My IPad has built in wifi, but when at home I connect through my home internet provider and when at work I use the office wifi. I have a small data plan via Verizon on the IPad itself, it often runs out of data and then I can only connect via other wifi. But yes, I have also used my phone as a hot spot and connected using it. The hot spot connection is by far my least favorite. Slower and it drops off a lot.