Internet packages can be pricey, which we all know. So what are the ways around it? Are there any ways to get free WiFi without internet access? This scenario leaves many wondering how to get free WiFi at home without internet access.
WiFi is brilliant. People use it to contact friends and family over social media. They use it to work from home. And then use it for entertainment, for things like Netflix. It is easy to see why people are willing to think outside the box for WiFi access.
We have easy solutions for you, so read our guide to this not-so-age-old dilemma. Sometimes, you need a little bit of creativity. So feel free to steal some of our top tips and tricks.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to how to find free WiFi options in and out of your home. You’ll have hacks for getting government assistance to guest WiFi at coffee shops.
We’ll also include an extra section at the end covering how to find the cheapest internet connection. Let’s dive right in!
Reasons People Have WiFi Without Internet
Many people have WFi without Internet as a personal preference. They may want to live unplugged from mainstream media and have occasional WiFi to stay in contact with family.
Some low-income families struggle to afford the internet bills but still need WiFi in their day-to-day lives.
Additionally, a person who only stays in their accommodation temporarily may not need a WiFi package.
Many scenarios might mean having WiFi without internet at home. These are the main categories:
- Financial reasons.
- Temporary residence.
- Personal choice, e.g., deciding to go off-the-grid.
It is handy to keep these categories and common scenarios in mind. It helps to put the rest of this guide into perspective. It also helps to guide people to make correct decisions for themselves. For instance, if you need free WiFi for financial reasons, you can choose government assistance. You could use coffee shop WiFi if you choose free WiFi to opt-in occasionally while still living off the grid.
If you are looking for free WiFi at home, consider which category or categories you best fit. Then, head on to our next section.
How To Find Cheap or Free WiFi at Home Without Internet
Generally, internet service providers will not give out free WiFi. As businesses, they rely on healthy profit margins, and providing a service without taking payment is making a loss. As such, this is a tricky question and will definitely require a bit of creativity.
Therefore, to get free WiFi, you need to think of ways that don’t directly involve an internet provider. Since you want free WiFi at home, too, it means you can’t use public or small business WiFi networks. Unless you so luckily live next to a public WiFi network, you’ll need alternatives. So, what options are you left with?
With this in mind, let’s look at some top ways to get free WiFi at home. Here are our top three.
1. Government Assistance
Depending on your country, you can get government assistance with your internet connection package. In the US, there are multiple options for those in public housing or receiving other grants. Similarly, those on jobseeker benefits also temporarily get free WiFi options in the UK.
Seeing whether you are eligible for government assistance with your WiFi is a good place to start. This is especially the case if you are searching due to financial reasons. Give your country’s government and the phrase “free WiFi for low income” a Google. And then just see what comes up.
2. Mobile Data
This option might not be ideal, but it is definitely a solution. Consider using your mobile device if you only use WiFi occasionally. Your mobile phone package has specific gigabytes of mobile data, allowing you to access WiFi.
This is a brilliant option for those who fall into the “personal choice” or “temporary residence” category. And if you rely on the internet a lot, you could consider buying an unlimited mobile data package. This way, you don’t need to pay separately for your mobile and internet. You can just hotspot devices from your mobile, using it as a permanent source of WiFi access.
3. Consider Sharing WiFi
Consider sharing WiFi within your community. For instance, if you live above a shop, you could offer to share their WiFi and split costs. Or you could ask one of your neighbors if they’d like to split WiFi to reduce the cost. It is a great way to save bills, build friendships, and reduce unnecessary spending.
If you have a low income, you could also ask to use a neighbor’s WiFi for free. This could be a good idea if you only need a free solution temporarily. This is how to get free WiFi at home with a router nearby. Hopefully, you have an excellent samaritan next door.
How To Find Free WiFi Outside Your Home
Thousands of places offer free WiFi, and there’s probably one within just a 5-minute walk from your doorstep. Finding WiFi outside the home involves finding public WiFi hotspots. It is safe to say there’s an abundance of opportunity.
Now that you know the best options to get WiFi for free inside your home, what about outside of it? For the record, this is a much easier process. If the above section wasn’t quite a fit, get your shoes on and get out and about. This section covers how to get free WiFi outside your own four walls.
1. Find Public WiFi Zones
You can find public WiFi zones. For instance, you could head to city centers for free government WiFi. Or you could head to public transport stations. All of these places tend to offer free WiFi.
For many, this is part of a tourism campaign. For instance, tourism boards try to draw crowds into specific areas and entice them to stay longer with WiFi. It could also be for marketing purposes or to increase revenue by improving the experience. This is especially the case for public transport stations. Offering WiFi makes it more enjoyable but usually comes in a captive network to collect marketing details.
Joining public WiFi networks is a great idea. You just need to know where they are beforehand. It is worth Googling when you already have WiFi to double-check. Then, you can bank the best public WiFi spots for a day when needed.
As a quick warning, be wary of WiFi security when joining public networks. WiFi shouldn’t be totally “open.” Instead, it should offer a captive portal or password. You can also use a VPN for extra security. As public WiFi sees more traffic, it can attract more malicious attacks.
2. Visit Businesses Like Cafes
You could visit businesses like cafes. These small businesses will likely offer guest WiFi, which means you can get internet access when you visit. This is a hugely common reason why remote workers head to cafes. They use the cafe’s internet and then purchase refreshments.
It sounds like a win-win, and for the most part, it is. Just make sure that you are making it a fair exchange. When using businesses’ WiFi hotspots, you should ensure you aren’t taking up a limited number of tables. Similarly, consider making a second purchase if you are there for more than an hour.
Buying a single coffee and staying four hours is a big ask for a small business reliant on table turnovers. Instead, buy a couple of coffees and perhaps a cake, staying for two to three hours. Keep an open dialogue with businesses, asking them if they mind and ensuring both parties benefit.
How To Get Free WiFi at Home With a Router
The easiest ways to get free at home with routers are by pairing with neighbors and shopping for great deals. It involves a lot more compromising, and you might need to accept a cheaper solution, not a free one.
You now know how to get free WiFi at home and out and about. So, regardless of whether you are hunting for financial, temporary residence, or personal lifestyle reasons, you know the score. What if none of those free solutions fit, though? What if you realize you might want to compromise to get cheaper internet at home for easy WiFi?
This is an excellent realization if you have little budget wiggle room. It’s equally a good thing if you’re too busy to jump through hoops or will need to rely on WiFi. You’ve got to be realistic.
This is our compromise on how to get free WiFi at home with a router:
1. Go Halfsies
As we briefly mentioned earlier, going halfsies is brilliant. If you want to cut the cost of WiFi for your home, ask your neighbors. Who knows, maybe they’d love to reduce their bill? You could split the WiFi cost between a small group of you. If you all live nearby, the WiFi will reach (with an extender, if not) and still be high speed.
You can approach any of your neighbors about this. It is a great compromise solution.
2. Shop for the Best Deals
An obvious way to get cheap WiFi at home is to find cheap deals. This sounds idealistic, but it is actually quite simple. You just head to comparison sites like Money Supermarket. Weigh up all your options and pick the most competitive deal so you get cheap WiFi at home.
You can often find internet packages offering free routers, essential equipment, and necessities. So, really shop around and find the best deals. Whatever you save on, you’ll be glad for the extra wiggle room. It should keep costs low.
How To Get Free WiFi at Home Without Internet
Getting WiFi at home without the Internet is challenging but far from impossible. You can easily find a solution with some creativity and shopping. Your two main options are to look for free WiFi at home versus finding it out and about. So have a long think about which solution categories best suit you.
You could apply for government assistance and get free WiFi in your house. Or you could spend a few lunches at a local cafe to use their guest WiFi outside your home. The choice is yours. It all depends on your budget, individual situation, and preferences. You’ve got to weigh up just how much you actually need WiFi.
If you plan on using businesses’ WiFi systems, you must know about captive portals. These systems block you from accessing the WiFi until you input the requested details. They give you internet access while providing businesses with valuable marketing details. If you are a business owner reading this, it is a great way to boost your prospects.
You can start your Beambox free trial today and immediately turn your WiFi into your most valuable business tool.
Learning how to get free WiFi at home without internet is just the beginning. Beambox can positively transform your relationship with WiFi in less than 24 hours. What are you waiting for?
