It might just be hard to admit, but Internet more or less has become a very integral part of our lives, something without which it is hard for us to go about our normal day to day business. Whereas 20 years back we got internet through long network wires connected to our stationery PCs, today we get internet through wireless fidelity known as WiFi on our movable laptops. We move out of one Wifi hotspot to another. We connect multiple devices across the same connection using WiFi. But in some cases, you might just have one LAN cable, no modem and multiple devices to connect. This is where you rely on the hotspot app.
There are always ways for you to make your computer a hotspot, but you know that you have to have the right software in order to be able to take care of it. What software works best? Are there ones that stand up above the rest? Which ones are user-friendly and how well are you actually going to be able to utilize them? Which ones are reliable and how can you feel confident that you’re going to get everything done? That’s the sort of stuff that you need to know.
In this article, we’re going to help you with 10 of the best free WiFi hotspot software for windows computers. We know that you don’t have all of the time in the world to figure out how to take care of such things. So, instead of settling or trying to struggle on your own, check out these options, try them out, and see how you can get ahead of the game with these great little software programs.
10 Best Wifi HotSpot Software of 2022 for Windows PC’s
Table of Contents
1. Connectify Hotspot
Connectify is a well-known hotspot creator that has both paid and unpaid versions. The unpaid free version allows a user to share an internet connection from another WiFi or LAN cable etc across multiple devices. The main drawback of Connectify’s free version is the timeouts of 30 mins after which the hotspot will be stopped and will have to be restarted.
The app allows the user to see the amount of data or speed consumed by each device and also allows renaming the device and blacklisting unwanted devices. The name that the hotspot has will always be preceded by the word Connectify hence making the name not completely customizable and the app provides the feature of securing the hotspot through a password. The app does not facilitate the transfer of files or videos and also does not allow the allocation of network speed. The installation procedure is simple and finishes in a minute or so. The signal efficiency and range are high and reliable.
Key Features:
- 30 min timeout leading to interruption of the WiFi.
- Easy interface with good efficient signal range and efficiency.
- Semi Customisable name to WiFi.
- Efficient management of devices with the window showing internet speed being consumed by a device etc.
Website: Connectify Hotspot
2. mHotSpot
mHotspot is a WiFi application that is well known for the multiplayer gaming option that it provides to the user. Two computers or devices can be connected using the WiFi and gaming will be smooth and efficient. This is just a secondary feature of this software, the primary being providing a strong uninterrupted WiFi signal for the user to use and it performs this function too quite efficiently.
It can be used to identify the devices connected, restrict connections by setting strong passwords and also acts a good repeater to boost the range of your router’s signal.
Key Features:
- Efficient and Reliable.
- Facilitates smooth multiplayer gaming.
Website: mHotspot
3. My WIFI Router
My WiFI Router is a powerful and very efficient hotspot creating software that creates a hotspot with very strong and high range signals. The app apart from allowing you to share internet across multiple devices also allows the user to share videos across the devices connected to the WiFi network and view the video from their device. They also get to determine individually the video broadcast speed too.
It also allows the transfer of other files. The app allows you to customize the name of your Hotspot and also allows you to secure the network through a password. It allows the sharing of all kinds of connection from LAN to Ethernet to 4G and even another WiFi.
The details of all the connected device are readily available and these devices can be easily managed from the app itself and the app gives you the choice of blocking the said device, allocating the network speed it will get out of the WiFi etc. The app is absolutely free and it is a great reliable app to use when you do not require a professional paid hotspot app for your business or personal needs.
Key Features:
- Easy to use interface and powerful sharing of internet across multiple devices.
- Capability of sharing files and videos across devices.
- Capability of managing the devices efficiently.
Website: My WiFI Router
4. MyPublicWiFi
MyPublicWiFi as a hotspot creating software is quick efficient and simple to use. What distinguishes this software from the rest of the herd is the accountability it can be used to establish. It allows the user sharing the WiFi to see and know which URLs ie. sites were visited by the users of his hotspot.
The firewall system in the software can also be used to prevent access to certain file-sharing applications and hence restrict the avenues a hotspot user will have. Apart from this feature it has a good interface, the user can add a custom name, password protection can be enabled, multiple languages are present etc.
Key Features:
- Can track what the hotspot users do and can make them accountable.
- Simple Interface and Efficient in range and very reliable.
Website: MyPublicWiFi
5. MaryFi
MaryFi is a powerful hotspot creator that is compatible with Windows 7 and above versions. It is used to create hotspots which are accessible to most devices such as other laptops, music players, gaming systems etc. MaryFi has a good WiFi range and can genuinely cut expenses on the need to buy other WiFi routers.
The UI of MaryFi is simple and has only the basic required aspects to it to reduce the clutter that is associated with most other apps. The app also acts as a repeater taking the signal from one single WiFi router to multiple devices. The app can also be used to access shared files between various devices without the need for long network cables attached to the devices.
Key Features:
- Simple Interface without any clutter.
- Provides access to shared files across multiple devices.
- Acts an efficient repeater allowing the availability of WiFi signals throughout an area.
Website: MaryFi
6. HostedNetworkStarter
Hosted Network Starter is an app similar to Virtual Router by the fact that it does not require installation. It can be stored in various storage devices and can be used quite easily after plugging in the storage device onto a PC. Hence the portability of this software is high. This provides a GUI front end to the command line method of enabling WiFi hotspot in your PC.
The app allows you to share the internet that originates from LANs, other WiFi etc. It provides a well-defined list of all the clients that are connected to the PC and if the PC is not configured properly it provides detailed error message pointing to the error. Overall this is a good software to meet your WiFi needs.
Key Features:
- High Portability.
- Easy to use and efficient.
- Detailed info regarding errors, if any and info regarding the connected clients will be displayed.
Website: Hosted Network Starter
7. OSToto Hotspot
OS Toto is a favorite Wifi creating software to many people. It is simple to use and has a very efficient interface. It allows a user to manage the devices connected to it by allowing him to rename the devices and blacklist them to prevent them from accessing the WiFi. The software, however, does not provide the feature of sharing videos or files. It provides a good range to the Wifi it creates and the signal is also strong and reliable.
The app allows a user to give a custom name and also to set a password to restrict entry into the network. The app also allows a feature of measuring the network speed of your internet to decide whether or not to actually allow connections. The installation of the app is quick and simple and does not take much time. The app also allows the sharing of different forms of internet connection from another WiFi to an Ethernet cable.
Key Features:
- Easy to use and Simple Interface.
- Ability to connect multiple devices.
- Easy tracking and blacklisting of devices connected.
Website: OS Toto
8. Baidu WiFi Hotspot
Baidu WiFi is very easy to install with the installation taking less than a minute and compatible in multiple versions of Windows. It provides 6 languages including Portuguese, Spanish etc in which the app can be used and can also be used to send files and to receive files from phones apart from acting as a strong efficient and powerful hotspot creator.
It allows the user to change the name of the WiFi and also to set a password to restrict access. The app has a very simple interface and can be easily used by anyone with basic knowledge of how a computer functions. The range of the WiFi provided by the app is good and the signal is effective and reliable.
Key Features:
- Easy and Efficient UI.
- Allows transfer of files to and from a phone.
- Good efficient reliable WiFi signals.
Website: Baidu WiFi
9. Virtual Router
Virtual Router differs from all the other hotspot software from this list by the mere fact of it being open source. Being an open source program every aspect of the program is in one way or the other in your control with the choice of making modifications and tweaks.
The program runs without any background processes and does not require any installation, hence allowing the user to copy the app in pen-drives and other storage devices and to easily use it. The app has a very simple interface and is very easy to use. It performs efficiently all the functions that users expect of a WiFI hotspot and those which are discharged by the software mentioned above.
Key Features:
- Open Source and retention of control with the user.
- Does not run in the background, hence not consuming memory.
- Efficient and Simple Interface.
Website: Virtual Router
10. Antamedia
Antamedia, one of the first WiFi companies that developed PC-based WiFi management software back in 2006, just released a new Hotspot V5. It’s an industry-leading software to manage and sell WiFi HotSpot access that helps you provide the free Internet with social login, collect data, engage customers with video ads and surveys.
It is used in 170 countries by 30000 businesses and major brands like Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Nasa, Coca Cola, but also mid-sized and small businesses as it fits any WiFi requirement.
Key Features:
- Installs on a PC, easy setup with any network hardware controls all user devices
- One time payment, live support to assist with installation and deployment
- Configurable free access, social login, tiered paid access with credit card processing
- Collects user data and set up marketing campaigns with automatic email follow-ups
- Collect surveys to increase guest satisfaction and TripAdvisor rank
- Displays Video ads for complimentary access
- Easily branded with logo and background with 50 new themes
Website: Antamedia
We think any of these 10 free wifi hotspots should suffice your need to create a free wifi hotspot. If you think there is some better software available on the internet, please let us know in comments below and we would be glad to include it in our list.
