Just because you're not paying much for data doesn't mean you don't want to share! Here are the MVNOs that support tethering.
Saving money on your data plan? That's fine — who says you shouldn't be allowed to share that data with the rest of your peers when the situation arises? If you're hoping your carrier allows tethering so you can log on with your laptop, read on. And if you don't see your preferred carrier, let us know in the comments.
Republic Wireless
Tethering is available on its Clear Choice Plans.
Metro PCS
Hotspot and tethering capabilities are included with all data rate plans.
Ting
Only 3G wireless tethering is supported for GSM devices.
Boost Mobile
Mobile Hotspot is included in Boost Mobile's $35-$50 unlimited plans. On the $35 a month plan hotspot usage will draw from the high-speed data allotments of that plan. You can purchase more high-speed data as you need.
Cricket Wireless
New and existing customers with $50 or $60 per month plans are eligible for tethering abilities. You'll have to pay an extra $10 a month to use it and it isn't available for Talk & Text, $40 Basic, or $70 Unlimited plans.
US Mobile
Tethering is offered at no additional cost.
Your turn
Does tethering matter to you when you're paying so little for data? Does it factor into your strategy when looking for an alternative carrier? Let us know!
Reader comments
Which alternative carriers allow tethering?
It's pretty rare that I need to tether these days thanks to WiFi being in lots of public locations. I'll use it in emergencies or if I'm logging into a sensitive website in a Starbucks or other public network. Currently on an unlimited plan that discourages tethering, but that's the benefit of having an unlocked, unbranded device with hotspot baked in.
You missed the best MVNO that there is that also happens to allow tethering- Project Fi. I pay about $80 less on Project Fi than I was for Verizon for 3 GB data per month and the coverage/tethering has been just as good.
Tethering on Fi will quickly approach a mortgage payment if you use it like most do for tethering. Data is hella expensive.
If you use as much data as I do Project Fi is an absolute no go.
I understand for you, but considering the very vast majority use less than 5gig per month, Fi, when using tethering, is on par if not lower than the average.
That's not a common thing for all carriers in the states? Lol.
For what it's worth, I have Cricket and I can tether without specifically having it on my plan. Not sure if I'm supposed to be able to do that though.
When I had cricket I too tethered without specifying it as an option for service. It was with the One Plus and Nexus so it it entirely possible that when you buy a non cricket branded phone, this is how it is done. Probably applies to most carriers.
It's been a few years since I used Cricket, so maybe they've fixed this since then, but I was always able to tether with them even though my plan specifically did not include it.
Boom Mobile allows it
All of them do. Byod
Mint doesn't allow tethering.
Are you a Mint customer? Curious since I've been trying to reach someone there for 3 days now with ZERO success :)
Unlocked devices are best for tethering.
AT&T GoPhone
And Verizon prepaid also allows tethering included in your plan.
I tether all day long with cricket wireless and don't have to pay the stupid $10 fee. The trick is to understand that carrier branded phones are programmed to first check in with a server at the carrier to ensure your paying for ththering, then the phone will start tethering. It's preprogrammed as part of the carrier bloatware. I'm using an unlocked Note 5 (SM-N920C) with zero bloatware, when I tether, it just startes and work everytime. Gotta love the unlocked phones :)
Huawei phones are also programmed to check with carriers before tethering and they're supposedly unlocked and unbranded. Friend of mine bought the Honor 8 from bestbuy and found out the hard way. So not all unbranded devices will tether but my Axon 7, Moto x pure, and Xperia Z3 all tether just fine regardless of the network or restrictions.
As a person living in the actual free world, it boggles me that you actually have to pay to tether/have it enabled network-side.
You should not have to pay to use this basic phone function. I can only assume that american carriers built their networks wrong (whether by coincidence or deliberately), that then causes tethering to be a strain on the network, thereby making it 'necessary' for you to pay a toll for the privilege of using something that's already yours.
If the networks were built properly, then someone needs to start one of those petitions to the white house to stop the carriers from charging for this.