Skyroam and Roaming Man offer two popular solutions for International 4G Hotspots, but which one is better for your needs as a traveler? In this post, I'm going to breakdown and compare the differences between the two services to help you decide which WiFi hotspot is best for your needs.

DEVICES: Winner – It's A Tie

Skyroam's Solis hotspot doubles as a 6000mAh power bank that can power up to 5 devices with Internet at once, while simultaneously charging one of them. The Solis can last more than 16 hours on a single charge (if not used as a power bank).

Roaming Man's U2 device can power up to 5 devices at once and can last up to 12 hours on a charge.

In the device category, I'm giving the win to Skyroam since their device's battery life is longer and it can double as a power bank.

PRICE: Winner – Skyroam

With Skyroam, you can BUY the Solis device for $149.99 + shipping and pay $9/day for unlimited Internet, which includes 1 Free Day Pass. Or you can RENT the device for $9.95/day + shipping in both directions, which includes the device and unlimited Internet access.

Roaming Man only offers a RENTAL program for $9.95/day + shipping in both directions which includes the device and unlimited Internet. Roaming Man requires a minimum of 2 days rental per use.

Skyroam wins in the price category for offering an option to purchase their device (which saves you money on daily Internet usage and shipping), and for not requiring a minimum number of days for rental. Also don't forget that you can save an additional 10% using this link to Skyroam and our exclusive TRAVELISLIFE promo code at checkout. Or you can save $10 with Roaming Man by using this link to Roaming Man and promo code TILORG at checkout for the discount. (Valid until April 30, 2018.)

Note about RENTING vs BUYING… Due to the cost of shipping, it's recommended that if you're planning on using Skyroam on more than 2-3 trips, you should just BUY the Solis device. The extra couple dollars per day to rent the device isn't very consequential, but the shipping fees add up quick.

4G DATA THROTTLING: Winner – It's A Tie

Hotspot devices like Skyroam and Roaming Man have to abide by international data roaming agreements and Fair Use Policies, which limit the amount of 4G service a subscriber can use in a given day. Both Skyroam and Roaming Man limit your 4G usage (which is 150Mbps for download and 50Mbps upload) to about 500mbs per day before reducing your speed to 2G/3G service (or about 256kbps).

Since both hotspot services offer unlimited Internet and throttle your 4G speeds past 500mbs/day, this category is a tie.

COVERAGE: It's A Tie

Both Skyroam and Roaming Man advertise that they work in 100+ countries and they seem to offer similar coverage areas. Keep in mind, however, that coverage very much depends on the specific location you'll be traveling. These devices don't have their own towers, but instead operate through international data roaming agreements with other providers. The best thing you can do regarding coverage is to check the websites for Skyroam and Roaming Man and view the coverage in the specific areas you'll be traveling to ensure that the devices and service will meet your needs while abroad.

OVERALL WINNER: Roaming Man vs Skyroam

Both hotspots offer comparable devices, pricing, and and coverage so it's too close to call a winner when it comes to RENTING a device – which you can do with either service at $9.95/day (although keep in mind that Roaming Man requires a minimum of 2 days). And don't forget that you can save $10 off at Roaming Man using this link and promo code TILORG.

In the BUYING category, however, Skyroam wins for offering the option to purchase a device for $149.99, which cuts your daily Internet fee down to $9.00/day. And don't forget that you can save an additional 10% off that price using this link to Skyroam and our exclusive TRAVELISLIFE promo code at checkout.

And there you have it! I hope this article helps you make an informed decision regarding your next international mobile hotspot. Need more choices? See my article on Best Mobile WiFi Hotspots for International Travelers

Feedback/Questions? Drop a comment below. And enjoy your trip abroad!