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I like to stay connected.
I said it. I like the convenience of being able to look up menus and restaurant reviews in advance. I also appreciate the ability to quickly Google any random question that pops into my head, because that happens a lot haha. And my preferences don’t change when I travel. I mean, they’ve changed, and while I don’t spend hours on hours trolling people on Twitter, having access to the internet is a luxury when I travel, and one that I really enjoy. I don’t have an international phone plan, so I usually rent a cheap pocket WiFi device at the airport. But as the title suggests, I recently had the pleasure of trying out my own pocket WiFi. So, here’s the next post. Keepgo Pocket Wifi review.
To be completely truthful and transparent, the Keepgo team approached me for a collaboration. I don’t usually collaborate because I’m lazy and it’s usually not my passion. But I use portable WiFi when I travel and was thinking about getting my own anyway. The collaboration was to provide a paid WiFi device and 1G data in exchange for an honest review. If you don’t like the device and don’t want to review it, just send the device back without any worries.
“Well, even if I don’t like the device and I return it, I’m still going to write a review anyway,” I explained, because everyone needs to know the truth!!
They gladly accepted those conditions.
Luckily, they contacted me prior to my week and a half stay in Iceland, so that was really convenient!
detail
Well, first of all, what is it?
So basically, Keepgo is an international data plan company that works independently of your regular cell phone plan. They have two options: a SIM card option and a portable WiFi device. If your phone is unlocked, you can simply insert the SIM card and use it as soon as you go through customs. I chose the portable WiFi because my phone is not unlocked (maybe unlocking would be better…). I use portable WiFi anyway so I wanted to have something to compare. Also, I don’t usually travel alone so it’s easier for multiple people to use the device than using my phone as a hotspot for others in my group.
It’s like a prepaid data card, where you buy data (either online or via a phone app) and it’s automatically loaded onto your device or SIM card. You can set it to automatically top up when you run out of data, but if not, it won’t overcharge you when you run out of data, it just stops. You can, however, track your data usage in the app (or online) and it will send you a message when you run out of data giving you the chance to top up.
Logistics
This is probably the most important section of this Keepgo Wifi review, and also probably the only section you came to read: if you choose the portable mobile hotspot route, you’ll need to buy the device and data. The device itself is $129, but after that it’s yours forever.
If you choose to use a SIM card, there is a one-time fee. There is also a SIM card option for the smartwatch.
Device Price
SIM Card (Lifetime 4G LTE) – 49 USD
Mobile Hotspot (Lifetime 4G LTE) – $129 USD
Once you buy a SIM card or hotspot, it’s yours forever. The upfront cost also includes 1GB of data. The SIM card can be used in either a dedicated travel phone, or a phone with dual SIM capability, or in a tablet or pocket hotspot you already own. The Keepgo portable hotspot comes with its own SIM card and can be used across a group of 16 people, with no speed throttling. And the smartwatch SIM is… that’s right, for your smartwatch. All this with no contract or monthly fees.
Data charges
$24 per GB
$79 for 5GB
$155 for 10GB
$250 for 25GB
Again, you can top it up through the app (very handy) or online. From the looks of it, it’s not cheap. But it’s about the same as what I would have paid to rent a mobile hotspot at the airport, so it’s not exorbitant at all. Plus, if you’re traveling with someone, you can split the cost.
Keepgo’s reach is quite extensive across the Americas, Europe and Asia, with particular underserved regions in Africa and the Middle East. In total, it covers 120 countries, but as a relatively new company, it is growing steadily.
You activated your device before you left (you only have to activate once) and you’re ready to go. You’ll also receive a confirmation message. No data is used to activate your device.
I had downloaded offline maps to save on data usage, which was a smart move, but I forgot to write down the restaurants and activities I wanted to go to, which was not so smart, so I fired up my Keepgo device so I could quickly Google search for lunch spots after landing.
It takes a minute or two to boot up, but the device served me well while driving around Iceland. It has great battery life and charges super fast. The Keepgo device had no trouble handling the bandwidth required to keep two phones connected, and there was no lag. Basically, it worked perfectly.
But then…
Now, here’s a caveat, or if you can call it a caveat: As part of the Keepgo WiFi review collaboration, I was given 1G of free data, which I found to be sufficient for the duration of my trip if I was only going to use it for Google Maps.
I’m not gonna lie, I got it all done on the first day.
GPS navigation can be pretty voracious, after all, and Keepgo has a handy guide to help you figure out just how much 1GB of data actually is.
1GB (1024MB) of data on your smartphone
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Email: 100,000 text-only emails
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Video Calls: 130 minutes of video calls
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Web surfing: 2600 online page visits
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GPS Navigation 12000 minutes GPS Navigation
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Photos: 350 uploaded and downloaded
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Music Streaming: Stream 1000 minutes of music files
1G (1024MG) data on WiFi hotspot
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Email: 150,000 text-only emails sent and received
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Video Streaming: 30 minutes of HD video streaming
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Web surfing: 1000 online page visits
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Audio Streaming: 1000 minutes of streaming music files
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Video Calls: 130 minutes of video calls
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Photos: 350 uploaded and downloaded
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Online games: Play online games for 1300 minutes
Additionally, unintended data usage can occur in the background on your phone, such as automatic system updates, cloud updates, photo syncing, mobile app updates, and in-browser/email video and audio, which can consume mobile data.
So it’s no wonder I used it up so quickly.
But when that happens, it’s easy to top up your data (I paid for 3GB this time) and it actually lasted me through the remaining 10 days of my Iceland trip.
Keepgo Wifi Review: The Downside
The harsh truth is now revealed!!!
Just kidding. There are no drawbacks. It’s a great product. It works, looks and feels great. So no issues! Yay! However, Keepgo WiFi is not the only mobile hotspot/international roaming company out there. And to be honest, it boils down to three things: convenience, coverage and price. So, here are all the facts about Keepgo’s competitors in the mobile hotspot device space.
Areas served: 130+ countries
Price rating: $159.99
Unlimited data for $9 a day
$9/month per GB
$99/month, 30 days unlimited
Convenience rating: What’s convenient about Solis is that it has unlimited data options, and it’s reasonably priced. It also covers the most countries of all the devices. What’s inconvenient, however, is that the smaller device can connect up to 10 devices, while the larger one can only connect up to 5. But if you’re not traveling with more than that, it’s fine. I wish it wasn’t round, because otherwise it would be harder to slip into your pocket, but at least it looks good.
Areas served: 120+ countries
Price rating: $89.99
$29/GB/month worldwide
USD 217.50/year for 12GB worldwide
In Europe, 3GB for $30/month
In North America, 3GB costs $27.50/month
Japan and Korea: $34.50/month for 12GB
+ Country specific prices
Convenience rating: Coverage is good, but honestly, the overall pricing is a bit too high. It might be useful if you’re really nit-picky and want to see if a specific travel region will be cheaper than buying general global data, but it’s not that convenient. Also, the slim model is sold out on Amazon and there’s no notice of restocking.
Airport Rental
Coverage: Each airport has the best coverage in the country
Convenience rating: It’s nice to be able to just pick up and return it at the airport instead of having to go to the phone company for a SIM card, but it’s not as convenient as carrying your own, especially if you’re like me and are always late for flights.
Price rating: It’s pretty cheap. I don’t remember the exact price, but it’s usually around $65 per week for unlimited data. At least that’s what it was during my last trip to Singapore.
With that in mind, here is our final rating for Keepgo WiFi.
Overall Ranking
In my opinion, Keepgo If you’re traveling with a large group, this is the best option. While it’s not the absolute cheapest, if your travel group is 10 or more people, it is the cheapest option. It’s also the second smallest device, making it easier to carry than the other options. The device itself is also the cheapest, almost half the price of most other options. Plus, the data is good for a year (unlike the others, which expire after a day or a month).
Refilling once within a year resets the expiration date for that year, meaning it never expires. I also like the mobile app and ease of refilling. Keepgo doesn’t currently have an unlimited option like Skyroam (another favorite of mine!), but it’s in the works. I can’t wait, and I’ll be sure to update this Keepgo Wifi review once it’s live.
Conclusion – Keepgo Wifi is an absolute must!!
Was that too corny??
Anyway, if you KeepGo WiFi If you are purchasing the device for yourself, you can use the Keepgo WiFi coupon code below to get 10% off your purchase.
Keepgo Coupon Code: theawkwardtraveller
Kay Kingsman is an author and full-time Silly Goose. As well as being the first person to complete the Cripswalk in Antarctica, Kay’s work has been featured in Forbes, Insider, Fodors, Viator and more.
