Let’s face it, not everyone is permanently attached to his or her smartphone. As a result, those of us who don’t talk, text, or use mobile data that much are often left feeling like they’ve paid for a whole lot of nothing. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a different kind of mobile plan where you only paid for what you actually used?
Enter Ting Mobile, a wireless carrier that takes a different approach. Ting doesn’t force its customers to select between predefined service plans, nor does it charge an arm and a leg for unlimited talk, text, and data that will likely go unused. Rather, Ting does away with plans entirely and lets users pay for just what they need. Sound interesting? Read on to find out how you can save money using Ting.
What is Ting Mobile?
Ting is an MVNO carrier that takes a very different approach to wireless. Normally when you sign up with a wireless carrier, you select from a handful of predefined service plans. But just like how an off-the-shelf suit never fits quite as well as a properly tailored one, a predefined wireless plan might not fit your particular needs. Ting takes a different approach by letting you tailor your bill based on what you actually use — nothing more, nothing less. Only use a little data each month? Pay less. Need to make a few more calls and texts next month? No problem; you’ll only ever pay for what you use — no crazy overage fees.
What is an MVNO?
We mentioned that Ting is an MVNO carrier. Once you start looking beyond AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint for wireless service plans, you may see this term thrown around quite a bit. MVNO stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator. We’ve already covered how you can save money using MVNO carriers, but as a quick refresher, an MVNO buys bulk network access from one (or more) of the four major US networks in order to re-sell it to consumers at a discounted rate.
What network does Ting use?
Here’s where things get a bit complicated. Unlike most MVNOs, which rely on a single host network, Ting is currently powered by the T-Mobile Network and the Sprint Network. As a result, Ting is compatible with both GSM and CDMA devices. What’s more, you can even use GSM and CDMA devices on the same service plan — all sharing minutes, texts, and data — provided that you purchase additional lines for each device at $6/month.
Things are set to get even better in the near future, as Ting recently announced a new partnership with Verizon Wireless. This means that in early 2020, Ting users with compatible phones will be able to connect to Verizon’s nationwide 4G LTE network.
Does Ting have good coverage?
Ting currently uses both T-Mobile and Sprint as its host networks, with support for the Verizon network coming in early 2020. As a result, Ting offers excellent nationwide coverage, which will only improve once Verizon is added.
Note: When signing up for service, you are able to select which network you prefer. Naturally, this impacts the coverage you receive. We suggest checking Ting’s coverage maps to see which carrier works best in your area.
Does Ting have unlimited data?
Ting does not offer unlimited data. In fact, as we touched upon above, Ting doesn’t offer traditional service plans. Instead, you are in control of your bill based on how much you use each month. Ting calculates your bill at the end of the month, based on how many lines you have, how many minutes you use, the number of texts you send, and how much data you consume.
Number of lines
Ting charges a flat rate of $6/month for each device you have tied to your account.
Number of minutes
Ting has 6 different usage tiers for calculating how much you pay based on how many minutes you use. If you have multiple devices connected to a single account, they all use the same pool of minutes.
- No minutes used: $0/month
- 1-100 minutes used: $3/month
- 101-500 minutes used: $9/month
- 501-1000 minutes used: $18/month
- 1001-2100 minutes used: $35/month
- 2100+ minutes used: 1.9¢/minute
Number of texts sent
Ting also has 6 different usage tiers for calculating how much you pay based on how many texts you send.
- No texts sent: $0/month
- 1-100 texts sent: $3/month
- 101-1000 texts sent: $5/month
- 1001-2000 texts sent: $8/month
- 2001-4800 texts sent: $11/month
- 4800+ texts sent: 0.25¢/text
Data used
Finally, the amount of data you use also goes into determining your monthly bill.
- No data used: $0/month
- 1-100MB used: $3/month
- 101-500MB used: $10/month
- 501MB-1GB used: $16/month
- 1.1-2GB used: $20/month
- 2GB+ used: $10/GB
How much does Ting actually cost?
We wouldn’t blame you if you’re still feeling a little confused as to how much Ting will actually cost you. We’ve taken the liberty of coming up with a few Ting Mobile sample usage profiles to help you estimate approximately what you can expect to pay.
| Light Usage | Medium Usage | Heavy Usage | Extreme Usage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes used | 100 | 100 | 500 | 1000 |
| Texts sent | 100 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Data used | 500MB | 1GB | 2GB | 2GB |
| Price per month | $22/month | $30/month | $40/month | $49/month |
What phones can I use with Ting?
As we touched upon above, Ting currently uses T-Mobile and Sprint as its host networks. This means that users can connect to Ting with T-Mobile Phones and Sprint Phones. In addition, Ting will be connecting to the Verizon network and adding support for Verizon Phones in early 2020.
Given all of the upcoming changes that are on the horizon for Ting, we would recommend that you purchase an unlocked device with support for the bands on the particular Ting network you wish to connect to. Once you find the perfect device on the Swappa Marketplace, you can verify compatibility on Ting’s site. Since most phones sold now support the bands used by multiple networks, an unlocked device allows you the freedom to connect to whichever Ting network suits your location and needs best. Click on the button below to level-up your savings by snagging an amazing deal on an unlocked phone on the Swappa Marketplace.
Is Ting Mobile any good?
The answer to this question boils down to how you use your phone. Ting makes a lot of sense for relatively light users who don’t use many minutes, don’t send off a lot of texts, and don’t constantly consume streaming content. Even heavy smartphone users can save money on Ting, as long as they have abundant access to free WiFi throughout the day. However, once you start getting past the “Heavy Usage” example profile, Ting can get expensive rather quickly.
Ultimately, Ting has a lot to offer, provided that you are the right type of customer. If you are looking for the cheapest possible service plan for a phone that will only be used for emergencies, Ting is for you. If you don’t need much mobile data because you have access to WiFi most of the day, Ting is for you. But if you need constant 4G LTE access in order to watch streaming content for hours on end, Ting is probably not your best bet.
Ting offers unrivaled device compatibility due to its use of GSM and CDMA host networks. With access to T-Mobile’s and Sprint’s networks — and access to Verizon’s network coming soon — Ting almost certainly offers service in your area. Click the button below to check out example usage profiles and see if Ting is the right fit for you. Looking for Ting customer service or tech support? Head on over to our Ting contact info page for more.
