If you own an Android phone, there’s a good chance you have quite speedy downloads, whether it’sLTE or a (not quite as speedy) technology like HSPA+ or WiMax. What if you want to take those 3G or 4G downloads, and share them with a tablet, PC, or gaming system? You’ll need to tether.
Your wireless carrier wants you to pay extra for the privilege of tethering. Unfortunately for customers, this practice has no rational justification. In terms of cost to the carriers, there is no difference between using data on your Android phone and using that data on another device. It’s simply a scheme to maximize carriers’ profits — at your expense.
Fortunately, Android users have other tethering options. Unlike with iPhone tethering apps, you don’t even need to hack your phone or tablet in order to reap the benefits of unauthorized Android tethering. Let’s take a look at the top choices for Android tethering apps.
Wireless Tether for Root Users
Though there are other apps with more advanced features (see below), Wireless Tether for Root Users is a great choice for countless Android users. It’s biggest perk is that it’s free. Simply download it from the Market on any rooted phone, start it up, and enjoy a free hotspot.
There are a few (potential) drawbacks to Wireless Tether. You will, of course, need to root your phone in order to use it. It also doesn’t support wired (USB) tethering, which can give you faster speeds than creating a WiFi hotspot.
PdaNet
PdaNet has more of an advanced feature set than Wireless Tether, and it doesn’t require root. It lets you tether to a PC or Mac via USB or Bluetooth. Just install the companion desktop app, connect the device, and share your connection at 100% of your phone’s original speed.
PdaNet’s biggest weakness is that it doesn’t support WiFi hotspots. So if you want to tether to an iPad, or to a gaming system (without using a PC as a middleman) you’ll need to root and use a hotspot app like Wireless Tether.
PdaNet offers a free version that blocks secure websites (like Gmail). The full version costs $15.95.
Other Android tethering apps
Though we believe that the above apps will serve as the best Android tethering apps for most people, some may want to expand their search. If you want a wider sampling, you can check out the following.
EasyTether (similar to PdaNet), Barnicle WiFi Tether (similar to Wireless Tether for Root Users), and ClockworkMod Tether (another PdaNet-esque app)
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