There's one thing most cell phone owners know: not all phones work with all cell phone carriers. If for example, you're on the AT&T or T-Mobile network, you can't bring your device to Sprint or Verizon, and vice versa.
Why? Because the four major carrier networks use two different technologies - GSM and CDMA. AT&T and T-Mobile utilize GSM, while Verizon and Sprint use CDMA.
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However, just because you can't bring your GSM phone to a CDMA network doesn't mean you're stuck choosing only from the big guys. There are plenty of smaller GSM phone carriers to consider.
These lesser-known providers are called MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators). MVNOs use the same cell towers as the big four, which means you're getting solid service.
With MVNOs, you'll be able to take advantage of cheap cell phone plans customized to your needs.
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Table of Contents
Why Choose an MVNO?
Compared to the big four carriers - AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile - these smaller carriers offer several advantages:
- Save money: With lower overhead and marketing costs, MVNOs can offer you much lower rates.
- Customized plans: The big guys' main offerings are based on unlimited data. While that sounds ideal, the average smartphone owner uses less than 3GB of data per month, not at all justifying the pricey purchase of an unlimited data plan. MVNOs allow you to pay for what you need, with no strings attached.
- No contracts or credit checks: Speaking of no strings attached, MVNOs are prepaid carriers, meaning that if you find yourself dissatisfied with the service, you can leave at any time. Better yet, you'll never have to deal with a credit check or two-year commitment.
- Keep your freedom: Did you know you can keep your phone? MVNOs welcome - and often require - bringing your own device, so you'll have to bring an unlocked GSM phone and SIM card. While those phone financing plans are tempting, you're tacking an additional $10 - $30 to your monthly bill, and that adds up to between $120 and $360 per year.
The Best AT&T MVNOs
There are plenty of tempting AT&T MVNOs in the US to take advantage of, with some featuring unique incentives including life insurance plans, excellent customer service, and more.
Here are our picks:
- Red Pocket offers data plans for not only light and medium data users, starting at far lower than industry average prices, but even many heavy data users! And GSM smartphone owners can take advantage of more data! You'll have access to unlimited texts, free unlimited international calling to over 70 countries, the ability to retain your phone number, and English, Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino customer service.
- ROK Mobile is certainly unique, as it offers a variety of life benefits alongside its cellular plans. A few phone plans, in fact, feature telemedicine and pharmacy savings.
The Best T-Mobile MVNOs
T-Mobile MVNOs are also excellent, with one of these MVNOs being touted as one of the best when it comes to value.
Here are what we consider to be the best picks:
- Mint Mobile shines brighter than most MVNOs because of its ability to sell you plans in bulk (by 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months), essentially saving you hundreds of dollars each year. Better yet, these plans are great for not only light data users but also medium and heavy data users as well. For instance, you can pay essentially $30 per month for a whopping 10GB of data!
- US Mobile lets you completely customize your plans. You can choose the minutes, texts, and data you'd like - minutes range between 100 and 5000, texts between 100 and unlimited, and data between 100MB and 8GB for GSM users, though if you select the Super LTE network, you'll have access to unlimited data plans.
List of GSM Carriers
| AT&T MVNOs | T-Mobile MVNOs |
| AirVoice Wireless | Consumer Cellular |
| Black Wireless | EcoMobile |
| Boom Mobile | GoSmart |
| campusSIMs | Hayai Mobile |
| Consumer Cellular | Jaguar Mobile |
| Cricket Wireless | Jolt Mobile |
| EasyGO Wireless | KidsConnect |
| good2GO Mobile | Liberty Wireless |
| H2O Wireless | MetroPCS |
| Jolt Mobile | Mint Sim |
| Net10 Wireless | Net10 Wireless |
| Pix Wireless | Red Pocket Mobile |
| Puretalk USA | Republic Wireless |
| Red Pocket Mobile | Simple Mobile |
| Straight Talk | Speed Talk Mobile |
| TracFone | Straight Talk |
| Telcel America -Tempo Telecom | |
| The People's Operator USA | |
| Ting | |
| TracFone | |
| Ultra Mobile | |
| Univision Mobile | |
| US Mobile | |
| Walmart Family Mobile | |
| ZingPCS | |
| Zip SIM |
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Recap
If you prefer GSM carriers to CDMA carriers and are tired of the pricey bills sent by T-Mobile and AT&T, then you should consider GSM MVNOs.
The options of GSM carriers are vast and low-cost, so you'll save a lot more money by switching. TPO Mobile, US Mobile, Mint Mobile, Red Pocket, and ROK Mobile are just a few of what is offered in the United States.
However, take a moment to compare cheap cell phone plans to see how much you can really save each year.
