Best T-Mobile MVNOs

Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are smaller carriers that use towers of major mobile networks. T-Mobile MVNOs all get the same widespread 5G coverage as the main provider, but plans are more affordable because the MVNO doesn't have to pay to maintain the towers.

Here’s a list of MVNO carriers that use T-Mobile's network:

The best T-Mobile MVNOs offer the best of both worlds when it comes to mobile service: They get excellent 5G coverage, but they also have affordable plans with adjustable amounts of data so you only pay for what you need. To put that into perspective, the cheapest postpaid T-Mobile plan costs $50 monthly, MVNOs cost between $5 to $44 monthly.

Here are our favorite T-Mobile MVNOs:

There are a ton of carriers on the T-Mobile network. So we’re going to highlight a few of our favorites up top for the TL;DR crowd:

• Best T-Mobile MVNO overall: Mint Mobile has some amazing deals on mid-level data plans that should be perfect for casual phone users.
• Best unlimited T-Mobile MVNO: US Mobile has an affordable Unlimited Starter that includes unlimited talk, text, and data, as well as network transfers between T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T.
• Cheapest T-Mobile MVNO: Tello lets you mix and match data and minutes for as low as $5 monthly.
• Best value T-Mobile MVNO: Red Pocket has talk, text, and data plans that start at just $10.

T-Mobile MVNOs rent T-Mobile's network infrastructure, so they are able to provide the same amazing 5G and 4G LTE coverage as T-Mobile. T-Mobile is a formidable network that works great for most people, but its weakness might be coverage (depending on where you live). If you’re in the United States you’re probably a stone’s throw away from a T-Mobile tower. The exceptions are some areas like Idaho, Wyoming, and Nebraska (but every network has dead spots in those areas).

Despite sharing the same 5G coverage area, T-Mobile MVNOs come with a risk of data deprioritization. This happens when the network owner (like T-Mobile) decides to prioritize the data speeds of its own customers over those on prepaid plans.

Deprioritization can be frustrating when you’re trying to stream, post, or download content, but it’s not a constant problem. Deprioritization is more likely when the network is congested during times of heavy use. 

Download speeds are probably the most important metric to look at when determining overall data speeds for a T-Mobile MVNO versus a T-Mobile plan. Your download speed determines how well you can stream, scroll, browse, and game on your device.

According to the latest report from OpenSignal, T-Mobile's network gives users an average of 97.1Mbps download speeds. How fast is 97.1Mbps? It’s plenty for casual Netflix viewing, Instagram posting, TikTok scrolling, and even hotspot tethering. In fact, it might be faster than your home broadband connection.

T-Mobile takes home the gold medal in the download speed olympics. That’s respectable. But what's truly impressive are the upload speeds, which are more important now as more people work from home. T-Mobile is tops in both categories.

Asides from the fun ads that star Ryan Reynolds, there’s a reason that Mint Mobile takes home the prize for Best T-Mobile MVNO overall. The T-Mobile MVNO offers some of the best deals in the entire mobile industry, such as $15 per month for unlimited talk and text and the perfect amount of data for using Google Maps and Facebook Messenger every once in a while. If you need unlimited data for streaming and gaming, Mint Mobile's Unlimited plan costs only $30 a month.

If you go over your data cap on Mint Mobile, you don’t get charged extra. Your data does, however, get throttled to painfully slow speeds. And Mint's Unlimited plan streams videos at 480p. So all you true data lovers out there probably want to take your business elsewhere.

Note: Mint Mobile's prices include a three-month promotional deal, after which rates increase by $10, $15, or $20 per month—unless you choose a 12-month plan, which keeps the intro pricing. 

US Mobile prides itself on its affordability and customizability. You can switch between multiple top-tier networks, so if T-Mobile has stronger signals in your area, you can stick with T-Mobile. If you're traveling to an area where Verizon or AT&T has better service, you can easily switch networks with its Network Transfer function. US Mobile's Dark Star plans utilize AT&T's network and offer enhanced features, including premium data and hotspot data.

Plans are customizable too: You can build a plan with 300 minutes, 1,000 texts, and 2GB of data. Or you can build one with unlimited everything. You do you—go wild and express yourself.

It’s up to you how you mix and match things, but here’s some insight into the most popular plans others have chosen from US Mobile.

As you can see, there’s a wide variety of plans and prices from US Mobile. You can get US Mobile's Unlimited Starter plan for as low as $19 per month, or opt for the Unlimited Premium Dark Star plan, which offers an unlimited amount of high-speed data for $44 per month or as low as $29 per month with an annual plan. Compared to T-Mobile's plans that offer uncapped premium data ($90/month), the US Mobile plan is less than half the price.

So what plans are actually worth signing up for? We think that US Mobile makes the most sense for two kinds of customers: Those who want really cheap plans with a few minutes and data, and those who want a powerful but affordable unlimited phone plan. The former can find middle-ground plans for under $15 a month. The latter can get a perfectly good unlimited data plan for $25 monthly (or $19/monthly with an annual plan) with the Unlimited Starter plan, which gets unlimited data, 35GB of high-speed data, and 10GB of hotspot data.

Sure, we all love data. But do you love it enough to spend $40+ a month on an unlimited plan?  Figure out exactly how much data you actually need using our handy guide. When I checked how much data I actually used, I was surprised to find it only maxes out to about 5GB per month, since I primarily use Wi-Fi throughout the day.

If you want to save money, Tello offers the cheapest plans on T-Mobile's network. You can add minutes and data in increments depending on what you need, so you never pay for extra features you don't end up using. This is especially useful for people who primarily use data and call their friends and family via FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Messenger.

If you don't use your phone for calling, you can get Tello's 1GB plan with no minutes for $5 monthly. For those who want a plan comparable to T-Mobile, Tello offers a true steal of a deal with its Unlimited plan: The plan offers 35GB of 4G LTE/5G high-speed data and unlimited talk and text for $15 for the first three months, and then $25 monthly afterwards.

All Tello plans with calling minutes include free unlimited text, free calls to 60+ countries, and free Wi-Fi calling. There are no contracts or cancellation fees, so you're free to switch up your plan features anytime. 

When it comes to MVNOs, there’s cheap (i.e. Tello), and then there’s super cheap. Red Pocket Mobile fits into that latter category, but is still able to pack a ton of value. This carrier has plans with talk, text, and data starting at just $10.

Take a look at some of the most popular Red Pocket plans.

RedPocket's Unlimited Essentials costs $10 a month plan for unlimited national minutes, unlimited texts, and 1GB of data. It also lets you choose your network. So you can stick with T-Mobile, or you can hop onto Verizon’s network if you find that the coverage is actually better where you are.

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 $40 unlimited plan is only $10 cheaper than T-Mobile's cheapest postpaid plan, so if you can make it work, I'd recommend going with T-Mobile if you want unlimited data. 

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.

You can only switch to a T-Mobile MVNOs with an unlocked, GSM-compatible phone with VoLTE capabilities. So if you want to bring your own phone, make sure to check if your phone is compatible before switching. 

First, check if your phone uses GSM or CDMA, or is dual-band. Cellular networks use either GSM or CDSM frequency bands, with T-Mobile and AT&T using GSM and Verizon using CDMA. If your phone is unlocked or was already on a T-Mobile plan, your phone is likely compatible with a T-Mobile MVNO plan and just needs to be unlocked.

If you are on a Verizon plan with a phone that can only operate on CDMA, it isn't compatible with T-Mobile MVNO carriers. However, both RedPocket and US Mobile offer coverage on Verizon's network, so you may be able to sign up for those if you phone is only CDMA compatible.

Second, see if your phone is VoLTE compatible. This means you can make voice calls over a 4G LTE network.

I highly recommend switching to a T-Mobile MVNO if you want to save money on your cell phone plan but still want to access T-Mobile's 5G network. T-Mobile MVNOs are more affordable, starting from $5 monthly compared to a T-Mobile postpaid plan that starts at $50 per month.

Prices aside, the biggest thing you might worry about if you switch to a T-Mobile MVNO is the high-speed data. Many of these MVNO plans have unlimited data, but speeds slow down significantly after you run out of high-speed data. If you're concerned about your data cap, look at how much data you actually use in a month, and choose an MVNO plan that matches your data use. You're likely still going to save $5 to $25 on your plan. 

However, a family with multiple heavy-data users may find a multi-line T-Mobile plan is actually more affordable. Also, if you need a international cell phone plan, a T-Mobile Go5G plan includes international data and calling, whereas T-Mobile MVNOs may require you to purchase a day pass for international usage or not offer international coverage at all.