CREDO Mobile Review: The Charitable Choice

Chris Holmes Staff Writer

Updated 19 December 2023

In this review:

Breakdown
Pricing Comparison
Coverage
Things to Consider

CREDO Mobile is a San Francisco-based prepaid mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that incorporates charity and activism into its core business.

The company donates 1% of its annual profits to specified charities and progressive nonprofit groups, and members--i.e. subscribers--get to vote on which organizations their money gets routed to each month.

Fortunately, philanthropy isn't the only thing CREDO Mobile does well. The company offers a range of feature-packed plans and runs on the nation's best network, Verizon. They also offer up $350 in account credit to cover early termination fees or equipment charges from your old carrier.

Read on to learn about the things CREDO brings to the table.

How we reviewed CREDO Mobile

Price & value
High-speed data
Coverage & network reliability
Plan extras and perks

You can read more about our detailed methodology below.

CREDO Mobile Breakdown

Strengths

Great coverage
Solid unlimited plan
Good way to contribute to progressive causes

Weaknesses

Not the cheapest plans
No BYOP option
Online sales and service only

Value for Money

8/10

Coverage & Speed

97/100

97%

How CREDO Mobile compares on pricing

Let's get this out of the way: CREDO Mobile's plans are not the cheapest. A 1GB plan, for example, will cost you $35/month aboard CREDO, as opposed to $20/month and under on Red Pocket or Twigby, just to name a couple Verizon network MVNO competitors.

#1	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
#2	Red Pocket	Red Pocket Essentials Monthly Plan (CDMA) 3GB of 4G LTE/5G data Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data $10.00/mo View Plan	$10.00/mo	View Plan
#3	TracFone	TracFone 1GB Data 1-Month Smartphone Plan 1GB of 4G LTE/5G data Available on 3 Major 5G Nationwide networks in select areas with compatible devices 1GB mobile hotspot data $10.00/mo with Auto-Refill discount for the first 2 months + $4.99 Upfront View Plan	$10.00/mo with Auto-Refill discount for the first 2 months + $4.99 Upfront	View Plan
#4	CREDO Mobile	CREDO Mobile 1GB Shared Data Plan 1GB of 4G LTE/5G data Available on 1 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices 1GB mobile hotspot data $35.00/mo plus taxes and surcharges + $36 Upfront View Plan	$35.00/mo plus taxes and surcharges + $36 Upfront	View Plan

The same holds true when you look at CREDO's 3GB, 6GB and unlimited plans (all come with unlimited talk and text)--they are bit costlier than the competition. However, you do get unlimited calling to Canada and Mexico, the excellence of the Verizon network, and peace of mind knowing you're helping fight for social change just by paying your monthly cell phone bill.

CREDO Plans

Plan	Price
1GB Data Plan	$35
3GB Data Plan	$50
9GB Data Plan	$55
15GB Data Plan	$70
Unlimited Data Plan	$70

Bell and whistles unlimited plan

If you've been hunting around for an unlimited data plan on America's best network, CREDO may have just what you're looking for. The company's unlimited plan is priced similarly to Verizon's Unlimited Welcome plan, and includes excellent features like HD video streaming and a 20GB high-speed mobile hotspot allowance.

Carrier	CREDO Mobile
Data	Unlimited Data
Type	No Contract
Total Price	$70 per month plus taxes and surcharges + $36 Upfront
	View Details

8 Phones Available

Early termination fee credit

Another compelling reason to jump ship for CREDO: when you switch, you'll be eligible to get an account credit up to $350 per line to cover your early termination fee or equipment charges from your old carrier. You just have to send them proof of the charge.

BYOP

Although CREDO previously didn't allow customers to bring their own devices, that's changed. The company also offers a decent selection of Android and Apple phones, and financing plans to go along with them.

Enjoy Verizon Network Coverage on CREDO

One massive upside to joining CREDO: service on Verizon's network.

Verizon has long boasted the most robust of the four major networks in the U.S. Independent tests have proven, time and again, the pervasiveness and reliability of Verizon’s 4G LTE network. So far none of the other carriers—even long-standing behemoth AT&T—have been able to threaten Verizon’s dominance in this area.

Keep in mind that the latest phones always get the best coverage as they can tap into Verizon's 4G network; after all, wireless coverage is a combination of the network from the carrier (towers, antennas, infrastructure) AND your phone.

Things to Consider with CREDO Mobile

1. Online or phone only

Since CREDO has no physical retail locations, sales and service are conducted exclusively online or over the phone. Fortunately, CREDO boasts one of the highest-rated customer service experiences in the business.

2. A bit expensive

If cost is your number one criteria in deciding on a cell phone plan, you'll find cheaper options on other carriers. However, few if any of them can boast CREDO's unique combination of excellent coverage, great customer service, and do-good business philosophy.

3. Confirm coverage

You'll want to ensure that Verizon's coverage is solid in the places you spend time; you can do this instantly by using WhistleOut's comparison tool.

Contacting CREDO Mobile

Twitter	@CREDOMobile
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/CREDO
Phone	Sales 1-877-762-7336 Service 1-800-411-0848
Website	https://www.credomobile.com/
Contact Page	Click on "Need Help" from CREDO Mobile homepage
Apps	Available on iPhone and Android

Methodology: How WhistleOut rates cell phone carriers

WhistleOut evaluates phone plans based on the following criteria:

Price & value: Not all cheap plans are “bad,” and not all expensive plans are worth it. We look at everything a plan includes and compare it both to other plans from the same carrier, as well as similar plans from competitors in the market, to determine whether the value is consistent with the price.
High-speed data: Also called “premium” data, this is how much data you get at full 4G/5G speeds before they can or will slow down. The more guaranteed high-speed data the plan includes, the better experience you’ll generally have—but there’s also usually a limit to how much you actually need, and we ensure that you’re not overpaying for data that will go unused.
Coverage & network reliability: The breadth of each carrier’s 4G LTE and 5G networks determines your reception and service. Particularly in the case of 5G, some carriers offer far more robust coverage than others, which affects how their phone plans perform in different parts of the country.
Plan extras and perks: In addition to the basics—talk, text, and data—some plans throw in freebies like hotspot allowances, cloud storage, entertainment subscriptions, or service discounts.

Our mobile experts leveraged proprietary data and real-world customer feedback to evaluate CREDO Mobile. We considered plan-specific elements, including perks, premium data allowances, and mobile hotspot allocations. After performing hands-on testing and extensive research, including customer feedback, we weighed how well CREDO's plans meet the needs of most people.

Visit our guide to choosing a phone plan to dive deeper into a cell phone carrier or plan to find the one that best meets your specific needs.

FAQs

Can I keep my number when switching to CREDO Mobile?

Yes, you can always keep your number when switching to a different provider.

How is CREDO Mobile's coverage in my area?

Check CREDO's coverage instantly using WhistleOut's coverage check feature

What kind of SIM cards does CREDO Mobile use?

Since CREDO runs on Verizon's network, CDMA SIM cards are used. Your CREDO phone will come pre-installed with the SIM card.

How much do international calls cost?

Calls made from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico are treated like domestic calls, with no long distance fees. Rates for calls to other international numbers vary based on the country you're calling and whether you sign up for CREDO's international long distance discount plan. The discount plan is just $3.99 a month per line and offers significant savings over their standard rates.

How much is international roaming?

Depending on your phone and the country you're visiting, you may be able to use your CREDO phone during your trip. If you have not used your phone while traveling abroad, it's important that you contact CREDO's customer service team at 800-411-0848 at least 10 business days before your first trip abroad to enable your phone for international use. Note: CREDO no longer supports cellular data use abroad. If your device supports Wi-Fi connections, you may connect to local Wi-Fi networks in order to access data.

About Credo Mobile...

Credo Mobile is a MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) that runs on the Verizon network, founded in San Fransisco, CA in 1985.

Network: At CREDO Mobile, they're always providing top quality service with more efficient ways to keep the globe connected. Experience remarkable coverage on the nation’s largest and most dependable 4G LTE network from Verizon.

Coverage: Customers can expect nationwide 4G LTE and most reliable 5G coverage. This is because Credo Mobile now uses the super reliable network. Live in a rural area? Credo might be a good choice.

Where to Buy: To buy a new phone or plan from Credo, all customer have to do is visit the online shopping store or contact their very own sales support staff to make your purchase. With Credo, getting set up is a breeze.

Tethering: All Credo Mobile plan offers mobile hotspot that you can share to your friends and family.

Fact: Credo Mobile fights for those who cannot by donating millions of dollars to progressive nonprofits like Planned Parenthood, Rainforest Action Network, Human Rights Watch and the ACLU.

View All Credo Mobile Plans

Chris Holmes

Staff Writer

Chris Holmes is a Contributing Writer for WhistleOut, where he covers the cell phone and internet industries. His work has been cited in publications like The Verge, The New York Times, and WIRED.

Read full bio