Today internet connection is so important to our society, especially that we are now in the new normal because of a pandemic. Due to this pandemic, students no longer go to schools, but they will have their classes online or through the use of an internet connection. Also, because of this pandemic, online shopping and online ordering of foods is now the trend, and more people are searching for works online so that they don't need to leave their house. That is, internet connection becomes in demand, and everybody is crying for a better signal and connection, but which one is better – WiFi or Data? Some will say WiFi, and some will say Data or commonly known as mobile data. However, before we answer that question, let us differentiate first the differences between WiFi and Data.

Do You Need WiFi If You Have Unlimited Data?

What is WiFi?

As we all know, WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity, which is the same as WLAN or Wireless Local Area Network. WiFi is a technology that acts as a principal device that will send signals from the internet connection to other devices like tablets, computers, cellphones, and other gadgets, using radio frequencies. In WiFi, Gigahertz is the unit of frequency that the WiFi uses to transmits and receives data.

What is Mobile Data?

Mobile Data is an internet connection that connects mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and others to a wireless cellular connection. These cellular providers are offering mobile data with different ranges like GSM (like 1G, 2G, 3G UMTS, and 4G LTE Advanced), TDMA, and CDMA. These cellular providers are also giving mobile data plans to suits the budget of their users. Some of these data plans include unlimited data.


What are the differences between WiFi and Mobile Data?

Both WiFi and Mobile Data will help you access the internet without a wired connection and will help you check Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and others faster and without hassle. However, both have differences, and the following are the lists of it.

WiFi needs a router, while Mobile Data does not.

A router is a wireless device that was pasted on the wall and is used as a connector to an internet service provider. This router has a limited distance where you can be able to connect the WiFi. Therefore, this means that  WiFi has limited access, and that is only until the distance covered by the route, while mobile data you can use it everywhere you are as long as there is a signal for a cellular network in that place.

WiFi is cheaper than Mobile data.

In Mobile Data, you need to put load every time your mobile plan is expired, but in WiFi, you will only need to pay once a month.

WiFi has unlimited internet speed, while Mobile data has a limit.

If you subscribe to a 10mbps WiFi, then in the whole month, you will enjoy it – 24/7, while in mobile data, there are limited Mbps that you need to consume according to the amount you paid. Once the allowed Mbps is consumed, even if your plan is not yet expired, still your internet connection will get slow.

WiFi has limited access, but Mobile Data does not.

Due to the router that is used to connect the WiFi, users of WiFi has only limited access or place where they can use it. If the router is in the house, those who are using that WiFi cannot access it if they are already outside their house, while in mobile data wherever you go, as long as you have load and you have a signal, you can access it.

WiFi has no limit to those who can connect to it, but Mobile Data is limited.

There are pros and cons to both sides of this feature. The pros and cons of this for the WiFi is that many can use the internet or many devices can connect to it without the fear of having a high bill later on. Many will enjoy the internet service without getting logged, or the connection will get slow – this is the pro side. The con side is that if your WiFi doesn't have a password or the password is weak - many can connect illegally into it, even your neighbor that reaches your connection, but only one will suffer to pay the bill. However, on the side of mobile data, the pro side is that only you can connect to it, or only a few can connect to it if you use the mobile hotspot feature on your phone. It means nobody can illegally connect to it. On the other side, the con is, if you allow others to connect on your mobile data, the connection will get logged, and your bill will be higher. Also, the more connections, the faster the allotted Mbps will be consumed.

WiFi can let you search for anything but Mobile Data can let you search for simple internet activities.

In WiFi, you can do what you want. From Social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others, up to listening to music like Spotify or watching movies on Netflix or YouTube – everything is possible in WiFi. On the other hand, mobile data is only limited to simple internet activities since the Mbps allotted is only a little.

WiFi has no limit for the allowed data, while Mobile Data is limited.

You don't have to worry if you exceed your data if you use WiFi because this has no limit, while in mobile data, you will need to choose a certain amount of data for a period of time base on your budget - you can choose 10 GB, 50 GB, unlimited, etc.

Now, if you will ask if WiFi is still needed if you have unlimited data? Well, the answer is yes and no. Yes, if any need to connect on it, or if you are fond of using it a lot, or if you wanted to watch lots of movies on Netflix and listens to music on Spotify. The answer is also no, if you are not always in the same place, or you are the only one using it, or you will need it for simple internet activities.