Van Life Internet – How to Get Unlimited Wifi in a Camper Van for $25 Per Month
[UPDATED on October 15, 2023]
One of our main concerns going into full-time van life was how to get internet in a van.
Jazz works remotely full-time, so having fast and reliable internet is a must.
For work, she has to take Zoom calls, upload/download videos, and have several tabs open at the same time.
We’ve found a setup that meets our needs perfectly, and we want to share the love! We’ve been using it now for 3 years without any issues.
With this setup – as long as we have cell service, we have unlimited wifi.
Keep reading to learn about our off-grid internet solution.
Our Unlimited Van Life Wifi Setup
Our off-grid internet solution consists of three parts:
SIM Card through Visible
We can’t recommend this setup enough!
We’ve never had to go hunting for wifi at McDonald’s, Starbucks, or Walmart.
This setup gives us more flexibility to explore wherever we want, whenever we want. And that’s the whole point of vanlife, am I right?!
We’ve been able to work anywhere from BLM land / national forest land to parks to random parking lots.
The only time we don’t have internet is when we don’t have cell service.
But when you live in a tiny home on wheels, if your signal is weak, all you have to do is drive somewhere else.
MoFi Router + SIM Card
To create an unlimited wifi hotspot in your camper van, all you have to do is buy a SIM card and insert it into this MoFi router.
When you have an unlimited cell plan, you have a data bank for streaming (that’s truly unlimited) and a data bank for browsing the web, social media, etc. (that’s the type of data that gets throttled after you use a certain amount).
The MoFi Router has a setting that makes it appear as if everything you’re doing on the network is streaming (again — making it truly unlimited). This means you won’t get throttled when you reach your data limit, so you actually have unlimited data.
Don’t worry – you don’t have to be a tech whiz for this setup. It’s as easy as this:
Order a SIM card with an unlimited plan. MoFi works with most major cell plans.**
Once you have the SIM card in hand & activated, insert it into the router.
Watch this video to learn how to set up your router.
And that’s it! Your unlimited hotspot is ready.
We use Visible for both our cell phones and for our wifi SIM.
In addition to the unlimited wifi hotspot through the router + SIM combo described above, we also both have mobile hotspots to cast from our cellular devices.
That’s three data banks to pull from to get our work done. All for only $75 / month. This is insanely cheap.
I know – it sounds too good to be true. But we’ve been using it for 3 years now waiting for the “catch”... We’re pleased to say there hasn’t been one yet!
Visible is incredibly affordable and has great coverage because it’s powered by Verizon towers.
They offer unlimited talk/text/data and an unlimited hotspot for $25/mo for their basic plan and $35/mo (at time of writing) for their premium plan.
As an added bonus, their customer service has been amazing each time we’ve used it.
Use our referral code at checkout – 3MNLTCD – to get $20 off your first month of service through Visible.
There are some important things to note:
You may run into multiple models of the MoFi. The MoFi SIM7 model is compatible with all major carriers except Sprint, so if you’re planning on using a Sprint SIM card, you must order the MoFi SIM4 model.
Verizon blocks the use of SIM cards in alternative devices. According to this video, only about ½ of users who use a Verizon SIM card are successful in using this setup. Apparently, older Verizon plans are more successful than newer ones.
Do not use a hotspot-only data plan as these will get throttled.
For a more in-depth explanation of how the MoFi Router works, watch this video.
WeBoost Cell Signal Booster
Our WeBoost cell signal booster helps us get better service for both our cell phones and our wifi hotspot.
This specific model boosts our cell signal while we’re stationary and while we’re driving, so we can stay connected even while the wheels are turning.
WeBoost recently came out with the Drive Reach RV model. According to their website, it’s “designed to reach cell towers at distances up to 74% farther than the WeBoost Drive X RV” (the older model we have), so it’s definitely worth checking out.
The WeBoost comes in clutch when we’re in a remote area (like on BLM or national forest land) and only picking up 1-2 bars of service.
We went our first 8 months of van life without a WeBoost and now, we can’t imagine life without it.
It has taken us from barely being able to load our Instagram feed out in the boonies to taking Zoom calls, editing our blog, and uploading videos.
Keep in mind the WeBoost has 10 feet maximum coverage. This means you’ll have to be close to the internal antenna for your cell signal to be boosted. You’ll want to place the internal antenna as near to your “work” area as possible.
Which is no problem for us our short 136-inch wheelbase Promaster, but be sure to consider this when installing it in a bigger van or RV.
The wire that runs from the booster to the internal antenna is long, so we often move our internal antenna from the living area to the front cab on drive days so Jazz can take calls and work while on the road.
It’s important to reiterate that your WeBoost doesn’t help if you don’t have a cell signal. You have to have some service / at least one bar for it to be boosted.
So what are you waiting for?!
We’ve recommended our van life internet setup to all of our friends.
Everybody who has gone through with it is 1,000% in love and now wonders how they ever lived without it!
This setup has been a game-changer in our ability to work and play while on the road.
And we’re so happy to share it with you to make your transition to life on the road easier and more connected.
If you have any further questions about our setup, contact us here.
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