Renting Pocket WiFi in Brazil & Alternatives: Ultimate Guide for Travelers

Published: May 2024

Renting Pocket WiFi in Brazil & Alternatives: Ultimate Guide for Travelers

Do we need internet on the go while visiting Brazil? Yes, we need. And renting a pocket WiFi in Brazil is essential for staying connected. The vast country has remote areas without WiFi hotspots, so making a portable hotspot is the best solution. Let’s find out some information about pocket wifi in Brazil!

In this article

I. What is pocket WiFi for Brazil?

Pocket WiFi is a portable wireless hotspot that provides reliable WiFi access anywhere in Brazil. As it’s a large country like Brazil with remote areas lacking internet connections, renting a pocket WiFi ensures visitors stay connected while exploring cities, beaches, rainforests, and more.

To use it, you need to connect your devices like phones, laptops, and tablets to this network to get internet access. It connects to the local cellular data network to provide coverage within the rented plan limits

Tourists often rent one if traveling to remote or less developed areas without reliable public WiFi. Moreover, pocket wifi can be used for exploration outside cities since coverage isn’t limited to hotspots. Plus, it is good for multi-city trips or road trips where you’re always on the go.

Pocket wifi will be suitable for independent travelers who want to rely on something other than WiFi networks they can’t control or anyone who needs consistent Internet access during vacations/business trips. Especially, large families/groups traveling together can use pocket WiFi to connect to the Internet.

II. Why Renting a Pocket WiFi for Brazil Travel?

We should rent a pocket wifi for Brzail travel for several reasons. One of the main reasons is to get mobile data and stay connected with other people.

1. Benefits of Pocket Wifi for travelers to Brazil

There are some advantages for travelers when using pocket wifi in Brazil:

Reliable Internet Access – As Brazil has large remote areas with spotty connectivity, pocket WiFi ensures you stay online throughout your trip, whether in big cities or rural destinations.
Coverage Across the Country – Pocket WiFi plans have nationwide coverage so you’re not limited to WiFi hotspots. This is important as Brazil is a massive country.
Be Productive on the Go – Keep working, get directions, translate signs, book activities and share photos seamlessly while traveling between places.
Save Money vs Roaming – It’s significantly cheaper than paying high roaming fees on your cellular plan. Daily/weekly rental rates are very affordable.
Convenience & Flexibility – You’re not dependent on finding cafes or hotels with WiFi. Just turn on your pocket WiFi to connect anywhere.
Share with Friends/Family – Large groups traveling together can simultaneously share the same portable WiFi network.
No Dead Zones – Pocket WiFi eliminates the hassle of dropping in and out of connections as you move across Brazil.

2. Pocket WiFi vs. Other Connectivity options

Here is a table comparing pocket WiFi to other connectivity options in Brazil:

Connectivity Option	Pocket WiFi	Free Public WiFi	Local SIM Card	Roaming with Home Number
Reliability	– Very reliable with consistent coverage across Brazil.- No dropping signals.	– Often slow and unreliable. – Availability depends on location.	– Coverage depends on the cellular provider’s network.- Maybe gaps in remote areas.	– Reliability depends on the availability of home network partner towers in Brazil.
Coverage Area	– Wide coverage nationwide through any provider’s network.	– Only available in certain hotspots like cafes and hotels.	– Coverage is limited to specific provider’s network towers.	– Coverage depends on the availability of home network partner towers.
Ability to Share	– The entire group can share a single WiFi hotspot easily.	– No sharing – each person needs their connection.	– Only one device can use the SIM at a time. Need multiple SIMs for groups.	– No sharing – each person needs their own SIM or separate roaming plan.
Speed	– Typically fast LTE speeds.	– Speed varies widely – often slow.	– Speed depends on network congestion and partnership with home providers.	– Speed depends on network availability and roaming partnerships.
Setup Effort	– Simple to rent and use – powered on to connect instantly.	– Need to find free hotspots during travel.	– Research compatible SIM and purchase/activate before travel begins.	– SIM or separate roaming plan required – research costs beforehand.
Cost	– Inexpensive daily/weekly rentals make it very affordable long-term.	– Free to use but limited availability.	– Initial SIM cost plus daily data limits may add up.	– Very expensive per MB with roaming charges and daily fees.

► Our recommendation: Pocket WiFi provides the best mix of reliability, coverage, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use for travelers in Brazil. However, pocket wifi is not the best option for tourists. If you have an eSIM-compatible device, you can use eSIM to experience the best services.

III. Brazil eSIM – Alternative to Pocket Wifi to Get Internet in Brazil

Gigago eSIM – An Alternative To Get Internet In Brazil With Your Cell Phone

With an eSIM, you can make phone calls and send texts directly from your device using a cellular connection. Pocket WiFi only provides internet access. Moreover, eSIM allows easy profiles switching between cellular carriers on the fly.

Pocket WiFi requires a manual swap of a physical SIM card or rental device. As it removes the need for a separate hotspot device, eSIM keeps connectivity built into your regular phone/tablet form factor.

If you would like to buy an eSIM, you can refer to Gigago eSIM – one of the top online eSIM providers to get one for your Brazil trip. When buying an eSIM from Gigago, it is very easy to set up. Plus, there are several options for you to choose a Gigago Brazil eSIM. See more below:

For Brazil, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1 GB for 7 days with $6.00 . What is great about Gigago’s Brazil eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, varying between $6.00 – $46.00 . Thus, it does not matter how Internet users you are and how long your trip is in Brazil, there is always an option for you with Gigago.

IV. How to Get a Pocket WiFi for Travelers to Brazil?

To get reliable WiFi access while traveling around Brazil, research and reserve your pocket WiFi rental from online providers like Gigago before departing by choosing a suitable daily or weekly data plan through their websites.

Moreover, tourists can pick it up upon arrival at airports in cities like Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. Then, they can instantly connect their smartphones, laptops, and tablets to the WiFi network and use it freely to stay online. However, you still have to wait for your turn and there are not many options for you to choose from. Hence, you should pre-book your pocket wifi device before arrival.

V. How many devices can connect to a pocket Wifi in Brazil?

The exact number of supported connected devices depends on the model and network capacity of the individual pocket WiFi router. Most popular brands like FlyMi, SPRINT, Hipercards, etc. allow the connection of 5-10 devices at once, like smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

Unlimited data plans are common for Brazil pocket WiFis, so the number of connected devices isn’t as crucial as long as you don’t go over the monthly data cap if applicable. Large families or groups traveling together can easily share a single pocket WiFi connection across multiple devices.

Usage by 5-10 devices concurrently shouldn’t cause any slowdowns as the pocket WiFi acts as a local hotspot with enough bandwidth for typical travel needs like mapping, messaging, and photos. So in summary, a single pocket WiFi router rented can reliably support wireless connectivity for 5-10 smartphones, tablets, or laptops while traveling throughout Brazil.

Tip: Remember to check the number of devices can use for pocket wifi!

VI. How much does a Pocket WiFi in Brazil Cost?

The cost of renting a pocket WiFi in Brazil typically ranges from around $5-15 USD per day, depending on the plan, provider, and rental duration.

Daily plans are most common and cost $5-10 per day on average. Weekly plans work out cheaper at $10-15/day.
Unlimited data plans allow the most flexibility and are the best value for exploring multiple regions. These cost roughly $10-15/day.
Limited data plans with around 2-5GB per day start from $5-10/day but can get expensive if you exceed the daily limit.
Renting for a full week or longer is very affordable, working out to under $10/day usually. The longer the rental, the lower the per-day price.
Major airports like Sao Paulo and Rio see the most competitive pricing, as low as $5-7/day for unlimited data.
Delivery and pick-up are included, but an initial deposit of $50-100 may be required until the device is returned.

VII. Best Wifi Pockets for Brazil travel – Which to choose?

Here are some of the most popular and reliable pocket WiFi providers for travelers in Brazil:

FlyMi: Largest provider with great coverage. Pick up/return in major airports. Plans from $5/day for unlimited data.
SPRINT: High speeds and support across Brazil. Daily/weekly plans ranging $7-15. It is easy for online booking.
Hipercard: Large nationwide network. Rental kits include a portable charger. Plans from $10/day unlimited.
Jeveline: Competitively priced daily/weekly plans as low as $5-7/day. Rentals at smaller airports too.
BwiFi: Flexible short-term rentals from a few hours to days. Last-minute bookings are possible.
Peiswi: Affordable options focused on South/Southeast regions. Good for short trips.
Vectom: Large rental stock for groups/families. Additional support through WhatsApp

VIII. How to use your pocket Wifi in Brazil?

Here are the brief steps to use a pocket WiFi in Brazil:

Collect your device and activate it.
Turn on the pocket WiFi and note its WiFi network name/password.
Connect your devices like smartphones, and laptops to their WiFi network.
You now have internet access through the pocket WiFi’s cellular data.
Connect up to 10 devices simultaneously usually.
Carry it with you everywhere for coverage – monitor data usage.
Turn off when not traveling to avoid background data usage.
Return the device to the rental provider before leaving Brazil.

Hence, you just connect your devices to the pocket WiFi’s WiFi network to stay online while traveling throughout Brazil. However, pocket wifi still has its drawbacks. We still highly recommend using an eSIM for the best experience.

IX. FAQs about Brazil Pocket Wifi Rental

Can I pick it up at the airport?

Yes, most providers allow pick up and drop off at major airports like Sao Paulo and Rio.

What is the coverage area?

Network coverage is nationwide but may be sporadic in very remote areas. Check provider maps.

How many devices can connect?

Typically 5-10 devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops can connect simultaneously.

X. Conclusion

Pocket WiFi rental provides an affordable and convenient way to stay connected throughout your Brazil trip. With one device, you can share internet access between multiple smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Besides, you can use an eSIM for the best trip in Brazil.