocket Wifi vs SIM cards How are they different and which one is better to have internet abroad?

Considering these two elements, you may still have doubts about which one of them is best to use when traveling abroad . The first thing to consider is which of the two offers you a better coverage , is more comfortable to use and especially which one can be cheaper to use .

In accordance with this, we explain here the main differences between these two elements:

Pocket wifi

As we mentioned earlier in the article, this device is very similar to the router you have at home , but it has a much smaller size than you can easily carry in your pocket or purse . So it won't take up much space for you.

One of its main advantages is that when active, it will offer you a wireless internet signal for up to 10 different devices . At the same time, you can activate an unlimited data plan or simply top it up daily or from time to time. In addition, they usually have a long duration of at least 12 continuous hours.

However, some of the downsides of using these devices are that they tend to have a high cost , generally, they usually cost around 80 euros or a little more. But you can also rent when you arrive in your destination country , but for that you must sign some kind of contract where you are responsible to pay it in case of loss . In this case, you will have to cancel it at the cost of one brand new device .

Moreover, since it is a different device from your smartphone , it will become another accessory that you will need to take care of during the trip.

SIM card for tourists

In the case of these tourist maps, they are much easier to use than pocket wi-fi, mainly because you won't need to use another device to have a network connection. You can insert directly into your smartphone and thus begin to benefit from its services.

In addition, these elements are many cheaper than Pocket WiFi , and since they are inserted inside your terminal, the chances of getting lost are almost zero , unless you ne lost your smartphone . Another important factor is that you can also use your terminal as a kind of modem and share the Internet with your traveling companions.

It is also necessary to take into account the fact that being very small, it can easily get lost if you do not immediately insert it into your smartphone. In addition, depending on the country where you are, you will find packages that only last a few days or a few weeks , some of which may have high costs .

Main differences between Pocket WiFi and SIM card

Which of the two is the better option?

If we compare everything that is mentioned above, we can say that both elements are very attractive . However, Pocket Wi-Fi does not offer anything other than the sim card , or simply that it allows you to share the Internet with a larger number of people, but it is also a little more expensive and also means that you must use another device during your trip .

In this spirit, the sim card basically offers you the same and you don't have to charge any other additional device . In addition, there are many cheaper and easier to use. Therefore, if you have traveled to another country and want to to save money while being connected to the network , the best thing to do is to use a tourist sim card .

Pocket Wifi vs. SIM Cards vs. Data Roaming Which is cheaper?

When traveling to a destination outside of your country, it may be difficult to obtain a free internet connection or good coverage . However, there are different methods that will allow you to connect to a network in a very simple way. That's why we are going to show you here which of these three ways is the most economical and efficient for you when connecting to the network .

Pocket wifi

Pocket Wifi has become a great advantage for most users, since this small modem which can be carried from one place to another in the pocket has become a great help especially for users who travel outside their country and must maintain a network connection all the time.

This device is ready to use, you just need to activate its switch and connect either your mobile device, your laptop or your tablet and enjoy its service. However, this product has a slightly high cost compared to other options to find a wireless connection travelling. In accordance with this, here we show you some of the equipment that you will find available in Spain with their rates and rental plans .

My-Webspot.com

This product gives you the opportunity to have internet whenever you travel outside of Spain , for this, he offers the rental of his devices for the time that the customer requests. Given their prices, a 7 day rental can cost around 62,30 euros, while one 15-day rental can cost you 110,40 euros . It offers you a unlimited internet service for the period of time during which you rented it.

WiFiAway.es

WiFi Away offers you the possibility of rent these devices or simply buy it, in case you acquire it, it offers you different packages which vary depending on the number of days you want them. In case you buy this product, you can buy 10-day unlimited Internet passes for a price of 35 euros , you can also make reservations for 1 month for 39 euros, 2 months for 73 euros or 3 months for 105 euros.

If you only want to rent it for about 15 days, it will cost you 45 euros where you can enjoy 15 GB of navigation or if you want it rent for about 36 days, you can hire the service for only 54 euros where you can enjoy 20 GB of navigation.

IPV6-informatica.es

IPV6 also gives you a way to surf without limits all the time and you are outside your country of origin or not . For this he has different plans where you can have local and international calling services and navigation data. In general, their plans are between 9 euros and 30 euros per month. This will mainly depend on the services included in the plan.

SIM cards

In case you plan to use a tourist sim card when you travel in outside of Spain, you must first make sure that your smartphone is unlocked, because this will allow you to use a SIM card abroad .

In general, these smartphones are usually blocked by their suppliers , so in most cases the bands need to be opened so that they can establish coverage with other providers . This is how these SIM cards offer you a large coverage capacity and also give you the possibility of share your internet with other devices . It should be noted that these tend to have a much lower cost than Pocket Wi-Fi.

Some of the SIM card services available in Spain are:

• O2 prepaid card: This SIM card gives you the possibility of having Internet everywhere in the world, for that it offers you a service of 30 days where you can enjoy 5 GB of navigation for only 25 euros .
• Three with Go Roam: this card is currently available in more than 71 countries around the world . It offers you 30-day services with 5 GB of navigation for a price of 30 euros. It also offers you a 30-day package, but with 12 GB of navigation for a price of 40 euros .
• Orange: This telephone company in Spain also offers you a sim card for tourists so you can use them whenever you travel outside of Spain , for this it offers you 14-day services with 20 GB of navigation for only a price of $40 .

Data roaming

Finally, we found the option of data roaming or also known as data roaming . If we compare this option with the previous two, we can say that it is the most practical of all, especially since you will not have to do any additional costs when traveling abroad . You simply need bring your device and turn on data roaming and it will work automatically for you outside of your country.

Although one of the disadvantages of this option is that the plans offered by the different operators in Spain to use international mobile data roaming, is that they have an allowance of very low data , which can run out very quickly.

Some of tariffs processed by the various operators of smartphones in Spain are as follows:

• Telstra : In the case of Yoigo, he provides calls from abroad at a cost of 2,54 euros per minute , as to SMS, they will cost 36,30 cents, while the navigation data depends on the lump sum which you have registered in your country .
• Movistar : This telephone operator offers you different rates depending on the region in which you are traveling