Finding an affordable cell phone plan isn’t always the easiest of tasks. With so many carriers, configurations and features to choose from, you can spend hours mulling over all the finer details. When shopping for wireless service, the first place most folks look are major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint. But there are countless other options too, smaller carriers — also known as MVNOs — offer even lower cost plans with the same coverage as major carriers.
What’s an MVNO?
MVNO stands for mobile virtual network operator and it’s a term used for companies that offer wireless phone and data services using existing networks provided by one or more major US carriers: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and/or Sprint. By selling cell phone plans powered by major networks at more wallet-friendly prices, consumers have more options available to them when shopping for cheap wireless service. For more, check out our blog post: How to save money on your existing network with an MNVO.
If you’re shopping for affordable prepaid plans, Simple Mobile is a great place to start. They offer a great mix of unlimited data, unlimited data, and even 5G. If Simple Mobile isn’t already on your radar, they’re definitely worth a look. With no-contract plans that start at only $25, we’ll be doing a deep dive in this post, covering commonly asked questions, plans, phones, reviews and more, as we explore Simple Mobile and their services. By the end of this post you should be in a much better position to decide if Simple Mobile is the right carrier for you.
What network does Simple Mobile use?
The first question people want to know when looking at an MVNO is what network they use for their wireless services. Simple Mobile uses T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network which offers great data speeds and nationwide coverage. Another big advantage of operating on T-Mobile’s network is that it means Simple Mobile will be one of the few MVNOs to offer 5G.
This is thanks to T-Mobile who is one of the first major carriers to roll out 5G services on their nationwide 600MHz network, something that’s available on all their plans (5G capable phone required). This is in contrast to other carriers who only offer 5G on select plans, something that often times doesn’t extend to MVNOs. T-Mobile’s low-band 5G network, however, also applies to MVNOs like Simple Mobile who get to partake in the fruits of their labor.
With over 99% of Americans covered by T-Mobile’s network, there should be no questioning if Simple Mobile is good in your area. You can check out Simple Mobile’s website for a more detailed coverage map.
Are Simple Mobile plans really unlimited?
All of Simple Mobile’s plans are “unlimited” in that there you don’t have to worry about paying overages when going over a set amount of data. The key difference is the amount of high-speed data you can enjoy before your speeds are slowed down. For instance, Simple Mobile’s 3GB and 10GB plans give you a specific amount of high-speed data that, once exceeded, will immediately result in network speeds being reduced down to 2G speeds.
According to Simple Mobile, all of their plans are deprioritized which includes their GB and Truly Unlimited plans. This means data speeds can be slowed at any time when the network becomes busy (and returns back to normal once network-volume is reduced). We should note: actual T-Mobile customers receive the highest priority during network congestion, followed by T-Mobile prepaid customers, and finally MVNOs who operate on T-Mobile’s network (like Simple Mobile). So even if you rarely experienced slower speeds on a deprioritized T-Mobile line, this could be more common when using Simple Mobile given their plans are an even lower priority. Network congestion is dependent on a number of factors, none of which are permanent. It’s entirely possible to see speeds return to normal once network traffic has been reduced, or by physically moving to a new location and connecting to a different T-Mobile tower.
In addition to a line possibly being slowed due to network congestion, Simple Mobile’s Truly Unlimited plans also have a 40GB upper threshold that once exceeded, will see the line being further deprioritized (double deprioritization). In other words, data speeds on these plans may prove to be more inconsistent than a proper T-Mobile plan, especially in rare cases when a customer uses more than 40GB of data in a billing period.
Another detail worth noting is that all Simple Mobile plans limit video streams to 480p standard definition. This means that whenever the network detects a video stream, data speeds will be slowed on your device so that whatever video service you’re using can only stream in low resolution 480p. This is a now common practice in the wireless industry and is a clever way for major carriers to reduce strain on their network, while allowing users to stream more video without destroying their high-speed data allotment.
How much is Simple Mobile?
Simple Mobile currently offers a total of five different unlimited plans, each with various amounts of high-speed data, hotspot functionality, and add-ons. These include Simple Mobile’s 3GB ($25), 10GB ($40), Truly Unlimited + 5GB Hotspot ($50), and Truly Unlimited + 15GB Hotspot ($60) plans. It’s worth noting that all Simple Mobile plans are deprioritized, which means data speeds can be slowed at any time, whenever the network (T-Mobile) becomes busy.
All Simple Mobile plans include:
- Unlimited talk, text, and international text
- International calling to 69 destinations (up to 20 unique numbers)
- International calling credit of $10 or more for other destinations
- International roaming in 16 Latin American countries
Simple Mobile also allows you to customize your plan with add-ons. This allows you to pay a little more for extra data or features like international calling for the destinations not included in their 69 supported countries.
Simple Mobile add-ons:
- 2GB extra high-speed data ($5)
- 5GB extra high-speed data ($10)
- 10GB extra high-speed data ($20)
- International pay-as-you-go plan ($10)
For a closer look at each individual Simple Mobile plan, including features like Hotspot data and limitations, and Auto ReUp eligibility, check out the bullet points listed below.
Simple Mobile 3GB Plan ($25)
- 3 GB high-speed data (2G after)
- Network speed: 4G LTE, 5G where available
- Hotspot: Included (counts toward high-speed allotment)
- Video streams: Reduced to Standard Definition (480p)
- Auto Pay discount: $5 off first 3 months, $3.75 off after that
Simple Mobile 10GB Plan ($40)
- 10 GB high-speed data (2G after)
- Network speed: 4G LTE, 5G where available
- Hotspot: Included (counts toward high-speed allotment)
- Video streams: Reduced to Standard Definition (480p)
- Auto Pay discount: $2.50 off
Simple Mobile’s 3GB plan and 10GB plan are very similar and provide customers with different amounts of high-speed data based on their needs. Other than the high-speed data allotment and pricing, the only big difference between the two plans is the auto pay discount for each. Other than, Simple Mobile’s 3GB and 10GB plans are identical in features and limitations.
There’s also a $30 2GB plan on their site, but it doesn’t make much sense given the cheaper 3GB/$25 plan that offers more data for less money. For a limited time, Simple Mobile’s 10GB plan is also receiving an extra 5GB boost, but only until December 31st, 2019.
Simple Mobile Truly Unlimited + 5GB Hotspot ($50)
- Unlimited high-speed data (deprioritized)
- Network speed: 4G LTE, 5G where available
- Hotspot: 5GB high-speed data
- Video streams: Reduced to Standard Definition (480p)
- Auto Pay discount: $5 off (limited time)
Simple Mobile Truly Unlimited + 15GB Hotspot ($60)
- Unlimited high-speed data (deprioritized)
- Network speed: 4G LTE, 5G where available
- Hotspot: 15GB high-speed data
- Video streams: Reduced to Standard Definition (480p)
- Auto Pay discount: $5 off (limited time)
As the name of these plans suggests, Simple Mobile’s Truly Unlimited + 5GB Hotspot and + 15GB Hotspot plans are a great way to get more data without the restrictions that come with their 3GB or 10GB plans. Both the plans feature 4G LTE (or 5G where available) and different amounts of Hotspot data, but keep in mind these lines are deprioritized by default. This means data speeds can be slowed any time T-Mobile’s network becomes busy and restored once traffic falls back down to normal.
Aside from that, there’s also a 40GB threshold on both Truly Unlimited plans that, once exceeded, will further reduce speeds. Don’t worry too much about that as few users will ever consumer that much data in a month, especially with video streams being capped at standard definition (non-HD). These plans also see the biggest discounts ($5) when enrolled in Auto ReUp.
Simple Mobile discounts
Similar to other carriers, Simple Mobile also provides a discount when enrolled in “Auto ReUp” (auto pay), although some plans only offer the discount for a limited time and varying amounts. Simple Mobile also advertises “no hidden fees,” which means you can expect the same cell phone bill month after month. For those willing to put in the work, Simple Mobile’s referral program is another great way to further save money, with $50 in reward points given for each new activation + reward program signup.
Simple Mobile phones
Simple Mobile customers have two main options when it comes to using a phone on their network: you can either buy a phone from Simple Mobile’s website, or bring your own phone to their network.
Generally speaking, Simple Mobile’s most affordable phones are extremely lower-end devices, or slightly discounted mid-range devices (with new line activation). You won’t find heavy discounts for more premium phones like major carriers, although Simple Mobile does offer financing options via Affirm as a way to get customers into a phone that would normally be out of their budget.
As for bringing your own phone, Simple Mobile recommends the phone is either unlocked — as in fully paid off and not locked to a specific carrier — and compatible with their network, i.e., T-Mobile’s network bands and frequencies. All you need is a Simple Mobile SIM card that once purchased, can be activated and popped into your phone to receive cellular service.
Can I use a T-Mobile phone on Simple Mobile?
Since Simple Mobile operates on T-Mobile’s network, it’s possible to bring (or purchase) your own T-Mobile branded phone for use on Simple Mobile. The T-Mobile phone doesn’t even need to be SIM unlocked in order to work, but it will need to be fully paid off and not blacklisted for any reason. Again, you’ll need to purchase a Simple Mobile SIM card in order to take advantage of their BYOP offer.
Does Simple Mobile have free phones?
The quick and easy answer to whether or not Simple Mobile offers free phones is no. They do, however, offer a handful of discounted phones, deals, or even more expensive premium devices that you can pay off via monthly installment payments.
You can find Simple Mobile phone deals, but if you want our advice, you’ll can find a used — and much more capable — iPhones on Swappa that are fully compatible with Simple Mobile. Just pick up a SIM card kit, pop the SIM inside and you’ll be good to go.
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Simple Mobile reviews
Seeing as how Simple Mobile is powered by one of the largest 4G LTE networks in the US (T-Mobile), you can expect reliable cell phone coverage, almost anywhere in the US. Although viable, Simple Mobile still isn’t quite as popular as major carriers like T-Mobile or AT&T. Because of this, one of the most common questions people ask when considering a smaller prepaid carrier is how well they’re reviewed by their customers.
For a look at unbiased reviews from Swappa users, you can check out our Simple Mobile reviews page. There you’ll find Simple Mobile reviews based on the following criteria: network speed, support, and coverage. It’s a helpful tool for anyone who may want a second opinion before giving up their current wireless service and committing to new one. Hit the link below to see what customers are saying about Simple Mobile. Looking for Simple Mobile customer service or tech support? You can find all of Simple Mobile’s contact info here.
