What is a dongle and how does it work?

A WiFi dongle is a small device that connects your computer or laptop to the internet. It looks like a USB stick and is often plugged into a USB port on your computer so that it can connect to the internet.  

WiFi dongles are convenient because they’re portable and don’t need extra cables or complicated setups. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or traveling, they provide a simple way to access the internet when there’s a network or mobile signal available. 

For example, if you’re in a hotel or a café that doesn’t offer free WiFi, you can use a dongle with a mobile data plan to create your own internet connection.  

WiFi dongles are easy to use too. Most of them are "plug and play," which means you just plug them into your device and get connected.  

Inside the dongle, there are tiny antennas inside that allow it to pick up signals from a nearby WiFi network, just like your smartphone or tablet does. It converts these signals into data your device can understand, allowing you to browse websites, stream videos, or send emails on your computer or laptop.  

Some dongles also come with SIM card slots, allowing them to use mobile networks to connect to the internet. Others simply act as receivers for existing WiFi networks. Either way, the process is automatic, so you don’t need to do much; just plug it in and get connected! 

Most dongles are used to wirelessly connect your device to the internet. They’re especially useful if your device doesn’t have built-in WiFi capabilities as it allows your device to pick up signals from nearby WiFi networks. This lets you browse websites, watch videos, send emails, or do any online activity without needing a physical internet cable. 

WiFi dongles are also handy when you’re traveling or working in a place without a stable WiFi connection. Some dongles allow you to use mobile data, like 4G or 5G, by inserting a SIM card.  

This creates your own internet connection, so you can stay connected even in places where public WiFi isn’t available. For example, you might use a WiFi dongle in a hotel, on a train, or if you’re in a remote area and struggling to get signal.  

Most modern laptops come with built-in WiFi capabilities, so you can connect to wireless networks without any dongle required. If your laptop already connects to WiFi networks without problems, you probably don’t need a WiFi dongle. 

However, if your laptop is older and doesn’t have built-in WiFi or if the built-in WiFi isn’t working, a WiFi dongle can be very helpful. By plugging the dongle into your laptop’s USB port, it allows you to connect to the internet wirelessly. This can save you the trouble of using Ethernet cables or needing to repair the internal WiFi hardware. 

You might also consider a WiFi dongle if you often find yourself in situations where WiFi is unavailable. Some dongles let you use mobile data networks like 4G or 5G with a SIM card, so you can stay connected even in places without public WiFi. This can be useful when traveling or working remotely. 

But if you’ve already got a high-speed broadband package at home and a pretty new laptop or PC, you won’t need to worry about dongles.  

How fast is the internet on a dongle? 

The internet speed you can get with a WiFi dongle depends on three main things: 

1. The device you’re using 

2. The network it’s connected to 

3. How strong the coverage is in your location 

If you’re using an up-to-date dongle and you’re connected to a network with 4G or 5G and you have excellent coverage, your internet speed should be fast enough to suit all your needs. The opposite is also true. If you want to transfer big files or watch 4K movies using an old device with poor network coverage, then you’re going to be probably going to be struggling. 

Want to test your internet speed? Use our helpful broadband speed tester to see if you're connection is fast enough.

Dongles are great when you’re on the move but usually won’t be able to match the speed and reliability of your broadband at home. That’s because, unlike home broadband, WiFi dongles depend on the strength of the WiFi signal, the mobile data network they connect to, and the signal strength in your area. 

Home broadband, on the other hand, is usually connected directly to a wired network, which offers a stable and consistent connection that’s ideal for activities that need high speeds, like streaming in 4K, online gaming, or downloading large files. 

WiFi dongles are great for light to moderate internet use, such as browsing websites, checking emails, or watching videos in standard quality. But they’re more about convenience and portability than matching the performance of home broadband. Heavy internet users who need very high speeds and consistent performance, home broadband is usually a better option.  

If your dongle connects to nearby WiFi, the speed and quality depend on the home broadband service it links to.

For example, if you’re using the dongle at home, having a high-speed broadband and reliable connection like our superfast fibre broadband packages will make your browsing experience nice and smooth. But if you’re using slow, public WiFi, your Dongle will only be as fast as that connection. 

Unsure what broadband you need? Use our helpful postcode checker to see what's available in your area.

The best broadband for your home depends on your needs, budget, and the services available in your area. 

If you mainly browse websites, check emails, and watch videos occasionally, you probably don’t need super-fast broadband speeds and would be happy with a more affordable broadband deal.  

But if you stream in 4K, play online games, or have a lot of devices connected at the same time, you’ll need faster broadband with higher capacity, like superfast fiber or even gigabit broadband. We offer a range of great broadband deals, combining broadband, TV, even streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ all included.  

Use our postcode checker today to see what you can get in your area.