Here is why you could wish to suppose twice earlier than utilizing airport Wi-Fi

As airports brace for the vacation journey rush, a brand new report means that your cell service might make a giant distinction on the subject of the last-minute downloads on the airport. In response to new knowledge, Verizon constantly delivers sooner cell obtain speeds at airports than its opponents, often additionally far surpassing the velocity of the airport Wi-Fi itself.

The report from Ookla, which analyzed Speedtest knowledge from the primary half of 2025, discovered that Large Purple delivered the quickest median obtain speeds at many main US airports. The report in contrast airport Wi-Fi efficiency with AT&T, T-Cellular, and Verizon throughout the 50 busiest airports within the nation, wanting particularly at median obtain speeds.

As you would possibly count on in 2025, cell networks have been sooner than airport Wi-Fi most often, averaging round 219 Mbps for downloads in comparison with roughly 101 Mbps on Wi-Fi. Airport Wi-Fi nonetheless got here out forward in a handful of locations, nevertheless it misplaced the head-to-head comparability most of the time.

Sooner doesn’t at all times imply higher for everybody, although. If you happen to’re on a restricted knowledge plan, free Wi-Fi stays the good selection, even when it’s slower. However for vacationers with limitless knowledge who can also be coping with a brief layover and a last-minute scramble to obtain content material, sticking with mobile will often be the faster choice.

Ookla’s evaluation additionally factors to a structural motive for the hole. Most airport Wi-Fi networks are nonetheless counting on older Wi-Fi requirements, that are designed to serve massive numbers of related units slightly than prioritize peak speeds. That method works for primary searching, however it could actually wrestle when 1000’s of passengers are on-line without delay.

There have been exceptions. Airport Wi-Fi outperformed cell networks outright at a small variety of areas, together with San Francisco Worldwide, the place extra fashionable Wi-Fi {hardware} helped ship stronger outcomes. Nonetheless, it’s value being conscious of the broader findings for those who’re on the transfer this vacation season.