Sprint, as you probably know, is a major wireless carrier. They're part of the "big four" – Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile – and have their hand in the domination of the wireless industry.
There are a couple of points that most of us can agree on when it comes to the major wireless carrier industry.
- The pricing sucks – The big four heavily promote unlimited plans which have $60-80 per month price tags associated with them. But do we really need an unlimited plan?
- Getting the right information is like pulling teeth - The big four seem to make it deliberately difficult to find clear-cut and simple-to-digest information that will help us decide who the best carrier is.
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Unfortunately, we often find ourselves on a wild goose chase trying 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.
So let us help. In this guide, we'll break down Sprint as a cellular service company and help you figure out if this is a reliable network for you.
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Table of Contents
Key Considerations When Choosing Sprint
There are a few questions you should ask yourself when it comes to choosing a wireless network. Don't worry they aren't hard. Basically – what do you want out of the service. That's right, you have a say. And if Sprint can't give you what you want we'll help you find a carrier who will. Try answering these questions before we continue:
- Does the Sprint network cover the area you live in?
- How much data do you need each month?
- Will you bring your own phone (BYOP) or will you need one?
- Do you need a single-line plan or a family plan?
- Is there a Sprint MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) that will give you a better price? (Don't worry we'll explain more later in the article.)
Sprint Pricing: Is it Competitive?
None of the big four carriers are really known for their pricing so it's safe to say you're probably overpaying with this carrier. Let's see how Sprint plans compare in terms of unlimited plans to the other three major carriers:
| Carrier | Network Coverage | Data Limit | Monthly Price | Annual Price |
Sprint | Sprint 4G LTE | Unlimited* | $60 | $720 |
Verizon | Verizon 4G LTE | Unlimited* | $75 | $900 |
T-Mobile | T-Mobile 4G LTE | Unlimited* | $70 | $840 |
AT&T | AT&T 4G LTE | Unlimited* | $75 | $900 |
Overall, Sprint will save you money in terms of unlimited plans amongst the other larger carriers. But what they don't tell you is the average Sprint customer with an unlimited data plan only uses around 5GB of data per month. Meaning they're overpaying.
If you're currently a Sprint customer you can look at your bill breakdown to see if you're one of these people. Or you can go to our data usage calculator to see how much data you personally need.
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.
Keep Your Sprint Coverage, Pay Less
If Sprint seems to be right for you in every area except for the price don't worry, you still have options. There are many MVNOs that offer Sprint service but for a fraction of the price.
| Carrier | Network Coverage | Data Limit | Monthly Price | Annual Price |
| Sprint | Sprint 4G LTE | Unlimited* | $60 | $720 |
| TextNow | Sprint 4G LTE | 5GB | $30 | $360 |
| Saving | $30 | $360 | ||
| * Avg Sprint user on unlimited plan uses 5GB data | ||||
How can they do this? MVNOs buy service in bulk from the big four's towers and sell it back to consumers for cheap. They're able to do so because they spend millions of dollars in advertising and have very few brick-and-mortars to upkeep. In fact, many of them operate entirely online.
Interested? Check out our guide to Sprint MVNOs to see which one will work best for you.
Sprint Phone Deals
Sprint gives you three different phone options when you sign up for a new plan or switch from another carrier:
- Bring your own phone –Sprint operates on the CDMA network so you'll have the best luck bringing your own phone if you're switching from Verizon. You'll just want to change the APN settings (don't worry, it's easy) and you should make sure your device is unlocked.
- Buy a new phone – Sprint offers a wide selection of phones in-store and online. Be sure to keep in mind that if you choose to make monthly payments on your device your bill will go up.
- Buy a refurbished phone -You'll save the most money - up to 50% off retail - by shopping for the best Sprint cell phone deals. Compare prices and features on all your favorite Apple and Galaxy devices from reputable sellers.
If you choose to BYOP or purchase refurbished you can get your Sprint SIM card online or in store.
Recap
Sprint plans are cheaper than the other major carriers but there are still cheaper options out there. Remember, don't overpay for data and check out our data usage calculator to see what you should be paying for.
Save even more money on your Sprint bill by purchasing a refurbished phone instead of overpaying for a new phone.
If you choose to buy refurbished, it's well worth selling your old device for cash.
Don't feel the need to just take our word for it - find out what real customers are saying with our Sprint user reviews. Or you can compare them to other Sprint MVNOs before making your decision.
COMPARE NOW: Sprint Cell Phone Plans starting at $10
