Best Free Alternative to Windows ICS for laptops and PCs

Do you need to share an Internet connection with all your devices, whether at home, at the office or while traveling? Now it’s easier than ever to do this: you don’t need any additional hardware, like a wireless router.

You can, of course, use Windows’ embedded Internet Connection Sharing functionality, but we’ve got a better and more feature-rich alternative to that: Connectify Hotspot, a virtual router app for Windows PCs that turns your laptop into a Wi-Fi hotspot and helps you share any Internet connection via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet with other devices. Download Connectify Hotspot free to try it on your Windows 10 or 11 PC.

Connectify Hotspot: Best Internet Connection Sharing Software

Connectify Hotspot Lite is FREE to use in order to turn your Windows laptop or PC into a Wi-Fi hotspot and share your Wi-Fi, Ethernet (DSL, Cable, LAN), a VPN or a phone plugged in with USB with other devices. Lite runs in timed sessions.

If you want no time limit, or want to share 4G and 5G modems, you have to upgrade to Connectify Hotspot PRO or Connectify Hotspot MAX. You don’t need any technical skills. You can share your connection with the click of a button. You don’t need any extra equipment or cords.

All versions of Connectify Hotspot let you set up a secure connection with your own password. With PRO you can also give your hotspot a custom name (you can even include emojis). Your laptop or PC becomes a wifi hotspot. Or maybe you want to use wired router mode (PRO) and share the Internet via Ethernet / LAN.

5 Steps to Share any Internet Connection With Other Devices, No Router

Here are five easy steps to share an Internet connection with other computers, smartphones, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and other Wi-Fi enabled devices:

1. Download and install Connectify Hotspot on your 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 PC.
2. Open it and choose Wi-Fi hotspot.
3. Under Internet to share, pick the connection you want to share: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, a VPN or a phone plugged in with USB.
4. Set a password. Turn on Block ads if you want lighter pages on every device.
5. Click Start hotspot. Devices join by scanning the QR code on the Hotspot screen, or with the network name and password, like any other Wi-Fi network.

To share over an Ethernet cable instead, choose wired router mode in step 2. Wired router mode is part of PRO. Depending on the mode you choose, Ethernet or Wi-Fi enabled devices such as PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and game consoles can now be connected to the Internet via your PC.

Why Connectify Hotspot Is the Best Alternative to Windows Internet Connection Sharing

Along the main functionality of sharing Internet connections via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, Connectify Hotspot comes packed with other cool features:

• Boost Your Range Instantly with Wi-Fi Repeater Mode: Easily extend the range of your existing Wi-Fi network! Wi-Fi repeater mode is part of MAX and needs Wi-Fi adapter support.
• Share Hotel Wi-Fi With Your Own Devices: join the hotel Wi-Fi on your PC, sign in on its browser, start a hotspot, and share that one sign-in with your own phone and tablet. You can also save precious time when traveling with your Chromecast setup procedure: Connectify Hotspot gets it all done within seconds!
• Save Time, Internet Bandwidth and Battery Life for your devices by turning your Windows laptop or PC into a whole house ad blocker. The ad blocking is universal: it also works with in-app ads and is a viable solution to block iPhone app ads.
• Connectify Hotspot also works with game consoles: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, etc. Open the Clients screen, select the console and set its gaming mode. UPnP is on by default.

Looking for a flexible, feature-rich and simple software app to share any Internet connection with all your devices? Look no further: get started with Connectify Hotspot today for FREE, no setup hassles!