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Mountain Prepaid Reviews
About
Our Reviews: We review our
most popular Wireless Prepaids based
on online usage across all our web pages. Review data is
from our
wireless experts and are listed
alphabetically. We include a certain amount of
opinion to
further distinguish among prepaids, for
which we receive no
compensation. Also Look for the Star
Ratings. If you use links
on our web site, we may earn a fee.
  Boost Mobile is operated by Dish Wireless and gives you a unique choice of plans and good nationwide coverage. Boost Mobile is no longer a Prepaid-only service, and actually operates their own 5G network and offers Prepaid-like plans. Customers with Boost-branded devices and certain SIM's operate on Dish's 5G network, where available, and use either the T-Mobile or AT&T networks when away from Boost coverage. Their Unlimited plan is a great alternative to those from the other carriers at a good price and Taxes and Fees are included, which can be substantial. Boost Infinite has been rolled into Boost Mobile and all products and features are now the same. Old Boost phones use the T-Mobile network. Boost Mobile appears on our PREPAID PRICE CHART.
  Consumer Cellular provides good phones, plans and excellent customer service. Coverage uses the AT&T network and some roaming partners. Plan prices are reasonable and are available for Talk, Text and Data. Unlike other carriers, if you use up your data allotment, instead of slowing your download speed, they will automatically upgrade you to the next higher plan, which could be a big price jump. You can bring your own AT&T or Unlocked GSM phone. International Roaming is available at a per Call/Text/Mb charge. If you wanted to start service with them today, you can buy a SIM from any retailer and Consumer Cellular will credit that SIM purchase on your first month's bill. While Consumer Cellular is considered "Prepaid", not all charges are in advance and a credit check is usually required. Customer Service is much better than average although not available 24/7. AARP and AAA members get a 5% discount. Their cheapest plan with Data starts at $20/month for Unlimited Talk and Text, with 1Gb of Data. Taxes & Fees are not included in their plans and they are higher than average. Get Cheaper Consumer Cellular Phones at Amazon.
 CRICKET WIRELESS
 Cricket offers a competitive prepaid service on the AT&T network with Unlimited Voice, Text & Picture Messaging, Long Distance and Data. Plans start at $15 with a discount for Auto-Pay, but not much discount for multiple users. Taxes and fees are included. Cricket offers a selection of GSM phones and allows you to bring your own. Cricket phones can roam in Mexico for Talk, Text and Data but not in Canada and there is no off-network roaming available in the US. Cricket has the advantage of using the AT&T Mexico network with roaming available in their higher-priced plans. You can switch up to the higher plan for your trip and switch back when you return, but Auto-Pay won't automatically pay for it. You may find yourself sitting at the airport wondering why your phone won't work. You'll need to pay the difference before the phone works. Cricket is owned by AT&T.
 Gen Mobile offers a Prepaid variation of Boost Mobile. Coverage depends on the phone model, ideally using Boost's own all-5G network first, then beyond Boost network coverage, your phone will roam automatically on the AT&T network, then, if necessary, will then switch to the T-Mobile network. Variations depend on phone restrictions such as a phone locked to T-Mobile will only roam on T-Mobile. These limitations are addressed by the SIM provided which is determined by your phone's IMEI number. Gen Mobile offers a nominal selection of Prepaid phones. Gen Mobile plans are reasonable and include Calling and Texting to 100 foreign countries as well as Canada and Mexico Roaming. Add-ons include calls to additional countries. Unlike Boost Mobile, Gen Mobile plans do not include taxes and fees after any promotional period expires.
 Google Fi offers a different approach to wireless service. Your phone will determine the best connection to make a call or access the Internet, starting with an available Wi-Fi signal. Their plan involves a $20 monthly fee and another charge for broadband access. You are then credited each month for unused data. In addition to Unlimited Calls and Text as well as low-cost international calls, you have access to use your phone in over 120 foreign countries. The service works with only a limited number of phone models. Establishing a Google Fi account also automatically replaces your Google Voice account if you have one. Get Cheaper Google Fi Pixel Phones at Amazon.
  Lycamobile saves you money by offering tremendous introductory promos. Plans include unlimited data which isn't slowed until you've reached 40 GB. They support eSIMs, and Calls and Texts to 100 foreign countries. Newer Lycamobile handsets use the AT&T network in the US.
 Metro by T-Mobile, formerly MetroPCS, is an alternative to T-Mobile's own prepaid. Metro's coverage includes Voice, Text and Data Roaming in Mexico and Canada with no off-network roaming in the US. The Metro network offers both 4G LTE and 5G. They have no activation fees and don't charge extra taxes and fees. All plans include Unlimited Web access with different thresholds for "throttling" data speeds. Metro offers a good selection of phones. MetroPCS has actual stores and customer service seems to be the same level as T-Mobile. Occasionally, Metro stores have promotional deals that are not available online, and vice versa. Get Cheaper Phones for Metro by T-Mobile at Amazon.
 Mint Mobile saves you money by offering longer spans between refills. You can sign up for a little as $15 per month for Talk, Text and as much as Unlimited Data with a 3-month plan, then after 3 months, you can keep the 3 month plan at a higher price or save by choosing a longer plan, the longer the cheaper, up to one year. They have other plans and promotions, just know what happens after the first 3 months. Mint uses the T-Mobile network who now also owns Mint. This will broaden handset availability and may mean plans will differ from T-Mobile's own.. Mint appears on our PREPAID PRICE CHART.
 Mobile X has some very low-priced plans. You can get a "normal" plan for about $15/month and then let their AI-powered forecaster adjust your plan based on what it thinks you'll use. MobileX uses the Verizon network and it one of the best Prepaids not owned by Verizon. MobileX supports both physical SIM's and eSIM's. Mobile X appears on our PREPAID PRICE CHART.
 Red Pocket offers you a choice of the big 3 wireless networks. Some network choices get you more features for your money. Their low prices include plans for singles, families, businesses and data-only, with both monthly and annual plans. Also included are FREE international calls, Mexico and Canada roaming, and live customer service. Plans start at $10 that include Unlimited Talk, Text and 1 Gb Data with slowed downloads when you reach your monthly limit. We rated Red Pocket as the BEST LOW-PRICE PREPAID (WITH 1GB DATA), and appears on our PREPAID PRICE CHART.
 Simple Mobile plans allow FREE calling to 69 other countries and a credit of $10 or $20 per month to call 100 more. FREE international roaming is included in 16 Latin America countries including Mexico. The name "SIM-PLE" originated as a "SIM-only" service, but now they offer Simple Mobile-branded phones. You are still invited to bring your own phone and they'll send you a SIM card to start service. SIM's are also available at many retailers for as little as $1. Data is indeed "Unlimited" but it is slowed to 2G speeds after your monthly allotment is depleted. All plans have Unlimited Calls and Texts. Watch for substantial promotional prices especially for Auto-Refill. Simple Mobile is owned by Verizon.
 Originally offered as an exclusive product sold at Wal-Mart, Straight Talk now offers their phones and service online. Their phones use the Verizon network. Straight Talk is normally priced a bit above average among Prepaids but they also offer Hot Spots and Wireless Home Phone Systems. Straight Talk also offers a competitive $25 Unlimited plan with a number of restrictions but also with some additional benefits, only available at Walmart's Wireless Store. Straight Talk is owned by Verizon.
 Tello is one of our prepaid low-price leaders. Their plans start at $5 and plans with data start at $9. You can bring your own phone, but there is a limit of the type of phones that are compatible. They now use the entire T-Mobile network including 5G Coverage with a compatible phone. They offer Pay As You Go rates, Wi-Fi Calling, and calls to 60 foreign countries. Tello appears on our PREPAID PRICE CHART.
 Total Wireless has evolved into a brand that tries to give you all of the benefits and data speed of a postpaid plan but with prepaid prices and features. Coverage is supplied on the Verizon network and not their roaming partners. You get Unlimited Talk, Text & Data plans starting at $40, which is locked in for 5 years, and taxes and fees are included. Total also offers Wireless Home Internet which, if you bundle with your cell phone, your monthly fee is only $35 per month. Total Wireless is owned and operated by Verizon. Recently, inquires about Total Wireless have dropped dramatically on our web sites and makes us wonder that Total is falling out of favor.
 TRACFONE TracFone has been one of the most popular prepaids in the country and offers a wide variety of payment options. They offer the option of having the charges deducted from your credit card or checking account automatically, eliminating the need to renew on an exact expiration date. TracFone offers Free international calls to about 60 countries by calling a special access number, and with their International Neighbors features, they can provide a local number in Mexico or Canada for incoming calls from those countries at local rates for both callers. Tracfone's customer service is fairly easy to access, however, their agents have a wide variety of experience. It may take multiple calls to solve a problem. New TracFone devices use the Verizon network. Tracfone is owned by Verizon.
 Twigby has the distinction of being the least-expensive Prepaid that uses the Verizon network. Twigby has great promotional pricing and plans start as low as $15/month. Plans include Talk to 80 foreign countries, Text to over 200 countries, Wi-Fi Calling, and eSIM's. Twigby has a modest selection of phones and appears on our PREPAID PRICE CHART.
 US
MOBILE
US Mobile has been one of our favorite Prepaids due to their low prices and responsive customer service. Prices start at $10, and you can get 'Unlimited' Talk, Text and Data for only $25. They also offer shared data plans. US Mobile's prices have been fluctuating lately as they experiment with longer term plans. US Mobile uses your choice of the top 3 nationwide US wireless networks, and offers Wi-Fi Calling, International Roaming in over 100 countries, and International Texting available as an add-on. They now support eSIMs. We rated US Mobile as the BEST PREPAID FOR INTERNATIONAL ROAMING, and appears on our PREPAID PRICE CHART.
 Visible gives you access to the entire Verizon wireless network. Visible has two plans that both include Unlimited Talk, Text and Data. Their new $25 plan gets you Unlimited Talk, Text, Data and Hotspot. Their Visible Plus $45 plan gets you FREE roaming in Canada and Mexico, International Calling and Text and something they call, "Premium Network Experience," which includes 5G Ultra Wideband. Taxes and fees are included in each plan and they even give you few weeks to try it out for FREE. Visible uses the Verizon network and is a partial owner of Visible. We rated Visible Mobile as the BEST PREPAID WITH UNLIMITED DATA, and appears on our PREPAID PRICE CHART.
Prepaids Directly from the Major Carriers:   AT&T Prepaid is a good choice for current AT&T customers who want to get away from the cycle of various plans that are hard to understand and negotiate. If you want more flexibility and save a larger amount of money, consider AT&T-owned prepaid Cricket Wireless.
 T-Mobile Prepaid looks more like T-Mobile's regular plans. If you want a better-priced service, consider Metro by T-Mobile, or one of the many independent wireless providers that use the T-Mobile network.
 Verizon Prepaid offers big-network advantages, especially for current Verizon customers who trust the Verizon brand, and want to switch to a more flexible plan. However, Verizon owns a large number of Prepaid products that will save you money or offer you plans and coverage that may better fit your lifestyle.
► GOSMART
MOBILE:
Phones
are limited to 3G, their web site doesn't work,
and may be discontinued.
► NET10: NET10 has been discontinued. ► PAGE PLUS: No 5G Coverage and may be discontinued. ► WALMART FAMILY MOBILE: Acquired by Verizon with no clear direction beyond being sold at Walmart. About
Our Ratings:Our Wireless experts rate each Prepaid with 1 to 5 stars, 5 being the best, based on the criteria of price, coverage, features and customer service. Breakdown: 1) We look at price. A low price for the greatest amount of features is the top criteria. 2) Features. There are a few of must-haves, like voicemail and unlimited Talk & Text, then if there's anything extra. Foreign Calls, Wi-Fi Calling, Foreign Roaming, eSIM's and others, add to the score. 3) Customer Service. It can be by text, by people, or by email, and the more it's available the better. More Prepaid Links: |
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