Wi-Fi and hotspots are terms that are used alongside one another when it comes to accessing the internet. That said, they’re both nowhere identical.
Wi-Fi is the wireless technology that connects computers, laptops, smartphones, and smart devices to the internet without having to use any cables. On the other hand, hotspots are physical locations that are publicly available in which people can connect to the internet through another’s Wi-Fi.
For instance, with AT&T Bundles, you can access AT&T hotspots nationwide. Still, feeling a little lost? Well, fret not as we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll be looking at the most basic difference between Wi-Fi and hotspot.
Let’s dig in.
What Is a Wi-Fi Connection?
Wi-Fi connection refers to a wireless communication technology that through radio frequency waves connects your devices to the internet, and further allows them to communicate with one another without the help of any cables.
In other words, you consider it to be a wireless local area network (WLAN) that sends and receives radio waves to and from devices on specific network standards. Traditionally, Wi-Fi operates on a 2.4 GHz radio frequency to connect with devices that are within a specific range.
Wi-Fi is the most common and popular way for people to connect to the internet.
What Is a Wi-Fi Hotspot?
The definition of a hotspot is rather simple. It is a physical location that provides you access to the internet through Wi-Fi.
In addition, devices communicate with one another through a wireless local area network that forms a portable Wi-Fi hotspot with a router or modem connected to your internet service provider.
A hotspot is often used synonymously with an internet access point. This is just a networking device that gets internet connectivity through Wi-Fi. In other words, hotspots can be found all over public spaces such as cafes, bars, airports, hotels, or any other place where you can get the internet wirelessly.
Wi-Fi vs Hotspot
Let’s understand just how different is Wi-Fi and hotspot?
Definition
Wi-Fi and hotspot are both terms when accessing the internet wirelessly. In simple words, both of them offer internet wireless, but in different ways.
Unlike Wi-Fi, which is wireless communication technology, a hotspot is just a wireless access point. It’s a physical location that offers you internet access through WLAN. Wi-Fi allows you to create a wireless network based on Wi-Fi principles and specifications to provide smooth internet access.
Accessibility
Wi-Fi is very much like a closed network where only the particular owner of the network has complete control over it, making them the only person who can grant access to others into the network.
The owner can also change the password and the Wi-Fi network. They can even limit the number of people who can access the network. In addition, if they want to close the network entirely, they can turn off the router.
On the other hand, Wi-Fi hotspots are located in venues that are a free luxury of specific internet service providers. Therefore, if your provider, such as AT&T español, offers hotspots nationwide, you can enjoy a seamless internet connection from nearly anywhere.
Security
Wi-Fi networks that are available to the public are generally more vulnerable in comparison to a private Wi-Fi network. You wonder why?
Well, you’re not the only one using public Wi-Fi, because you’re probably at a place where people use Wi-Fi commonly. When a wireless connection is supported with WPA2 encryption, there’s a much lower chance of hacking.
Although public Wi-Fi’s are convenient, and usually free of cost, your privacy is always at a risk. Since hotspots are physical locations, it’s easy for anybody to access the same Wi-Fi networks and perform cyber-attacks.
That said, there’s always a solution for everything. In such instances, you can consider using a VPN, which perfectly conceals your original location.
How Fast Are Wi-Fi Hotspots?
Wi-Fi hotspots tend to provide you with a maximum internet speed of about 30-40 Mbps.
However, that depends on the type of hotspot you’re connected to and the available cell service. For instance, 5G hotspots offer much faster speeds that can hit up to 50 Mbps.
As the Wi-Fi hotspots use a Wi-Fi network to offer internet access, there’s a high chance that the speeds will keep changing because of signal interference. This can also be affected by your location.
If the nearest cell tower near you is far, you will receive slow speeds. Moreover, trees, mountains, and weather also affect how effective a hotspot is in picking up cellular signals.
Is Wi-Fi or Hotspot the Better Choice?
Let’s face it. A Wi-Fi connection is always going to be the safest choice. Why? Because it’s a private network, that doesn’t grant access to everybody. Whereas, hotspots are publicly available.
Sometimes you just need to sign in to your bank account or so, but you don’t have data on your phone. Hence, you count on a Wi-Fi hotspot. It’s always recommendable to use a VPN in such instances. You don’t want to risk someone hacking your bank account details.
The choice is clear, but if that’s not a possibility, then we just shared how you can tackle this issue.
Final Thoughts
Wi-Fi is simple, unlike hotspots. However, it’s important to know how hotspots work and what the difference between them and Wi-Fi is. Wi-Fi is generally the safer choice, but hotspots are available in every other cafe. However, you should never share your personal details on both platforms.
In today’s era, everyone relies on the internet, and hotspots ensure that we can access the internet from anywhere. It’s an essential part of our daily life. We hope this article was informative and you finally understand how both Wi-Fi and hotspot work.