Does FiOS have hotspots like Xfinity?

Are you by any chance running low on mobile data? Or, are you getting frustrated by the slow internet speeds on your smartphone? Do you need to work on your laptop when you are out in public? Whichever case you befit, all you need is a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The great thing is that there are multiple ways through which you can connect to Wi-Fi hotspots for free. There is also the possibility that you could be paying for access to a premium Wi-Fi hotspot via your Internet Service Provider or your mobile carrier. So, if you are a FiOS customer, you may be wondering whether FiOS has hotspots like Xfinity. Well, they certainly do. In fact, Verizon FiOS offers free access to Wi-Fi hotspots country wide for all its customers. If you are a new customer, you have free hotspot access through the 25/15 Mbps package and if you are a current subscriber, you get free hotspot access through the 20/5 Mbps package. Also, if you are an HSI customer subscribed to wither the 3 Mbps or the 7.1 Mbps internet plans, you can also tap into Verizon’s network.

So, what exactly is a Wi-Fi hotspot?

Wi-Fi hotspots have been developed to provide internet to any laptop or mobile device that is capable of using Wi-Fi. Technically, there is no difference between your Wi-Fi router and a Wi-Fi hotspot as they both operate in a similar manner. The whole idea is that Wi-Fi hotspots often work in public spaces or in the absence of a Wi-Fi router.

There are several types of Wi-Fi hotspots that exits in the network industry. One of which are free Wi-Fi hotspots which are the most common and are available in multiple hotels, airports and cafes. Sometimes these hotspots tend to limit the amount of data available to you while others may need registration for you to access them. The only problem is that free Wi-Fi hotspots may not be the most secure option.

Another type are the Pay-Per-Use Wi-Fi Hotspots which charge you for connecting wither per minute, per session or according to the amount of data that you are using. These hotspots are common in libraries, maybe airports and hospitals as well.  When it comes to the ISP hotspots, your provider such as Verizon FiOS or Xfinity Comcast may bundle exclusive access to high speed and high performing Wi-Fi hotspots with certain broadband packages. So, if you are on certain Verizon FiOS plans, you have access to Wi-Fi hotspots. (You should note that Verizon doesn’t offer this service anymore though)

The other type are Wi-Fi hotspots which are offered to you by your call phone provider alongside data plans. Personal Wi-Fi hotspots, on the other hand, connect to your mobile data network and share the connection in such a way that it allows for the tethering of multiple devices concurrently.

Verizon FiOS versus Comcast Xfinity Overview

Let us take a look at which of the two providers between Verizon and Xfinity give you better internet speeds and bundle options.

Internet Service Provider	Verizon FiOS Home Internet	Xfinity Comcast
Upload Speeds	200- 880 Mbps	2- 2,000 Mbps
Download Speeds	200 – 940 Mbps	15 – 2,0000 Mbps
Data cap	None	1 TB- Unlimited

How can I find Wi-Fi hotspots near me?

There are multiple ways through which you can find Wi-Fi hotspots near you. One way to find them is to simply open up the Wi-Fi settings on your smartphone or your laptop and see what public networks seem available. However, this may be slightly risky as public networks tend to be quite unsafe. So it is advisable that you use recognized hotspots from credible providers.

In addition, there is a great number of hotspot finder mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices that have been designed to help you find secure Wi-Fi hotspots. You can either use Wi-Fi map that provides Wi-Fi passwords that are community sourced and VPN access or Wi-Fi Finder which allows you to test both the speed and reliability of public networks before joining them.

How can I find Xfinity/Comcast Wi-Fi hotspots?

Generally, Xfinity provides a maximum of 40 hours of its Wi-Fi hotspot access every 30 days to Prepaid Instant TV customers, Performance starter and Internet Essentials customers. Any other customers have the options of purchasing weekly, daily, monthly or hourly Xfinity Wi-Fi on demand passes.

So, to locate any Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots, you would need to launch the Xfinity Mobile hotspot app in your browser or directly download the Xfinity/Comcast Wi-Fi Hotspots app for both iOS and Android devices.

Conclusion

Hotspot data is basically wireless data from the mobile plan that you have subscribed to that gives you a chance to use your mobile device as a Wi-Fi source for all your other devices.

FAQs

1. Do I have to pay for Xfinity hotspots?

Not exactly. You can always enjoy Xfinity Wi-Fi which is included in your subscriptions at no extra costs.

2. Does Verizon have any free Wi-Fi hotspots?

Yes, Verizon Wi-Fi for High Speed Internet, is a free service.