CDMA Networks
You may already know that not all phones work with all carriers, but that doesn't mean you are stuck with just choosing from the big guys.
The four main carriers use two different technologies; the GSM network and the CDMA network. AT&T and T-Mobile use the GSM network whereas Sprint and Verizon use CDMA.
This can mean that if you currently have a cell phone with Verizon or Sprint you may not be able to move your phone to a T-Mobile or AT&T carrier. But, don't panic! There are still plenty of ways that you can save money with a CDMA phone.
With both CDMA and GSM phones you can still find cheap deals to suit your budget with one of the main networks MVNO's (Mobile Virtual Network Operators). Boom Mobile, Red Pocket Mobile, and Straight Talk are just some of the MVNO's that use CDMA networks and can give you the same great service but save you dollars!
If you have a CDMA cell phone that is only a few years old, the chances are you will be able to use this across either network as most new phones run both CDMA and GSM.
If you have an older phone which is locked to the CDMA network there are still plenty of ways to save you money! Including purchasing a refurbished phone which gives you the freedom to change carriers whenever you need to or there are plenty of MVNO's that use the Sprint or Verizon network, so you get the same great service at half the price!
Cheapest Sprint CDMA Plans
Pros
- Very flexible plans
- Great for light users
- Known for great customer service
- Multi-line plans
Cons
- Expensive for moderate to heavy users
- No unlimited talk or text options
Ting - 500 Mins & 500MB Data
* $20 Off for 6 Months
- Very flexible plans
- Great for light users
- Known for great customer service
- Multi-line plans
This Ting plan includes 500 minutes, 1,000 texts and 0.5GB of 4G LTE data for $10* per month.
Ting is powered by the nationwide Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon 4G LTE Network. Ting offers cdma plans with no contract, fees or credit check. Choose a customized plan based on your usage and upgrade or downgrade anytime.
Ting allows you to turn your phone into a hotspot with free tethering. You can bring your own phone to Ting and keep your phone number. Ting is compatible with most GSM & CDMA unlocked phones. Check Phone Compatibility
Ting includes international calling, VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling. Ting plans automatically renew every 30 days with monthly billing and can be canceled at any time. Ting offers 24/7 customer service.
Sprint vs Ting Price Comparison
Keep your Sprint phone, number & coverage: Save $480 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprint | Sprint 4G LTE | Unltd* | $60/mo | $720/yr |
| Ting | Sprint 4G LTE | 0.5GB | $30/mo | $240/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $30/mo | $480/yr | |
Cheapest Verizon CDMA Plans
Pros
- Affordable pricing
- 25% off first 6 months
- Free unlimited global texting
Cons
- GSM phones are incompatible (AT&T or T-Mobile devices)
- Data plans top out at 10 GB of 4G speed
- Customer support only by chat and email
Twigby - 3GB Data
* 25% Off for 6 Months
- Affordable pricing
- 25% off first 6 months
- Free unlimited global texting
This Twigby plan includes unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 3GB of 4G LTE data for $15* per month.
Twigby is powered by the nationwide Verizon & Sprint 4G LTE Network. Twigby offers cdma plans with no contract, fees or credit check. Choose a customized plan based on your usage and upgrade or downgrade anytime.
Twigby allows you to turn your phone into a hotspot with free tethering. You can bring your own phone to Twigby and keep your phone number. Twigby is compatible with most CDMA unlocked phones. Check Phone Compatibility
Twigby includes international calling, VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling. Twigby plans automatically renew every 30 days with monthly billing and can be canceled at any time. Twigby offers 24/7 customer service.
Verizon vs Twigby Price Comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $750 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Verizon 4G LTE | Unltd* | $80/mo | $960/yr |
| Twigby | Verizon 4G LTE | 3GB | $20/mo | $210/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $60/mo | $750/yr | |
Best Sprint CDMA Plans
Pros
- Flexible plans up to 10 GB of high-speed data
- Free texting with all plans
- Change your plan any time
- Unlimited 2G data
Cons
- Only CDMA or global phones compatible
- No unlimited data plan
- Flexible plans up to 10 GB of high-speed data
- Free texting with all plans
- Change your plan any time
- Unlimited 2G data
This Tello plan includes unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 4GB of 4G LTE data for $19 per month.
Tello is powered by the nationwide Sprint 4G LTE Network. Tello offers cdma plans with no contract, fees or credit check. Choose a customized plan based on your usage and upgrade or downgrade anytime.
Tello allows you to turn your phone into a hotspot with free tethering. You can bring your own phone to Tello and keep your phone number. Tello is compatible with most CDMA unlocked phones. Check Phone Compatibility
Tello includes international calling, VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling. Tello plans automatically renew every 30 days with monthly billing and can be canceled at any time. Tello offers 24/7 customer service.
Sprint vs Tello Price Comparison
Keep your Sprint phone, number & coverage: Save $492 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprint | Sprint 4G LTE | Unltd* | $60/mo | $720/yr |
| Tello | Sprint 4G LTE | 4GB | $19/mo | $228/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $41/mo | $492/yr | |
Best Verizon CDMA Plans
Pros
- Good pricing for lower data users
- Unlimited talk and text
- Unlimited data plan available
- User-friendly website and app
Cons
- No international service
- Does not sell devices
- Expensive for heavy data users
Reach Mobile - 5GB Data
* $15 Off for 3 Months
- Good pricing for lower data users
- Unlimited talk and text
- Unlimited data plan available
- User-friendly website and app
This Reach Mobile plan includes unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 5GB of 4G LTE data for $30* per month.
Reach Mobile is powered by the nationwide Verizon 4G LTE Network. Reach Mobile offers cdma plans with no contract, fees or credit check. Choose a customized plan based on your usage and upgrade or downgrade anytime.
Reach Mobile allows you to turn your phone into a hotspot with free tethering. You can bring your own phone to Reach Mobile and keep your phone number. Reach Mobile is compatible with most unlocked phones. Check Phone Compatibility
Reach Mobile includes international calling, VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling. Reach Mobile plans automatically renew every 30 days with monthly billing and can be canceled at any time. Reach Mobile offers 24/7 customer service.
Verizon vs Reach Mobile Price Comparison
Keep your Verizon phone, number & coverage: Save $465 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G LTE Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Verizon 4G LTE | Unltd* | $80/mo | $960/yr |
| Reach Mobile | Verizon 4G LTE | 5GB | $45/mo | $495/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $35/mo | $465/yr | |
What is CDMA?
What does CDMA mean?
CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access - is used mainly across the US. This is one of the main differences between CDMA and GSM, as GSM is a technology used worldwide.
Both technologies fill in the gap when 4G is not available, to make sure you still have coverage.
Another main variation is that GSM phones use SIM cards. Phones using CDMA networks store information, like contacts, personal data on the phone directly rather than a removable SIM card. However, it's not as simple as that if your phone was made in the last couple of years! It may be harder to know if it is a CDMA phone as the latest phones now have SIM card slots and use the GSM network for 4G LTE coverage.
The best way to know if your phone is a CDMA phone is if you are currently using one of the main providers, Sprint or Verizon.
Even if you have an older CDMA phone, you may still be able to unlock your phone, giving you the freedom to save money with any carrier. If unlocking your phone is not available you don't have to stay stuck paying costly cell phone bills.
With deals available on refurbished phones or unlocked phones you can purchase a new phone for half the price or check out a large variety of MVNO's on Sprint or Verizon CDMA networks.
Which Carriers Are CDMA?
Verizon CDMA Network Carriers
- Affinity Cellular
- Boom Mobile
- CREDO Mobile
- GreatCall
- Net10 Wireless
- Page Plus
- Pix Wireless
- Reach Mobile
- Red Pocket Mobile
- Selectel Wireless
- Spectrum Mobile
- Straight Talk
- Ting
- Total Wireless
- Tracfone Wireless
- Twigby
- US Mobile
- Visible
- XFINITY Mobile
Sprint CDMA Network Carriers
- Boost Mobile
- Consumer Cellular
- easyGO Wireless
- FreedomPop
- Gen Mobile
- Hello Mobile
- Kroger Wireless
- Net10 Wireless
- Patriot Mobile Phone
- Google Fi
- Red Pocket Mobile
- Straight Talk
- Tello Mobile
- TextNow
- Ting
- Tracfone Wireless
- Twigby
- Unreal Mobile
- Wing
CDMA Carrier Benefits
- Powered by the four major US networks: MVNO's provide wireless plans on the very same network as the big guys; Verizon and Sprint.
- Save up to 50%: Get wireless rates up to half or more off the big guy's prices.
- Customer Plans: You can choose from a range of plans designed to fit your needs and budget.
- No Contracts: MVNO's give you the freedom to switch carriers anytime you want.
- Keep your phone: The smaller carriers are typically Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) so no need to change your device or your phone number.
CDMA Unlocked Phones
What does CDMA Unlocked Mean?
When you buy a phone from a carrier, they want to keep you as a customer, so it is normally locked to their network, meaning that you are not able to freely move to another carrier without their permission. At least not until you have paid the phone off or arranged for it to be unlocked.
A CDMA unlocked phone means that you are free to choose a cell phone plan from any provider across any network. There are some great budget-friendly Bring your Own Phone plans available or you can choose from a range of MVNO's
Newer CDMA phones tend to be unlocked, due to also using GSM technology. So if you have a phone that is only a few years old it is likely to be unlocked giving you the chance to find a better cell phone plan.
If you have an older CDMA phone it quite possibly will not be able to be unlocked. If this is the case and you need to buy a new phone, why not buy a refurbished phone? At almost half the cost, find out why buying a refurbished phone is a great option!
Or have a look over some amazing deals on unlocked phones.
Even if your phone is locked to CDMA there are still plenty of ways to help you save money on your plan.
CDMA Unlocked Phone Benefits
- Save 50% or more off retail: Get flagship smartphones in excellent condition for hundreds less than new.
- It's great value for your dollar: New phone models usually only get minor upgrades from year to year. Keep your money, but get all the best features.
- Retain your freedom: Buying your phone outright means you decide when to leave your carrier to find a cheaper cell phone plan.
GSM vs CDMA Carriers
Can I use a GSM phone on a CDMA Network?
Often people wonder if one is better than the other, but it comes down to personal preference.
Due to the ease of a SIM card, if you travel overseas a lot then GSM phones are more suitable, even better if you have an unlocked phone on GSM networks as you will be able to use a local SIM card while you are in that Country.
With the majority of newer phones - within the last few years - they are already unlocked as they run on both the CDMA and GSM networks. This means that you are free to choose a cell phone plan from any of the main carriers or their MVNO's.
GSM phones use a SIM card, which stores all of the phone's data; like contacts, personal data. This means it is easier to switch between carriers, but you may still need to get the phone unlocked from the carrier you purchased the phone from.
CDMA phones store the data directly onto the phone, which means it can be harder to change carriers, if at all.
If your GSM phone is unlocked then you should be able to choose between a CDMA or a GSM carrier.
Recap
Verizon and Sprint are the two main CDMA networks and the older CDMA phones will be locked to the network the phone was purchased with.
CDMA phones did not use to have a SIM card slot meaning that each phone was built to work on that carrier's network and stored information on the phone directly, so if you have an older CDMA phone you may be required to buy a new phone to change provider.
When purchasing a phone it is better to look for an unlocked phone which will give you more freedom to switch providers whenever you need to save money.
But you don't have to worry! There are still some great ways to save money if you're looking for a better deal. You can check out the MVNO's that run on Sprint or Verizon's network, so you can get a low budget cell phone plan but the same great service.
If you want to have the freedom and start being in control of your phone plan, but your current phone is locked to a network, then have a look at these amazing deals on refurbished phones! You could save at least 50% off the retail price for a phone that still has most of the best and latest features.
CDMA Carriers FAQ's
Is Sprint CDMA?
Sprint operates on the CDMA network - Sprint unlocked phones may only work with CDMA carriers
Is Verizon CDMA?
Verizon operates on the CDMA network - Verizon unlocked phones may only work with CDMA carriers
Is T-Mobile CDMA?
T-Mobile operates on the GSM network - T-Mobile unlocked phones should work with CDMA carriers
Is AT&T CDMA?
AT&T operates on the GSM network - AT&T unlocked phones should work with CDMA carriers
