5 Best MiFi for Caravan in 2022

A few years ago, caravan holidays provided an opportunity to unwind and get off-grid. It isn’t the case today. Personally, I’m so addicted to my gadgets, I hardly spend an hour without scrolling social media pages.

The narrative is pretty familiar for most modern caravan campers, hence installing a reliable internet connection is critical. While many caravan sites are equipped with broadband connections, the speeds are too slow to support every camper’s internet needs. 

MiFi internet devices have proved to be reliable internet sources as they can support several devices without compromising speed. Therefore, I researched some of the best MiFi for caravan sites and prepared this guide:

5 Best MiFi for Caravans

Also known as mobile Wi-Fi, it’s a portable device that provides an internet connection through tethering. The devices are convenient when travelling to areas not within range of standard Wi-Fi connections like caravan sites.

A mobile router, which can be a smartphone or a portable device, may be used to establish an internet connection. The latter is preferable because it doesn’t drain the smartphone battery, and you don’t need to swap SIM cards.

MiFi internet devices are available in two categories: locked and unlocked devices. Locked MiFi devices are ideal for static caravans, while unlocked ones are more suitable for touring caravans because you can connect to different networks available. Here are five MiFi devices I found most compelling.

EE 4GEE WiFi Mini

EE is famous for providing the best internet connection in the UK. It is particularly suitable for campers setting up a motorhome in rural areas or those struggling to get a good 4G signal. The WiFi Mini was launched along with 4GEE WiFi which is bigger and faster. 

Benefits

• Portable: What stands out about the 4GEE WiFi Mini is the small size that makes it portable.
• Fast connection: With up to 300 Mbps, it provides relatively fast internet speed.
• Long battery life: Among other MiFi devices I’ve reviewed, the EE 4GEE WiFi Mini has the longest battery life. Its 2150 mAh battery provides up to eight hours of internet connection.
• Connectivity: Despite its miniature size (85g), it can support up to 20 devices within a 30m WiFi signal range. However, it supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac frequencies only.
• Ports: The EE 4GEE WiFi Mini has a LAN port that allows you to connect it to a computer, PlayStation, or Xbox directly.

Costs

The EE 4GEE WiFi Mini comes with a pretty good range of deals allowing you to choose between 4 GB, 10 GB, 40 GB, 100 GB, and unlimited plans for one month, 12, or 24 months. 

However, I realized the download speeds of 4 GB and 10 GB plans were capped at 60 Mbps which was somewhat restrictive. 

Conversely, 40 GB and 100 GB plans offered a maximum of 4G speeds. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the costs:

Pros

• Has Ethernet port
• Small and portable design
• Long battery life

Cons

• High upfront cost for monthly plans

O2 Huawei 4G Pocket Hotspot

Connect your smartphones, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles to reliable mobile Wi-Fi with the O2 Huawei 4G Pocket Hotspot 2020.

Benefits

Secure connections: The O2 Huawei 4G Pocket Hotspot 2020 makes it easy to connect devices securely without memorising passwords using the Wi-Fi® Protected Setup (WPS) feature.

Easy setup: This mobile hotspot is also very easy to set up. As with many 4G hotspots, all you’ve got to do is insert your sim card and follow the instructions. You don’t even have to plug it in unless it needs to charge.

Six-hour battery life: One of my favourite things about the O2 Huawei 4G is that it works without being plugged in all the time. It has a six-hour battery life thanks to a 1500 mAh battery, and it has a standby time of up to 350 hours when it is not in use.

Supports several devices: It supports up to 16 devices, which is not as many as some others, but it offers ample connectivity for a gathering of family and friends.

Pocket-sized: They call it a pocket hotspot for a reason. The O2 Huawei 4G Pocket Hotspot 2020 is smaller than the average cell phone. It even has a lanyard hole, so you can carry it around without the risk of losing it.

Cost Breakdown

The O2 Huawei 4G Pocket Hotspot 2020 offers flexible plans. There are pre-built monthly plans detailed below that have three to 24-month contract lengths, but you can also customise your plan or pay as you go.

Pros

●      Doesn’t need to be plugged in to use it

●      Offers flexible monthly and pay-as-you-go plans

●      Is small and portable

Cons

●      Does not support 5G

Three Huawei 4G Plus MiFi

4G has become the standard wireless connection, and finding MiFi devices that can support this network is critical. Three Huawei 4G Plus MiFi is one such device, and I must say my experience with this was breathtaking.

Benefits of Three Huawei 4G Plus MiFi

• Fast Speed: Achieving a download speed of up to 300Mbps and upload speeds of 100 Mbps, the Three Huawei 4G Plus MiFi is so far the best MiFi device you can buy for your caravan.
• Easy to set up: Setting it up was a breeze as all I needed to do was insert the SIM card, charge the device and switch it on.
• Supports many devices: What’s more, it supports up to 16 devices, which is impressive compared to rival services that limit coverage to 10 devices. A maximum of eight devices can be connected to 5 GHz Wi-Fi.
• Dual-band connectivity: I also loved the fact that it has dual-band Wi-Fi Connectivity because not all devices support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi frequencies.
• Long battery life: Its battery life is also pretty reasonable for a device that can support up to 16 devices. During my tests, I found that it got depleted after 6 hours of use, but it could last longer when supporting fewer devices.

Cost Breakdown

Three Huawei 4G Plus MiFi allows you to choose between a one-month, a 12-month, a 24-month contract. Prices start as low as 10 per month (for a 24-month contract). Here’s a breakdown:

• 2GB data plan for £12 (one-month contract): It is the cheapest data plan, and it is suitable for caravan owners who don’t rely on data too much.
• 40 GB for £17 (24-month contract): This plan is the best for relative web browsing and video streaming.
• Unlimited data for £24 (12-month contract): It’s the best plan for regular browsing and the ideal replacement for a broadband device.

Pros

• Fast speed
• Long battery life
• Can connect many devices

Cons

• Doesn’t support a 5G signal

Three 4G Hub

This model replaces Three’s old 4G model and is undoubtedly the real deal.

Deals

In November 2024, Three is offering discounted prices for its 4G home broadband. This means customers can buy the router with unlimited data for £14 only per month (not the usual £22).

Benefits 

• Fast speed: It has a download speed of 600 Mbps beating a range of fibre broadband services. Its upload speed is pretty solid, too, maxing out at 150 Mbps. It is a considerable upgrade from its predecessor, which delivered maximum download speeds of 300 Mbps and upload speeds of 100 Mbps.
• Easy setup: I didn’t experience any problems setting it up. You only need to follow the standard procedure of setting up a 4G router; insert the SIM card, plug in the device and follow the instructions to start using it. The user interface also straightforward made it easy to configure different router settings.
• Vast coverage: Another feature that stood out about the Three 4G Hub is its immense coverage, as it can support up to 64 devices simultaneously on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands.
• Supports wired connections: Unfortunately, it is equipped with two Ethernet ports instead of four like its predecessor, the 4G Hub at the back, allowing you to connect to other devices. And if you want to boost the signal, you can use the two external antenna ports at the rear.

Costs

Like the Three Huawei 4G Plus MiFi, the 4G Hub has three types of contracts: 1-month, 12-month, and 24-month contracts.  Here’s a brief breakdown of the costs, but a detailed outline is also available:

Pros

• Fast speed
• Don’t need a landline to set up
• 14-day Money-back guarantee

Cons

• Is always plugged in during use

Vodafone R219 MiFi Device

Vodafone is one of the best internet providers in the UK, and this MiFi model lives up to the hype. Weighing 95g only, the R219 MiFi Device allows you to carry a portable hotspot connection to your caravan. 

Benefits

• Speed: The device provides download speeds of up to 150 Mbps and upload speeds of 50Mbps. It’s not as fast as MiFi devices I’ve reviewed, but it’s pretty decent for its size and ability to support up to 10 mobile devices.
• Easy setup: The device comes ready to use. You can use it right out of the box without installing special software. As with other broadband devices, you can do some basic configurations like adding security features, but beyond that, the R219 MiFi Device broadcasts a network any Wi-Fi device can connect to.
• Many plans: Vodafone provides a range of plans without upfront costs.
• Long battery life: The device has a built-in battery with a capacity of 1500mAh providing up to six hours of active usage and 350 hours on standby mode.

Costs

Vodafone offers one and 12-month contracts as well as a Pay As You Go plan. The 30-day and 12-month plans have unlimited data, but the PAYGo plan caps data at 15 GB, valid for 90 days only. Here’s a detailed overview:

Pros

• Long battery life
• Portable
• Offers a pay as you go plan

Cons

• Lacks standout features

O2 Huawei 5G Pocket Hotspot Pro

<<NOT Available Anymore>>

Want to take your browsing to the next level? Buy the O2 Huawei 5G Pocket Hotspot Pro. It’s equipped with a 5G signal which means you enjoy incredible speeds of up to 1.65 Gbps.

And if a little sceptical about getting a 5G signal on the caravan site, you can switch to a 4G network, of course, at a lower speed.

Benefits

• 5G Internet connection: If your caravan site supports 5G internet, then you’re in luck. The O2 Huawei 5G Pocket Hotspot Pro is the only mobile broadband that supports 5G. Most other companies set up 5G connections for home use only.
• Custom data packages: O2 allows customers to customize their data packages, a pretty handy feature for caravan owners who might not be camping for a long time.
• Wireless charging: Apart from the 5G internet connection, the O2 Huawei 5G Pocket Hotspot Pro supports wireless charging.
• Coverage: It’s important to understand that O2’s 5G network isn’t as widespread as 4G. In the UK, it’s available in 150 towns and cities, and most of them comprise busy urban streets and tourist hubs.
• Ports: The number of external ports is somewhat limited as O2 includes a USB port only for charging other devices.

Costs

I found the costs pretty steep compared to other MiFi devices. However, the greatest part of the cost consists of the device. 

Customers signing up for 36-month plans, for example, pay £11.95 per month, while those who want a 24-month plan pay $17.92 for the device.

Pros

• Fast internet speed
• Supports wireless charging
• Flexible mobile broadband plans

Cons

• Expensive 

Other Solutions

If you’re not ready to buy new mobile broadband, these two options also provide a reliable internet connection during your camping excursion.

Three Data SIM Cards

Three SIM Cards blend affordability and big data plans. You enjoy unlimited data at reasonable rates and can have the option to pay as you go. 

At the time of my research, I found its unlimited data offer cost £16, which is affordable and the lowest for a 5G-enabled SIM Card. 

And if you want a more affordable plan, you can subscribe to its monthly plan of £8 for 8GB of data. It’s a little restrictive for some households, but it should be enough if camping alone for a short period.

I also loved the fact that Three’s 5G-enabled SIM cards are available at no extra cost. This means, if your phone supports 5G and the caravan site has a 5G signal, you enjoy speeds of up to 100Mbps.

Costs

Here is an example of Three’s SIM Cards data plans for a 24-month contract:

Pros

• Is 5G-enabled
• Flexible data plans
• Ability to choose a contract length

Cons

• Can’t be used without a mobile device

Kuma WiFi Signal Booster

I found this gadget helpful when I forgot my mobile broadband. The obvious alternative was to use the caravan site’s WiFi network, and this signal booster came in handy because the internet connection was a little slow.

The Kit has two components: 

• WiFi antenna: It is attached outside the caravan, pointing towards the source of WiFi signals.
• Wireless router: It’s connected to the antenna, and it uses KUMA’s internet connection protocol, which has been designed to create a WiFi hotspot to connect multiple devices. This means you can connect up to five devices while paying for one WiFi access fee.

Pros

• Creates personal hotspot
• Strong WiFi signal
• Supports up to five devices

Cons

• The network can easily get congested 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most important questions and answers about caravan MiFi.

What Are my Caravan WiFi Options?

There are plenty of other ways of setting up an internet connection on your motorhome:

1. Using a 4G or 5G router: It’s one of the best options for static caravan owners. The router creates a WiFi hotspot for connecting multiple devices, and you don’t need a phone line. If the caravan site has a reliable 4G or 5G reception, you’re good to go.
2. Mobile tethering: This method works like a 4G router, except mobile tethering relies on mobile devices. You utilize the monthly internet phone plan, which is billed to your existing contract. Mobile tethering is the best option for caravaners who use internet data occasionally.
3. Caravan site WiFi: Most caravan sites have WiFi hotspots. However, the internet speed might not be inconsistent due to congestion.
4. Mobile broadband dongle: It’s similar to a MiFi device except for its ability to provide an internet connection on multiple devices. A WiFi dongle is connected to a computer directly using a USB port to provide internet.

What Is the Cost of the Internet on a Caravan Site?

This cost varies depending on the method you choose to get an internet connection:

• MiFi providers charge £15-£25 per month depending on the data plan and length of the contract.
• Satellite internet costs £25-£100 every month based on speed, contract length, and amount of data.
• 4G routers: Service providers charge £20-£35 monthly based on contract length.
• If buying an unlimited data SIM for tethering, you may need to pay £25 monthly for year-long contracts.

Do I need to enter into a long-term contract?

Yes, you must enter a long-term contract unless you’re using WiFi booster kits like the one from KUMA. Most MiFi providers require customers to sign up for one-month, 12-month, and 24-month contracts.

Similarly, 4G routers, unlimited data SIM cards, and satellite broadbands have year-long, 18-month, and pay-as-you-go plans.

Which Mobile Network Should I Choose?

The main mobile networks in the UK are Three, O2, EE, and Vodafone. I realized every company has some pretty great offers in terms of data plans and rates. 

However, EE stood out because it has the best coverage. While the other companies still have good coverage, I was confident about finding an internet connection using EE MiFi device regardless of the location of the caravan site.

Can I Use My Caravan Internet Overseas?

It’s possible to use your caravan internet overseas if the provider has roaming services. Be sure to check the company’s roaming rules and rates as they can limit the extent of data usage.

Conclusion

Now you know the best way of getting an internet connection on your caravan. You can purchase either of the five MiFi devices, opt for SIM card use, a 4G/5G router, or a mobile broadband dongle.

Be sure to evaluate your internet needs before choosing any of the methods too. MiFi devices are the best if camping with many people, while SIM cards come in handy for personal use.