Ting Mobile Review: Plans starting at $10/month

---

A subsidiary of DISH Mobile, Ting Mobile is a small cell phone carrier, or mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), selling discounted phone service on the T-Mobile and Verizon networks. 

Ting Mobile plans start at a low $10/month for its pay-as-you-go offering and go up to $55/month for its Unlimited Pro plan that includes 33GB of high-speed data. Its plans can save you money compared to options from the major carriers but are not quite as competitive when compared to other MVNOs. We'll take a closer look at Ting to help you determine if the MVNO should be your next carrier.

---

Ting Phone Plans

---

Ting offers up one pay-as-you-go plan starting at $10/month plus $5 per GB of data used. The MVNO also sells four preset plans that include unlimited talk, unlimited texts, and varying amounts of data. Prices range from $25/month for the 5GB plan to $55/month for the 33GB plan 

How is Ting's coverage?

With Ting, you won’t have service from both networks at the same time. Instead, you'll sign on with access to either network depending on availability in your area and your phone's compatibility.

Being on the T-Mobile network means getting access to the largest 5G network in the country at much lower prices than what you would have to pay the parent carrier. You'll need a 5G-compatible phone to take advantage of the network, but it's nice to know you have the best 5G coverage in areas where it’s available.

The Verizon network gives customers access to the largest overall network with 4G LTE service. This access is especially beneficial to people in rural areas where T-Mobile coverage can be lacking.

Can you really save with Ting?

Saving money is why you switch from a major carrier like AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon to an MVNO like Ting. Ting's prices are a steal compared to the big carriers, saving you as much as $40/month for an unlimited plan. That's enough to fill about a tenth of your gas tank. 

Does Ting have pay-as-you-go plans?

Want to have even more control over how much you spend/save on your phone bill? Hop on board Ting's pay-as-you-go Flex plan. Starting at just $10/month for unlimited talk and text, you'll pay $5 for each GB of high-speed data. This plan is only a good fit for those who don’t use their phone much or stick to Wi-Fi connections most of the time. Ting's preset plans are a better deal if you use more than 2GB of data each month. 

How does Ting's prices compare to other MVNOs?

Yes, Ting plans are very affordable compared to the major carriers, but they are average when you put them up against other MVNOs—and some even beat Ting’s prices. For example, $25/month for 5GB of high-speed data doesn't look so great when you can get it for as low as $16/month from other carriers.  

Does Ting offer perks?

MVNOs aren't known for being very perk-heavy, but cell phone plan perks can help a carrier stand out from so much competition. We expect big perks from the three major carriers, and a good handful of MVNOs are joining in by offering bonuses like free Amazon Prime and unlimited music streaming. While we don't expect Ting to wow us with perks, we'd like to see a little something from the MVNO—especially considering that its prices aren't exactly the lowest. 

Ting Mobile Coverage

---

Depending on availability in your area, your Ting phone plan will give you service on either the T-Mobile or Verizon networks. 

With a footprint spanning about 62% of the country, T-Mobile has the third-best 4G LTE, with excellent coverage in most of the country's metropolitan areas but insufficient coverage in rural areas. However, T-Mobile has the largest 5G network (and it's not even really close), covering around 49% of the country. 

Verizon has the largest network in the US, backed by its leading 4G LTE, which spans 70% of the country. In addition to having strong coverage in large cities, Verizon's network blows its competition out of the water regarding rural coverage. Verizon's 5G, on the other hand, has some room to grow, lagging far behind T-Mobile and AT&T with just 12% of the country covered.

Take a look at the map below to see where Ting has the best coverage via the T-Mobile and Verizon networks. 

Ting vs. Competitors

---

We've taken a look at some of the best and not-so-great aspects of Ting Mobile. Now let's look at how the carrier stands up to other mobile phone carriers.  

Ting vs. T-Mobile and Verizon 

It's not surprising that Ting loses out on most categories against Verizon and T-Mobile. The MVNO didn’t startup to be better than the major carriers, just more affordable. So, beating out the two big carriers in the price category is the only win that Ting and its customers need to be concerned about.   

Ting vs. other MVNOs

While it is interesting to see how Ting stacks up against the two carriers whose networks the MVNO piggybacks on, comparing Ting to other MVNOs can give us a better idea of how it fares against its direct competition.  

Ting vs. Tello

Tello is arguably Ting's biggest competitor since both carriers sell budget-friendly plans on the T-Mobile network. Where Ting gives customers more control over their plan via its pay-as-you-go option, Tello allows its customers to build a plan with various levels of talk, text, and data limits. Ting does offer a larger limited-data plan than Tello with its 22GB option, but you will have to pay for it. Overall, though, Tello is significantly less expensive than Ting. For example, the Tello Unlimited plan is $25/month—the same price as Ting's 5GB plan. Because of this, we'd recommend taking a peek at Tello before deciding on switching to Ting.  

Ting vs. Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile is a competitor and a sibling carrier of Ting's (DISH owns both MVNOs). It’s been in operation for a long time, so the name is well-known. Prices on Boost are some of the most expensive, and it's telling that Ting's prices are similar. Boost has the better value if you want an unlimited plan, giving you more hotspot access for less money. If you are looking for limited data plans, Ting Mobile options are slightly cheaper than Boost's offerings. 

Ting Family Plans

---

Ting's pay-as-you-go Flex plan is the carrier's closest to a family plan. You'll pay the base $10/month per line, then an additional $5 per GB of shared data. So, if you have a family of three and all use a total of 6GB of data, you would pay $60 or $20/line. That certainly is cheaper than paying $25/line for three 5GB plans. Although this isn't the best family plan, we give Ting credit for even having one, unlike most other MVNOs who offer none.

Ting Cell Phones

---

Ting doesn't have a huge selection of phones, but it does sell some of the latest iPhone models, including the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 series. While Ting sells some Samsung Galaxy phones, it doesn't directly sell the top-tier flagship models. Ting works with the third-party lender Affirm to provide financing for its phones. 

With the phase-out of older network generations (such as 3G), phone compatibility is becoming less of an issue today than in the past. However, if you are thinking about bringing your device to Ting, use its compatibility tool to ensure that your phone works with its mobile service.

Recap: Is Ting Mobile Right for You?

---

If you are looking for low prices on the T-Mobile or Verizon network, Ting should be one of the carriers you consider. The small MVNO doesn't have the lowest prices against all competitors, but they'll generally blow the major carriers out of the water. 

If you are a very low data user, you could benefit from the Flex pay-as-you-go plan. Additionally, Ting's unlimited plans have higher than average high-speed data limits, which is nice for heavy users—you're just going to have to pay for it. However, when you look at the limited data plans, prices are not very competitive compared to other MVNOs.

Whether your data usage and budget align with the MVNO’s offerings will help you decide if Ting could be the right fit for you. 

Ting: Frequently Asked Questions

---

What towers does Ting use?

Where can I buy Ting service?

Does Ting use GSM or CDMA?

Does Ting throttle data?

Does Verizon own Ting?

Does Ting have international calling?

Does Ting support eSIM?