You can access your ISP’s networks for free just by logging in with your subscriber account.įor example, I have Cox cable internet at home, so I downloaded the Cox Connect app. Internet service providers (ISPs) like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Cox, Spectrum, and others provide their customers with vast webs of hotspots. If you subscribe to cable, fiber, or really any internet at home, you probably have free access to thousands of WiFi networks around the country. Sometimes, your WiFi provider can help you out.

Connect to networks run by your internet provider However, it doesn’t contain passwords for closed networks, so it isn’t quite as useful as dedicated apps like WiFi Map. If you’d rather not download a separate tool, Facebook’s mobile app has a built-in WiFi finder-just open the menu (three lines) and go to Settings & Privacy > Find Wi-Fi. Depending where you are-a city versus a more rural area, for example-your mileage may vary. This app boasts a much better design, but in my testing, didn’t have as many networks and passwords. (If you’re traveling or worried about running out of data, the Pro version also offers more offline features.) If you prefer a less intrusive app, check out OpenSignal’s app (free for iOS and Android), which includes WiFi coverage maps based on information crowdsourced from its users. You can remove them by earning points within the app (by adding or updating WiFi locations, for example), or buying a $2 monthly or $10 lifetime Pro version. The app is free, but it’s crawling with ads. Occasionally you’ll find an old listing that isn’t valid, but I found it to be pretty up-to-date here in San Diego, where I live. If the hookup requires a password, WiFi Map will list it for you, letting you connect to just about any business’ network. When you launch the app, it detects your location and shows you a list of hotspots near you. WiFi Map shows you a crowdsourced list of WiFi hotspots all over the world. This app displays nearby hotspots-and the passwords you’ll need to access them. That’s where the app WiFi Map (free for iOS and Android), comes in. Even more annoyingly, some of them are protected with passwords so only customers can access the network. You can also find it at local libraries, laundromats, parks, restaurants, and churches-though they don’t always advertise it. Check a hotspot mapīig chains aren’t the only places that offer free WiFi.

And if you plan to sit down and work, remember that coffee shops and restaurants will have more seating than retail stores. Those locations should cover a lot of the occasions when you need WiFi but can’t find a Starbucks across the street. Retailers: Apple, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Target, Whole Foods, Staples, Office Depot.Fast food restaurants: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread, Arby’s, and some Subways.Coffee shops: Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Dunkin’ Donuts, Tim Hortons.We collected some of the most popular chains with free, open WiFi at many or all of their locations. If you can remember the big ones, then the next time you’re in any urban area, you’ll be pretty much guaranteed to find a network within a block of where you’re standing.

But a lot of other retail chains offer their customers free internet too. You probably know you can find WiFi at most coffee shops.

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