Did you just move out into a new property, or is your fiber currently experiencing issues? What do you do when you require an urgent Internet connection for work and school but don’t have access to the Internet?
There’s no need to fret because the solution is simple. It doesn’t matter if your fiber is currently under maintenance, you haven’t paid your Internet bills yet, or you just can’t afford to have one. Whatever your reason is for not having Internet connection access, there are a few ways for you to get free WiFi at home.
Nowadays, the Internet is not only considered a luxury but a requisite for most people, especially when it comes to work and school. You’d need a backup plan or solution in case your WiFi is acting up or not working when you need it the most.
What is a WiFi Hotspot
One of the easiest and most obvious ways to access the Internet without having one is by connecting to a WiFi hotspot.
If you’re ever out in public trying to surf the Internet or answer an email, chances are you’re connected via a WiFi hotspot. This connection is convenient because you don’t necessarily need to use your phone’s data to get an Internet connection. Moreover, hotspots are also becoming an important part of public infrastructure and Internet experience, as millions of people use many public hotspots for their data needs considering our increasingly modern and digital lifestyle.
In a nutshell, a WiFi hotspot is an internet access point that lets you connect to a WiFi network using either your smartphone, computer, or other devices, even while you’re away from an office or home network. They pretty much work like a WiFi network that you usually have in your home, transmitting internet connection through the use of special wireless equipment.
The price, range, speed, and power of WiFi hotspots can vary depending on where you are or where you’re connecting to. However, the idea behind WiFi hotspots is that they can be a great alternative for accessing the Internet if you don’t have a connection at home.
How to Get Free WiFi At Home without Internet – Easy Ways
Given that our current lifestyles have been increasingly becoming reliant on technology and Internet access, it’s essential that you familiarise yourself with some ways how to get free wifi and Internet at home without paying. Here are some of them.
1) Mobile Hotspot
You can use your SIM’s data services to activate WiFi for the other devices to connect to in your home. Thanks to the hotspot, your smartphone has a built-in mobile tethering feature, allowing it to become a hotspot to transmit free Internet signals to other devices within its range.
To use your mobile hotspot on your Android phone, here’s what you need to do:
- Go to your phone’s Settings. Tap More under the Wireless and Network Section
- Select tethering and portable hotspot option
- Click on the Set Up WiFi Hotspot
- Input the Network SSID and password
- Save the settings and turn on the hotspot
Meanwhile, for an iOs phone, here are the steps:
- Go to Settings and click on Cellular
- Select personal hotspot and turn the slider on
- Click on the WiFi password option to protect it
The only disadvantage of this is that you end up consuming plenty of your current mobile data for an Internet connection. If you have a data limit daily, you may also not be able to connect more than one device to your mobile hotspot at the same time.
For this, you may have to subscribe for unlimited mobile data or choose from different data plans available on a monthly, daily, or weekly basis.
2) Tether Your Smartphone or Tablet
Another method is by tethering your tablet or smartphone to share your phone’s mobile data connection with a device, like your tablet or laptop. This effectively connects the device to the Internet with the help of your phone’s data connection.
Android phones tend to have an in-built WiFi tethering feature, though it can be disabled by some carriers if you don’t necessarily pay for a tethering plan. By tethering your devices, your phone turns into a compact WiFi hotspot that you can connect to using your computer. You can also connect multiple devices simultaneously, though the battery tends to drain faster while you do so.
3) Find a Public WiFi Network
Finding a public WiFi network is the cheapest and most obvious way to get a free WiFi connection. However, it can be of limited utility if you’re looking for free access to the Internet, but you can get lucky anyway.
Depending on your location, you can easily find many public WiFi hotspots around you. It’s common in most cafes, business plazas, bus stations, and parks. These are areas where you can get free Internet without necessarily paying a subscription fee; plus, it’s a convenient solution if you can’t afford to purchase a WiFi connection for your home.
It’s also cheaper compared to using your mobile data every time you need to surf the web.
4) Use a WiFi USB Dongle
Dongles refer to portable and mini USB sticks that can connect to devices to provide them with seamless, on-the-go Internet service. It basically functions as a portable modem so that when you plug it into a computer, the device essentially connects to an Internet modem.
Using a WiFi dongle USB is extremely helpful, especially for traveler’s and for individuals who constantly need access to the Internet, considering that it’s a device you can carry around.
5) Share Someone’s Internet
You can also share someone else’s internet connection. If there is only a single backup internet connection in an area, you and your other friends can utilise that connection to be online from different devices.
If someone has a wired internet connection, they can share it with others over WiFi by opening the hotspot option. This can also be done by using a cellular internet dongle which adds to the cellular capabilities of PCs.
6) Use a Hotspot Database App
There are many apps out there that can efficiently scan free public WiFi networks all around you. This makes looking for an Internet connection easier since you’ll just have a list of where you want to connect your device to.
All you need to do is install some of these hotspot database apps like WiFiMapper or Wiman and then scan your area for any public WiFi. This lets you select any Internet services at home for free, plus it also displays the hotspot type and the specific location.
7) Buy a Portable Router
If you’re always on the go and can’t waste time looking for public WiFi, it’s also a wise option to buy a portable router for yourself. Apart from the fact that it’s cheaper to have an in-home WiFi connection, a portable router also lets you connect to the Internet wherever and whenever you are.
Portable WiFi routers are palm-sized gadgets that can get you online while being anywhere in the world, and they’re also straightforward to use. You can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously using these routers and get the lowest rates by using a local or data SIM in it.
8) Look for Hidden WiFi Networks
SSIDs or Service Set Identifiers serve as the network names for many wireless networks. You can efficiently hide a network’s SSID to make a network that’s invisible to strangers.
Even so, this doesn’t mean you can’t discover it. WiFi analyser apps can scan nearby hidden WiFi networks that you can connect to in order to get a free internet connection. Some apps can find 802.11 networks within the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz as well.
9) Using NetZero
NetZero has been known for providing Internet services for as long as 1988. It provides downloaded software as opposed to a WiFi router, letting you enjoy free Internet for up to 10 hours in a single month. This makes it ideal for users who only use the Internet for non-urgent tasks like checking emails or going over social media once in a while.
You also don’t need to agree to any terms of use nor sign a contract by using NetZero, which is an advantage as well.
10) Using FreedomPop
Unlike NetZero, FreedomPop offers free Internet access at home by providing you with a wireless router for Internet access. It’s a portable router that you can carry around to access WiFi whenever you switch it on.
Though there aren’t any monthly subscription charges, Freedom pop requires a deposit fee as security, but it’s refundable once you return the router. It also comes with a free 500MB data plan without extra costs, but you’ll need to pay for additional data if your usage exceeds this limit.
What’s the Difference Between WiFi and Hotspot
WiFi refers to a wireless network technology mostly used for Local Area Networks. It utilises radio frequency waves to connect your devices to the Internet without the use of actual cables. On the other hand, a hotspot offers an Internet connection to wireless devices through the use of WiFi.
In a nutshell, there’s no hotspot without WiFi since they’re created through an access point device connected to the router. Hotspots are also less secure than private WiFi and may be lower in speed in case of several users.
Why Public WiFi is Dangerous
Public WiFi are usually encryption free. This makes it risky and dangerous enough since hackers can easily monitor all the traffic and file sharing sent between the server and the user on a public network. Well-positioned attackers, most especially, can track the network users that are connected to an unsecured network’s router and may inject malicious JavaScript or viruses into their devices, threatening data loss or theft.
Conclusion
If you want to save money on your Internet expenses, listed above are some of the ways you can get free Internet access. Minimising your Internet costs helps you free enough money to save towards attaining your financial goals.