The Best Places To Get Free Wi-Fi

The best things in life are free, and that includes an internet connection. No matter where you end up, you should be able to get free and fast internet service by tapping into Wi-Fi networks in public parks, libraries, restaurants, and other popular locations.

Here are some tips on the best places with free Wi-Fi, including a list of all the best chain stores that have free internet for the public. (In many of them, you don’t even need to buy anything to log on.)

Before we get to those, though, consider getting a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. If you’re sick of relying on public Wi-Fi hotspots, then it might be time to invest in a mobile hotspot device. These handy gadgets will give you high-speed internet pretty much anywhere. They are usually faster and more consistent than using your phone as a hotspot.

Whether you’re living as a full-time digital nomad or you’ve just run out of mobile data, there are plenty of places to pick up free Wi-Fi signal. Here’s a list of the most common areas to check in every city and town.

Where to get free public Wi-Fi:

• Public libraries
• Public parks
• University campuses
• Hospitals
• Airport terminals
• Schools
• Government buildings
• Coffee shops
• Restaurants
• Rest stops

Some Wi-Fi networks in places like university campuses, hospitals, and libraries might ask for a login ID or other credentials. You may be able to create a free account or find a work-around by asking an employee or another patron for a password.

Even if you can’t find free Wi-Fi in a public area, you can almost always find a nearby restaurant or chain store that has it. Here’s a quick look at the best stores to check out, no matter where in the U.S. you’ve landed.

It’s common for chain stores to have free Wi-Fi for their customers. In most cases, you don’t even need to purchase anything to log on. It's especially common in cities that are remote-work friendly. Next time you're stuck without the internet, just look for the nearest strip mall.

Here are the specific stores to look for when searching for free Wi-Fi locations.

Starbucks might seem like an obvious choice since it was one of the original places to get free Wi-Fi. But did you know that Starbucks continues to be ahead of the curve by offering, on average, much faster internet than most competitors?

If you can’t find a Starbucks, don’t fret. There’s always Dunkin’. This chain may not have as many cozy places to sit, but its internet is generally free, fast, and reliable.

We won’t lie, sitting under those fluorescent lights in a big box store isn’t the most luxurious set up for surfing the web, but it sure is convenient. Every Walmart in the U.S. has free public Wi-Fi that doesn’t require a password to use.

Most Wendy’s have free Wi-Fi for customers. However, this shouldn’t be your first stop if you have a choice, since Wendy’s internet is known to be slower than others.

Denny’s is a reliable restaurant for free Wi-Fi. Many of the chain’s locations are located conveniently near highway offramps. Go ahead and refuel with bottomless coffee while you catch up on emails.

Barnes and Noble goes to great lengths to offer a quiet, comfy, and convenient ambience for customers who want to kick back and read … or use the internet. Most locations have free Wi-Fi and a nice café seating area where you can get work done.

Panera Bread made a big splash when they offered free Wi-Fi internet to customers all the way back in 2004. But the company is keeping up by continuing to offer (much faster) internet at every single location.

McDonald’s public Wi-Fi isn’t quite as good as its fries, but it is free, reliable, and relatively fast.

Subway has more locations than any other chain restaurant in the world. You can find one in almost every backwoods town and sleepy desert rest stop. While not all Subway locations have free Wi-Fi, many of them do.

Not all Chick-Fil-A’s have free public Wi-Fi, and those that do may not have the best network. But it’s worth a try in a pinch.

Honestly, the list could go on much longer. Most fast food restaurants, like KFC and Arby’s, offer free Wi-Fi in many locations, but the quality varies.

However, there are some notable exceptions, like Chipotle, which never offers Wi-Fi at any location.

Connecting to a free Wi-Fi network in a public area is easy. If you follow these general steps, you can get connected in a minute or less.

1. Go to the Wi-Fi settings on your device. If you’re within the range of the Wi-Fi network, it should appear in the list of available networks. Click on the network.
2. If the network is open, your device should automatically connect. If your device asks you for a password or some other authentication, you may need to ask an employee of the store, restaurant, or institution for credentials.
3. Once you’re connected, you may need to agree to terms and conditions. When you connect to the network, you may have to open a web browser and click a button to agree to the location’s terms and conditions before you use the internet.
4. Some locations may have time limits. If you hit a time limit on the free Wi-Fi network, try opening a different browser, resetting your cookies, clearing your internet cache, or disconnecting and reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network to get more time.

If you’re using a Wi-Fi network at one of the locations that we listed above, then it’s probably a relatively safe and secure internet connection. However, there are some basic precautions that you should always take when using a public Wi-Fi network.

• Invest in a virtual private network, or a VPN. With a VPN, you can keep people from tracking your internet traffic and get around certain content firewalls. VPNs often come with other security features, too, like malware protection.
• Avoid entering important numbers or biographical information when using a public network, like bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, or important passwords.
• Keep your device up-to-date! Hackers and trackers are always innovating to find better ways to trick you and break into networks. But so are the programmers that make apps and operating systems. Always update your device and all of your apps to stay protected.

Getting free internet when you’re out and about is awesome. But when you’ve come back home at the end of the day and you just want to binge your new favorite Netflix show, it’s best to have a more consistent hook up.

High-speed home internet plans aren’t always cheap. But there are some affordable options out there if you know where to look. Here are our top five favorite cheap internet deals right now.

We also have a guide to getting free internet at home with information about government and other assistance programs.