Gen Mobile cell phone plans review
Pros
Good plan selection
Very affordable pricing
Free unlimited domestic and international texting
15-days free texting if late on bill
Cons
No plans for heavy data users
No international roaming
Gen Mobile is one of many low-cost carriers - also known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) - that are helping to make cell phone plans more affordable. MVNOs hook onto at least one of the main telecom networks to provide you with a cheaper service without sacrificing coverage.
California-based Gen Mobile operates on the T-Mobile network. Founded in 2018, they offer some nice perks for customers who need international service.
Check out our Gen Mobile review below to find out if this is the right carrier for you.
Gen Mobile plans & pricing
| Plan | Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Mobile Unlimited Talk & Text | AT&T & T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 0GB | $10** Buy 1 month get 1 month free |
| Gen Mobile 1GB | & T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 1GB | $15** Buy 1 month get 1 month free |
| Gen Mobile 2GB | & T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 2GB | $20** Buy 1 month get 1 month free |
| Gen Mobile 3GB | & T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 3GB | $25** Buy 1 month get 1 month free |
| Gen Mobile 5GB | & T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 5GB | $30** Buy 1 month get 1 month free |
Gen Mobile plans offer a good selection suitable for low data users. They don't offer an unlimited data plan, but unlimited never really means unlimited. On average we use between 3 to 5GB of data per month, so only paying for what you need can save you more on your cell phone plan.
All plans include unlimited global texts, with some offering unlimited minutes to 100+ countries.
Gen Mobile is now running on the T-Mobile network, this means you'll have access to their 4G LTE network and also T-Mobile's 5G network - where available.
With no contracts and a 7-day money-back guarantee if you're not happy you can cancel with no early termination fee.
Savings comparison
AT&T vs Red Pocket comparison
Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $540 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | AT&T 4G & 5G | Unltd* | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Red Pocket | AT&T 4G & 5G | 10GB | $30/mo | $360/yr |
| *Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB | Savings | $45/mo | $540/yr | |
Gen Mobile benefits
- No contract: low-cost carriers have no long term tie ins. With no contract or early termination fees if you're not happy you can amend your plan or change carriers at any point.
- Monthly savings: you can save up to $600 a year choosing a plan with a low-cost carrier.
- Same traditional coverage: operating on the T-Mobile network means you'll get nationwide 4G LTE coverage at half the price.
- Bring your own phone: there's no need to upgrade to the latest handset when signing up with an MVNO. You can bring your own phone and keep your current number. Switching over is just a few simple steps.
Gen Mobile coverage
You'll receive T-Mobile's nationwide 4G LTE coverage and where it's available T-Mobile's 5G network.
What network does Gen Mobile use?
Gen Mobile is powered by T-Mobile's 4G LTE and 5G networks.
Network coverage ratings
| NETWORK | ROOTMETRICS | OPENSIGNAL | OOKLA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon network | 95 | 9.8 | 74% |
| AT&T network | 93 | 9.5 | 80% |
| T-Mobile network | 87 | 88 | 79% |
Sources: RootMetrics, OpenSignal, and Ookla.
Gen Mobile data speeds
Gen Mobile users have access to T-Mobile's 4G LTE high-speed data, as well as their 5G network where it's available.
Gen Mobile data plans
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
2GB
4G/5G data
$20/mo*
$10.00 per GB
Powered by: & T-Mobile
Unlimitedmins
Unlimitedtexts
3GB
4G/5G data
$25/mo*
$8.33 per GB
Powered by: & T-Mobile
Gen Mobile features
Mobile hotspot
Most plans are mobile hotspot capable, so you can still connect your wireless device to the internet when there's no Wi-Fi connection.
International calls
International calling is included with certain plans or is available as an add-on at an extra cost.
Visual voicemail
Check your voicemail via an inbox and decide whether to listen or delete your messages.
Multi-month discount
You can save even more money if you bundle your plan for 3 months.
Gen Mobile Family plans
| Plan | 1 line | 2 lines | 3 lines | 4 lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Mobile Unlimited Talk & Text | $10 | $20$10/line | $30$10/line | $40$10/line |
| Gen Mobile 1GB | $15 | $30$15/line | $45$15/line | $60$15/line |
| Gen Mobile 2GB | $20 | $40$20/line | $60$20/line | $80$20/line |
| Gen Mobile 3GB | $25 | $50$25/line | $75$25/line | $100$25/line |
| Gen Mobile 5GB | $30 | $60$30/line | $90$30/line | $120$30/line |
Gen Mobile phone deals
Gen Mobile offers a limited selection of handsets to buy. And that doesn't include any of the latest smartphones. The good news is it's easy to bring your own phone and you can switch over in a few simple steps.
Compare iPhone prices
| Phone | Storage | Network | Condition | Price | Apple iPhone SE (2nd Gen) | 128GB | Verizon | New | $384 | Apple iPhone 11 | 64GB | AT&T | New | $499 | Apple iPhone 12 mini | 64GB | Verizon | New | $599 | Apple iPhone 12 | 64GB | AT&T | New | $729 | Apple iPhone 13 mini | 128GB | T-Mobile | New | $729 | Apple iPhone 13 | 128GB | Verizon | New | $799 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro | 128GB | Verizon | New | $984 | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | 256GB | AT&T | New | $999 | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | 128GB | AT&T | New | $999 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | 128GB | Verizon | New | $1,080 |
|---|
Gen Mobile customer service
| CARRIER | TRUSTPILOT USER RATING |
|---|---|
| Gen Mobile | 3.4 |
| T-Mobile | 1.5 |
| Verizon | 1.3 |
| AT&T | 1.2 |
You can see what other money-savers are saying with Gen Mobile user reviews.
Contact customer support by phone, email, or online chat every day between 8 am to 6 pm pst.
Gen Mobile customer support phone number: (833) 528-1380
How do Gen Mobile plans compare
| Carrier | Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tello | T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 1GB | $10 |
| Reach Mobile | T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 2GB | $10** $10 Off First 3 Months |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 10GB | $15** Only $45 for 3 Months Service |
| Tello | T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | Unltd | $29 |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 4GB | $15** Only $45 for 3 Months Service |
Switching to Gen Mobile
Bringing your own phone to a low-cost carrier is easy:
1. Order the Gen Mobile SIM card kit online.
2. When it arrives pop in your new SIM and follow the activation process.
3. Enjoy your new plan and monthly savings.
Gen Mobile FAQs
What network does Gen Mobile use?
Gen Mobile is powered by T-Mobile's nationwide 4G LTE and 5G networks.
Is Gen Mobile good?
It depends on your cell phone needs and budget. Gen Mobile provides a good range of plans and is one of the cheaper MVNOs. They don't have any plans with unlimited data, so they're not for the data-hungry.
Can I use my phone with Gen Mobile?
If your current provider is T-Mobile or AT&T then your phone is likely to be compatible. However, if you're not sure you can check Gen Mobile's website to check the compatibility of your phone.
Recap
Gen Mobile packs a powerful punch with its international services. They offer unlimited international texting on all plans and selected plans include unlimited minutes to 100+ countries or you can pay an additional fee for international services as an add-on.
Although there are no unlimited data plans, we don't believe you need unlimited data. On average we use between 3 to 5GB of data a month. You can estimate your average data with our free data usage tool and see if you can save money by only paying for what you need.
Offering some of the lowest prices amongst MVNOs, you can save even more money by bundling your cell phone plan for three months. And with no contract, if your needs change you can amend your plan or cancel and move on.
If you're still not sure if Gen Mobile is right for you, check out our full list of MVNO plans.
