How do I switch to a mvnos cell phone plan with another carrier?

Switching to an MVNO is smart, quick and simple. You don't have to buy a new device, since you can bring your own phone to the new carrier and you can keep your old number. All you need to do is order a prepaid SIM card and once you have that, you can switch your phone service in as little as 2-3 minutes.

Do these mvnos cell phone plans have network coverage in my area?

All MVNO's are powered by at least one of the big 4's networks. In our comparison list of mvnos cell phone plan we display the network options available with each plan. For example, if the plan says 'powered by Verizon', it means the carrier operates on the Verizon network and you'll receive exactly the same nationwide 4G LTE coverage that you would if you bought a plan from Verizon directly.

Can I keep my phone number when I switch to a new mvnos cell phone plan?

Yes! It's easy to port your existing phone number to another carrier during the activation process.

Will a mvnos cell phone plan with any carrier work with my phone?

Yes! Most unlocked smartphones that have a SIM card slot will work with your new mvnos cell phone plan. If your phone is locked to a carrier you will need to contact your existing carrier to get it unlocked.

How do I check if my device is compatible with the mvnos cell phone plan I want?

You can check your devices compatibility on the carriers website before you signup for a new mvnos cell phone plan.

Is there a contract or credit check?

No. MVNO's work on a prepaid month-to-month basis, meaning there is no credit check or commitment, so you can switch to a new mvnos cell phone plan whenever you like.

How does billing work these mvnos cell phone plans?

All plans are prepaid with no contract. This means that you pay for 30 days when your plan starts, not afterwards. Most MVNO's allow AutoPay which ensures you'll automatically renew your plan every 30 days.

Can I share my mvnos cell phone plan across multiple devices?

No. Each mvnos cell phone plan is for one line and every device needs it's own line.

Do mvnos cell phone plans allow tethering?

Yes, most mvnos cell phone plan allow tethering but it will depend on the carrier and plan you select. Check the carrier site before signing up.

Do mvnos cell phone plans offer international calling?

Yes, most MVNO's include calls to international countries. Be sure to check the carriers website for more details before you sign up.

Do MVNO's have a refund policy?

Most MVNO's offer a refund within 7 days if you are not satisfied with the mvnos cell phone plan you selected. Check the carriers website for full details before you sign up.

Who should switch to a mvnos cell phone plan?

MVNO's are perfect for anyone that is looking to save money on a mvnos cell phone plan, without compromising on coverage, there's a customized plan suitable for everyone.

Best MVNOs: Cheapest Phone Plans - August 2020

Cheapest MVNO plans in August 2020

Nationwide Coverage4G LTE Data SpeedKeep Your Phone & NumberNo Contract

Best AT&T Plan

3GB LTE Data

$15* per month

See Deal

* $45 for 3 Mths Service

Best Sprint Plan

3GB LTE Data

$15* per month

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* 25% Off for 6 Months

Best T-Mobile Plan

4GB LTE Data

$18.75* per month

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* 25% Off for 3 Months

Best Verizon Plan

5GB LTE Data

$30* per month

See Deal

* $15 Off for 3 Months

Best MVNO Plans

You can't get premium cell phone coverage without paying premium prices, right? Wrong!

You can stay with one of the big four networks (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and, Sprint) and still massively save on your cell phone bills.

This minor miracle has been made possible thanks to the arrival of Mobile Virtual Network Operators or MVNOs for short.

The four major carriers own the towers that carry their service, the smaller MVNOs - such as US Mobile, Tello, and Mint Mobile - buy space from them in bulk and re-sell to us at wholesale prices.

As you will see, you can stay on the same network, keep your phone, keep your number and have greater flexibility, at much lower prices.

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MVNO Benefits

Compared to the big four, these smaller carriers offer several advantages:

Save Money: With lower costs to handle, MVNOs can offer you much lower rates. In other words, expect good deals from these MVNOs that you wouldn't find anywhere else. For instance, because Republic Wireless has only one physical retail store, it is able to charge a minimum of $15 for its plans.
Customized plans: The big guys' main offerings are based on unlimited data. Sounds ideal, but the average smartphone user goes through less than 3GB per month. This means you're probably paying for a whole lot of data you do not use. MVNOs let you decide how much mobile data you need - and pay for. In fact, some MVNOs allow you to build your own plan, letting you save not only on mobile data but also on minutes and texts.
No contracts or credit checks: All low-cost carriers offer prepaid plans. If you're unhappy you can leave anytime you want. You won't have to go through a credit check or get roped into a two-year commitment.
Keep your freedom: You can keep your phone, too. MVNOs welcome - and often require - bringing your own device. Those payment plans for the newest smartphones are tempting but they add $10 - $30 to your monthly bill.
Plenty of incentives: Many MVNOs offer fantastic incentives attached to their phone services. Some of these carriers offer include free international calls and text messages, plans with taxes and fees incorporated, data maximizers, data roaming, HD video, free Wifi hotspots or mobile hotspots, rollover data, unlimited calling for long distances, and more. For instance, MetroPCS offers free phones when you switch, and FreedomPop offers free data!

T-Mobile MVNO vs T-Mobile Price Comparison

Carrier	Network Coverage	Data Limit	Monthly Price	Annual Price
T-Mobile	T-Mobile 4G LTE	Unlimited*	$70	$840
Mint Mobile	T-Mobile 4G LTE	8GB	$20	$240
Saving			$50	$600
* Avg. T-Mobile unlimited plan customer uses 5GB data

It's common to save over $500 a year without sacrificing network coverage by switching to an MVNO.

Want to save more? If you're planning on upgrading your phone, compare cell phone prices to ensure you get the best deal.

It's also worth considering buying a refurbished phone as you can save up to 50% off MSRP and still get the peace of mind of a warranty.

Best Verizon MVNOs

With some justification, big carrier Verizon claims that it offers the best nationwide 4G LTE network, but while it offers an unlimited plan – though you'll simply receive lots of data with "soft data caps," meaning that after you reach a certain amount of data, your speeds may be throttled to 2G data levels – you'll be paying an arm and a leg for that plan.

Your best bet is to select an MVNO that uses the Verizon network, so you won't be paying Verizon prices for such a high-quality network.

The best Verizon MVNOs – otherwise known as the carriers that offer you the greatest value for your dollar – have been limited to the following, thanks to our analysis:

Twigby

Twigby is a wireless carrier that supports both Verizon and Sprint phones, is perfect for light users and medium users. Talk and text plans start with no data – otherwise known as Wifi only – and 200 minutes, though you can select unlimited calls and texts as well as 4GB of data.

All prepaid service plans include unlimited texting for smartphones and basic phones, an introductory rate for two months, 30 days satisfaction guarantee, and free overage protection.

US Mobile

US Mobil e offers some of the cheapest unlimited data plans. Not only are the initial plans customizable – as in you can build your own plan, making US Mobile the carrier for some of the best MVNO family plans (as well as the best MVNO for data) – but you can also select from a variety of unlimited data plans if you have a phone compatible with its Super LTE plans rather than its GSM network plans.

Unlimited 4G LTE data plans are sorted by download speeds, beginning at over half of what you'd pay for Verizon unlimited.

This wireless carrier offers lines with unlimited text and calls, but all plans include free unlimited international calls to over 70 select countries, retainment of your existing number, your choice of an English or Spanish customer service agent.

US Mobile - 5GB Data

UnlimitedminsUnlimitedtexts

5 GB4G data

$34per month

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99% of phones are compatible
Super flexible, customizable plans
Unlimited data plan option
Three data speed choices
Dashboard that allows you to see the whole family's mobile usage

Average Customer Rating13 User Reviews

This US Mobile plan includes unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 5GB of 4G LTE data for $34 per month.

US Mobile is powered by the nationwide Verizon & T-Mobile 4G LTE Network. US Mobile offers mvnos plans with no contract, fees or credit check. Choose a customized plan based on your usage and upgrade or downgrade anytime.

US Mobile allows you to turn your phone into a hotspot with free tethering. You can bring your own phone to US Mobile and keep your phone number. US Mobile is compatible with most GSM unlocked phones. Check Phone Compatibility

US Mobile includes international calling, VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling. US Mobile plans automatically renew every 30 days with monthly billing and can be canceled at any time. US Mobile offers 24/7 customer service.

Best Sprint MVNOs

In terms of ranking using Rootmetric's data, once more, Sprint falls in third place. However, like AT&T when compared to Verizon, the differences between the networks are rather minuscule, so you won't notice a difference when staying on Sprint's network when switching to a Sprint MVNO.

You'll find some of the best Sprint MVNOs:

Tello

Tello offers some great deals, where you can build your own plan or select from one of the available ready-made plans. You can select up to 10GB of data with Tello.

Tello - 1GB Data

UnlimitedminsUnlimitedtexts

1 GB4G data

$5*per month

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Flexible plans up to 10 GB of high-speed data
Free texting with all plans
Change your plan any time
Unlimited 2G data
Monthly plans or pay-as-you-go

Average Customer Rating16 User Reviews

This Tello plan includes unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of 4G LTE data for $5* per month.

Tello is powered by the nationwide Sprint 4G LTE Network. Tello offers mvnos plans with no contract, fees or credit check. Choose a customized plan based on your usage and upgrade or downgrade anytime.

Tello allows you to turn your phone into a hotspot with free tethering. You can bring your own phone to Tello and keep your phone number. Tello is compatible with most CDMA unlocked phones. Check Phone Compatibility

Tello includes international calling, VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling. Tello plans automatically renew every 30 days with monthly billing and can be canceled at any time. Tello offers 24/7 customer service.