Your smartphone is your lifeline, but despite its usefulness, service can be expensive. If you feel that you are paying too much for your cellular service, consider using a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) instead of the more expensive mobile vendors. MVNOs offer the best of both worlds, with the same quality of coverage but at a lower price than major carriers. This is because they use the same network as the Big Four – AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile – while providing a highly diverse product range. The best part is that these pay-as-you-go plans offer the chance to dig up big bills while getting the most from your mobile device.
The best MVNO for unlimited data
Metro by T-Mobile
Metro by T-Mobile offers three major plans to fit your budget, supported by a wide LTE network. In addition to providing almost blanket nationwide coverage, Metro by T-Mobile offers additional allowances on some plans. Google One is included for customers on the $ 50 plan, and customers on the $ 60 monthly plan now get a Google One and Amazon Prime membership. Another cheap, stripped-down plan that includes 2GB of high-speed data per line is now available for $ 30 per month. Metro customers can use T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network. You can enable automatic bill payment for $ 5-per-month savings and add a plan for your tablet, hotspot, or another connected device to your current service for $ 10 to $ 35 per month. . Stateside International calling is available for $ 15 per month with a large selection of discounted phones.
| $ 40 | $ 50 | $ 60 |
| 10GB high-speed | Unlimited high speed | Unlimited high speed |
| No mobile hotspot | 5GB mobile hotspot | 15GB Mobile Hotspot |
| Music contains unlimited | Google One 100GB included | Google One and Amazon Prime included |
| Save $ 10 on each additional line | Save $ 20 on each additional line | Get four lines for $ 120 |
The best MVNO with lots of coverage
Straight talk
Straight Talk, a partnership between retailer Walmart and Tracfone, has proved durable over time. MVNO offers coverage in the Big Four, while Straight Talk’s monthly plans range from the original $ 30 per month, with unlimited text, 1,500 minutes of calls and 100MB of data to $ 60 per month, including unlimited talk and text Plus, at high speed, unlimited data with 25GB first, then 2G. The new plans let you add up to 1GB or 2GB for $ 5 or $ 10 per month respectively, which does not expire, is activated only when you have used your data allocation, and rolls over unused . Straight Talk Group does not offer plans, but has great international data options. Since Straight Talk works across all four major carriers, it is compatible with most unlocked phones.
| Line cost | The data |
| $ 30 | 100 MB |
| $ 35 | Unlimited (5GB high-speed) |
| $ 45 | Unlimited (25GB high-speed) |
| $ 55 | Unlimited (10GB hotspot data) |
| $ 60 | 25GB (unlimited international) |
Best alternative MVNO
Google Fi
Google Fi relies on a Wi-Fi hot spot for service and a combination of three networks – Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular. It is one of the most innovative and easily available MVNOs available. Flexible plans start at $ 20 for unlimited talk and text, while unlimited plans start at $ 70 for a line. Data is a flat $ 10 for 1GB 4G LTE, but you only pay what you use. The company’s bill protection feature means that after hitting 6GB you won’t be on the hook for additional data charges. Data that exceeds that limit gets throttled. Google Fi offers multi-line group plans, allowing you to add people for an additional $ 15 per subscription per month. Other perks include duty-free tethering, which allows you to use your phone as an internet hotspot, and free texting and access to high-speed data at $ 10 per 1GB in 200 countries worldwide. gives. Google Fi is compatible with most phone brands and platforms, although iPhones and some Android handsets do not support Google Fi’s key feature of switching by carriers.
Mint mobile
Mint Mobile has a good way to try the service before committing. Test Mint Mobile’s service with a three-month contract that breaks the cost of $ 25 per month with 12GB of data and $ 15 per month with 3GB before deciding to board the board for a year or more. . All plans offer unlimited talk and text, nationwide coverage, and 5G or 4G LTE (whichever is the strongest signal). The unlimited plan offers 35GB high-speed and 5GB hotspot data, with an introductory rate of $ 30 per month for three months and $ 40 a month upon renewal. If you need more data, you can buy it at $ 10 per gigabyte. You can use your T-Mobile-compatible device and order a SIM card to activate it on your account. Mint also sells a wide range of mobile phones.
Viewable
Visible offers great coverage through Verizon’s network to offer a single plan – $ 40 for unlimited data on LTE networks with no roaming. Also, it stacks up on discounts as you add more lines to your plan. Visible saves you money with Party Pay, which reduces the cost of multiple lines, as each person is billed separately. Two lines cost $ 35 per line, and three and four lines cost $ 30 and $ 25, respectively. Mobile hotspot speeds are capped at 5Mbps and are limited to one device at a time. Wi-Fi calling is available on some phone models. Most iPhone models are supported, with a limited selection of some popular Android options, such as the Galaxy S20 series and the Pixel 4 series. Or, just buy the phone directly from Visible.
Ting
Ting Mobile is an independent MVNO that shut down Sprint and T-Mobile’s network. Ting does not lock you into a specific plan, but instead bills you monthly for the least expensive plan based on your usage and the number of lines you have. Each line costs $ 6 per month. The least expensive use of a single line will run $ 9 per month, including 100 minutes of calls with no text or data. Adding text to the mix adds a minimum of $ 3 to your monthly bill. Ting’s service is solid, but it’s best for people who don’t have heavy data or text usage.
Cricket wireless
Cricket Wireless is owned by AT&T and uses AT & T’s network. It offers a single-line plan that starts at $ 30 per month with 2GB of data for unlimited talk and text and goes up to $ 60 per month for unlimited talk, text and data and 15GB mobile hotspot. Carrier’s $ 40-month plans qualify for Cricket Wireless’ group save option, which offers customers a discount for two or more lines. You can bring your own phone – check the compatibility on the cricket website. As for the plan extras, $ 55 per month gets you unlimited text, plus data, calls, and text from the US to 37 countries in Mexico and Canada. Alternatively, you can add one of the two international cricket packages to your monthly subscription. Cricket International costs $ 5 per month and adds calls to 35 countries, and Cricket International costs $ 15 to receive unlimited messaging over the phone in 35 countries and 1,000 minutes of calls in 31 other countries. Cricket’s group plan with five lines has substantial savings of up to $ 70.
Republic wireless
Republic Wireless was one of the first MVNOs to offer calls over Wi-Fi. Like Google Fi, Republic Wireless can switch between Wi-Fi and Sprint and T-Mobile cell networks. Its My Choice plan for unlimited talk and text starts at $ 15 per month. Priceless runs for $ 25 per month for talk, text and 2GB of data. All data plans include a mobile hotspot, but no roaming – and no international calls, group plans, or family plans. You can bring your own phone to Republic Wireless, but it doesn’t work with iPhones, and not all Android models are supported – check this list first to make sure.
Free Home Extended Home Unlimited Home Phone Service is now included with all My Choice plans, allowing your phone number to work on your cell phone and home phone, which is connected via an adapter. You can alternate between phones while you are at home. Republic Wireless is not for everyone. However, if you don’t use a lot of data and your phone is connected to Wi-Fi most of the time, its two cheapest cell plans are worth considering.
boost Mobile
Boost Mobile, a discount carrier owned by Sprint, is now owned by Dish and competes head-on with Metro by T-Mobile. A new $ 35-month plan features 10GB LTE data, and even cheaper plans offer 5GB, 2GB, and 1GB for $ 25, $ 15, and $ 10 per month, respectively. , In which families are capable of mix and match schemes. Boost’s new Shrink-It plan costs $ 45 per month for 15GB of data, but after three months, Boost cuts the cost by $ 5 and lets you sync your monthly bill to $ 35 in six months. Gives a discount of 5. Boost continues to use T-Mobile’s network for the next seven years, with traffic limitations similar to the Metro plan.
Boost Mobile offers a wide variety of family plans that provide similar facilities and discounts based on the number of active lines. If you are traveling abroad, you can also buy international minute packs – they start at $ 3 for 90 days of service, which adds up to a fixed number of minutes for calls and unlimited international texting for select countries is. Among the drawbacks of Boost Mobile is its lack of comprehensive smartphone compatibility – be sure to refer to the compatibility tester before making the switch.
Simple mobile
Saral Mobile runs on T-Mobile 4G LTE network and brings both domestic and international unlimited talk and text plans to market. Unlimited plans include 15GB mobile hotspots with unlimited calling and texting ranging from 3GB data to unlimited 4G LTE data with unlimited calling and texting at $ 25, $ 30, $ 40, $ 50 and $ 60 per month. This network allows for automatic re-ups, extensive service to international destinations, and extensive coverage from T-Mobile’s extensive network. The upgrade plan features international calls to unlimited destinations, unlimited international texts and minutes specific to 4G LTE. You can bring your own devices or buy a phone from a choice of late-model smartphones.
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