# Tell me about MVNOs / alternate cell providers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 18, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632 "2019-11-18T23:51:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/1 "2019-11-18T23:51:50Z")
I don’t know if I even have the terminology right, but as I understand it there are really only 4 providers in the US: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint (with talk of the last two merging). All other providers piggyback on their networks. Sound right? Circumstances mean I have to change my plan, I can stick with Verizon on a different plan but think there might be cheaper options, will I be losing anything major? I got Disney+ for free, don’t know if I’ll lose that if I cancel but it’s not a major factor if I save more per month. My usage: I make phone calls very, very rarely. Text fairly often, and need some data but not an excessive amount (Spotify in car, rarely watch movies and such and only on wifi). I think most of them are contract-free now, and while the networks are more universal my phone is not unlocked and I’d rather not buy a new one, so I assume a Verizon network would be best. I’m not happy with their recent signal quality but I understand other networks are worse. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/2 "2019-11-19T00:00:45Z")
No there are some smaller Facilities-based service providers like US Cellular and C Spire: > **[List of United States wireless communications service providers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_wireless_communications_service_providers)** > > This is a list of United States wireless communications service providers. The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA), lists approximately 30 facilities-based wireless service providers in the United States as members. Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) has over 100 members. Aside from the facilities-based providers, there are over 50 virtual operators that use the top four networks to provide service. > The big four wireless telecommunications facilities-based service pro... [sort by number of subscribers] Here are some MVNOs and their prices: > **[Find & Compare the Best Cell Phone Plans - BestPhonePlans](https://www.bestphoneplans.net/#by-network)** > > Find and compare the best cell phone plans on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. See cheap plans, unlimited plans, the best plan for families, and more. > **[Compare Cell Phone Plans, Internet Plans, Tablet Plans & TV Packages |...](https://www.whistleout.com/)** > > Compare 782+ Cell Phone Plans, Internet Plans, Tablet Plans and TV Packages from 68 carriers. WhistleOut is fast, free & easy to get the best deal. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/3 "2019-11-19T01:47:51Z")
The primary difference between a MVNO and a major provider is priority. If the local tower/network is overloaded, your data speeds will get slower first, so that the main provider’s users are less affected. There’s also likely to be differences in support, of course. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/4 "2019-11-19T03:13:29Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > No there are some smaller Facilities-based service providers like US Cellular and C Spire: > [List of mobile network operators in the United States - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_wireless_communications_service_providers) > > [sort by number of subscribers] > > Here are some MVNOs and their prices: > [https://www.bestphoneplans.net/#by-network](https://www.bestphoneplans.net/#by-network) > [https://www.whistleout.com/](https://www.whistleout.com/) Thanks, I think US Cellular is an option but didn’t know they were separate. I’ve never heard of C Spire, they have nationwide coverage but I think are more of a midwest thing? I was looking through lists like this, but I think your links have better filtering options. > [@dzeiger](#): > > The primary difference between a MVNO and a major provider is priority. If the local tower/network is overloaded, your data speeds will get slower first, so that the main provider’s users are less affected. > > There’s also likely to be differences in support, of course. Thanks. I will also look in a local forum. Another question: since Verizon killed 3G, does that imply that their MVNOs also killed it? I assume so. Edit: C spire is in parts of the south, not midwest. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/5 "2019-11-19T03:32:33Z")
For the ultra-cheap like me, $3/mo 30 minutes or text, $0.10/min or text thereafter. $10/week 1GB 4G. [https://www.ultramobile.com/paygo/?icid=WMM\_TMNG\_PPEULTRA\_O6BDJUPVQ5RM3G9P617763](https://www.ultramobile.com/paygo/?icid=WMM_TMNG_PPEULTRA_O6BDJUPVQ5RM3G9P617763) I don’t know when they changed to Ultramobile, but it’s linked through T-Mobile. I’ve been on this for several years and have two extra emergency phones with it. I keep this mini phone in my wallet: [Amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JN82EFO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/6 "2019-11-19T03:52:46Z")
Several posts on the local subreddit suggest Verizon is the best coverage here (and rural), Sprint the worst. As mentioned, by data has become really spotty around the 3G closure time so I don’t know if it’s my phone or what. Google Fi uses the big 4 minus Verizon, is that a good idea? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/7 "2019-11-19T05:06:15Z")
I’ve used StraightTalk (which is just Tracfone with fancy branding) ever since I got a smartphone. I use the AT&T SIM for where I am, but if it’s a truly unlocked device with both GSM and CDMA support, you can make it work on the network of your choice. With a locked phone for Verizon, it’d probably work on the Verizon towers. I’ve hit a pretty happy medium of paying $50 a month for unlimited talk and text with 25 gigs of LTE data before the slowdown to 2G. The only problem is that they don’t have a really good cheap plan; $35 for 3 gigs isn’t terrible, but 3 gigs isn’t a whole lot of data these days. The only other issue I ever really had with them is that they might not support all the fancy things, including hotspots, but now I see that they’ve added hotspot to their “unlimited” plan (which isn’t really unlimited, because they’ll start checking your account at 60 gigs.) I get not wanting to buy a new phone, but there are some pretty good mid-range fully-unlocked Androids out there for $200-300. If your phone is old enough, you might find you appreciate the upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/8 "2019-11-19T05:28:41Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > With a locked phone for Verizon, it’d probably work on the Verizon towers. It looks like all modern Verizon phones are already unlocked, or unlock themselves after 60 days. Obviously that doesn’t mean it will definitely work on a given network, but you don’t need to do any ROM hijinks. Anyone have experience with Spectrum Mobile? I know the company is a megacorp who doesn’t have the best reputation, but I already have their internet to bundle, and the mobile side isn’t necessarily the same. Hopefully I could then get a discount on both as they’re normally stingy with that. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/9 "2019-11-19T07:06:09Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I’ve used StraightTalk (which is just Tracfone with fancy branding) ever since I got a smartphone. I use the AT&T SIM for where I am, but if it’s a truly unlocked device with both GSM and CDMA support, you can make it work on the network of your choice. With a locked phone for Verizon, it’d probably work on the Verizon towers. I’ve hit a pretty happy medium of paying $50 a month for unlimited talk and text with 25 gigs of LTE data before the slowdown to 2G. The only problem is that they don’t have a really good cheap plan; $35 for 3 gigs isn’t terrible, but 3 gigs isn’t a whole lot of data these days. The only other issue I ever really had with them is that they might not support all the fancy things, including hotspots, but now I see that they’ve added hotspot to their “unlimited” plan (which isn’t really unlimited, because they’ll start checking your account at 60 gigs.) > > I get not wanting to buy a new phone, but there are some pretty good mid-range fully-unlocked Androids out there for $200-300. If your phone is old enough, you might find you appreciate the upgrade. I have Simple Mobile, which is related to Straight Talk. It runs on T-Mobile towers. I get truly unlimited talk, texts, and data for $45 a month with auto pay, as well as 10Gb for a mobile hot spot. Of course, it can be deprioritized during heavy usage times in favor of regular T-Mobile customers. I paid about $160 for a Nokia 6, which admittedly is not the newest of phones, but it’s a damn good phone running Android 9.0. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/10 "2019-11-19T15:04:45Z")
I also use Simple Mobile. I pay $20 per month for my plan and get unlimited talk and text, and 3 GB of LTE data, which is plenty for my use. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/11 "2019-11-19T22:06:26Z")
Verizon has been the better coverage, but in my rural Virginia area it almost seems like Verizon gave up their spot on a few towers, I get less service nearby than I used to. I use Puppy Wireless, a Verizon MVNO. ~$28 a month gets me unlimited talk and text and 2GB of data. As long as I don’t watch video, 2GB is more than enough for occasional navigation and browsing. ---
**Author:** ![allyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@allyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/allyn)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-mvnos-alternate-cell-providers/843632/12 "2019-11-20T00:26:18Z")
I use Red Pocket which is an AT&T MVNO. I pay $30/month for unlimited talk/text and 5Gb of data. Howard forums used to be a pretty good resource for wireless communications ==\> [www.howardforums.com](http://www.howardforums.com)