PureTalk Review: Cell phone plans from $25/mo

What to know before signing up for PureTalk
PureTalk
$42/mo*$55/mo
Unlimited data
AT&T 5G & 4G networks
$621/yr Total cost
* 25% Off for 3 Months
vs
$12.50/mo*$25/mo
Unlimited data
AT&T 5G & 4G networks
Save $372.50/yr
* 50% Off First Month
$15/mo*$30/mo
Unlimited data
T-Mobile 5G & 4G networks
Save $345/yr
* Only $45 for 3 Months
$0/mo*$25/mo
Unlimited data
Verizon 5G & 4G networks
Save $410/yr
* FREE 50 Day Trial + $50 Gift Card
By
Rob Webber
Rob Webber

Rob Webber

Founder

About Rob

Rob has 15+ years experience running price comparison & review websites that empower consumers to find the cheapest cell phone services, cell phone deals, home phone, and internet providers available. He has been published in Forbes, US News, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Inc.

Rob's Expertise

5G wireless networks, cell phone plans, cell phone deals, MVNOs, internet services, tablets, comparison shopping, money saving, reviewing telecom products & services

- Last updated on July 2nd, 2023

MoneySavingPro independently researches the products & services to bring you our recommendations. We may earn money when you click our links - disclosure policy.

3.5

Pros

  • 5G & 4G LTE coverage

  • 30-day risk-free guarantee

  • Multi-line discounts

  • 0% finance for new phones

  • US-based customer service

  • Supports eSIM

Cons

  • There are cheaper plans out there

  • May slow speeds at busy times

Founded by a veteran, PureTalk has a long-standing reputation for doing reasonably priced plans to suit different cell phone users.

As a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, (MVNO), they rent coverage from AT&T, then sell it back to you at a discounted price.

An alternative carrier like PureTalk could save up to $600 per year, per line. Let's dive in to help you decide if this is the plan provider for you.

PureTalk plans

PureTalk SIM card vertical

PureTalk 2GB plan

  • AT&T 5G & 4G LTE network
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 2GB data
$15/mo*
* 25% Off for 3 Months
View Plans

This PureTalk 2GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 2GB data for only $15 per month. PureTalk plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T 5G and 4G LTE network. Read PureTalk review

PureTalk SIM card vertical

PureTalk 4GB plan

  • AT&T 5G & 4G LTE network
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 4GB data
$19/mo*
* 25% Off for 3 Months
View Plans

This PureTalk 4GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 4GB data for only $19 per month. PureTalk plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T 5G and 4G LTE network. Read PureTalk review

PureTalk SIM card vertical

PureTalk 6GB plan

  • AT&T 5G & 4G LTE network
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 6GB data
$22/mo*
* 25% Off for 3 Months
View Plans

This PureTalk 6GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 6GB data for only $22 per month. PureTalk plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T 5G and 4G LTE network. Read PureTalk review

PureTalk SIM card vertical

PureTalk 10GB plan

  • AT&T 5G & 4G LTE network
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 10GB data
$26/mo*
* 25% Off for 3 Months
View Plans

This PureTalk 10GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 10GB data for only $26 per month. PureTalk plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T 5G and 4G LTE network. Read PureTalk review

PureTalk SIM card vertical

PureTalk 20GB plan

  • AT&T 5G & 4G LTE network
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • 20GB data
$34/mo*
* 25% Off for 3 Months
View Plans

This PureTalk 20GB plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and 20GB data for only $34 per month. PureTalk plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T 5G and 4G LTE network. Read PureTalk review

PureTalk SIM card vertical

PureTalk unlimited data plan

  • AT&T 5G & 4G LTE network
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Unlimited data
$42/mo*
* 25% Off for 3 Months
View Plans

This PureTalk Unlimited plan includes unlimited mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for only $42 per month. PureTalk plans offers wireless coverage on the AT&T 5G and 4G LTE network. Read PureTalk review

PureTalk family plans

Plan 1 line 2 lines 3 lines 4 lines
PureTalk 2GB $20 $36$18/line $51$17/line $64$16/line
PureTalk 4GB $25 $45$22.50/line $64$21.33/line $80$20/line
PureTalk 6GB $30 $54$27/line $77$25.67/line $96$24/line
PureTalk 10GB $35 $63$31.50/line $89$29.67/line $112$28/line
PureTalk 20GB $45 $81$40.50/line $115$38.33/line $144$36/line

PureTalk benefits

If you fancy a premium wireless service that's inexpensive, PureTalk plans can offer just that.

MVNOs offer the best cell phone plans with a range of great prices for any budget. Typically, plans start from around $15 a month, depending on what you need from your cell phone plan.

We've listed a range of PureTalk's features and benefits to help you decide if PureTalk services are the best for you.

  • Quality coverage: Powered by the AT&T network, you can expect the same nationwide coverage. To see if AT&T's network is the best coverage in your area you can check out the PureTalk coverage map.

  • Value for money: PureTalk SIM cards offer valuable and affordable plans. Although you'll find the same features and coverage as a plan direct from AT&T, PureTalk could save you up to $600 a year.

  • No contracts: As a prepaid carrier, you won't have to sign a 24 or 12 months contract. So if you're not happy with your plan there are no restrictions stopping you from changing to a different carrier.

  • Phone and plan bundles: If you're interested in a brand new phone, you can find a range of the best PureTalk phones to choose from.

  • Bring your own phone: If you don't want to upgrade your phone you can easily bring your own, with PureTalk bring your own phone plans. You'll just need to check your cell phone is fully compatible.

  • Easy set up: Being online-based, it's quick to choose and purchase your PureTalk SIM starter kit. Once your new SIM card has arrived, it's easy to set up and you'll be up and running with a few simple steps.

  • Unlimited talk & text: Most MVNOs provide unlimited talk and text with their plans.

  • 4G LTE coverage: Operating on the same network, you'll receive AT&T 4G LTE data speeds.

  • 5G high-speed data: If you have a 5G compatible device you can get access to the fast 5G network (where it's available) at no extra cost with PureTalk 5G plans.

  • Unlimited data plan: Depending on how much data you want, PureTalk unlimited plans offer unlimited everything at half the price of an AT&T unlimited plan.

  • Multiple lines: Most prepaid carriers offer a discount for additional lines purchased, making PureTalk family plans a great money-saving option based on how many lines you need.

  • Customer satisfaction: Find out more about PureTalk customer service with PureTalk customer reviews.

  • Promo codes: You can compare PureTalk deals and promo codes to see what savings are currently available, however, these deals change regularly.

How much is PureTalk?

Carrier

Network

Data

Price

PureTalk SIM card - Horizontal PureTalk 2GB plan

AT&T 5G/4G Coverage

2GB

$15/mo

$20/mo

PureTalk SIM card - Horizontal PureTalk 4GB plan

AT&T 5G/4G Coverage

4GB

$19/mo

$25/mo

PureTalk SIM card - Horizontal PureTalk 6GB plan

AT&T 5G/4G Coverage

6GB

$22/mo

$30/mo

PureTalk SIM card - Horizontal PureTalk 10GB plan

AT&T 5G/4G Coverage

10GB

$26/mo

$35/mo

PureTalk SIM card - Horizontal PureTalk 20GB plan

AT&T 5G/4G Coverage

20GB

$34/mo

$45/mo

PureTalk coverage

What network does PureTalk use?

PureTalk is powered by AT&T's national network. For PureTalk customers, coverage depends on where in the country you are, and how many AT&T customers are using the service at one time. Take a look at the PureTalk coverage map to see how their network will work for you.

Does PureTalk have good coverage?

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.


PureTalk features

  • Mobile hotspot - All iPhones brought to PureTalk will have mobile hotspot enabled. If you have an Android device you'll need to contact customer support to find out if it can be enabled.

  • Bring your own phone - Save more by bringing your own unlocked device with you. Use our IMEI checker to see which carriers your phone is compatible with.

  • Unlimited talk and text - Domestic talk and text come unlimited as standard with PureTalk. For international calling or messaging you'll need to purchase an add-on.

  • Risk-free guarantee - You get 30-days to decide whether the plan is right for you. This does not include your device. There are more terms and conditions around returning a cell phone bought through this carrier.


PureTalk customer service

  1. PureTalk Trustpilot rating: 3.3 stars - Average
  2. T-Mobile Trustpilot rating: 1.4 stars - Bad
  3. Verizon Trustpilot rating: 1.2 stars - Bad
  4. AT&T Trustpilot rating: 1.3 stars - Bad

A score of 2.3 beats the big networks, but it's nowhere near the great TrustPilot scores we see awarded to other alternative carriers. Let's look at why that is.

PureTalk's customer support is lacking. Their chat function is full of hitches and hurdles, so you're better off calling them. Even then, issues can take a frustrating amount of time to resolve.

PureTalk customer service phone number: (877) 820-7873

Read what real customers are saying about this carrier in our PureTalk user reviews.


PureTalk competitors

AT&T vs PureTalk comparison

Keep your AT&T phone, number & coverage: Save $564 per year

Carrier

Network Coverage

4G/5G Data

Price

Annual Cost

AT&T

AT&T 4G & 5G

Unltd*

$75/mo

$900/yr

PureTalk

AT&T 4G & 5G

6GB

$30/mo

$336/yr

*Don't waste money on unlimited data - Avg. data usage is only 3-5GB

Savings

$45/mo

$564/yr


PureTalk phones

This online carrier's cell phone offering has increased over the years. It includes recent Apple iPhone releases, Samsung Galaxy models, and cheaper Nokia devices.

Their two biggest data plans come with a discount on phones bought through their website. Be aware their 30-day risk-free guarantee is not extended to devices and you'll need to double-check terms and conditions with the carrier if you run into any issues.

Bring your own phone to PureTalk

PureTalk will simply provide you with a prepaid SIM card. You pop it into your cell phone and follow the provider's instructions. You need an unlocked phone (meaning your carrier has released it for use on another network). You can check that your phone is compatible with PureTalk before you sign up and the rest is a breeze.

Just make sure you don't cancel your current phone plan until you've ported your phone number over to the new carrier.

Switching to PureTalk is super simple. You can do it in three easy steps.

  1. Choose a plan. The more lines you add, the more you save.

  2. Prepare to make the switch. Make sure old bills are paid and your GSM device is unlocked.

  3. Set up your new plan. Keep your current carrier account open until your number has ported over. Once you're sure your new plan is up and running, cancel your old one. If you've opted for a new device, it should come ready to go. If you're bringing your own phone, you'll need to order a PureTalk SIM card, which costs $3 online. Then follow the instructions to get set up.


Verdict - Is PureTalk good?

PureTalk has proudly supported active-duty military and veterans since launching in 2014.

This alternative carrier is ideal if you're looking for a low-data limit cell phone plan, or you want to add multiple lines to your account. However, for the data-hungry cell phone user you might be better placed to compare them with other prepaid cell phone plans.


PureTalk FAQs

What is PureTalk?

PureTalk is low-cost carrier that operates on the national AT&T 5G & 4G LTE network. They have a range of prepaid cell phone plans available to suit most cell phone users.

How much is PureTalk?

PureTalk offers a number of cell phone plans starting at $15 per month. Unlike the large networks that only offer unlimited data plans, you only pay for the data that you actually use.


Methodology

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  • We've got high standards. We use our industry expertise to find carriers that reach these standards. We all deserve the best value for money, choice, and customer experience.

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  • We keep things simple. It's our job to break down what you need to know, so you can make informed choices.

PureTalk info

Founded2004
Headquarters11100 Alcovy Rd, Covington, GA 30014-6406
Customer service(877) 820-7873