How to get free Wi-Fi anywhere you go

How can I get free Wi-Fi?

Using the following two methods. They might seem obvious, but just in case something slipped through the cracks, here are a couple of easy ways to get 100% free Wi-Fi connection anywhere on the go:

Method 1: Scour the surroundings for free Wi-Fi hotspots

Cafes, airports, hotels, parks, restaurants, bars, museums, bus or train stations, even theaters and cinemas often offer their guests, customers, and passers-by free internet access. Look around and try to find the nearest place that could potentially have a free Wi-Fi hotspot.

Note: don’t forget that free Wi-Fi is a playfield for hackers. The best way to avoid trouble is to use a VPN.

Connect to a VPN, secure your internet traffic, and browse in any place with peace of mind.

Method 2: Turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot

This method is especially useful if you’re traveling with someone else. Say your friend has mobile data, and you don’t. Instead of asking a friend to Google everything for you, ask him to turn on Personal Hotspot on his phone. Voilà, now you both have Wi-Fi.

How to turn on Wi-Fi hotspot on Android

1. Go to Settings – Portable hotspot

2. Enable the Portable hotspot and press on Set up portable hotspot tab

3. Change your Wi-Fi password to the most suitable one for you and happy sharing!

How to turn on Wi-Fi hotspot on iOS

1. Go to Settings – Mobile Data

2. Switch the Mobile Data toggle to enable it and press on Personal Hotspot tab

3. Change your Wi-Fi password to the most suitable one for you and ensure that “Allow others to join” toggle is green!

If these tricks don’t work for you, there’s also an option to get Wi-Fi apps.

Is there an app that gives you free Wi-Fi?

Actually, there are several free Wi-Fi apps that can help you with that.

Besides the usual methods of finding free Wi-Fi hotspots (using friends’ hotspots or going to McDonald’s), you can also get an app with a Wi-Fi connection database.

How does this work? All of the apps below have the same function — they find passwords of open networks or ones that aren’t adequately protected. Usually, the content is user-generated. It means that users themselves add and share the credentials of the available networks.

However, before I go on, I have to warn you that free things typically come with a non-financial cost. That is until hackers get a hold of your bank account information through unprotected networks.

Such online dangers are avoidable as long as you don’t log in to your bank account or share sensitive material while on public Wi-Fi. If constantly looking over your shoulder sounds tiring, stick with a VPN like Surfshark instead. It will do all the protective work for you.

To answer the question of what is the best free Wi-Fi app, I present you with four options.

1. Wi-Fi Free Spot: The best choice for the USA

Wi-Fi Free Spot offers you a list of every available public location (by state > city/town > place). You’ll need an internet connection to access the directory for the first time. Don’t get turned off by the design of their website. While it is a little outdated, you’ll find that its information is valuable. You can get to it by clicking here.

Features:

• Allows you to click on a state and city to find information;
• Other areas, such as European and Asian countries, as well as Canada, are available.

2. Wi-Fi Map: Extremely convenient for travelers

This app offers a significant number of free Wi-Fi spots located all around the world. You’ll be able to find free Wi-Fi in different airports, hotels, villages, towns, and cities. Wi-Fi Map is available for Windows users by accessing their website. You can also download this app for Android and iOS operating systems. A paid Pro version is also available, allowing you to download an offline free Wi-Fi map. What’s more, the app allows you to share your internet with Facebook friends.

Features:

• Available for Web, iOS, and Android;
• Over 200 available countries;
• 100 million free hotspots network;
• 1 billion connections;
• Paid Pro version available.

3. Wi-Fi Finder: Works perfectly offline

Wi-Fi Finder is another great app that allows you to find Wi-Fi wherever you go. It also works offline, which makes it possible to find places you’re traveling to and download information on free Wi-Fi spots. They only include verified hotspots, speed, and type of venue.

Features:

• Available for Android and iOS;
• Lists over 50,000 cities worldwide;
• Ability to share your network;
• Works offline;
• Over 2 million hotspots.

4. Instabridge: Gives you the ability to add passwords

The Instabridge app has a vast database of up-to-date passwords. It allows you to contribute to the content and connect to hotspots created by your Facebook friends or public connections.

Features:

• Available for iOS and Android;
• Supports family sharing;
• Offline maps included;
• Supports WPA3, WPA2, WPA, and WEP;
• Provides stats like data usage, popularity, and speed.

It’s fantastic to know that you can have the internet via an app wherever you go. Still, to make sure hackers can’t decrypt your data, you’ll need protection beyond these apps (including tricks like limiting your online activity or getting a VPN).

Not-so-free but cheaper Wi-Fi networks

There are also some not-so-free but cheaper ways to get Wi-Fi, including global Wi-Fi network services. These services combine a bunch of Wi-Fi hotspots into a single network and get its users to split the costs.

The result is something like Fon. It offers its users to purchase a router and split the bandwidth – the majority is for the user and what’s left – for nearby Fon users or even their Facebook friends.

Skyroam is another service that’s very similar to Fon. The company offers travel hotspot Solis, which works in over 100 countries. Users pay a fee and get access to unlimited data.

How can I get free Wi-Fi at home without paying?

You might be tempted to piggyback on your neighbors’ Wi-Fi, but piggybacking is illegal in most countries around the world. It’s also morally tasteless unless you get permission from them.

Alternatively, if you already have the right data plan, you can set your phone up as a hotspot for your other devices. You can also use a USB cable to connect your phone to your PC and tether a connection that way.

The dangers of free Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is convenient. Especially when you’re traveling and can’t access your mobile data. An open McDonald’s Wi-Fi can be a real hero by helping you navigate through online maps, buying public transport tickets, or getting a taxi.

However, be cautious while using unsecured public Wi-Fi. It’s one of the easiest ways for individuals to spy on your online activity and get a hold of your data.

The tools used to sniff your online activities don’t have to be sophisticated. The traffic that flows through an open Wi-Fi network is usually unsecured, which means it doesn’t have the type of encryption required to protect your internet data. If you decide to send sensitive information like credit card numbers, passwords, or texts through an unsecured Wi-Fi network, it provides an easy target for malicious agents to grab.

Are password-protected public networks secure?

Even password-protected networks are full of dangers. It’s easy for someone to listen in and capture your data when you use a public Wi-Fi network. It’s so easy that there are Youtube tutorials on catching data on open Wi-Fi!

What is fake public Wi-Fi, and is it dangerous?

Cybercriminals often create fake public networks and, in most cases, name them after a nearby hotel or a restaurant like “McDonald’s” or “Starbucks.” They will leave it password-unprotected so you can easily connect. If you do, the hackers will have remote access to your device and internet traffic.

While on their network, hackers can install packet sniffing software on your device. It’s particularly dangerous as it records massive amounts of data, which can later be processed on demand.

The dangers increase when you decide to connect to free Wi-Fi using free apps anywhere. It gives hackers easy access to your personal information. You know the old saying — if you’re not paying, you’re the product. Some apps can spy on you even if you uninstall them.

5 tips on how to stay secure on public Wi-Fi

The good news is that you can keep your data secure and easily avoid most dangers. Here’s what you have to do:

1. Get a VPN

A VPN encrypts your data and hides your IP address wherever you go. It’s the most reliable way to ensure that your data is protected.

With a VPN, you won’t have to worry about sharing personal information via Facebook’s Messenger app. So, we highly recommend you have one on at all times (especially when connecting to public Wi-Fi!).

And hey, why not give Surfshark a go? We offer the most reasonable prices in the market (+ a 30-day money-back guarantee), and you can connect any number of devices to it you want!

2. Limit your online activity

What that means is that you shouldn’t log in to highly sensitive websites, e.g., bank accounts. Also, you shouldn’t share sensitive personal data when connected to an unprotected network. Finally, make sure to turn off sharing services when not in use.

3. Use HTTPS

When you visit HTTPS sites, you make it a lot more difficult for snoopers to crack your privacy. That “S” at the end of this abbreviation stands for “secure.” Click HERE to download the browser extension HTTPS Everywhere, created and approved by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

4. Avoid automatic connections

Malicious agents create artificial networks to phish for your data. If you allow automatic connections, it makes their job easier and faster. To avoid this, always confirm authenticity.

5. Create dedicated accounts

Sometimes, free Wi-Fi networks ask for your credentials. Usually, the providers gather users’ data and then sell it to marketers. So, you should create a separate email account for such purposes. It’s safer, and you can avoid all of these spam messages afterward.

Bottom line: Get free Wi-Fi effortlessly

So, you can finally say adios to your free Wi-Fi seeking problems. Just look out for popular gathering places, ask your friend to turn his phone into a hotspot, or use apps that help you connect to public Wi-Fi. Where there’s a problem, there’s a solution.

And don’t forget – whenever you’re out and about, you need to protect your internet traffic (including messaging apps, social media information, and banking credentials) from snoopers and your ISP (Internet Service Provider).

FAQ

Can I get Wi-Fi without an internet provider?

Yes, you may get a Wi-Fi connection without an internet provider by using a public Wi-Fi.

Is free Wi-Fi possible?

It is. You can search for free Wi-Fi in public spaces such as cafes, restaurants, train stations, airports, etc. You might also be able to use free Wi-Fi at your workplace if it has it.

Is there an app that gives you free Wi-Fi?

There are several free Wi-Fi apps with a Wi-Fi connection database. A few of them include:

1. Wi-Fi Free Spot;
2. Wi-Fi Map TripBox;
3. Wi-Fi Finder;
4. Instabridge.

But remember not to share your personal information or log in to your accounts while connected to public Wi-Fi. Doing this can easily put your data in the wrong hands.

How do you get free Wi-Fi anywhere without a password?

Most public Wi-Fi connections don’t require any password. If it does, you can ask for the password of the person that works there. Wi-Fi passwords are also usually shared with the customers on the receipt or publicly written. For example, Starbucks can have their Wi-Fi password written on the paper near the counter.

There’s no way to get free Wi-Fi without a password if it’s personal. All services are paid. People pay for the electricity around their house, so they also have to pay for Wi-Fi.