Latest news with #prepaidplans
Phone Arena
7 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
T-Mobile's network meets Mint Mobile's price and makes unlimited wireless stupid cheap
Mint Mobile, the T-Mobile-powered carrier known for its affordable prepaid plans, has been rolling out quite a few promos lately. You might've seen its self-proclaimed "Craziest Phone Deal Yet" recently, or maybe you caught the return of some fan-favorite plan offers last month. But now? Mint might've just dropped its best deal yet. Mint's Unlimited plan includes unlimited talk, text and data on T-Mobile 's massive 5G network. You also get a free mobile hotspot and free international calls to Mexico, Canada and the UK – which, for a lot of users, is a pretty sweet bonus. Now, if locking into a 12-month plan isn't your vibe, Mint's still offering 3-month intro plans for new customers at just $15/month. That price applies across all data tiers – whether you want 5 GB, 15 GB or Unlimited. So you can test the waters without diving in headfirst. Because if you're someone who regularly burns through more than 35 GB of data a month, or if you are looking for extra perks like streaming bundles, this deal might not be the best fit. Mint's keeping it simple – and that's kind of the point. Otherwise, if you're shopping around for a new carrier and don't want to go with one of the Big Three ( T-Mobile , Verizon and AT&T), this limited-time offer is worth a look. You've got until September 18 to decide, so there's a bit of breathing room if you're on the fence. Last year, T-Mobile finalized its acquisition of Mint Mobile's parent company, Ka'ena Corporation. | Video credit – Mint Mobile Owned by T-Mobile , Mint Mobile is a prepaid MVNO (mobile virtual network operator), meaning it runs on T-Mobile 's network but sells service in 3, 6, or 12-month chunks. While that means you pay upfront, the monthly cost often ends up way cheaper – especially with promos like this. It's a solid option if you don't want to worry about your phone bill every month and can stomach the one-time payment. And if you're not sure Mint is right for you, or want to compare other options first, check out our carrier comparisons: Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area.
Phone Arena
01-07-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
This budget wireless carrier is making big moves without raising prices
Ultra Mobile, a low-cost prepaid brand that uses T-Mobile's network, is updating its plans with more data and international features while keeping the same prices from over a decade ago. The carrier has often focused on offering affordable service for users who want flexibility and international calling options. Now, Ultra Mobile is giving both new and existing customers more for the same price. For instance, the $15 per month plan now includes 500MB of data instead of 250MB. The $19 plan goes from 3GB to 4GB. Higher-tier plans are also getting more data, such as the $39 plan increasing from 15GB to 24GB, and the top-tier $59 Ultra Unlimited+ plan still has no data caps but now offers 25GB of hotspot data and more international credit. Ultra Mobile's old versus new plans. | Image credit — Ultra Mobile All plans continue to include unlimited talk and text within the U.S., along with features like Wi-Fi calling, mobile hotspot access, and international coverage. These changes are being rolled out automatically, with no action needed from customers. In addition to data upgrades, Ultra Mobile is offering deeper discounts for users who choose multi-month options. Customers who pay for 12 months up front can save up to 30 percent, which could mean as much as 216 dollars per year in savings. Three-month and six-month options are also available, offering 10 percent and 20 percent discounts respectively. The company is also rolling out a new logo. The updated look swaps out the old SIM card icon for a globe, reflecting its focus on international connectivity and the rise of eSIM use. While the branding is changing, the company says it will continue offering straightforward, contract-free service. Ultra Mobile's approach contrasts with many carriers that limit the best deals to new customers or add requirements for discounts. According to Scott Venuti, Commercial Owner at Ultra Mobile, the goal is to give all customers more benefits without raising costs. Whether this move will attract more users remains to be seen, but for now, it gives Ultra Mobile an edge in the budget segment. With no price increases, more data, and expanded international support, these updates could appeal to anyone looking to save money without giving up essential features. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Phone Arena
24-06-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
T-Mobile just made Metro's data caps much harder to actually reach
Starting June 26, Metro customers on the carrier's most popular plans will still get unlimited 5G data, but now with way more premium data included. Here's how the plans are changing: $50 with AutoPay: Premium data goes from 35 GB to 50 GB $60 with AutoPay: Premium data doubles from 35 GB to 70 GB – T-Mobile , June 2025 More full-speed data means less slowing down Such a big jump in premium data is great – especially since the $60 plan now offers double the high-speed allowance. That means smoother streaming, faster sharing and less lag when you are online all day. I mean, having more high-speed data at no extra cost is always a good thing, especially when we are all pretty much glued to our phones 24/7. And in this case, it actually gives Metro a leg up on the competition. Take Verizon, for example – its priciest prepaid plan costs the same as Metro's but tops out at 50 GB of premium data. With Metro now offering up to 70 GB, that's a pretty big difference for people who want the most out of their plan without going over budget. And with no signs that this is just a promo, it looks like Metro customers can count on these increases being part of the plan going forward. Of course, once you hit that premium cap, slower speeds may still kick in – but getting more of that full-speed window upfront is a solid win. T-Mobile 's been getting heat lately, especially after those price hikes, so this boost to Metro's prepaid plans feels like a well-timed way to win some goodwill back. With premium data on Metro's $50 and $60 AutoPay plans now hitting 50 GB and 70 GB, it could start to feel close to unlimited for most people. Sure, you can blow past that if you are using your phone as a hotspot or as your main internet at home, but for regular mobile use, that is a ton of headroom. In fact, the average smartphone in the US was chewing through about 21.9 GB a month by the end of 2024. So, if that sounds like you, you probably won't hit the cap anyway – but having that extra headroom is still a nice bonus.
CNET
18-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
T-Mobile Debuts New Prepaid Plans With 5-Year Price Guarantee
T-Mobile has debuted new prepaid plans with a bump in data for its cheapest month-to-month plans, but the big upgrade is T-Mobile's guarantee that their prices won't change for the next five years, a feature on some of the best phone plans. T-Mobile introduced its five-year price guarantee on its premium plans back in April to appeal to subscribers wary of rising costs. As consumers worry about tariff-related price increases and the potential of a recession, it's a savvy move for the carrier to extend its guarantee to its month-to-month plans. Other than the price guarantee, T-Mobile has made small improvements to its range of prepaid plans, which will be available to sign up for on Tuesday, June 24. Its most affordable, Starter Monthly, remains $40 per month with AutoPay set up ($45 for the first month) plus fees, but its high-speed data cap has been increased to 15GB per month, up from 10GB. T-Mobile's Unlimited Monthly prepaid plan, which has unlimited 5G for data and voice with unlimited 3G hotspot data, is now $45 per month with AutoPay ($50 for the first month) plus fees, down $5 from its previous rate. The more expensive Unlimited Plus Monthly plan is still $60 per month with AutoPay ($65 for the first month) plus fees, but it's getting some premium-plan features like unlimited talk and text to the US while roaming in Mexico and Canada and unlimited texting in over 215 international countries. It's worth noting that prepaid plans don't have access to another premium feature that T-Mobile has been promoting: T-Satellite, the connectivity perk that provides service beyond the carrier's network using SpaceX's network of microsatellites. Prepaid subscribers will still get access to features like scam-blocking protection and T-Mobile Tuesday giveaways. These new features only apply to T-Mobile-branded prepaid plans, but not prepaid plans by Metro (which the carrier owns). While T-Mobile's prepaid plans aren't as cheap as some of the best prepaid plans out there, they conceivably get priority on the carrier's network. Other mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) run on major carrier networks, but may have slower service as they're deprioritized compared to first-party customers.
The Verge
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Verge
Trump Mobile is a bad deal
Trump Mobile launched this morning with a single prepaid wireless plan and the promise of nationwide coverage for $47.45 per month. For that price, you get unlimited talk and texting, international calling, plus 20GB of 'high-speed' cell and hotspot data, which a customer support representative told me is 5G. But while the plan's price might have been selected to appeal to Trump fans (he is the 47th president and was also 45th president), it was certainly not selected to compete aggressively on price. For a prepaid phone service, Trump Mobile is a bad deal. There are cheaper plans than this if you look, basically, anywhere Prepaid plans are usually designed to offer a mix of affordability and flexibility — most of them let you pay or cancel month to month. They usually include fewer perks than post-paid phone plans, but you can generally get a better price. The major carriers all do better if you go straight to their own prepaid brands. For $40 per month, you can get unlimited 5G service from Verizon's prepaid carrier, Visible, from AT&T's prepaid carrier, Cricket, and from T-Mobile's prepaid carrier, Metro. Visible also includes smartwatch coverage at that price. Go beyond the big carriers, and you'll get even better pricing. Google Fi will give you 30GB of 5G data for $35/month. Walmart Family Mobile offers 20GB of 5G for $33.88 per month. Boost Mobile offers 30GB of 5G for $25/month. And Tello offers unlimited data for $25 per month. Even if you're limiting yourself to patriotically branded cell companies, you can do better. US Mobile offers unlimited 5G for $35 per month. And while US Cellular's $40/month plan only has 15GB of high-speed data, it also has an additional 15GB of hot spot data. Of course, every phone plan comes with caveats and loopholes. There's a reason the pricing here is so variable. Some networks may be more aggressive about throttling your data. Others come with restrictions on hot spots. Some have better coverage maps. Trump Mobile's inflated price is bolstered by some unique perks. It includes roadside assistance through Drive America Motor Club with a $100 credit toward towing. It also includes device protection through Omega Mobile Care. This could be a good value, but with service plans like these, what matters is how well they actually work in practice. And it's hard to ascertain how reliable Omega Mobile Care is when it only seems to exist on the Trump Mobile website. (Omega seems to primarily provide auto service; it is also listed as a 'partner' of Drive America.) The market for cellphone service is confusing. The biggest carriers all offer multiple tiers of plans, multiple ways to pay, and different services through subsidiary brands. Meanwhile, smaller providers — known as MVNOs — that operate off the major networks have become so common and easy to create that the SmartLess podcast just launched their own mobile plan. (They charge $30/month.) That's what allows a carrier like Trump Mobile to exist. They don't have to deploy a network or worry about offering great service — they just have to brand it well.
