Many mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) run over T-Mobile’s network. In many cases, these carriers offer wireless plans that are far less expensive than similar plans offered directly by T-Mobile.
List of T-Mobile MVNOs
Carrier | Recommended | Notes: |
---|---|---|
Mint Mobile | ✔ | Mint is owned by Ultra Mobile. |
U.S. Mobile | ✔ | |
T-Mobile Prepaid | ✔ | |
Metro by T-Mobile | ||
Consumer Cellular | ||
Ultra Mobile | ||
Google Fi | Fi-enabled devices can simultaneously access T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular's networks. Other device will use only T-Mobile's network. | |
Lycamobile | ||
Ting | ||
Red Pocket Mobile | ||
TextNow | ||
SpeedTalk Mobile | ||
Teltik |
Downsides to T-Mobile MVNOs
Subscribers using T-Mobile-based MVNOs may be prioritized behind some direct T-Mobile subscribers. Accordingly, customers using MVNOs may experience especially slow data speeds during periods of network congestion.
Subscribers on MVNO’s that use T-Mobile’s network may not have the same roaming capabilities that many of T-Mobile’s direct subscribers have.
Notes
Some of the MVNO’s listed above offer service over multiple networks, not only T-Mobile. The list also includes some carriers that may not strictly qualify as MVNOs; T-Mobile’s own prepaid brand and T-Mobile’s flanker brand, Metro, appear on the list.