5 Best Wi-Fi Hotspot Apps for Android Smartphones
Pretty much all Android smartphone these days come with hotspot capabilities built-in. Simply go to Network & Internet option in the Android settings and select Hotspot & tethering. Or you’re able to use third-party apps to do the same. You can also turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot for others to join your network and use your data. Some high-end Android phones like the Samsung Note 9, Pixel 3 even let youshare WiFi over a hotspot.
But there are so many features that are still missing from the list. Can you turn your Android into WiFi repeater? Can you share a VPN connection from you Android over Wi-Fi? That’s why I will be sharing a carefully curated list of Wi-Fi hotspot apps for Android smartphones. These apps come with some additional and much-needed features that are otherwise not available with the shipped version of Android. Let’s begin.
Wi-Fi Hotspot Apps for Android
1. Speedify (Increased Speed)
Speedify offers a secure connection over Wi-Fi so that your smartphone is protected against virus and other cyber threats. Many hackers use public Wi-Fi hotspots to infect users’ devices. The app also uses a technology called Channel Bonding that will use multiple Internet connections to deliver better speeds and lower latency. That should also save you some bandwidth.
Speedify claims that they have a ‘no logs’ policy which means what you were doing on the web is your business, no one else’s. Finally, the connection is encrypted to protect user data against potential hacking attacks. Needless to say, for Speedify to work, you will need to be connected to at least two different Internet connection. They have a 5GB free plan after which, plans begin at $3.99 per month.
The UI is good, plans are competitive, and the service is awesome but only when it works.
Download Speedify:Android(Freemium, $3.99)
Also Read:2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz, Which WiFi-Band Should I Use for Netflix and Gaming?
2. VPN Hotspot (Wi-Fi Repeater)
While Android phones do support VPN, what about Chromecast, Roku and other such devices? VPN Hotspot will solve this issue and then some other. You see, you may share Android’s internet over WiFi hotspot, but Android restricts sharing your VPN over WiFi. Enter VPN Hotspot. In simple words, you can share your VPN connection with others, securely.
Here is anin-depth guideon how to share Android’s VPN connection over WiFi Hotspot.
VPN Hotspot acts as a VPN host and a tethering device so that others can connect to your device over a secured network. The app is completely free and ad-supported which can be removed with an in-app purchase.
Download VPN Hotspot:Android(Free)
3. NetShare
NetShare is one of the better Wi-Fi hotspot apps that will let you share your Wi-Fi with others by creating a hotspot. You can now create a wi-Fi hotspot even when you are connected to another Wi-Fi hotspot, thus allowing other devices like Chromecast and smartphones to enjoy better bandwidth. Simply put, you can now share your Wi-Fi connection with others without giving them router password or access.
NetShare also works as a Wi-Fi repeater which means you can extend the range of your router by that much. NetShare is better designed and more stable than other apps that I tried in the same niche. All the data is encrypted and secure over the VPN connection and they have a no logs policy in place.
Here is anin-depth guideon how to set it up and use it.
Download NetShare:Android
Also Read:See What Others are Browsing on Your WiFi
4. OpenSignal
OpenSignal is a must-have app. It will let you scan for all the hotspots in the area no matter where you go. What’s noteworthy is though that you can also check for cellular coverage in an interactive map. You can now scan for nearby cell towers to find better signal quality. Once you have found a better signal, you can test for upload and download latency and speed.
These cell towers and their coverage and connection is then plotted on a Google Map so you can move to an area with better signal and connectivity. The app is completely free and without any ads. Just launch the app and scan nearby areas for open signal and Wi-Fi hotspots. Easily find which is the best network in your area before subscribing to a plan.
OpenSignal free and there are no ads. The more users join this platform, the more data it collects on cell towers and data coverage.
Download OpenSignal:Android
Also Read:How to Remove Someone From Your WiFI
5. WiFi Analyzer
You are not the only one connected to that open Wi-Fi hotspot. There are other users too and then some hackers, probably. More users mean more consumption of bandwidth which means network congestion. That means slow Internet for you. WiFi Analyzer scans the area for all hotspots and channels to find the one which is the least congested.
A signal analyzer app that will come handy before you choose a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Download WiFi Analyzer:Android
Wi-Fi Hotspot Apps
I have curated this list of apps that cover different aspects of creating, managing, joining and working with Wi-Fi hotspots. Use OpenSignal to find areas where signal quality is high and speeds are better. WiFi Analyzer is a good option to understand which WiFi network offers the best speeds. If you want to create a WiFi hotspot even when connected to one use Netshare. Use Speedify to increase bandwidth speed and thereby performance.
Using your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot not only increase its data usage but also eat a lot of battery, check out our this article onbattery Saver Apps for Androidand how toclear data usage on Android.
Gaurav Bidasaria
Gaurav is an editor here at TechWiser but also contributes as a writer. He has more than 10 years of experience as a writer and has written how-to guides, comparisons, listicles, and in-depth explainers on Windows, Android, web, and cloud apps, and the Apple ecosystem.
He loves tinkering with new gadgets and learning about new happenings in the tech world.
He has previously worked on Guiding Tech, Make Tech Easier, and other prominent tech blogs and has over 1000+ articles that have been read over 50 million times.
