United states wi fi

2022 Public Wi-Fi Statistics: How do we use it and is it safe?

In the US, 47% of people say they use public Wi-Fi regularly. And that’s no surprise, as Americans continue to work remotely, attend school online, and save their cellular data while they’re out and about.

We surveyed 1,000 Americans aged 18 or older about their public Wi-Fi habits and analyzed our findings to give you a full breakdown of public Wi-Fi use in 2022.

What is public Wi-Fi?

Public Wi-Fi is available at a variety of public places like libraries and restaurants. It works in a similar way to the internet connection you have at home. A “hotspot” transmits internet signals you can connect to with your devices. The biggest benefit? You can connect to these networks and gain the ability to use the internet for free while you’re away from home.

As it turns out, consumers really value having access to public Wi-Fi networks, especially in their post-pandemic lifestyles. When asked how free Wi-Fi at a business affects their patronage at that business, 76% say they’re more likely to support a business that offers free public Wi-Fi. And providing free Wi-Fi is more important than ever, with 35% saying they use public Wi-Fi more now than they did before the pandemic.

Why do people use public Wi-Fi in 2022?

As mentioned earlier, the main draw of public Wi-Fi is that it allows you to access the internet for free. But what exactly are people using public Wi-Fi for?

• 47% use public Wi-Fi to cut down on cellular data usage while they’re away from home.
• 18% use public Wi-Fi to work remotely.
• 15% use public Wi-Fi to stream online content.
• 11% only use public Wi-Fi as a last resort, when they don’t have a cellular connection, or not at all.
• 8% use public Wi-Fi because it’s better than the Wi-Fi they have available at home.

While there are a lot of ways to use public Wi-Fi, it seems like most people connect to avoid using up precious cell phone data. Others like to get connected so they can entertain themselves with online content or get some work done. A few only connect to public Wi-Fi as a last resort, or not at all.

Using public Wi-Fi?

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Connecting to free Wi-Fi in public

Public Wi-Fi is available in a variety of places. When it comes to the most popular public Wi-Fi spots, the clear winners are cafes, restaurants, and fast food joints.

• 53% have connected at a cafe or restaurant.
• 50% have connected at a fast food joint.
• 47% have connected at a library.
• 32% have connected at some type of store.
• 22% have connected at a school.
• 22% have connected to a downtown or city network.
• 20% have connected at a park.
• 17% have connected from public transportation.

Some other places people say they’ve connected to a public Wi-Fi network are medical facilities and stadiums (think concerts and sporting events). When it comes to connecting to public Wi-Fi, convenience is king.

Check out our guide to finding Wi-Fi hotspots if you’re struggling to find a place to connect.

Internet Usage Statistics

Want to read more statistics about how Americans use their internet? Check out our 2022 Internet Usage Statistics here.

Is public Wi-Fi safe?

There’s a lot of conversation surrounding whether or not public Wi-Fi is safe to use—so much so that 80% of Americans are concerned about online safety when connecting to public Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi networks that require a password before connecting are more secure than ones without passwords. Since the public Wi-Fi networks are accessible for anyone to use, bad actors (like hackers) can target them easily.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that public Wi-Fi isn’t safe; it just means that you should take extra precautions while you’re connected.

Staying safe on public Wi-Fi

While using public Wi-Fi, it’s best to avoid handling sensitive information because you’re using an unsecured network. This means you don’t want to file your taxes or do online banking. Save those tasks for a secured Wi-Fi network, like your own home network or your phone’s hotspot.

You can, however, stream videos, check social media, and browse the news while you kill time away from home.

Using a VPN in public

Our survey found that 56% of people don’t use a VPN while connected to public Wi-Fi, and 41% don’t use a VPN at all. This is surprising, especially considering how many people are concerned about their online safety in public.

It’s a good idea to use a VPN any time you’re using public Wi-Fi. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) obscures your data so anyone monitoring network activity can’t see what you’re doing. A VPN protects your information by encrypting it and routing it through remote servers to hide your location.

Of the people who do use a VPN:

• 31% use it for extra privacy.
• 25% use it for protection from cyber attacks.
• 2% use it to access content that isn’t available in the US.

Conclusion

Nearly half of Americans connect to public Wi-Fi regularly, which makes sense, as we get readjusted to doing things away from home. Half of us have connected at a cafe or restaurant, but most of us have logged on from all sorts of different places.

We’re not here to tell you when to use the internet or how to use it, but make sure you’re keeping yourself safe and secure no matter when or how you go online. Happy browsing!

Methodology

HighSpeedInternet.com surveyed 1,000 Americans 18 years and older using Pollfish to better understand how people use public Wi-Fi in 2022.

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Internet provider price comparison

Provider	Monthly price range*	Download speed range	Upload speed range
Verizon Fios	$49.99 – $89.99	300 – 940 Mbps	300 – 880 Mbps
T-Mobile	$50.00/mo.	Up to 245 Mbps	Up to 31 Mbps
Xfinity	$24.99 – $299.95	50 – 6,000 Mbps	10 – 6,000 Mbps
Spectrum	$49.99 – $89.99	300 – 1,000 Mbps**	10 – 35 Mbps
Frontier Fiber	$49.99 – $154.99	500-5,000 Mbps	500-5,000 Mbps
AT&T	$55.00 – $180.00	10 – 4,700 Mbps	10- 4,700 Mbps
Cox	$49.99 – $149.99	100 – 2,000 Mbps	5 – 35 Mbps
CenturyLink	$30.00 – $70.00	100 – 940 Mbps	1 – 940 Mbps
Quantum Fiber	$49.00 – $65.00	200 – 940 Mbps	200 – 940 Mbps
HughesNet	$49.99 – $174.99	15 – 50 Mbps	1- 3 Mbps
Google Fiber	$70.00 – $100.00	1,000 – 2,000 Mbps	1,000 – 2,000 Mbps
WOW!	$9.99 – $190.00	100 – 5,000 Mbps	10 – 5,000 Mbps
Optimum	$40.00 – $180.00	300 – 5,000 Mbps	20 – 5,000 Mbps
Mediacom	$19.99 – $59.99	100 – 1,000 Mbps	5 – 50 Mbps
Astound	$19.99 – $54.99	110 – 1,200 Mbps	2 – 20 Mbps
Kinetic by Windstream	$39.99 – $169.99	100 – 2,000 Mbps	1 – 1,000 Mbps
Starry Internet	$50.00 – $80.00	200 – 1,000 Mbps	200 Mbps
altafiber	$44.99 – $99.99	400 – 2,000 Mbps	100 – 500 Mbps
MetroNet	$39.95 – $59.95	100 – 1,000 Mbps	100 – 1,000 Mbps
Ziply Fiber	$20.00 – $300.00	30 – 10,000 Mbps	50 – 10,000 Mbps
Viasat	$64.99 – $169.99	12 – 100 Mbps	3 Mbps

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 03/01/23.

**PABP & Paperless billing + taxes and equip fee. Price includes $5/mo. AutoPay & Paperless billing discount (within 2 bills). $10/mo. equip. fee applies. 05/15/23
**Wireless speeds may vary.

Making a comparison of internet companies and the services they offer head-to-head is one of the best ways to avoid overpaying for home internet service or signing up for a plan that doesn’t fit your needs.

Verizon, Xfinity, AT&T and Spectrum are all good options to consider if they are available at your address. They each offer fair pricing for the speeds you get and have low to no extra fees.

Not all providers will be available at your address, but you can use this list to see how the largest ones compare to what’s available near you. Then, use our search tool to see which internet providers are actually available at your home address.

Our picks for the best internet provider options

Best overall – Verizon Fios has excellent customer satisfaction ratings and has no data caps or contracts. Verizon’s prices for internet plans start at a reasonable $49.99/mo. Like other providers, your bill won’t increase after the promotional period ends. Verizon also offers 5G home internet and mobile bundles.

Special perks: Verizon often offers new customers free streaming subscriptions, gift cards or smart home devices

No savings on bundled services: If you bundle YouTubeTV with your Verizon account, you won’t save any money.

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