There are a couple of points that most of us consumers can agree on when it comes to the major wireless carrier industry.
For one, it's the pricing of wireless plans, including T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint cell phone plans - plans are typically not that affordable, so while we want priority and a strong talk and LTE network, we want budget-sounding prices. Two is information. We want clear-cut and simple-to-digest information that will help us decide who the best carrier is.
Unfortunately, we find ourselves on wild goose chases to figure out who has the best reliability, the fastest speeds, and what the mobile hotspot limit is on an unlimited plan.
And it. is. frustrating.
COMPARE NOW: Sprint Cell Phone Plans
Fortunately, we understand your plight, and we can save you time, energy, and money by compiling the important information of the available Sprint cell phone plans together in a readable format, without any traps.
In other words, the important fine print will be emphasized here and prices will be clear-cut. Finally, you'll be able to use our cell phone plan comparison tool to make an informed decision for yourself of whether or not you should adopt Sprint's cell phone services.
In This Guide
Sprint Wireless Plans
As a carrier network, Sprint's plans are quite competitive, being a good value for anyone.
Sprint only has one postpaid plan - dubbed the Sprint Unlimited Freedom Plan - but it is rather affordable compared to competitors. However, the provider carries a few prepaid plans for those in need of fewer data amounts at cheaper prices.
In other words, these service plans can suit either one person or a full family.
Sprint Monthly Plans
The Sprint network showcases several types of service plans that make any customer, individual or family, feel at home. No longer are the plans similar in label as Verizon's plans - they used to be labeled in size, but Sprint has since downsized. Now, there is only one Sprint plan - otherwise known as the Sprint Unlimited Freedom Plan.
The Sprint Unlimited freedom plan comes with the following:
- Unlimited talk, text messages, and data
- HD video streaming at up to 1080p+
- Game streaming at up to 8Mbps
- Music streaming at up to 1.5Mbps
- No overage charges whatsoever
- Mobile hotspot of up to 10GB of 4G LTE data; after, speeds will slow down to 2G levels
- Unlimited international text messages from the US to over 180 countries
All this at an affordable price too. You won't even have to pay premium pricing either, so you can get the most out of your mobile web searches and video streaming. Do note that if you plan on making international calling a habit, you may want to check with Sprint about the prices, as unlimited international services, even basic international calling, is not included in these plans.
However, you can always purchase an international add-on for a certain fee per month, which will save you money in the long run.
Read: Sprint Customer Reviews
Sprint Family Plans
With the Sprint network, you can find family plans in the form of additional lines. For example, let's take the Sprint Unlimited Freedom Plan for families, which is simply an extension of the normal plan with the exception of additional lines included. This is perfect for families or those who have data-hungry children or adults.
Family plans also exist in Sprint's prepaid plans, which sport just a few data amounts. You can save money on every line with the Sprint Prepaid Family plan, and you can also personalize these plans to fit everyone's needs.
For example, one parent may want 3GB of data, another parent may need 5GB of data, and a child may need unlimited service. You can set up lines while saving cash with each of these plan amounts thanks to the Sprint Prepaid Family Plan.
Related: Sprint vs T-Mobile: Which is Better?
Sprint Prepaid Plans
Sprint has a separate website dedicated to prepaid plans and phones. From the site, you can purchase your phone, browse plans, or check out additional prepaid services.
There are three types of prepaid plans available from Sprint: 3GB, 5GB, and Unlimited. All three come with unlimited talk, text, and data, but the allotted data will strictly be high-speed. After the amount is reached, the speed will downgrade to 2G. However, if you want more high-speed data, you can always add a data pack for an extra fee.
You can also add features such as CallWatch, International Long Distance Calling, Premium Caller ID, or Phone Insurance to your prepaid plans. Sprint also offers a selection of prepaid plans for families as well, which I discussed under the family plan section.
Read More: You can learn more about international long distance calling and unlimited international services here.
Overall, Sprint's plans are very affordable, competing even with certain MVNOs like Straight Talk Wireless, a service owned by TracFone Wireless. The Straight Talk service has even been falling behind in terms of competition, as it has not budged on its prices or even considered a truly unlimited plan.
However, while the Straight Talk service can be made a bit more affordable, the available Straight Talk phone selection is comparable with Sprint's latest options. The TracFone Wireless-based service does feature the latest phones, making Straight Talk pretty tempting. Still, while I would love to delve further into the Straight Talk phone selection, it's best that I continue forward with Sprint's plans and services.
Sprint Unlimited Plans
We've already delved into the carrier network's unlimited plan earlier since it is the only postpaid monthly plan now, but you can learn more about Sprint's unlimited plan here.
Admittedly, Sprint's Unlimited service is cheaper compared to the other major carrier's unlimited options. You can always take a moment to compare unlimited plans between Sprint and its competition.
Sprint Data Plans
Sprint has several data-only plans in the form of a service, known as Mobile Broadband. This pass offers 3G/4G data without any further commitment.
These monthly passes range from 3GB to 30GB. If you plan to do a lot of video streaming and mobile web browsing, you may want to refer to our very own data calculator to determine your needs.
Compare: Find a cheap Sprint SIM Card
Cell Phones Offered With Sprint
Sprint provides plenty of phones to select from. These phones are immediately sorted on the official site by the following categories: Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Android phones, LG phones, HTC phones, Affordable phones, and web exclusives. Yes, Sprint even offers web exclusives.
You will find the latest and greatest phones too, not just older phones. If you need the latest iPhone or Android phone, it will be available at Sprint. However, some phones, such as the Google Pixel, may not be directly available from the Sprint store.
Compare: Sprint Prepaid Phones
You are able to view prices based on whether you have good credit, are building credit, or choose to have no credit check. Depending on your credit standing, you can either lease a phone with no money down, lease a phone with some money down, or purchase a phone at full value (but options are limited).
You may want to check out our side-by-side cell phone plan comparison tool. If you'd like to save money on your next cell phone, then you should use our used and refurbished Sprint cell phone price comparison tool or you can check out our guide to cheap Sprint phones.
Sprint Phone Insurance
Sprint works with Asurion phone insurance to ensure that your phone is protected. There are two different types of insurance plans available:
Total Equipment Protection - This includes next-day replacement (in most cases), coverage against loss, theft, damage, and malfunction, 24/7 claims, and automatic backup.
Total Equipment Protection Plus - This plan features next-day replacement (in most cases), protection against loss, theft, damage, and malfunction, 24/7 claims, automatic backup, online device tutorials, on device support, proactive alerts for your smartphone or device, and a tech expert.
What's also available for all Total Equipment Protection Plus subscribers, for an additional monthly fee, is Total Tech Expert, which supports everyone and all devices on your Sprint account. Total Tech Expert offers a whopping 100GB of backup for each Sprint phone and a Tech Expert, which can resolve even the most difficult of issues.
Read More: Cell Phone Insurance can help when you need it, but is it worth it? That's for you to decide.
Sprint Phone Activation
There are different ways to activate a Sprint phone, but one thing's for sure: if you're activating a new phone, you need to make sure it is fully charged. For a general guide on how to unlock a cell phone and use it for a new carrier, go here.
After you've done so, you can either head over to Sprint's Activation page. You can also call Sprint at 1-888-211-4727 to activate your phone. Finally, if neither option works for you, you can always take your phone to a Sprint store to have a technician activate it for you.
Sprint Mobile Hotspot
According to Sprint, select Sprint devices can work as 4G or 4G hotspots for your laptop, console (or PC), or any Wi-Fi enabled device. Supposedly, you can purchase a mobile hotspot add-on for phones, which includes a $10/1GB, $20/2GB or $50/6GB on-network monthly allows for 3G or combined 3G/4G usage. There is also a mobile hotspot add-on for tablets. You can compare Sprint's hotspot options against the competition here.
However, 5GB of Mobile Hotspot is included with the Sprint Unlimited plan. In other words, you've just been given another reason to consider tying the knot with the Sprint Unlimited plan.
Compare: Sprint Mobile Hotspot Plans
Sprint SIM Card
Sprint offers packaged SIM cards, which are cards that contain your subscriber profile. If you're looking to bring your own device, you can purchase the 3-in-1 Universal SIM card for a cheap price. However, the SIM card isn't compatible with every phone, so be sure to check your phone's eligibility before you bring it in.
For some devices (older phones in particular) you may need a new or different SIM card. For a primer on everything SIM card and how to find out if you have the right size, go here.
Sprint Deals, Promotions & Discounts
Sprint promotes its services with some great deals. For instance, you can buy a phone and get one free. Or you can receive a phone for 50 percent off.
If you're a new customer who has switched to Sprint, they'll also cover your switching fees via Visa Reward Card up to $650 per line. What's also interesting is that the service flaunts a 30-day total satisfaction guarantee. If you're not happy with Sprint, the carrier will refund all device costs, qualifying service costs, and other related fees.
Unfortunately, there are no loyalty programs with Sprint. There was one a while ago, but it was unfortunately axed.
If interested, we have more in-depth information on Sprint's deals and promotions.
Sprint Coverage
According to recent data from Nielsen (and as flaunted on commercials), Sprint's network reliability is now within one percent of Verizon, but overall, its CDMA network (you can learn more about CDMA networks vs GSM networks here) falls behind in terms of performance.
Furthermore, Sprint's coverage area captures the majority of the United States, barring several areas. You can refer to our coverage area map below for more insight. You may want to check out our guide on who has the best coverage.
Sprint Customer Support Score
A few years ago, Sprint finished dead last in customer service, with negatives being placed on value, voice, text messaging, and 4G reliability.
The customer care service has since improved vastly, providing customers with knowledgeable agents. That being said, the service is still not as amazing compared to other major carriers.
There are several ways to receive customer care support for Sprint's products and services:
- Search for answers via FAQ
- Contact representatives via Chat
- Access the Sprint Community
- Contact Sprint's Customer Service Number
- Contact Sprint by Snail Mail
- Contact via Facebook and Twitter
So there are plenty of ways, both automated and human, for customers to receive support if an issue with the network or device arises.
Customer reviews and company reputation are two great ways to determine whether or not you might enjoy a Sprint cell phone plan. Sprint scored a 70/100 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index, the lowest score amongst its competitors. On the Better Business Bureau, Sprint earns a B+. Trustpilot, a website that ranks companies purely from customer reviews, rates Sprint a 2/10. Keep in mind that the experiences of one customer are not representative of the company as a whole, but it is important to spot potential issues you may have with the company early nonetheless.
How to Change Your APN Settings
If you're switching to Sprint and a bringing a used unlocked phone, you may need to change your APN settings. You'll find the Sprint APN settings here.
Recap
Sprint is a good cell phone carrier to consider, offering reliable service and prices comparable with MVNOs like Straight Talk Wireless. What makes the service stand out is its Sprint Unlimited plan, which is far cheaper and comes with no strings attached, in comparison to AT&T's services. You can go here if you want to see how the two compare side-by-side?
The promotions and deals are also inviting, with one of the promotions allowing you to switch to the carrier with ease. Finally, in the case that you are unsure of whether or not you should adopt the service, you can always take advantage of the 30-day customer satisfaction guarantee. So if you're unhappy with the service, you can always cancel it within the 30-day limit.
