Image: Max McCaskill
Ultra Mobile is a T-Mobile MVNO with two unlimited plans and international perks. I first reviewed the carrier in mid-2024 and had a decent experience. While the service and coverage were fine, my biggest critique was that its plans were overpriced for what they provided.
One year later, I received a discount on an annual plan and switched back to the carrier for an extended period. For the past four months, I’ve been an Ultra Mobile customer on the Unlimited Plan. In light of my long-term testing, I've decided to update some of my findings.
Overall, I've experienced better coverage and data speeds, though I still think the carrier is only a great value if you purchase a long-term plan for the lower price.
I've tested Ultra Mobile’s most important plan features, including coverage, data speeds, and mobile hotspot. Based on my experience, I’d recommend Ultra Mobile for customers who need international perks and value flexible plan periods.
Ultra Mobile worked great, but this carrier isn’t right for everyone. If you don’t need the international perks, the plans are a bit pricey unless you pay for a year of service upfront. For average customers, there are better and cheaper options for T-Mobile service.
Let’s dive into my experience with Ultra Mobile and see if it's the right next carrier for you.
How I tested Ultra Mobile
I've spent months using Ultra Mobile as my personal phone carrier to evaluate its performance in everyday scenarios. From purchasing and installing the SIM card to canceling the plan, I followed every step a customer might take.
The features I tested included:
- Purchasing and installing an Ultra Mobile eSIM on my iPhone 14 Pro
- Sending texts and photo messages
- Measuring data speeds in rural and urban areas
- Making phone calls in rural and urban areas
- Streaming video (Netflix and YouTube) on my phone
- Playing online mobile games
- Using mobile hotspot data in urban and rural areas
- Interacting with Ultra Mobile’s customer service via phone and online chat
- Managing my plan with the Ultra Mobile app
The bottom line
Ultra Mobile offered solid 5G data speeds and widespread coverage, but the pricing of its plans is still too high. For customers who need T-Mobile service, Ultra can give them 5G data speeds in excess of 200Mbps and the nation's largest 5G network. While Ultra Mobile's rural coverage and 4G LTE network are not great, it's still a solid experience for many customers. On the other hand, $49/month for an unlimited plan is simply too expensive, and while the cheaper annual plans exist, not every customer can afford the upfront payment.
Overall, Ultra Mobile is still a budget choice over major carriers and will provide a solid experience. That said, I think other carriers with similar data allotments and lower pricing—like US Mobile and Mint Mobile—are a better choice for many customers.
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! This deal is only available for a limited time, so make sure to take advantage while you can.
See Ultra's unlimited plansUltra Mobile plans and pricing
Ultra Mobile offers a variety of limited and unlimited plans. Additionally, you can customize the length of your plan by choosing a plan period of one, three, six, or twelve months. The longer your plan, the cheaper your service.
Ultra Mobile plan options
| Plan | Premium data | Price | Shop plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited+ Plan | Unlimited | $59/month | View Plan |
| Unlimited Plan | Unlimited | $49/month | View Plan |
| 24GB Plan | 24GB | $39/month |
View Plan |
| 12GB Plan | 12GB | $29/month | View Plan |
| 8GB Plan | 8GB | $24/month | View Plan |
| 4GB Plan | 4GB | $19/month | View Plan |
| Talk & Text Plan | 500MB | $13/month | View Plan |
Pricing is for one-month plans.
Ultra Mobile's phone plans include two unlimited plans. I purchased the standard Unlimited Plan because it meets the needs of most customers. Starting at $49/month for a one-month plan, it offers:
- Unlimited talk and text
- Unlimited 5G and/or 4G LTE data
- 10GB mobile hotspot (uses premium data allotment)
- $5 monthly international calling credit
- One-time $5 international roaming credit
- Unlimited calling and texting to over 90 international destinations
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Ultra Mobile
Unlimited 1-Month Plan
$49.00/mo
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Ultra Mobile’s premium plan is the Unlimited+ Plan. For $59/month, it includes:
- Unlimited talk and text
- Unlimited 5G and/or 4G LTE data
- 20GB mobile hotspot (uses premium data allotment)
- Unlimited international calling and texting to 90+ destinations
- $10 monthly international call credit
- One-time $10 international roaming credit
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Ultra Mobile
Unlimited+ 1-Month Plan
$59.00/mo
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In addition to its unlimited plans, Ultra Mobile also offers several limited data plans and one basic phone plan. Each of Ultra’s limited plans offers an allotment of priority data and mobile hotspot capability. Using your hotspot deducts from your overall data allotment. These plans also include unlimited talk and text to 90+ international destinations. The best among them is the 24GB Plan, which offers 24GB of priority data and mobile hotspot capability, which is plenty for most customers. It's cheaper than the 15GB plan with much more data.
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Ultra Mobile
24GB 1-Month Plan
$39.00/mo
|
Ultra Mobile family plans
Ultra Mobile’s family plans are only available with the one-month Unlimited Plan. All of your lines must use this plan.
There is a multi-line discount, but the price is the same, no matter how many lines you have. Your first line costs the full price of $49/month. Each additional line is $24/month, with plans capped at 5 lines total.
How I rated Ultra Mobile: WhistleOut’s metrics
Fact-checking Ultra Mobile's claims
Here at WhistleOut, we review all carriers using the same five metrics: price, value, speed, coverage, and customer service. Each metric is assigned a one-point star value to calculate the carrier's overall score.
Ultra Mobile's ratings were:
- Price: 3 out of 5
- Value: 3 out of 5
- Data speeds: 3 out of 5
- Coverage and network reliability: 3.5 out of 5
- Customer service: 2 out of 5
The hands-on testing of Ultra Mobile allowed me to experience its services as a regular customer would, ensuring my findings and recommendations are grounded in actual usage and not just in what the carrier claims to provide.
Price
There’s no way to get around it: Ultra Mobile phone plans are not cheap. In fact, its Unlimited+ Plan at $59/month is one of the most expensive MVNO plans on the market. Even when using the cheaper pricing provided by longer plan periods, most of its competitors like Mint Mobile and US Mobile run a few dollars cheaper for similar offerings.
On the other hand, Ultra can run incredible deals on its service. For example, during the holiday season of 2025, the carrier dropped pricing on its annual Unlimited Plan from $34/month ($408/year) to $17/month ($204/year). That's a 50% discount, but the savings are even better than you think. Ultra Mobile's annual pricing is already discounted. Paying for the same plan by the month instead would have cost you $49/month ($588 overall).
Ultra Mobile is not outrageously unaffordable. The plans offer good value if you want large data allotments or need calling and texting to international locations. That said, we still think customers should target annual plans and special deals to get the best pricing overall.
Score: 3 out of 5
Value
All of Ultra Mobile’s phone plans provide premium data, mobile hotspot capability, unlimited talk and text, and international perks. That said, plenty of Ultra’s competitors provide comparable plans for a lot less. Take US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium plan as an example: it offers more premium data, a larger mobile hotspot, up to 20GB of international roaming data, and a streaming perk with family plans for $15 less per month than Ultra’s Unlimited+ plan.
As we broke down in the previous section, Ultra Mobile's best value and pricing is with its annual plans. Paying for a year of service upfront makes the carrier a much better deal if you can afford it. If you prefer to pay by the month or can't afford the annual payment, we suggest looking elsewhere.
Score: 3 out of 5
Data speeds
Ultra Mobile offers excellent 5G data speeds, but its 4G LTE speeds are lacking.
Image: Max McCaskill
My 5G testing of Ultra Mobile showed speeds averaging around 150Mbps, with the highest speed I recorded being 229Mbps. While the coverage was usually consistent, I did experience some periods of deprioritization. When that happened, my speeds dropped as low as 15Mbps with a 5G signal. Luckily, this was not frequent and typically only happened in crowded areas.
The carrier’s 4G LTE was slower, averaging around 50Mbps. In rural areas with poor signal, Ultra Mobile’s 4G LTE network was unusable at times. This is not unusual with T-Mobile’s coverage; the carrier’s nationwide network has a smaller 4G LTE footprint than Verizon and AT&T.
As someone who lives in a rural area, I sometimes find it difficult to rely on my Ultra Mobile plan. My service can drop out, or I’ll suddenly go from four bars to one. That said, the service seems to have improved from when I originally tested it in 2024. There are many rural areas I've traveled where I've seen more reliable coverage and faster data speeds.
Score: 3 out of 5
Coverage and network reliability
Image: Ultra Mobile
Ultra Mobile uses T-Mobile’s 5G and 4G LTE networks for service. That means you’ll have access to the largest 5G network in the nation. It also means you’ll be on the country’s smallest 4G LTE network.
T-Mobile is one of the best networks for urban areas, and I had excellent coverage and fast data speeds in every city I visited. Texting and calling also worked fine, and I never experienced dropped calls or failed texts. In rural areas, though, Ultra Mobile struggled to provide consistent service. Texts and phone calls went through, but my data speeds were sometimes so slow that web browsing was impossible.
Ultra's coverage has improved since I first tested it in 2024. When traveling to rural areas in central and western North Carolina, I've experienced more reliable signals and faster speeds. While Ultra Mobile's 4G LTE signal is still not as reliable as AT&T's or Verizon's, it has worked well enough that I haven't felt the need to leave my annual plan early.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
Customer service
Image: Max McCaskill
Ultra Mobile claims it offers customer service through a virtual chatbot, an online agent, and a phone number. I've successfully connected with the online agent, but my attempts to connect through the phone have been more frustrating. The phone line is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST, but during my first review, the calls were never answered.
The online virtual assistant isn’t very helpful, either. All I wanted was to be connected with an actual human, but I could never connect with an agent through the bot's limited set of questions. Instead, I repeatedly typed “live agent” until it finally connected me. The actual agent was helpful, but the irritation of the virtual assistant bot and the fact I struggled to get anyone on the phone were incredibly frustrating, leading to an overall poor customer service experience with Ultra Mobile.
Online reviews for Ultra Mobile’s customer service are average. It currently sports a rating of 3.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot. That said, many of these reviews focus on factors like poor coverage in rural areas or plan issues, not problems with customer service. In fact, some customers have reported good experiences with the phone agents. Personally, I'd still recommend the online agent and leave the phone line for true emergencies.
Score: 2 out of 5
Signing up with Ultra Mobile
Image: Max McCaskill
Signing up with Ultra Mobile was easy both times. During my first review, I ordered the Unlimited Plan online through Ultra’s website and had them ship a physical SIM card to my home. They used USPS, and it took around five days to deliver.
For my second plan, I selected the eSIM option for instant activation.
Ultra Mobile SIM activation: Purple vs. orange SIM cards
The Ultra Mobile activation process is a bit confusing for physical SIM cards, but it’s not difficult once you understand it.
When I opened my SIM card package, the first thing I saw was a QR code telling me to download the Ultra Mobile app. I did that, then was left puzzled when the app wouldn’t let me log in without my new phone number. I discovered I needed to activate my plan first to get my number. After doing that, I was able to log in.
Image: Max McCaskill
To activate your plan, you’ll need to visit my.ultramobile.com/activation. This is where there’s an additional level of potential confusion. Ultra Mobile offers both purple and orange-colored SIM cards. Each SIM card color has a different activation process.
- Orange SIM (Prepaid SIM) cards are part of a prepaid kit. They come preloaded with a specific Ultra Mobile plan, which means you simply install them to get service.
- Purple SIM (Starter SIM) cards are empty Ultra Mobile SIMs. They require a plan purchase after activation.
If you purchased your Ultra Mobile plan as a 30-day SIM kit from a retailer like Walmart, you likely have an Orange SIM card.
Because I selected a specific plan online, I also had an Orange SIM card. Activation only required typing in the activation code on the SIM card, selecting a new phone number, and installing the SIM card into my Google Pixel 6.
Managing my UItra plan
Ultra Mobile offers plan management through its website and the Ultra Mobile app. You can easily track your data usage, buy plan add-ons, and cancel your plan.
Ultra Mobile app
Image: Max McCaskill
I like the Ultra Mobile app. My biggest gripe about phone carrier apps is that they often hide your data usage in difficult-to-find dashboards. Thankfully, that’s not the case with the Ultra Mobile app, which shows your data usage and allotment immediately after you open it. You also have all the same options for plan management as you do in the online portal, so you can manage your entire plan from your phone.
Cancelling my plan
Cancelling Ultra Mobile is easy. Simply disable auto-renew in the Ultra Mobile app or on the carrier’s website, and your plan will expire at the end of your current billing period.
Did I like Ultra Mobile’s Unlimited Plan?
After four months of using the plan, I'm pleased with Ultra Mobile’s Unlimited Plan. While I sometimes have issues with coverage in rural areas, overall, the plan met my needs and has provided a good experience. Still, it’s not the best option for average customers unless you need international perks or can score a discount.
Data allotment
The Unlimited Plan offers uncapped unlimited premium data, but if you are a heavy data user with more than 35GB a month, you may experience slower speeds at high-trafficked times. For me, that’s a big allotment and more data than I need.
The average customer only uses 10-15GB of data per month, so this plan will easily cover most people. I have easy access to Wi-Fi since I work from home, so my usage is typically on the lower end, around 12GB per month. If I sign up for another annual plan when this one is complete, I'll likely select a smaller allotment.
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Ultra Mobile
24GB 1-Month Plan
$39.00/mo
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How much data do I need?
Monitoring the amount of data you use in a month is the best way to determine the amount of data you’ll need in a phone plan. Most people pick unlimited plans with massive allotments they don’t need and end up overpaying for service.
Check out our mobile data usage guide to learn the amount of data you might need in a phone plan.
Mobile hotspot
Ultra Mobile’s mobile hotspot is deducted from your overall premium data allotment. The Unlimited Plan offers up to 10GB of data.
I saw excellent speeds of over 100Mbps when using the mobile hotspot in 5G areas. The signal was consistent, and I was able to do virtually any task I wanted. That said, the limited coverage and slower speeds impacted my experience with the hotspot in 4G LTE areas. I don’t suggest completing important work—like a Zoom call for work—when using the 4G LTE signal.
Gaming and streaming
Gaming and streaming work fine on Ultra Mobile’s Unlimited plan.
I regularly stream Apple Music in my car and rarely experience disruptions due to the signal dropping out.
I also stream Netflix and YouTube when away from home. It works extremely well with a 5G signal, and I could even stream in 4G LTE areas. While it took longer to load, once the streaming began, it generally worked fine.
Ultra Mobile also works well for mobile gaming. I played a few rounds of PUBG: Mobile in an area with good service, and the game played smoothly, with very little lag.
Ultra Mobile vs. the competition
Ultra Mobile’s biggest drawback is that it’s a bit more expensive than the competition. Two T-Mobile MVNO competitors with similar offerings are US Mobile and Mint Mobile.
Ultra Mobile Unlimited Plan vs. competitors
| Ultra Mobile Unlimited Plan |
US Mobile Unlimited Starter | Mint Mobile Unlimited |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Data | Unlimited | 70GB | 50GB |
| Mobile hotspot | 10GB | 10GB | 20GB |
| Network | T-Mobile | T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T |
T-Mobile |
| Price | $49/month | $25/month | $30/month |
| Shop plan | Shop plan | Shop plan |
Comparing Ultra Mobile’s Unlimited Plan to US Mobile’s Unlimited Starter is not much of a competition. US Mobile offers almost the same amount of data, the same-sized mobile hotspot, and access to all three major networks for half the price. We were impressed with US Mobile in our review of the carrier, especially because the carrier allows you to jump between networks.
In their defense, Ultra Mobile does offer international perks and an extra 5GB of data not included with the US Mobile plan. That said, if you need international perks and more data, you can opt for US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium plan, which offers unlimited premium data, a 50GB mobile hotspot, and 20GB of international roaming data. You get all that for just $44/month, which is still cheaper than Ultra’s monthly plan.
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US Mobile
Unlimited Premium Plan
$39.00/mo
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The fight between Ultra Mobile and Mint Mobile is closer. Let’s take a look at the specifics to see which one is the best choice.
Mint only sells its plans in blocks three, six, and twelve months. For the sake of comparison, we’ll compare the carriers’ three-month plan pricing. Ultra Mobile’s three-month Unlimited Plan costs $41.40/month, while Mint Mobile offers special introductory pricing that brings the cost of its Unlimited Plan down to $30/month if you opt for a the 12-month option. Once that period is up, the price will jump up to $40/month, which is still slightly cheaper than Ultra Mobile.
These plans are similar in terms of their data allotments, mobile hotspots, and coverage. Ultra Mobile offers the international calling and texting perk, but Mint has a special Canada roaming feature with 3GB of high-speed data per month. Overall, Mint is the better pick. Even beyond this plan, we noted in our Mint Mobile review that the carrier offers reasonable prices, bonus data, and—importantly—responsive customer service.
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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.
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Recap: Would I recommend Ultra Mobile?
I would recommend Ultra Mobile for customers who need international perks. Unlimited international talk and text to over 90 countries is not available with every carrier. If you have family abroad or international friends you like to keep up with, it might be worth paying a bit more for Ultra Mobile’s service.
Otherwise, Ultra Mobile is only a solid value as an annual plan or if you can find it on sale. While I like my current Unlimited plan, I'll likely switch carriers when the annual period ends unless I score another deal. I’m an average data user and don’t need international texting or calling, so the Unlimited Plan just isn’t built for me. That said, plenty of customers out there will find Ultra Mobile an excellent choice for service.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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