Making Android phone hotspot, need help

I'm a little confused too. I've had an Android for a long time and have never used an app to bring up a HotSpot.

1. You've bought Hotspot from your carrier (ATT, VZ, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.) right?
2. Your carrier has turned it on?
3. Go into Settings, Thethering and Hotspot, click "On"

Watch phone to see if Hotspot is enabled as well as SSID, and password.

Voila.
Point your laptop at the phone's SSID.
Type in the password.

Done.

With my Samsung SIII and Verizon.
In Settings> More Settings> Mobile Hotspot, is all I need.
No additional app required.

pdanet and foxfi are one in the same today (been that way for about a year now.) if you have pdanet without foxfi built in, you need to update your copy of pdanet.

pdanet does work with some lg phones under 5.0 but it's finicky. I use it with an lg g2 on Verizon and often have to hit the wifi hotspot button under pdanet a few times for it to start successfully.

If you're on verizon and have a limited data plan, the official wifi hotspot app can be turned on for free - I think you do it through the website.

usb is actually harder now to make work than wifi, due to increases in device security and I have no experience using the bluetooth mode.

I use FoxFi and love it. One time fee to install and easy to use.