There are many different prepaid providers that run on T-Mobile’s network. You’ve probably heard of some of these providers—like Metro and Mint—but others are more obscure. All of these prepaid carriers, also known as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), have something special to offer. We’ll review each one in this article.
Best value: Mint Mobile has some amazing deals on mid-level data plans that should be perfect for casual phone users. Best for budget: Red Pocket has talk, text, and data plans that start at just $10. Best for high-data users: Metro by T-Mobile offers tons of high-speed data and access to a 5G connection (where available). Best for low-data users: Consumer Cellular is a great carrier for older adults and younger kids who just need a phone for its more basic functions, like calling and texting.
Of course, this is just our opinion. You can decide for yourself by checking out the plans and reviews below. Or if you’re trying to decide between T-Mobile and the other major carriers, we’ve put them all to the test in our AT&T vs. T-Mobile review, and Verizon vs. T-Mobile review. T-Mobile is a formidable network that will work great for most people, but its weakness might be coverage (depending on where you live). Here’s a closer look T-Mobile’s coverage, data speeds, and other metrics. Here’s a coverage map that will show you the 62% of the country gets 4G coverage from T-Mobile: T-Mobile coverage map Just how fast are download speeds of 54.1 Mbps? It’s the best! It’ll be plenty for casual Netflix viewing, Instagram posting, and hotspot tethering. In fact, it might be faster than your home broadband connection. Deprioritization can be frustrating when you’re trying to stream, post, or download content, but it’s not going to be a constant problem. Deprioritization is more likely when the network is congested during times of heavy use. Here’s a peak at Metro’s offerings: Metro by T-Mobile cell phone plans But Metro’s lower-tier plans, like the $30 5 GB plan, are less budget-friendly. This is especially true when you consider the $30 startup fee. All of Ultra’s plans will get you unlimited talk and text to 80+ countries. These plans also come with the “call me free” program, which means that people in other countries only have to pay their local rate to call you. But it’s not just the international perks that are ultra (sorry, we had to). This MVNO’s limited-data plans are a pretty great deal, especially if you don’t need a ton of data. Take a look at Ultra’s prices for yourself: Ultra Mobile plans by popularity Do you want unlimited talk and text, but just a little bit of data for using Google Maps and Facebook Messenger every once in a while? Mint’s 4GB plan will give it to you for a piddling $15 a month. Do you want unlimited data for streaming and gaming? Check out the Unlimited plan for just $30 a month: Mint Mobile cell phone plans It’s up to you how you mix and match things, but here’s some insight into the most popular plans that others have chosen from US Mobile: US Mobile plans by popularity We think that US Mobile makes the most sense for two kinds of customers: those who want really cheap plans with few minutes and data, and those who want an unlimited plan. The former can find plans for under $10 a month. The latter can get a perfectly good unlimited data plan for about $45 a month. You can also pay for your phone service, if you’re into that sort of thing. TextNow offers four plan options, ranging from 1 GB for $8.99/mo., to $27.99/mo. for 5 GB. TextNow plans So, in our estimation, TextNow makes sense for those who want a free plan and are willing to watch a few ads for Xarelto and Old Spice. For everyone else, there’s probably a better carrier on the T-Mobile network out there. Consumer Cellular plans by popularity If you do sign up for one of these low-data plans, be sure to track your data usage carefully. Consumer Cellular will automatically upgrade your plan to the next tier (and charge you for it) if you exceed your data limit. Here’s a look at a few different plan possibilities from Ting. Ting plans by popularity Yes, there are some downsides to using Ting. The biggest one is probably the high data costs. We played around on Ting’s website for a minute and let’s just say that your costs can add up pretty fast when you add data. Tracfone plans by popularity Like many of Tracfone’s offerings, this 1,500 minute, 1.5 GB plan seems geared towards customers who want the simplest, easiest, and cheapest plan available. If you’re one of these customers, Tracfone is awesome. But if you want data to fuel your PUBG Mobile game or your Instagram addiction, you should probably go with another carrier on the T-Mobile network. Net10 can plug you into any one of the “big three” networks, depending on which one has the best service in your area. That’s a pretty great perk for those who live in rural areas that tend to be blank on the coverage maps. And its plans aren’t too bad either: Net10 plans by popularity But don’t be tricked into thinking these are actually unlimited data plans. It’s true that once you run out of high-speed data, you can continue to use low-speed data. This low-speed data might be helpful in a pinch, but it won’t work well for most activities, like streaming, gaming, browsing, and posting. Simple calls all of its plans “unlimited” because, technically, you can use as much data as you want. But with most of its plans your data will have a hard cap, anywhere from 3–15 GB. Any data you use beyond that will be at significantly reduced speeds. When you look at these plans, pay attention to the “full speed” section in the middle column. Simple Mobile cell phone plans One final thing we’ll mention about Simple is its decent international perks. Simple’s plans work in Mexico and a few other Latin American countries, plus you’ll get unlimited international calling to landlines in over 60 countries. Take a look at some of the most popular Red Pocket plans: Red Pocket plans by popularity As with many of the MVNOs in this article, Red Pocket’s plans get less interesting and more expensive as you add data. The company’s $50 unlimited plan is nothing to write (or call) home about. If you do go with Red Pocket, just make sure that you’re signing up for a plan that works with your particular iPhone, Galaxy, or other device. Here are some of the most popular talk, text, and data combinations that Republic offers: Republic Wireless plans You can see Google Fi’s limits reflected in its plan offerings. Each plan comes with unlimited talk and text, and then some amount of data. But at $10 a GB, the data can add up really fast. Google Fi cell phone plans So, if you want a flexible plan with great international benefits, and you don’t mind paying a bit extra, then you might want to go with Google Fi. We think that Metro from T-Mobile offers the best unlimited plan, Mint Mobile has the best value for midlevel data plans, and Red Pocket is the best choice for those who want a dirt-cheap plan. Here’s a little bit more information about each T-Mobile MVNO and a link to sign up:
Metro by T-Mobile: Metro probably has the most robust unlimited data plan of any of the carriers on this list, but it comes at a steep price. Ultra Mobile: Ultra’s international perks make it a great choice for those who often travel or talk with family abroad. Mint Mobile: Mint Mobile offers the best deal—hands down—on midlevel data plans. US Mobile: US Mobile is great for two kinds of people: low-data users and high-data users. Everyone else in-between should look elsewhere. TextNow: TextNow will give you free—yes, free—service if you’re willing to watch some ads. It’s not the best cell phone carrier, but it might be the cheapest. Consumer Cellular: Consumer Cellular offers up some cheap plans for low-data users (like maybe your parents or grandparents). Ting: You can get a Ting plan for super-cheap if you use the Whistle Out discount (and if you don’t need much data). Tracfone: Tracfone is a classic carrier that stays relevant by offering long-term payment periods on low-data plans. Net10 Wireless: Net10 Wireless lets you choose your network. Just be sure to read the fine print on those “unlimited” plans. Simple Mobile: Simple Mobile has some decent midtier data plans for folks who don’t need all the bells and whistles. Red Pocket Mobile: Red Pocket is great for all you budget-minded customers. It will also let you choose which network you want to use. Republic Wireless: Republic will let you customize your own plan and change it when you need to because life happens. Google Fi: Google’s foray into the mobile industry will be welcomed by those who want a flexible, low-data plan that works all over the globe.
