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Pocket Wifi: What is it, how is it different from the SIM card and which is better for connecting to the Internet while traveling?

Pocket Wifi: What is it

When traveling to another country, many things are usually enlisted, such as the flight tickets, luggage, hotel reservations and destinations to visit, but in many cases it ends forgetting something very important such as Internet access .

For these cases there are different ways to keep connected to the Internet from leaving your home until you reach your destination and for the time you spend there. For this you can use a Pocket Wifi or a SIM card.

Usually, the SIM card can be purchased in your own country depending on the destination where you travel, this will allow you to have data at all times. Pocket Wifi is very similar, it is a small modem that will share data to you all the time. With this in mind, here we explain a little more about this modem and how these two elements differ .

Pocket WiFi What is and how does this hotspot devices work?

Pocket WiFi ¿Qué es y cómo funcionan esto dispositivos hotspot?

Pocket WiFi is a mobile device that offers you Internet access all the time, you can get it in all over Europe, Japan, the United States, and in some South American countries. You can buy it or simply rent it when it arrives in your destination country. This is a mini router just like the one you have at home, but it has a very small size which you can easily load in your pocket.

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

It has a range of coverage of at least 20 meters away and usually gets its full load in an approximate time of three hours . For its operation you do not need to use any SIM card , you must simply connect your device to the Pocket Wifi network as you do with any wireless connection and in that way start enjoy this service.

Pocket Wifi vs SIM cards What is the best and what is different have Internet abroad?

Given these two elements, you may still have doubts about which of them is the best to use when traveling abroad . The first thing to take into account is to know which of the two offers you a better coverage , it is more convenient to use and above all which one may be cheaper to use .

According to this, here we explain the main differences between these two elements:

Pocket Wifi

As we mentioned earlier in the post, this device is very similar to the router you have in your home , but it has a much smaller size that you can easily load into your pocket or handbag . Therefore, it won’t take up much space.

One of its main advantages, is that when you are 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 recharge them daily or from time to time. In addition, they usually have a long duration of at least 12 continuous hours.

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

In addition, being a device other than your smartphone , it will become another accessory that you should take care of during the trip.

SIM card for tourists

In the case of these tourist cards they are much easier to use than the Pocket Wifi, mainly because you won’t need to use another device to be able to have a network connection. You can insert it directly into your smartphone and thus start enjoying your services.

In addition, these elements are much cheaper than Pocket WiFi , and being introduced into your terminal the chances of getting lost are almost null , unless miss your smartphone . Another important factor is that you can also use your terminal as a kind of modem and share the Internet to your travel companions.

Also keep in mind that being a very small size can easily get lost if you do not immediately insert it to your smartphone. Just as depending on the country where you are, you will find plans that last only a few days or weeks , where some of them may have high costs .

Main differences between Pocket WiFi and SIM Card

Which of the two is a better option?

If we compare everything mentioned above we can say that both elements are very attractive . However, Pocket WiFi 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 a little more expensive and it also means that you must make use of another device during your trip .

With this in mind, the SIM card offers you basically the same thing, and you should not charge any other additional device . In addition, there are many cheaper and easy to use. Therefore, if you have traveled to another country and want to save money while you are connected to the network , the best thing you can do is use a Tourist Sim Card .

Pocket Wifi vs SIM Cards vs Data roaming ?

When traveling to a destination outside your country it can be a challenge to be able to get a free internet connection or with good coverage . However, there are different methods that will allow you to connect to a network in a very simple way. That is why we are going to show you here which of these three ways is more economical and more efficient when connecting to the network .

Pocket Wifi

Pocket Wifi have become a great advantage for most users, since this small modem that can be transported Back and forth in your pocket has become a great help especially for users who travel outside their country and need to maintain a network connection all the time.

This device is ready to use, where you simply activate its switch and connect either your mobile device, your laptop or tablet and enjoy its service. However, this product has a a little high cost compared to the other options to find a wireless connection while traveling. According to this, here we show you some of the equipment that you will find available in Spain with its rental rates and plans .

My-Webspot.com

My Webspot

This product gives you the possibility of having Internet every time you travel outside of Spain , for this you offer the rental of your devices for as long as the client requests. At your prices, a 7-day rental can cost around 62.30 euros, while a 15-day rental can cost you 110.40 euros . It offers you an unlimited Internet service for the period of time that you have rented.

WiFiAway.es

WiFi Away

WiFi Away gives you the possibility of renting these devices or simply buying it, if you buy it, it offers you different plans that vary according to the number of days you want them. If you buy this product you can purchase unlimited 10-day Internet plans for a price of 35 euros , you can also make 1-month reservations 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 to rent For about 36 days you can hire the service for only 54 euros where you will enjoy 20 GB of navigation.

IPV6-informatica.es

IPV6

IPV6 also offers you a way to navigate without limit all the time and regardless if you are outside your home country . To do this, it has different plans where you can count on local and international call services , as well as navigation data. Usually their plans are between the 9 euros up to 30 euros per month. This will depend mainly on the services included in that plan.

SIM cards

Tarjetas SIM

If you are thinking of using a Tourist SIM Card when trips outside of Spain, then you must first make sure that everything your smartphone is unlocked, as this will allow you to use a SIM card abroad .

In general, these smartphones are usually blocked by their providers , so in most cases they must be opened so that they can establish coverage with other providers . This is how these SIM cards offer you a great capacity for coverage and also gives you the possibility of sharing your Internet with other devices . It should be noted that these usually have a much lower cost than the Pocket WiFi.

Some of the SIM card services available in Spain are the following:

  • O2 prepaid card: This SIM Card gives you the possibility of having Internet worldwide, for this it offers a service 30 days where you can enjoy 5GB of navigation for only 25 euros .
  • Three with Go Roam: This card is currently Available for over 71 countries worldwide . It offers you 30 days services with 5GB of navigation for a price of 30 euros. It also offers you a 30 days plan, but with 12 GB of navigation for a price of 40 euros .
  • Orange: This telephone company in Spain also offers you Tourist SIM Card so you can use them every time trips outside Spain , for this you offer 14-day services with 20 GB of navigation for only a price of 40 euros .

Data roaming

Itinerancia de datos

Finally we find the option of data roaming or as it is also known data roaming . If we compare this option with the previous two we can say that this is the most convenient of all, especially because you will not need to make any additional expenses when traveling abroad . You just have to take your device and activate data roaming and it will automatically work for you outside your country.

Although one of the drawbacks 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 assignment Very low data , which can run out very quickly.

Some of the rates handled by the different smartphone operators in Spain are the following:

  • Yoigo : In the case of Yoigo offers calls from abroad for a cost of 2.54 euros per minute , As for , text messages will cost 36.30 cents, while browsing data depends on the plan you have registered in your country .
  • Movistar : This telephone operator offers you different rates depending on the area where you travel . As we know, roaming in Europe is divided into several zones, where each of them are available for a certain number of countries around the world. In the case of zone 1 this service is free, for zone 2 and zone 3 will be charged according to the rate you have already contracted.
  • Vodafone: This was the first Spanish operator to offer this service to its users, where it currently offers it for free as long as they are met some conditions , one of them is to constantly hire services from the operator in Spain , use it more in Spain than abroad and hire the early service . In this case it will offer, calls, text message and mobile data completely free when traveling abroad .
  • Orange: Like the other operators, Orange also offers this completely free service as long as you have previously hired one of its rates .

List of the best SIM card providers for travelers to have Internet outside your country

If you want to travel outside Spain then it is best to buy a Travelers SIM Card so you can enjoy your Internet connection abroad Luckily, there are many alternative providers that we can hire for this service.

Next, we show you a list with the best SIM Card providers in Spain to use every time you go abroad:

SimOptions.com

SimOptions

One of the best alternatives is offered by SimOptions, which offers SIM Card prepaid with packages that include two types of cards , The first one is Smart Gold SIM Card , which offers 12 GB of browsing , 3,000 minutes of calls and 3,000 text messages to Spain and a validity of 30 days for a price of 40 euros .

It also offers you another chip known as Smart Comfort SIM Card which offers you 24 GB of browsing , 3,000 minutes and messages to Spain for a price of 45 euros .

OneSimCard.com

OneSimCard

This is another international mobile service ideal for those users who are constantly traveling the world and who need to stay connected to the Internet all the time . It has very low rates of international roaming, that will allow you to acquire their services and that way to be able to keep in touch with family and friends while traveling the world.

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In addition, it offers you completely free calls in more than 160 countries , calls to other countries outside the corresponding ones will have a value of 0.25 euros per minute, free mobile data in more than 130 countries and a cost of 0.03 euros per MB , while text messages will be free worldwide .

Orange.Simoptions.com

Orange Holiday Europa 

Its headquarters are in Paris-France , but it is currently one of the largest and largest telecommunications companies in all of Europe . This is how your Orange Holiday Europe is an international SIM card that will give you coverage throughout the European continent .

This SIM Card has a cost of 50 euros where you can enjoy a network in 4G throughout Europe with more than 20 GB available to enjoy for 14 days , including thus unlimited calls and messages for everyone.

List of the best pocket WiFi providers to have Internet while traveling