Which Network Is Your MVNO On?

Lauren Hannula Managing Editor

Updated 29 August 2024

Contents

In this guide:

Which Network Does Your MVNO Operate On?
Verizon Network MVNOs
AT&T Network MVNOs
T-Mobile MVNOs
Which Network Has the Best Coverage in Your Area?
Switching to an MVNO & Keeping Your Phone
MVNO Networks: FAQ

Mobile virtual network operators—MVNOs for short—are carriers that operate on one or more of the major networks, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

When choosing a small carrier, you’ll want to consider which MVNOs run on which network(s) since coverage varies from network to network. Knowing which network has the best coverage where you live and travel will help you choose the MVNO that’s right for you.

Which Network Does Your MVNO Operate On?

Knowing your MVNO’s parent network is a critical step in selecting the right one. Below is a comprehensive list of MVNOs and the major networks that they operate on.

MVNOs by network

Carrier	Network
Boost Mobile	T-Mobile
Consumer Cellular	AT&T, T-Mobile
CREDO Mobile	Verizon
Cricket	AT&T
FreeUP	AT&T
Gen Mobile	T-Mobile
Good2Go Mobile	AT&T
Google Fi	T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular
Lively (formerly GreatCall)	Verizon
H2O Wireless	AT&T
Metro by T-Mobile	T-Mobile
Mint Mobile	T-Mobile
Page Plus	Verizon
Pure TalkUSA	AT&T
Reach Mobile	AT&T, Verizon
Red Pocket	T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T
Simple Mobile	Verizon
Spectrum Mobile	Verizon
Straight Talk	Verizon
Tello	T-Mobile
Text Now	T-Mobile
Ting	T-Mobile
Total Wireless	Verizon
TracFone	Verizon
Twigby	Verizon
U.S. Cellular	U.S. Cellular
Ultra Mobile	T-Mobile
US Mobile	T-Mobile, Verizon
Visible	Verizon
Wing	AT&T, T-Mobile
Xfinity Mobile	Verizon

Verizon Network MVNOs

Click to Activate Interactive Map

Coverage information is collected from carriers and other third party sources. This is approximate coverage only and does not include indoor coverage. Actual speed and performance depends on your location and device. Local conditions and things like natural and artificial physical features of an area all affect your reception.

If you’re in the market for the best coverage without breaking the bank, a Verizon MVNO may be the way to go. Verizon boasts the most robust coverage of all the major carriers in the United States, covering over 71% of the U.S. This has been confirmed time and again in national network coverage tests, which consistently put Verizon at #1.

Some of our favorite Verizon MVNOs include Visible and US Mobile. Check out all of the carriers that operate on Verizon's network.

Verizon MVNOs

MVNO	Network(s)
Cox Mobile	Verizon
CREDO Mobile	Verizon
Lively (formerly GreatCall)	Verizon
Page Plus	Verizon
Red Pocket	Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T
Reach Mobile	Verizon, AT&T
Simple Mobile	Verizon
Straight Talk	Verizon
Total Wireless	Verizon
TracFone	Verizon
Twigby	Verizon
US Mobile	Verizon, T-Mobile

AT&T Network MVNOs

Click to Activate Interactive Map

AT&T is a mobile giant in its own right, and while slightly behind Verizon in terms of nationwide coverage, the carrier offers excellent coverage—providing coverage for around 68% of the US. AT&T also has some of the highest data thresholds on the market—offering up to 100GB with its highest-tier plans.

We love AT&T MVNOs Red Pocket and Good2Go Mobile for their affordable variety of plans. Check out even more AT&T MVNOs below.

AT&T MVNOs

MVNO	Network(s)
Consumer Cellular	AT&T, T-Mobile
Cricket	AT&T
FreeUP Mobile	AT&T
Good2Go Mobile	AT&T
H2O Wireless	AT&T
Red Pocket	AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon
Unreal Mobile	AT&T, T-Mobile

T-Mobile Network MVNOs

Click to Activate Interactive Map

It used to be that T-Mobile's network ranked third out of the former Big Four, but with the acquisition of Sprint, the network’s future is looking bright. Going with a T-Mobile MVNO has never been more reliable, and with the adoption of Sprint’s network technology, things will continue to get better for the reinvented mobile giant.

One of our favorite MVNOs in the market happens to be on T-Mobile's network—Mint Mobile offers incredible prices and is an excellent choice for a 5G MVNO. Here are all of T-Mobile's MVNO carriers.

T-Mobile MVNOs

MVNO	Network(s)
Altice Mobile	T-Mobile
Boost Mobile	T-Mobile
Consumer Cellular	AT&T, T-Mobile
Metro by T-Mobile	T-Mobile
Mint Mobile	T-Mobile
Gen Mobile	AT&T, T-Mobile
Google Fi	T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular
GoTalk Wireless	T-Mobile
Q Link Wireless	T-Mobile
Red Pocket	Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T
Ting	T-Mobile
TextNow	T-Mobile
Ultra Mobile	T-Mobile
Unreal Mobile	T-Mobile, AT&T
US Mobile	T-Mobile, Verizon
Unreal Mobile	T-Mobile

Which Network Has the Best Coverage in Your Area?

Picking an MVNO is largely dependent on the network(s) it operates on. And for those of us looking to make the switch, ensuring you have adequate coverage is a must.

The best way to check which network has the best coverage in your area is to use our coverage lookup tool to do a proper MVNO comparison. Select how much data, talk, and text you need then enter your home address and click “Search 41 Carriers” and you’ll be taken to a search results page with all of the carriers that provide great coverage near you. You can always go back and look up other addresses you frequent, such as work, school, or relatives’ homes. That way, you can guarantee you’ll always have excellent coverage.

Using our tool can help guide your search when deciding between a Verizon MVNO, AT&T MVNO, or T-Mobile MVNO. Plus, you can find out which cities have the best 5G coverage in the U.S. in our roundup of 5G capital cities.

Switching to an MVNO & Keeping Your Phone

Switching to a new carrier is quite simple, regardless of whether you're ditching the expensive major carriers or switching between MVNOs. Typically, all you need to do is purchase your new plan, insert your new SIM card or activate your MVNO eSIM, follow your phone's prompts, and you're done.

Before deciding which MVNO makes the most sense for you, make sure your phone is compatible with the new carrier's network. There are two prevailing network types in the United States—GSM (which supports AT&T and T-Mobile plus their MVNOs) and CDMA (which supports Verizon and its MVNOs). Most newer phones released within the last decade can work easily on any network technology, and these technologies are destined to phase out as 5G infrastructure continues to spread. Still, a few older phones may still be tied to a specific network type.

Your best bet is to check directly with the MVNO you’re looking to switch to by using its compatibility checker. All you have to do is enter your phone model and IMEI (found by dialing *#06# on your keypad), and the carrier will tell you if your phone is compatible with their network.

Also, be aware that many carriers lock the phones running on their network to that specific network. Thankfully, unlocking your device is a pretty simple process once you’ve met all requirements set by the carrier in question—things like tenure and being in good payment standing.

When you're ready to make the switch, check out some of the most popular MVNO plans from carriers like Visible, Mint, and US Mobile—which happen to be some of our picks for the best cell phone plans on the market!

#1	Visible	Visible $25 Visible Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $25.00/mo Taxes & Fees included View Plan	$25.00/mo Taxes & Fees included	View Plan
#2	Mint Mobile	Mint Mobile Unlimited Data Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 20GB mobile hotspot data Deal: Get this plan for just $25/mo. when you switch to Mint Mobile using promo code 15OFF at checkout. Upfront payment required $25.00/mo $75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only. View Plan	$25.00/mo $75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.	View Plan
#3	XFINITY Mobile	XFINITY Mobile Mobile Select Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 1 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data Deal: Get a FREE 1 year of Xfinity Mobile Select Plan with Xfinity Internet required $0.00/mo (for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter View Plan	$0.00/mo (for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter	View Plan
#4	US Mobile	US Mobile Unlimited Starter Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 3 Major 5G Nationwide networks in select areas and compatible devices 10GB mobile hotspot data whistleOut Exclusive: Get this plan for only $45 for 3 months ($15/mo.) with new number activation OR $5 off per month for 6 mo. (up to 3 lines) OR 30 Days FREE Trial $25.00/mo $20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter View Plan	$25.00/mo $20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter	View Plan
#5	Twigby Mobile	Twigby Mobile Unlimited Talk, Text and 2GB Data 2GB of 4G LTE/5G data Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 2GB mobile hotspot data Deal: New Customers get 2GB of data for $5 a month for 3 months! $5.00/mo for the first 3 months then $15.00/month View Plan	$5.00/mo for the first 3 months then $15.00/month	View Plan
#6	Cricket	Cricket Supreme Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 1 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices 50GB mobile hotspot data $55.00/mo with AutoPay; $60 for the first month. + $9.99 Upfront View Plan	$55.00/mo with AutoPay; $60 for the first month. + $9.99 Upfront	View Plan
#7	Spectrum Mobile	Spectrum Mobile Unlimited Data Unlimited Full speeds up to 30GB Available on 1 Major 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $30.00/mo + $20 Upfront View Plan	$30.00/mo + $20 Upfront	View Plan
#8	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 3 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data Deal: Get this Unlimited plan for only $10/mo. for the first 3 months of service with Boost Mobile! $10.00/mo with AutoPay View Plan	$10.00/mo with AutoPay	View Plan
#9	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS)	Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS) $40 Period Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data $40.00/mo Taxes and regulatory fees included. View Plan	$40.00/mo Taxes and regulatory fees included.	View Plan
#10	Tello	Tello Unlimited Text, 300 Minutes, and 2GB Plan 2GB of 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 2GB mobile hotspot data $8.00/mo View Plan	$8.00/mo	View Plan

MVNO Networks: FAQs

What does MVNO stand for?

MVNO stands for "mobile virtual network operator." This is a carrier that rents bandwidth on a larger carrier's network, rather and owning and operating its own towers.

Do MVNOs get throttled?

MVNO customers get throttled before those that have plans on the host carrier's network. That said, many MVNO customers don't experience throttling very often, if ever, especially if their plan includes a dedicated amount of premium high-speed data.

Which MVNO has 5G?

MVNOs with 5G include Visible, Mint Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket, Straight Talk, Consumer Cellular, and more. All MVNOs have 5G as long as their host carrier allows them access to that carrier's 5G network.

Why are MVNOs so cheap?

MVNOs are so cheap because they do not have the overhead of operating and maintaining network towers. They can therefore pass those savings onto their customers, making MVNOs the cheapest options for wireless service.

Lauren Hannula

Managing Editor

Lauren is WhistleOut's Managing Editor. With over 14 years of digital writing and publishing experience, she's developed a passion for breaking down overly complex topics to offer easy, affordable solutions that help make the most of the tech you already have in your pocket. Her work has appeared in industry stalwarts such as CNET, Yahoo! News, and Forbes.

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