When you’re between homes, traveling for an extended period, or waiting for a broadband installation, you need internet — but you probably don’t need a 24-month contract. The market for temporary connectivity has expanded dramatically, and there are now genuinely good options at every price point and use case.

The problem is that the choices can feel confusing, especially if you’ve always just had a home router and a phone plan. This post breaks down every major temporary internet option, who each one suits, and what the real-world trade-offs are.

The Main Options at a Glance

Portable WiFi device — best for multi-device households, remote workers, families. Slightly higher daily cost, but connects everything. eSIM — best for solo travelers and phone-first users. Instant activation, no hardware. Limited to one device. Mobile hotspot (from your phone) — free if your plan includes it, but limited in speed, data, and battery life. Prepaid SIM card — works well if you’re staying in one country for a while and want a local number. Satellite internet — increasingly relevant for remote locations but expensive. Cafe/library WiFi — technically free but unreliable and insecure.

Portable WiFi: The Workhorse Option

A portable WiFi device — often called a MiFi or pocket WiFi — is a small battery-powered device that connects to a mobile data network and broadcasts a private WiFi signal. You connect your laptop, tablet, phone, TV stick, and whatever else to it exactly like you would a home router.

Who it’s for: Remote workers, families with multiple devices, people in temporary accommodation, anyone who needs a proper working setup rather than just casual browsing. Typical cost: $5-$15/day for subscription including data, depending on destination and plan tier.

eSIM: The Modern Traveler’s Best Friend

An eSIM is a digital SIM card embedded in your device. Instead of a physical SIM you swap out, you activate it by scanning a QR code. Your phone then connects to whichever network the eSIM provider has arranged in your destination country.

Who it’s for: Solo travelers, frequent fliers, digital nomads, anyone relocating internationally who needs immediate phone connectivity. Typical cost: $1-$5/day for regional data plans, depending on region and data volume.

Mobile Hotspot: The Free-ish Option With Caveats

If your mobile plan includes hotspot capability, you can broadcast your phone’s data connection as a WiFi network. Other devices connect to it just like a portable WiFi device. Fine as a 2-3 day stopgap, but not a real solution for relocation or extended temporary living.

Prepaid SIM Card: Good for Longer Local Stays

If you’re settling into a country for several months and don’t yet have a local phone plan, a prepaid SIM card from a local carrier often gives excellent value. You get a local number, calls, and data — all on a flexible top-up basis with no long-term lock-in.

How to Layer Solutions for Full Coverage

Most people in transition benefit from combining options rather than relying on one. A practical stack looks like this: 1) eSIM on your phone — activated before you leave. 2) Portable WiFi device — covers your laptop, tablet, and any other devices. 3) ISP application submitted — started before you move. This three-layer approach means you’re never genuinely offline.

The Cost Question Done Properly

People sometimes try to get by on their home carrier’s international roaming plan during a relocation. In practice, roaming charges can run to $10-$30 per day or more. For a two-week relocation, that’s potentially $140-$420. A portable WiFi subscription with unlimited data for two weeks typically costs $100-$200. An eSIM data plan for the same period might cost $20-$50. The economics almost always favor purpose-built travel connectivity solutions.