By choosing an MVNO, you get access to T-Mobile’s extensive network and coverage for a fraction of the price. Under the umbrella of T-Mobile MVNOs you can find plans for unlimited data, talk and text only, and international plans for travel abroad.
With our ratings, the best unlimited data plans on T-Mobile's network are US Mobile’s $44/month Unlimited Premium plan and Mint Mobile’s $30/month Unlimited plan. The cheapest plans are TextNow’s free calling plan or Tello’s $10/month Unlimited Talk and Text and 2GB Data plans, which get you the bare-minimum at budget-friendly prices.
For international plans, Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan gives you unlimited data in 200+ countries, which means you won’t have to stress while traveling.
Continue reading to see how we’ve broken down each option and see which plan fits your needs.
The best phone plans on T-Mobile's network
| Carrier | Plan name | Cost | Data | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mint Mobile | Unlimited Data Plan | $30/month ($15/month for first 3 months) |
50GB of premium data |
View plan |
| US Mobile | Unlimited Premium Plan | $44/month | Unlimited | View plan |
| Ultra Mobile | Unlimited 1-Month Plan | $49/month | Unlimited | View plan |
| Tello | Unlimited Text, Talk, and 2GB Plan | $10/month | 2GB | View plan |
| TextNow | Free Talk, Text, Essential Data Plan | $0/month* | 350MB | View plan |
| Tello | Unlimited Text, Talk, and Data Plan | $25/month | Unlimited | View plan |
| Google Fi | Unlimited Plus for 1 | $65/month | Unlimited | View plan |
*$4.99 SIM card charge
T-Mobile alternatives
There are plenty of T-Mobile alternatives that utilize the nation's best 5G network, including Mint Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Google Fi, and Tello. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. The following is a comprehensive list of MVNOs that run on the T-Mobile network.
List of T-Mobile MVNOs
| Carrier | Network(s) |
|---|---|
| Astound Mobile | T-Mobile |
| Boost Mobile | T-Mobile, AT&T, DISH Network |
| Consumer Cellular | AT&T, T-Mobile |
| Gen Mobile | T-Mobile |
| Good2Go Mobile | AT&T, T-Mobile |
| GoTalk Wireless | T-Mobile |
| Google Fi Wireless | T-Mobile |
| Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS) | T-Mobile |
| Mint Mobile | T-Mobile |
| Optimum Mobile | T-Mobile |
| Reach Mobile | T-Mobile, AT&T |
| Red Pocket | Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T |
| Simple Mobile | T-Mobile |
| Straight Talk | T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T |
| Tello | T-Mobile |
| TextNow | T-Mobile |
| Ting | T-Mobile, Verizon |
| TracFone | T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T |
| Ultra Mobile | T-Mobile |
| Unreal Mobile | T-Mobile |
| US Mobile | T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T |
| Wing | T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T |
Which T-Mobile MVNO is the best?
The best T-Mobile MVNO overall is Mint Mobile for its balance of price and data. US Mobile offers the best premium features, and Google Fi is top-rated for international travel. These three picks offer unique pricing and perks, but there are dozens of carriers to compare. To help narrow your search, we’ve broken up the best T-Mobile wholesale carriers into three categories. If you know which type of plan you’re looking for, feel free to jump to the section and compare offerings:
Best T-Mobile MVNO unlimited plans
Plenty of unlimited plans are available for those who want it all—unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data—but don't want to spend an arm and a leg. A single-line unlimited plan from T-Mobile can cost up to $90/month. But with an MVNO like Mint Mobile, you can get unlimited data on the T-Mobile network for one-third of the price. In fact, if you switch from T-Mobile to Mint Mobile, you could save $1,500/year.
Mint Mobile Unlimited data plan | $30/month
|
Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
Mint Mobile offers the cheapest unlimited plan money can buy—for just $30/month ($15/month for new customers), you get unlimited talk, text, and LTE data, 5G service, 20GB mobile hotspot, and unlimited calls and messages to Mexico and Canada. With Mint you get premium wireless unlimited service with one caveat: You may experience slower speeds in high-trafficked times once you’ve used more than 50GB of data in one month.
It’s important to note that Mint Mobile only offers multi-month prepaid plans, and this is an introductory price for new customers. If you decide to renew your 3-month plan, the price will increase to $30/month unless you renew with the 12-month option.
Check out our comparison between Mint Mobile and T-Mobile to see a full breakdown of service.
US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium Plan | $44
|
US Mobile
Unlimited Premium Plan
$39.00/mo
|
US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium Plan is one of the most impressive plans on the market given its unlimited data and surprisingly cheap price. Unlimited Premium gets you 100GB premium data and 50GB premium mobile hotspot data. You also get 10GB of high-speed international data, 250 texts and 200 minutes in more than 180 countries.
US Mobile is one of the best MVNOs when it comes to included perks and features. If you have a family plan of at least three lines, you’ll also have tons of added entertainment subscription options available, including:
- Slacker Plus
- Disney Plus with Hulu and ESPN Plus
- Netflix
- Audible
- Spotify
- Apple Music Family
- Spotify Family
- PlayStation Plus
- Xbox Live Gold
In our testing and review of US Mobile's unlimited plan, Sr. Staff Writer Max McCaskill found it to be an excellent value, even delivering great data speeds while traveling in Aruba. US Mobile consistently ranks as one of our top MVNO picks across the board.
Ultra Mobile Unlimited Data single-month plan | $49/month
|
Ultra Mobile
Unlimited 1-Month Plan
$49.00/mo
|
The Ultra Mobile Unlimited Data Single-Month Plan comes with tons of features. You’ll get unlimited uncapped 5G and/or 4G LTE data with this plan, and a slew of perks including:
- 10GB mobile hotspot data
- Unlimited talk and text to/from Mexico and Canada
- Unlimited talk and text to 90+ countries
- Free international texts
- Monthly $5 International Call Credit
- One-time $5 International Roaming Credit
You can save even more by choosing multi-month plan increments, with options for a three-month, six-month, or year plan. The longer you stay with Ultra, the cheaper the plan. For instance, the annual plan comes down to $40/month.
Ultra Mobile combines unlimited data with international benefits to cover all your online activities, just know that if you are a heavy data user, you may experience slower speeds after using 35GB/month. Other than that, you can find out why we like Ultra Mobile so much in our review of their unlimited plan offerings.
Limited time: Get 3 lines for $85
Save even more when you bundle lines with Ultra Mobile. For a limited time, add three lines of unlimited data to your Ultra family plan and pay just $85/month.
See Ultra's unlimited plansCheap T-Mobile MVNO plans
If you don’t need an unlimited plan, you’ll want to compare our choices for the best limited data plans offered by carriers that use T-Mobile's network. All of these limited-data plans include unlimited talk and text, with varying amounts of data, and start at $10/month.
TextNow Talk, Text, and Essential Data plan | $4.99 SIM
|
TextNow
Free Flex Plan
$0.00/mo
+ $4.99 Upfront
|
TextNow is one of the few carriers that offers a free phone plan on T-Mobile's network. All you have to purchase is a $4.99 SIM card, and you'll have free phone calls and texting through the TextNow app. The plan includes:
- Unlimited messages and calls
- Free Essential Data (350MB for email, GPS, and rideshare apps)
- Purchase unlimited data passes separately
We tested TextNow for a full month and found its service more than capable of satisfying those who just need basic talk and text without any of the frills you'd typically pay an arm and a leg for through a major carrier. As long as you don't need super-fast data speeds, we recommend TextNow as a great, cheap MVNO option.
Tello Unlimited Text, Talk, and 2GB plan | $10/month
|
Tello
Unlimited Text, Talk, and 2GB Plan
$10.00/mo
|
Tello offers some of our favorite plans on T-Mobile's network. For only $10/month, you can get:
- Unlimited talk and text
- 2GB of 4G LTE or 5G data (then speeds reduced)
- Unlimited national minutes, including calls to 60+ countries
Our testing of Tello's data speeds and plan features left us pleasantly surprised—on T-Mobile's 5G network, our Sr. Staff Writer Max McCaskill reached download speeds of nearly 300Mbps. As long as you don't stream consistently from your phone, Tello's $10 plan should be a steal of a deal with plenty of oomph for your basic data needs.
Best T-Mobile MVNOs for international travel
T-Mobile's network is objectively the best for international travel, offering the most robust roaming network of the Big Three carriers. These MVNOs on T-Mobile's network offer excellent international benefits that will keep you connected abroad.
Google Fi Unlimited Plus for 1 | $65/month
|
Google Fi Wireless
Unlimited Premium for 1
$32.50/mo
|
If you want unlimited national and international data at an affordable price, you may want to choose Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus Data plan. Although it is more expensive than other unlimited plans, it includes unlimited international data and worldwide coverage in over 200 countries—that means no roaming fees. Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan also includes:
- Unlimited talk and text
- Unlimited data (4G LTE and 5G) with a generous 50GB monthly deprioritization threshold
- Free calls to 50+ countries
- Affordable international texts and calls
- Unlimited mobile hotspot
- 1 year of YouTube Premium
- 100GB of Google One cloud data storage
Tello Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data plan | $25/month
|
Tello
Unlimited Text, Talk, and Data Plan
$25.00/mo
|
Tello’s Unlimited plan allows you to keep in contact with friends and family around the globe. Not only does Tello include 35GB of premium data at 5G and/or 4G LTE speeds, 5GB of mobile hotspot data, and unlimited national talk and text, but you also get free international calling to 60+ countries, all for the low price of $25/month.
Cheap unlimited data and international calling not convincing enough? We have 10 more reasons why you should switch to Tello.
Compare popular plans from all carriers on T-Mobile's network
|
#1
|
Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
|
#2
|
US Mobile
Unlimited Starter Plan
$25.00/mo
$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
|
|
#3
|
Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS)
$40 Period Unlimited Plan
$40.00/mo
Taxes and regulatory fees included.
|
|
#4
|
TextNow
Free Flex Plan
$0.00/mo
+ $4.99 Upfront
|
|
#5
|
Consumer Cellular
Unlimited Talk & Text + 5GB Data Plan
$25.00/mo
($5 Autopay/ E-bill discount included)
|
Benefits of switching to a T-Mobile MVNO
Although T-Mobile has the nation's largest 5G network and offers some of the fastest data speeds currently available, you don’t have to pay T-Mobile prices. Mobile virtual network operators offer cheaper and more competitive plans with the same coverage. That means you get the same network access and data allotments, and you can even get similar perks like mobile hotspot and international data—all for half the price.
And a cheaper price doesn’t mean sacrificing on quality with MVNOs. Take T-Mobile’s top unlimited prepaid plan, priced at $60/month, compared to Mint’s Unlimited plan starting at $30/month ($15/month for the first 3 months). Both offer unlimited data, generous premium data offerings on higher-end plans, and mobile hotspot data, all on the same 5G network. On top of budget-friendly pricing and top-tier coverage, most MVNOs also have excellent customer service and user-friendly apps.
The only strike against an MVNO is deprioritization. T-Mobile allows its customers first access to its network, meaning MVNO clients may experience slower data speeds during high-traffic times. That said, the winner is clear: Get the same coverage for half the price with an MVNO.
What we like about T-Mobile MVNOs
- Cheaper prices for the same coverage
- Access to the largest 5G network
- High premium data allowances
- Mobile hotspot usually included
- Impressive new member promotions
- Excellent customer service
What could be improved about T-Mobile MVNOs
- Deprioritization (slower speeds at high-traffic times)
- Fewer (if any) subsidized perks
Coverage on T-Mobile's Network
It is important to choose an MVNO on the network with the strongest signal in your area. This should be the first thing you consider when shopping for a new cell phone plan.
T-Mobile offers the third-most 4G LTE coverage out of the major carriers, with its network encompassing 63% of the United States. So, if you live in a large metro area or the suburbs, you'll likely have excellent coverage on T-Mobile. Plus, T-Mobile’s growing 5G network is the most robust, covering nearly 41.35% of the country—and several T-Mobile MVNOs offer 5G service with their phone plans. With T-Mobile 5G, you can expect an average data speed of 186.3Mbps.
While MVNOs have access to the T-Mobile networks, that doesn't mean they'll always have the fastest speeds. During times of network congestion, T-Mobile will sometimes deprioritize MVNOs to provide faster speeds to its direct customers. After all, each of T-Mobile's towers can only handle so much traffic.
This setup means you could be on T-Mobile's extremely fast 5G Ultra-Capacity network but still have slow speeds. The good news is this is generally a temporary slowdown in extremely busy areas and times. Think sports arenas, bustling buildings, or packed commuter trains. Many customers go months without experiencing any deprioritization.
To determine if T-Mobile coverage is strong in your area, use our interactive map and zoom into your neighborhood. If where you live is saturated in purple, you should expect excellent T-Mobile coverage. You can also determine how strong T-Mobile's coverage is with their address search tool.
How to switch to a T-Mobile MVNO
Now that you’ve compared plans and chosen one that works for you, you’ll need to know how to switch to the T-Mobile MVNO of your choice. Regardless of whether you’re keeping your phone or purchasing a new one, you’ll want to avoid canceling your cell phone service with your current carrier before signing up for your new plan—this is because you won’t be able to transfer your phone number if your old account has been deactivated.
Here’s how to bring your own phone to a T-Mobile MVNO carrier
- Check your phone's compatibility with T-Mobile’s network (you can do this through your new carrier’s site).
- Unlock your phone (it must be fully paid off and meet your current carrier’s unlocking requirements—you can contact your carrier to unlock it if it isn’t already).
- Collect your account info. If you want to keep your phone number, you’ll need to provide your new carrier with your current account number, the PIN code, and your billing zip code.
- Choose a phone plan and order a SIM card or activate your eSIM.
- Wait momentarily while your new carrier contacts your old one to begin the porting process.
- Once your new plan is activated, your old plan should automatically cancel.
Here’s how to switch and buy a new phone
- Choose a new phone plan and order a SIM card.
- Select a new phone you want to purchase, either on monthly installments or outright.
- Collect your account infoIf you want to port in your number, provide your new carrier with your account information.
- Wait momentarily while your new carrier begins the porting process.
- Once your plan is activated, your previous plan should be automatically canceled.
For more details, visit our guide on how to switch to an MVNO.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have unanswered questions? Understandable—there is a lot of information when it comes to MVNOs. Fortunately, we’ve got the answers.
What is an MVNO?
Since MVNOs don’t have their own cellular networks, they use the power of well-established networks such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile to provide service. Many MVNOs have no physical locations—hence the virtual aspect—and operate almost entirely online.
MVNOs’ plan pricing is much less expensive when compared to their primary wireless carrier plan counterparts. However, cheaper also means that many MVNOs sacrifice perks, features, or even phone choices, but not in every case.
Does T-Mobile own an MVNO?
Yes, T-Mobile owns Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile, which were acquired in 2024, and supports many other MVNOs.
Will a locked T-Mobile phone work with a T-Mobile MVNO?
No, due to recent policy changes, T-Mobile now prevents locked phones from working on an MVNO using T-Mobile's network.
Which T-Mobile MVNOs offer family plans?
Many T-Mobile MVNOs offer family plan discounts on additional lines to help you save and keep your family wirelessly connected, but Mint Mobile and Google Fi Wireless have the best T-Mobile MVNO family plans.
Do MVNOs support eSIMs?
Yes, most T-Mobile MVNOs support eSIMs, but remember to unlock your device with your previous carrier when switching.
Are MVNOs prepaid?
Most MVNOs are prepaid carriers, meaning you'll pay upfront at the beginning of your billing cycle before getting service, unlike traditional postpaid plans that let you pay at the end of the month after receiving service.
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer
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