Hotspot on a travel eSIM: sharing data with a laptop or family
The network provider behind our plans says its unlimited plans support hotspot and tethering. Everything you share counts towards the plan’s daily high-speed limit: 3 GB a day on most of our unlimited plans, 5 GB a day in Thailand, the United States, Spain, Italy and on our Europe-wide plan. Our fixed-data plans state no hotspot rule.
| Plan | What we can confirm |
|---|---|
| Unlimited, with a daily high-speed limit | Hotspot and tethering supported; shared data counts towards the daily limit, then speed drops, usually to 1 Mbps |
| Fixed data (for example 10 GB) | No hotspot rule stated by us or the provider; shared data comes out of the same GB |
| Any plan, any phone | The phone and the local network must allow it |
Apple adds that “Personal Hotspot requires a wireless network provider that supports Personal Hotspot”. If a laptop day depends on an eSIM hotspot, ask us on WhatsApp before you buy.
The hotspot shares whichever line carries mobile data. If that is your Jio, Airtel or Vi SIM, the laptop runs on operator roaming, not on the travel eSIM. The guide to keeping your Indian SIM for OTPs shows how to keep that line off data.
Turn on hotspot from the eSIM line on iPhone
An eSIM hotspot on an iPhone shares the line set for mobile data. Apple’s guide says: “If you set up your iPhone to use two SIMs, Personal Hotspot uses the line you select for cellular data.” Set the travel eSIM as the mobile data line first, then open Settings, Personal Hotspot and turn on Allow Others to Join.
Choose the travel line under Settings, Mobile Service, Mobile Data, as the iPhone install guide shows. Then open Settings and tap Personal Hotspot, or tap Mobile, then Personal Hotspot. Turn on Allow Others to Join; a new Wi-Fi password needs at least eight characters. On the laptop, pick your iPhone from the Wi-Fi list.
If Personal Hotspot is dimmed, Apple says to check that Mobile Data is turned on. The iPhone shares only its mobile connection, not a hotel Wi-Fi. Apple advises turning the hotspot off when you do not need it, “to avoid unnecessary data charges”. If the option is still missing on the travel line, write to us with your order number.
Turn on hotspot from the eSIM line on Android
For an eSIM hotspot on Android, make the travel eSIM the mobile data SIM first. Google’s Pixel help says: “Only one SIM can be the default for data.” Then swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Hotspot. Google warns that “Some mobile operators limit or charge extra for tethering”, and some steps work only on Android 14 and up.
On a Pixel the data SIM sits under Settings, Network and internet, SIMs, Mobile data; the Android install guide has the full path. On the other device, pick your phone’s hotspot name and enter the password. A Wi-Fi hotspot takes “up to 10 other devices”, Google says, and Mac computers cannot tether with Android by USB.
We found no working Samsung India hotspot page on 12 Oct 2026, so we print no Samsung path; use your maker’s help page. Google advises turning tethering off when you finish.
How fast a shared plan runs out
An eSIM hotspot for a laptop uses about 3.0 GB a day in our data guide, against 0.3 to 1.7 GB for a phone. One laptop alone reaches the 3 GB daily limit of most of our unlimited plans. Four phones at 0.8 GB each use 3.2 GB a day, which also passes it.
| Who shares one eSIM | GB a day | Full days on 10 GB | Full days on 20 GB | Unlimited, 3 GB a day limit | Unlimited, 5 GB a day limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laptop only | 3.0 | 3 | 6 | At the limit | Within it |
| Laptop and your phone (0.8) | 3.8 | 2 | 5 | Slows after 3 GB | Within it |
| Two phones at 0.8 | 1.6 | 6 | 12 | Within it | Within it |
| Four phones at 0.8 | 3.2 | 3 | 6 | Slows after 3 GB | Within it |
| Four phones at 1.7 (video calls) | 6.8 | 1 | 2 | Slows after 3 GB | Slows after 5 GB |
Our calculation from the data-guide profiles, rounded down to full days. Past the daily limit an unlimited plan slows, usually to 1 Mbps, until the next day, and every device on the hotspot shares that speed. For a family, a plan on each phone often works out better; compare daily limits on the unlimited plans page. More fixes sit in the help centre.
FAQ
Can I use my travel eSIM as a hotspot for a laptop?
On our unlimited plans, the network provider says hotspot and tethering are supported, and shared data counts towards the daily limit: 3 GB a day on most plans, 5 GB a day in Thailand, the United States, Spain, Italy and on our Europe-wide plan. Fixed-data plans state no hotspot rule, so ask us before you rely on one.
Why is Personal Hotspot missing on my iPhone?
Apple says to check that Mobile Data is turned on, and that Personal Hotspot needs a network provider that supports it. With two lines, the iPhone shares the line chosen for mobile data, so make the travel eSIM that line. If the option is still missing, write to us with your order number.
Can my family share one travel eSIM?
Only through the hotspot of the phone that holds it, because an eSIM installs on one phone. Four phones at 0.8 GB a day use 3.2 GB a day, past the 3 GB daily limit of most of our unlimited plans. A plan on each phone avoids that.
Sources checked: Apple Support India: Connect to the Personal Hotspot of an iPhone or iPad, published 21 May 2026 · Apple iPhone User Guide (iOS 27): Share your internet connection from your iPhone · Google Android Help: Share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android · Google Pixel Help: How to use dual SIMs on your Google Pixel phone · The network provider behind our plans: page on its daily-limit (unlimited) plans, hotspot answer (read 28 Sep 2026; not linked, as we do not name our wholesale partner) · Our catalogue: plan details and daily limits, 12 Oct 2026. Last checked 12 Oct 2026.
Not sure how much data to take? Work it out from your trip length and how you use your phone.