Cut Your Internet Bill: Use Your iPhone Hotspot to Watch Netflix and Hulu on TV

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man
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Since we started TV For Seniors, we have told you how to subscribe to a streaming service without paying full price; how to cut your cable bill; and how to save hundreds while buying a new TV. Now we will explain how to use your iPhone Hotspot to watch Netflix, Hulu and every other streaming service on your TV – and cut or eliminate your pricey Internet plan

If you are tired of paying $50 to 100 a month for the Internet (Plus installation and modem fees), you can use the cellular data plan you may already be paying for on your phone plan to be your primary Internet source for streaming. So many seniors are on a tight budget, but this is a particularly tempting idea for anyone looking to cut costs.

How Does It Work?

Your iPhone shares its cellular connection as a portable Wi-Fi network that a Smart TV, Apple TV, Roku, Fire Stick, or similar streaming device can join. Once connected, you can run streaming apps directly on the TV.

The main cost is the cellular data usage; video streaming typically consumes 1–3+ GB (Gigabits) per hour depending on quality. So an unlimited or high-data phone plan maximizes the savings. If you are on a limited data plan, this might not be a good option for you unless you are a light or moderate streamer.

Why a Hotspot Can Be Cheaper Than a Home Internet Plan

•  Cut or eliminate your Internet plan.
Many households pay $60-$120 a month for cable or fiber Internet. If your primary use is streaming a few hours a week, routing that through your existing phone plan can eliminate or greatly reduce that expense.

•  No installation or equipment fees.
In addition to paying for your monthly Internet plan, you need to either buy or rent a modem/router which can add $10-20 a month. A Hotspot only requires the iPhone you already own.

•  Flexibility for temporary or mobile activities.
Using a Hotspot is great for people who live in apartments with short leases, rent vacation homes and travel in RVs where installing permanent Internet equipment doesn’t make financial sense.

•  Backup or primary Internet source for Cord Cutters.
Pair an unlimited phone plan with a Hotspot and you may not need a separate Internet home connection at all, especially if you primarily stream rather than work from home with heavy uploads. At the least, you can change your Internet plan to a cheaper offering because you will need it less.

•  An unlimited cellular plan might cost $40–80/month.
If it already covers your phone use, and handles a few hours of TV streaming daily, you could save hundreds per year compared to paying for an expensive home Internet plan. Just monitor for any carrier-specific hotspot data caps or throttling after a certain amount.

Pumping the Brakes

Okay, here is where we pump the brakes a bit. Some unlimited data plans do not include Hotspots or they may limit your Hotspot usage. For example, T-Mobile’s Experience More plan provides 60 gigabytes of high-speed Hotspot a month while Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate offers up to 200 gigabytes a month before it starts slowing down your speed. This is why it’s important to check your unlimited plan to see what you will have available – long before you decide to eliminate your Internet service. It’s possible that the Hotspot is a bad choice for you unless you are an infrequent streamer.

More Caveats: If you are a big watcher of 4K programming, that can gobble up more data than the average stream. And, again, if you’re a heavy streamer (4-8 hours a day), you might find that your monthly Hotspot data will evaporate very quickly.

Last Alarm Bell: Some Hotspot users report more connection issues (buffering) than traditional Internet subscribers. Not all, but some, so keep that in mind.

What You Need to Use a Hotspot

If we haven’t scared you away, here are the basic items you need to use a Hotspot to watch streaming on TV.

•  An iPhone with an active cellular plan that includes a personal Hotspot (contact your carrier if the option is missing).

•  A Wi-Fi-capable Smart TV or streaming device.

•  A workable cellular signal near the TV.

•  Awareness of your data plan limits to protect the money-saving benefit.

Step 1: Enable Personal Hotspot on Your iPhone

1.  Open the Settings app.

2.  Tap Personal Hotspot (or Cellular//Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot).

3.  Toggle on Allow Others to Join.

4.  Note or set the Wi-Fi Password (choose one easy to enter with a TV remote).

5.  For better compatibility with many TVs, enable Maximize Compatibility (this uses the more widely supported 2.4 GHz band).

6.  Keep the Personal Hotspot screen open until the TV connects. Your iPhone’s name becomes the network name.

A green Personal Hotspot indicator appears in the status bar once devices join.

Step 2: Connect Your TV or Streaming Device

Smart TV (Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, Hisense, etc.):

Open Settings > Network / Internet / Wi-Fi. Scan for networks, select your iPhone’s hotspot name, enter the password, and connect. Then open Netflix, Hulu, or other apps.

Apple TV:

Go to Settings > Network > Wi-Fi, select the iPhone hotspot, and enter the password.

Roku:

Press Home > Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless. Choose the iPhone network and enter the password.

Fire TV Stick / Amazon Fire TV:

From the home screen go to Settings > Network, select the hotspot, and enter the password.

Once online, the TV will begin using your cellular data. You can stream Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, and any other streamer just as you would on home Wi-Fi.

Alternative: Mirror or Cast from the iPhone

Connect the TV to the hotspot, keep the iPhone on the same network, then use AirPlay (Control Center > Screen Mirroring) for compatible TVs and devices. This still routes the data through your phone plan, which will preserve the cost advantage.

Tips to Maximize Savings and Performance

•  Choose the right plan: Unlimited data with generous (or unlimited) hotspot allowances delivers the biggest savings. Avoid overage charges by tracking usage in Settings > Cellular.

•  Lower quality when possible: Stream in standard HD instead of 4K to stretch your data further and keep costs low.

•  Power management: Plug the iPhone into a charger while hotspotting because the battery drain is high. Enable Low Power Mode to extend sessions without needing extra hardware.

•  Signal optimization: Position the phone for the strongest cellular signal; better speeds mean less buffering and more efficient data use.

•  Limit connected devices: Fewer devices mean more bandwidth for streaming and less overall data consumption.

•  Turn it off when done: Disable the hotspot after viewing to prevent background data use that could erode your savings.

Troubleshooting

•  Hotspot not visible
Toggle Maximize Compatibility, restart both devices, or re-enable the hotspot.

•  Slow speeds or buffering
Check cellular signal, reduce video quality, or move closer to a window.

•  Drops
Keep the Personal Hotspot settings page open initially and ensure the phone stays charged.

•  Missing Personal Hotspot option
Confirm the cellular data is on and ask your carrier to enable tethering.

The iPhone Hotspot can be a great way to watch streaming on TV without paying for an expensive Internet plan. But it does come with some risks (data limits, more buffering) so it would be wise to give it a try in your house in a real life situation before eliminating Internet service.

Happy viewing and stay safe!

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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.